Two years agoHart's MansionElliotA man outside the prodigious gate of the mansion was drenched from the heavy pouring rain, beseeching and yelling. "Pakiusap! Kailangan kong makausap si Attorney Elliot. Mayroon siyang kailangang malaman. Pakisabi sa kaniya narito ako.""Bakit, kilala ka ba niya? Umalis ka na! Kung wala kang appointment kay Attorney ay hindi mo siya puwedeng makausap." One of our men, Ryan, rebuffs him. "Hindi puwede. Kailangan ko sabihin sa kaniya ang mga nalalaman ko. Tungkol ito kay Federico, at alam kong hindi niya ito palalampasin." The man perseveres.I was standing behind the extensive glass wall on the second floor while my arms crossed over my broad chest, watching them. I could hear them yelling at each other, and I was sceptical when I heard Federico Elizalde's name. I turned around and walked down the stairs."Sinabi ng hindi puwede! Aalis ka ba o babarilin kita?!" Ryan desperately and furiously shouts at him."Attorney! Alam kong nandiyan ka, Attorney!
ElliotNabitin sa ere ang baso ko at hindi naituloy ang pag-inom. Nanigas ang aking mga panga at nanlilisik ang mga matang lumingon sa kaniya. Malakas kong ibinato sa pader ang baso kaya nabasag iyon at lumikha ng ingay. Muli akong tumayo, sa marahas at mabilis na kilos ay ikinasa ko ang aking baril at itinutok sa kaniya."Hayup ka! Sinabi ko na sa 'yo, huwag mo akong gaguhin. Do you even think I would believe your stupid lies? Federico is one of my trusted accomplices, kung gusto niya akong patayin nang dahil lamang sa pagpili sa akin ng tatay ko, sana noon pa. Tangina ka! Gusto mo bang unahin na kita hayup ka?!""Attorney, totoo ang sinasabi ko. At...at sila mismo ng mga kasamahan ninyo sa kumpanya ang nag-uusap tungkol dito kasama si Sir Cameron. Narinig ko ang lahat habang nasa opisina sila ni Mr. Elizalde." Paliwanag niya habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay na halos nakaharang na sa kaniyang mukha."What?! Ano ang pruweba mo sa akusasyon mong ito? Alam mo ba ang puwedeng mangyari
Elliot Two years ago Batangas WITH TOUSLED HAIR, a ruffled sleeve, and the upper half of my royal blue long sleeve unbuttoned, I was standing on the verge of the top of our land, watching the flickering lights of the city of Batangas. A few strands of my chest hair were freely experiencing the frigid wind. My hands were both inside my pockets. My black leather shoes were cake in thick sludge. My family owns this land, slated to develop as a private subdivision for politicians and well-known families in the city. I chose this place tonight for my guests to remember how we intended to improve the property. But everything changed in just one snap. When Hubert turned himself to uncover the Elizalde's, I ordered Sabino to track down those fucking cowards who agreed with Federico to bump me off. I was blaming myself for giving them my credence that I didn't notice their sleight of hand against me. "You stupid. Dumb. Asshole lawyer," I murmured to myself. My lips were shaking from the a
Elizalde's Mansion Elliot NAKARATING kami sa mansyon ng mga Elizalde pasado alas nuwebe na nang gabi mula sa Batangas. Sinalubong kami ng ilan nilang tauhan at mga katulong para igiya papunta s malawak nilang dining area. Gusto kong matawa, dahil wala ni isa sa kanila ang nakakaalam kung sino ang mga bisitang kasama ko. Isa itong surpresa para kay Federico. Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang aking ama at kapatid na si Ezekiel, wala pa ang mga ito. Abala ang ilang kasamahan namin sa negosyo habang nag-uusap ng lapitan ako ni Cameron at abutan ng alak. Nang tanggapin ko iyon ay tinapik niya ako sa balikat. "Ginabi ka yata, trabaho?" Sumimsim ako ng alak at tumango. "Mayroon din akong mga kinausap, sinubukan ko silang paaminin pero mas pinili nilang manahimik. Nakakapagod," seryoso, ngunit may laman kong sagot sa kaniya. Nilingon niya akong awang ang mga labi na parang nakakita ng multo ang gago. Nakipagtitigan ako ng ilang segundo bago siya nakabawi at nagtanong. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
Malori"Ma'am, okay na po ang kotse n'yo. Pero kailangan na po palitan ng bago ang baterya. Kung gusto n'yo po ay dalhin n'yo sa shop para kami na po ang magpapalit." Paliwanag ng mekaniko sa akin.Huminga ako ng malalim. "Pero kaya pa naman 'yan hanggang weekend 'di ba?""Kaya naman po,ma'am. Basta dalhin n'yo lang po kaagad para hindi na maulit na tumirik sa gitna ng daan.""Sige po, salamat. Magkano po pala babayaran ko?""Okay na po ma'am. Na-settle na po ni Attorney." Sagot ng isang lalaking kasama.Why do I have these rare feelings the moment I hear his name? Naalala ko tuloy 'yong nangyari noon sa lobby ng building nila. What I felt that time is the same feeling I felt earlier. Mahina kong natampal ang aking noo ng bumalik sa alaala ko ang tagpong iyon. Nakakahiya!"Sige po ma'am, aalis na rin po kami."Tumango na lamang ako dahil wala na naman akong sasabihin o itatanong. Pupuntahan ko na lang siguro siya sa opisina n'ya para magpasalamat. Awkward naman kung tatawag lang ako.
MaloriTumawa na rin ako at mahina kong hinampas ang braso n'ya. "Ano ka ba, Shan! Wala 'no!""Oh my God, Malori Vida! Ilan taon ka na ba? Baka ma-expired na 'yan!" Sabay kaming napatawa ng malakas. Sigurado akong rinig ni Karla sa labas ang ingay namin."Well, honestly, a college friend of mine from UST has attempted to court me. I refused, but he's very determined. So, we're just in a GTKEO stage." I chortle."GT- what?!""Geez! Where have you been Shan? I mean, we're in the getting to know each other stage.""Mind you. Very millennial gal. What's his name huh?" Tanong niya habang naniningkit ang mga mata."Evan. Evan Angelo Ricafort.""Really? One of the Unicef ambassadors?!""Uum, yes.""Say yes! Ricafort 'yan ano! Huwag mo ng pakawalan, ano ka ba?"Sobra akong natawa sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko. Para bang mas excited pa s'ya kaysa sa akin sa kalalabasan ng sitwasyon namin ni Evan. But she's right for the second time today. Evan has everything, kaya nga nag-aalangan ako na magpaligaw
Elliot"I had to keep her safe, and I couldn't let the public see her with me. Raiko is with her, and you know the man.""I know. I got everything you need.""Good." Then I pressed the end call button. It was Sabino on the other line.Facing the glass wall of my office, I turned around and strode back to my chair and resume to read the files my asset had sent me. Still holding my phone, I scroll my contact list and dial Axel's number."Boss?""Fucking impressive, Axel! You did your job well. I'll call you for your next move and make sure no one knows you're working for me.""Yes, boss. I have several photos here from yesterday's event. I will send it to your email now."I didn't get the chance to respond to Axel because someone opened the door and barged inside with my secretary behind her, nervous. My feisty sister had arrived!She turned to face my anxious secretary. "Get out now!"Garie turned to me with an apologetic face. "Attorney?""Leave us," I said with an overbearing tone.M
ElliotRelentlessly, I whammed the table with my own hands. "At sinong gusto mong sisihin ko, ang mga pulis na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring nagagawa, o ang pamilya natin na sa daming koneksyon ligal man o iligal ay hindi mahanap ang hayup na pumatay kay Eona?!""EJ- ""Ako! Ako lang ang dapat sisihin!""No one is blaming you!""It should have been me. That fucking psycho wanted me, not Eona. And you have no idea how hard this is for me every time I open my eyes and think I'm still breathing. How do I spend my fucking day finding the reasons why?! You have no fucking idea, Elandra!""I do!""Then why the hell warding off Amanda against me?!""I am not protecting her, but you!"My sister's face softens as she tries to shed light on what is in her mind. But for me, it is another way of torment."When Eona died, I saw how traumatised you were and how the awful incident had affected you. I was there. In fits and starts, everyone notices that you're building walls that could separate you