Chapter 63 The Loser. #3
Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eric ng makita ang dalawang lalaki. Like he just saw a ghost, and chasing him.
Zarya on the other end, parang binuhusan ng mainit na tubig when he saw those men. This is the first time she saw them. The men who killed his own sister, the one's who took the mother of her niece.
Nanginginig si Zarya sa galit, and tears just automatically keeps flowing. Iris noticed it right away, kaya agad niya na naman itong hinawakan ang kamay. They didn't say a word, nag-aabang lang sila sa susunod na mangyayari while still giving comfort to each other.
"Mr. Valenti." the judge said again, his voice cutting through the silence. "Look at them. Do you recognize these individuals? Do you know them?"
Eric glanced up, flicked his eyes over the two men na para bang hindi niya ito kilala, and looked away sharply. "No, Your Honor. I have never seen them before in my life."
Beside him, Attorney Scotland stiffened. His eyes widened slightly, and he leaned in close to Eric, voice so low only they could hear. "Control your words, one mistake and we are both doomed."
The judge turned his attention to the two men. "Tell this court clearly, do you know the accused, Eric Valenti? And what is your connection to him?"
The first man lifted his head. His face was worn, eyes tired, but his voice was steady. "Yes, Your Honor. We know him. He hired us. He ordered us to kill Miss Yana De Luca."
Biglang sumugod nang tumayo si Eric, namumutla na siya sa galit at takot. "I did not order you to do anything! I don't even know who the fuck you are! I have never seen you before in my life!"
"Order!" The judge banged his gavel once, sharp, loud, commanding. "You will remain silent until you are given permission to speak!...Continue."
The man didn't flinch. "He gave us exact instructions. Shoot her in the stomach, make it look like a robbery gone wrong. But we missed. We fired at the car instead. And... and Mr. Isaac got killed bu that accident."
"You killed my son?! You killed my own Goddamn son?! Why would I ever order my own son's death?! What do you think I am?!" Parang nabingi si Eric sa sinabi ng lalake, still acting up.
"Your Honor." Attorney Scotland tried to interject quickly. "Based on their own testimony, their only target was Miss De Luca. The death of Isaac Valenti was an accident, unintended, but that doesn't mean that my client is—"
"Set in motion by Eric Valenti!" Attorney Vìllor cut in, his voice calm but unshakable. "He hired them. He gave the order. Every consequence that followed is on his hands! Whether it was intentional or not—he is the one who started this!"
Eric slammed his bound fists down on the table so hard papers scattered. "Why would I do that?! Why would I pay someone to kill my own blood?! He is my son! I loved him! This is a setup! All of you are working together to ruin me! This is all a lie!"
Attorney Scotland reached out to grab his arm, trying to pull him back down. "Mr. Valenti, please...calm yourself. You are only making this worse—"
"Get your hands off me!" Eric shoved him away violently as he punch his lawyer in the face out of frustration, nagulat ang lahat sa ginawa ni Eric. "You are useless! You can't even defend me! You promised me this would be thrown out!"
Attorney scotland took it personally that he also wanted to fight back, but police officers immediately stopped him.
Chaos erupted immediately. Everyone stood up from their seats.
Guards rushed forward, surrounding Eric's table, holding him back as he thrashed against their grip, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"This is madness! This is a conspiracy! I don't know them. I never paid them! You all set this up just to destroy me!"
"ORDER!" The judge struck the gavel again, harder this time, the sound echoing off the walls. "SILENCE IN THIS COURT! IMMEDIATELY!"
Dahan-dahan, tumahimik din lahat. Pero sobrang tense parin sa loob, at yung pangit na katotohanan na unti-unti nang lumalabas.
Eric is catching his breath, hingal na hingal parin siya.
Pero hawak na siya nang mahigpit ng dalawang pulis, his face is turning red.
Any minute parang sasabog nalang siya, and he is clearly out of sanity right now.
While Zarya on the other hand was hiding behind Iris's arm, like a little puppy. Scared what Eric might do next, but Iris didn't failed to calm her down. Agad na hinawakan ni Iris ang kamay niya, habang nag aabang ng susunod na mangyayari.
The judge looked over the room, his expression serious.
"Due to this disruptive conduct, and the need for full forensic examination of the recording and verification of all statements presented, this hearing is hereby recessed and rescheduled. However..."
He paused, at mariin na tinignan si Eric.
"Given the overwhelming weight of evidence already submitted, the seriousness of the charges, and the clear risk of flight and further interference, Mr. Valenti will remain in custody without bail until the next proceedings."
"What the fuck?!" Eric shouted back at the judge when he heard those words. Tinignan naman niya agad ang kaniyang attorney. "Won't you do something about this?! I fucking paid you, you fucking useless moron!"
Attorney scotland face turned red when he heard those words. It's like an insult for someone who studied years in his expertise, only to be called a useless moron.
Bago pa man mailabas si Eric, lumapit sa kaniya si Attorney Scotland and whispered the words Eric never expected.
"You just made the biggest mistake of your life for insulting me, mr. No one."
Eric then looked up to him, confused. "Find a new lawyer that would bear you, but let me be honest....you have nowhere to run. You will lost this case, and you will rot in jail."
He smiled after he said those words, at inayos ang damit niya.
"Fuck you!" Eric screamed to his attorney, pero wala siyang magawa. Hawak hawak siya ng ilang mga police, and he couldn't even lift a finger.
While everyone else went out, sumabay na rin sa paglabas si Attorney scotland.
Dumaan sa harap ni Eric sina Iris at Zarya, and that didn't go well. Parang nag slow-motion sila when they passed by him. They looked him straight in the eye, puno ng galit.
Iris was holding Zarya's hand, while doing her best na walang mangyaring interaction sa kay Eric at Zarya dahil tumutulo na ang luha ni Zarya. She's already breaking after everything.
_______
"Are you okay, my love?" Iris asked Zarya, and wipe her tears away.
Zarya immediately nodded. "Yes, I'm just...happy. Finally, malapit na natin sila mabigyan ng hustisya." She's trying so hard na ayusin ang pananalita, but she couldn't. Her voice still cracking from those cries.
Attorney Vìllor stepped in. "So, we are halfway there. Congratulations in advanced, ladies. All we need to now is to wait for the next hearing, and—"
"How was it, Zar? Kamusta? Okay lang ba kayo?" Everyone went silent ng biglang dumating si Xylla.
She came late, but halatang sinubukan niyang makapunta. Her hair is slightly messy, and she looked tired. Probably because of Aria, but she made it still.
"Ahm...I have to go now. I will call you later, miss De Luca. We will have so much to discuss." Paalam ni attorney Vìllor.
Zarya just smiled and nodded. "Okay, attorney. Thank you for today's."
When attorney Vìllor left, agad naman na lumapit si Xylla kay Zarya. "Ano, kamusta?"
But Zarya was still crying she couldn't answer her, kaya naman tinignan niya si Iris. "Anong nangyari?"
"We are in good standing, it's a long story but we are close to getting the justice." Iris said to her.
"Sorry ngayon lang ako, inantay ko pa kasi si ate—"
"Xy." Zarya spoke immediately. Agad na nagets ni Zarya ang susunod na sasabihin niya kaya inunahan na niya.
She still has no plans of telling Iris about Aria, kaya hindi muna niya pwedeng malaman.
Xylla understood it right away, so she just played it off. "Shall we grab some lunch first? and maybe ikwento niyo na rin ang nangyari sa loob."
Zarya nodded slowly, barely blinking.
"Saan mo ba gusto kumain, Zar ?" Iris asked, keeping her voice steady. "Any place you want?"
"Kahit saan na lang," Zarya murmured quietly. "Wala na akong masyadong maisip ngayon."
"Okay," Iris said, forcing a small, tired smile. "Let's go then."
Agad na silang tumalikod para umalis, Iris still holding Zarya's hand. While Xylla was walking with them pero medyo nahuhuli siya.
"Fermatelo!"
(Stop him!)
"Chiudete tutti i cancelli!"
(Close all the gates!)
But before they could even reach the end of the hallway... a loud, sudden commotion exploded from behind them.
Eric was the last one brought out. Kanina pa siya parang tigre na nakatali, pacing back and forth, jaw clenched so tight, trying so hard to look calm, hanggang sa akala ng mga pulis okay na siya.
He was still in handcuffs, this time nasa harap na ang mga kamay niya.
They thought he was already settled enough to walk properly.
But the moment he stepped out the door, his eyes landed straight on Iris and Zarya—holding hands, walking away like nothing was wrong.
And his face... it twisted into something so dark, so scary, parang ibang tao na yung nasa harap nila.
He didn't think twice. In one quick, sharp move, he snatched the gun from the officer beside him—so fast no one even saw it coming.
His hands were still cuffed in front, pero nagawa pa niyang hawakan ito nang mariin, flip the safety off, and run.
"STOP HIM!" someone shouted, but it was too late.
"Zarya!" Xylla immediately shouted to warn zarya when she saw Eric.
He ran straight towards them. No words, no threats—just pure rage. He didn't even aim properly, he just locked his eyes straight on Zarya, his whole body shaking with pure, anger.
Without thinking anything else....he pulled the trigger.