Everything flashes back on JL’s head. He can’t believe what he has heard on the court yesterday.
“Bro, are you okay?” JC asked.
“No. I just can’t believe everything I heard from Anne yesterday.”
“Me too by the way, how is she?”
“Who’s she?”
JC rolled his eyes. “Grace.”
“Uh, they said she’s doing fine although they ordered to stop the visitation to avoid the people who have bad intention. That’s my last visit for now.” he explained.
“I see, how about Anne? Are you going to visit her?”
“No. Not yet, not now.” he said.
“Okay… What do you plan to do now?”
“I don’t have any plan. I’ll just rest for now.” he said then went upstairs. “If PC and CP find me, tell them not to disturb me. Thanks.”
He opened the gate after he heard the third ring of the doorbell. He was stunned when he saw the man who refuses to say what he saw from the incident.
“How did you find our house?” he asked with confusion.
“That’s not important. I’m here to ask you about Grace.”
“So, you knew her, uh…”
“Just answer my question.”
“I haven’t visited her yet, why?”
“You knew what I’m talking about.”
He sighs. “I don’t know.” he was about to close the gate but his foot pushed it. “What do you want?”
“I’m asking you if you saw Grace. When was the last time you see her?”
“Why do you ask me about those stuffs?”
“Just answer my question.”
“I haven’t. The last time I saw with her was two weeks ago. Now, answer my questions.”
“She’s missing.”
“Where are you, Grace?” he whispers. “I’m at the hospital yesterday and the nurse I talked to, said you’re doing fine.” he added. He looks at the ceiling and sighs. He put his right hand to his left chest then feels his heart beat. He can feel how his heartbeat beats when his thinking of Grace.
“Can I have a minute with you?.” he said when he saw Doctor Jimenez on the hallway after he visit Grace.
He just saw him nod then followed him. “What do you need?”
“I want to know how she is?”
“Well, if you listen to what her nurse said then you already knew the answer to your question. Why don’t you just say it directly because I’m a busy-body.”
“I can see how your treatment is. You can’t hide what your eyes says when you look at her.”
“Meaning?”
“I like her more than you do so get out on my way.”
“You just like her so likeness would fade away easily that’s why I won’t wipe the floor for you. You don’t have any idea how much I loved her, how much I love her and how much I’ll love her.”
“You don’t know what I feel.”
“You don’t have any idea and you can’t even measure what I feel for her.”
“I can make her happy.”
“You don’t know what the sacrifices we made are, I already made her happy and I’ll make her happy forever. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go now.”
He left him without a word. He’s left speechless and curious.*
He heard some knock on his door. “What?” he said with a boring expression after he opened the door.
“You have a visitor.” JC said then went downstairs.
He sighs. He’s left no choice but to face the person who visit him. He went downstairs. “Why do I have a visitor? I’m not sick anyway…” he murmured.
“You don’t like to be visited?” someone asked him.
He was startled after he heard that. “How did you get here?” he asked.
“I used the gate and door with the permission of your brother, I guess…”
“How come you heard what I’ve said?”
“I have a sharp ear while you have a noisy mouth. You can sit down this is your house, right?”
He sat down in front of the bench he was sitting to face him. “What do you want this time?”
He smirked. “We haven’t known each other’s name, uh… No! You’re the only one who doesn’t know my name, JL Cortez.” he said while looking straight on his eyes. “I’m Hael, Prosecutor Hael Leal.”
“Okay. So, what do you want?”
“I’m here to ask you, why haven’t you stood as a witness yesterday?”
“You know what; I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Denying won’t help. You were there. You were the most direct witness that day but you’re in denial stage. I was expecting you yesterday to stand-up and state what you saw but you didn’t. Why?”
“Uh, so you want me to stand against unto my best friend?” he stood-up and raised his voice.
He saw how the prosecutor closes his eyes. “Sit down and lower your voice.”
*He was standing in front of the university where Grace studies.
“Am I that early?” he asked himself.