The trial was moved two weeks after the first one. The outcome was a bit chaotic at first, so Judge Aguirre decided to postpone it for two weeks because Nicholai's side requested it. One of the witnesses was said to be in the province so she could not attend the first trial.
I had a hunch who they said another witness was. But I was hoping that she would tell the truth and not twist it just like what Cheni did.
"Do you have any idea who their other witness is?" Atty. Montreal asked. He was sitting beside Philip
They were in front of me. We were in the police station again, and they were visiting me so we could talk about the next trial.
"Do you have one in mind?" Philip seconded.
"Yes. I bet it's Manang Linda. Our maid at the house," I answered with a sigh.
"Was she there when the incident happened?" Atty. Montreal asked.
I shook my head. "No. Nicholai made her leave before I could get home."
"Okay. Got it," Atty. Montreal said and then suddenly stood up. "I gotta go. I need to do something. And you," he turned to Philip. "You know what to do. Just make sure to take care of yourself," he said and then left Philip and me.
My eyes instantly darted on Philip’s arms. I bit my lower lip and sighed.
"Y-you got hurt because of me." My voice trembled. I took a deep breath and tried to stop myself from crying.
Philip took my hand and smiled timidly at me.
"Shhh ... It's not your fault. It's my fault. I was not careful. I was confident that nothing would happen to me. I didn't know that they would stoop this low just for me not to attend your trial."
"What if they will do it again? And what if something worse happens to you? I can't forgive myself when something bad happens to you again, Phil. You should just dropped the case—"
"No! I won't do that. I promise you that I will help you get out of this mess no matter what happened." He moved next to me and placed the hand he had previously held on his cheek. "Please ... Just let me do this. Let me help you. I maybe did give you up last time, but now I will surely not. I will never give up on you no matter what."
I couldn’t help myself to hug him and cry in his arms. The thought that everyone could give up on me that easily was really hurtful. Philip had this thing that always made me feel secure. He always made me feel that I was worth the sacrifices that he would make. Even if it would hurt him in the end.
I moved away from him and then looked him in the eyes. "Thank you," I said as I wiped the tears that ran to my cheeks.
He gave me a warm smile and I couldn't help but wonder, what if I told him at first what happened to Nicholai and me? Would he forgive me?
I braced myself and asked the playful question in my mind. "If I told you from the start about what Nicholai did to me, would you still accept me?"
He smiled at me but I could still see the hurt in his eyes. "Yes. Without a blink. I may be mad at first. But I know myself that I can't stand being mad at you either. I love you that much. The problem is, you don't trust me enough. You don't trust my love for you that much. And that hurt me the most. "
What he said made my heart ache and it broke me the second time around.
***
A few days passed and the second trial was held in just three days.
A few days later I did not forget what Philip had said. It was painful. It kept me awake for days but I knew that Philip didn't intend to hurt me with his words. He was just being honest.
I was so stupid. Very stupid. If I had trusted Philip from the beginning and had not succumbed to Nicholai's threat, I would not have experienced what I was experiencing now. I wouldn't be here in jail if I just trusted Philip and talked to him instead of dealing with it on my own.
I became too weak. It was all my fault from the start for being weak. But not anymore. I would fight and those who had done wrong to me will surely pay. I would get out of this cage. I would give my full trust to Philip and Atty. Montreal. I knew they could get me out of this mess. Cheni would surely pay for what she did to me. I would make sure that she will be the one to rot inside her jail.
"Acosta, you have a visitor," the policeman said as he opened my cell.
I smiled because I knew it was Philip for sure. The smile on my lips widened even more when I saw him inside where the guests were being welcomed. He was looking at his phone with a serious expression. I noticed that his arm was already okay. I smiled more because he was okay.
I went inside and sat in front of him still smiling. He immediately turned to me and my smile suddenly disappeared because of his very serious face. I was suddenly nervous at the way he looked.
"Is there a problem?" I asked in astonishment.
He suddenly held my hand with both of his hands together and then pressed it gently. I feel like he was hesitant to tell me whatever he wanted to say.
"What is it?" The nervousness I felt doubled.
He looked at me straight in the eyes before opening his mouth to say it. "He is awake. Nicholai is already awake."
It was like a bomb that exploded in front of me. My eyes widened while staring at Philip.
I knew I should feel relieved that he was awake but why was I feeling scared?
My hands started to tremble. I can no longer fix my eyes on Philip. I couldn’t help but feel scared.
"W-What if he will get back to me. What if—"
"Hey... Calm down." Philip gripped my hand tightly to calm it from trembling. "He can't do anything to you. You are safe here. He can't do anything to you here," he assured me.
I tried to calm myself and looked at Philip. I should trust him. What he said was true. Nicholai couldn't do anything to me while I was inside the jail and I knew Philip would not let something bad happen to me.
"Are you okay now?" he gently asked. I nodded and tried to give him a smile.
"I'm okay," I assured him.
"I need to go. I need to take care of something for your upcoming trial. I'm just really here to tell you that. I want to be the first to tell you the news before you find out from others," he explained to me.
"I understand. Thank you so much, Philip." I gave him a timid smile and we stood together from the chair where we were sitting.
"I'll visit you again tomorrow. Don't miss me that much."
"What?" I slapped him once on his arm.
He chuckled and then suddenly leaned down and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes because of the strange feeling that was inside me. It was warm and soothing. It was always the effect of his kiss on me. I miss this. I miss this kind of feeling. The feeling of being loved and cared for.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said before he left me inside the room.
Somehow, the fear I had felt was alleviated because of Philip.
I went back to my cell. I sat on the small bed and picked up the book Philip had given me yesterday. I was the one who requested it.
The first time that I read the book, I was hooked right away. I've been dying to buy this book and I was happy that Philip bought it for me. It was the Reflection Of A Man by Mr. Amari Soul.
"A Selfish man would rather you be unhappy with him than to see you happy with someone else."
I read the lines, and a person in mind fitted the lines right away. I smiled bitterly and shook my head.
I just couldn't believe why Nicholai turned that way. I knew to myself that somewhat, I was also at fault why he became the monster that he was right now.
The sound of the iron railing startled me. A policeman opened my cell. My forehead creased and I stood up right away and approached the cop.
"You have a visitor again," he said and let me out of the cell.
Though confused, I still followed the cops towards the receiving area. Maybe Philip came back because he might have forgotten to tell me something.
I smiled as the cops led me back to the visitor's room. I was shocked when they took off my handcuffs. I wanted to ask why, but they immediately opened the door and let me in and then closed it. Astonished, I turned to face my visitor.
My eyes widened in an instant. Fear crept inside me and my hands started to tremble. The fear that I felt earlier that was gone suddenly returned and tripled even more. I backed away and shook my head.
No! He shouldn't be here. This is not real!
"It's nice to see you, Cris."
Blood drained from my face the moment he spoke. Fuck! He was real.
It was really Nicholai, in the flesh. The last person that I didn't expect would visit me in jail.