This Is How Irony Works

"I'm sorry you had to go home," I said as I personally picked David up from the airport. The prosecution summoned for his presence because his statement was needed to verify my statement that we're married.

It was true.

We're married.

At least, on papers.

I could see the look of disappointment in his eyes. Nang una akong nagsabi na uuwi ako sa Pilipinas, hindi siya pumayag. He was there when I was at my lowest—he was the one who patiently waited until the nightmares subsided...

"What did you do, Mallary?" he asked as I helped him carry his bag. He only brought a single bag. Halatang ayaw magtagal dito. "And why are we surrounded with—" he said as a man in uniform assisted us inside the car.

Tumahimik muna ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano iyon sasagutin. How would I tell him that I gave up the fight against my father? I initially didn't want to see even his shadow... pero nang sabihin sa akin na kailangang umuwi ni David, naisip ko na sino ang po-protekta sa kanya?

I had no one.

Only my family could extend protection.

So, I swallowed my pride. I told them that I'd come back... I'd take Molly's place, anything, just to make sure that when David comes home, he'd be protected. Dahil alam ko na hindi titigil ang pamilya ni Nathan hanggang hindi ito napapalaya.

And the only thing that's stopping them was David's presence in my life. Because as long as I am legally married to David, Nathan couldn't use me as his defense.

"It's... protocol," sabi ko na lang. Mabuti at mukhang pagod si David sa byahe kaya naman naka-tulog siya. I couldn't answer more of his questions. I didn't want to lie to him.

Ginising ko siya nang makarating kami sa hotel. The whole floor was rented. My father's men were roaming around, making sure that there's no threat.

Dapat lang.

Sa oras na may mangyari kay David, sinisigurado ko na kahit anino ko, hinding-hindi makikita ng tatay ko. I'd make sure that he'd die without an heir. I'd make sure na mapupunta sa wala lahat ng pinaghirapan niya.

"Tomorrow, you'd be cross-examined," I said.

"About?"

"Our marriage."

"Aren't you the least bit worried that they're gonna find out?"

"About what?"

"Your deal with Nathan... That you two agreed to 'get married' and... kill Blake? That you were in it all along?"

I looked at him. It's funny what a short amount of time could do to you. Kung dati? Sigurado ako na hindi ko iyon magagawa. I'd probably be too fucking weak to even agree to the idea... but staying here? Being exposed to every injustice? I finally learned the hard lesson—you make your own justice.

"Technically, I did nothing wrong, David. Technically, based on all records gathered for the trial, I was under a lot of duress when I got married to Nathan..." I said, my lips stretched into a sinister smile. "Technically, the law couldn't touch me."

He sighed, obviously displeased with how drastically I've changed. But if I didn't, no one would pay for anything... Paulit-ulit lang 'tong mangyayari. This fucking cycle would continue.

"Did you really have to do that?"

I pressed my lips. Did I? I didn't have to... Kung tutuusin, si Nathan ang nag-isip ng lahat... He's the one who devised the plan in which I could get what I wanted without having to suffer the legal consequences of my actions.

And I planned to go through with the plan.

Until I talked to Pamela.

"Don't," I said when I saw Pamela walking near me. Ayoko siyang makausap. Ayoko siyang makita. Even looking at her reminded me of how she fucking played me like a fool. Pinagkatiwalaan ko siya, tapos ganito lang ang gagawin niya?!

"I understand that you're mad."

I gritted my teeth. "Mad? That's an understatement of what I feel," I snapped. "All along, you knew everything! You could've just told me that there's Corinne! I could've just asked her to testify!"

Disappointment flooded her face. And I hated it. I hated seeing it. "It's not my story to tell, Mallary... And it's not yours, either."

Umawang ang labi ko. "Molly is dead. My sister is dead."

"I know... but you can't force Corinne to testify just because you want. Don't you think I didn't try that? Don't you think I would've gone as far as tracking you kung alam ko na may pag-asa na lumabas si Corinne?"

"Alam mo na walang pag-asa na managot si Blake sa lahat ng ginawa niya kung hindi lalabas si Corinne! You know that she's the end to this all!"

"But that's beside the point, Mallary! My point is, you can't force Corinne to testify if she doesn't want to! She was raped, violated, and left to die! You can't blame her if she's scared! Stop blaming the victim, Mallary."

Napa-tigil siya.

Napa-tigil ako.

We both knew that we're fucked.

We were both denying it... but it's the truth.

We both played this game while fully knowing where this would head. Because it's the truth—you make justice. And you can only make justice if you're with power...

I didn't know what to believe anymore. I felt like I was surrounded with liars... and everything I heard were nothing but lies.

It was frightening.

It was frightening how far they'd all go just to protect themselves.

Pamela looked at me. I couldn't trust her. Not anymore.

"How did you meet Nathan?" I asked her.

"What did he tell you?"

"I asked you first," I said. Nathan told me his version of the story... but how could I ever believe him after all the lies that surrounded me? I was wary of everything.

I trusted nothing.

"Nathan... I met Nathan more than a year ago. I was having a bad day, so I decided to stay in this secluded area. I just needed to clear my head. Pero nang madaling araw na, naka-rinig ako ng pagdating ng sasakyan."

She paused.

"What happened next?" I demanded.

I could see the hesitation in her eyes. Did Nathan lie to me? Sabi niya... sabi niya iniwan niya lang si Corinne. He told me he's not a murderer.

"What did he—"

"I asked you first!"

She was taken aback. She was surprised by my anger. Hindi ko na makilala ang sarili ko. Galit ako sa kanilang lahat. Galit ako dahil pinaglalaruan nila lahat. Dahil lang kaya niya.

"He... He dumped Corinne. Then... then he was trying to dig a hole," she said, then looked at me. "I think... I think he was gonna bury her alive... kung hindi ako nagpakita."

That liar.

I blame myself for believing him even just for a second. He was just using me again. He was using me to get back to Blake. He knew he couldn't get to him without me.

In the end, he only cared about himself.

In the end, he's still the same spineless asshole I first met.

"Yeah," I replied. "If I wanted the entire problem gone, I need to nip it in the bud." David just shook his head in disappointment, but what could his disappointment do? It's already done.

And besides, finally, the law is in my side.

* * *

The next day, I accompanied David to his cross-examination. I was confident because he would just tell the truth—na kasal kami. I knew Nathan's family would urge him to file a case of bigamy against me, but I didn't care. It was my father's problem. If he still wanted me as his heir, he'd find a way to make that case disappear.

Habang naghihintay akong matapos ang deposition ni David, nagsimulang magkaroon ng ingay. Agad na na-alerto ang mga tauhan na nagbabantay sa akin.

I stood up, trying to find out what was happening... when I learned that the Honorable Oscar Valderrama was here...

Akalain mo nga naman? Nailibing na ba 'yung demonyo niyang anak?

"I'm fine," I said when the guards tried to stop me as I took a step towards the original devil. He didn't look so good. He looked stressed, even. Ibang-iba sa nung huli ko siyang nakausap.

"Justice..." I said, smiling at him. "What brings you here?"

I could see his chest heaving in anger.

"Ah... Nandito ka ba para magfollow up sa kaso ng anak mo?" pagpapatuloy ko.

His jaw was clenched.

I wanted more reaction from him.

Gusto kong maramdaman niya ang pinaramdam niya sa akin nang ipamukha niya kung gaano ako ka-walang laban. Dahil nasa panig niya ang batas.

I'd fucking feed him every bit of frustration that he made me go through!

"You killed my son!" sigaw niya.

Nagbulungan ang mga tao sa paligid.

Nagsimulang mag-ingay ang mga reporter.

"Nathan killed him," I said. I stared right into his eyes—his eyes that were blazing in rage. "As far as I am concerned, Blake was killed by Nathan. And I was not the one who caused the fatal blow," I said, mimicking the infuriating statement that he told me before.

"You killed Blake!" he repeated like a grieving father that he was.

I sighed. "As I have said, there is no evidence to point to that conclusion, Justice. It's hard to make accusations without facts to back them up."

His chest.

It was heaving with much anger.

The tables have turned.

"You—"

But I cut him off. I smiled as I leaned in to whisper, "Dura lex sed lex, Oscar Valderrama..." I began. "The law may be harsh, but it is the law."

In the end, no one will know what I did to them. In the end, I got my own brand of justice. In the end, it all worked out. 

For Molly.