Maxine's POV

The tension in the courtroom was suffocating. My pulse pounded in my ears as I stared at A’ishah, my mind racing to find a way to refute her words. But she had left no room for argument. She had flipped everything, twisting uncertainty into doubt.

The judge exhaled heavily, breaking the silence. She adjusted her glasses and looked down at the case files in front of her, her expression unreadable.

Fuck, she's too good!

Am I crazy for being proud? Damn.

How the hell does her brain work?

“I have reviewed the arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.” The judge began, her voice even. “Given the conflicting interpretations of the evidence, it is clear that there are still unanswered questions in this case.”

My breath caught.

Denise straightened in her seat, her jaw clenched, but she remained silent. A’ishah, standing tall by the evidence table, kept her expression neutral.

The judge glanced between the two sides before continuing. “Because of this, I find it necessary to take additional time to thoroughly review the presented evidence, testimonies, and expert analyses.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling deep in my chest.

“The final verdict will be announced next week.”

A murmur spread through the courtroom, whispers of speculation and tension filling the air.

The judge tapped her gavel once. “Court is adjourned.”

A rush of movement followed. Lawyers gathering their files, the murmurs of spectators, the quiet shuffle of feet against the polished floors.

I sat frozen in my seat, my hands clenched into fists on my lap. My body felt heavy, like I had just survived a storm but was still standing in the eye of it.

Denise turned to me, her voice low. “This isn’t over, Max. We still have time.”

But my gaze was locked onto A’ishah.

She was speaking with the prosecution team, her face composed, her posture relaxed. Like she hadn’t just torn me apart on the stand.

And then, just for a second, she glanced at me. Our eyes met.

There was no anger in her gaze. No hatred. But there was no softness, either.

Just cold, detached professionalism.

A part of me wanted to scream at her, shake her, ask her if any of this hurt her as much as it hurt me.

But I already knew the answer. She had made her choice. And now, I was running out of time to save myself.

“WHAT?!” A loud shouting voice was heard. “Ano pa bang ebidensiya ang kailangan niyo?! It's clear that she killed Nicole!”

Mara angrily took a step forward. She was looking at me with so much hatred in her eyes.

Denise immediately stepped in front of me, her stance protective. “Mara, enough.”

“Enough?” Mara spat, her fists clenched at her sides. “Denise, she killed Nicole! Nasa harapan na natin ang ebidensya! She was holding the gun! She was in the room! She doesn’t even remember what happened!”

I forced myself to meet her gaze, but the weight of her accusation was suffocating.

“I didn’t—” My voice faltered, my throat tightening. “I didn’t kill her.”

Mara let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “That’s all you ever say. But the facts? The facts say otherwise.” She turned to A’ishah now, her expression desperate. “You know she did it. You can’t seriously be doubting this!”

A’ishah remained still, her face unreadable. Her silence only seemed to fuel Mara’s frustration.

“You should be fighting for Nicole.” Mara hissed, voice breaking. “Not for her.”

A’ishah’s fingers curled slightly at her sides, but her voice remained even. “I’m fighting for the truth.”

Mara scoffed, shaking her head. “Bullshit.”

The tension in the room thickened. A bailiff took a step forward, ready to intervene if necessary.

Denise, still standing protectively in front of me, exhaled sharply. “Mara, kung gusto mong ilabas ang galit mo, fine. Pero wag dito. Let the law do its job.”

Mara’s chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, her glare burning holes through me. “The law?” She spat. “The law is fucking blind if it can’t see what’s right in front of it!”

Her voice echoed, sharp and raw, as she pointed a trembling finger at me. “You think she deserves a fair trial? Nicole didn’t even get a chance to fight for her life!”

I flinched at her words, my stomach twisting violently.

“Mara, stop.” Denise’s voice was firm, but there was an edge of desperation in it. She took a step toward Mara, her hands raised as if trying to calm a wild animal. “This isn’t helping Nicole. This isn’t helping anyone.”

But Mara wasn’t listening. She turned back to A’ishah, her eyes pleading now. “A’ishah, please. You know what happened. You’re the only one who can make sure she rots in prison where she belongs.”

A’ishah’s expression remained unreadable, her gaze steady on Mara. The air in the courtroom was thick, suffocating, waiting for her to say something, waiting for her to condemn me.

I braced myself for the final blow.

But then, A’ishah spoke.

“That’s enough.” Her voice was quiet, but there was an authority in it that cut through the room like a knife. “This case isn’t about what we feel, Mara. It’s about what we can prove.”

Mara’s face twisted in disbelief. “You—”

“I am prosecuting this case based on evidence.” A’ishah continued, her tone even. “Not assumptions. Not emotions.”

The room fell into stunned silence. My breath caught in my throat.

She wasn’t defending me. Not outright. But she wasn’t condemning me, either.

Mara’s hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. “So what, you think she’s innocent now?”

A’ishah didn’t even blink. “I think this case isn’t as simple as you want it to be.”

Mara’s nostrils flared, her body rigid with fury. “Unbelievable.” Her voice wavered, thick with grief. “Nicole trusted you.”

A'ishah didn't react.

Mara let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head before turning on her heel and storming out of the courtroom. The door slammed behind her, the sound echoing in my ears.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my pulse hammering. My gaze flickered back to A’ishah, but when our eyes met, her face was unreadable again. Cold, detached, professional.

A hand touched my shoulder. Warm, familiar. I turned my head, my body still rigid from everything that had just happened.

It was my mother.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, worry etched deep into her face. But the moment our gazes met, she gave me a small, reassuring smile before pulling me into a tight embrace.

“My baby…” She whispered against my hair, her arms wrapping around me as if she could shield me from everything. “Anak, we’ll get through this. I promise.”

My throat tightened, my hands clutching her sleeves before I even realized what I was doing. I wanted to believe her. I needed to.

My father stood beside us, his usual rigid posture slightly softened. His hand briefly rested on my back, firm but hesitant, before he withdrew it. He didn’t say anything, but the fact that he was standing here meant something.

Buried in my mother’s embrace, I exhaled shakily, my body momentarily sagging against her warmth.

Then, past her shoulder, I saw her.

A’ishah.

She stood a few feet away, near the prosecution’s table, her arms crossed. But her eyes, those dark, expressive eyes told a different story.

She was watching us.

There was something in her gaze that made my breath hitch. A softness. A longing. Like she was seeing something she couldn’t have.

Like she missed something.

But the second our eyes met, she blinked, and it was gone.

The wall was back up. The detached professionalism. The unreadable mask.

She turned away, murmuring something to one of her colleagues before gathering her files.

But then, just as she turned, I saw her gesture subtly with her hand. A silent command.

A moment later, two figures hesitantly stepped forward. My heart nearly stopped.

It's Ashley and Nicolas.

Was it because I've been in jail for months? How are they looking older now? Nicolas is definitely taller, Ashley is a little more mature, but I’d know them anywhere.

Ashley’s eyes were wide, already brimming with tears, her hands clasped together like she was trying to hold herself together. Nicolas, quieter, his face tight with something I couldn’t quite place, stood beside her with his hands shoved into his pockets.

They weren’t just here. They were with her. With A’ishah.

I felt the weight of their presence crash into me like a wave, knocking the air from my lungs. For a second, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

Ashley took a hesitant step forward. Then another. Then, before I could even process what was happening, she broke into a run.

"Ate Maxine!" Her voice cracked.

She collided into me, her arms wrapping around me so tightly it nearly hurt. She was sobbing, shaking, clutching onto me like she was afraid I’d disappear.

I blinked rapidly, my hands hovering in the air before slowly, hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around her.

"H–hey." I whispered, my voice thick. "I—"

She pulled back just enough to look at me, her face twisted in emotion.

"We thought—" Her breath hitched. "We thought we lost you."

My throat closed up.

Nicolas, still standing a few steps away, was quieter, his expression guarded. But his eyes… Damn, his eyes. They held so much pain.

"You're really here.” He murmured.

I swallowed hard, nodding. "Yeah. I am."

I glanced at A’ishah, searching for an answer. Why they were here, why she brought them.

But she wasn’t looking at me anymore.

Ashley still hadn’t let go of me. Her grip was desperate, like she was afraid I would slip through her fingers if she loosened it even a little. Nicolas, on the other hand, was keeping his distance, his gaze flickering between me and A’ishah’s retreating figure.

I forced myself to focus, inhaling deeply before gently pulling back from Ashley’s embrace. “Hey, breathe.” I murmured, smoothing down her hair like I used to. “I’m here. I promise.”

She sniffled, nodding rapidly, but the tears kept falling.

Nicolas cleared his throat. “It’s been a long time.” His voice was quieter than I remembered. More careful, measured.

I nodded. “Yeah. It has.”

A beat of silence stretched between us. There was so much to say, so much time lost between then and now. But before I could ask the thousand questions running through my head, I felt my mother shift beside me.

I turned, remembering my parents are still here.

They had been watching the whole exchange quietly. My mom, with soft understanding in her eyes, my father, unreadable but observing.

I cleared my throat. “Mom, Dad… these two are Ashley and Nicolas.” My voice wavered slightly, but I pushed through. “They… uh, they used to live with me.”

My mom’s brows lifted in recognition. “Oh.” Then, with a warm smile, she extended a hand to Ashley first. “It’s nice to meet you, sweetheart.”

Ashley wiped her tears quickly and shook my mother’s hand with both of hers, like she was afraid to let go too fast. “I-it’s nice to meet you too, ma’am.”

Then my mom turned to Nicolas, offering the same gentle smile. “And you, young man?”

Nicolas hesitated before shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

I glanced at my father, unsure of how he would react. But to my surprise, he gave them both a small nod.

"You were important to my daughter.” Dad said, his tone neutral but firm. "That means something."

Ashley blinked rapidly, then let out a watery laugh. “Well, if that’s the case… I guess you could say Nicolas and I are practically Ate A’ishah and Ate Maxine’s adoptive children.” She sniffled, but her lips curled into a teasing smile. "We should be calling you Lolo and Lola, then?”

My mother let out an awkward chuckle, clearly caught off guard. My father, however, snorted, not in amusement, but in irritation. His jaw tightened as he crossed his arms, the warmth in his earlier words disappearing.

"That woman abandoned my daughter.” He said coldly, his voice sharp like a blade. "She let Maxine rot in that cell while she moved on with her life, pretending she had nothing to do with it.”

I felt Ashley stiffen beside me, her fingers curling into my sleeve. Nicolas, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly lifted his head. His usual reserved expression hardened, his hands pulling out of his pockets as he faced my father directly.

"You're wrong, sir." His voice was steady, respectful, but firm. "Ate A’ishah didn’t abandon anyone."

My father’s gaze snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?”

Nicolas didn’t back down. "She didn’t move on. She didn’t pretend. She was in pain too." He exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "She… she spent months tracking everything about Ate Maxine’s case. She fought to keep it from getting worse. I saw it with my own eyes."

Ashley nodded, her grip tightening on my sleeve. "Ate A’ishah may not have been in that cell, but she was suffering just as much as Ate Maxine.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I had spent so long believing A’ishah had just left me behind. That she had chosen her career, her life, over me. But hearing Nicolas say it, knowing that he was never the type to exaggerate, made my chest ache.

My father scoffed. "If she really cared, she wouldn’t have left in the first place. She wouldn't build a case about my daughter.”

I glanced back at A’ishah, my breath catching when I realized she had stopped moving. She was still standing near Nicole’s parents, but her posture had changed. Tense, rigid. She had heard us.

For a split second, she turned her head, and our eyes met again.

Pain.

That’s what I saw this time. Raw, unfiltered pain buried beneath the cold mask she had perfected.

And then, just like before, she looked away.

Like she had no right to feel it.

I wanted to tell her that she has all the right to feel it. I wanted so bad to whisper reassuring words in her ears.

But would she even listen to me?

A heavy silence settled over us, thick with tension and unspoken words. Ashley still clung to my sleeve, while Nicolas held his ground against my father’s cold glare. My mother, ever the peacemaker, placed a gentle hand on my father’s arm as if silently urging him to let it go.

But before anyone could speak again, I heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching.

"Colonel De Luna.” A firm voice cut through the air.

I turned to see two jail officers stepping closer, their expressions neutral but their presence undeniable. The reminder of where I still belonged settled like lead in my stomach.

"Kailangan na nating bumalik.” One of them said, his tone professional but final.

Ashley’s grip on me tightened instantly. "No!" She shook her head, her eyes pleading. "Wag muna, please!"

"Ashley—" I started, but she was already looking at the officers, her voice desperate.

"Teka lang muna. Kahit ilang minuto lang, please?" Her voice wavered, thick with unshed tears. "We just saw her again after so long—"

"Ashley." Nicolas murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. But I could see it in his eyes too, the quiet frustration, the helplessness.

The officers, though sympathetic, remained firm. "I’m sorry, but we have to follow procedure.”

I swallowed hard, pushing down the bitter lump rising in my throat. I turned to my parents first. My mother looked like she wanted to say something, but the words never came. My father’s expression was unreadable, though his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.

"I’ll be fine.” I told them, forcing a small smile. "I can handle this."

Then, I turned to Ashley and Nicolas.

"Hey." I said softly, reaching out to gently squeeze Ashley’s hand. "It’s okay."

She sniffled, shaking her head. "It’s not."

I sighed, giving her a knowing look. "I’ll be out soon. Just wait for me, okay?”

Nicolas nodded, his expression tight. "We’re not going anywhere, Ate Maxine."

I gave them both a grateful smile before finally looking at A’ishah.

She hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken, but I could feel the weight of her gaze on me. There were a thousand things I wanted to say to her, a thousand questions I wanted to ask.

But there wasn’t time.

And maybe… maybe she wouldn’t answer them anyway.

I held her gaze for a second longer before turning away, letting the officers lead me back toward the exit.

The cold metal cuffs clicked around my wrists, a harsh reminder that no matter how much I wanted to stay, my reality was still a prison cell.

The engine rumbled to life, a low vibration beneath me as the vehicle idled. My wrists ached from the cold bite of the cuffs, but my mind was too preoccupied to care. Ashley’s sobs, Nicolas’ firm voice, my father’s cold words, all of it echoed in my head, blending into the weight of emotions pressing down on my chest.

Then, movement outside caught my eye.

Through the tinted glass, I saw A’ishah walking towards the parking lot, her strides stiff, almost reluctant. My heart clenched at the sight of her, still so familiar yet so distant, as if we were separated by more than just time. But it wasn’t just her presence that made my breath hitch.

It was the person waiting for her.

I froze when I saw Jana. She wasn't inside the courtroom a while ago. I'm sure she didn't watch the trial. But why the hell is she here?

Jana was standing near a sleek black car, arms crossed, expression unreadable. The moment A’ishah reached her, Jana shook her head, disappointment etched in every movement.

A’ishah did the same. Shaking her head in disappointment.

And they weren’t just talking. They were arguing.

What the hell?

I leaned forward instinctively, my fingers twitching against the cuffs, wanting to get a better view, to hear whatever was being said. But the vehicle was soundproof, the distance too far. All I could do was watch as A’ishah ran a frustrated hand through her hair, her body language tense, her stance was defensive.

Jana, on the other hand, was just as rigid, but there was something sharp in the way she gestured, like she was calling A’ishah out on something.

For what?

Why were they even talking?

Jana shook her head again, this time more forcefully, before crossing her arms tighter. A’ishah exhaled sharply, her shoulders rising with a heavy breath before she turned away slightly, as if retreating from the conversation.

But just before I could make sense of it, just before I could even try to read A’ishah’s expression…

The vehicle lurched forward.

My stomach twisted as the distance between me and that moment widened. My pulse pounded, my mind racing.

A’ishah and Jana.

What the hell were they arguing about?

The heavy clang of the cell door shutting behind me echoed through the small space, sealing me back into reality. I exhaled sharply, the tension in my shoulders still wound too tight from everything that had just happened outside.

I barely had a moment to process before two familiar voices cut through the air.

"Maxine! Kamusta?" Lovely was the first to approach, her face lit with curiosity and concern as she hurried over.

Beside her, Ate Carmen leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a knowing look in her eyes. "Mukha kang naubusan ng dugo, iha. Ano nangyari sa hearing mo?"

I tried to force a small smile, but it felt weak. "It went… as expected.” I muttered, walking towards my cot and sinking down onto it. My wrists throbbed from the cuffs, but that was the least of my problems.

Lovely frowned, sitting beside me. "Really? What did the judge say?”

"Not much. Hindi pa tapos lahat. May hearing pa ulit." I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face. "Pero kanina… nakita ko sina Ashley at Nicolas.”

“Who are they?” Lovely asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

I remember the way Ashley claimed herself as my adopted daughter.

I chuckled. “Let's just say… they are my adopted children.”

Lovely’s eyes widened. “Really? They went to support you? That's great!”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat at the memory of Ashley clinging to me, of Nicolas standing firm against my father. "Yeah. And my parents were there too."

Ate Carmen whistled lowly. "Mukhang naging emosyonal ang tagpo ah."

"More than you know." I muttered.

Lovely gently squeezed my arm. "At least nakita mo sila, diba? I'm sure they were happy to see you.”

I nodded absently, but my mind was already drifting elsewhere… to A’ishah, to Jana, to the argument I had barely glimpsed before being driven away.

Something about it nagged at me, twisting in my gut like an unanswered question.

Lovely must’ve noticed the faraway look in my eyes because she nudged me lightly. "Hey. Are you okay? May nangyari pa ba?”

I hesitated for a second, debating if I should even bring it up. But before I could answer, Ate Carmen clapped a hand on my shoulder with a dramatic sigh.

"Ay, naku, Maxine! Alam kong gusto mong mag-emote d'yan, pero teka lang ha? Baka nakakalimutan mong kahit nasa kulungan tayo, pwede pa rin tayong mag-enjoy!"

Lovely giggled. "Ate Carmen is right. You should still smile at least.”

I huffed a quiet laugh despite myself. "Anong klase namang 'good time' meron tayo rito?"

Ate Carmen smirked. "Aba, marami! May chismis, may drama, may talent show pa nga minsan. Tapos sa gabi, may time tayo magmuni-muni habang nagbibilang ng butiki sa kisame."

Lovely laughed harder, and even I couldn't help the amused shake of my head. "Wow, so exciting."

"Syempre! At tsaka,” Ate Carmen wiggled her brows. "Libre pa ang pagkain kahit papano.”

“Ewww, prison food.” Lovely and I both said unison that made the three of us laugh.

“Kita niyo! Ganyan dapat.”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes.

Lovely smiled sweetly at Ate Carmen and said, “I'm so glad we have you here with us. Napapa-ngiti at napapa-tawa mo kami.”

She grinned. "Ako pa ba? Tiaka, ano pa nga ba magagawa natin? Kung iiyak ka buong araw, mas lalo mo lang pahihirapan sarili mo. Kaya habang nandito kayo, matuto na kayong tumawa ulit, mga iha."

I let out a slow breath, the warmth of their presence easing a bit of the weight on my chest.

"Colonel De Luna.” One of the guards called. "May bisita ka."

Lovely and Ate Carmen perked up, their gazes flicking between me and the guards.

"Aba, kadarating mo lang, ah!" Ate Carmen teased, nudging my shoulder. "Sino kaya yan?"

I shook my head, exhaling sharply before pushing myself up. "Ewan ko. Pero malalaman natin.”

The guards led me out of the cell and down the corridor until we reached the visitation room. My steps faltered slightly when I saw who was waiting for me.

"John?"

He looked up at the sound of my voice, relief flashing in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by concern. He was dressed in his usual sharp uniform, but the slight furrow in his brow told me he hadn’t been at ease since I got arrested.

"Maxine.” He breathed out, standing as I approached. "Kamusta ka?”

I let out a tired chuckle. "You tell me. Mukha na ba akong criminal?"

His jaw tensed. "This isn’t a joke, Max." He glanced at the guards, then back at me. "I’ll do whatever it takes para hindi ka masentensyahan. I promise you that."

Something in his voice was firm, unwavering, that made my chest tighten.

"John…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "I appreciate that, I really do. But the most important thing is, kumusta na ang investigation sa Cobra Organization?”

John sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We have a new lead."

That got my full attention. I straightened, leaning in slightly. "What lead?"

He lowered his voice. "A new informant came forward. We don’t know how reliable they are yet, but they seem to have inside knowledge of Cobra’s movements."

My hands clenched at my sides. "And what did they say?”

John hesitated for a moment before answering. "We’re looking into a new name, a middleman who might be connected to their trafficking operations. We’re still verifying the intel, but if it’s legit, we might finally have a way to take them down."

I inhaled sharply, my pulse quickening. "We need that name, John. You know how important this is."

He nodded firmly. "I know. And I’ll do everything I can to get it.”

~~~

Thank you for reading! 💛