Maxine’s POV

Five days had passed. Only two more days until my next trial. And still, nothing.

No calls from Denise. No updates from John. No messages from Jana. Even my family, though I knew my father’s priority was busy, I thought at least Mom would reach out. But there was only silence.

It was suffocating.

I tried to convince myself to be patient. That maybe no news was good news. Maybe Denise was just too busy preparing for the case. But the longer the silence stretched, the harder it became to stay calm.

Especially knowing that A’ishah was on the other side of that courtroom.

She’s a damn good lawyer. Too good. And she wouldn’t take on a case unless she was sure she could win. If she was representing the other side, it meant I was fighting an uphill battle.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my breathing. I couldn’t afford to fall apart now.

“Hey, Maxine. You’re sulking again.”

Lovely’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up at her, she smirked, leaning against the wall.

“You need to stop thinking too much.” She said, crossing her arms. “It won’t change anything.”

Easy for her to say. She wasn’t the one waiting for judgment.

I let out a deep breath, shaking off my nerves as I followed Lovely outside for lunch.

"Bet you five cigarettes it’s the same slop again.” She muttered beside me, hands shoved into her pockets.

I smirked. "I don’t even smoke."

"Yeah, but it’s the only real currency in here.” She shot back, rolling her eyes as we approached the food line.

The trays were just as unappetizing as always. Rice that looked more like mashed glue, some overcooked vegetables, and a meat patty I wasn’t even sure was real meat. Lovely made a face, dramatically inspecting her food as if she were a food critic on a gourmet show.

"This is a crime against humanity.” She groaned, stabbing her fork into the patty. "Max, look at this. It’s bouncing back. Meat isn’t supposed to bounce!"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You say that every time.”

"And I’ll keep saying it until someone fixes it!" She huffed before dramatically taking a bite. She made a gagging noise, making me burst into laughter. For a moment, I almost forgot where I was.

Then chaos erupted. A loud crash, followed by shouting.

I snapped my head toward the commotion and saw a group of men suddenly attacking another table. Trays went flying, fists swung wildly, and people scrambled to get out of the way.

"Shit!" Lovely hissed.

I grabbed her wrist. "Come on.”

We kept our heads low, moving through the crowd as the fight escalated. Guards were already yelling, trying to break it up, but it was getting out of control fast. I just needed to get Lovely back to our cell before things got worse.

But then, I felt a sharp, brutal impact to my knee.

The force sent me straight to the ground, pain flaring up my leg. I barely had time to react before I saw the man who kicked me. A wild-eyed, heavyset guy, fists clenched and breathing hard. He must’ve seen us moving and decided we were fair game.

I gritted my teeth, pushing through the pain.

“Oh my gosh, Max!” I heard Lovely shout in worry. But I didn't have time to look at her.

The moment the man moved to strike again, I was already up.

I dodged his next swing and slammed my elbow into his ribs, making him stumble back with a grunt. The adrenaline drowned out the pain in my knee.

The man snarled, recovering fast, and lunged at me again. I ducked under his arm and delivered a sharp jab to his side, followed by a knee to his gut. He staggered, but he wasn’t down yet.

Another fist flew toward me, and this time, I wasn’t quick enough.

Pain exploded across my jaw as his punch landed. My vision blurred for a second, but I forced myself to stay standing.

I spat blood to the side. "That all you got?"

He growled and came at me again.

I braced myself, ignoring the throbbing in my knee. If this bastard wanted a fight, I wasn’t going down easy.

The second punch came faster than I expected.

It hit me square in the face, knocking me off balance. The world tilted as I crashed onto the cold, hard floor, my head ringing from the impact. A metallic taste filled my mouth, blood.

I barely had time to move before shouts filled the air.

"Tumigil nga kayo!”

Guards stormed in, batons raised, yanking men apart and forcing them onto the ground. My attacker was immediately restrained, his arms twisted behind his back as he struggled.

I exhaled sharply, wiping my mouth as I tried to sit up.

“Maxi!”

Her voice… her familiar, urgent, and laced with worry voice, froze me in place. I turned my head and saw her.

A'ishah.

She was standing a few feet away, concern etched deep into her face as her wide eyes scanned me. I could see it clearly. The worry, the panic. For a second, everything else faded away.

Why was she here?

I didn’t have time to ask.

"Max!" Lovely suddenly dropped beside me, helping me sit up. "Are you okay?”

Before I could answer, I caught something in A'ishah’s expression, just a flicker. A shift in her gaze, a slight tightening of her jaw.

Jealousy.

Even after all this time, I could still read her.

But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, masked under a neutral expression as she straightened.

A guard stepped up beside A'ishah. "Tara na, Atty. Alvarez. Hindi ka pwede rito sa loob.”

A'ishah hesitated, her eyes lingering on me, but she said nothing. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing through the door with the guards.

I stared after her, my heart pounding for a completely different reason now.

"Max?" Lovely called, squeezing my arm.

I blinked, snapping back to reality.

"Yeah." I muttered, letting her help me up. "Let’s go.”

But as we made our way back to the cell, my mind stayed stuck on A'ishah, on the way she looked at me, the jealousy in her eyes, and the fact that she was here at all.

I hadn’t even sat on my bed when a guard appeared outside the cell, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the other inmates.

"De Luna. May bisita ka."

Lovely and I exchanged a look. "Bisita na naman?" I asked, confused.

The guard didn’t offer any more details, just gestured for me to step out. My body still ached from the fight, but I ignored it as I followed him down the hallway. My mind raced with possibilities. It couldn’t be Denise. She would have told me beforehand.

I quietly followed the guard, and when we arrived, I was taken aback to see A'ishah.

She was seated at the other side of the table in the visitation room, her posture rigid, hands clasped together on the table. She wasn’t even looking at me.

I stared, stunned. Slowly, I sat down across from her, watching her carefully. She was quiet. Too quiet.

"A’ishah?” I finally said, my voice cautious.

That was all it took. She snapped.

"Are you insane, Maxine?!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. "Why the hell were you fighting with men twice your size? What were you thinking?"

I blinked at her sudden outburst. "They started it.”

"And you just had to get involved, didn’t you?" Her eyes blazed, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "Do you have any idea how reckless that was? You’re already fighting for your freedom, and now you’re out there throwing punches like it’s some street fight?"

I clenched my jaw, my irritation rising. "I can handle myself."

"You shouldn’t have to!" She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. "Maxine, you need to focus on your case, not—" She stopped herself, but I caught the way her eyes darkened. "Not on… other women.”

I narrowed my eyes. "Lovely?”

She crossed her arms on her chest, eyes glaring at me. “Oh so, now, she's lovely, huh? What? She looks lovely in your eyes now? She has a lovely face, is that it? She—”

“That's her name.” I cut her off before she could think of another ridiculous idea.

“Her… She… well.” She cleared her throat. She scoffed, looking away.

My lips curled into a smirk. “Are you jealous?”

Her head snapped back toward me, her glare cutting. "I am not."

"You are."

"I am not."

I leaned forward, ignoring the dull ache in my body. "Then why are you here, A’ishah?" My voice was softer now, the fight draining out of me as I searched her face. "Why do you care?”

For the first time, she hesitated. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she quickly shut them, her jaw tightening.

“Why are you still here, babi?” I asked so softly, I saw her body twitched.

“Stop calling me that.” She said, acting tough but her voice came out weak, soft like a marshmallow.

“Why not? We used to call each other babi.”

A’ishah’s fingers twitched slightly where they rested on the table, her nails digging into the wood. Her lips pressed together in a thin line, her jaw clenched so tightly I could see the tension running through her entire body. But she didn’t deny it.

She didn’t deny me.

I leaned forward just a little more, lowering my voice, knowing exactly what I was doing.

“Do you remember, babi?” I whispered, the word rolling off my tongue like honey.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“Tigilan mo yan, Maxine.” Her voice was firm, but I heard the waver in it.

I smirked. “Tigilan ang alin? Tawagin kang babi? Or… this?” My fingers grazed the table, inching closer to hers, close enough that if she just moved slightly, our hands would touch. She noticed. Of course, she did. A’ishah was always hyper-aware of me, just like I was of her.

She exhaled sharply and suddenly pushed her chair back, creating more space between us. I shouldn’t have felt that pang in my chest, but I did.

“I came here to talk to another client, not—” She gestured vaguely between us, her lips pursed, her composure cracking just a little. “Not this.”

I tilted my head, studying her. “You’re lying.”

“Excuse me?” Her eyes snapped to mine.

I leaned back, arms crossed over my chest, feigning nonchalance despite the heat in my blood. “You’re lying.” I repeated. “If this was just about another case, you wouldn’t be this worked up. You wouldn’t be scolding me about getting into fights, or about focusing on ‘other women.’” I made air quotes with my fingers, and her glare sharpened. “If you really didn’t care, A’ishah, you wouldn’t be here at all.”

Her hands curled into fists, knuckles whitening. “You don’t get to assume what I feel, Maxine.”

“Don’t I?” My voice was quiet now, softer. I searched her eyes, and in them, I saw the hesitation, the conflict, the battle she was fighting within herself.

She cared. She always had. And she hated that she still did.

I leaned forward again, dropping my voice to something just for us. “Babi…”

Her breath hitched.

My smirk widened. “Oh, you felt that.”

She abruptly stood up, nearly knocking her chair back in the process. The guards outside glanced our way, but she ignored them, her fists trembling at her sides. “I hope you’re taking your case seriously, Maxine.” Her tone was clipped, sharp. But her eyes. Damn, her eyes told me a different story. They lingered on me, conflicted, burning. “Because I am.”

I watched her turn on her heel, I thought she'll walk away like she always does. I thought she'll leave me alone yet again.

But then, she stopped.

Her shoulders tensed as if she was debating something in her head. For a moment, I thought she would shake it off and keep walking. But instead, she turned around, marched back to the table, and slammed a small first aid kit down in front of me.

I blinked.

She didn’t hesitate to go around the table, moving closer to me, completely ignoring the rules about physical distance during visitation. She knelt beside me, flipping the kit open with swift, precise movements. I watched in amusement, my lips twitching at the way she worked, efficient, focused, as if this was just another case she needed to handle.

“Hold still.” She murmured, pulling out an antiseptic wipe.

I raised a brow but stayed silent, just watching her as she carefully cleaned the small cut on my lip. She was gentle, her fingers steady despite the fire I knew was raging inside her. I could see it in the tight press of her lips, in the way her breath hitched every time her skin accidentally brushed mine.

“You know,” I started, smirking, “you’re awfully close, attorney. Pretty sure this is against visitation rules.”

She didn’t even look at me. “Shut up.”

I chuckled. “You used to like being close to me.”

Her hand stilled just for a second, barely noticeable, but I caught it. She quickly resumed dabbing at my wound, her jaw tightening.

“Atty. Alvarez.” One of the guards with a higher rank approached, his voice sharp with warning. “You’re breaking a rule. If you don’t return to your seat, we’ll have to ban you from visiting Colonel De Luna.”

A’ishah didn’t even flinch. She capped the antiseptic bottle, set it down, and turned her head slightly toward the guard.

Her expression is calm, but her eyes? Sharp. Calculated.

“Ban me?” She echoed, her tone so even it sent a shiver down my spine. “For what, exactly?”

“For breaking visitation protocols.”

“Hmmm…” She hummed, nodding slowly. “So let me get this straight. You are telling me that instead of allowing me to provide medical assistance to an injured detainee, something your staff should have done in the first place, you’re threatening to ban me?”

The guard shifted uneasily. “That’s not—”

She cut him off smoothly. “Under the Republic Act No. 9745, also known as the Anti-Torture Act, the denial of medical treatment constitutes inhumane treatment. Not providing medical attention to an injured detainee could be seen as neglect or, worse, as a form of mistreatment under custodial care.” She tilted her head. “Would you like me to file a formal complaint? I have plenty of free time.”

Damn.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Even after all this time, she still amazed me.

The guard hesitated, clearly unsure of what to do. Finally, after a long, tense silence, he let out a sigh and took a step back.

“Wag… w-wag niyo nalang pong ulitin sa susunod.” He muttered before walking away.

I turned back to A’ishah, raising a brow. “That was kinda hot.”

She glared at me, grabbing the bandage roll. “Shut up.”

“Yeah? Make me.”

She ignored me, wrapping the bandage around my knuckles with practiced ease.

I hissed a little as her fingers pressed against the raw skin of my knuckles, but I didn't pull away. Not because of the pain. Hell, I'd been through worse. But because I didn’t want to break whatever this was between us.

A'ishah was close. Too close. I could feel the warmth radiating from her, the way her breath fanned against my skin.

She was trying so damn hard to keep her composure, to act like this was just a simple first-aid procedure.

But I could see the slight tremor in her fingers when she grazed my wrist, feel the way her grip tightened just a fraction too much when she secured the bandage.

“You’re tense, babi.” I murmured, watching her reaction carefully.

She froze for just a second before scoffing under her breath. “You’re insufferable.”

I grinned, ignoring the way my stomach flipped at how easily that word babi rolled off my tongue.

“And yet, you’re still here.”

Her hands paused, resting lightly against mine, the heat of her touch sending a slow burn through me. She finally looked up, and damn, I wished she hadn’t. Because the second our eyes met, I felt that pull. That dangerous, all-consuming pull that had always existed between us.

Her gaze flickered down to my lips for a fraction of a second, so quick, so fleeting, but I caught it.

“Maxine.” She said, my name a quiet warning.

I leaned in just a little, lowering my voice. “Yes, attorney?”

Her nostrils flared. “I swear—”

“You missed a spot.” I cut her off, tilting my chin slightly.

She exhaled sharply, her frustration evident, but she didn’t back away. Instead, she lifted her hand, pressing the pad of her thumb against my bottom lip, wiping away whatever was left of the antiseptic.

I should’ve smirked. I should’ve teased her. But all I could focus on was the way her touch lingered just a second too long.

The air between us grew thick, electric.

She must’ve felt it too, because her breath hitched ever so slightly before she pulled her hand back, curling her fingers into a fist like she was trying to erase the feeling of me against her skin.

“Done.” She said, her voice clipped, but she was breathing just a little too fast.

I tilted my head. “Sure?”

Her jaw clenched. “Positive.”

I smirked, slowly flexing my bandaged hand. “Well, if you really wanted to take care of me, there are better ways to—”

“Maxine.”

God, the way she said my name. Firm, commanding, but laced with something she didn’t want to admit.

I grinned, letting my voice drop to something softer, something just for her. “Babi.”

Her fingers twitched, her throat bobbing as she swallowed hard.

She was about to say something, maybe something reckless, maybe something that would ruin us both, but then, the guard cleared his throat from a distance, breaking the moment.

A’ishah immediately straightened, stepping back like she’d been burned. She turned sharply toward the guard, her expression darkening with frustration.

"Are you seriously interrupting again?" She demanded, crossing her arms.

The guard shifted uneasily. "Ma’am, may protocol po kasi—"

"I know the damn protocols.” She cut him off, voice low but sharp. "But right now, I need a moment with her. In private."

The guard hesitated, glancing at me like I was some kind of threat. I only smirked in response, resting my chin on my palm as I watched A’ishah work her magic.

"If you have an issue.” She continued, her tone calm but edged with authority, "I’d be happy to bring this up with the warden. I’m sure he’d love to discuss why you’re interfering with a legal counsel’s right to speak privately with the accused."

The guard swallowed hard before finally exhaling in defeat. "Fine, ma’am. Five minutes."

"Good." A’ishah didn’t wait for him to protest. She turned back to me, only for the guard to hesitate near the door.

"Ma’am—"

"Now." Her eyes flashed with impatience, making it clear she wasn’t about to argue further.

With a final glance between us, the guard muttered something under his breath and stepped out, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.

I quietly stood up, closing the distance between me and A'ishah.

The moment she turned around, she barely had a second to react before she found me right there.

Standing close. So close that our lips almost touched.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her entire body tensing. Her hands twitched at her sides like she didn’t know whether to push me away or pull me closer.

I smirked. "That was hot."

She stiffened, her breath shuddering out between us. "Move.”

I didn’t. Instead, I lifted a hand, letting my knuckles ghost over the fabric of her blazer, right above her racing heartbeat.

"You’re nervous.” I whispered, my lips almost brushing hers.

"I’m not.” She shot back, but her voice wavered, betraying her.

I tilted my head, letting my breath tickle her skin. "Then why aren’t you stepping away, babi?"

Her jaw clenched. "Maxine."

"Say it again." I murmured. "Like you used to.”

She exhaled sharply, her resolve visibly cracking. For a moment, just a moment, her eyes flickered down to my lips again.

I smirked, leaning in just a little more. "You miss me."

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply like she was trying to gather the last remnants of her self-control.

I waited. Daring her.

But when she opened them again, her gaze had hardened, her lawyer persona slipping back into place like armor.

"I didn’t ask for privacy so you could flirt with me.” She said, voice steadier now.

"Then why did you?" I challenged.

She exhaled slowly, then finally, stook a step back, putting space between us. My smirk faltered for just a second at the loss of her warmth.

A’ishah looked at me, really looked at me. And this time, there was no teasing, no hesitation, just something heavy, something serious.

The room felt smaller now, the air thick with unspoken words. A’ishah stood in front of me, her expression unreadable, her eyes searching mine for something I wasn’t ready to give.

She inhaled, steadying herself before finally speaking.

"I wanted to tell you this in person.” She said, her voice even but careful, like she was bracing for impact. "Tomorrow, Alverson is getting released on parole."

For a second, all I heard was the faint buzzing of the fluorescent lights above us.

Then, the words settled in.

Alverson.

Fucking Alverson.

The man I fought tooth and nail to put behind bars. The man whose crimes I laid bare, whose conviction I had ensured with my own hands. The man I had won against, because justice needed to be served.

And now… he was walking free.

The slow burn in my chest erupted into a wildfire. My hands curled into fists, the bandages stretching over my knuckles as I clenched them.

"You—" I let out a sharp breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "You helped him get parole?"

A’ishah held my gaze. "Yes."

The way she said it so calm, composed, like it was nothing sent a hot wave of anger crashing over me.

I let out a hollow laugh, shaking my head. "Wow. Just… wow." I stepped back, running a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself. "I knew you had a thing for lost causes, A’ishah, but this?" My voice dropped, laced with bitter disbelief. "This is a fucking slap to the face.”

Her brows furrowed. "Maxine—"

"No.” I cut her off, my voice sharp as a blade. "Do you have any idea what I went through to put that bastard behind bars? Of course, you do! You saw it. You were there when I built that case from the ground up, when I—" My voice caught, anger turning into something rawer, something deeper. "When I broke myself making sure he paid for what he did. And now, you—" I let out a sharp, humorless chuckle, "you’re just… undoing it all? Like it was nothing?"

A’ishah’s jaw tightened. "It’s not like that.”

"Then what is it like?" I snapped, stepping closer again. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you just threw all of my hard work in the trash."

Her gaze darkened, and for the first time since this conversation started, I saw something flicker behind her carefully maintained walls.

"It’s important, Maxine." Her voice was lower now, steadier. "I need him out."

"For what?" I demanded, frustration lacing every syllable.

She exhaled sharply, looking away for just a second before fixing her gaze back on me. "I can’t tell you that yet."

I stared at her, incredulous. "Yet?" My laugh was bitter. "Yet?"

A muscle ticked in her jaw. "You have to trust me."

I scoffed. "Trust you?" I shook my head. "How the fuck am I supposed to trust you when every time I turn around, you’re standing on the opposite side of everything I’ve ever fought for?”

Something flashed in her eyes, hurt, maybe. But it wasn’t enough to cool the fire burning inside me.

I felt sick. Betrayed.

Because this wasn’t just about Alverson. This was about her.

About the fact that, once again, she had made a choice. And once again… she hadn’t chosen me.

My chest ached in a way I didn’t want to acknowledge.

"You always do this." I whispered, my voice quieter now, but no less sharp. "You always pick them over me.”

Her lips parted, as if she wanted to argue. But she didn’t.

She just stood there, watching me unravel. And that? That made me even angrier.

"Fuck this." I turned sharply, moving toward the door. "I’m done with this conversation."

"Maxine, wait—"

I felt her hand brush my wrist, warm and familiar, like the ghost of something I once craved.

I yanked my arm away.

"No.” I snapped, spinning back to face her. "You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to keep me in the dark while you go around making choices that ruin everything I fought for." My voice cracked, but I swallowed it down. "You don’t get to keep hurting me like this.”

For the first time, I saw the guilt in her eyes. The regret.

But regret meant nothing if she was still making the same choices.

I let out a shaky breath, stepping back. "Congratulations, Attorney Alvarez.” I said bitterly, my voice barely above a whisper. "You got what you wanted.”

Then, without another word, I turned on my heel and walked out, slamming the door behind me.

~~~

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