The Trial

I clasped my trembling hands together as the cops took me and brought me to the court.

It was the first day of the trial of my case. I was seated in the chair where the defendant should sit. My heart was beating so fast. I was so nervous.

I looked around and saw Nicholai's family. I was looking at them, and not even once they glanced at me. It was apparent that they were furious. I smiled bitterly. Neither one of my family was not here. They really abandoned me.

The trial was about to begin, but I still didn't see Philip.

My eye accidentally caught Cheni, who was confidently sitting in front. She looked at me with a sarcastic smile.

My nervousness tripled.

What if Cheni did something to Philip?

My God! I would never forgive myself if something happened to him because of Cheni.

Judge Conrad Aguirre suddenly spoke, so I turned to him.

"Where is your attorney, Mrs. Acosta?" he asked while his forehead was creasing.

My mouth fell open. I wanted to speak, but nothing came out because of nervousness.

"Do you have your attorney? Or do we need to get you one so we can proceed with the trial?" he added, which made me even more nervous.

No! I didn't want a different lawyer.

Where was Philip now? Did he leave me too? And the worst was, it was the first day of my trial.

People started muttering inside the courtroom. My hands trembled more, and I felt like crying.

Shit! Shit! Don't you dare cry now, Denima!

We all turned to the door when it suddenly opened loudly. A panting Atty. Kraius Montreal got inside as if he was running from a marathon. He combed his disheveled hair using his fingers and walked towards us.

"I'm sorry for being late. Atty. Philip Aragon is in the hospital and can't make it. I will be the attorney of the accused today," he said directly. His jaw was clenching, and he obviously looked angry.

My eyes widened at what I heard. I looked at Atty. Montreal, who was now in front of me.

"W-what happened to Philip?" I asked. Worries washed over me.

"Philip is fine. Just focus on your trial, Mrs. Acosta," he said seriously while sitting in the chair next to me. "Just stick with Philip's plan and tell them everything that happened that day."

***

My heart sank when Cheni sat down as a witness. She stated the witness oath, and I couldn't help but scoff because I knew, later on, she would indeed lie.

"Miss Cheni Ibanez. How are you related to the victim?" asked her attorney Atty. Bailey.

"He's a friend. I already knew him before he married Denima," Cheni replied calmly.

"Can you tell us why you are in their house that day?" Atty. Bailey.

"Denima and I were supposed to meet at Dreame Café, but something came up, so I told her that I would just visit her. I finished what I did right away, so I thought of just visiting her at their house. When I arrived, the gate was open, so I got inside. There, I saw Denima holding a knife and stabbed Nicholai in the chest. She was even smiling after stabbing him."

"That's not true! You're lying!" I shouted. My hand trembled with anger. Smiling? How could she say that! I was scared and not smiling at that time.

"Order in the court!"

"Continue, Miss Ibanez."

"I called 911 and told her to help Nicholai, but she didn't do it. So after I called, I checked on Nicholai, and thankfully he's still alive. I pressed my shawl on Nicholai's wound to slow the bleeding. Until the ambulance arrived as well as the police. "

"Is that all, Miss Ibañez?" Atty. Bailey asked.

"Yes, Atty," Cheni replied while glancing in my direction.

"That's all your honor."

"Do you have the weapon of the crime?" Judge Aguirre asked.

"Yes, your honor," Atty. Bailey called the forensic investigator.

The forensic investigator brought the knife. It was inside a plastic bag.

"The fingerprint of the accused was on the knife, and the blood matched the victim," Atty. Bailey said to the judge.

I frowned when I saw him look at Atty. Montreal with a sarcastic look.

After Atty. Bailey, Atty. Montreal would be next to ask some questions for cross-examination. He stood up and looked so serious as he approached Cheni.

"Miss Ibañez. How well do you know the defendant?" Atty. Montreal.

"I knew her too well. I am her best friend. All her secrets she tells me," she confidently said while raising her tight brow.

I clenched my fist. Yes, I told her everything that happened to my life. My secrets. Everything. And that was what I regretted the most. I trusted a snake.

"You said that you are her best friend and she told you everything, even her secret. That means that you already know that her husband was hurting her, but you didn't even do anything to help her—“

"Objection, your honor!" Atty. Bailey shrieked. She angrily turned to Atty. Montreal.

Atty. Montreal back-off. He continued talking without minding Atty. Bailey.

"—Instead, you are here standing as a witness to the person who hurt your best friend. Is that a bit odd? Am I right, Miss Ibañez?"

"Objection, your honor! Mr. Montreal is badgering my witness," Atty. Bailey snarled as she stood up.

"Order in the court!" Judge Aguirre said while hammering the gavel. "Objection Sustained."

"The accused said that you knew her situation and you are also willing to help her. She sent you the picture of her bruises made by Mr. Acosta. You even said to delete the photo after sending it. Is it true, Miss Ibañez? "

"It's not true. Yes, she told me that her husband was beating her, but I know it's not true. Nicholai will never hurt her. She just said that so I could help divorce her husband because she loves someone else," Cheni replied.

"Do you mean that Mrs. Acosta didn't take a picture of you, and you didn't delete the picture? Is that a yes, Miss Ibañez?"

"Yes," she answered confidently.

"Okay. You also said a while ago that you bailed her that morning because something came up. Care to tell me where you are that morning?"

Cheni didn't answer right away. I looked at her, and she looked kind of tense.

"I'm in my house that morning," she replied.

I saw Atty. Montreal smirked and then went back to our table. He took the brown envelope that was on the table and walked around, and handed the envelope to Judge Aguirre.

"Inside the envelope are the evidence that Miss Ibañez is lying. It was recorded in the CCTV footage outside Dreame Café. Miss Ibañez arrived first in the café. When Mrs. Acosta arrived, she didn't approach her but instead just waited on the corner until Mrs. Acosta left the cafe and went home. Another footage is where Miss Ibañez followed Mrs. Acosta after a couple of minutes. "

I saw how the color had disappeared from Cheni's face. I wanted to laugh. She was such a liar. I bet she was the one who took the picture of me and that guy who approached me inside the café, and sent it to Nicholai.

"Another evidence is contradicting her statement about the picture of Mrs. Acosta's bruises. We retrieved the message with the picture sent to Miss Ibañez number a week prior to the day the incident happened," Atty. Montreal continued.

"With that evidence, I want to charge Miss Ibañez of Perjury for intentionally lying after swearing to tell the truth to the court. Everything that she said to the court as a witness will not be credible and cannot be used against the accused. "