A few weeks ago, while I was in the RTC (Regional Trial Court) library, I noticed a Soroptimist ( trans: really fuckin' old lady; a rich matron with a whole damn lot of expensive antique jewelry) mestiza making some sort of a ruckus with the librarians asking some stuff about a particular AM (Administrative Matter) SC (Supreme Court) Circular about TROs (Temporary Restraining Orders). I wasn't eavesdropping but I can't help but overhear the clanking of her gold bracelets and their loud hollers at each other even though they were just a couple of feet from each other. Funny how most women talk. They get excited easily over nothing and shout like their conversation partners are a mile or two away. HOY, ALAM MO BA SI ANO...YAKITY-YAKITY-YAK. My mother does it, my mother-in-law does it, and every broad I know does the same when they are above forty years of age. I'm not worried too much if my lovely wife does it too when we get old. I'd probably be partially deaf by then.
In order to enjoy some piece and quiet while I research the latest jurisprudence on a particular kind of estafa, I approached the motley crew consisting of the two librarians and the nice old lady. Turned out that she was indeed looking for a relatively new SC AM/Circular concerning the issuance of TROs. Coincidentally, since I've passed the bar just last year, I still know some of the stuff I studied during my review. So I helped the matron and in effect, the librarians by pointing them to the right direction. At that point, I had no idea on who the old lady was and she was glad that a young lawyer in government service like me could help her get out of the bind she was in, whatever that is, I didn't bother to ask. So I got the books that I needed and headed back to the ratty old building which housed our ratty old office.
Just this morning, that same sparkling old lady opened the office door. She said, "Attorney, you're here pala."
Reflexively, I answered "Good Morning po. What can I do for you ma'am?" While at that particular moment having no goddam clue on who she was.
"You don't remember me no?" she said, looking through my eyes. I was never a good liar. At least to women.
"Of course I do po. We met in the library." That stream of information rushing through my brain serendepitously.
"Yes, thank you. You really helped me back then." It wasn't really much, I told her. I was just glad to help. The truth is, however, I just really wanted to make her shut the hell up back then.
Anyway, she was there, apparently to follow-up on a particular case filed in our sala. A Section 5. (Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9165; trans: drug trafficking) She's got a partial copy of the case record and told me that the accused is one of her care-takers in one of the real estate she owns. She said the man was wrongfully accused. They all think they are, I thought but didn't say. While I was going through the papers she brought along with her, and trying to explain to her in layman's language the status of the case, I noticed that my boss the Judge came out of the chambers and was looking at us.
"Ma'am, the judge is here." Almost instantaneously, she turned her back on me and approached my boss as if they were classmates in Kindergarten school. Relieved, I leaned on my comfortable desk chair and motioned to a stenographer for her to come to me.
"Do you know that old lady?" I asked.
"Attorney, I thought you knew her. You were talking to her as if you do." Answered Rina, one of our highly efficient yet still funny stenographers.
"No I don't. I was just being nice to her since I remember her from the library. You know I'm not good with names and faces." A lie. I wasn't being nice, I just wanted to make a good impression of myself with the library staff and make the old bag STFU.
"Well, she's one of the richest old ladies here in the City lang naman attorney. She's Dona Veronica...Vernie, her friends call her." Said Rina.
"Ohh, really." I answered while pretending not to care.
Then I found myself asking for the case records of that case and reviewed the same for a minute. I went inside the chambers and found the judge sitting in one of the visitor's chairs in front of his huge-assed mahogany desk while Vernie sat across him. The boss never does this unless the visitor is really fuckin' important. He doesn't even do it for the Mayor, other Judges, and even his good old childhood friend the postmaster. The boss was explaining the status of the case as I was trying to do a little while before as I handed him the case records opened to show his last order concerning this particular case. After a few sentences, and a little back-up from me, we conviced her that the accused is guaranteed a fair trial in our sala. Somewhat satisfied, the topic of the conversation was changed. After shooting some bull with the matron, concerning several charitable and social activities she spear-headed, the boss asked her how did she get to know me.
She related the library incident to my boss and made the impression that:
1. I was really nice and helpful; and
2. I am very intelligent.
According to her, other Clerks of Court don't know the law as well as I do. I saw that the judge believed her and I was trying my very best not too look too smug. That's one other thing I'm not too good at: appearing absolutely modest. I think I actually blushed, taking into consideration my unmistakingly kayumanggi skin tone. I was thinking "Not too bad, Jorge, not too bad at all."
Then, after shooting some more bull, and talking nonsense about other people who I don't really know too well or care about, I opened the chamber door as the boss had another appointment he can't afford to miss and it's my job to remind him about everything. She continued talking with the judge as we headed out to the main branch office when the boss surprisingly blurted out so that everyone there could hear, "Ah, you know, your documents are going to be in order, as it's gonna be handled by my Clerk of Court. When Jorge does the job, drafts of orders, resolutions, decisions...I don't even have to check it anymore." Wow.
Suddenly, my head, big as it already is, grew into about the circumference of one of Jupiter's moons. I didn't even know what those documents are going to be. I was just flustered by the fact that not only does my boss thinks I'm the best man he can have for the job, he deemed it wise to announce that fact in front of all my staff. Then I remembered that I haven't lit a cigarette since morning. I got out , escorted the rich old lady towards the building gate exit and had the best puffs I've had since I started this job.
Now I really believe that appearances are almost everything.
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