What Made Him Tenth On His First?

It is time to give peace to one another according to the order of the mass. I gave peace to my side and my back, and when Professor Diwa turned back to give peace to me, I felt stunned all of a sudden. I could have sat beside him. If it were finally time to sing the "Our Father", I would have held his gentle hand for a short moment as I feel the Lord's Spirit come upon me. Still, calmly, he gives his peace with grace. I do not flinch with his peace. Instead, I said it back and kept a straight face though I was stunned.

After the mass, I decided to the suspected one. I believe he is the most suspicious of them all. I decided to walk right up to him and say my words.

"Good morning, Attorney," I say kindly to the young lawyer.

"Ah, Mistress Aguinaldo," he says in the same manner. "How are you? Where is Mister Macedo?"

"He is, well, uh. . ." I cannot find the lie to tell him. Why can I not conceive a lie to cover the fact that he is drugged and in a coma? This is hopeless. I decided to tell him the truth. "To be honest, he is in the ICU because he was drugged and he is in a coma."

I expect him to be aghast, but he does not even flinch. It was as if he hears a man be drugged into a coma every day. It is as if he is a cancer doctor himself who diagnoses cancer every day.

"When did this happen?" he asks bluntly. "Can you name a person you suspect?"

"It happened a few days ago," I say.

"Please be specific, Rosanna," he says coldly.

"It happened last Friday," I say specifically enough. "My former professor told me that the name of the lady that drugged us was Ysabel Javier. He seems to be of an acquaintance to him and as far as we have investigated, she is also the mastermind of the mafia."

"And where is this professor?" he asks. "Can you tell me his name?"

"Professor Diwa of Ferrydell University," I say confidently enough.

"Diwa?" he asks. "Arthur Diwa?"

"No, his name is David Diwa," I correct him. "Although the man you call Arthur might be related to him."

"Listen, Rosanna," he says. "The Diwas are part of the elite through their political influence. Their silent life began with Arthur Diwa twenty-two years ago. They have not become involved with secret affairs, but the very surname still has its effect. And this David Diwa might be their child in their silent life. Now, it seems that this professor has begun taking part in the affairs of the elite after twenty-two years of silence."

"But Professor Diwa is in his late twenties," I say in his defense. "He is probably in his early thirties. He can't be the son of a Diwa that has been silent for twenty-two years."

"I do not know much about the family either," he says. "But, I tell you this. Lerine Concepcion, the wife of the CEO of the RSC, is the running mate of Arthur Diwa as this city's vice-mayor, with Lerine as the mayor. She was still known as Lerine Suarez back then before she married Raphael. As if by the sudden change, Arthur quit running for vice-mayor. Instead, he lived a rather quiet life with his wife, Catherine. That was twenty-three years ago. After she won as mayor on the mid-elections, she married Raphael and had a daughter with him a year later."

Still, I cannot understand what this young lawyer means. "And what does that mean?" I inquire for his point.

"Everything, Rosanna," he says. "If the Diwas are beginning to rise again through their revived interest in the business of elite, surely they plan to return to ruling the city and possibly, our region."

I do not understand his worries. Professor Diwa shows no signs of craving power. In fact, he somehow has a passion for teaching. I doubt he will replace his job for a position in the government. He may come from the formerly powerful Diwa family, but that does not make him like his father.

"Oh, please, Attorney," I say in a carefree manner. "What can a lowly university professor do? I do not think he is planning something."

"No, but as a professor of a school centered for the elite, there can be no doubt of his influence on his students," he says seriously. "He might have influenced you, Rosanna. You just do not know it."

As a lawyer, he sees things in a much different perspective than a journalist. I see through him as a person. He sees through him through his actions and background. In his personality, I do not see a power-hungry individual that seeks the return of his political dynasty. No, I only see a passionate teacher willing to guide his students in the right. There's no convincing this young lawyer that Professor Diwa is just a regular teacher.

"Attorney, I do not care about Professor Diwa," I say. "Frankly, he was acting like a college student himself when he was our professor back then. Now, he's all haughty and serious."

"It's strange that I have no knowledge of his birth. Mr. de la Rama ordered me to know everything about every elite family in the country. I know for a fact that ever since the birth of his second child, he started finding a bride for him. Mistress Emma instantly fit the part because she is in the same age and it would resolve any friction RSC and Rade ever had."

"That is why I tell you. He is nothing. Given that he knows Ysabel and claims that she is the true heir of the RSC, what – "

"Oh, a claimant? What claims does she have?"

I did not expect that in every word I tried convincing him that a lowly college professor is no threat; he goes on and takes notice of a claimant I mentioned. The girl is literally out of the line of succession for any property her father has. As the law of this country says, an illegitimate child is not qualified for inheritance if the predecessor does not acknowledge he/she as the heir. Clearly, Raphael is stubborn to acknowledge Ysabel as his heir.

"Attorney, I know nothing," I say flatly. "I only investigate."

Still, I still cannot remove my suspicion on him. He was quick to help us in everything we do. I honestly think he has his own hidden agenda like a double-dealing man that would lead me into a trap and get what he wants. Or, he could be that he means well and does this with the intention of helping a mutual friend. I cannot understand this man.

On the other hand, I turn my attention once more on the unknown lover. The priest has not been helpful at all. I saw four men that are familiar to me, but neither of them is likely to be the one.

The doctor is certainly not the unknown lover. He was in the presence of her parents when he gave the diagnosis. He can't have been the lover. Plus, he's too old. Next is Professor Diwa. It seems possible, but he does not seem to fit the "son of the enemy and kindred spirit part". I know he is no kindred spirit to Emma. They are so different in many ways I can list. Professor Diwa is a fun-loving kindly professor in his youth as our teacher. Emma, back then, was just a silent girl going about her own business, but she is famed for her skills and beauty. Also, as a Diwa, I am sure his social standing is high in society. I doubt he's a peasant.

Carlos is an economist and her former lover. He can't have been the lover as he has given the riddle that is the key to finding him. As for the young attorney, he is the one I truly do not know. As a lawyer, he may have been born poor, a self-made person at least. He may be a kindred spirit to her. He may be the son of the enemy. Also, behind that Nathan first name, I think it is just a shortened form of "Jonathan".

I cannot derive a conclusion. I might suspect the young lawyer as the man, but I do not know him as a person. On the following day, I decided to attend the evening mass. I went early as I wanted to get a private talk with the priest. Then, I saw him preparing for the mass. I kneel on the kneeler as I try to get his attention. I pretended to pray solemnly so that he might see that I am troubled. And, once I feel him sit by my side, I rise from the kneeler and sit beside him.

"Troubles once more, young lady?" the priest asks kindly.

"It's the same old problem, father," I say in almost a whisper.

"I believe he went to the mass yesterday," he says. "You might have had a glimpse or talk with him."

"Father, spare my agony," I beg. "Please tell me who he is."

This priest is truly the most unusual one I know. He adheres to his vows as a priest and he did not even dare reveal words said in a confessional. Did that girl make the priest swear silence just like her wicked half-sister? This priest, however, may only be doing his duty, and I should commend him for that, but my suspicious nature has led me to think the opposite.

"Child, I cannot say anything," he says. "I believe, your friend truly wanted to keep it all a secret. What I know are things you should not know."

"Father, help me," I ask once more. "I beg of you."

He sighs with my impertinence. I know inside him that he wants to tell me the truth but he has his own reasons why he cannot do so. The identity is a great help for me for it would remove one problem I have in my mind. This is also an act of open defiance against her father for all the insults he threw at me every time I'm with her.

"Do you know Romy Felizar?" he asks.

"Let me guess, is he another elite?" I ask.

"A possible heir, yes," he answers. "Member of the elite? Yes, but through a lateral claim. Anyway, I suggest you find him. He knows the man and he would most certainly help you if you say you do it in the name of your friend. He knows your friend. He lives around here, nearby."