"THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEA"

Three years later, Aljon and Mary Francis returned from abroad. They continue their lives as a judge. Because of Mary Francis's extraordinary knowledge, she immediately became a judge in a justice department in a city where she met the philanthropist and lawyer Georgina Gomez and Atty Marites Guadalquiver.

In a law office, Mary Francis works as a city judge. Aljon and Mary Francis always arrived at the office together and today this was her first day at the office arrive alone. She had already prepared a folder of a case that she would handle in the next few days. Then she looked at the three cubicles of Aljon, Gina, and Tess. And she looked at the wall clock and it was already eight o'clock in the morning and Tess and Gina had not arrived yet in the office.

"They are late," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. And she started to open the folder while sitting on her chair.

"Ysabella VS Gomez Lab," she said as she read the folder while she was checking the evidence and some of the statement alibi of the defendant and the statement of the accused when suddenly Gina arrives and greeted her.

"Good morning, Judge J, why are you up so early today? and why isn't Judge Vargas here?" Georgina asked her while smiling at him. Mary Francis immediately closed the folder and then looked back at Aljon's cubicle and she looked back at Georgina again.

"Ah, yes, Aljon and Ava are on a date starting today. They were celebrating their two-year anniversary and I've heard they're going to Baler or Tagaytay maybe, I am not sure but they'll be back in a week." Mary Francis replied and turned her gaze back to the folder on her desk. She was worried about Atty Gomez's reaction when she saw the folder.

"Sana all, they are dating again? So sweet, Miss Ava was so lucky to have Judge A. Aside from being handsome, hot and he was so gentleman. And you know what, to be honest, Judge J, I didn't know that you and Judge Aljon are siblings. At first, I thought that you guys were a couple. But when Judge A told me that you guys were siblings that's why I confirmed the closeness that you guys have for each other." Georgina said and she slowly stepped forward closer to Mary Francis then she held her arm and then she said.

"When I can find a man just like Judge Aljon? And what If, you and I will find a date this weekend? Let's join the dating game on TV. That is so much fun." Georgina said while looking into her eyes.

"Hell no!" Mary Francis raises the tone of her voice when she hears that from Georgina. She knows Georgina. Whatever the woman wants she can easily get it especially she has a name in public as the famous philanthropist.

"But, why?" Georgina asks her. And then she replied.

"I don't want to be involved with any guys, I am not ready, and besides I am too busy for this case as the City Mayor and the City council want me to keep an eye with this case. And give my hundred percent of focus on this." Mary Francis said as she was pertaining on the case of Ysabella where the Gomez lab was involved and Georgina looked at the folder that was lying on Mary Francis' desk.

"That case," Georgina said while looking at the folder.

"I am not sure if my dad was involved in that case, but my best friend and I were doing our own investigation," Georgina said.

"What do you mean? I thought the police already completed their investigation and why are trying to be a detective.?" Mary Francis said.

"Remember? We have a Private Investigation Firm; besides, I want to clear my family's name on this case. That's why I am trying to get proof that they were innocent." Georgina said and Mary Francis saw her sincerity when Georgina explained to her.

"Gina, you have to be careful; and going back to the first topic, don't be jealous of others if don't have a boyfriend, you're beautiful and besides I remember a guy was looking for you yesterday here in the office, I just can't remember the name. he's handsome and H~Hot," Mary Francis said. when Georgina hears the word coming from Mary Francis's mouth as this is the first time that the serious judge mentioned those words.

"Did I hear it clearly; you describe a man as handsome and hot? That's new huh?" Georgina said and her eyes noticeably widened as she was so shocked at what she heard on Mary Francis.

"Lord, this is a sign that Judge J will meet a handsome and hot man soon. She knows how to flirt with a man now using his sinful eyes." Georgina said as she acted like she was praying.

"Gina?" She reprimanded her colleague.

"Sorry, but did you know, Who?" Georgina asked as she was thrilled with what Mary Francis said.

"I am not sure but... [trying to remember the name] his name sounds like it's in a constellation." Mary Francis said. But suddenly they are terrified when Atty Guadalquiver arrives in the office and looks terrified and restless. They noticed that her pink blouse had a tear and her hair was also messy. And this is the first time they saw their colleague like this.

"Tess, what is going on?" Mary Francis said. While Georgina's eyebrows raise when she saw her colleague's neck was full of hickey and when her colleague noticed that she is staring on her neck the woman immediately covered it with her scarf.

"How many times have I told you Atty. Guadalquiver not slam the door when you enter the office. Boss Nikki will scold me again for this. And wait, what's going on with you?" Mary Francis asked as she saw Marites anxious and still peeking out the window as if she was peeking at someone outside their office.

"Tess? Are you okay?" Georgina asks worriedly about her colleague.

"Someone is chasing me," Tess replied as she peeked out the window again. But out of curiosity, Mary Francis asked her again.

"Let me get a glass of water, wait for me," Georgina said and she immediately went to the office kitchen to get some glass of water. Meanwhile, Tess was still looking outside of the window and still scared.

"Who? And what did you do at this time?" She asked Tess again but the woman was still anxious until Georgina came and she gave a glass of cold water to Tess. The woman starts to calm down after she drinks cold water and takes something out of her pocket and then she shows this to Gina and Mary Francis.

"Thank you, Gina, but the reason why they were looking for me. because of this." Tess said as she showed the pearl to Gina and Mary Francis.

"What is that?" Gina asks.

"I am not human but not a superhuman. I am a product of human and a Magindara." Tess revelation to her officemate. And Mary Francis recognized the pearl that she was holding.

"So, you mean you are a mermaid? I've read a lot of things about mythology like Gaia, but where did you get that pearl and who is the owner of that pearl?" Georgina asks Tess.

"Hold on before you answer that question, Congressman Rodriguez and his wife are coming." Mary Francis said while she was staring at the TV monitor where outside Congressman Rodriguez and his wife was getting closer to the door of their office. Including a few body guards. And Tess and Gina also saw this.

"You have to hide," Mary Francis said while she looked around the office.

"But where?" Gina asks.

"She can hide in my office, follow me quick!" Mary Francis said.

"What about me, Judge J?" Gina asks.

"They will not hurt you, just welcome them and if they were looking for me just tell them I am in my office." Mary Francis said.

"She will get caught," Gina said worriedly to Tess.

"Just trust me I have a plan." Mary Francis said and they immediately went inside of her office room.

While they are inside the room, Mary Francis shows Tess her pearl.

"Do you trust me, Tess?" Mary Francis asks.

"Wait, that is the ~" Tess didn't finish what she was trying to say when Mary Francis covered her mouth using her left hand.

"I am a Siren, and yes this is the pearl of the Orient Sea. But just trust me, I will help you." Mary Francis said and she started to cast a spell using the pearl. Where the woman turns into a goldfish which she immediately puts on her aquarium.

"We don't have much time, Tess; this is the only way that you will be saved from those bastards." Mary Francis said and then the door of her room opened when the bodyguards of Congressman Rodriguez and his wife entered her room. She turns around to the door when slowly Cong. Rodriguez and his wife enter her room and they are so upset by what Tess did on them.

"Mr. Rodriguez and Miss Cecelia, what makes you come here? can I help you?" Mary Francis asks.

"Miss Jabagat, nice to meet you again," Cecelia said.

"It's Judge Jabagat, Miss Cecelia Rodriguez we are here in my office and I am still on my work hours so you should call me Judge Jabagat or Judge J for short." Mary Francis said while she acted like nothing happened.

"Why don't you guys have a seat," Mary Francis said and she also sat on her chair. While Georgina acts normal in fact she gave their unexpected visitor a tea.

"Thank you, Gina. Did you know Mr. Rodriguez and Miss Cecelia that tea, I bought it from Thailand. You must try." Mary Francis said and she calmly smiled to her visitors.

"We don't want to waste your precious time, Judge Jabagat. We are here to find your friend, Atty. Marites Guadalquiver as she stole a precious gemstone from my house." Mr. Rodriguez said while the man couldn't look at his wife's face.

"Hmnn, interesting! [ took a deep breath and stood up from her chair and faced her visitors] But what did my friend do in your house Congressman Rodriguez?" Mary Francis asks. She saw Mr. Rodriguez's face turn red while her wife tried to hide her emotion.

"They slept together in my house, I catch them. They had an affair with my husband [while her voice is rising] but that's not important for now, I saw your friend. Stealing an important thing came from my pearl collection. That pearl was very important as this was given by my granny before she died." Cecelia said while faking her tears.

"Unfortunately, she is not here but don't worry you guys can still search for her in my office, this is not big, and feel free to search for her, and if you find her beat her up. I don't care! That woman deserves a lesson. Also, she was a headache for me lately," Mary Francis said and the bodyguards of Congressman Rodriguez searched the whole place. While Mary Francis went outside with Georgina.

"How many times have I told her to stop involving herself with a married man? And this is what will happen to a flirty woman." Georgina said.

"We can't judge her just only for her doings. We always open the benefit of the doubt. Even though were judge, I dont use this label to judge others but we have to listened both sides first. Keep that in your mind" Mary Francis said and suddenly Georgina get's terrified when she saw a footage of Tess escaping from the Rodriguez mansion.

"Oh my gosh, someone posted on the internet about the incident, this is a bad image for Congressman Rodriguez especially right now he was planning to be the next mayor of the city," Georgina said and she shows to Mary Francis the recorded video when Tess was running from Mrs. Rodriguez's bodyguard and Congressman Rodriguez stops his wife.

"Tess" Mary Francis said while she shook her head from side to side to express her disappointment on Tess.

TO BE CONTINUED...