Rule #3: Changing The Rules

Prologue

This is the third installment of the Rule series.

WARNING: This story is UNEDITED. It may contain grammatical errors, inaccuracies with the real world in terms of profession, mature scenes and language that may not be suitable for all readers. Read at your own risk. Will edit once I find the time.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

***

Life is truly unpredictable.

One day, you're on top of the pyramid, then suddenly you feel your whole world crashing down in an abyss.

I watched as my mother paced back and forth in our living room. She's panicking. She almost threw her glass filled with bourbon across the room out of frustration. Maski ako, hindi na rin malaman ang gagawin o kung paano ba namin malulusutan 'to.

"Stupid man! Now we even have to get him out of there!" our mother said in anger.

I glanced at Kuya who looked so calm. He doesn't look bothered at all. How can he sit still like that after what happened?

"What are we going to do now? No one's taking the case. Despite how much money we are willing to pay, no one's willing to take it! We even lost our damn family lawyer!" Mommy panicked. "Kahit sina Mama at Papa ayaw akong tulungan! Not even my brothers or your father's siblings!"

Kuya sighed. "Let him be, then. Kung totoo ngang—"

"Do you hear yourself, Elijah? He's your father!"

I know he never had a good relationship with Daddy. Maski ako, hindi na rin siya kilala. Yet, no matter how much we deny it, he's still our dad, dugo pa rin niya ang nanalantay sa dugo namin.

"I didn't know I still have one..." Kuya murmured and looked away.

Our mother glared at him, before she slapped him hard. I gasped as Kuya's face turned to his other cheek. Rinig na rinig ang malakas na sampal na ginawad niya kay Kuya.

"You ungrateful child!" she shouted. "Is that what we taught you? Your father risked everything for you, he fed you, he clothed you, he gave you that position in the company and all you can say is let him be?!"

Kuya's jaw clenched as I covered my mouth out of shock. Mommy's clearly in distress. Wala na kami maisip na solusyon sa problemang ito. It doesn't even help that no lawyer would want to handle this case. We used all our connections, but it seemed like someone blocked all of it. It's hopeless.

"Mommy, calm down—"

"How can I calm down, Elisse?!" she hysterically cried. "Your father is in jail! How can the two of you calm down like this? Wala na ba talaga kayong pakialam sa ama niyo?"

Halos bumagsak si Mommy sa sahig dahil sa pag-iyak niya. I looked at our mother pitifully. Paanong buong-buo pa rin ang pagmamahal niya kay Daddy pagkatapos ng lahat? Shouldn't she despise him? Hate him?

Mommy wiped her tears before her gaze went to me. She stared at me until her expression changed. She looked like she realized something. There was a slightest inch of hope on her face. Parang nagliwanag ang mukha niya sa iniisip.