Chapter 1

When can we say that a person is worth defending? When he is already accused? When he already received a death threat? When he has money? When he's already dead?

Ako, hindi ko alam. All I know is that I don't care about him. I don't care about that freakin' billionaire. Even if they made me his lawyer, I will not and will never defend him. Hindi ko gagamitin ang aking propesyon bilang isang abogado para lang ipagtanggol ang isang siraulong katulad niya.

Pero kung para sa kapatid ko naman, ibang usapan na 'yan.

Balak ko sanang dalawin sa hospital ang kapatid kong may sakit kaya ito ako ngayon, bumibili ng mga prutas para maibigay sa kaniya. "Siguradong magugustuhan niya 'to." Kumuha ako ng isang basket ng assorted fruits at binayaran kaagad.

I hopped into my car while bringing the fruits with me. I know that Jayron, my beloved little brother, will like these fruits, especially apples. Nagmaneho agad ako papunta sa hospital. Hindi naman 'yon ganoon kalayo kaya nakarating agad ako matapos ang ilang minuto.

"Miss," I called the nurse at the front desk of the hospital. T-in-ext kasi ako ni Mama na naiba raw ng kwarto si Jayron para mas ma-obserbahan pa raw ang kalagayan niya. Pagka-text niya sa akin ay nagpunta agad ako rito. "Nasaan po 'yong kwarto ni Jayron Villeza?" I asked politely.

The nurse smiled at me with her wide eyes. "K-Kayo po ba s-si Attorney Christine Villeza? 'Yong nagpakulong sa sindikato ni Congressman?" She looked very starstruck even if I'm not a TV artist. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na bago lang pala siya rito kaya pala ngayon niya lang din ako nakita sa personal. "Pwede pong magpa-picture?"

I smiled at her and bowed for a little. "Sure, no problem." Nang itinapat na niya sa'min ang camera ay inayos ko muna ang suot kong black suit at brief case bago ngumiti. Mabuti na lang rin at nakapag-makeup ako.

Nang matapos na siya ay sinabi na niya sa akin ang room number ni Jayron at nagpasalamat.

Fifth floor, room 237. Malaki kasi ang hospital na ito at napakarami ring doktor at nurse kaya dito ko napiling ipagamot si Jayron. Sigurado akong matututukan siya rito. Nang magbukas na ang elevator door ay lumabas na ako at hinanap ang kwarto kung nasaan ang aking kapatid. I was excited to bring these fruits to him so my walking pace went faster.

"Room 237. Oh, there it is." Pagpasok ko ay may isang doktor at maraming nurse ang nasa loob.

I was about to enter, but a nurse rushed outside and called another nurse to help them. Help them for what? Nagmadali akong pumasok sa kwarto at nakita ang nangyayari sa kapatid ko. "Undress him quickly!"

"CHARGE TO 120 JOULES! Cleared!" Nang hindi pa rin nagiging stable ang lagay ni Jayron ay sinubukan pa rin nilang ulitin. "Prepare the epinephrine, 2ml!"

"CHARGE TO 200 JOULES!" After the doctor shouted it, his assistant nurse set up the machine and nodded. "Cleared!"

Jayron's chest responded to the electric charge from the defibrillator. Tumaas ang dibdib nito't bumaba muli. Napatitig na lang ako sa ginagawa nila dahil nataranta na ang isipan ko. "W-What's happening-?"

"Ma'am, sorry you can't be here at the moment-!"

I halted the nurse as well. "I'm the patient's sister for God's sake!" Bumuhos na ang luha mula sa aking mga mata. "J-Just tell me what's happening to him, please?"

"The patient has cardiac arrest, Ma'am. Some terminologies can't be understandable by a lawyer so, please. We will save your brother."

As soon as she said that, she immediately shut the door.

Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi pwedeng mawala pa sa amin si Jayron! Nawalan na ako ng ama dahil sa parehong sakit. S-Sana naman ay hindi na ito maulit sa kapatid ko!

Ilang minuto ako naghintay at wala pa ring lumalabas mula sa kwarto ni Jayron. My phone suddenly vibrated from my pocket so I immediately got it. Nang makita ko'y nakasulat ang pangalan ni Atty. Jelsey Santos, tumatawag. She was my best friend and an attorney-at-law as well. I answered the call even if I was sobbing in pain. "W-What's the catch, J-Jelsey?"

"Are you crying, Christine?" I heard some keyboard clicking over the phone. She must be busy with her work right now. "What happened?"

"It d-doesn't matter if you'll know it right now, J-Jelsey." I tried to compose myself and breathe heavily. "Why did you call?"

She stopped from typing, to which I've heard over the phone, and heaved a heavy sigh. "I have a case for you."

My brows furrowed. "I'm preoccupied right now."

"It's worth a million, Christine! For your brother!"

Natigilan ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Napatingin ako sa pintuan ng kwarto ni Jayron at bahagyang humikbi. Kailangan kong gawin 'to. "What's the info?"

She clicked her tongue and said, "You need to drive here to my home office, Christine. He's here, acquitted with murder and another serious physical injury. If this son of a bitch is really a criminal, I might be as good as dead now." There's something in her voice. Something like disgust to someone else.

Kapatid ko lang ang nasa isip ko habang papunta sa office niya. Bakit ko nga ba iniwan ang aking nag-aagaw buhay na kapatid sa hospital? Para lang sa isang milyon? Para sa pera?

Oo. Kailangan ko ng pera para mas maipagamot ang aking kapatid. Naubos na ang perang natanggap ko nang manalo ako laban sa Congressman na may sindikato rito sa Manila. Lahat ng pera, bonus, at incentives na natanggap ko'y naipangpagamot ko na sa aking kapatid. Kailangan niyang mabuhay! Marami pa siyang pangarap gaya ng ibang bata d'yan.

Pagkatapos kong ipakita ang ID ko sa village guard kung saan ang office ni Jelsey ay pinalagpas na ako nito. I drove as fast as I could 'til I reached her house. Yes, this grand mansion was her house and her home office as well. Nasa tabi ng bahay niya ang home office niya, pero nasa ibang lugar dito sa Pasig ang law firm at law office niya.

"Nandito na si Attorney Christine, Ma'am!" Her maid shouted to her office.