CHAPTER 11

I nodded and watched her, she said, she already ate her early dinner, at ako rin, halos busog pa ako dahil ginawa ko ang blueprint at mga plates kanina sa opisina ko.

"Diyan na ako sa gilid, sa banda ng pader," sabi ko at hinubad ang damit, I crawled in her bed and going there while she was still fixing the large pillows.

Parang pinaghandaan talaga ang lagi kong pagbisita rito. Her bed was a combination of blue and pink. Na halata namang akin iyong nasa tabi ng pader.

A thunderous sound scattered as she quickly went to me, I chuckled and held her head as I laid down with her, kumidlat pa at agad niyang hinila ang kumot. The lightning and thunder attcked again as she went nearer, her face was touching my chest. I felt her breathing was really bad.

"Takot ka?" tanong ko.

"How mean? Nakita mo nang takot ako 'di ba?"

Tumawa ako at niyakap siyang muli. We were cuddling until we both slept.

Kinabukasan nasa kama na lang niya ako nang mag-isa. I groaned and this girl is leaving me literally alone, kinuha ko ang damit ko at lumabas ng kwarto niya.

"Ivo, they are my Titos," sabi niya kaagad sa akin.

Nakita ko ang mga Tito niyang mga pulis.

"Kilala ko si Cheif, Ninong ni Kuya Rad," I smirked at her. "Si Tito Arnel, kapatid ng asawa niya ang Mama mo, 'di ba? Zallega siya, Zuri."

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin habang bumabati ako.

"Sa kwarto ka niya natulog?" Ate Jada asked dirtily.

Tumango ako at parang tanga na kinuha ang punto niya. Nakapagpaalam ako nang maayos sa kanilang lahat at nasulyapan ko pa si Zuri.

"Uwi na 'ko..."

Tumango naman siya at ngumiti. That Sunday morning, I went to my meeting in Manila Pen, hindi ko naman alam na may meeting din doon si Daddy, it was like a closed door meeting that was guarded and I am here, his son, stand standing outside like a stranger who would hurt him.

Ang matindi pa, na-cancel ang meeting. I groaned at my phone and I was about to leave when the opened the restaurant.

"Son, you've been standing there for how long?"

"I was just waiting for someone but he cancelled so I have to leave now."

Sinamahan namin nila Kuya si Mommy sa isang opening ng isang brand at heavily guarded kaming apat.

"It was so boring!" I said and strolled.

I saw my brothers whispering some things to where they are. Pasimple akong dumalo at humagikgik sila, they dragged me out of the place as we went out of the mall.

"Car racing," sabi ni Kuya Achilles at nakita ang McLaren niya at ang Ford Mustang ni Kuya Rad sa basement.

I followed them using my Bugatti as they stopped somewhere at may café sa tapat no'n.

Ang tatanda na nila, they can still think to sneak out, and do this ans and I can't help but to think while I was following them that did they enjoyed their lives as they grew up in just Dad's guidance?

Binati sila ng iilan at naupo, I spaced out and ordered as I saw the table with a familiar face. It was Vanessa and Jenson. Tumawa ako at umirap si Vanessa.

"Bilis, a, Vanessa?" I mocked.

"Mas mahina ka, Ivo, hindi mo pa nga nilabas si Ms. Fashion e, hindi iyon nagdo-doble ng damit."

"It's okay," tumawa ako, "I am willing to sustain her."

Pumunta ako sa counter and when I got the espresso, I turned and saw her entering the café. I know her gestures to ignore her so I did, I went the corner and watched her with her friends.

"Hi, Miss Zuri, I love that dress, actually I liked the picture you have just posted in I*," sabi ng crew.

She smiled like the smile that I used to see, "Thank you."

I sipped on my espresso with a glance at her again.

She was wearing a short skirt paired with spaghetti straped tube type tops with her shoes, the one I bought.

"Ayun o lalapit na 'yan," asar ni Clayton Dela Vega dahilan para sumulyap pa sa kanila si Zuri habang papunta sa table.

"Ma'am reserved na po lahat nang table, except the table in front of the table of Engineer Zallega," ang crew.

Zuri's group looked so stunned as they turned to the table in front of me. Zuri looked so pissed off while I was cooly staring at them.

Tahimik sila nang husto at kumain lang. They were talking through text so I was damn bewildered what are the topics.

"Zuri, did you got the bracelet you were looking for awhile ago in the opening?" a girl asked her.

She turned, "Sabi nila, there was a man who got it, swerte ng babae, ganda no'n," bumaling siya sa crew, "Bill po, Miss," she said in a girly way.

"Miss, bayad na po." 

She paused and preventing herself not to turn to me with her accusing blue eyes.

"Talaga, kung sino man ang bumili no'n, it should be those women who are really interested by many things." 

I simply crouched near her as I fixed my shoe lace, marahan ako tumingala at nakita ang kamay niyang bahagyang lumalaylay sa side niya. Slowly, I shackled the bangle in her wrist. Malakas siyang nagulat at napatayo.

"Zuri, are you okay?" Nate Dela Vega asked her.

"Yes, I am, Captain," she stammered nervously.

I strutted as I got my order, even if I don't like sweets, I got the cake. I went back to my table and sat down with a smirk at her.

Sa racing field, nakita ko ang mga ibang kaibigan nila Kuya. I roamed at their luxurious cars, too. Is this a legal racing? I can't help but to think ridiculously as I went back to my car.

"Ivo, can I drive test your car?" si Ian iyon at nakatingin sa Bugatti ko.

Mapakla akong tumawa at umiling.

"Sige na... I will just see the interior."

I opened it shamelessly and revealed the interior on them as I watched him fascinated.

"Can I drive?" he turned.

"I won't-"

"You can't do anything," sabay pasok.

Mabilis ko siyang hinila. I dragged him out of the car, "I know how reckless you are," tinulak ko siya at halos tumumba.

I raced with my brothers as I slowed down for a moment, then I sped up to beat the McLaren. Humalakhak ako at binilisan pa. I dragged the gear stick and sped up again. Naunahan ako ng Mustang at binilisan ko pa ngunit sa pagpipreno ng McLaren at Mustang, hindi ako roon nakasabay dahil sa sobrang gulat at huli na nang mabilis akong nagmaneho para umiwas sa patumbang mixed.

I even heard the crashes there as I was pounding too hard, lalo na nang mapunta kami sa Police Station. We were blottered that we were a reckless driver.

Our parents came as we immediately sensed the anger on Mom as I saw her slapped Kuya Achilles, sinunod si Kuya Rad at isa ring lagapak ang dumapo sa akin.

"Nagpaalam kayo, hindi ko kayo pinayagan, Achilles, Rad, Ivonis!" she shouted, "I brought you to the mall to just lessen your boredom, you're not thinking your sons, Achilles, Conrad?"

"Mom... it was my fault, I insisted-" I was interrupted when when she slapped me again, this time, it was stronger.

"Stop covering each other, kung kasalanan ng isa, kasalanan niyong lahat!"

Namanhid ang pisngi ko sa kinauupuan at mas lalong piniga ang puso ko nang makita siyang umiyak at bahagyang lumuhod sa harap ko at sinapo ang pisngi ko.

"S-Sorry, it scares me the fact that you were almost wrecked by the mixer," she said shakily.

"It won't happen again," bulong ko.

I can't just let my mother crying. My pride won't ever accept her tears. Lumandas ang luha ko at ngumiti sa kanya. I hugged her softly and I don't know why I broke down. Dahil ba ngayon lang niya ako napagbuhatan ng kamay?

"Sorry, Ivo, hmm?"

Tumango ako. Tito Arnel offered a water as I drank it.

"Rigor, kayo na ang bahala," Dad loosened up his ties.

"Ivo, let's go home," ani Kuya Achilles na nakatitig sa akin at kay Kuya Rad. "Don't blame yourselves, ako ang panganay, I should have guided you both." 

"Ako 'yon, if I wasn't invited by Nate to watch the race, I haven't told you-" 

I've cut Kuya Rad off, "If I slowed down we weren't going in that accident..." 

Dad sighed heavily, "Boys, can you please stop claiming the blame?" he mocked. 

"Walang papatalo, Kuya, hindi nagbabatuhan ng kasalanan," tumawa si Tito Arnel. 

Tumayo ako at inayos ang damit, I held the bottle of water and snorted. 

Sa mansyon, binungaran sila ng mga asawa nila ng sampal. Agad din namang napawi ang galit at nang napawi iyon, agad kong namataan ang bulwagan na paparating si Zuri.

She was too passionate the way she walks that I was shocked to her hard slap in my face, and she even punched me.

"Kulang pa? Dadagdagan ko pa ba?" napaos niyang sabi at sinabunutan ako.

Natawa ako at niyakap siya.

"Hindi na mauulit, promise."

I assured her and consoled her, maraming nag-alala na pati sa opisina sa sumunod na umaga, iyon ang usapan.

Nahatid ko na siya sa school niya at dito na ako dumeretso. I fixed my coat and sipped on my café americano. Sa iilang meeting ang dinaluan ko sa conference room. Kuya wasn't in a good mood kaya nakikinig lang.

Tumingin ako sa hard copy ng MZ Estates sa lamesa at pinagmamasdang mabuti. Humilig na ako sa swivel ko at tinikom ang bibig at nakinig sa presentation ni Herbert. 

"The target of the Palanan Project is to improve more, MZ Estates did research about the development of it. It has its own attraction that many people will find the beauty of the undeveloped island." 

Sa una pa lang, nakuha ko na ang punto ng proyektong pine-present nila. To beat ZHBI project at the same place.

I raised my hands as Kuya's eyes turned to me.

"I agree with the idea but I think we can have some time to research more about the place. From the way we send our team to the way we survey the target site..." sabi ko na sinang-ayunan ng mga businessmen.

Herbert looked at me with some ridiculous stare. "We won't present it if we didn't experienced to go there..."

I nodded slowly.

"Heart shaped island is the target of this..."

"Nakausap niyo na ang may-ari ng kalahati sa isla na 'yon?" tanong ko.

It made him paused. "Not yet, my secretary's calling the businessman now," sabay sulyap sa sekretarya.

One browse of her secretary on the phone then pressed, my space gray phone rang in the table. I remained caressing my stubbles and stared at him.

"Dadagdagan ng MZ Estates ang sakit sa ulo ng Kuya ko?" tanong ko, ngayon, ngumisi.

"Hindi pa pala sigurado ang isla, Herbert?" Kuya Achilles said.

Shane Cardinal laughed silently. Kumindat ako at hinilig ang sarili sa swivel.

"It's been awhile. Kumusta?" tanong ko sa tahimik na tono. 

"Nag-iipon pambili ng Chevrolet," humagikgik siya at sinagi ako nang napansin niya ang taga-Lopez na nakatitig sa akin.

I shrugged and tiredly darted my eyes in front of the presentator, fighting for the target.

"Ivo, are you willing to give the island?" tanong ni Kuya.

Give? For free?

"I mean, the island has a potential, though, just the half way round the place-" he pursed his lips and bowed in the table and laughed 

"I won't," mariin kong sabi.

May nagtaas ng kamay sa gilid.

"Zuri Aniyah Altavas from Altavas Corp."

I stiffened in my seat and frowned. Why is she here? And how did she went for?

"Yes, please," Kuya pointed her with his palms and glanced at me.

"If the company would be interested to improve the idea, the place will be getting the top ratings, since this is the project of MZ Estates, it will help it to regain itself," she smiled.

Umahon ako sa inuupuan, I rested my elbows in the table. "Miss Altavas, Architecture and Urbanism in Asia, the topics of that subject, Landforms Survey and Analysis... how can we approve some idea if the landform target that isn't yet analize properly?" I smirked and while I was talking, my hands are also moving.

She gulped and looked at her Dad who was smirking at her. Napainom ako sa tubig at natantong sinasabak na siya sa ganitong panahon.

"Well, if you don't want my opinion, it's okay, Engineer," 

I chuckled, "This is your future field, Miss Altavas, not all suggestions are waiting to be added to the ideas... katulad ng pagtatayo ng isang gusali, pinipiling mabuti ang sementong sasakto sa kabuuan, it takes time, thinking profoundly, and if you insist an idea that's never been thinked logically, it will messed up... it will be the biggest insult to the Structural Engineer." I chuckled. 

"B-But his ideas are nice, too, I've gotten the point that it can be more attractive, since the island is far better than those islands in the Philippines," she explained. 

"Miss Altavas, you're talking in a way of taking a walk on the labyrinth, it's still the same destination, mababangga ka lang ng kaunti, makikita na ang destinasyon na pinaglalaban mo," nagtaas ako ng kilay. 

Her lips parted. She turned to her Dad but her Dad turned immediately to the other businessman. She doesn't know how impressive she is that makes me more admire her. 

"She has the point, Engineer," Kuya Achilles said and looked at me, "She's fighting the name of the company to gather what it got lost for years and it will help itself to be a high end just like before, your ideas are logical, yes, but Ivo, can you please give MZ Estates the chance again? Just the other part of the island you bought... please..."

I directly looked at him while forearms were resting at the conference table. Gano'n din siya. 

"I know that this is one of your vengeance. You were so lucky that you had the major lift, and you are now invading the whole world with your own name, ZHBI... no need to expound... just the initial of it, everyone knows that it was you, behind the successful company that rose by our young competitive Ephraim Junior. Just the chance, please," he pleaded.

I swallowed the vile on my throat as I looked at the hard copy. 

How could that be done, anyway?

"I'll process the papers, Herbert, my secretary will call you later today," I said without looking anyone.

"Adjourned," iyon lang pala ang hinihintay ni Kuya.

Nangangati ang kamao kong nakatingin sa kanya, sabayan pa ng pag-init ng sulok ng mga mata ko. Nauna akong lumabas at sa opisina nga dumeretso.

Nagsalin ako ng alak sa baso ko at nilagok. I loosened up my necktie and opened the three buttons of long-sleeves. I couldn't really understand why they could really melt me in a span of single time.

I guided my team with the brainstorming on our own project and saw people on the left wing with the company owner of Altavas Corp. 

"Ihahatid ba kita?" I asked casually to Zuri who was there.

Umiling siya roon at may mga ulong parang nabali dahil doon sa pagtatanong ko.

"Guide mo na lang mga team mo, I will just finish my take out quizzes,"

"Your profs must be the good profs of all time, did they've put some options if you could dine in the quizzes?" I inserted my hands in my pockets.

May mga natawa at nairita siya at umupo. Lumapit ako at parang hindi naman niya ako pinansin kaya humilig ako sa tabi niya habang nakahalukikip at sumasandal sa isang salamin.

"Tinake-out mo ba para ma-share mo sa akin?" tanong ko.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin habang nagsusulat.

"Nakakain ba ang mga quiz?" tanong ko pa para inisin siya.

"Pinagtitinginan tayo," she gritted her teeth.

My jaw clenched. And who cares if I will talk to her right now, though?

Tumingin ako sa kamay niya, there are no bangle and engagement ring. Agad niyang ikinapa ang kamay niya sa bag niya at nagulat, hinalughog niya ang bag niya at tumingala sa akin na natataranta.

I raised a brow and smirked. 

"What?" tanong ko kahit alam ko na. 

"It was missing." 

"The bangle?" 

She but her lower lip and shook her head, I shook my head disappointedly and sighed.

"You're pressuring me. You don't know how hard it is to wear it..." she said in a low tone. 

"Kaya winala mo? Kaya hindi mo iyon sinusuot dahil ba hindi ako gwapo?"

"Hindi gano'n..." 

"Ano, kung gano'n, Zuri?" my lips are in the grim line. 

"What's inside me is pressure-" 

"Cooker?"

Tumayo siya at tinulak ako, "Damn you, Ephraim Junior!" 

Natawa ako at narinig ang pagtigil ng naagaw niya ng atensyon. Humagikgik tuloy ako at umupo sa upuan niya. I crossed my legs while caressing my chin. 

"Do you know why pressure cooker was invented?" I said bluntly and silently while looking at her. 

"Yes, to soften those meat..." nawala ang bahid ng iritasyon niya at tumingin nang deretso sa akin. 

"Do you know why fire was also invented?" tanong ko pa. 

Hindi siya sumagot. 

"I am the fire, you are the pressure cooker, the fire is a trigger to pressure what it keeps inside, until you don't have enough strength to keep it anymore... and it will be explode up unexpectedly." 

"So anong gusto mong ipahiwatig ngayon at pinaglalaban ng pressure cooker na pinagkukumparahan mo sa 'kin?" she gulped. 

I shifted my weight while tapping my shoes on the floor.

"Pressure cooker is particularly the best partner of fire, and I won't ever stop triggering you."