CHAPTER 14

I followed her seriously and beat up her pace. She glanced at me seriously and her lips rose up.

"You shouldn't did that!"

"Why should I?"

She's really stubborn. The one that I couldn't really handle. Just a glance at her, people could recognize her intimidating aura, her way of being too much of elegance, but there are sides of her that I won't allowed anyone to see it. Her way of being a hard-headed and somehow, possessive.

Natanaw ko ang dalawang pamangkin na pinapasyal nila Daddy, Zuri whispered something so I did it, inabutan niya ako ng mask at sumbrero. I wore it and quickly... I hostaged them both.

"Walang gagalaw," sigaw ko.

My both arms are shackling Uriel and Ares, every men of Kuya Rad and Kuya Achilles turned up their guns. Sumigaw rin ang mga ama nila at si Daddy naging alerto. 

"Ibaba mo sila," pugsusumamo ng ama ko at humakbang.

Dumating ang mga pulis at sa kalokohan kong 'to, lagot ako. My mother is now crying and begging.  

"Please, no..." 

I renewed my holds on these young men as they sensed something and they were crying hysterical. 

"Mga apo... calm down..." Dad tried to come near but Kuya Achilles turned out his gun. 

"Don't you dare coming towards us," sigaw ko at ginaralgal pa ang boses. 

Kuya Rad put down his gun as his stares are wandering me. 

"Naka-rolex, naka-sixty thousand dollars worth of shoes, hostager?" inosente niyang sabi. 

I stepped back and bumped in a policeman, oh, not a police but a swat team. 

"Hindi, baka ninakaw lang," giit ng guards. 

"Kilala ko siya," Dad's cold voice made me shiver. "Kilala niyong dalawa kung sino siya," he pointed his grandsons at tumawa ang dalawa. 

Isang pulis ang tumanggal sa suot kong mask. Pulang pula na siguro ang pisngi ko at humakbang paatras, I saw Zuri's face pitying me and mocking. 

"Ivo!" My brothers and Dad's voice thundered. 

"Sinabi ni Zuri..."

"Susundin mo talaga?" Tito Rigor nailed it, "Iposas at ikulong niyo 'yan," he ordered.

Suminghap ako at habang naglalakad ang magpoposas, nakwenta ko na ang pagitang daraanan ko. Malapit lang din ang escalator at pwede ko iyong hakbangin. They're now opening the shackle and I got the right timing. I spreaded my legs and kicked the policemen as I ran as fast as I could.

Days went by and I went to the office today. I entered the lobby and greeted the employees. I was called for a sudden meeting with Kuya for the project. 

Kaya sa ZHBI team's office, I saw them staring at the office's aura, sumingit ako at nakita ang pinahirapan kong plates na nasira sa sahig. Some plates are not unrecognizable anymore.  

I squatted in the floor and unrolled the blueprints. My lips protruded and touched every inch of it. My jaw clenched and swallowed hard. I saw the MZ Estates heads are fakely showing their concers and my eyes darted at Ian and Herbert with sush an accusing stares. Nakaya nga nilang sirain at wasakin ang dignidad ni Kuya Rad, they could easily do it, I have no one to blame and there are no ways of realizing that I have been encontered towards anyone for me to have a conflict.

I remained silent when Kuya Achilles squatted in front of me as he gathered all of it. All of the works that I have spent most of my time in it that it consumed me almost a half month, na halos hindi ko nabigyan ng oras ang buong pamilya at girlfriend ko.

Even if Ate Lava's pregnant and wearing a seven inches sandals she'd managed to squat and tears are falling off her cheeks. With my thumbs, I wiped it and I nodded.

"S-Sorry kung hindi namin laging naipaglalaban ang bunso namin... na kahit noong inagawan ka ng karapatan, hindi ka namin naipaglaban..." bumuhos pa ang luha niya.

Same as with Ate Elijah, she squatted, too, and she rubbed Ate Lava's back.

"A-Ayos lang naman sa akin. I can do it myself, at ililipat ko na lang ang team ko sa DFC Metals," sabi ko at tumingala kay Grayson bago ako tumayo.

"There's a nice office there..." aniya, tumingin kay Kuya bago sila nag-uusap ng tahimik.

"Or else, we'll be pulling out the project to give the other companies a chance."

Tumango ang isa sa mga team ko, "Much better, Engineer, we can just focus on the next branch here in Manila-"

Umiling ako, "No need, Jenson, we'll focus on the project at Palanan, I already bought the whole island for our first ever ZHBI Hotel, I will meet someone in a while for me to invest on paving the road," ngumiti ako.

"Masaya 'yon," aniya at naramdaman ang pakiramdam ko.

"A-Alis na ako, Kuya..." paalam ko.

I did lots of things the whole day. I turned off my phone and I just connected with Zuri through my laptop in the meeting place with lots of people from the place that I want to work with.

For the second time of being a loser, I want to prove that I can be something more than what I deserve. Hindi ko sasayangin ang ilang milyon na matatanggal sa akin, hindi ako maghihirap.

Dahil sa pangalawang pagkakataon, susugal ako sa larangang ito. I won't waste any knowledge that my father given me, I will always be a competitive one.

Umuwi ako sa mansyon na gaya ng dati. Zuri knows that I am homed and probably, if I could not sleep later, I will drive head back to her condo.

"How's the day?" tanong ni Lolo sa akin.

"Hm. Parang hindi niyo pa naman ang nangyari, Lo," naupo ako at tinanggal ang sapatos.

"Your Dad and I are planning to give you back the MZ Estates."

"You know that I don't really want that anymore, Lo, tumayo ako sa sarili kong paa," I can't look at him directly that if I will turn up to them, I'd see my reflection and they will beat up my mind even amidst of thinking deeply.

"You're dexterously handle things, apo, and I want you to take care of it, just on my last wish for you-"

"Will you stop talking about that?" I glared at him.

He laughed and crossed his legs, "Got your handsome face, Ivo," aniya.

I turned my gaze on the table and sighed.

"It strengthening itself," sabi ko.

Dad sighed, "'Cause everyone knows that the CEO of ZHBI bought the stocks."

"Hindi ako kasing galing niyo, it's just luck." 

Kuya Achilles couldn't really controlled his feelings that he quickly held up my collar and glued me on where I was sitting, I stared at his grimness that showed up in him

 

"Ang hina-hina mo! You're always making your own excuses to repudiate the company..."

Sa ilang taong pagod, hindi ko na naitago pa, lumandas ang luha ko at kasabay no'n ang pagkawala ng pagpipirmi niya sa aking dibdib.

"Hindi niyo nga kayang ipaglaban ang karapatan ko, e, ba't ko pa babalikan ang isang lugar na tumapon sa akin, kung gano'n?"

His fist loosened up as he punched the couch. Sa aming magkakapatid, I am the most stoic one, kayang-kaya kong magtago ng emosyon more than Kuya Achilles. Pero parang hindi ko na napigilan ngayon. 

"Kung hindi na kasi gusto ng bata, 'wag nang pipilitin, Papa," Tito Alejandro popped up. He's busy in Malacañang these days. 

Lolo looked at him. "I have been observing his movements in the past years, Alejandro. He's too masterful, son, the company I have built up is now sinking down. It's slowly getting down like how my strength getting weak," he chuckled.

"I hate the way you utter your words that you can't live for too long anymore," giit ko, gamit ang nanginginig na boses.

He turned to me with a warm smile, "I will die happier if the strength of my company will come back..."

"Tss," tinalikuran ko na sila at umakyat.

He's being like that these past few days that he even wants to have another apo from me. He wants it badly, that's what he said.

"Hello?" I shifted my weight.

"Are you okay?" Zuri's voice filled my ears.

"No..." I whispered.

"Are you gonna have your dinner here tonight?" she asked, "You haven't eaten yet, according to Tita."

She checked on me again. Minsan kapag hindi ako nakabibisita sa kanya, she keeps on checking me through video call that I won't really lie.

"Bababa na ako sa dinner, I will just prepare my things to go to your place, tomorrow's weekend. You know how I like spending weekend with you."

Bumaba ako matapos kong ayusin ang bag kong kulay abo. Dinaan ko iyon sa sala at dumeretso sa dining.

"Doon po ako matutulog," sabi ko at umupo inuupuan ko lagi.

"You mean, when you go home, I already have my apo to expect?" Lolo said bluntly.

Hindi ko iyon pinansin, Dad just diverted the topic when he saw the awkwardness in me. I didn't minded my phone that beeped, I just ate and listened to them.

"Pangatlong beses na, Ivo. Care to check it?" Ate Lava smirked, nasa tapat ko siya.

"Tatanungin lang siguro niya kung nasaan na ako," sabi ko at pinuno na naman ng pagkain ang bunganga ko at pinindot ang screen sa lap ko.

I saw her sent a picture of her in Messenger as I saw her aura na manipis lang na buhok ang tumatakip sa dibdib. Lumunok ako at tinignan pa ang isang picture, he boobs only covered by a thin while clothing that the nipples are poking.

The dining area was cold but I am damn sweating while staring at those, nanginginig ang kamay kong sumubo pero hindi ko iyon magawang nguyain.

"Son, are you okay?" Dad asked.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakitang nakatingin na silang lahat sa akin at ang matindi pa, tapos na sila.

"Huh?!" gulat kong tanong.

"Ang sabi ko, are you okay? Why are you sweating intensely?" tanong niya ulit. 

"W-Wala, Daddy." 

Alam ko kung gaano kabarubal ang mga asawa ng Kuya ko kaya agad na dumapo ang titig ko sa kanila at iyong litrato lang ang nasa isip ko nang dumadaan na ako sa skyway.

Inaway ko siya pagkarating ko roon at tumatawa lang siya. She called Mom that I was already here as I removed my shirt on her bed, nahiga na ako at pinikit ang mga mata.

"Sige po, Tita, we'll be there at Sunday morning," aniya sa kausap.

Lumubog ang kama at pagod kong dinilat ang mga mata.

"Ano raw sabi?"

"They'll be at home at Nasugbu tomorrow, pero gusto mo namang manatili rito-"

"We'll be staying here the whole weekend," putol ko. "At bakit ka nakadamit na?" nairita ako. 

Her lips rose up and went to me seductively. "Did you liked the pictures? Ang dali lang! You fought with me vaguely."

"In my own opinion, why did you sent it while I was eating? It's..." nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

"Ano, Ivo? Go," she laughed again and I can't really help but to pull her and renewed my embrace. 

This set up can tame me in a span of seconds. I feel like home. I'm not a good man or something but when I wished for something... I've got it all. I thought, it was already perfect but this time, I feel so secured that this security won't deprived me from anything. 

"Sinira ang project mo?" she whispered softly while the tip of my nose playing hers. 

"I want to take a vacation this weekend," I said ignoring her words. 

"Saan? Do you want to freshen your mind?" 

I nodded, "Sa isla. Sa Bora." 

The conversation went on as we planned it as the next day, we had to travel. But riding a public plane. I groaned when we even fight again about the lingerie that she put in her bag.

"You'll be wearing that fucking lingerie on the island where you will be surrounded by men?"

Ilang beses ko na iyong tinanggal pero tuwing nakatalikod ako, nahuhuli ko sa peripheral vision ko na nilalagyan niya.

"You're so kill joy, Ivo, why don't you directly say that you don't want to see me wearing a lingerie? Simple lang, Zuri, I don't want to see you wearing something something that turns me on-"

"Fuck!" sigaw ko para matigil na siya.

She smirked and wore her black coat. I fixed my black shirt and grey slacks as I held my phone. Lumabas na ako at pasunod na siya.

My men drove for us as we were in the waiting area, everyone keeps on glancing at us.

"We should have used the chopper," sabi ko.

Humawak siya sa hita ko ngumisi, "Bakit? Ayaw mong tinititigan ka?"

I nodded rudely.

"You're right and the bulge was really badly caught by the FA's," she said with a damn smirk.

"Does it poking too much?" tumikhim ako at umayos ng upo.

"Yes..." she chuckled.

I glared at her and stood up. "Kukuha ako ng visa," sabay lakad at may sumunod sa aking dalawang guards.

Sa isang desk ako at luminga-linga sa lugar. Kumukuha ako ng visa at pino-process ng FA. Habang tumatagal, namataan ko si Zuri na kausap si Nate Dela Vega. 

"Ivo, saan ang punta?" tanong ni Kuya Rad, he really looks so dashing in his attire, hindi halatang nagkaroon siya ng scandal.

"Bora," I glanced at Nate darkly as he stepped back.

Humalakhak si Kuya, "You have the Boeing 737 parked near the runway, why would you have to take a local flight?"

"Ayaw niya, nag-away pa kami... sige," sabay alis at hinigat ko si Zuri nang marahan. "Boarding na," sabi ko at sinamaan ng tingin si Nate.

"Hindi pa inanunsyo," Zuri pushed me when gazes turned to us.

I sat down lazily and listening to the whispers.

"Ang gwapo-gwapo niya sa personal..."

"Sa mga magazine ko lang siya nakikita noon, e, ngayon...  sarap ikiss,"

I stared at Zuri mockingly. Nang lumingon ako, awkward na ngumiti ang grupo ng FA. The boarding came as we went to the plane. The turbulence was finished and I felt like I will be vomiting. Nagpaalam ako kay Zuri pero hindi pa ako nakakaabot sa banyo nang nasuka na ako sa aisle.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nag-init ang pisngi ko nang makita ang apat na Piloto kabilang si Kuya.

"A-Are you okay?" tanong ni Kuya at dinaluhan ako ng mga FA.

"I got dizzy suddenly, Kuya."

"Ivo..." Zuri went to me and caressed my back a bit. 

I turned up to Zuri. "I am okay," sabay upo sa bakanteng seat.

May binigay sa akin na tubig na may nilagay na kung ano dahil naging puti ang tubig.

"Malagkit ang pawis, Captain, parang nausog..."

Lumanding ang palad ni Kuya sa aking noo. I felt better when the medic assisted me.

"Caused by fatigue, Engineer, hilo lang dahil sa puyat," sabi ng lalaking iba ang uniporme.

"I don't remember loosing sleep."

"Fatigue nga, 'di ba? That means, the exhausting weeks you've consumed at napunta lang sa wala, Kuya Achilles was right, mahina ka nga," Kuya said meaningfully.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Zuri. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at ininom ang tubig.

"Zuri, alam ba nilang aalis kayo-"

"They don't have to know our whereabouts twenty four seven, Kuya," putol ko.

"Okay. Nabuhay ka ngang mag-isa, e," napapaos at natatawa niyang sabi.

In the island, we booked a suite, it's our one of my favorite hotels among our hotels around the Philippines, it was built up years ago at mula sa labas nito, natatanaw ang isang hotel sa isang luxurious island kung ituring na nabili na ni Daddy ang kabuuan nito. Malaki na iyon, mas malaki dahil iyon ang pinagkaabalahan ni Kuya Rad noong banned siya, pero sa aking pandinig, it was Ate Elijah finished the project when Kuya Rad was triggered his depression.

"We have to transfer to the other hotel," sabi ko nang makita ang magugulo kong pamilya sa dalampasigan.

Zuri, on her sexy bikini laughed. "Bakit? Anong kalokohan mong ayaw kong malaman?"

"W-Wala…"

I know how nosy the girls are at bakit andito sila? They should be in Batangas right now but I can sense Mommy’s expression. There's something happened in the family again. 

I watched Zuri swam on the sea as I remained stood. Malagkit siyang tinitingnan ng maraming lalaki sa lugar. Some boys are foreigner and others were locals na halos pati mga babae nila, tumitingin din sa kanya.

"Halla, nalulunod!" Ate Lava shouted. 

Tumakbo ako at tumampisaw, I cursed so loud when I wrapped up my arms around her stomach and pulled her out of the sea but I noticed her belly vibrating too harsh. 

Lumunok ako dahil nagpaprank na naman sila Kuya Rad at ang camera niya nakatutok sa akin at may drone pa. I remained seriously when I held Zuri out of my arms while I was completely wetted by the sea water. 

"Ivo, sorry," Ate Elijah said anxiously. 

I protruded my lips as I proceeded going to the shore.  Sumampa ako sa dulo ng boardwalk at iniwan doon si Zuri na tumatawa.

Lintik lang ang walang ganti. 

I fakely fainted and fell myself on the water. Umalon pa ng malakas at sinamantala ko ang paglangoy sa kalaliman ng dagat. I saw those corrals in the surface. I got a sardonyx stone near the coral reef.

Lumangoy pa 'ko at kumuha ng litrato sa dagat. I fixed myself to get up out of the water. Umahon ako at nakita siyang umiiyak sa boardwalk at may mga coast guard na nakakalat sa kabuuan ng isla.