CHAPTER 4

Pinunasan ko ang mukha ko at humakbang para lumapit sa isang laptop at printer, I created something to appoint another CEO. In front of the boards, I signed it. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at umupo, I have signed everything that matters from the small paper. 

"I'm so sorry, Ivo, I haven't expected this, too," Kuya Ekron looked too dismayed. 

I only nodded as I turned on my laptop, I transferred all the data and closed it, I cleared my throat and stood. 

"Hindi mo ipaglalaban ang tinuring mong buhay, Ivo?" Ate Lava almost exclaimed. 

Bumaling ako. 

"You were fifteen when you became the CEO, damn it, Ivonis," Ate Elijah almost cried but Kuya Rad caressed her shoulders. 

I hopelessly stared at them and gave a weak smile. "It's about giving in to the people who wants to be a leader. "

"But what if we, your cousins won't allow you to give this up, Ivo?" Kuya Kirjath asked coldly.

"It's time to build up everything, Kuya, I will start on the messy part, I will come back here in the Philippines, holding our name with head held high, as the largest real estate in the world, larger than the company that inherited by someone. Babangon ako."

I recalled in the stage the achievements when I held it as I passed the mic to Aljun. Gulat pa siyang tumingin doon pero sa huli'y tinanggap. I fixed all the documents with a stares on Lolo. Hindi na rin ako umimik pa at gumilid para bigyang tyansang magsalita si Aljun.

The boards are really happy for the new one. Tumanggi akong magpa-interview sa mga paparazzi.

"Ivo, how's the next project that we will start?" tanong ni Kuya Ekron. 

"That should be my company in the future, Kuya, but they haven't waited for it to finish so that I could give the company, but they are forcing me to give it. Pagbigyan!"

Kuya Achilles looked so disappointed that I haven't heard his voice yet.

"Pero itutuloy?"

Umiling ako, "I told you that I will come back here as one of the young billionaire," I remained looking directly to Lolo who's been staring at me with proud eyes.

May mga motivational words pa kuno akong natanggap sa mga boards na nagdesisyon kung sino ang ipapasok na bagong CEO.

"How old is the newest one?" Frida Alvarez asked to Mom.

"Thirty-five, I guess, Achilles is thirty four, e."

"And how old is your youngest son?"

Bumaling si Mommy sa akin.

"I am turning twenty one, Ma'am, but I am claiming my age of being a twenty one year old."

She chuckled. "Well... that thoughts of you will make you reach the highest dream, I am sure of that, matalino ka, gaya ng mga Kuya mo."

Hindi ako sumagot at nanatili sa kinauupuan at nakatitig sa kabuuan ng board. Nakangiti sila sa akin. It's warm like how warm it was when they welcomed me to lead them, to be part of them.

Tita Margarette Cardinal went to me with her warm smile. I stood up and smiled, too.

"I will wait for you on the business world, anak," she said.

Tumango ako. There are no medias who dared to cover this part. Nakagilid sila at hindi nangahas na itutok ang camera.

"I will, Tita, I will be missing you."

"Ako rin, I will be missing how he will make Fabian stunned to his ideas."

Nagtawanan sila at natawa ako.

"Tita, his ideas were too stunning like it fascinates even the world class engineers," Alkaev Del Ferrer concluded.

Umupo ako at pinindot-pindot ang ballpen.

"Tama na 'yan, let's welcome my son as the new CEO of the leading real estate in the county," ani Tito Lino na masayang-masaya.

I sighed and clapped first. Umingay na ang hall sa pag-welcome at umuwi na ako sa mansyon dito sa Maynila, I packed up as I went to my condo and they followed me there.

Mom was sitting in my bed as I remained folding my clothes neatly.

"Anak, are you okay?" she asked.

I nodded as I swallowed hard.

"B-Babangon ako, Ma."

Niyakap niya ako at umiyak sa balikat ko. "I'm sorry, anak if we haven't fought it for you..."

She knows my thoughts right now that there must be something wrong with me. Pero ano nga ba ang mali kung sa lahat ng ginawa ko ay tama? In terms of figuring out what's wrong with me, I'm weak.

"Mom, it's okay, everything is fine with me. Baka sa susunod na taon, I could build my palace," I chuckled. 

Tinulak niya ako at tumawa sila nila Daddy. Lumapit akong nakangiti at niyakap niya. 

"Lola!" sigaw ng dalawa kong pamangkin. 

They pulled me forcefully and hugged Mom. I gulped and sat down in my bed. 

"I'm gonna missed these young men."

They looks like my brothers. 

Our flight should be Wednesday but Kuya Rad's flight was moved so we could not go to US, I have spent my time with my friends everywhere, road tripping, at halos makarating kami ng Quezon Province.

Sa bar ako pumunta, Sabado ng gabi at gusto ko lang buhayin ang loob-loob ko. I ordered a damn hard liquor and drank it while walking. 

"Hi, Ivo, come here, join us," Thalia said in a high tone. 

Umiling ako at tinuro and pribadong parte ng bar at agad napatigil sila Manolo at ang entourage niya.

"Showbiz is everywhere, Thalia, there are two things I am avoiding right now, first; I don't want to be involved with any girls, second; may pinagdaraanan ako."

Tumango siya at ngumisi, alam ko naman na magti-text kami mamaya kaya ayos lang. 

"Ang baklang babaero, tinanggihan ang mga babae? Wala nang MZ Estates na pinagyayabang." Aljun went to the scene that made the people whispered. 

Tumawa ako, "Ilang taon kong hinawakan ang kumpanya, Aljun, pero hindi ko minsan pinagyayabang, and... I just entered the bar with girls are wishing silently to go to their table, ilang oras ka na rito?" 

"Dalawa!" mayabang niyang sabi. 

"Oh... bakit wala akong babaeng nakikitang kumakausap man lang sa 'yo?" tanong ko. 

May mga natawa at kinantyawan siya. 

"Bakit wala man lang ang grupo ni Manolo sa paligid mo? That means, you're not popular in this socialization at nagpapapansin ka lang sa mga babaeng na-involved sa akin. Sorry, Aljun but I am not like my brother Rad that you could just turn frail." I left him with his group unspokened as I strutted the bar with a smirk.

Nadaanan ko ang nagtatagong Achilles sa sofa at humahagikgik kasama ang Rad na malakas ang tawa. Umiinom doon si Daddy. Hindi ko sila pinansin at umupo ako. Ang braso ko'y sumandal sa back rest at uminom nang payapa dahil naging tahimik na silang tatlo at malakas ang tugtog.

"Wala kang babae, Daddy?" tanong ko.

He scoffed, "May nakita ka ba sa tabi ko?"

"Malay ko kung may hinihintay ka na escort."

Tumawa ang mga Kuya ko, sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at halos batuin ng baso.

"Daddy, mami-miss kita," ngumiti ako.

He gasped and smiled at me, "Whatever I did before, I am sorry, Ivo, and I'm so sorry that I haven't fought for the company for you."

I nodded and protruded my lips. We spent time and Kuya Rad even vlogged our bond. When we went home in Nasugbu for our Sunday brunch, Mom was ignoring us all.

"Nagtatampo?" I asked.

Sa labas kami ng mansyon at abala siya sa kung ano.

"Hindi pinagbigyan?" tanong ko ulit.

Humagikgik kaming magkakapatid nang samaan niya ako ng tingin.

"Anong problema mo, Veronica?" Dad asked.

"Wala, sa tingin mo ba, meron? Wala, ayos lang ako, wala akong kaproble-problema, Ephraim!"

Bumagsak ang balikat ni Daddy at pinagmasdan si Mommy na badtrip.

"Hindi halata, Mommy," Lava concluded.

"Tumigil ka, bulkan," she turned, "Lava pala."

Dad warned me not to laugh. My brothers were taken abacked. Lava remained intimidating but I could recognize her funny way.

"Girl talk, Mommy, ano? Sa loob?" tanong ni Ate Elijah at tumingin sa asawa.

"Baby, what's wrong?" masuyong sabi ni Daddy at nahuli kong ngumiti si Mommy.

Dinala ko sa pool house ang barbecue na sunog at nilapag.

"I'm jealous of my boys," aniya at tumingin sa amin. "Ang laki na nila at palagi akong sinasantabi." 

Natigil ako sa pagnguya. Umiyak na siya. Dinaluan namin siya at niyakap. Sinuyo namin siyang parang bata.

She was taken away from us through the years for some reason, at ako, hindi niya ako naaruga dahil pati ako, nailayo.

Our brunch went smoothly as we set up a vacation. Sa branch ng hotel namin sa Boracay ang deretso. I strolled and saw our hotel also in the nearest island here, the luxurious hotel in the middle of the nearest island here in Boracay.

"Say hi to the camera!" tinutok sa akin ni Ate Elijah ang camera.

I waived and laughed, "Nananawagan ako sa dalawa kong palaboy na Kuya na umuwi na, alam kong gutom na gutom po sila't bumalik na sana."

Tumawa sila ni Ate Lava at masa ang tingin sa akin ng mga Kuya ko habang sumusunod sa mga anak nila.

"Parang ikaw iyong gutom, e, you're just passing it to your brothers," Mom mocked at me.

It was evening when I attended a gimmick in the shore, I was wearing my beach shorts and white t-shirt as I went there.

Girls... I was like a thirsty animal that we even went to the dark. A making out session that I even moaned and someone caught me, a teen, that I immediately felt embarrassed that she saw me there. At ang matindi pa, tinakbuhan ako ng mga babae.

"Bata, ba't ka naninilip, ha?" tanong ko at lumapit.

Umatras siya at naaninagan ng ilaw ang mukha niya. Her small face, curved perfect brows that highlighted her blue chink eyes, her cheek bones are not that much formed 'cause she is too young looking, hanggang sa baba lang siya ng dibdib ko.

Sinundan ko siya nang tumakbo siya, sa mas maliwanag na parte, nakita ko ang buhok niyang medyo mahaba.

"Don't come near me, fuck you!" sigaw niya sa akin.

Napagtinginan pa kami at patuloy lang ako sa pagsunod at nagsusumamo ng sagot kung bakit niya ako sinisilip.

"Hija, anak," a woman called her, and probably, her mother.

Ang gumulat sa akin ay ang mga magulang ko at mga Kuya kong nang-aakusa ng tingin.

"Ikaw na nga 'tong namboso sa akin, ikaw pa itong umaarteng-"

"Namboso?" tanong ng Tatay, gulantang.

"Daddy, I caught him with girls giving him a blowjob!" sinigaw niya iyon.

"At sa dilim, nakikita mo pa ang ginagawa ko? Batang 'to?" I chuckled but a bit nervous looking at the sand.

"Ivo!" Dad's baritone voice filled my ears.

Tumawa ako at nakatingin sa babaeng inaalo ni Ate Lava.

"On my office..." tumalikod siya at naglakad. 

"Ako pa talaga-"

Kuya Achilles stared at me like daggers, "Now, Ivo!"

I turned to Kuya Rad, "Kuya..."

"Subukan mong kunsintihin ang kagaguhan niya, Rad," Mommy's voice thundered and hushed the child.

I laughed, "I am still turn on Dad! Just a minute..." sumunod ako at tumawa tawa. "Masakit sa puson..." I pleaded naughtily.

Nasulyapan ko ang naka-disguise kong mga kaibigan. Ba't nandito sila? Dad's nearly on the elevator as Vanessa pointed the cart.

"May party sa Iloilo," sabi ng tao roon sa cart.

I recognised that it was Shane and Jayden was pushing it.

"We went here to invite you," sabi ng janitor, it was Logan.

Sinapo ko ang tiyan ko at umangal nang malakas. I squatted and shouted. Humagikgik sila Shane at nag-abang sa eksenang gagawin ko.

"You're just pretending, Ivo, I know that moves," Dad said coldly.

Pumatak ang luha ko at bumuhos pa nang husto.

"Sir, baka po masakit talaga?" tanong ni Mrs. Tracey na manager ng hotel.

Handa na ang stretcher at tumingin ako kila Kuya na nakapamaywang pa rin at parang nakukumbinsi ko na ang mahirap makumbinsi na si Kuya Achilles. Bumagsak ang mga braso niya at dumalo sa akin.

"Saan ang masakit?" he asked ruthlessly.

"Tiyan ko..." maliit kong sabi.

Tumingin siya kay Daddy at bumaling sa akin, "Kaya mo pa?"

Umiling ako at pinilit ang umutot, mabaho iyon at tumawa pa ang mga staffs ng hotel at lumayo. Dumapa ako sa stretcher para maiging bumaba mamaya pagkalabas. 

My friends wheeled it but everyone doubted that they are antagonists, dahil daw hindi talaga sila staffs.

"Daddy, tatakas," sumigaw si Kuya Achilles.

I ran with my friends as we already reaching the shore where the yacht was there to take us just away at dadaong na lang kami sa kabilang barrio.

We successfully made it and turned there as I saw Dad having a heart attack.

Shane panicked, "Ang Presidente, inaatake."

Tinalon ko ang tubig at kahit basa, tumakbo ako sa harap ng hotel, Dad's kneeling down and everyone's getting worried. Lumuhod ako.

"Dad! No!"

I heard a click and just one move, I was already in shackles.

"What the hell?"

Dad stood like it's nothing. He smirked evilly, "Mag-usap tayo, papayagan kita sa kung ano ang lakad niyo, just talk to me."

Tumayo ako, "Why don't you just talk to the young girl who told this, though."

The girl is still watching me intently and she avoided my gaze. She's pouting and a bit smiling that it made me so irritated. 

"Bakit ako? I was just strolling and I heard you, cursing fuck so I got curious,"

Tumawa ako, "Bata, next time, if you hear every big bro, don't try to interrupt them from reaching the nirvana," kinuha ko ang hair pin niya at pinambukas sa posas, inipit ko ulit sa buhok.

We attended the party in Iloilo as we roamed there the next day, at dahil maagang hinahanap ni Vincenzo si Shane, he rode a chopper back to Batangas.

That was the most amazing day of my life that I held as I rebuild myself in America, I was living in some of Dad's luxurious penthouse here in New York and every time Kuya gets his regional flights and his flights around the planet and outside the planet.

Habang nag aaral ako, I was building my company in New York, it was named Zallega Home Builders, a high end construction company that provides a wide range of services. In its first year, it gained the ratings of entering to the top ten companies in the whole world.

I graduated with three courses, Architecture, Civil Engineering and Business at the age of twenty three in Harvard as I poured out all my attentions to my company dahil sa tatlong taon nito, it had branches in Europe, North America, and Spain.

The age of twenty five, it grew more as I was listed as ONE of the richest in the world with a hundred billion net worth. I had my own condo in New York, sa isang tower ng Zallega roon. In my five years here, I have been living with a jet setter life with so much involvement with those Holywood Celebrities. 

My body got muscular than the big Ivo before, the muscles are on its proper places, my eyes were deep brooding, hair in more thicker than before, and looks so good in medium fade. The narrow nose, thin lips and perfect angled jaw line, with the jaw highlighted with grey that shows that I was cleanly shaved. 

"Engineer, we've seen someone who looks like you, I don't know if you are affiliated with him..." 

Nasa isang international meeting ako sa Dubai, I just arrived here with my heavy presence with all the participants. 

"May I know him?" tanong ko, nagtataka na.

Tinuro niya at nakita ko si Kuya Achilles, he's smirking and looking at my men guarding me.

"It's been five years, Engineer!" he laughed heartily as he went to me but he raised his hands when he was interrupted by my men.

Ako na ang tumawa at humakbang para yakapin siya nang bahagya.

"Kailan ang uwi? Marso na, bakasyon ng mga pamangkin mo, don't tell me, you'd just stay here working and adding to your net worth?" he chuckled.

"I'll see... labas tayo mamaya, sa Burj Khalifa, let's see if Kuya Rad's already arrived from London,"

"I have also lots of things to say to you."

I checked on my company's representatives around the whole North America, Europe and from the other countries in front where they greeted me happily. I turned amused when I saw the representative of the great MZ Estates. Katabi lang kung saan naroon ang ang kumpanya ko.

"Let's welcome, the Chairman of the Annual General Assembly, Engineer Ephraim Ivonis Yousef Zallega, Jr."

I went to where I should belong as I sat and opened the laptop in front of me. 

"MZ Estates..."

Nakuha iyon ng atensyon ko at nag-angat ng tingin. I saw Aljun with the team, smirking at me.

"89th rank as one of the large groups of construction in Asia..." sumunod pa ang mga credentials ni Aljun.

He remained smirking at me as I remained stoic. Marami pang kumpanya ang binanggit. At nanatili akong nakaupo at nakatingin kay Kuya na siya ang ikasampung ranggo at ang kumpanya niya. I supported him as I was a proud brother.

"Last but not the least, the company provided a largest number of branches in the world, a company that holds the highest quality of Engineers. Zallega Home Builders, Inc... the top company in the world owned by the top one richest young man in the world."

Almost fifty percent of the crowd is my team around the globe as they cheered loudly here inside the hall, it filled with applauses.

Break noong nanatili ako sa inuupuan ko. I was checking my team using my eyes as I saw them still working on the laptop.

"Ivo, it's been a long time!" maligayang bati ni Aljun at lalapit na sana nang humarang ang mga tauhan ko.

"Sir Ivo's security is our responsibility to ensure that he's safe from those strangers, we're sorry, Sir but we weren't able to allow you to go near him." It was the autorative voice of Mr. John Carter.

Aljun looked at me with full of amusement. I smirked more.