CHAPTER 5

The meeting continued until lunch, iilan lang ding kakilala ang nakakalapit sa akin. I can't stop myself thinking how far I am. Five years ago, the company was taken away from me but fortunately, I have been working my own company with all the success and plenty of sweats.   

Sa dinner naming magkakapatid sa Burj Khalifa, napag-usapan namin si Ares, nasermunan din namin si Kuya Achilles.

"Look, when you already forgave your son, there is someone came, Lava's five months pregnant, right?" Kuya Rad said.

"It has been four years, Ares' already thirteen, the tragedy wasn't his fault, it was an accident," sabi ko at sumubo.

Pumatak ang luha ni Kuya Achilles, "Napatawad ko na ang anak ko, matagal na."

"And Lava, did she already did that though?" tanong ko. 

"Yes, she did."

I almost rolled my eyes. 

Sa mga sumunod na araw, I went back to New York for another party to attend as I got an issue again. A publication published a photo of me with an international celebrity, she just asked for a picture but the rumor spreaded that we're dating. 

I readied my things inside my luggage as I wore my flight suit, black jeans, leather Versace shoes, and black zippered leather jacket.

Pinauuwi ako ni Mommy dahil ako na lang ang wala roon.  At isasabay ko na rin ang pagpapatayo ng kauna-unahang branch ng Zallega Home Builders ko sa Pilipinas na mangungunang kumpanya sa Asya para naman maabala ko roon ang sarili ko. 

Last day, the branch in Rio de Janeiro was already opened but my CEO there was representing me. 

I was strutting the NAIA as I was heavily guarded even if it was already evening. Bakasyon at nasa Nasugbu sila. I went to my Bugatti Chiron as I drove with my foreign men followed me, driving their three Licoln Navigators. 

Past two am when we arrived at the mansion as I entered the home.

"Ivo!" Mom greeted wearing her silver robe.

Dad was on his white t-shirt and pajamas. Bumati ako at yumakap.

I've grown up and totally a man, their young man who was jumping on their room before. Na nakikihiga sa kanila at natutulog. I am now the competitive Ephraim Zallega Junior like my successful father who succeeded on giving me the advices and this is the outcome of everything.

Mom was looking at my back like she was finding something. Then her eyes went to me as it turned amusing when her lips were smirking.

"I was expecting you to go home with our grand child-"

I groaned as I hugged her, tiningala niya ako at ngumisi.

"Mauuna ang asawa kaysa anak, Ivo, I have seen all your issues with your women." 

I smiled tiredly and nodded.

"I've missed you so much, son..."

I kissed her forehead and embraced her. Sa kwarto ako dumeretso. I took a cold shower as I wore dark blue boxers and a gray sleeveless shirt. 

Medyo tanghali nang magising na ako at agad kong kinuha ang phone tyaka bumaba na magulo ang medyo mahaba-haba kong buhok.

Agad kong pinagmasdan si Ares na naglalaro sa patio. He'd grown with his own trials as a son. 

Niyakap ko siya at mahigpit ang yakap niya sa akin. "Sorry if I wasn't there for you before, hmm?"

Tiningala niya ako at pumatak ang luha niya. "Nakaya ko po, Tito..."

I nodded and even if he's already a big man, I sagged him in my shoulders. Umupo ako sa couch kung nasaan sila at nilapag ko ang cellphone sa center table. I held his face and smiled at him.

"Whatever happened, there are reasons, and you've been braver, right?"

He nodded and closed his eyes as fresh tears flowed again.

"Walang may kasalanan, tignan mo, you'll be having your another baby brother soon," sumulyap ako kay Ate Lava na emosyonal.

Ares nodded at me.

Matapos akong kumain, natulog muli ako sa taas at ginawa ang trabaho sa veranda pagkatapos, hapon nang gumala akong mag-isa, I was not guarded as I went to Ate Maye's store, napagtinginan ako ng mga tao sa barangay nang husto, na parang hindi ako nababagay sa lugar.

"Ivo?" Ate Maye's voice came up suddenly.

"Softdrinks nga, Ate," sabi ko at naupo.

She wandered me from head to toe like I have changed.

"Jusko, hindi ako makapaniwala na nakikita ko ngayon ang pinakamayaman sa buong mundo!" Ate Deborah said loudly.

"Ewan sa inyo."

Pumasok ako sa tindahan at sumungay ang tao mula sa labas at nagbulung bulungan.

"Ivo, ang hot mo na raw!" Kuya Rad said there.

"Nagsabi?" malakas kong tanong at kumuha ng tinapay.

"Si Sheila, ex mo!"

Hindi ko pinansin at nasulyapan nga si Sheila, my ex before to say that I was a real man. But she left me after three weeks and went to Ian. 

"Hi," maliit niyang bati.

I waived a bit and sipped on the softdrinks.

"Nasaan si Vanessa?"

"Sa Maynila sila nila Logan, Ryan at iba pang barkada niyo noon, MBA na nila, 'di ba sabay-sabay kayo noon?"

Tumango ako.

"Still single? Dami ring international celebrities, e."

Tumawa ako nang hilaw at umupo sa concrete deck nila Ate Maye. May nakita akong dumating at nanatili ang tingin ko roon kay Vienna at Andie na ang taba, I blinked twice and shamelessly stared at them with so much wondering.

"Yes, Ivo, your instincts are right," Vienna rolled her eyes.

"Wala pa akong iniisip, and take note, it's Engineer or Architect," I smirked.

"Whatever! You're still the play gay!" Andie said.

What the hell?

I barked a laughters in a manly way as it made them shocked. "I don't need to prove myself anymore though, whatever you think of me, I get it that you hated us ever since."

Badtrip ako nang gabing iyon at hindi na nagsalita pa.

"MZ Estates is failing, the stocks are now being unnoticed by the companies." 

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Kuya Ekron sa akin kinabukasan sa study ni Daddy, nakapalibot sa mahabang mesa.

"'Di ba, matalino ang sinaksak ni Lolo?" sarkastiko kong sabi at ginalaw ang swivel.

"Ivo!" it was the warning voice of Dad. "That's why we are conducting you in this part to ask for your help."

"Help? What kind of help that I will pity on the company? Buy the stocks?" I chuckled a bit.

"We're not asking you to buy the stocks-"

"Shut up, Aljun, if you didn't ask Lolo to talk to the boards, the company should still in its way up, I was already surpassing the ratings of DFC Metals, what did you do inside the whole five years? Tinamasa mo lang ba ang pagiging CEO, at hindi gumalaw?" putol ko.

Lolo sighed and stared at Aljun disappointedly as I remained on the screen on my phone.

"But I can turn over to who's willing to hold it again..." Aljun said.

"Ikaw naman dapat..." nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin. 

 

Para bang nakuha nila ang atensyon ko at dumiin pa ang titig ko sa kanya "Tss..." tumayo ako at tinalikuran sila, nilagok ko ang juice at tinanaw ang gusali ng planta sa hindi kalayuan. 

"Apo, just take the position again, my legacy won't work if there is no proper leader to enter." 

Lumandas ang luha sa pisngi ko kagaya ng paglandas nito nang kunin nila sa akin iyon. 

"I have my own business and I have to focus on it, I don't need that company, I am not even carrying the Maximinous so it's okay." 

"Ivo! Bastos ka!" sigaw ni Kuya Rad.

Tumawa ako, "Take a business course and Engineering, Kuya, you'd feel how it feels like you die when it comes to this part, ano 'to? Bata na inagawan ng candy na kapag umiyak, ibabalik? Kendi na matapos dilaan, ipapadila rin sa'yo? Kagaguhan." 

"Binabalik na nga, 'di ba? Si Lolo na ang nakikiusap dahil nagkamali siya sa pagpili," ngayon, kalmado siya na parang nakuha sa sinabi ko. 

"I will supervise my international teams that I will be entering on MZ Advocates and Developers, they are Filipinos that I gave the chance to work here for my company." 

Kuya Achilles chuckled, "So paano? Who will be the next CEO? Deborah's a teacher, Ekron and Kirjath are contented as the COO and Vice President."

Umupo ako at tumingin sa kanila. 

"Si Ivo..." panduduldulan ni Tito Alejandro. 

"'Wag niyo nang pilitin kung ayaw," dismayadong sabi ni Kuya Rad. 

"Rad..." Dad warned. 

"Hindi ako kasing talino niyo ni Kuya para hawakan ang dalawang bagay..." 

He laughed, "We're not talking about how smart we are, we're talking about the company-"

"That you took yourself away from it to lessen your stress?" I said with full of conviction. 

Tumayo siya, umatras na ako, pero nasuntok na niya ako. 

"Why are you insisting me to enter on that company, ha?" sigaw ko at hindi tumama ang suntok ko dahil umatras siya.

Mom shouted as Kuya Rad remains talking. 

"You're disrespecting the company's creator." 

"Hold it, then, you're just the one whose been insisting me to hold it, then you should hold it..." 

Nasa pagitan namin sila Tito at mga pinsan at umaawat. 

"Lolo's been pleading you to hold it again 'cause he knows your potential, matalino ka pero pinapairal mo lang ang galit mo! Matalino ka kaya mo narating ang mga bagay na hindi namin kayang abutin ni Kuya... you're very smart that you became the most richest man in the world. You went home with your promised to everyone before, you successfully made it, Ivo, and we're all proud of you," he added. 

 

It caught me off guard and I stared at him. I was stoically standing in front of the bookshelves. "I'll buy all the stocks but I still won't accept it," umupo ako at pinirmahan ang kailangan. 

That's what I was thinking when I left and went to the movie room. Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako kay Kuya dahil sinuntok niya ako kun'di ang manatiling isipin ang sinabi niya. 

May mga pamilya ang dumating para sa pakikipagsosyo sa negosyo, dito sa mansyon dumeretso. The Altavas. 

Nasa dining ako, umiinom ng malamig na tubig ngunit nakaharap ako roon, at nakaupo sa silya ng kabisera. My brothers turned to me, using their eyes, they pointed the girl of Altavas.

Wait… umusad ako para tignang mabuti kung sino ang pinupuri ni Mommy, it was her. The girl five years ago! Iyong bumoso sa akin.

She'd grown, her beautiful face matured and I can sense her age, sixteen? No, eighteen. 

At nang magtama ang paningin naming dalawa, biglang sumimangot ang pagmumukha niya. Suminghap ang dalawa kong Kuya.

Nang humakbang ako, umatras siya, I can see her eyes with fear. Napatigil ako.

"Say hi, to your Kuya, Zuri!" pang-iinis ni Ate Elijah at tumawa ang mga magulang niya.

"You've grown, child, parang kailan lang..." maligayang sabi ko.

Napalitan ng galit ang ekspresyon niya na ikinalubag ng loob ko dahil nainis siya.

Tumingala siya sa mga magulang niya, "Ma, kausapin ko po sana kayo, 'yong tayong tatlo lang..."

Eugene Altavas, his father smirked at me and they went out.

Antok na antok na ako nang pumasok si Mommy sa kwarto ko. Tinignan niya ang sinuntok ni Kuya sa balikat ko kanina. It had bruised and a bit painful. 

"Hindi ka sasabay sa mga bisita?" 

"Antok na 'ko, Ma..." 

"Do you like that lady?" she chuckled. 

Hindi ako sumagot. She's young, though, but there's the sense of strange feeling when the first time I saw her. 

"Bata pa siya, Ma, I hate her, though." 

She laughed, "Denying your feelings won't help you, it shouts your guiltiness." 

I groaned at her teas, but she hugged me while I was lying. 

"Just try to work, hindi ka namin pipilitin kung ayaw mo," she said. 

I barked a loud laugh. 

"Mom, what if it won't work?" 

"What if it does?" she asked. 

Is this what they called fixed marriage? Oh, God, my brothers successfully made it even if they went a lot of trials. 

"How old is she?" 

Mom's face brightened, "Turning eighteen this year..."  she caressed my hair. 

"Baka ayaw?" 

She chuckled, "Well, the Altavas clan has been aiming you years ago... and I think the first time you both encountered was the most romantic one..." 

I groaned and rolled myself on the bed. Tumatawa siya at inusisa ang tinatrabaho ko. 

"It was the most romantic one I have ever seen since I haven't witnessed your brothers love stories..." dumapa siya para mayakap ako. "Kain na, ikaw na lang hinihintay nila." 

Binaon ko ang mukha ko sa higaan, "Naiinis siya sa akin... siya lang ang babaeng umiirap." 

"Isn't it challenging? I mean, she's not easy to get... kung gusto mo siya, paghirapan mo... pinahirapan ko ang Daddy niyo.."

Sabay kaming bumaba at agad na dumeretso ako sa upuan ko. At ang matindi, kaharap ko siya. She glared at me as my thick brows jumped with lips were protruded. 

"One thing I liked about your daughter Betty, she can handle boys, at natawa ako nang may nanligaw sa kanyang bumisita sa bahay niyo pero nang makita si Kenji, the guy was sweating instantly..." Mom laughed sophisticatedly.

Zuri smirked at me, she has suitors... well... who wouldn't be admired in that face?

"Takot na noong makita ang Kuya niya, nag-away pa sila dahil mailap na rin daw ang mga lalaking classmates niya sa kanya." Tita Betty chuckled.

Lumunok ako, "I've seen Kenji. he's not that intimidating, though, unless, the guys her age were not well trained," I muttered.

Natahimik ang hapag at nasapak ni Mommy ang braso ko. 

 I chuckled sexily and ate the rice.

"Kasi po, Tita, I am more fascinated by the guys my age, sasagutin ko talaga kung sino ang mabait at hindi mukhang arogante," Zuri answered Mom.

Slowly, my aura darkened and I reflected in her blue eyes. Ano pang kulay ang nakita ko? A brownish one. May lahi sila?

"Kung sabagay... if you were given the chance to choose on my three sons, who else you'll going to choose, hija?"

Zuri laughed shyly and blushed.

Nahiya pa, alam ko namang 'di ako gusto.

"Tita, uhm... Kuya Achilles po, or, Kuya Rad, they're too looking nice." 

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya, a bit insulted by what she said.

"But Achilles is thirty nine now, when you were born, he was twenty..." Tita Betty said.

Muntik nang lumabas ang tubig sa ilong ko. Zuri glared at her mother.

"Same as with Rad, nine year gap with Achilles ba?" Tita Betty added.

My reaction was still insulted as I continued eating at kahit marami akong kainin, wala akong pakialam kung tataba ako ulit.

Ang insulto lang iyon ang iniisip ko buong gabi. Ni hindi nga ako nakatulog dahil binabagabag ako ng mapang-inis niyang ngiti na kinaumagahan, agad kong nakita siyang pababa kaya sumabay ako.

"Good morning," I smiled and she wandered me after being shocked.

I was fresh from the cold morning shower wearing my dark blue shorts and white deep v-neck shirt. 

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Bumalik siya sa taas at umikot sa isang hagdan.  

"Why do you hate me so badly?" 

Napatigil siya sa gitna ng hagdanan. "I don't know! I just hated you for being too arrogant and asshole..." 

"You haven't yet seen my real attitude and you're now judging me, huh?"

"Dahil gano'n ka at hinding-hindi kita gugustuhin dahil babaero ka, ang dami, at hindi ko alam kung may asawa ka ba sa ibang bansa..."

Tumawa ako at bumaba, pumunta ako sa kabilang hagdan kung nasaan siya.

"Your parents won't choose me if I was already married, baby."

"Oh damn, don't you dare calling me baby, it's a fucking insult for me that I'm too young to be looks like I have you as a sugar Daddy," she said irritatingly. 

Pain etched in my expression but it changed in my dark mode as my brows shot up.

"Six years gap, Zuri Aniyah," I smirked. "Come on, please, let me just hug you."

In her irritations, she seems not better when I am around. Pero kung lalayo ako, babagabagin niya ang isipan ko. At sa loob ng ilang taon, hindi ko ikaiila na hindi ko minsan siya naisip. 

Sometimes, in my cold rainy days in US, I was thinking if when will I find someone who would make me fall in love? And she's always just the girl who can't stop myself thinking about her. 

"Hug?" she laughed, "Hindi ko iyon ibibigay..."

Ako naman ang tumawa, "Who else is the deserving one? No, mali, who are the deserving guys who would hug you?"

Humawak siya sa staircase at handa nang bumaba at sampalin ako.

"Are? What's with that plural form?" nagtaas siya ng kilay.

"There are guys-"

"Oh damn it, Ephraim Junior, you're judging me the way you heard that I have lots of suitors, I am teen, first year college na ako sa June, I could not enjoy my teenage years if I couldn't get any suitors," she said irritatingly.

Ephraim Junior, why does it sound so sexy in my ears? I want to hear it again but I should stand in this fight.

"At isa pa, marami kang babae, 'di ba?" she chuckled.

I looked away. "You're more than beautiful than them." 

Tumikhim siya at nakuha iyon ng atensyon ko kaya napatingala ulit ako sa kanya, tumikhim ulit siya.

"I am not playing around." 

"I am not also playing around," agad kong sagot. "Tell me..." humakbang ako sa hagdan, she even whispered a soft curse as she stepped back.

"Damn you, Ephraim Junior." 

I chuckled and just a few steps away from her, I stopped while looking at her blue eyes.

"Who are the deserving guys who would hug you, then?"

"Why do you want to know?" her face brightened up. 

"I just wanna see if they are really deserving more than me..." I was like pleading like a child. 

Sigurado ka ba, Ivo?

She smirked, "Your brothers."

"Unless, you want to be a mistress of my brothers, sabay," ngumisi ako.

Niyabangan ako ng tingin, "I would love to."