Chapter 3: News at the Jacksons

In a huge dining table of the Jackson’s manor are the sumptuous breakfast prepared by the female servants. When the last menu was served, the members of the family has arrived one after another.

“Oh my god, brother Marcus. Look at this live news! Isn’t this brother Miguel’s car?” Cali, the future medical doctor and the only first-born young Lady of the family run towards Marcus’ direction who already settled in the dining area. Marcus reluctantly received his cousin’s phone and realized what she fusses about.

“Cali what’s with Miguel that made you ran and breath profoundly?” Missis Selena, Cali’s mom asked. She and her husband, Ezequiel are the first to arrive at the dining table.

Cali looked at her mom who’s sitting adjacent to her direction and panicky replied, “Mom it’s about brother Miguel’s car that was found under the bridge of Bay Avenue.”

“What?” the family in tremor’s state said in unison.

“Let me see it Marcus!” Atty. Alexander Villaren, father of Marcus quickly retorted.

Marcus passes Cali’s phone to his dad.

“Oh my god! The plate numbers! That was really Miguel’s car!” Missis Sabrina, Alexander’s wife and Marcus’ mom said in horror. She’s beside her husband. “I think, there’s a mistake here. Marcus, aren’t you with Miguel last night?” She worriedly asked her only son.

“Yes, I am. But then, I leave the office first when I heard the alarming signal news of tropical storm. But before I left, Miguel told me that he’ll be dropping at his penthouse first and he’ll just follow us here at the mansion.” Marcus exclaimed with the reasons that he already mastered since last night.

“His phone is unreachable.” Cali nervously said while she dialed Miguel’s number.

“Don’t you think you’re just overreacting sis? Who knows, that’s fake news! A fraud from someone who coincidentally copied big brother Miguel's plate numbers coz you've heard big bro Marcus, right? He's following us here. Besides, who would dare to touch brother Miguel when they already knew what kind of fate waits for them!” Carl, Cali’s twin sinisterly commented while munching a piece of meat.

“Shut up! I’m not overreacting okay? I’m just worried! And can you stop talking while your chewing your food huh?” Cali replied irritatingly.

Carl shrugged, ignoring Cali's words. This scene is not new to him because he and his twin sister were always like this. They actually used to tease one another because they both grew up pampered with everything by the family, especially by their parents, Dr. Selena Jackson Alvarez and Ezequiel Alvarez, the CEO of the wide Entertainment Industry - the A&A Inc.

"It's very early in the morning, yet you disrupt the mood of the family with such fake news." Carl whispered out of annoyance.

Sensing the family’s atmosphere, Marcus mouth twitched. He silently contemplates that Miguel's plan and idea was going smoothly. Last night, he paid someone to drop Miguel’s car into the cliff and now, it’s already in the social news. 

“Nothing is really hidden from the eyes of the media even in bad weather huh!” Marcus silently thought. He stands from his seat as he announced, “I’ll investigate it, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“But today’s weather is still not good son! Why don’t we check Miguel first upstairs or his car at the garage instead? Maybe Carl's viewpoint is right - he was already here and we didn’t notice his arrival last night.” His mom suggested as she stopped him.

“I already checked young master’s room now, but he wasn’t there, Madame.” Butler Oman, whom, just came in interrupts. He was the trustworthy chief male servant of the family.

“I just came from the garage and mind you guys, Miguel’s car wasn’t there too, so, I guess he didn’t come home last night or else, no one of us noticed as he went to the office early despite of this bad weather.” It was Edward, Miguel’s eldest brother who seize the chance to butt in the conversation the moment he arrived and overheard it.

Dead air fell upon the people at the dining table.

“Oh? What’s with that long face?” Edward asked as soon as he noticed their paled and worried expressions; he’s about to settle down on his seat.

Marcus opens his mouth as he’s about to speak, but eventually closes when he noticed the figure of his grandpa together with Miguel’s younger brother, Adam entering the dine area.

The family in the dine table instantly became silent.

“Pfft, I thought I could be able to escape from my family’s drama.” Marcus screamed on his head as he has no choice but to sit down again for the reason that everybody knew about; the golden rules of the old man, 'Meal first before leaving.' Everyone in the household respected and followed the old man as his words were like a decree.

“What’s with the turmoil earlier?” Don Arthur, the patriarch of the Jackson family asked after he sat down at the center edge in the dining table.

Cali and Carl were staring each other.

“Ah! Nothing grandpa. It’s just that big brother Marcus wants to leave for the company, but Aunt Sabrina wants him to eat his meal first since it was one of the golden rules, right?” Cali immediately find excuses. She doesn’t want to make her grandpa worry, though she knew that sooner or later, he will eventually find out.

“Aha! And you really take the blow in me huh!” Marcus silently mumbled.

“Good morning…” The conversation in the dining table was interrupted by the arrival of Don Arthur first born, Simon and his wife. Simon’s siblings, Selena and Sabrina, as well as his niece, Cali greeted them back, while Don Arthur and the other boys give them a nod.

“Hmm! I think someone is absent?” It was Missis Natalie, Simon’s wife who acknowledge the absence of Miguel.

“Adam, where’s your brother?” Simon immediately asked his third son.

“I don’t know.” Adam answered his father shortly.

“Oman? Is Miguel here already?” Don Arthur asked the butler.

Bending forward, Butler Oman responded, “I’m sorry Don Arthur, but since yesterday the young master has not yet arrived.”

“Okay! Then, let’s not wait for the person who aren’t here. Let’s eat!” Don Arthur instructed.

“Dad, your heart! Don’t be angry.” Missis Natalie showed her care, insinuating for a concern.

Don Arthur objectively became silent while Adam in his right side glared his stepmom for a fleeting moment before attending his platter.

“Maybe, Miguel is still occupied for the preparation on the Company’s 50^th Golden Anniversary, so he’s not here yet Dad.” Ezequiel, father of the twins is trying to cover up Miguel’s absence.

Without giving much thought, Don Arthur responded Ezequiel with a nod.

Actually, the upcoming 50^th annual celebration of the company is the reason why the family gathered in the ancestral mansion since yesterday. On the day of the annual celebration will also be Simon’s 55^th birthday and he’s retirement. That day, he’ll pass down his CEO position to one of his sons. Thus, except for Don Arthur's first born, Simon and his family whose living in the mansion, his two ladies, Sabrina and Selena together with their families, always find time to visit the mansion too. It’s always been a family's tradition that in every single occasion, the family shall gather one to two weeks before the celebration. It was actually practiced by the family since Don Arthur's wife, the late Doña Victorina was still alive.

The family is silently eating when one of the maids approached Butler Oman with a phone. Butler Oman coughs as he agitatedly announced, “Don Arthur our head security said that the Police from the Police District is looking for Master Simon to talk about second young master Miguel.”

Hearing Butler Oman; Carl and Cali’s jaw dropped while others were stunned. Confusion could be traced both on Simon and Don Arthur’s faces.

***

“Hey! Are you okay? Are you in pain?” Andrea worriedly asked when she noticed Miguel is lowering down his head after tasting the breakfast she prepared.

In response, Miguel repeatedly shook his head. He slowly looked up, straighly staring her into her eyes. After a short paused, he asked reluctantly, “This kind of dish… where did you learn this?”

With baffled expression, Andrea awkwardly answered, “Umm… my grandma taught me this. She used to be a chef when she was still alive.”

Miguel is already discharged from Dr. Calvo’s clinic very early in the morning. Andrea has no choice but to process his discharge after she had a private talk with Dr. Calvo. Apparently, Miguel has plans, so he will be staying at Trina and Andrea’s apartment at the meantime, but he regretted his decision to stay with them due to the small place they have. However, his mind changed when he smelled and tasted Andrea’s recipe. She cooked so well that he remembered his loving late mother.

“How could she cooked this exactly like the way mom did?" Miguel thought. "Pfft… maybe I shouldn’t judge her by her nerdy looks!” He additionally thought.

Miguel retreated his gaze at her and using his left hand, he resumed his meal.

“Hmm… this is delicious. Though you have a small apartment, but if this is my everyday meal, then it’s not that bad to stay here at all.” He remarked aloofly.

“Tsk… Choosy! Yeah right, it’s delicious now since you choose to starve yourself from last night!” Andrea could’ve heard Trina murmuring in sarcastic tone. Since last night, she was so furious that Miguel didn’t eat the fast food she bought. She even drenched herself in the rain just to buy him those, but what the heck - she’ll just received a word from him that he’s not eating trash foods!

Andrea nudged Trina’s side. She can sense that Miguel heard what her roommate has said, and he's just ignoring it. She coughs repeatedly as she told him, “I know you’re hungry because you didn’t eat since last night. But, still thank you for the compliment. Uhm… please take your meds after you eat. I’ll just put it here." Andrea puts the sedative on the table with a glass of water.

"Then, if it’s okay with you, can we talk our set-up after? You know, we didn't have our serious talk last night after my chat with Dr. Calvo.” She added. 

After few seconds of silence, Andrea was relieved to receive Miguel’s approving nod.