Chapter 1

TORONTO, January 2016

You can be sure that someone, somewhere will tell you that you're wasting your time and talent, that you're doomed to fail, that others have tried and failed before you, that the mistakes you keep making are portents of your own impending failure, that you lack the courage to even try, that your upbringing doesn't match your aspirations, that your personality doesn't mesh with your mission, that the task is too difficult.

That someone in Lucian's life is his father. Time and time again, Don Lucio would remind him that his place is not in those glass revolving doors, confined in those four walls. But Lucian loves his job. He loves designing and understanding the rigidity, strength and stability of anything he sees.

But most importantly, he loves Georgina. Loving her is choosing not to join his father's organization. Sa mata ng mga tao, isang Structural Engineer si Lucian.

"Have you done the calculation for the East Canyon Suspension Bridge?" Lucian's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Jackson's voice.

Magtatatlong taon na simula nang matanggap siya sa firm. At ganoon na rin silang katagal nagsasama ni Georgina. Hindi na sila naghiwalay nang magtagpo sila sa Berlin. O mas dapat bang sabihin na hindi na niya pinakawalan ang dalaga simula nang araw na 'yon? Nalaman niyang nauna pa pala itong magtapos sa kaniya ng kolehiyo. The woman is freaking smart, but too secretive for his liking. Nevertheless, he loves her dearly and he can deal with whatever she's hiding. Pasasaan ba at magsasabi rin ito sa kaniya ng mga bagay-bagay. Isa pa, hindi lang naman ito ang may itinatago— siya rin naman.

"Here." Ibinigay ni Lucian ang folder na naglalaman ng kwenta. "I'm saving it to the server now."

"Thanks, man." Jackson left and a few minutes later, his cellphone rang.

Unknown number. Isa lang ang tumatawag sa kaniya na walang numero— ang kaniyang ama. Lucian doesn't know if he should answer or cancel the call. Don Lucio calls him on special occasions including his birthday. Bukod doon, hindi siya tinatawagan ng ama. At walang dahilan para tawagan siya nito ngayon.

Lucian let it go to voicemail and continued his work. He still has fifteen minutes before he goes home at dahil Biyernes ngayon, date night nila ni Georgina. She doesn't like being called Ruthie. Pang-sutil daw 'yon. Ang hindi niya masabi sa mahal niya, kahit anong pangalan pa ang gamitin nito ay likas pa rin naman ang kasutilan.

Ten minutes left and he was saving his work before shutting it down for the weekend. He never brings work home, at hindi rin nila pinag-uusapan ni Georgina ang trabaho sa bahay kapag weekend. They would talk about friends and family, trips to take, events to attend to but never work. If they ever do, it's brief during weekdays.

Someone knocked and this time, it's Elaine. She's almost sixty and is very vocal about retirement. Si Elaine ang big boss ng firm at hindi iilang beses nitong sinabi sa kaniya ang posibilidad  na ma-promote siya. The idea excites him kaya lalo niyang pinagbubutihan sa trabaho.

"You have a minute?" Tumango si Lucian at itinuro ang silya sa harap ng desk niya. Ibinaba ng ginang ang ilang papel at ikinalat sa harap niya. "I need you to take a look at this quickly. I know it's residential and it's not your project but— I am not satisfied with this. The townhomes are three storeys. You'd think it's easy and manageable."

Habang nagsasalita si Elaine ay pinapasadahan na ni Lucian ang drawing at list of materials.

"It might be just an oversight," wika niya sa babae.

"Improper drainage?"

"Maybe."

"Poor design?" Napangiwi si Elaine pero kiming tumawa si Lucian. "What? I'm serious."

"Alright, it could be the fill." Iyon ang tingin niyang posibleng problema.

"The fill material?" paniniguro nito.

"I have to see the site. But the fill material used if not dense enough could cause excessive settlement. Consolidate. It can damage the foundation, interior finishes or even framing."

Sa hitsura ni Elaine ay parang sumakit ang ulo nito sa narinig.

"This is why no one on this team performs as well as you do, Lucian. Let me think about that and see what the on-site engineer says. Say hi to Georgina for me. Thanks again and have a great weekend!"  Matapos magpasalamat ay umalis na rin ang boss niya.

Kung si Lucian ang tatanungin, gusto niyang magtayo ng sariling firm. Kaya niya, but it will take a lot of work, effort, time and money. The last two things are something he doesn't have. Mayaman ang pamilya nila pero nang piliin niya si Georgina, pinutol rin ng kaniyang ama ang lahat ng karangyaan na tinatamasa niya.

And that's fine. He can deal with the money part, it's the time frame that Don Lucio gave him that's bothering him. He gave him three years.

Three years to cater to his whim. Then after that, Lucian has to take over and take care of the family. If he doesn't, Lucian is on his own and he will cut ties with everyone including his siblings. No help will come to him if he ever needed it.

Napangiti si Lucian nang muling magring ang cellphone niya and this time, it's Georgina.

"Hey, baby." Kahit pagod at maraming iniisip ay pinasigla niya ang boses.

"I miss you. What time are you going to be home?" Kung gaano kalakas mang-asar si Georgina, ganoon rin ito kalambing. At kapag nagalit, malala at mapagtanim. She won't stop until she gets even.

"I'm leaving the office now. Did you cook dinner?" tanong niya habang naglalakad papunta sa elevator.

"Well... I was trying to roast the chicken but then I got distracted and I sort of— Overcooked it."

"When you say overcooked, you mean burnt?" Hindi niya napigilan ang pagtawa dahil hindi ito ang unang beses na nasunog nito ang niluluto. It's a miracle that their home is still standing.

"I hate you. You're mean." Mas lamang ang pagkapikon ni Georgina kaysa pagpapaawa nito. Kung noong una, natataranta siya. Nang magtagal ay hindi na.

"Oh, come on. I was just kidding." Lucian bit the inside of his cheek a bit then said, "How about I take you out on a date tonight and I'll help you clean up the kitchen after?"

Georgina giggled. "Okay. Casual or semi?"

"Go with casual. We will have dinner then go to the movies."

"Movies?" Halatang excited si Georgina. She appreciates the simples things. "Okay. I'm game. See you soon! Be safe. I love you!"

"I love you more."

Lucian drives a five year old BMW X5 at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nila pinapalitan. Second hand 'yon nang mabili nila pero dahil babae ang driver at certified ang sasakyan ay wala silang naging problema sa performance nito. Kahit kailan ay hindi siya itinirik. Inalagaan na lang ang sasakyan sa maintenance. Ayaw nilang dalawa na may hinuhulugan dahil mahirap ang may utang. They don't want to work to just pay bills and loans— they want to be able to enjoy their life too. There's more to life than responsibilities. 

As for Georgina, she loves driving a car kaya Mustang ang kinuha nito. She didn't want a brand new one and settled for a 2004 SVT Cobra. It's Mystichrome and it changes the paint color depending on the angle. Noong una, hindi pumayag si Lucian dahil matindi ang niyebe sa Toronto at delikado ang kotseng gusto ni Georgina. It's not built for the cold winter months. But she was able to persuade him just like the other times at binili nito ang kotse. 

She put up an advertising agency kaya hawak nito ang sariling oras. There are days when

she works at home and goes to the office twice a week. Kapag winter ay mas madalas siyang nasa bahay lang. They are both busy working during the day but they make it a point to have a quality time together. It doesn't mean they have to spend money, but a simple cuddling on the couch while doing a movie marathon is their kind of lazy day. 

Life is good for them. Pero katulad ng panahon, walang makapagsasabi kung hanggang kailan sila magiging ganito.