VERNON We sat in silence while we wait for the bastard. Wala na rin naman akong ganang makipagusap dahil humupa na rin naman ang inis ko sa pagkalate ni Paulo. All I can feel right now is acceptance that he is late. "Good morning, you guys!" My head turned at the door's direction when it opened up, welcoming Paulo Avañes, also known as the bastard or the greatest manwhore in the CEO industry. "Vernon Ronan." He proudly speaks my name. "Looking sharp as ever, how are you man?" He asks. He extended his arm for a bro hug kaya tumayo na ako para salubingin din siya. "I'm fine, dude. How about you? Looking fvckin fine as hell as always." I cheerfully said. We have to accept that we might judge each other or talk behind each other's back, but when we meet, we remain is professionals. "Okay lang, dude. And this is?" He looks at Sollaire from head to toe, examining every inch of her until his stare landed at her unbuttoned top side of polo. At nang tumingin ako kay Sollaire
VERNON I remember what my Dad used to say, do not ever let them see you kind. And why did he say that? Because he knows that he needs people to know that his kindness is a privilege. I was really confused nang sinabi niya sa akin iyon lalo na at ang turo sa school namin ay pairalin ang kabutihan sa lahat ng oras at sa lahat ng bagay. Pero noong lumaki na ako at nagsimula nang magka-utak, I realized the deeper meaning of the advice that he gave me. Sa mundo namin, a lot of people are only with us just because of our influence, power, connections, and money. And when the betrayal of my ex-lover slash ex-secretary happened, mas naniwala ako sa advice ni Dad. I need to teach people that my kindess is a privilege that they need to earn. I have shown a lot of people kindness before, and unfortunately, I was betrayed many times too. "Where are you going, sir?" She asked. She is signing papers for our small transactions for other properties that we are supplying. "I will go home for to
SOLLAIRE "Get out, Anja." Tumaas ang balahibo ko sa tono ng boses ni Vernon. With his tone and with the seriousness that is written on his face, I just know that he is so angry. One thing I learned about Vernon is when he's calm and upset, that is his most scariest state of him. The girl Anja did not stop. Mapilit ito at makulit. Hindi rin ito nagpapadala sa paghila sa kanya ni Jane. Kahit nga ako ay nagsisimula nang mainis. "Withdraw your complaint about me. Hindi ako makahanap ng trabaho dahil doon--" I saw it very clear that Vernon had enough. Ano bang mayroon sa dalawang ito? At sino ba tong Anja na to at bakit sobrang galit na galit si Vernon sa kanya? I mean, galit naman si Vernon sa lahat but I am just reallt curious what made him really angry at Anja? "You think I give a damn? Use the money that you stole from me to find a honest way of living. Get the fvck out." Sarkastiko niyang sabi. So, this girl Anja is a thief? How dare her. I was surprised that instead
SOLLAIRE I missed my home. I missed it so much. Greater than I have missed anyone or anything else. Pinindot ko ang application sa phone na nagbukas ng gate ko. Hindi ata ako narinig ng tao na nasa loob pero hayaan mo na. Just when I thought he did not hear me, pag bukas ko ng pinto ay sumalubong sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Zion. Proud na proud niyang hawak ang lobo sa kaliwang kamay at ang cake sa kanan naman niyang kamay. "Welcome home, Sol." He excitedly greeted me. Maluha luha kong sinalubong si Zion nang yakap. He had to balance the cake out from falling dahil sa tindi ng pag yakap ko sa kanya. "Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" He asked. Hindi ako sumagot. I just hugged him more tightly. Marahang inilapag ni Zion ang cake sa lamesa at pinakawalan ang lobo sa ere, then he responded to my hug. Nang hinagod na niya ang likod at ang buhok ko, roon na tumindi ang luha ko. "Perhaps, your new boss isn't treating you pretty?" He asked again. I chuckled the
VERNON"Is that how you greet your boss?" I jokingly said.Si Sollaire sa harap ko ay bagong gising lang. Her hair is unbrushed and I can tell that she is not wearing a bra. But is it worth mentioning that she looks decent at seven a.m. in the morning? Like beyond all of her make up, she still looks okay."Uhmm..." She can not find the right words to say. "I-- good morning. Do you need me sa office? Or is there anything else that I can do for you?"I shook my head. I don't need her to say anything. I just want to make a peace between us. Lately kasi eh napapansin ko na nasosobrahan na ako sa kasungitan sa kanya, and napapansin ko rin na mas nai-stress ako pag masungit ako because I am not satisfied with anything.And above all, I should be thanking her for defending me from what Anja did. Let me be honest, I was stunned when I saw Anja kaya hindi ko naisipan to treat her harsly to be able to push her away. In short, I did not have the balls when she was in front of me, and Sollaire ha
SOLLAIRE After I warned Vernon, he was quiet. Siguro ay tinitimbang niya kung totoo ba ang banta ko sa kanya. And yes, totoo iyong banta ko na aalis ako pag hindi pa niya binago ang ugali niya. I mean, nalayasan ko nga nang matagumpay ang mga magulang ko, siya pa kaya? Natahimik si Vernon nang ilang minuto before he agreed to my terms. Hindi naman totally agree pero sinabi niya na susubukan niya. Honestly, that is enough for me na subukan niya. I am not really asking for him to change completely, hangad ko lang naman na huwag at all times ay ganoon ang ugali niya. He needs to know that not just because he is a billionaire ay mag-aadjust na ang lahat sa ugali niya. Nakabalik na rin si Zion pag tapos ng usapan namin ni Vernon. Tinanong niya nga kung may problema ba dahil siguro ay na-sense niya na may kakaibang nangyari. We just denied it and went back to chit chatting. Laking pasasalamat ko nga na hindi ako pinaandaran ni Vernon ng kasungitan niya in front of Zion dahil ala
SOLLAIRE I remember when I was a child when my dad used to beat me up from not following his orders. Sundalo kasi noon ang daddy kaya pati sa bahay ay dala dala niya ang ganoong ugali. Mataas ang rango niya sa serbisyo kaya hindi na ako nagtatangka pa na magsumbong. I tried once pero naalala ko lang na tinawanan lang ako ng mga kaibigan ni daddy. They even said to him that he is doing a good job, and that his way is probably the most effective way of disciplining a child. Oo, lumaki naman ako na may disiplina. Hindi nga lang disiplinang nag bunga mula sa pagmamahal kung hindi disiplinang nag bunga mula sa takot. Lumaki ako na may disiplina pero kasama ko ring lumaki ang trauma na inabot ko sa aking mga magulang. My mom let my dad walk all over. I never experienced mom getting in between us or telling dad to stop. The only one who did the hero job of defending me was my lola, ang mama ni daddy. But when she passed away, no one was there for me. Kaya nga ganoon na lamang a
VERNON Ramdam ko kung gaano kainit ang katawan ko. Para bang nasa loob ako ng sauna pero hindi ako nagpapawis. The feeling is weird pero hindi ko maibangon ang katawan ko o maimulat man lang ang mata ko. I feel so tired at sobrang sakit ng katawan ko. Godness gracious. Nadali ako nang tanginang abogado na iyon. I"ve been in fights before but I have to admit that he had the advantage over me. Ngayon ko lang din naman nalaman na nagbboxing pala ang tarantadong iyon. "Ikaw naman kasi, papatol patol ka pa. Imbes na magpakumbaba ka eh inasar mo pa lalo yung tao. Boxingero pa naman yun. Oh edi nabugbog ka ngayon." Sollaire has been scolding me non stop since nakita niyang ibinuka ko na ang mata ko kanina. Sinasamantala niya ata na wala akong energy para makipag sagutan sa kanya. Isa pa, ayoko rin naman na mag sungit because she already warned me. I can't lose her din naman because she has been putting up with my shit the best than my past secretaries. "Pero di ko naman sinisisi sa