Chapter Two

Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin at umayos ng upo. 

"She's not responding to my texts and calls. Walang ni isang chat kahit addresss lang. She's not like this, Av."

Mataman na tiningnan ni Avern ang binata. Just to make sure he's not fooling her. Mahirap na. Baka mabudol siya. 

"Magtapat ka nga sakin, may nangyari ba? Did you do something to upset her. I mean she won't ghost you unless may ginawa kang hindi niya nagustuhan. I'm sure you're not dense para hindi mapansin yun. You've been together for what...seven years."

Napanguso ito. Nakalapat ang daliri nito sa baba, umaaktong nag-iisip. Until he got immersed in his reverie. Bahagya niyang kinurot ang tagiliran nito. Imbes na ito ang masaktan siya pa ang napaaray sa tigas ng maskuladong tyan nito hanggang biceps. Lalo itong nagiging matikas dahil sporty ito. Tendrils of his brown hair brushed on his nose and covered portion of his face. Magtigil ka Avern may nagmammay-ari na sa taong yan! You shall not covet. 

"I remembered when we went to our rest house in Batangas our trip to an island got cancelled and i asked to bring her to the vineyard instead, she haven't talked to me since then. I tried to approach her for days yet nothing. I went to her parent's house but her father denied and told me she had been staying in her penthouse. Hindi na ako pumunta dahil baka lalo siyang magalit sakin. I promised to book a flight to Singapore as reconciliation gift. I sent her secretary handwritten letters and as you can see..." 

Edi ikaw na Miss! Loyal na nga to at heel over heels in love si Sir Cai pero di pa rin enough. Taas ng setting sa bar mo mamsh! Heidi Acosta is one of the in demand models in Asia and Europe and the only daughter of Hermano Acosta which is the vice president of the country. Her father is strict and he doesn't approve their relationship given her boss's bad reputation. Siyempre bawat galaw nila ay kailangan alam ng ama. 

"Baka naman may kinalaman si Vice Pres dyan. No offense sa soon to be father-in law mo Sir."

"That's exactly what i thought about. Alam kong mabigat ang binibintang ko pero pakiramdam ko pinapalayo niya si Hei sakin. She always obey him no matter what. She can't defy him otherwise he will prison her in their home back in the province with no phone or any way to contact me. I know it's their family matter but i can't just stand it."

"Legally may karapatan kang makijoin sa kanila dahil ikaw ang fiance ni Miss Heidi and perhaps she would highly appreciate that. Hindi ko man alam ang buong pangyayari subalit subukan mo ding suyuin siya in a way na hindi nakakasakit o mapagmulan ng away nilang mag-ama. Try to ask her what she wants you to do dahil hindi ka naman manghuhula para hulaan ang kung ang nais niya. Case to case kasi yan, the things that may work for me may work or may not work for her dahil lahat tayo ay may unique approach sa problema. Huwag kang mag-alala naniniwala akong maayos niyo rin yan. So get your butt out of your office and buy her flowers, ask for her forgiveness or clarity. Makipag-usap ka huwag kang maghintay na siya ang magfirst move. Your the man so be the man. Your woman wants her princess treatment and willingly offer that to her because no woman deserves to settle with bare minimum. Walang discount sa pag-ibig kaya kailangan mong isugal lahat." Aniya kahit labag sa loob niya. Kahit nanghahapdi ang puso niya na tila sinugatan at dinurog ng paulit-ulit. She brought out the most sincere smile she could give. 

"Thanks, Av. You're the best."

"You're always welcome."

Nakangiti itong nagmadaling tumayo at kinuha ang coat nito bago siya niyakap. He almost flew down the building from hurrying.