I'll Find You [John Steep Wilder]

Three

"What are you doing here?!" pasigaw na sambit ni Steep sa bisita ng kanyang ina.

"Hey! Hey! Young man! Where are your manners?" maagap na salo ni Mrs Wilder sa bisita. "That's not how you treat an old friend.." Malambing ulit na tugon niyon at saka hinila ang siko ng kanyang anak patungo sa tabi ng kaniyang bisita.

"How are you Steep? It's been a while." bati sa kanya ng dalagang mala anghel ang mga mata. Malaki na ang pinagbago nito mula ng huli silang magkita. Mula ng iwan siya nito sa ere. Tiim bagang si Steep, ayaw nyang sumama ang loob ng kanyang ina sa kanya kaya kailangan nyang makitungo ng maayos dito.

"I am doing perfectly fine Alyssa. Why are you here?" he bluntly asked. Makikita ang lungkot sa mga mata ng dalaga dahil hindi siya sanay na malamig ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng binata.

"Come on Steep. Alyssa is not happy in Paris anymore, she's coming back to us." masayang turan ng matandang babae kay Steep. He is stunned sa sinabi ng kanyang ina. "Alyssa is my best model, sinong hihindi sa kanya? She's staying here with us for a while until she finds a place to stay." Patuloy pa ng matandang babae na lalong pinag init ng ulo ni Steep.

"Seriously, Ma? You're doing this to me? You know what that woman did to me!" 'di na mapigilan ni Steep ang mag taas ng boses dahil sa narinig sa kanyang ina. Pakiramdam kasi niya ay pinaglalaruan nito ang damdamin nya. Hindi maitago ni Alyssa ang sobrang lungkot dahil kinamumuhian siya ng kaisa isang taong pinag laanan niya ng kanyang damdamin.

"I'm sorry if I chose Paris than you, Steep. I still love you, I never stopped loving you.. Hindi natapos ang araw na hindi kita naisip. I am so sorry.. Please forgive me." umiiyak na ngayong turan ni Alyssa. Hindi maitago sa mga mata ni Steep ang pag mamahal sa dating kasintahan pero wala na siyang tiwala dito dahil sa ginawa nitong pag iwan sa kanya noon.

"Stop your drama Aly. The last time I checked model ka. Hindi artista." he said in a very direct and blunt way.

"Ehem! If you'll excuse me, palagay ko ay pagod lang kayo pareho, Alyssa must have a jetlag, mag pahinga muna kayo." Sabat ng ina ni Steep na halos makalimutan na nyang nandoon lang sa kanilang harapan. "Georgie!" Tawag nito sa kanilang mayordoma. "Bring her to the guest room." utos nito at saka na tumayo si Alyssa at sumunod na lamang sa mayordoma. Akmang tatayo na sana si Steep upang umalis at magpahangin sa labas ng harangin siya ng kanyang ina.

"What now Mom?" naiiritang tanong nya. Tinaasan siya ng kilay ng Ginang at otomatikong bumalik siya sa pag kakaupo sa sofa.

"We need to talk. I heard you made a scene at the studio earlier." nanguusisang tanong niyon. Napakunot naman ng kilay si Steep dahil di niya inaasahang malalaman iyon ng kanyang ina. Bumalik nanaman ang inis niya kay Andrea na siyang pinag hihinalaan niya na nag sabi sa mama nya.

"Did Andrea tell you?" he asked. Napangiti ang matandang babae.

"She didn't know that I know. Tell me, why are you there?" mapanuksong tingin ang pinukol ng kanyang ina sa kanya.

"Mom! I just went there to tell her na wag ituloy ang kasal." he said in a monotone.

"Why? She's gorgeous right? She's the talk of the town in the Studio Steep. You are one lucky guy to be her husband." his mom pointed. "But I know, I understand you want to marry someone you love and I know it is Alyssa. Kung siya ang ipapalit mo kay Andrea and tell your father, hindi niya kayo pipigilan, you know how your Dad is fond of her." tama nga naman ang sinabi ng ina ni Steep. Gustong gusto ng Daddy niya si Alyssa when they were together. Inalok na nga nila itong ipakasal sa anak nila but Alyssa chose to go to Paris for career advancement.

"I don't know what to say mom. I still can't forget the pain she caused my heart." Wala sa sariling sambit nya. Malungkot ang mga mata ng kanyang ina ng marinig ang sagot ng kanyang anak.

"I can relate with your situation son, fight for what you want and who you love. Mahirap mag sisi sa huli. I am here for you no matter what your choice is. I know Dad will understand you too. Try to give Alyssa a chance." His mom said at pagkuway tumayo na iyon mula sa kanyang pagkakaupo. "I'll go to bed Steep. My vertigo is kicking in again. You go to sleep now, we have a breakfast meeting." Malambing na turan ng ginang.

"With whom?" he asked full of curiosity dahil dinaman siya madalas yayain ng mga ito sa mga gatherings.

"The Woons." tipid na sambit ng kanyang ina.

"MOM!" nagdadabog na sambit ni Steep.

"It was your Dad's plan Darling. Blame him." aniyon sa kanya at saka na tumalikod.

This is a f*cking long night for me and for sure I'm not going to sleep again. Knowing your Ex is in the next room and you're having a breakfast with your FIANCE in the morning, kunin mo nalang kaya ako Lord? This is f*****g my brains out!

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ANDREA POV

I know it was my fault na grumpy si Steep towards me but I like him, I know eventually he'll learn to love me the way I love him. Alam ko sa akin lang siya nababagay at wala ng ibang babae ang babagay sa kanya. I didn't have enough sleep last night because of thinking about him. Hindi ko tuloy alam ngayon paano ako magpapaganda para sa kanya.

"Come on Darling, are you ready?" nakangiting tanong ni Daddy sakin while I am so busy checking myself in front of the mirror. I wonder why Dad asked me to wear white. He said he wants a father and daughter outfit. Mukha tuloy kaming adik.

"Dad, do I look stressed?" I asked ng humarap ako sa kanya. I saw the shine on his eyes and he smiled.

"You are the most beautiful woman alive, Andrea. You look a lot like mom." he said and I saw that watery eye he tried to hide. Hinaplos ko ang kanyang likod to comfort him.

"Dad, you are the most handsome dad in the world. Thank you for everything." I said from the bottom of my heart and hugged him.

"Oh siya, tara na at inaantay na tayo ng mapapangasawa mo." he said casually and a little bit shocked by her own words. Siguro iniisip din niya na nakakabigla at mag aasawa nako. I just giggled and hold her hand patungo sa labas ng bahay.

I can't explain the excitement I am feeling habang papunta kami sa venue ng breakfast namin. Halo halong emosyon, I am happy, nervous, excited and a bit scared dahil sa pag uusap namin kahapon ni Steep. I hope he didn't mind what I did yesterday.

"We're here." our driver said and stopped in front of a 5-star hotel. Lalong lumakas ang kabog sa dibdib ko ng makita kong kakababa din ng sasakyan ni Steep. This would be the best breakfast ever! But. Wait -- Who's that girl? Alyssa? Alyssa Hill?? Paris' Top Model? GOSHHHH!!!! I have to take a photograph with her! But.. Why is she with the Wilders? Maybe she's a relative! My gosh ang swerte ko!

"Ma'am?" nagtatakang nakalahad ang kamay ng driver namin sa akin ng diko napansin na nakabukas na pala ang pintuan ko. I glide down swiftly with elegance and I saw my fiance na napatingin sa gawi ko. Ang ganda ko talaga! Hehe.

"Nga pala, where's Dad?" tanong ko sa aming driver.

"Ma'am nauna na po sa loob." he said. I looked at where Steep is standing earlier with the woman he's with but they were gone now. Di bale, pang finale, grand entrance ako e.

"WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?!" nagulat ako sa boses na iyon ng pagtungtong ko palang sa convention hall ay narinig kona. Puno ng gigil ang boses niya na tila ba galit na galit. I looked around and saw familiar faces. I thought this is a family business? Why are there media reps here? Our board of members are also here? What the fudge is going on?