Tricked (COMPLETED)

Article 1 - Section 2

"Why do you want to shift all of a sudden?" mahinahong tanong ni Kuya Forbes sakin pag katapos kung sabihin sa kanya ang plano ko.

"I'm no longer happy with my course." Liar.

"Ano bang kukunin mo?" Problemado siyang nakatingin sakin habang nakaupo sa office table niya.

"I want to take up Marketing Management kuya." Determinado kong sagot sa tanong niya. Agad namang nalukot ang mukha niya at agad na lumapit sakin.

"Febe, sinasabi ko sayo, if this is about me taking over the company—"

"Kuya naman! I just want you to take up Law, like what you always wanted! Please! Ako nang bahala sa company --- " hindi pa ko tapos sa pagsasalita ay umiiling na siya.

"Febe, listen!" hinawakan niya ako sa magkabila kong balikat at bahagyang yumuko upang matingnan ako ng diretso sa mata.

"Finish the course you wanted. Ako na ang bahala sa lahat. I can always pursue law school after you graduated, so stop stressing over it okay?" tumutulo na ang luha ko habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi niya.

Malapit na ang graduation nila at nang malaman kong magpro-proceed si Kuya Achi sa Law school, I also wanted my brother to do the same. Because that is his passion. Alam kong gusto niya yung gawin, but I am the big hindrance for it. Hindi niya magawa ang gusto niya dahil walang magtatake over sa company, and he knows na wala akong interes sa negosyong naiwan ng mga magulang namin, that's why his taking the burden to himself. Para hindi ako mahirapan. And it is guilt tripping me so much.

"No! You proceed to Law School ako nang bahala sa company! Kuya stop treating me like a child! I'm old enough to understand how the world works!" I shouted angrily before walking out of his study room.

I went directly at my room and slammed the door hard. Agad akong dumapa sa kama at nag-iiyak.

"I hate you! I hate you!" Patuloy parin ako sa pag-iyak at pananakit sa mga kawawa kong unan ng makarinig ng pagkatok sa pintuan.

"Leave me alone!" Sigaw ko, thinking it was my brother. Akala ko ay umalis na siya ng makarinig akong muli ng marahang katok.

"I said leave—"

"Baby, it's me." when I heard Kuya Achi's voice behind my door ay parang nakakita ako ng kakampi. Nagmamadali akong bumaba ng kama at binuksan ang pintuan, agad ko siyang niyakap.

"I hate him! I hate him!"wala namang ginawa si Kuya Achi kundi yakapin ako ng mas mahigpit at marahan akong hinahalikan sa buhok.

"It's okay baby. It's okay." patuloy niyang bulong habang dahan dahan akong pinapasok sa kwarto. Ayaw kong bumitaw sa pagkakayakap sa kanya, imbes ay mas hinigpitan ko pa ang yakap sa kanya. I heard him sigh, before he bent slightly and carried me inside my room.

"Shhh... Tahan na. Baby look at me." dahan dahan ko namang inilayo ang mukha ko sa pagkakasubsob ko sa may leeg niya.

"What happened? Nag-away daw kayo ni Forbes?" he asked while subtly fixing my hair which brought comfort to me. Maya maya lang ay humina na ang mga hikbi ko at unti-unti nang nakalma.

"I just want him to do what he always wanted." maikling saad ko kasabay ng isang hikbi.

"Law school?" he asked.

I nodded, I explained to him my side and my thoughts. Nakinig lang siya sa mga sinasabi ko at paminsan minsan ay inaalo kapag nag-uumpisa na naman akong maiyak.

"And he doesn't understands that! I already feel so useless---"

"Stop thinking you're useless Febe. You're not, okay? Don't worry, kakausapin ko ang kuya mo. Stop worrying about this." he said and quickly ruffled my hair. I just stared at him as he was putting me to bed.

"Go to sleep. Ako nang bahala. I got you." he said with an assuring smile and gently kiss me on my forehead before turning off the lights and close the door.

After he left, I kept on staring on the door before I fell asleep with a smile on my lips. I know he'll do something about this. I know he would.

Pababa ako sa hagdan ng Makita ko si Kuya Forbes na naghihintay sa sala. Hindi ko na sana siya papansinin dahil sa sama ng loob at didretso na lang sa kusina, nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.

"We'll have breakfast kina Tita Tracy." he said, naninimbang ang boses.

The fifteen-minute drive towards the Catalan mansion was filled with silence. Walang may gustong mag-salita saming dalawa. Pagkakakita ng sasakyan naming ay agad kaming pinagbuksan ng guard.

Tita Tracy and TitoArnold are Kuya Achi's parents and they were very close with our parents. The reason why they became our guardian after our parents passed away. Tita Tracy actually wanted us to stay with them, but Kuya insisted na kaya niya akong alagaan and that we stay back at our house. He was 18 that time and I was just 15, he took over the company and took care of me from then on. But from time to time, Tita Tracy visits us, if not she asks us to visit them like today.

"Febe! Nasan ang kuya mo?" Tita Tracy asked as soon as she saw me inside the house after she kissed my cheeks.

"Nag papark pa po ng sasakyan Tita." I said smiling, she just signalled something to the servants behind me and pulled me towards the dining hall.

Tito Arnold and Kuya Achi was already there talking. I approached Tito Arnold and kissed his cheeks before heading to the chair beside Kuya Achi.

"How's your sleep?" he asked as soon as I was seated beside me. I just gave him a weak smile and face his parents who asked me some basic questions. Moments later, Kuya Forbes entered the dining hall and gently kissed Tita Tracy's cheeks.

We said our prayers, and then started eating. Normally, kaming tatlo ang maingay sa hapag kapag kumakain but this time ay tahimik lang ako habang nag-uusap silang apat, I was watching my plate being filled with foods I like by Kuya Achi.

"By the way, I heard from Achi na may misunderstanding daw na nangyari sa inyo kagabi? Forbes? Febe?" Tito Arnold asked. Nag-katinginan kami ni Kuuya Forbes, agad naman akong nag-iwas ng tingin at nanatiling tahimik.

"It's nothing po Tito. Hindi lang kami mag-kasundo ni Febe."

"If this is still about the company, we have concluded a solution for it. But it's still up to you kung papayag kayo."Tita Tracy said na nakaagaw ng pansin ko, I caught her looking at me with a smile.

"I've heard that you want to take up law too, Forbes?" Tito Arnold asked Kuya.

"Maybe after Febe graduated nalang po Tito."

"We'll napag-usapan namin ng Tito niyo na pwede namang i-merge nalang natin ang CC at FG Estates. And for the meantime, we can take over both of the companies, while the two of you study. How does that sound?" Tita Tracy said while smiling gently at us.

Nag-katinginan kami ni Kuya Forbes but he quickly shifted his gaze towards Tito Arnold asking for confirmation, while I look at Kuya Achi, he was smiling at me.

"So what do you think? Forbes, it would be nice if sabay kayong papasok ni Achi ng Law School so that after you graduated and pass the bar you both can take over the company or practice law, depende sa gusto niyo." Tito Arnold was in business mode now as he talk to Kuya Forbes and Kuya Achi.

"Pano kayo ni Tita? When would you be able to retire, if we decided to practice law afterwards?" Kuya Forbes asked, his forehead is creased and he looks very problematic, pero tinawanan lang siya ni Tito Arnold.

"Don't worry about us, hijo. There are a lot of companies nowadays that was operated by experts hired by the owners. Once we decided to retire, we will just find a suitable business manager to take over." Paliwanag ni Tito Arnold.

A few moments of silence, Kuya Forbes just stared at me and I was looking back at him. He sighed and faced Tito Arnold with a weak smile.

"Thank you tito." Tita Tracy stood up and hugged Kuya Forbes.

"No worries hijo. You're family, and family supports each other. Sigurado akong sobrang proud nina Felice at Diego sainyo ni Febe ngayon." she said while wiping her tears.

I was helping Tita Tracy arrange some flowers, and the boys where talking at the poolside.

"Tita, thank you so much." she stopped what she was doing and playfully glared at me.

"Pang ilang thank you mo na yan Febe ah?" natawa ako ng marinig na pinipilit niyang maging tunog iritado, but Tita Tracy is just so... well kind natured?

"No really, Kuya Forbes and I was just so lucky to have you." I said and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back and gently patted my back. I miss my mom.

"Awww... my daughter is being mushy again." pang-aasar niya sakin. Hindi ako sumagot at mas hinigpitan lang ang yakap sa kanya.

"Everything would be okay honey, it would be." she said assuringly as she was gently patting my back. Giving me the motherly-love I have always longed since our parents died.

"Oh no! Don't tell me she's crying again?" I rolled my eyes when I heard Kuya Achi's voice. I let go of Tita Tracy and faced him pouting.

"Ikaw talaga! Tigilan mo nga ang pang-aasar kay Febe." natatawang saway sa kanya ni Tita Tracy.

"Mom, ako ang anak mo! Ako dapat ang kinakampihan mo!" madrama niyang saad at may nalalaman pang pahawak sa may dibdib at umarteng nasasaktan.

"Achilles, wag kang mag-inarte dyan! Febe, let's go to the kitchen. Help me make snacks for these bakulaws." natawa kami ni Kuya Achi sa arte ni Tita Tracy.

Tita Tracy pulled me to the kitchen, I look back and saw Kuya Achi staring at us with a smile. I mouthed the words thank you and he nodded at me with a gentle smile.