FACADE

Chapter EIGHTEEN

[Yohan's POV]

"Did you see Cassidy?" Tanong ko pagkasakay ni Akoz sa kotse. He nodded at tinuro ang entrance ng building ng CAL.

"Yes. She is waiting for her driver." Sagot niya habang nagdadampi ng towel sa katawan.

Okay. Maybe she is avoiding me.

It's been a year anyway, and still I got zero chances. No signs, just pure rejection.

I started the engine and drive slowly, the rain is still there kaya I should be careful. Good thing, our house is not that far. Mga 15-20 minutes na byahe lang siguro.

Akoz will sleep in our house tonight. Hindi rin ako sa unit ko matutulog. We just want to hang out tonight dahil medyo naging busy rin kami, agad.

"So how's your dad?" I asked him.

Akoz smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders, as expected to Uncle Armand. That old man only thinks of himself.

"Wala. Alam mo I have this feeling na kakausapin lang niya ako in case na graduating na ako."

"But we should be prepared. So far, okay naman yung mga subjects na you need to take during summer. About the documents we need in case na hingiin niya, were all done." I explained. Akoz breathed deeply and looked at me.

"Sa tingin mo ba, pag nalaman ni dad itong ginawa ko. Matatanggap niya ba ako?"

"Magiging proud ba siya sa akin, kahit hindi Architecture yung kinuha ko?"

Oo Akoz, gusto ko sabihin sayo na soon your dad will be proud of you. Gusto ko sabihin na kahit hindi ka makita ng daddy mo, he is still proud of you. But how can I? 

Kung ano ang kinalambot ng puso ni Akoz, ganon katigas si Uncle Armand. Ever since his wife, Akoz' mom died-- naging ganoon na siya.

But most of all, I want to say kahit pa itakwil siya ng daddy niya I am still here. As his best friend, I will stay. I'm proud of him.

"Akoz. What matters the most is your happiness. Don't think of anyone else. Do what you want to do for your sake and dahil sa reason mo."

"Maybe, uncle Armand will get mad-- I mean yeah not 'maybe' but 'for sure' but who cares? That's your life." I honestly said.

"But… he is still my dad." Malungkot na sabi ni Akoz.

"Then never lose hope, that one day matatanggap nya iyon at magiging proud sya sa iyo." I looked at him and smiled. "Because he is your dad."

Akoz smiled and nodded. I know he is still doubting but all that matters is his happiness. He sacrificed a lot just for his dad. Even his childhood days were tormented because of one unexpected event.

But Akoz remained kind and understanding.

That's why I am proud of him. No matter what happen, I will protect this guy. Whoever tried to hurt him, ako ang haharap. Even if it's his father.

"And what about Klein?" I asked, trying to make the atmosphere be in a light mood. Natawa naman si Akoz at napailing.

"What about her?" Tanong niya pabalik.

"What's the progress?" Kinaliwa ko ang sasakyan nang makita ko ang street papunta sa bahay namin.

Wala pang 8PM pero ang tahimik na sa village namin, kaya minsan ang sarap maglakad-lakad dito dahil peaceful. Diniretso ko sasakyan nang makita ko ang white gate at may mga guards na nakaabang.

"We're friends. Ano ba dude, we're getting there. It takes time kasi." He answered and opened the car's door.

Bumukas ang malaking pintuan, at dumiretso kami sa dining room para kumain. Wala sila dad and mom ngayon due to business trip/vacation na rin so I was told to sleep here and I tagged Akoz.

It's been months since I went here and nothing has changed. Akoz greeted the maid and talked to them.

"Akoz, magpapalit lang ako ng damit ah." Paalam ko, tumango naman sya at bumalik sa pakikipagkwentuhan. Umakyat naman ako papunta sa kwarto ko.

I sighed.

Pagkabukas ko ng phone ko ay wala pa rin ako message from Cassidy. Alam kong iniiwasan niya lang ako kanina.

I'm not numb, nasaktan ako.

Umupo ako sa higaan ko and tried calling her, but she didn't answered so I left a message.

To: Cassidy ❤️

Nasa bahay ka na ba? Hope we can meet again next week. Good night.

Hindi pa alam ni Akoz kung ano mayroon samin ni Cassidy. Pero surely he will scold me trying to court a girl for a year, and she consistently rejecting me the same year.

Second, he knows I am having flings and lagi akong nasa club. He will scold me for being not serious when it comes to dating.

But I am serious with Cassidy.

I love her.

I know I am a jerk for doing this but maybe ito na ang tamang time para magpakatino. So I can prove to her that I am serious and I really love her.

[Akoz' POV]

"Matutulog na ako Yohan, good night."

"Good night dude." Yohan closed the door. Pumunta na ako sa higaan ko. I always sleep here whenever I have a chance to. Kaya naglagay si tito ng room for me. Kaya Yohan keeps on telling me they can adopt me dahil I have a room in this big house.

Pagkahiga ko sa upuan ko ay binuksan ko ang phone ko. I messaged my dad and I am hoping sana magreply siya. 

But he did not.

Napangiti na lang ako. He's always like this. He didn't care about us. Tatawag lang sya pag beneficial sa kaniya. Pero kung hindi, bahala na ako sa buhay ko. Ang mahalaga para sa kaniya, nagpapadala naman siya ng pera.

Dad thinks doing that makes him a 'dad' too.

Binuksan ko ang gallery ng phone ko to see our family picture. Those times we were still complete… and happy.

Pero nang mamatay si Mommy, parang namatay na rin si Daddy. Nawalan ako ng isang ina, pero hindi ko alam pati si daddy nawala.

I hate my life.

Kaya some people or kahit pa relatives namin na nagsasabi I am lucky I am the son of a wealthy man-- no. I don't think so.

My dad has changed.

He is not the same dad I used to admire.

He did bad things that I don't even want to remember.

We used to have a happy family. Dad is cheerful, laging nakangiti, kind, and would always look for us before his work. My mom? Elynna is like my mom. She was clingy, lagi niya ako tinatawag na baby boy. Mom smiled a lot but she is scary when she gets mad.

But when Mom died.

Everything has changed.

I can't even remember the last time I saw my dad smiled. I can't remember the time I heard his voice with happiness. Hindi ko na rin matandaan kung kailan ko huling naramdaman ang pamilya, or kung kailan ko naramdaman na isang ama si daddy.

It hurts me a lot. There's so much pain deep inside. I am scared of him, because the last time I saw him cried was when my mom died. After that, I always see him mad. Nakakatakot.

Funny right? He is my dad and yet I am scared of him.

In addition, I made the biggest decision na alam kong may malaking impact. This time, I disobeyed him. I didn't choose his dream. Alam kong magagalit si dad, his name and his pride will be ruined.

Imagine mo nga naman, Mr. Armand Frondozo's only son took BA Performing Arts instead of BS Architecture? Anong trabaho makukuha ko in the future? How would I manage our company kung isa akong Arts Major?

But I want to prove that I can be a successful man. Even without my dad's decision. Also, I want to prove dad that I did the right thing.

Ang gusto ko lang naman, maging proud siya sa akin. At matanggap niya yung decision ko. I don't care kung gaano katagal but I am hoping na one day, tanggapin niya.

As of now, I want to enjoy my college life.

I want to enjoy this so-called, life.

[Narrator]

Akoz' dad, Armand is standing in front of the glass wall and watching his soon to be law firm. Kasalukuyan itong ginagawa ng mga trabahador.

Finally, his dream to have a big law firm outside his country has been accomplished. It took years for him to achieve it. Now, no one can take it away from him.

Five years later, his son Akoz will manage it and be the next best Frondozo in their clan. Only their family will bring pride and wealth, no one else. Screw the others.

His Communications Officer, Andre entered his office with a folder. "Sir Armand, will you push through your two days vacation?" The man in the suit asked.

Armand sipped his wine and faced the officer. He opened his phone to see those messages came from his son. Although he never replied to any of those messages.

"Yes. I will check how Akoz is doing in school." Hw answered. "Architecture is tough so I wanna see him if he is doing good. He will be the next CEO of this firm."

Andre bowed and left him alone in the room. Tumungo si Armand sa kanyang swivel chair at nakita ang picture frame na may picture ng dalawang bagong kasal.