Chapter 4
1036 Words
MIKAEL
I DECIDED to visit one of the mall owned by our family. Marco is really something that's why they put their trust on him in handling our business. He is called the CEO, and it suits him well.
Business is not my thing. I finished Architecture in the University of Pennsylvania and became a Professor there. I am the youngest joined the professors in the university. But I lost my interest in what I am doing, that's why I decided to go back here in the Philippines to do some soul searching. I felt something is missing in me. I have to figure it out.
While roaming around, I saw a familiar image.
A woman together with a little girl that looks like her. I am going to approach her but luckily her daughter was running and bumped into me. She told her child to say sorry and she even did the same.
When our eyes met, obviously, she was shocked.
I guess she didn't expect to see the man she left without saying a word. And it hurts me to see her having her own family.
Unfair siya, akala ko siya na yung makakatuluyan ko. Napakadami pa naman naming mga plano sa buhay but in just one snap naglaho siya na parang bula at nabalitaan ko na lang na umaaligid na sa kaniya ang Zachary Lex Cuevas na yun. I even saw them dating in a restaurant. Ang baba ng standards niya, pinagpalit niya ang bilyonaryong kagaya ko na kayang ibigay ang lahat sa kanya sa isang low-class pastry chef.
I also didn't bother to ask her why and moved to America.
I guess fate is playing with us or just a coincidence.
After having a short chit-chat, a little boy approached him. Automatically, my eyebrows frowned and stared at the little boy. Suprisingly, he did the same! He even asked me why I am staring at him like that. He seem to be hot-headed and frank.
The little boy and girl are twins. But what caught me the most is Aurora's reaction.
Magkahalo ang takot at pagkagulat sa reaksyon niya ng lumapit sa kanya ang anak niyang lalaki lalo pa nung tinitigan ko yun.
What's wrong with staring at her son? Krimen na ba yo'n ngayon? He doesn't look like her. He is maybe after his father, that Cuevas guy. Tsk.
Para siyang taranta at nagmamadali umalis. I offered her a treat kasama ang mga anak niya. Sort of catching time dahil matagal din kaming hindi nagkita but she refused. Yung mga anak naman niya ay excited lalo na yung batang babae and her son is serious parang mahirap pakisamahan.
Paalis na sana sila nang dumating naman si Zach. The guy she chose over me. Perfect Family. I smiled bitterly.
Bigla akong nawalan ng gana sa paglilibot sa mall. Napaisip ako patungkol sa isang ideya na imposible namang mangyari.
Her son doesn't look like Zach. Napakalayo ng itsura. Wala man lang nakuha sa kanya.
It's weird but I felt something strange. Ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko sa kambal.
I also heard that Cuevas is also now a CEO of chains of cafeteria hitting a top spot in the business world. Lucky and maybe Aurora being his lucky charm.
Since nawalan na ako ng gana maglibot sa mall ay nagtungo na ako sa kompanya na pinamamahalaan ng aking kapatid. De Luna Empire Corporation. The name that screams fame and money. No doubt my brother managed it so well. I entered his office and found him checking tons of papers.
"Busy my dear brother?" Bati ko sa kanya.
"Don't state the obvious. What brings you here?" Seryosong tanong niya. He's being serious all the time. Nagmana talaga siya kay dad.
"Chill! Masyado ka namang seryoso. I am just checking how well you manage our family business."
"No need for you to do that. I am handling it very well." Sagot niya sa akin habang tutok pa rin sa mga papeles na tambak sa harapan niya.
"Oh really? Yan ba ang epekto ng pagiging pamilyadong tao?" Pang-aasar ko sa kanya.
"Yan lang ba ang ipinunta mo dito? I guess not."
"Kilala mo nga ako, Marco. Anyway, do you know Aurora?"
"Aurora Rosales ? Your ex?"
"Ouch ! Do you need to emphasize that EX?" May pagk-insensitive din siya kung minsan. Kung hindi ko lang to kapatid baka nabatukan ko na.
"Let's get to the point, kuya. What about her?"
"I saw her in one of your malls. She had a twin. Girl and boy."
"Annnndd?"
"They are with that Cuevas guy. Tsk."
"What's wrong with it, kuya? Matagal na kayong hiwalay. Ano ba ang inaasahan mo single pa rin siya for all those 4 long years?"
"Masakit ka namang magsalita. Bawal ba mabigla?"
"Don't tell me siya ang binalikan mo dito sa Pilipinas?"
"No. You're wrong this time, Marco. I am going to have a soul searching. Nawawalan na kasi ako ng gana sa mga ginagawa ko."
"I am not buying that reason either. Successful professor in a known university in America tapos nagresign ka dahil nawawalan ka ng gana? You are maybe out of your mind already."
"You think so?" Nakangisi kong sabi sa kanya. Kahit kailan talaga masyado siyang direct to the point.
"Don't tell me hindi ka pa rin nakakaget-over sa nangyari sa inyo 4 years ago? It's your choice anyway. You chose to help Sky and Chanelle and you ended up losing the woman of your life."
"It's not my choice. It's hers. She chose to left me without a word."
"And you didn't bother to talk to her either? You did the same. No reason to feel hatred towards her. Hindi naman siguro siya lalayo ng basta lang at walang dahilan."
"Woah ! You've grown so much Marco. I didn't expect to hear things like that from you."
"You should grow also kuya. You're 40 already. Life begins at forty sabi nila. But no signs of life in you."
"Shut your mouth. Aalis na ako dahil wala naman akong napapalang maganda sayo. Wala ka man lang pa-welcome party sa akin."
"Hindi ko naman sinabi sayong pumunta ka dito."
"Tss. I'll go ahead."
"Okay. Enjoy your soul searching."
- Writer
