The Boy I Love to Hate

Chapter 56 Arms of Another

Caden

It's more complicated than I thought. Business arrangements have been done and finalized before they even plan the marriage. I was trying to get some flaws, some weak spot where I can attack them pero hanggang ngayon kakaunting butas palang ang nakikita ko. Asar kong nasipa ang katapat kong silya, kuyom na kuyom ang kamao ko, gusto kong sugurin ang matandang iyon dahil sa ginagawa niyang pagmamanipula sa buhay ko. He never really regards me as his grandson. Tingin niya sa akin tuta na magpapatuloy ng dinastiya niya pagkatapos niyang mamatay.

He even sent my parents away to unknown part of the world para walang maging istorbo sa paghasa niya sa akin bilang kanyang tagapagmana. Thanks to my sacrifice my parents are living the luxurious life they always wanted. Segundo paid off their debts, sent them away. Assured me na kapag ginawa ko lahat ng gusto niya, patuloy na mamumuhay ang mga magulang ko exactly how they wanted to. He will financed their lavish lifestyle no question asked.

"What have you gathered Ethan?" tanong ko kaagad sa pinagkakatiwalaan kong kaibigan nang pumasok sa opisina ko.

Umiling-iling ito at tila pagod din na sumalampak sa upuan sa harap ng desk ko. Nagpakawala ng hangin sa bibig at inilapag ang mga papel sa akin.

"I talked to Dad. Seryoso ang Lolo mo dito. He linked almost half of his assets in Europe in a business merger with the Magnier. Kasal niyo nalang ang kulang bro. Kapag umatras ka, bilyon-bilyon ang mawawala sa Arguelles Group, malulugi ang mga negosyong nakabase sa Europe. Caden, alam mo naman kung gaano kalalaki ang mga assets natin doon."

"Damn that old man!" I said furiously. Walang pagsidlan ang galit na nararamdaman ko ngayon na dehado ako at wala akong magawa. Kung mas maaga kong nalaman ang lahat, mas madali kong mahaharang ang mga negosasyon. Pero ngayon, dalawang araw nalang ang meron ako. "How about a family scandal, Magnier illegal activities in Central? Kailangan natin makahanap ng masamang tinapay sa kanila para sila na mismo ang umurong!"

Umiling-iling din si Ethan. "There are some few, pero hindi sapat yun Bro."

Laglag ang balikat ko. I tried everything I can. I checked every dark side and every flaw this goddamn union could ever have but it's just too perfect of that old man's good.

"Mukhang kahapon pa 'yang damit mo. Nagpa-umaga ka dito sa opisina mo? Matulog ka muna. Walang maitutulong sa atin kung bangag ka at desperado. Nawawala ka sa focus. Baka kapag napagpahinga mo utak mo makaisip ka ng ibang mas magandang paraan."

"Wala nang panahon, Ethan. Sa makalawa na ang final date sa contract. Matutuloy ang kasal sa ayaw ko at sa gusto kapag hindi tayo nakagawa ng paraan." binuksan ko ang laptop na nasa harapan. " How about these clients we have in Europe for the longest time, yung iba sa kanila kalaban ng Magnier di ba? We can ask them to go to the main headquarters for protest. Makikinig sa kanila ang ibang member ng board."

"Pwede 'yan Caden. Pero wala na tayong panahon."

"Call Teisha. She knows what to do about them. Magagawan niya yun ng paraan within the day."

"Well. I guess we'll give it a try then."

"Nasaan si Greg? Yung pinapaayos ko sa kanyang mga papeles sa kasal namin ni Thea wala pa rin??"

"He's on his way." ani Ethan bago lumabas para tawagan si Teisha.

I never have been so fucking stress and desperate like this all my life. I just got Thea back, I'm not about to lose her to Segundo's schemes now. Kailangan kong unahan ang matanda. I promised her I'll come back to her with the good news. Hindi pwedeng masabotahe na naman iyon. She's suffered enough where I am concern, hindi na niya kailangan pang masaktan na ako ang dahilan.

I dialed Greg's number. "Any update?"

"Bro. Your Lolo fucking talked to all legal auths in the fucking country! I can't get a special wedding permit! Kahapon pa ako nakikipag-away, ayaw nilang pumayag. May sa bampira ba 'yang Lolo mo? May antenna sa ulo para sa malawakang hipnotismo? Damn I only have seen it in movies, he fucking made my nightmares come true! Wait, I have a call coming in, I'll get back to you."

Nang ibaba ko ang telepono. Hinarap ko ulit ang laptop ko. There must be a fucking way out of all these. I realized I haven't called Thea since I left the island and it's been almost two days. Hindi ko magawang tumawag sa kanya gayong punong-puno pa ako ng problema. She'll know the instant I open my mouth kung may problema o wala. Ayokong mag-alala siya. I missed her already. I can't wait to be back on the island to kiss her and hold her... own her. At this rate, I will fucking loss my sanity.

Ilang beses akong napahilamos sa mukha ko. Kumakalam ang sikmura ko, kelan pa ba ako huling kumain? I can't fucking remember!!

I was about to call intercom to ask for some food nang tumunog na muli ang telepono ko.

"Greg."

"Dude, have you seen the morning news today?"

"What news? I don't have fucking time for news right now, Greg."

"I sent you the clip. Watch it."

Kunot ang noo kong pinatay ang tawag niya para makita ko ang sinend niyang video. It was Thea. It was Thea's video arriving Manila with Bernard's arm wrapped around her securely. What the hell is going on? What the hell happened to her promise she'll wait for me?

Did I fucking hallucinate she said yes to that? Volatile outrage coursed through my veins that instant. Ang init sa mga mata ko ng braso ng ibang lalaking nakayakap sa babaeng pinakamamahal ko. I was going insane the last 24 hours trying to fight an unyielding enemy so that I can get back to her in the island to fulfill my promise and this is what I see from her?

The second I was gone, he contacted another man to her rescue!

Tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was Catiana calling. Hindi ko pinansin iyon. Walang lakas ang mga kamay ko na damputin man lang ang cellphone. Sumunod ay ang tawag mula kay Teisha. What could she possibly say that will change the fact that Thea run away with another guy....again? Nothing!

Fucking kill me right now. I think I'll explode!

Ilang sandali pa, bumalik si Ethan, hawak nito ang cellphone and showed me a video and in my blurry mind I thought he told me the video is about the biggest wedding of the year. My wedding.

"Nagsisimula na sila." sabi pa ni Ethan. Hindi man binanggit sa news kung sino ang pakakasalan ko sinabi namang isang malaki at kilalang tao ito.

"Come to think of it. The Magnier heiress might have some say on this matter. Baka pwedeng siya ang tumutol sa kasal, o kaya naman baka pwede natin siyang hanapan ng scandal na ikakasira niya sa kontrata." suhestiyon ni Ethan.

"I haven't meet the Magnier heiress yet, Ethan."

"You haven't? I thought she's on the island."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "No way."

Inilabas nito ang litrato sa Ipad nito. "Teisha told me she's living right under your roof. She sent me this picture."

Napaawang ang labi ko nang makita ang litrato at mapagtanto kung sino ang babaeng nasa litrato. The Magnier heiress. Rose Catiana Magnier.

Catiana. She applied for a job on the island with all the high flying credentials. She gave me a different last name. Fooled the fuck out of me.

Natahimik ako. My mind went blank. Hindi ko man lang napansin na may tumawag kay Ethan.

"We're needed at the board room right now, Caden. Your Lolo's right hand, Mr. Park is here as well as the other big executives. They have an announcement to make."

Halos bumaon sa palad ko ang kuko ko sa tindi ng pagkakakuyom niyon. Everything is falling out of order. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang uunahin.

"I need to see Thea." sabi ko kay Ethan.

"You have to be in that meeting, Caden! Otherwise we'll lose everything we have worked on. You need to buy some more time for us to get to the necessary clients to end the merger. Teisha asked for another 48 hours... we'll get through this."

All I can think of is Thea in the arms of another right now. It is just the distraction I need to lose all my focus.