Dulling Glisters of the Diamond (Casa Fuego Series #5)

Chapter 32

Win You Back

Kabado ako habang nag-aayos dahil luluwas na kami patungong Maynila ngayong araw. May inasikaso si Julius pero sa helipad na kami magkikita. Instead, he brought Elias to guard us. Sasabay na sa amin si Papa paluwas kaya dumaan muna kami ni Javion sa mansyon para magpaalam.

"Good morning, Ma'am. It's nice to see you again," bati ni Elias pagkalabas namin ng hacienda.

Napanguso ako, bahagyang nahihiya. He really resembles how playful Julius is. Pilit niyang pinipigilan ang mangiti habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Nice to see you again, too."

He cleared his throat when his eyes drifted to my son. Hawak ko ang kamay ng aking anak habang hawak niya ang toy gun niya. Napanguso si Elias, may tinatagong ngiti sa labi ngunit hindi ko nakaligtaang makita ang dumapong pagkamangha. He looked at my son like it was still unbelievable for him.

"Hi!" my son waved his hand.

"Hi, big boy. You look so much like your father," he stifled a smile.

Ngumuso ako at bahagyang yumuko sa anak.

"He's your Papa's colleague and close friend, anak. His name is Tito Elias. He also likes guns!" I said animatedly.

"Really? You like guns?"

Elias chuckled a bit. "Well, I'm not really a detective but... I know a thing or two about guns. I'm an agent. So was your Papa before."

"Agent? I know that!" my son was immediately engaged to the conversation.

Ngumiti si Elias at bahagyang lumuhod para lumebel ang tingin sa aking anak.

"Agents don't really fight in the streets like how you see in the movies. We are actually nerds behind the screen," he chuckled. "But your Papa and I used to go on operations. We couldn't stay just behind the screen. We both like undergoing operations in the streets."

"Operations?"

"They catch bad guys, Jav..." nangingiti kong sinabi ang pinakamadaling ekspalanasyong maiintindihan ng bata.

"Like the police?" inosenteng tanong ng anak ko.

"Well, we're a private organization. But we do collaborate with the police at times."

"Really..." umawang ang labi ng anak ko. "That's... amazing..."

Halos mapapikit ako dahil alam ko ang kasunod noon. Once my son gets curious, he never stops asking questions. That's actually good but we don't have much time right now. Kaya naman bago pa siya makapagtanong, itinuro ko na ang sasakyan. Agad tumayo si Elias at pinagbuksan kaming dalawa ni Javion.

"Paalam po, Senyorita! Ingat po kayo!" kaway ng mga trabahante.

I smiled and waved my hand at them before getting inside the car. Naroon na si Lourdes at agad pinaupo si Javion bago ako sumakay.

Hindi matanggal ang tingin ni Javion kay Elias. Napangiti ako dahil alam kong marami pa siyang tanong. Elias matured, just like Julius. But they both matured beautifully. Elias grew a beard, and his body grew larger.

Mabilis kaming nakarating sa mansyon. Agad kinarga ni Conor ang anak ko. Dumapo ang mga mata ko sa sekretarya niyang tahimik lang na nanunuod sa amin. Lola was busy talking to my father. Halos ngumiwi na ang ama ko sa dami ng sinasabi sa kanya ni Lola.

"Yes, Mama. I know. I know..." paulit-ulit na sinabi ni Papa.

"The board members want Conor out of the companies. Walang kasalanan ang apo ko pero siya agad ang pinagbibintangan! And now they want to strip off my grandson with his rights to lead the companies! Paanong gagawin natin, Rodolfo?" problemadong sinabi ni Lola.