WHERE YOU ARE

DADDY

LEE

"Lee, I am going to the office of Cheston Sy today. Your Mom is in Dagupan so sabi niya ikaw ang dalhin ko."

"Huh? Bakit ako? Di naman ako negosyante?"

"Your sister is busy, your brothers are busy. Your mom is busy so ikaw ang dadalhin ko."

"Ano ba pag uusapan niyo?"

"I am going to offer him a deal"

"Dad."

"Be ready in thirty minutes, susunduin kita diyan. Magpapalit lang ako ng jacket."

"Okay."

Alangan namang pumalag ako. Nakakainis. Alam ba ni Chet to? I text ko nga siya, baka alam niya. I tried to call pero  his phone just kept ringing. Siguro nasa meeting siya.  Text na lang at baka nandun din mommy niya at Cindy.

So my dad picked me up and we went to Chet's office. When we were sent in by the secretary, he was shocked to see me. He was not surprised na nandun si Dad kasi nasabi na nila na nandun ang tatay ko. He was smiling when we entered pero, alam ko na shock siya nung makita niya ako. Buti na lang mabilis lang ang transition nung mukha niya from surprised to welcoming host.

"Atty Escudero. May I know the reason for this surpise?"

"Good afternoon, Mr Sy. I am here to offer you a deal. By the way, I assume you already know my daughter, Lee- Anne?"

"Oh, yes Attorney. She is a very good friend of mine. Hi Lee."

" Wala bang hug or kiss diyan?"

"Excuse me, Attorney?"

"Dad"

"You see, Mr Sy, or may I just call you Cheston or Chet?"

"Chet will do attorney."

I looked at Chet and he became formal when Dad started talking about him and I. He never looked at me. But he was looking at Dad in the eye. Kung may sword or baril lang sana sila, baka nagbarilan na sila.

"Very well, Chet. Let me go straight to the point. Either, stop seeing my daughter orannounce to the world that she is your girlfriend."

"Dad!"

"Attorney Escudero, let me explain."

"I will give you until next week to decide. Give her up or fight for her."

"Sir, let me explain."

And Cindy Tan choses that moment to enter his office and went straight to him and kissed him in the mouth. He pushed her away and told her that she is in a meeting. Can she not wait outside his office juust like anyone else?

"No need to excuse yourself, Mr. Sy. Lee and I are going. It was nice talking to you, or should I say, doing business with you? Have a nice day, Miss Tan."

"You doo, Attorney. Say hi to your lovely wife. We have been friend  eversince I started in the business."

"That I will do, Miss Tan."