The Person I Once Loved

Chapter 5

TW: Rape and sexual assault

HIS

I arrived at my office pagkatapos kong makipag-kwentuhan kay Kuya Nico. I sat down on my swivel chair and opened my laptop and once again, ang bumungad sakin ay ang email ng lolo ko. I shook my head and hindi muna binuksan 'yon at inuna ang mga dapat kong unahin.

I told him I'm busy tapos panay ng send. Tinulungan ko na nga sila ha, what more they could ask for? Since wala yung secretary ko, pumunta ako sa pantry to make myself some coffee.

I checked my phone while I'm waiting for my coffee to see if nagreply siya sa text ko but there's nothing. She's really mad. I sighed putting back my phone in my pocket when it rang. I immediately get it hoping it's Alyssa but I was wrong. It was my Grandpa. I picked it up kahit ayaw ko.

"Hello?"

"Kiefer, have you seen the email I sent you?" tanong niya. Wala man lang kamusta.

"Not yet. I'll open it later." Pumunta na ako sa office ko para doon na ako makipag-usap sa kanya.

"I'll be damn straight, Kiefer. You need to go here and fix our company's problem here." What the hell?!

"What?!" I asked.

"I'll book you a flight so tell me kung kailan mo gustong umalis dyan."

"Wait, lolo. Wait lang ha. Hindi pa nga ako umo-oo, you'll book my flight agad? You can't do this. You can't decide for me."

"Yes, I can and you will be here first thing in the morning."

"Make me."

"Is this because of your girlfriend?" Oh bakit nadadamay si Alyssa dito?

"What about her?"

"Siya pumipigil sayo, right?"

"What?! She has nothing to do about this. It's you, okay?! You're being unreasonable! I have my own company to manage here so I don't need yours."

"You do, Kiefer. You do."

"Really?! Then tell me why!"

"If you'll not take my offer, Dani will not be studying the degree that she wants. Sa kanya ko ipaglalandakan ang kumpanyang ito. Thirdy is a bastard, walang pake kay Dani. Eh ikaw? I know you love your sister very much. You support her in every way, right? She wants to study arts, but she won't be able to because of you. Imagine, she will hate you for the rest of her life."

Tang ina. He knows one of my weaknesses and it's Dani. Nag-uusap na kami how can Dani enjoy her time sa CAL ARTS. I'm the one who pushed her to pursue her passion for arts. Now if malalaman niya na ako dahilan kung bakit siya hindi matutuloy. Damn.

"Fuck off," I said bago ko ibaba yung tawag. I can't make a decision right now. I need to talk to Alyssa but it's another problem I have to fix. Kailangan ko nang ayusin 'to mamaya so I can talk to her about this.

Bumalik na ako sa desk ko and tumuloy sa trabaho when my phone beeped.

"Sir, si Justin po ito. Pwede po kayo pumunta sa may beach front si Alyssa po kasi nakikipag-away." What?!

Agad akong napatayo para pumunta sa may beach front. Nung malapit na ako, naaninag ko si Alyssa na nakikipag-sagutan sa isang guest dito.

"Bastos ka! Akala mo ba I'm a pick me girl?! Tanga!" lumapit ako sa kanya to calm her down.

"Hey, what's the matter?" I asked pero inirapan lang ako. Anak ng tinapa.

Humarap ako to see the guy with a smug face, "What's the problem here, sir?"