Sensing Pain ( Ruthless Lover Boy)

Ruthless.

"Don't show them pain. Hold on your tears." I'm repeating these lines while the person I secretly adore ay nag sasalita sa harap discussing all the things he's going to take away from us.

I raised my head and I looked at him. I stared at his deep gray eyes as he stared at my parents crying. Grabe, wala talaga siyang pakialam kahit umiyak kami ng dugo rito.

He looked at me for a second, naghahanap ng kung ano sa mga mata ko. I sighed and bowed my head as he continued flashing the lands he's going to take away.

"ELEAZAR! That's too much!" Tito Elvi's voice filled the room. He looked at his son with anger and sadness.

All the other sons also turned their heads to their father even the oldest daughter who looks like her head turn is expensive.

The room was quiet, it was a private meeting with just me, my parents and our business partners the Ruiz'es.

"Eli, be considerate the De Leon's were once our friend." Malumanay naman na tinig ni Tita Elena.

"Mom. You know why I'm doing this." He looked at his mother and confidently sat on his chair. He clenched his jaw and once again his eyes became darker. Honey, he is in his deep thoughts. Damn gorgeous.

"The De Leon's were careless. Big businesses have no rooms for mistakes. The lands operated again mainly because of the De Vegases."

Yes, this is the reality. This gorgeous man I admire is going to take everything we have. Damn his face, I shouldn't admire this guy, he is ruthless.

Mas lumakas ang hagulhol nina mama at walang nagawa si papa kundi ang tahimik na umiyak habang niyayakap si mama. Kinukurot ang puso ko sa iyak nila.

Inside the business we committed a lot of failures. This one is the biggest but not quite a big loss compared to all the other things the company faced before. This is nothing compared to all the losses that they overcomed. That's why this is a surprise for us na bigla na lang kami mawawalan ng ekta-ektaryang lupain.

Nakita ko ang awa sa mga mata ng mga magulang ni Eli. Lalo na si tita Elena. I hate how we look so pitiful. Mukha kaming kasambahay na pinapalayas. I can imagine ourselves right now.

"Looks like we won't be able to do anything about this." I stood up. Thank God and the heavens my voice didn't shake.

"We tried our best... We..we failed... We're sorry." Eli looked at me and it was brief but I saw how he smiled. Like it was a victory. Like how it is supposed to be.

" Then together with our business...our engagement is also done isn't it?" He calmly looked around. His brothers shooked their heads like they knew he's gonna say that. Well even I knew he'd do that any damn chance he'd get. Damn you Ruiz.

"It's clear Sir Eli. We respect your decision. It's understandable. Again we're very sorry." I looked down and turned my back carrying my black chanel. I went to my parents and gently caressing my mother's back. I might have nothing starting today but I can fight. I will not show you that I'm weak. NEVER

"Mama, Tara na. Kaya natin to." I whispered to my weak mother. Poor mama she's been stressed for days na. She stood up and my papa as well. I smiled painfully and bowed my head. Tang'ina tumulo yung luha ko. Bwisit.

Bwisit talaga. I slightly tilted my head para mapunasan ng kaunti ang luha gamit ang buhok na di gumana kaya Dali Dali Kong pinunasan ng kamay habang nag lalakad kami sa pintuan.

" Gineva, I'm sorry you have known Eli. He's... Very strict when it comes to business. I apologize" Tita Elena  approached my mama. My mama didn't looked at her and only nodded her head.

"Tita mauna na kami. They're tired haha." Shit an sakit na ng puso ko naiiyak na ko. Munti akong tumawa upang mapigilan ang tuluyang pag iyak.  Pag nagsalita ako ulit baka di ko na mapigilan ang aking luha kaya di ko na tiningnan ang sino man sa loob at sumunod na ako sa elevator pababa.

I lost my engagement today. We have no business anymore kahit a thousand worth of business wala. It was all cut off. We're on our lowest. I've been kind, I don't know why all of this is happening to me. Do I deserve it? I wasn't expecting any good returns with all the help I gave, I was contented with all I had back then, I knew I had more than enough so I gave some. But I think maybe this is a lesson for me, or maybe to make me strong. I hope I could go through this all.

I don't know how. I stared at my parents back as they opened our mansion. It's big, not as big as other business owners or land owners here in Santa Rosa but still considered one of the biggest. I think we're losing our mansion also. I will miss this. The scent, the garden, the pool. Well, I grew up here so I really will.

My parents are both not born rich, my grandparents are all in the education field but both my parents are academically good and decided to be business partners and luck was with them. They invested and created a business and a family. All of my grandparents died and invested all their money here for this mansion.

My parents are now both old and with the rise of other new young business men and women they were outshined. Maybe because they have new and modern ideas.

"Pack all your things anak. They might throw us any minute." My papa wearily said as he guided my mama upstairs. I'd like to ask where we will live na but I think they're too tired to even look at me.

I smiled bitterly. If only Eli liked me he would may be kind enough to let us off the hook. My parents are silent but I know they are disappointed that my relationship with Eli didn't work out. Eli is a playboy but he is recently rumoured to be in love with a wealthy lady from Manila. Everyone talked about it and I don't know how true it is but sadly it is a Dela Vega. The one who helped the land to be bought again since we were scammed that caused a loss for the business and now the cause of my parents to lose everything.

Dela Vega, they are filthy rich. We are not half of their riches though Ruiz'es are still more wealthy than any of us Dela Vegases are still rich.

A knock on my door made me hurry and pack everything I need.

"Im sorry papa. I was-"

"You don't need to pack. Elena was kind enough to convince her son to let us keep our mansion anak." I was shocked. Tita Elena is kind but Eli is a business monster he lets no one off even his mother can't have a say sometimes especially when he's the one who handled the business they have here in Santa Rosa when all his brothers are uninterested in managing business in a province.

I looked at my papa who pasted a smile on his lips while there's a trace of tears on his face. What the hell should I do? We only have a mansion but we got nothing else. Well, fortunately we have a mansion this time, it's better than living elsewhere. I'm still young, I can't have a work especially here in Santa Rosa where it is ruled by the Ruiz'es. Headed by the one and only "Ruthless Eleazar".