Mon Amour (My Love)

CHAPTER 33

ANGELO ROI

"Ang sosyal naman, King!" said Jane, as she looked around my office. "This is way, way better than your office sa company ng uncle mo."

"I'm the CEO here, in case you missed it."

"Exactly. Grabe. When will you ever stop making me proud? You're my most successful best friend. Do you even realize that?"

I laughed. "It's because I'm your only best friend, Jane."

She nodded, then just stared at me without saying anything.

"What?" I asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking—when will you finally be truly happy?"

I let out a sigh. To be honest, I didn't know the answer to that question either. Yes, my hands are full, and I've been blessed with so much. The older I get, the further I go, and the higher I reach. But deep inside, there's this emptiness. A loneliness that never fades. I thought I'd finally found my happiness. I was wrong. And now, I have no idea where or how to start looking for the joy that's missing from my life.

"How is he, King?"

"He's good, I guess," I said, immediately knowing she was referring to Kyle. "He just turned 24 last week."

"Oh? Oo nga pala. You mentioned that. Did you celebrate? Kind of offensive that you didn't invite me."

"We didn't have a party. We went on a road trip and gave gifts and food to street children. That's how he wanted to spend his birthday."

Jane almost dropped her jaw. "Wow, that's rare."

I nodded. "I agree. Very rare. After that, we went to a showroom, and my parents bought him his own car."

"Wow!" Jane exclaimed. "Big time. Does he know how to drive?"

"No, not yet. Jason is his driver for now, but I think Jason will teach him how to drive. I wish I could be the one to teach him instead..."

"Oh, come on, King. Wait—what about you? What did you get him?"

"My love," I responded.

"Shut up!" Jane laughed. "Seriously, King?"

"I'm serious. I gave him 'My Love.' Mon Amour. You know, the perfume? I got him another box. He already finished the first one—or at least, that's what I thought. I haven't smelled it on him lately."

"Ah. I thought you meant you gave him your actual 'love.'"

"I gave him another perfume too," I said, completely ignoring Jane's comment. "Frère."

"That means 'Brother,' right?"

I nodded.

"Why? What was that for, King?"

"To test him. To see who I am to him now. What he would choose between the two scents," I shook my head. "And I smell Frère on him now. He doesn't wear Mon Amour anymore."

"Don't overthink it. Maybe he just prefers the scent of Frère."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Has he started homeschooling yet?"

"Yeah, he has to cover the basics first. We hired people from Uncle Nelson's school to be his private tutors. That includes Uncle Nelson himself."

"Oh wow, money really does make a difference, huh? It's like nothing is impossible if you have it."