Yes, No, Maybe

Chapter 1

"What does he want this time?" I asked the woman walking beside me.

"May importante lang daw siyang sasabihin sa inyo ma'am," the woman stuttered.

"Hindi ba pwedeng sabihin niya lang sa akin through a phone call? Kailangan ko pa bang puntahan siya sa office niya?"

"Yes. I believe so."

I rolled my eyes heavenwards. My dad always wants to get everything that he wants. Walking beside me is his secretary about my age. Kanina pa ako tinatawagan nito kahit natutulog pa. Gaano ba ka importante yung sasabihin ni Daddy para dapat ko siyang puntahan sa personal?

Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok at agad binuksan yung office door niya. Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin at agad ngumiti nang makita ako.

"My beautiful daughter!" Bati niya sa akin.

Walang gana akong umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ng desk niya. I couldn't reciprocate the enthusiasm that he beamed at me. Sino ba ang may gustong gisingin alas kwatro ng umaga?

"What is it, Dad? This better be important," I said.

"Oh? Going down to business already? Hindi ka ba babati sa Daddy mo?" He asked.

Napairap nalang ako bago lumapit sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi. "Good morning po."

"Good morning din, anak," he smiled.

"Please take a sit."

I nodded at him and took a sit.

"Miss Reyes, can you leave us for a bit? Mag-uusap lang kami," he gestured his hand towards his secretary which quickly responds.

"Yes sir. Excuse me," tango nung secretary at agad kaming iniwan.
As soon as the woman walks out of the room, agad ko siyang hinarap at tinanong agad.

"Is this one of your fixed marriage thing again? Dad, sinabi ko naman sa'yo diba? Ayokong makasal sa taong hindi ko kilala."

"Edi kilalanin mo."

I sighed. "Who is it this time?"

Ngumisi siya. "Curious of the man?"

"I'm not considering the idea. Gusto kong malaman kung sino. Baka isa na naman 'yan sa mga anak ng business partners mo na baduy," I said.

He chuckled. "Hindi siya baduy, anak. He's actually decent. Besides, single ka naman diba?"

Umiling ako. "Dad, I am single for a reason. Mas kailangan ng aso ko ang buong atensyon ko so I don't have time for relationships like that."

"Why are you like that? Wala ka namang naging boyfriend para maging bitter ka 'a," he asked.

"Kasi hindi niyo po ako pinapayagang magka-boyfriend noong nag-aaral pa ako."

"But I told you that you can now that you finished your studies. Pwede ka nang magkajowa," he said.

"Not my priority, Dad. Alam kong gagawin mo din ito-- the fixed marriage thing. Kaya bakit pa ako maghahanap ng jowa kung hindi ko naman mapapakasalan?" I pointed out.

He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry."

"It's fine Dad. So sino nga ngayon ang gusto mong ipapakasal sa akin?"

Yumuko siya bago ako hinarap ulit. "It's Timothee Chandler."

Tumaas yung magkabila kong kilay. "A Chandler?"

"You know him?" Nagbabasakali niyang tanong.

Umiling ako. "No. I haven't met the son before pero kilala ko ang mga magulang. I think I saw them in the news once."