Dy Siblings 3: Dwayne's Deepest Scar

SEVEN

I was waiting outside dad's office. May kausap pa raw siya sabi ng sekretarya niya, kaya pinaghintay muna ako rito. Couple raw kasi ang bisita at bawal istorbohin. Not a big deal for me. Wala naman hindi OK sa akin kapag si daddy ang nagsabi.

"Next time, kami naman ang bibisita sa inyo," I heard dad say.

"You should, isama mo na rin itong si Dina," a man's voice said.

I heard them laugh together at may boses din ng dalawang babae na nag-uusap.

Napadaan sila sa harap ko, kaya tumayo ako, giving them respect.

"Oh, nandito ka pala, anak," Mom said, so I kissed her. "Bakit hindi ka pumasok?"

"The secretary told me to wait here dahil may bisita ka raw. Good morning po, tito Zacharias, tita Charlotte," I greeted them.

Tito Zacharias was Daddy's best friend. Like dad, despite his age, he looks dominant, at sa porma pa lang ay alam mong hindi basta-basta dahil nagsusumigaw na sa katawan nito ang salitang 'huwag kang babangga kung ayaw mong mabaon sa lupa.' Tita Charlotte was like mom—intimidating and modest.

Everyone in the business calls Dad and Tito Zach the twin tower. While mom and Tita called the tower maker. Kapag sila kasi ang nagkasama sa negosyo ay walang may gugustuhin na banggain sila. Everyone knows how strong their bond was. No question about that, and we know it.

Wala nga lang isa sa mga anak nila ang napunta sa amin dahil hindi pumapabor si tito Zacharias sa arranged marriage. Hindi rin namin type ang mga anak nila dahil iyong isa kung hindi maldita na parang si Daze, ang isa naman-nevermind.

"How's married life, Dwayne?" Tito Zacharias asked me.

"So far, so good, po, Tito."

"You look happy, Hijo. Hiyang sa pag-aasawa at mukhang alagang-alaga," Tita Charlotte commented.

"Thanks, po, and yes po, Lauren was a good wife."

"Good to hear that," Tito Zacharias added. "Anyway, Damian, mauuna na kami ni Charlotte, nice to say you, Dwayne."

"Nice to see you too, din po."

When both of them left, ay saka ako humarap kina daddy at mommy.

"Dale, may problema ba anak kaya ka naparito?" Mom asked.

"No, Mom. I want to talk to Dad about Lauren."

"Why? May problema ba sa inyo?"

"No, nothing, amp...!"

"I think let's come inside my office first, Dwayne. Let's go."

Dad goes inside first at nakasunod naman kami ni mommy. She was holding my hands while we were walking.

"So tell us about Lauren," paunang sabi ni mommy nang makapasok kami sa loob. Hanggang sa makaupo na rin kaming tatlo.

"Dad, Mom, Lauren wanted to stop modeling. But she still has a contract with her agency. Bago siya makaalis ay kailangan niyang magbayad ng damages. Her dad promised her to help when we reached five years of marriage. But I guess it's too long."

"That's an agreement between a father and a daughter, Dwayne. Her father told me it's Lauren's condition for marrying you," he answered.

"Yeah, she told me too. Pero kasi dad, naisip ko lang, now that Lauren used our name, I think we should have to protect her. Gamit na ni Lauren ang apelyido natin kaya kapag may issue sa kanya, sa bawat galaw niya ay masasama na tayo sa kanya. Lalo pa at isa ka sa top businessman—worldwide. So parang hindi ba ang panget tingnan na ang naghuhubad sa camera ang manugang ng isang famous business tycoon?"