Rancho Castillo #3 : ELCZAR "THE GREAT" SALAZAR

Part 3

CARREL POVS

I got home at dinner time. My father and fraternal twin, Zoey, are already in the dining area together with my stepmother and half-brother.

Mr. Garcia: Hmm. Maaga ka pa para sa dinner bukas.

I hugged him and pecked a kiss on his cheek. Sit on the empty chair between my father and brother.

Carrel: Things are always busy in the office. Additionally the traffic is hell.

Zoey: Okay! I won!

My brother surprised me by shouting that he won.

Zoey: Oh, Jed! Alam mo na later huh.

Everyone looked confused at him and to my half-brother, Jed.

Zoey: Ah. Hahaha. It's nothing. It's just we bet what Sissy will say once ask why she is late tonight. Hahaha. It's funny that I know what she is going to say! Hahaha. .... well I think not funny. Ok. Woaah! Ang sarap talaga ng luto mo Manay Tasing!

Zoey Garcia is my fraternal twin brother. He should be the one taking over the company however, he is not into it. He dont have interest. He is Gay. My father disapproved of it, but slowly accepted the fact. Zoey is now a successful man-woman in the fashion industry. That is the field he loves to work in.

Showing my intelligence in business helps my dad to accept the fact that he cannot force Zoey, at least he has me that will lead the company. In this life, we know that a family chooses a son to be their successor, and that is the same with my father. Fortunately, he had a son with my step-mother. Once Jed is ready to take over the company, I will surely be out of the picture.

Carrel: Ha-haha-ha. That is really not funny, sis.

I glared at both my brothers.

Manay Tasing served me a pair of utensils and a plate. I smiled back and thanked her.

Mr. Garcia: I got the news that Mr. Angelo got the contract with Mr. Shin.

I hummed as Yes on his question.

Mr. Garcia: Dont overdo yourself. If they dont want to, leave it. At least you tried and gave them the best offer from us.

I sighed.

Zoey: Dad, dont you believe that Carrel can make Mr. Shin say YES?!

Mr. Garcia: I know she can. But we need to keep in mind that there is always better things ahead on us. Hindi naman ako nagkulang sa pag-advise dito sa kapatid mo.

Carrel: Dad, leave it to me. Dont worry, like what you said, I will not overdo myself and leave it.

Liza: Oh, kaya naman anak, Jed. Listen to whatever your father says, he knows well pagdating sa business. Keep it in mind. Para kapag ikaw na ang CEO, mabilis mo maso-solve ang mga bagay bagay.

I can't help but to raise my eyebrow and look at her. And she just smiled back at me. I dont want to waste any seconds on her and back to eat.

Liza is my step-mom. Well, even though she is not married yet to my father, having a half-brother on her and living on the same roof, technically has become my step-mom.

My mother died because of breast cancer when we were 8 years old. Liza is our nanny. We were close back then, until we got 10 years old and father told us that Liza is bearing his child. Our brother. Things were not clear by that time, but I told my father that we will accept his child alone, not Liza to be our mother. Things got worse day by day between Liza and us, twins. But we loved Jed, her son, as truly as we could.

I even told my dad that I will not work in the company once he marries Liza. That is why until now, my dad and Liza have not been married after so many years.

It's a long talk about so many things during dinner.

Right after, I get up to my room. Its good thing that Manay Tasing always keep my room dust free.

I used to sleep in my office quarter instead of staying in this house. Zoey also got home occasionally. While Jed does his usual visits in my office and sometimes brings me desserts.

Knock... Knock...

Carrel: Come in!

My brothers got in and locked the door. Rushed to my bed and cuddled me.

Carrel: Hey Hey!!! Stop it!! I can't breathe!

I push both of them.

Zoey: I miss you, sis! Hmp. I'm so jealous that Jed only sent desserts to your office and not me!

Jed: Hahaha. You can order it by yourself. Kitamo na ang layo ng office mo.

Carrel: Hmm. Ilang araw ka ba mag stay dito, girl?

Zoey: Well, katatapos lang naman ng fashion month. No more rush orders na din, so baka until weekends nandito pa ako.

Carrel: I see. Do you want to go to a bar?!

Jed: No, No, No. Kung hindi ako kasama.

I grabbed Jeds ear.

Jed: Araaaayyy!!

Carrel: Hindi porket 18 years old ka na, eh feeling mo pwede ka na sa lahat. Kamusta studies mo!? Yung nakaraan na exam mo sumabit ka lang sa passing score! at ang sabi mo aayusin mo na. Ano na nangyari?

Jed: Dont mind it, Ate Cari! So, bar!?

Zoey: Hoy Hoy! Thursday bukas at may pasok ka! Bar-barin kita eh. Sa Saturday na lang, para makasama ka. Oh, deal!?

Carrel&Jed: Okay!!!

Zoey: Ay sis, kanina pala nung wala ka pa. Nag-ask si Daddy about sa kung may boyfriend ka ba daw? Syempre sagot ko wala.

Jed nodded.

Jed: He also pressuring me to learn more about business. Yung company daw ang reason kung bakit wala kang lovelife. Nakakatakot pala maging CEO, nakakawala ng love life.

We burst into laughter.

Carrel: Dont mind him.

Zoey: Alam mo yung nababasa ko sa novels, yung mga force marriage.

Carrel: Ginagawa lang yun kapag palugi na ang company, Ours is doing well. So leave my love life slash marriage alone.

Jed: Eh paano kung ipilit ni Daddy sayo na pakasalan yung guy?

Zed: Yeah, what will you do!?

Carrel: Hmm. I will ask you, sissy, to play a role! Hahaha.

Zoey: Kung yummy naman, why not. Ako na bahala. Hahaha.

Spending time with these two is the best thing I have in my life. We talked about lots of things until we said goodnight to each other.