Just Because You Are

Chapter 11 - Fine Tuning

Don’t torture yourself over the past. Use it as a teacher. Whatever happened to you in the past has only prepared you for now.
- ihatequotes

“Self-preservation or self-interest?” Raymund blurted out, looking rather irritated and confused as he entered Quino’s condo unit.

Quino looked up from the keyboard to see his brother’s perplexed facial expression. “What’s the fuss? Bakit sambakol yang mukha mo?”

It was already past midnight, but he was still up and about since he was trying to finish the song he was composing.

His mind was full of inspiring lyrics so he wanted to take advantage of the moment. After all, it was Sunday, and he could just sleep all day after he has finally put all his ideas into writing.

But at that moment, he thought he should take a little time to listen to his brother’s rant, whatever that might be.

“Si Papa. He suggested that Kate and I should have a pre-nup agreement as a pre-emptive measure,” Raymund said, shaking his head and obviously enraged. “I can’t believe he would actually think about it!”

“Para namang di mo kilala si Papa,” Quino said, shrugging. “You know he got quite affected about what happened to Achi.”

Paolo Fortaleza, Moira’s ex-husband, amassed a great fortune after their marriage was annulled. Aside from the fact that he benefitted much from other conjugal properties that initially came from Moira’s personal investments, he also left her a large share of debt load because of his losses in gambling.

Mr. Andrew Chua was quite disappointed at the way things turned out for his eldest heiress’ marriage, and that was the reason why he wanted to make such pre-emptive measures for his sons.

“Hindi yun reason para mag-interfere siya sa mga decisions namin ni Kate. We do not need that kind of contract.”

“Kaya nga Bro, nag-suggest lang si Papa. Suggestion lang. He can’t force you, so kung ayaw mo, simple lang naman, di ba?”

“Alam mo kung ikaw nasa situation ko, you will also be upset kahit na suggestion lang yun. Hindi ka kase nakaka-relate,” Raymund snapped.

“No, I understand you. Pero naiintindihan ko rin si Papa.”

Raymund nodded, smirking.  “Yeah, well. Ikaw kase yung perfect replica ni Papa na laging self-preservation ang iniisip, di ba? Kaya kahit na may pagkakataon ka para bigyan mo ng chance yung sarili mo na magmahal ulit at sumaya, ayan, nagpapaka-ermitanyo ka kasama ng piano mo!”

“Whoa! At napunta talaga sa akin ang mga issues ninyo ni Papa, ha?” Quino’s eyes grew big as he grunted at his brother’s statement.

“Kasi naman kung si Papa eh ine-equate ang self-interest sa self-preservation, ikaw naman ginawa mong synonymous yung self-denial at self-preservation,” Raymund said, shaking his head. “You are both unbelievable.”

“Well, I guess if you have suffered much personal turmoil in the past, ganun talaga, eh,” Quino mumbled with a sigh.

“Past is past, Bro! Stop torturing yourself over it. You deserve to be happy, too,” Raymund’s voice was now soft as he placed his hands comfortingly over Quino’s shoulder.