Sweet Lost Love

24

"Nabasa ko na ang proposal. Gawin mong 40 percent ang share ko," demand ko kay Kuya Lyle. May expansion sa South East Asia ang logistic facility niya, he wants me to invest— maganda ang proposal pero kung tataya ako, tataya ako ng malaki.

"You're robbing me," natatawa niyang sabi. Napainom sa alak na nasa baso niya. "15 percent. That's all I can give."

Napangisi ako. "Takot ka lang agawin ko ownership mo."

"Yeah. I know what you did with the Lopezes. Hindi mo magagawa sa 'kin 'yon," nailing niyang sabi.

"I don't rob family. Ate should be grateful, nabalik ko sa kanya full share ng Lafayette's," yabang ko.

He tsked. "When are you gonna stop?"

"Stop what?" maang ko kahit na klaro sa akin ang tinutukoy niya.

"You're declaring war. Ano ba talaga gusto mong mangyari?"

"Wala. Nagpapayaman lang ako. Masama ba?"

Nailing siya ulit. Ilan na silang nagsabi sa akin, kahit si mommy pinaalalahanan na ako pero hindi ako marunong tumigil. Hindi ko naman kasalanan kung mga pabaya lahat ng kompanya na binibilhan ko ng share.

Seven years since someone broke me. Maraming nagbago. Mula sa nararamdaman ko— hanggang sa takbo ng buhay ko. Dati sapat na sa akin na aralin ang plantation kasi alam ko na sapat na iyon para mabigyan ko ng magandang buhay ang magiging pamilya ko pero napagtanto ko na kulang 'yon. May magagawa pa ako. May kaya pa ako.

I started investing my savings to small companies when I was still in college, nang makapagtapos ako at lumago ng kaonti ang pera nagsimula akong mamili ng stocks sa mas malaking kompanya. I became a millionaire overnight when I hit a jackpot in one dying company. I did all that without the help of my family.

Nang tingin ko ay kaya ko na I came after the companies of the people who pissed me off— I buy stocks and slowly hit them until I have the majority of shares.

I shower myself with luxury. I bought a mansion, a sports car that I rarely use, a yacht. I host parties and bed women— but it doesn't give me the satisfaction I long wanted. Gusto kong pabagsakin ang mga Tuazon, tipong sila mismo ang lalapit sa akin pero bago ko pa man nagawa bumagsak na ang kompanya nila o tamang sabihing pinabayaan na nila.

They're probably in Melbourne, enjoying the riches of whoever Liliana Gabriella married into. Wala naman akong balita sa kanya, pero kung malaman ko lang...

"You're one of the countries richest bachelor..." Nawala ako sa iniisip ko nang tapikin ni Sue ang kamay ko. We use to hook up back in college— and well, until recently before she got engaged. She's interviewing me for a magazine she's working. I'm no fan of interviews like this, pinagbigyan ko lang talaga siya for the sake of our history together.

"Women are dying to know, what are the qualities you're searching for a woman?"

Nilaro ko ang ballpen na hawak sa labi ko. We're alone in my office. I don't mix business and pleasure, but I won't be a hypocrite and say I didn't play around here.

"What do you think?" I flirted with her— eyeing her cleavage that's saying hello.

"Stop flirting with me, Hes..." She roll her eyes. "You know I'm getting married."

"Kung hindi? You'll flirt back?" tukso ko.

She groaned. "Magtino ka nga. Wala ka pa ring pinagbago. I really couldn't believe you became this successful in business. Pakiramdam ko sex lang laman ng utak mo."