Rebellious Love (PUBLISHED under PSICOM) #Wattys2016winner

Chapter ♠ 1

GHOST OF THE PAST

"ZEKE!"

I looked over my shoulder and saw my old friend walking to where I was sitting for five minutes. "Jack," I acknowledged and noticed he was still the same, mahangin pa rin at punong-puno ng kayabangan.

I wouldn't really call him a friend. In my car racing career, siya palagi ang nakakalaban ko na hindi sumusuko para talunin ako. But tough. He always fall in the loser end. Pero matagal na iyon. Iniwan ko na ang buhay ng karera. Right now, I'm focused on running our family business. Since dad lost the empire, Duke rebuild it. Dad needed to take care of mom so Duke had to take over. But with our vast wealth, Duke needed to delegate few establishments.

That's why I'm here, I thought grimly.

"It's good you came. Akala ko hindi ka na tutuloy." Tinapik niya ako sa balikat at umupo sa tabi ko.

I shot him a glance. "You want me to change my mind?"

"Of course not! Nagulat lang naman ako na pinagbigyan mo ako," he said laughing. Napansin kong may kung ano siyang hinanap sa tabi ko. "Mag-isa ka lang ba?"

Nagdekuwatro ako ng upo. "Bakit, kailangan bang may kasama ako?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi naman. Akala ko kasama mo si Doug."

"Tumawag siya kagabi. Pero wala ako rito. Kararating ko lang galing Italy kaninang umaga."

I saw how he whipped his head to look at me. "Wala ka bang jet lag?" Parang hindi siya makapaniwala na kakalapag lang ng private jet ko kanina.

I just shrugged. "Nakasanayan na."

"Tao ka ba?" He was shaking his head.

I don't blame him. Sa buhay meron ako ngayon, kailangan kong sanayin ang katawan ko. I always fly abroad for business ventures. Target ngayon ni kuya Duke na mas palaguin ang automotive business namin. Balak niyang makipag-negotiate kay Avesto Riccardo Patrese, isang Italian businessman na nagmamay-ari ng Avesto Series. My brother saw it an opportunity to make a business deal with him, and Avesto was taken by my brother's brilliant ideas kaya pumayag siyang maging partner ang kompanya.

Pero dahil ako ngayon ang tumatayong President and CEO ng Steele MotorCar Inc., I needed to fly back and forth to Italy para matutukan ko ang progress ng naging pag-uusap ni kuya at ni Avesto. I'm just glad it's a close and done deal.

"Well, we should call for a celebration! Mukhang kompleto tayo ngayon."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko at tiningnan ko si Jack. "May ibang darating?"

"Oo naman. Ipapakita ko ang bagong obra ko." He grinned. "Tingnan ko lang kung 'di maluha si Tyrone sa makikiita niya mamaya." Binuntunan pa niya iyon ng tawa. Hindi na talaga nagbago ang isang 'to. Lagi na lang naghahanap ng kakompitensya. "So ano, pare? Reunion tayo mamaya."

"No. I'll pass," mabilis kong tanggi. I need to catch up on my sleep. Kailangan ko din bumili ng regalo para kay Serena. Baka kainin ako ng buhay no'n 'pag nalaman niyang wala pa akong regalo sa birthday niya. Besides, I don't have the luxury to have fun. I never did.

"Come on, pare! Matagal ka ng hindi nakakasama ng grupo. Darating din si—"

I inhaled and pointedly looked at him. "I came because of your business proposal, Jack. Hindi para mag-party."

He threw up his hands. "Alright, alright!" sabi niya at umiling-iling. "Napakaseryoso mo talaga. Alam mo, masama 'pag puro ka na lang trabaho. You ever heard of the saying, 'Work hard and play hard'?"