The Campus Royalties and Me

5th Chapter

Rade

Who is she? Sino ang babaeng yun?

I paced back and forth inside my room.

"Rade masakit ba?"

I shot a glare at Elliot who was laughing his heart out. Nakaupo siya sa couch at nakaharap sa flat screen habang si Chase naman ay nakaupo lang sa bar counter, silent as usual.

"Gusto mo ng sample?" Linapitan ko siya.

"Kidding. Baka hindi siya taga Elton. Kung sa E.A siya nag-aaral dapat kilala ka niya at alam niyang engagement party mo."

"Ang lakas naman ng loob niyang ipahiya ako."

" You gotta see this." Itinapat niya ang remote control sa harap ng TV.

There I was in the middle of the stage, standing and looking awfully embarrassed. And what's worse? Sa harap pa ng mga press. Sa harap ng buong E.A.

"Good. Now it's on national television." I sanked on the sofa next to him.

Nang dahil sa ginawa ng babaeng yun, mas lalo akong pag-iinitan ni Dad ngayon.

The door suddenly opened. Pumasok si Bree kasama ang mga bodyguards niya. Huminto siya sa harapan ko in akimbo.

Napalunok ako ng laway.

"Bree, I swear I have nothing to do with this," pagpapaliwanag ko.

"We just lost have of our investors. The Alcantara's pulled out and wanted to terminate their contract with us. Papalugi na ang company. All I was asking from you is to get engaged with Lexis Alcantara, makabawi man lang tayo."

"Bree, wala ka bang dalang bazooka this time?" teased Elliot.

"No. But I can give him a roundhouse kick ngayon kung gugustuhin ko." Binalingan niya ako. "I know what you're planning to do kanina." She crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow at me. "Trying to escape your engagement party again, huh? Gusto mo bang sipain kita sa mukha ngayon?"

"I don't like Lexis. Ayokong ma engage sa kanya. Pag engaged na kami, marriage will follow afterwards. And I'm only 18 for Pete's sake," pagrarason ko. "Ni hindi pa nga ako tapos mag-aral, eh."

"Nag-iisip ka ba? And who told you na pakakasalan mo siya?"

She started laughing all of the sudden.

Napakamot ako sa ulo. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Rade, remember the contract?
Pag engaged ka na saka mo lang makukuha ang mana mo from our grandfather."

She reminded me by reciting the will.

"It clearly states that 'Rade Andreux Montero must get engaged before reaching the age of ninteen. Only then will he be eligible to receive half of my money'. At ang perang matatanggap mo is enough to sustain the company's need and expand our resources."

"Eh ang dali lang pala ng problema mo. Find a girlfriend and get engaged!" sabat ni Elliot. "As simple as that."

"Tama." Ba't ko pa pinapahirapan ang sarili ko?

"Hindi ko alam kung saan kayo pinaglihing dalawa," untag ni Bree. "You're not related by blood pero parehas kayong mag-isip."

Elliot and I did a high five. "Yeah. Brilliant."

"Hindi. Mga utak-ibon. Bird brains." Naglakad siya nang pabalik - balik sa harapan namin. "Sa tingin niyo ba ganon lang kadali yun? Rade, lahat ng pwedeng maging girlfriend mo kailangang pumasa sa standards. Dapat pang in the long run."