Breathless (Book 1&2)

Breathless #44

Chapter 44
Cloud

I stayed at the office the whole day. Kahit maraming pinapagawa si Mommy, hindi parin naalis sa isip ko si Noreen. I checked my phone every minute but she didn't text me at all. Is she alright?

"What's bothering you?" Mom asked and I looked at her.

"About Noreen." I answered her "Can't you do anything about it?" Napatingin sa akin si Mommy, nakita ko rin ang pag-angat ng tingin ni Ate Chloe at nakinig sa akin "We can't let them fall, right? After all, we share tight relationship."

"About that." Sagot ni Ate Chloe "I already reviewed their current financial status, five years na pala silang nalulugi. Maraming investors na rin ang nag pull out, marami na rin sa customers nila ang gumagamit ng kalaban na network, they are even facing different cases matapos magreklamo ang public dahil sa mga nawawalang load or overprice and fake promos they are offering. The public demand that they have to return every single peso they've stolen. As the figure shows, it wasn't just a couple of millions of peso." She put the folder down and looked straight at me "And another thing, her father is also connected in an embezzlement case."

"Are those proven true?" I asked her. Napatingin siya kay Mommy.

"I'm afraid, malakas ang ebidensya laban sa kanila." Sagot ni Mommy. "Your father told me that Noreen's father was tied into different affairs, gambles and drugs in the last few years. I'm afraid we can't help them. Matagal na rin palang may faction sa company nila kaya hindi maiiwasan ang mga ganitong issue."

"Just because of that?" May galit na tanong ko. I closed my fist and tried to calm myself. "Can't we do anything?"

"What would it benefit us?" Tanong ni Ate Chloe na kinainit ng ulo ko. "Tell me Cloud, what would it bring to our company if we help them?"

"What?" sagot ko sa kanya. "Can't you at least consider that she is my girlfriend and I love her?"

"Mapapalago ba ng pagmamahal mo ang kompanya?" She asked again. This time, she's using the kind of face I hate the most. I am now talking to Chloe Co-Del Rosario, the businesswoman.

"Rule number one, don't make decision that will not benefit the company. You should know that!" She stood up and I did too. "Cloud, if we help them, it will destroy our image, might as well our reputation. I am also planning to pull out the money we invested to them, I think I should tell you that. I already called our lawyer."

"YOU'RE HEARTLESS!" I shouted at her.

"CLOUD!" Mom butted in.

"CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELVES?" I asked them. "We need to help them. Noreen needs me and I am here asking you to help me but all what you did was telling me that we can't do anything, that you can't do anything!"

"I thought you're mature enough to understand the situation. Hindi ibig sabihin na girlfriend mo siya at mahal mo siya, you'll put the entire company at risk." Ate Chloe strictly said.

"I like Noreen, I like her for you but the company is a whole another issue. We can't help them. We can't afford to waste some money to a good-as-dead company." She walked to the mini counter and put some wine on her glass. "Personal feelings shouldn't be involved in your business decisions, you must bear that in your mind."

"B-But-"

"Cloud." She faced me "Argue with me when you have enough knowledge. I don't see your point right now, don't waste our time."

Tinalikuran ko siya matapos niyang sabihin iyon. Mom was calling pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. Mabilis akong sumakay ng kotse at pinaandar iyon. I called Noreen's number but she wasn't answering.

"DAMN!" I cursed saka sinuntok ang manubela. I tried to call Dad, I was on my second attempt when he answered me "Dad." Bungad ko agad "Dad, can you please help me?" I asked him directly.

"I already consulted everyone about that matter, I'm sorry Son but I'm afraid we can't do anything risky right now. Mainit pa ang issue, we can't afford to tie ourselves to that."

"So, what will I do?" I asked him "Just sit here and watch my girlfriend's company fall apart? Watch them go broke? Huh? Dad, Noreen may not show it but I know she is still concern to her family and their company, I don't want to see her hurt. Please, I beg of you."

"Son..." he replied "Okay, I'll try but I won't promise anything."

"That's good enough." I answered him "Thank you."

"Hey!" tawag niya bago ko ibaba ang phone "You're just like me."

"You're my Dad after all." Sagot ko saka ngumiti and we ended the call.

--------

I arrived at my unit but Noreen wasn't there. I called her again but missed it. After few minutes she texted me.

'Cloud, I'll be home in an hour.'

I smiled after reading it. I hoped she's okay and it all went well. I heard the door opened after an hour, sinalubong ko siya. She was smiling when she arrived, she me hugged tightly, so tight na parang iyon na ang huli.

"Why?" I asked her and she cutely shook her head.

"I just missed you." She replied. "Sorry, I wasn't able to answer your calls, I was busy talking to my parents." She said

"I understand." I led her to the dining table "I prepared some dinner, let's eat?" ngumiti lang siya. Napatingin ako sa kanya matapos niyang matulala and when she noticed that I was looking at her, she smiled again. "So what happened?" I asked her.

"Ah? Ayun, D-Dad, Dad is good." She answered me.

"That's good to hear. After kung makita ang reaction ng Mommy mo, I thought it was really serious. Anong pinag-usapan niyo?"

"A-Ah. She was just thinking too much that t-time. Dad fainted and that's all," Sagot niya. "Marami kaming pinag-usapan. H-Hindi ko maalala lahat." Dagdag niya.

"I'll go visit the shop pala bukas, tinawagan ko si Ron, hindi daw siya makakauwi sa unit ko ngayon. Magkikita na lang kami sa shop bukas." Paalam niya.

"No problem." Sagot ko "Noreen." Tawag ko sa kanya.

"Hmm?"

"I've talked to Dad." I smiled a bit "He'll try to help." Lumiwanag ang mukha niya and I love to see that kind of Noreen. I don't want her to worry too much.

"Thank you." She mumbled.

"I love you." I replied.