Can We Fall? One more Time?

Chapter IV

FRIA’S POV

We arrived at his condo, mga 3:00pm in the afternoon. Hayyss. Kahit ako napapagod , paano pa kaya si Justin? Ngayong nandito na siya,the two of us will plan for our grand wedding. Matagal ko ng pinapangarap toh, kasi naman nag-aral pa siya sa America eh, pero it doesn’t matter ngayon, andito na kasi siya. He has been tired all around our travel. Pagpapahingahin ko muna siya para in the evening, sabay kaming kakain and mapag-usapan na rin yung out of town vacation namin. I’ve been thinking na dun pumunta sa GPC Resort if I’m not flawed. May friend kasing  nagrecommend saken and gave me advertising material and I’m satisfied with the resort.

            “Uhm,hey sweetie?Should we go inside?” sabi ni Justin.

            “Yeah, sure. Let  me open the door for you. I know you’re tired.” Ani ni Fria. Pero hindi pa niya nahahawakan ang doorknob naagaw na Justin yun.

            “No need sweetie, Let me, I know you’re tired too.” Wika ni Justin. 

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti. Ang sweet lang ng lalaking ito, nakakainlove lalo.  I will not remorse this decision. Hinding-hindi, I trust him that much.

            “Uhm, Justin magpahinga ka muna, ako na muna mag-aayos ng gamit mo para we can talk later. I will cook dinner for us.” Ganti ni Fria.

            “Thanks,, sweetie. We’ll talk about our vacation together.” Paliwanag ni Justin.

            “Okay, sleep well dear.” Si Fria.

TOFF’S POV

            Bullshit! This is senseless! Raymond must be out of his mind to push me into marriage. Who the hell does him to ponder to plan my life for me? He’s not my father, rather, “mother”---because she/he is always the one who tries to control us. He’s just my cousin. He can’t do this. He can’t make me do this. Here we go again, nagpatawag na naman ng board meeting itong si Raymond, at ako na naman ang spotlight ng meeting na ‘toh. Tiningnan ko ang mga kasamahan ko sa boardroom. They we’re all board members of GPC or Grande Passion Corporation na nagma-manipulate ng resort ditto sa Oriental Mindoro. Executive vice president for operations ang posisyong hinahawakan ko. Position na hindi ko man lang alam ang mga obligasyon at responsibilities. Halos si Raymond na ang nagha-handle ng  pwesto ko.

(Why aren’t they reacting so violently?  Parang wala silang against sa gusto ni Raymond?)

“Toff, you want to say something?” tanong ni Raymond. He was the chief operating officer. Dahil nasa labas ang CEO, ito rin ang umaaktong CEO, and Raymond was spoiling it. Nanatili akong tahimik habang pinapaliwanag niya kung simo si Fria Sandoval for the nth time. Wala akong pakialam dun at sa mga pinagsasabi niya, I’m out of focus.

“Toff, are you listening?”— si Raymond.

I just shook my head. This is really unfair. Kalian pa ako nawalan ng karapatan mag-decide kung kalian at kanino ako magpapaksal?

            “I’m just twenty-one! For Pete’s sake, Raymond!” galit kong sabi.

            “And worthless,” dagdag ni Raymond. “Si William Sandoval ang isa sa mga major creditors’ ng GPC. Think about it again and again, alam kung paulit-ulit na ‘toh, Toff. Kapag naging asawa mo si Fria, parang nabura na rin ang pagkakautang ng korporasyon sa kanya.”

            “Ayoko nga, Raymond, I don’t want anything to do with her, at may fiancé na yun,” paulit-ulit kong paliwanag.

            “Don’t you have the balls to compete with Justin? –si Raymond.

            “Don’t play psychological games with me, Raymond. It won’t work.” Angil ko.

            “We have to do what we have to do. Seduce Fria then marry her.” Si Raymond.

            “It’s not that easy.”(But why do we have to do this? We’re all rich already.  We don’t need to marry for convenience) Pero napigilan nyang itanong yun. “Di pa rin ako payag sa gusto nyo”.

            “You can’t be worthless forever, Toff. Sell your share to us, if you’re not willing to do this mission,”paliwanag ni Raymond.

            “No, I won’t sell,” tanggi ko. Ayaw kong mawalan ng karapatan sa GPC. Ang lugar na ito ang aking paraiso. Nakukuha ko doon ang inakaaasam kong peace of mind.

            “Then be helpful for once” naghahamon ang tingin ni Raymond.

I gritted my teeth, “Alright,” pagsang-ayon ko.

Mas mahalaga para sa akin ang manatili sa posisyon ko sa GPC kesa sa pride. I wasn’t about to marry Fria or any other girl. Hindi pa  talaga ako sawa sa pagiging bachelor..

A/N: Sorry for the long wait, kung may naghihintay man. XDD sana worth it naman. READ.VOTE.COMMENT.:)) HAVE A GOOD DAY :P