FLAME (Bratinella Series #2)

CHAPTER 2

As usual, I'm late in all gatherings I have attended. Pagdating ko sa sinabing restaurant ni Dad near BGC, inassist agad ako ng isang usher patungo sa pwesto ni Dad.

"Thank you," I told him when I already see my dad and his colleagues.

Usually, kapag nalelate ako, my Dad will get mad at me because that's an act of unprofessionalism. Every time he scolded me, napapairap na lang ako. But not this time, he's all smile and it's getting into my nerves. Is he on drugs?

Lumapit ako sa pwesto niya at bumeso. Hindi na ko nag-abala pang tignan ang mga kasama niya at kamustahin.

"Your condo is just near here pero late ka pa din," Dad whispered.

"Because I prepared for this, Dad."

Pansin kong nakatingin sa akin ang ilang mga businessmen na kasama ni Dad. They are smiling at me so I have no choice but to smile back. May ilang kasing-edad ko din ang nasa hapag.

"Shall we start?" sabi ng isang kaibigan ni Dad.

The dinner was served at purong business ang usapin. Hindi ko na mabilang kung nakailang hikab na ko. Ano bang gagawin ko dito? Palamuti?

"Andrew, this is my only daughter, Flame Nathalie Arellano. Flame, this is Mr. Andrew Beaufort, one of our BOD."

I accepted his hand shake.

"Nice to finally meet Mr. Arellano's unica hija. I like your hair, it suits your name," sabi niya at tumawa ng nakakaloko.

Sumabay na lang din ako sa tawa.

"Where's Walter, Andrew? Malelate lang ba siya?" Dad asked him.

Andrew looked at his phone at napa-iling.

"He can't make it tonight. Ewan ko ba sa batang yun. I told him about this a hundred times."

"Di bale, marami pa namang pagkakataon. But it's good that you've finally met my daughter," Dad told him and smile weirdly at me.

What are they talking about?

When the dessert is going to serve, nagpaalam ako kay Dad na lalabas. I need to burp.

"I'll go with you," he said.

Natigilan naman ako. He. Is. So. Weird.

"Dad are you okay?" I asked him pero mukhang hindi niya narinig dahil kinausap siya ng isa niyang kaibigan.

Nauna na ko sa kanya. I immediately puffed my cigarette at humalukipkip. It makes me calm.

Maya-maya ay sumunod na si Dad. He also smokes.

"You're still smoking?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tumingin siya sa malayo at nag-hithit buga.

"Not every day. Kapag tensyonado lang."

I smirked. "So tensyonado ka ngayon? Come on, dad. Spill it out. Alam mong ayoko ng paliguy-ligoy."

Malaki ang distansya namin at kitang kita ko kung gaano siya katikas. He's still good-looking despite his age. Ang masayahin niyang mukha ay ganun pa din. But there's something that bothers him.

He sighed deeply. Tumingin siya sakin ng diretso at agad ding binawi.

"Sisimulan ko ulit ang business na tinatag namin ng mommy mo. And that business need investors, resources. And Mr. Beaufort is ready to give me all that I need. In one condition."

Doon na siya tumingin sakin.

"He wants you to marry----"

"What?!"