Second Chance

THEODORE 2

Here I am....Playing with those memories again...

Damn song. Sumali pa sa pagkasentimental ng panahon.

"DENNIS patayin mo nga yang radyo!"

Bilang isang masunuring assistant, pinatay naman niya agad. Matagal na rin kasi si Dennis na assistant ko, three years siguro? Simula nung nagsimula akong magtrabaho for lolo, binigyan na niya ako ng assistant para daw hindi na ko mahirapan sa mga gawain sa company.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

Just in time.

"Hello, ma?", sagot ko naman agad.

"THEODORE! BAKIT HINDI KA PUPUNTA SA AIRPORT?? I THOUGHT WE'VE DISCUSSED ABOUT THIS ALREADY!"

Nilayo ko yung tenga ko sa phone ko. I knew mom was going to scold me for cancelling my appointment with them.

"Ma, please. I'm about to meet a client. I'm sorry."

"Aalis na nga kami ng ate mo papuntang Paris tapos hindi ka man lang pupunta para makita kami.", nagtatampo niyang sagot.

"MA. Nagkita na tayo kanina. Besides, it's not like this is the first time you'll leave for Paris."

"FINE. I'll call you when we get there. I love you honey."

"BYE MA."

I ended the call. Nagpark na naman si Dennis sa tapat ng coffee shop na pagkikitaan namin ni 'Mr. Harrison'.

When I got to the shop, kinawayan ako agad ng kliyente ko. Kita mo nga naman, nag-order na siya!

"Tagal mo pare?"

I sat in front of Paul.

Okay. So Mr. Harrison that I was talking about was my close friend Paul. Anak siya ng isa sa mga business partners ni lolo. Well, his father and lolo are pretty close at dun kami nagkakilala. We've become friends ever since we had this joint project sa renovation ng isa sa mga Harrison malls.

"Inintay ko pa kasing tabunan yung puntod."

"I thought you had to drive tita and Chels to the airport?"

"Di na. I cancelled."

"Sira ka ba? Bakit mo inindyan yung ermats mo pati yung kapatid mo?!"

I sipped the coffee he ordered first.

"Alam mo naman yun. They would get sentimental and all. Tsk."

"Sus, sentimental. Baka ikaw yun pare.", pagtatawa niya.

I raised a brow on him.

"Me? How would that be me?"

"Theo, ang sabi mo sakin, handa ka na naman sa pagkawala ng lolo mo. Besides, he even told you a lot of times na dapat pakatatag ka pare. Akala ko ba, kaya mo??"

I looked on the heavy rain outside. Damn this rain, di ba to titigil?

"Ikaw ata ang sentimental eh. I came here for work. We had to recheck all those stupid reports ng accounting department. I can't believe THEY HAD TO MESS UP the board meeting!"

"Pare. Ikaw ang di kapani-paniwala eh. I can't actually believe we have to talk about work right after your lolo's funeral! Seriously, slack off.", pagtatawa naman ni Paul.

"Kung ginagawa lang nila ng ayos yung trabaho nila edi sana hindi tayo naiipit ngayon. The board wasn't impressed, of course I had to iron everything out!"

"CHILL, my friend. CHILL. Nilibing ang lolo mo ngayon, akala ko pa naman you wanted company, well...because you lost a grandfather? Grabe to."

I crossed my arms at him. Parang di naman siya nasanay sakin.

"Paul, if my lolo was alive he would tell me to----"

"Yeah yeah look forward THEODORE and never look back. OO ALAM KO NA YAN."

Ngumisi naman ako.

"Alam mo naman pala eh."

"But Theo, grabe yung mga pumunta ano. Ang kakapal din."

Naalala ko yung madaming taong pumunta. Karamihan sa kanila mga representatives ng business partners ni lolo. Well, they knew him in the business field but never in the personal aspect.

Lolo has few friends. He was so reserved. Dala na din siguro ng pagkabusy niya sa trabaho at pagkafocus niya sa ikauunlad ng legacy ng pamilya namin.

"Tss. Of course they should come. Nakinabang sila sa pera ng lolo ko."

"Well they should at least cry! Parang umattend lang ng housewarming party eh, dumaldal lang?!"

"Welcome to my life, Paul.", pagngiti ko sa kanya.

Natawa naman si Paul. He knew of my family's background. Alam niyang isa ang pamilya namin sa mga makapangyarihan sa business. But he never befriended me ng dahil lang doon. Ni minsan, hindi kasi to nagpalibre sakin. From there, I knew he was sincere of the friendship he offered to me two years ago.

Spoiled brat din kasi to. Laging may hugot galing sa mga magulang kaya madaming panggastos. Ewan ko ba kung bakit biglaang naging interesado to sa business. He told me before that he didn't want to be involved here dahil nga boring at parang wala daw social life ang mga tao. Pero ngayon, kita mo naman aattend pa daw ng meeting.

"Please, pare. I knew you cried once."

Bigla namang nagdilim yung paligid ko. Oh no, not this topic.

"Tumigil ka. Ibubuhos ko sayo tong kape na to."

"Sakto umuulan pa man din oh?"

I grabbed the teacup's handle.

"I'm serious. SHUT YOUR MOUTH."

"HAHAHA! FINE FINE! Chill ka pre, high blood agad?!"

It was not funny. I hate it when he teases me about....that. Basta, yun.

"Ay, pare, kailangan ko na palang umalis. May meeting nga pala ako sa The Fort."

Tinignan ko yung oras. Medyo maaga pa, ano ba yan.

Tinunguhan ko na lang si Paul. Akala ko pa naman masasamahan niya ko sa bar mamaya.

"Bukas na natin i-recheck yan ha? Nagmamadali ka kasi masyado!"

"Why do things tomorrow when you can do it now?!"

"Edi okay. I'm leaving them all to you! Ikaw na bahala!"

Tss. I knew he would say that.

Tumayo na nga si Paul at tinapik niya yung balikat ko pagkatayo niya.

"Move on din kasi pare. Sige ka, multuhin ka ng lolo mo."

Binatukan ko nga.

"Sira ulo. Umalis ka na nga!"

Bwisit na yon. Magaling lang talagang mang-asar eh. Pag sa trabaho, laging may pupuntahan. Meeting daw kuno, baka may kikitain lang yang babae no.

Nang nakaalis na nga si Paul sa shop, biglang nagvibrate naman yung phone ko.

Someone was calling. An unknown number.

"Sino kaya to?"

But I answered anyway.

"Hello?"

"HELLO DADDY???!!!"

WHAT THE....that tiny, cute voice.

Nanlaki na ang mga mata ko.

"BECCA???"

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