"You must be kidding me," Ate Dara groaned while looking at the sleeping figure in the long sofa. "I'm sure that I'm not late this time."
"Let him be, Dara. He's tired," Kuya Kipp shrugged. "Sabi naman sa'yo 'wag mo nang kulitin 'yan na sumama ngayon." He walked away after that.
Today is Kuya's birthday and he chose to celebrate it in this bar. Nauna nang sinabi ni Trey na hindi s'ya makakapunta ngayon at sa formal dinner sa Sabado na lang s'ya pupunta, pero ipinilit ni Ate Dara.
Medyo natagalan kami dahil sa labas pa lang ay madami nang bumabati kay Kuya. At nang makapasok nga kami ay naabutan namin si Trey na natutulog na sa sofa.
Helena, Kuya Nexus, Bria and Red were already there pero mukhang hindi naman nila pinapakielaman si Trey.
Parang may kumurot sa puso ko habang nakatingin kay Trey na natutulog sa sofa. Ni hindi n'ya alintana ang ingay ng buong bar.
Nilapitan s'ya ni Ate Dara at tinapik ang pisngi n'ya. "Trey!"
Trey lazily opened his eyes. He's obviously sleepy. Umayos s'ya ng upo. "Sorry," he yawned.
"Kipp walked out!" Ata Dara hissed. "Jeez, man! We're not hearing anything from you for weeks, and now it's his birthday and you're sleeping?"
Trey grimaced. "I'm sorry. I was busy," he rubbed his eyes. "I haven't slept for three days," he yawned.
Tumayo na s'ya at nag-inat. "Which way?" he asked.
Kuya Darco was the one who pointed the direction towards the bar counter.
"A sshole," Ate Dara rolled her eyes.
"Gaga! Alam mo naman na stressful ang buhay ni Trey," Ate Helena smirked. "Try mo kayang pagsabayin ang dalawang course."
"And I heard from Dad that he's also working on AGC as Tito Tee's apprentice," Carrack said with a smirk. Kakarating lang n'ya at sumalampak na s'ya ng upo sa sofa sa tabi ni Ate Helena. "Jeez, Villasis, you have no idea how hard it is to work with Terrence Amante! He's a fucking God! He only knows perfection, and he's a demon when it comes to business. Working under him feels like taking five engineering programs simultaneously!" he explained.
Kuya Nexus chuckled. "Perfection, my ass, Amante! AGC was falling behind VAI. Don't brag on my presence," mayabang na sabi n'ya.
VAI or Vergara and Associates Incorporation was managed by Tito Billy, Kuya Nexus's father. Tito Nexiel owns forty percent of the company, and Tatay and Dada each held five percent. Three years ago, malaki ang lamang ng AGC sa ranking pero ngayon ay bagsak ang kompanya ng mga Amante.
Hindi naman nagpatalo si Carrack. Ngumisi s'ya at uminom mula sa baso n'ya ng alak. "You're forgetting something, Vergara. Tito Tee was not part of the AGC when it fell. Let's see what will happen to your pride company after two years," he confidently said.
Last month, Tito Tee came back to troubleshoot something on the AGC. Tuluyan na kasing kumalas si Tito Troy sa mundo. Basta hindi na lang s'ya humihiwalay kay Tita Maine. Sobrang napabayaan ang kompanya nila na kinailangan nang umuwi ni Tito Tee. And he's training Trey under him. Ang aga pa para kay Trey, pero wala s'yang choice kundi saluhin ang responsibilidad ng Daddy n'ya sa kompanya. Good thing that they have Tito Tee on their side.
"Saka ano ba ang pinagmamalaki mo?" dagdag pa ni Carrack. "Mas mataas kayo dito sa Asia?" patuyang tumawa s'ya. "Pathetic."
Nakita ko ang pagkuyom ng mga kamao ni Kuya Nexus.
