Housemates

CHAPTER 62

ARA

"Improvement, none. Sales are continuing to decrease, this company's collapsing, nothing's happening. Everyone's concern about you. You have a responsibility Ara. I know things had been rough lately but, that isn't supposed to be an excuse to leave everything behind, you're often not attending meetings, often not reviewing proposals, you're often not here anymore. We need to fix this, and we only have this one chance."

Everyone's here with me at the office, my mom, dad & my brother. I feel so ashamed about myself I haven't notice I'm leaving behind my responsibility. I guess I've been too comfortable lately, I have not thought of my employees who've been constantly working hard day & night.

"I get it, so anong mangyayari? What do I have to do?" I asked them.

"Mr. Choi's secretary emailed us, they want to talk about the partnership again. Maybe eto na 'yung chance natin ulit. They'll be here any minute now." My brother said.

I wonder. I heard they went for Thomas' side noong hindi sila nag-agree sa proposal na ginawa ko but then Axel and Thomas declined them and now they're back for us, kung ako ang tatanungin, ayoko sana but, our company badly needs this.

I really have a bad feeling about this especially now that I'm having doubts and suspicious thoughts about Mr. Choi. That time when we had a sleepover at Kib's house, though I never mentioned it on Thomas, nakatatak pa rin 'yun sa isipan ko; The whole narrative about who killed and who got killed, who died and who never really died, who's related to whom and not.

Iniisip ko pa rin why do Axel have to tell Thomas they can finally prove he's innocent, has Thomas done something wrong? Anong hindi ko alam? Is he ever lying to me all this time?

"I'd rather just take this down. We've all tried our best the past years, siguro gano'n nga talaga" my mom said.

At that point I feel so disappointed at myself for everything. Umalis pa ako papuntang ibang bansa, I came back and I feel like I've done nothing at all but to be selfish.

"Excuse me Ma'am Mr. Choi's here." My secretary said. And I signaled her na papasukin na sa opisina ko.

"Good morning"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot, he's not alone. He's with someone. 

I blinked twice and stared at the guy he's with, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, hindi ako namamalikmata.—it's Kimler, it's really Kimler.

They took a sit and we all started talking, I really could not focus. Nagtagpo rin 'yung mata namin ni Kimler and we've been glancing on each other several times.

"regarding the proposal for the partnership, I reviewed it again and yes I've seen the flaws that Ms. San Agustin had mentioned, and I think she's right, I think it won't really fit on the setting and it would be such as waste of an investment if ever.—"

"So what's the point of coming here? Are you just going to insult us?" my brother said.

"No, I'll do a reverse, I'm actually the one who's going to make a proposal. I'm willing to do another investment for another project, alam kong on low na 'tong kompanya na 'to and don't ever deny it. It's all over the news. But, on one condition, I have here my nephew, Kimler. How about a marriage with your lovely daughter Ms. Ara? I'd like to have her in my company too since I'll be lending mine on my nephew soon"

"Excuse me, forget about the company but, that's my daughter at hindi display o paninda sa mall. Forget it, makakaalis ka na" My mom interrupted.

Then I took glance on my employees outside. It then made me realize.

"N-no, it's okay I'll do it. For the company, I've done it before, I've agreed on marriage contracts don't you remember? If that's the only way for me to save all my employees I'll do it. On papers, ceremony, I'll do it. Is this meeting over?"

"Ara--"-dad

"Okay, I think we had an agreement."

Mr. Choi stood up so as my parents they all left the room except Kimler. Sobrang bigat ng pakiramdam ko, pinipilit kong pigilan 'yung luha na alam kong babagsak na sa mga mata ko. Napatingin ako kay Kimler at nagtagpo 'yung mata naming dalawa and that was the moment na hindi ko na napigilan 'yung luha ko.

Anong sasabihin ko? Anong dapat kong sabihin? May masasabi pa ba ako?

"Sino ka? Asan ka? All these years wala ka, tapos ngayon bigla ka na lang magpapakita? Bakit? Hindi ko maintindihan, bakit?"

"Ara you don't have to do this, you don't need to—"

"I have to. I have no choice. There's no other choice."

He stood up and walked towards me. He offered me his handkerchief "wipe your tears." He said. "Believe it or not, hindi ko alam na ikaw pala 'yung makikita ko ngayong araw, I never knew things would lead this way. I know you have lots of questions in your head right now pero, hindi ko 'yan masasagot ngayon lahat. Lots of years had passed, there were many changes but one thing for sure haven't; I won't ever leave seeing you a mess. Now wipe your tears before I leave."

I gave his handkerchief back "Yes, madaming nagbago. You can now leave me even though I'm a mess. I'm not your responsibility.—I'm emotional because I'm confused, I'm this emotional because I pity myself that I have to do something against my will. It's not all on you Kimler, and I'm this emotional especially because hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag kay Thomas lahat."

"Thomas?"

"Yes, Thomas. Thomas Torres? I think you really kno—"

He didn't even let me finish. "Of course, a murderer."

"Bawiin mo 'yung sinabi mo."

"I've known Thomas even before you met him. Maybe, you should ask him what happened that night when all went wrong for all of us."

He left the room and burst out in tears again.

"psst...psst..wake up."

Pagmulat ko ng mata ko, I saw Thomas. I panicked, I looked all over the place on my office to see if Mr. Choi or Kimler's there but wala sila. I hugged Thomas immediately, I hugged him very tight and I started crying.

"shush. Bakit? What's wrong? Tahan na. I've been trying to contact you all day yun pala naka-off phone mo, and sabi ng sectary mo sakin kanina you don't want to be interrupted the rest of the day, hindi ka rin daw nag-lunch, I'm here to pick you up. We're going home, are you okay?"

He wiped my tears "Is my baby okay?"

I started crying again. "I love you, please I love you, please know that I love you."

He kissed me on the forehead "I love you too, stop crying. Tara na uuwi na tayo."