Love Business

ix

4 months have passed...

The relationship between LAS and Time Airways has grown stronger and tighter since they have started partnering. LAS has given Audrey's company good service when it comes to the maintenance checks of their airplanes and Time Airways has given enough goods for the other side.

It was not only the relationship of the two companies who have blossomed; also Audrey and Patrick's friendship. They started to have lunch-outs, dinners together with their employees, uncountable calls and texts to each other.

Audrey, trying to hide her feelings when they're together, didn't notice that her parents, Cara, Kute and Rizza have been watching her every move when Patrick was the topic or even present with her.

Patrick, on the other hand, opened up to his parents about Audrey. He admitted that his heart is starting to open for love, again.

"Naku, anak! Ang saya-saya namin ng Papa mo!" Mama Delia excitedly jumped out of her chair when Patrick told them about Audrey.

Papa Eli stood up and put his hand on Patrick's shoulder, "I'm happy for you, son. Go pursue her! Baka maunahan ka pa."

Patrick happily smiled. He can't contain his happiness as he held his mother and father's hand, "Salamat, Ma, Pa. Okay lang po ba iyon? Na magkatrabaho kami tapos nililigawan ko siya?"

"Ricky, hindi naman sa ayaw ko. Pero, siguro huwag sa trabaho. Court her outside of work. Alam mo naman ang tao, gagawa ng kuwento para may mapag-chismisan sa opisina." His father was serious as he sat down back to his chair beside his mother.

"Tama ang Papa mo, anak. Basta nandito lang kami, okay?" Mama Delia clapped because of uncontainable joy.

Patrick stood up and hugged his parents and said, "Thanks so much! Hayaan niyo, I will give an update every time. :)"

***

Audrey and her family have just finished eating dinner. Tatay Pim and Kute went outside to check their car. Cara, Nanay Via and Audrey drank coffee at the Veranda and had short but sweet girl talk.

"Ano? Kamusta kayo ni Patrick, bes?" Cara excitedly asked Audrey.

"Okay naman kami, Cara. Ayun, naglunch kaming dalawa kanina. :)" Audrey shyly told to the both of them.

Nanay Via and Cara smiled and high-fived. "'Nak, ano? Nanliligaw na ba?"

"Nay! Hindi po siya nanliligaw. Naglunch kami with the LAS staff." Audrey seriously answered.

"Hmmm! Napakabagal naman pala ni Patrick, bes. 2 months na kayo magpartner sa trabaho. Wala parin?" Cara asked with a little bit of dissapointment.

"Bes, wala pa nga. Close friends lang kami, okay?" Audrey clarified.

"Asus! Alam mo, Drii, halatang inlove na 'yun sa'yo." Nanay Via confirmed to Audrey which Cara agreed on. Audrey asked how did they know.

"Nakikita namin sa kilos ni Patrick. Lagi ka kaya namin tinitignan kapag magkasama kayo. At na-confirm namin kay Tay Pim na inlove na siya sa'yo." Cara told Audrey with that kiligfactor.

Audrey's phone suddenly rings. "Sino 'yan, Audrey?" Cara and Nanay Via asked in unison.

Audrey looked at her phone, smiled and said, "Si Patrick."

The two shouted and stood up from their chair and went behind Audrey who was standing to answer her phone near the end of the Veranda. "Hello, Patrick?"

"Hi, Audrey! How are you?" Patrick asked who was in his room. He didn't know that his parents were behind his door, eavesdropping.

"Mabuti, ikaw?" she immediately answered and fixed her phone in her ears because Nanay Via and Cara were listening to their conversation.

"I'm good. Kumain ka na ba?" Patrick asked as he sat on his couch.

Audrey signalled Cara and Nanay Via to go back to their seat which the two did. "Oo, kumain na kami. Ikaw ba?"

"Yes, kakatapos lang. Patulog ka na ba?" Patrick laid down in his couch.

Looking at the night sky, Audrey yawned. "Hindi pa. Nagkakape kami ni Nanay at Cara."

Patrick heard Audrey yawn, "You're sleepy. Matulog ka na kaya. Tapos na ba kayo magcoffee?"

"Hindi pa. Ayoko parin matulog. What about you? Marami tayong ginawa ngayon. Di ka pa ba matutulog?" Audrey went down to their garden because she knows that her mom and best friend are listening.

Patrick changed his lying position, "Not sleepy yet."

She sat on the swing near their pool, "Bakit ka nga pala tumawag?"

"Well, I wanted to ask if you have schedules tomorrow night?" His parents heard his question which made them more excited.

Cara and Nanay Via were looking at Audrey down below. "Wala naman, why?"

"Can I invite you for dinner?" He went straight to the point, bit his lips, hoping for a good answer.

Audrey was surprised about what he said but she didn't want him to wait for long and responded, "Okay, sige."

Patrick started talking really fast. "Okay? Ah, okay sige. Bale I will fetch you sa office mo then diretso na tayo sa dinner? Is that fine with you?"

Audrey was smiling as she was listening to Patrick's voice. "Naku, 'wag na. Ako na lang ang pupunta doon, okay? Sige, I have to go. Tinatawag na kasi ako nina Nanay."

Patrick snuck in his bed, "Okay, okay. If you insist. Good night, Ms. Perez. See you tomorrow."

Audrey was going up back to the Veranda where her two eavesdroppers were waiting, "Good night, Mr. Lim. See you."

And they both hung up. Patrick's parents already went back to their room after they heard their conversation. Meanwhile, Cara and Nanay Via ran towards Audrey who just got up from the garden and spilt her many questions.

"Ano yung see you mo kay Patrick, bes? Ang dami na naming tanong sa'yo di mo naman sinasagot." Cara was very impatient because Audrey was not responding.

"Puwede bang umupo muna tayo. Ikukwento ko sa inyo. Okay ba?"

The two of them hurriedly sat down and looked at Audrey. They cannot wait for Audrey's story.

Audrey stayed calm and said, "Niyaya niya akong magdinner bukas."

Cara and Nanay Via looked at each other and screeched so loud. "Huy! Ano ba kayong dalawa! Baka magising sina Tatay, natutulog na yung mga 'yun."

"Talaga, 'nak? Seryoso na iyan ha? Excited ako para sa iyo! Magdedate na kayo!" Nanay Via said with such excitement

"Bes, we need to have a make-over tomorrow. Akong bahala sa iyo, okay?" The two were excited and laughed and smiled.

"Mas excited pa kayo sa akin, ha? Dinner lang iyon, okay? *yawns* Tara na, inaantok na ako. Mahaba pa ang araw bukas." She stood up from her chair.

"We're just happy, Audrey. Okay, let us go to bed for a good night's rest. Kami na ang bahalang magligpit dito. Umakyat ka na. Para makapag-beauty rest ka pa, okay?" Cara took her inside the house.

"Okay, Ms. Quizon. Good night, Nay! Good night, Bes." And she left with a huge smile in her face.

Cara and Nanay Via are very excited for Audrey. They can't stop thinking on how to prepare for Audrey's date. As they fixed the coffee they drank, they can't stop being excited for her.

Mama Delia and Papa Eli are at their bed, both can't sleep because they are happy for their son. Most especially when they heard him invite the girl he's yearning for dinner.