When we arrived, I saw Austin waits for me outside the building. “Did you grow tired waiting for me?” I asked Austin who was sitting on the steps of the entrance the building. He was looking awful.
“Yeah…” He sighed, “Tell me about it. Look…” he pointed at the group of employees. “Their dad’s subordinates.”
“Where’s Sam?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him when I got off.” He stood up as when the subordinates approached us and told us to get going. We rode the elevator. I noticed one of the subordinates pushed the wrong button. “I thought were going to meet our dad at his office?” I asked. One of the subordinates looked at me, “We’re not going to your dad’s office, sir.”
“Where are we going then?” I asked him.
“To the conference room where your dad and the others are waiting for you.” The elevator doors opened. “What others?” I asked him. “You’ll know when you got there.” I gave Austin the look. When we entered the conference room, dad looked at us while he was standing in front, discussing something. One of the subordinates, whom I had conversed with, led us to the vacant chairs right besides dad. We were about to sit down when dad waved his hands at us, “May I introduce to you my sons, Xavier and Austin who will someday lead the company to a much greater success.” The board applauds. After a few minutes, the meeting was adjourned. We were about to go out when dad stopped us. “I would like you to meet Mr. Aldreen Ignacio.” He shook our hands with an ominous smile, “I would like you to meet his daughter.”
Mr. Aldreen Ignacio, “Your dad and I had an agreement.”
“We decided to have an arrange marriage between my oldest son, which is you Xavier.” He looked at me, wondering what could be my reaction, “You will be marrying his daughter.” I was astonished.
“I’m only sixteen years old.” I looked at dad, “The fact that you’re going to arrange a marriage between me and his daughter; I don’t even know her.”
“You’re going to meet her soon.” After that, dad invited Mr. Ignacio to a dinner. We told dad that we wouldn’t join him, since I asked Austin to accompany me. I was really shocked; I couldn’t stand to eat at this moment. I called Sam, who was at home, “Hey! What’s up? Can you pick us up?”
I woke up in the middle of the night. Finding hard to sleep, I went down to get some hot chocolate. As I walk pass the living room, I heard someone talking over a phone call. “No, don’t. I can’t do it.” He pauses, “This is the only chance I got to prove what a father I can be to them. I haven’t been with them for so long. Please, give me more time.” I went closer to see who’s talking. It was my dad. I was about to leave, so unfortunate. I almost knock over the vase that was placed on the side table. “I’ll call you later.” My dad said. I want to run as fast as I could but it’s too late. My dad noticed me. I acted like I was nauseous. “Can’t sleep?” He said.
“Yup, I find it very difficult to go back when I woke up earlier.” I precariously said every single word.
“I know just a thing about that.” He said, “Sit here, wait for me.”
I cannot do anything, he dashed across the hall into the kitchen. I wonder what he's doing. I roam around and saw our photo albums. I took one that says “Last Summer” I sat down the sofa and flipped through the pages. The first picture I saw is us with a boat overview of an underground river. I remembered it was taken from Palawan. Because of the pictures, I recall everything that happened. “Here, take it.” I looked back and saw dad holding two mugs. “Hot chocolate.” I took one and he sat down next to me. It was awkward that I didn’t mind at all. “Not as cold in Switzerland during autumn but I thought you wanted some.” It was just what I wanted. I took a sip and remembered when I was young, dad used to make me one of those just like now when I can’t sleep. Why all this memory keeps on coming back? “That was taken the last summer before you went with your brother to Switzerland.” As I flip through the pages while taking sips from my chocolate, it seems I miss these moments when I was younger. When I was through with my chocolate, I felt drowsy. I feel pretty bad if I leave my father drinking his chocolate alone when in the first place he made me one. I decided to finish the album.
I woke up and I was sleeping on my father’s lap. I left without making my father wake up. It was early in the morning so I woke up. I went upstairs to wash. A few moments after bathing, I heard a knock at my door. It was one of our butlers telling me that my dad’s waiting for me for breakfast.
I got into breakfast. My dad, mum and Austin were waiting for me. I sat right next to Austin. They didn’t start eating until I came and we all did. Our butlers were fixing my breakfast for me while I stare at them awkwardly. Guess I wasn’t used to be like this when I was in Switzerland when it’s just me, Austin and Sam. A thought of mine pops into my head. I guessed how long will we be here. A few moments after my dad spoke. “You’re going to stay a little longer this time.” He continued eating until he was satisfied. “You’re going to school today with your brother. You will be accompanied by Mr. Gabby Mendez, your lawyer. He will arrange everything for you guys. Sam will drop you off.”
After being finished eating, we went our separate ways. Mum and dad rode a different car on their way to the company and on the other hand, us who were still waiting for Mr. Mendez to arrive. While waiting I took a stroll in our garden thinking of what could they be doing, James and Vanessa. In a short period of time, I got caught on a butterfly who was flying around the orchids. A few moments after, a butler called me and said Mr. Mendez has arrived.
Mr. Gabby Mendez introduced himself to us. After a formal introduction, we head to the rode. “So…” I hesitated, “Why are you taking care of these things? Is it suppose to be dad who will be doing things like this, for us, for his sons?”
“I guess Mr. Fournier is too busy.” He politely said.
“Too busy taking care of his company instead of his kids?” I said but he didn’t reply.
We reached the school. I rolled down the window and got a good gaze at the school. “It is one of the most prestigious international schools in the Philippines. You even have a slot in Harvard!” Gabby said gleefully. Sam dropped us down leaving me, Austin and Gabby in front of his school. We were welcomed in the school by few persons. One introduced, “Hi I’m Mr. Paul, Director of this, I would rather say, remarkable institution.” He continued, “I would like to invite you to our office to settle things down.
