Take A Chance On Me | A Juan GDL Epistolary (Completed)

175

"Dad, I'm sorry! I can explain-"

I bursted through the doors loudly, passing by and ignoring the secretary who was stationed in front of the office. She quickly followed me inside and tried to stop me from barging in.

"I'm sorry, sir!" She cut me off.

"It's alright. You can go." He gestured a waving hand at the secretary and the clickity-clack of her heels strode off outside.

Dad slumped himself at the giant executive chair and showed how he was about to go to business. He clasped his hands together and laid them down firmly on his desk. He didn't even offer me a seat. I just stood there with knees shaking.

"I don't need an explanation, Penelope. No amount of explanation can fix what you did."

My shoulders tensed up as he pounded his fist on the table like a judge's mallet. His voice on maximum volume. "How dare you reject Primo Lopez? Did I not stress enough how vital his role is in this company's future?"

My lips were so tightly sealed, trying my best to control and stop myself from the words that were so desperately creeping out of my mouth. Kasi baka pagsisihan ko.

"Your relationship with Primo Lopez is the only hope for the merger to succeed!"

I was a pawn. A pawn in his little chess game. I was his only hope to win.

"Tomorrow at Inquirer's interview, I want you to tell that you are dating Primo Lopez. Understood?"

I managed to keep a straight face but I was on the verge of falling on my knees. I wanted to shout my heart out at the highest of mountains. How I hated my dad. How I hated my life. How hopeless I am. How hurt I am.

Juan was the only one keeping me sane right now. Thinking of him. Thinking of his soft and gentle smile. It calms me down. Then, a devastating thought came hitting at me hard as a rock. When the time comes, baka ako pa ang maging dahilan para mawala ang mga ngiti niya.

Oh God, I just wanna make that boy the happiest he's ever been and it hurts me to know that I can't.

To end the conversation that felt like forever, I just nodded at Dad's command. It was the simplest of replies. Meek and emotionless.

As I opened the door to leave, I saw Ate Pat standing right at the post, waiting for me to come out of the devil's cave. She approached me with concerned eyes as if asking me if I was alright.

I was definitely not.

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand, Ate? That my freedom was the only price to pay so I'd gain his trust back."