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

183

Only one question lingered in my head as I walked my way through UPTC Starbucks where Ate Pat is waiting.

Bakit niya ako gustong kausapin?

The fear of the unknown continued to hit me. Nervous jitters ran through my fingers as I shook hands with her. Sana hindi niya napansin.

"Really thankful you agreed to meet and talk with me." She gestured me to take the seat.

"Always welcome, Ate Pat. Although, the question has been bugging me. Bakit po? Ano pong kailangan pag-usapan? Is it about Penny po?"

"Well, tama nga ang hinala ko. You know nothing." She calmly lifted her cup of coffee, still poised as ever, and sipped before continuing.

"Ano pong hindi ko alam?" I felt dumb asking that question. Clueless.

"I'm sure you've heard of Primo Lopez. Am I correct?" She asked. The mere mention of the name made my ears hurt but I managed to nudge a nod.

"He's Penny's soon-to-be fiancée. The official announcement would be out by tomorrow..."

I felt my whole world collapse. I wasn't able to hear nor absorb anything after the first two sentences. I became deaf. An irritating sound of eerie silence rang in my head, like static. My heart just dropped 50 feet below the ground, buried, and I don't even know if I'd be able to dig it back up.

"Juan, are you alright?" Ate Pat noticed my attention was nowhere to be found. Nakatulala na lang ako sa kaniya. Empty eyes staring right through her.

But as she held the free hand lying on my lap, bigla akong nabuhayan ng loob.

"Don't worry. I'm on your side. I, too, don't want any of that to happen." She paused and sighed. "It's a result of my Dad's irrational decision making and desperation that led to Penny's misery. He needs Penny to marry Primo to get the company out of bankruptcy. He also passed the burden onto me when he made me CEO. What a coward, right?"

A smirk started to form on her lips and it somehow gave me the hope and confidence that Ate Pat was so desperately trying to give me since earlier.

"You see, Dad doesn't know I still have one last trick up my sleeve. Are you willing to help?" She asked me.

"Of course, Ate Pat. Anything for Penny." I immediately assured with firm conviction.

"Good. I'm doing this because it has been a long time eversince I saw happiness in her eyes. And I know you're the source of that happiness."

"Kaya huwag mo siyang sukuan, Juan. Ipangako mo sa 'kin 'yan."