You Belong With Me

Thirteen.

When I arrived at Montano Group's building, I went straight to Chandler's office. He told me he is talking to Seth and Iñigo right now. Gosh, Seth is a jerk!

The elevator door opened on the 35th floor. Pumasok ako agad sa opisina ni Chandler. When I opened the door, Seth was sitting comfortably on the sofa beside Iñigo kaya agad ko siyang hinampas ng aking Hermes bag!

"How could you!"

"What the hell, Portia?!", he stood up and pushed me. Chandler then shielded me.

"Seth!", Chandler's voice boomed like thunder. Napaatras si Seth sa gulat!

Iñigo stood up and sighed. Pinaupo niya si Seth at tinapik ang balikat ni Chandler.

"Calm down, bro. Let's discuss this professionally."

Iyon nga ang nangyari. Chandler let me sit on his office chair while he leaned on his table. Nasa sofa naman ang dalawa niyang pinsan. I gritted my teeth while Seth spoke the whole time! He's a traitor!

Ayon sa kanya, he wasn't involved with Mrs. Tala's stealing. Nalaman niya nalang daw ito nang makita niya ang copy ng financial report.

"Then how are you involved?! Chandler, why did you tell me he had something to with it?"

"Because I helped her get away, Portia!", nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "She confessed to me that she didn't settle the payment even before the shoot for the TVC and that there was no agent. I took it as an opportunity to... ruin Chandler's name."

Oh my gosh! I turned to Chandler. Napatayo siya sa sinabi ni Seth. Iñigo immediately went in between the two.

"Anong sinabi mo?!"

"You heard me, Chan! I wanted everyone to realize that you are unfit to be CEO! Architecture ang tinapos mo, itinuro ba sa inyo kung paano humawak ng business?! Montano Group will be doomed because of you!"

"Gago ka! ABM kinuha ko no'ng Senior High, ulol! At isa pa, kung talagang ayaw mo na ako ang mamahala sa Montano Group, sana sinibak niyo ko! Hindi yung sisirain mo ako at madadamay si Portia! Napaka-tarantado mo!"

Chandler advanced while speaking but Iñigo shielded Seth. Natatawa naman ang huli kaya mas lalong nag-init ang ulo ko.

"How could you take this so lightly, Seth?! You helped a thief get away! You betrayed your company and Divesta Incorporated! You ruined your name!", napatayo ako.

Galit ako sa kanya dahil tinulungan niya si Mrs. Tala pero mas nagagalit ako sa ginawa niya kay Chandler. Chandler doesn't deserve this! He's doing the best he can to lead!

"Well, I'm sorry Portia and Chandler. Hindi na mauulit. I was just challenging Chandler!"

Wow. Seth is not affected at all! At ano? He was just challenging Chandler? What is this, a fucking tv show?!

"Hindi ko kailangan ng challenge mo, Seth! Kailangan ko ang tulong mo, ninyo! Tanginang pamilya naman nito!"

Chandler sighed. Nilapitan ko siya at hinagod ko ang likod niya. He then turned to me with sad eyes. Parang nadurog ang puso ko nang makita ang mga luhang nagbabadya.

"Hindi mo na sana dinamay ang Divesta," lingon niya kay Seth.

"No. Its fine, Chan. At least now I know who to trust... Seth is definitely not one of them."

Seth chuckled and Iñigo shook his head. Lumapit si Seth sa amin at ngumisi. Oh, I hate him now!

"You two are pathetic. You're too young to be CEO's. Para lang kayong naglalaro," tumawa siya nang malakas and so I slapped him real hard!

"Seth! Shut the hell up!"

Iñigo dragged him out of the office while he was holding his cheek.

"Okay ka lang, Pors?", nag-aalalang tanong ni Chandler.

"I am, Chan. Ikaw? Okay ka lang?"

Yumuko siya pero tumango rin. He then looked at me. Malungkot pa rin ang mga mata niya pero pinipilit niyang maging masaya.

"Look, its okay... I'm here," I smiled at him and hugged him.

Chandler and I talked in his office the whole afternoon. He told me he found out about Seth because Iñigo heard him talk to Mrs. Tala and told Chandler. He also opened up about his struggles. I was just listening to him while he let out his fears and doubts. Chandler let me see through him.

"Kanto boy naman talaga ako. Pero hindi yung grupo nina Vhong ha? Yung literal na Kanto boy," and I always adored how he can still make jokes in times like this.

"Kaya malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa'yo, Pors. Hindi mo ako kaibigan noon pero pinili mong tulungan ako. Ngayon, nagagawa ko ang trabaho ko ng maayos at dahil yun sa'yo. Dahil sa kabutihan mo."

'And its because of my hatred for your Merrell, Chan', I thought to myself. Ngumiti nalang ako kay Chandler. I held his hand and I was shocked when he flinched.

"Sorry, nagulat lang. Hehehe!", he gave me his favorite peace sign again and I just chuckled.

Chandler offered me a ride home. Pumayag naman ako para hindi na rin maabala si Manong Ronnie.

"Bahay mo 'to?!", Chandler exclaimed as he parked the car. Pinapasok ko naman siya at mas lalo siyang namangha.

He was so amazed when he saw the interiors of our house. He looked cute though.

"Its not mine. Its my parents."

"Ang laki, Pors! Tsaka ang gara, mukhang palasyo!"

Okay, our house isn't a very big mansion but it definitely is Victorian. Mommy always wanted to be a queen when she was young and so she built a castle with Daddy.

"How's your house, by the way? I mean, have you started?"

Sinabi niya kasi sa akin na magpapagawa siya ng bahay para sa mga magulang. He got a condo for himself kaya inuna niya ang mga ito.

Nilingon niya ako at tinanguan.

"Nasimulan na yung construction last week. Matagal-tagal pa yun matatapos. Baka kasal na ako wala pa ring bahay sina nanay!"

"Kasal? Chandler, the house will be done after a year. Are you sure you're married then?", mapanuya akong tumawa. "Wala ka ngang girlfriend."

Suminghap siya at tinignan ako ng masama.

"Kung magpapaligaw ka edi sana meron na..."

I heard him whisper something but I didn't understand. It sounded gibberish to me so I shrugged and went to the kitchen.

Chandler had dinner with me and Manang Milagros. Naaliw si Manang sa kanya. She even told me Chandler would be a good husband! Gosh, ew!

"Pors...", I glanced at him and raised my brow.

We are having tea on our garden right now, Manang didn't join us anymore since she's busy with her night time television shows.

"Parang napatawad ko na si Seth."

My eyes widened. "After what he did to you?!"

"Eh, paparusahan ko naman siya. Naisip kong tanggalin siya sa kumpanya. Pero pinsan ko siya, Pors, kaya papatawarin ko siya."

I sighed. Chandler is really one of a kind. Not punching Seth was very hard but forgiving him would be the hardest and yet Chandler here has done both. He really values family... even if they think ill of him.