The Bachelor

Chapter 18

Haton's POV

Mother, my wicked mother was here to me visit again. She was the reason why I came back here in New York, just to fulfill her wish of my presence. I didn't want to see her, never did I anyway, but I couldn't do nothing 'cause her knife of cruelty was still close to my neck.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng opisina ko. My black and white colored yet modernised main office where I used to work before I transferred to the Philippines because of Austriea, may so called mother. It was a one wide office full of memories.

"Pleasant surprise my son," Austriea greeted seriously as she sat on my chair, comfortably. Siya pa rin ang chairman, hangga't hindi ko naibibigay ang nag-iisang kahilingan niya. Siya pa rin ang nasusunod dahil siya ang nagluwal sa akin, kahit hindi siya nagpakaina sa akin.

"What do you need,  Austreia?" Seriously, I blurted and stood in front of her, not even glancing at my whole office.

"Manners Haton, I'm still your mother," mediyo may diing saad niya sumandal sa upuan. Kita ang yaman at galing sa kaniya, sa mukha pa lang at itim na formal suit na nakasuot sa kaniya hanggang sa pulang-pula niyang lipstick. Isang seryoso, magaling na business woman, pero hindi ala kung paano maging isang sa kaisa-isang anak niya.

"You have never been my mother," I clenched my jaw insisting my side as I stared at her grey eyes. She never treated me her son, during my childhood, she.treated me as nothing but a emotionless person. Yes, binigay niya ang lahat ng materyal na bagay na kailangan ko, pero nakaligtaan niya kailangan ko din ng kalinga ng isang ina. Nakalimutan niya akong mahalin, puro pera, company, ang inatupag niya. Kaya wala ring duda na powerful siya rito sa New York kahit half Filipina siya.

"Don't provoke me son," banta niya sa akin habang nakaitingin ng matalim sa mga mata ko. She always do that thing, just to threaten me, but she didn't know, it was useless for me. I was used to it, and now, I could proudly say I could fight her.

"I can if I want to, mother," I evoked her emphasising the word 'mother.' Playfully, I sat at the visitors chair raised my hand to the air looking at my hands.

Tumayo siya nang may galit mula sa upuan at lumapit sa akin. Tumaas ang kamay niya sa hangin at akmang sasamplin ako sa mukha, pero napigilan lo 'yon.  'Not now, mother.' Tinignan ko siya nang mafalim at iwinaksi amg kamay niyang nabitin sa hangin.

"What do you need?" I averted my gaze from her and crossed my legs looking at the view outside. Umayos ako ng upo at ngumiti sa kaniya kahit galit na galit siyang nakatingin sa akin. I don't care anyway.

Huminga siya nang malalim at umupo sa harapan ko. She knew she couldn't rule me and I wouldn't let her "My wish Haton, I'm 63, and all I need is to give me a grandson, before I oficially give you the company," saad niya.

I smirked with what she said. "Do you think I am afraid of your threat. The company was father's and it is indicated in his last will, that I'd be the one to inherit it once he died," maangas na wika ko sa kaniya. Father owned the company, before he married Austriea. Autriea took over and focused on making more money earning her power right now. While father focused on me, he was my mother, may maid, my driver, and my father. He sacrificed work for my sake, he settled money matters beside and chose to guide me.

"Do you think I will challenge if the ace is not on my hands?" Ngumisi rin siya sa akin at inabot ang isang folder sa table at inabot sa 'kin. "I have connections son."

Tinangggap ko ang folder at binuksan 'yon habang nakatingin sa kaniya nang malamig. But when I read the content, I was furious with what I knew, this couldn't be. Father gave me his company! Not her! "What the fuck did you do?!" Galit na sigaw ko at hinagis ko sa mukha niya ang folder. She named the company after her, fuck!

"I told you son. Give your mother what she wants and you'll get what's supposed to be yours," masayang ngiti niya at hinawi ang mga papel na naka-kalat sa mukha niya kaya nahulog lahat sa sahig. She payed lawyers again, she really knew what's my weakness. She knew I value fathers company that much, and of course I do. Galing ang kumpanya ni das sa pawis at dugo niya no'ng itinatayo pa lang niya.

I clenched my hands into tight balls as I breathed heavily trying to look away and hold my anger. I wanted to hurt her, I wanted to throw her out of this office badly but I couldn't. Because father thought me the word 'respect' no matter how angry I was, respect must take over me.

"Do you think it's easy to give a grandson? Huh? I built my company and I don't need yours." Marahas akong tumayo mula sa upuan at nanghahamon na tumingin sa kaniya. Yes, my company in the Philippines was the result of my late night works, my sacrifices. I wanted to show her that I was something, not just her ordinary son.

She grinned and crossed her arms as she stood in front of me with power. "I can destroy you son, you know I can." Taas noong sabi niya.

"You can't Austreia. I assure you that," diniinan ko ang bawat sambit ko sa salita sa mukha niya. I was just about walk away 'cause I knew this conversation means nothing but she spoke again.

"Was it that hard to marry a woman?" She asked.

I looked back at her. "Do you think it's fucking easy to just marry someone you don't know? What if I will marry a woman like you?! A woman who doesn't know how raise a child!" Galit na galit na sumbat ko. I've been trying to suppress my anger towards her, but now that she's pestering me again, I couldn't take it anymore.

I've been holding back for almost ten years, I didn't speak about my pain about her, but not now. She already controlled me when I was young and that's enough. Her dominance over me was over. It's time for me to fight my cruel mother back.

"So~"

"I will never marry, Austreia. Unless, I found a woman who knows the word concern. Someone who isn't like you," sambit ko at naglakad na papalabas ng office pero 'di pa ako nakakalabas, muli siyang nagbanta.

"If you don't get married after three months, I will be the one to find a woman for you to marry."

I halted at the door. "I don't care, you  know I never cared mother." Finally, I banged the office door exasperatedly as I breathed deeply relaxing myself.

My peace giver, I needed her. As fast as possible, I needed to see her. Naglakad ako papunta sa secretary's mini office para hanapin siya, and there I saw her and Rocel. She was at the side table reading some documents uncomfortably. Hawak niya nang mahigpit ang tiyan niya na parang hirap na hirap. With the way her face was creased, I knew she was suffering in pain so bad.

Walking close to her desk, I stood in front of her and when she saw me, she forced herself to look away and pretend. "S-sir?" She asked with her lips pursed like she was suppressing something. I smiled in my mind, 'always the shameful and fearful Gertrude I know.'

"Ger~"

"Aray!" Bigla siyang napahawak sa abdomen niya at namilipit sa sakit na parang mahihimatay siya. She was unable to contain the pain with the way she shouted loudly.

I was surprised by her act, yet I knew there was something. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano 'yon, but I think it was abdominal pain.

"Are you okay, G?" Rocel came close to Gertrude's chair and held her when she heard her scream. But Gertrude didn't answer, instead, she held Rocel's arms tight as she lowered her head not wanting for me to see her. I could feel she's ashamed of her condition.

Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya kay Rocel, at ang isang kamay niya nakahawam lang sa abdomen niya. I was puzzled, what's happening? What's causing her pain?. "Gertrude?" I walked to her position settled my right hand on her back as I tried loooking at her.

"Arayyyy…!" Her voice cracked yelling.

And then, I saw her hands let go of Rocel's arms. And she fell back on her chair, unconsciously.

#para sa inyo, mga lab ko.♡