Losing Control

Pito

"Darling, who was on the phone?" Watson Benitez asked his wife.

"Si Enzo.  Kinakamusta ko lang sya."

"Oh, and how is our son?"  he said as he took a sip of coffee before sitting down behind his desk in his study.

"He's doing okay.  He's enjoying naman daw his vacation."

"Kailan ang uwi nya?"

"Baka next week pa."

"Baka?"

"Darling, let him be.  He'll be your slave in no time, so give him his freedom for now," Lorraine giggled at her husband.

"Is Daniel with him?"  Watson queried.

"Wala.  Hindi nya kasama."

"Nasaan na ba kasi ang magaling mong anak, ha, Lorraine?" Watson said na medyo naiirita na.

"Hindi ko alam.  Magkasama tayo nung sinabi nyang magpapalamig lang sya ng ulo.  At isa pa, pag perfect son si Daniel, anak MO sya, pero pag palpak, anak KO?" tumaas na ang tono ni Lorraine.

"Darling, I'm just saying, nakakahiya na sa mga Asuncions.  Oo, alam ko na sila ng may kailangan sa  atin, pero I was the one who thought of arranging this marriage.  Nabasa ko naman na ang profile ni Stephanie. Matalino, maabilidad...a quick thinker, a fast learner.  I think she would be a good match for Daniel.   Not only that, we would have ALL of their hotels nationwide when this marriage happens.  We all win," Watson reasoned.

"Pero, Wats, alam mo naman na ang pinaka ayaw ni Daniel ay ang controlin sya.  He's always been independent.  And he most especially does not want us meddling in his love life."

"What love life?  Pareho lang sila ni Enzo.  Puro chicks ang inaatupag pero walang sineseryoso."

"They're still young..."

"I was 25 when I married you, Lor.  That's not an excuse."

"Times are different now.  Not everyone is in a rush to get married."

"I wasn't in a rush when I married you," Watson defended.

"That's not what I mean, darling," hinimas ni Lorraine ang braso ng asawa.  "Ang ibig kong sabihin ay, we were lucky to have met in college and find true love so early.    Malay mo naman, hindi lang sila chicks ng chicks.  Maybe they're looking for their match naman talaga."

"Pinagtatakpan mo lang sila," ngumiti si Watson.  "Pero sige, pagbibigyan ko si Daniel.  Pero kung in three months hindi pa sya bumabalik dito para harapin si Stephanie, ipapahanap ko na sya sa mga tauhan natin."

"I trust Dan, darling.  Babalik yun.  He always puts his family first, doesn't he?"

***

Stephanie was in Ashton's office once again.  This time to watch a video of how to make chicken curry.  Unlike yung sa adobo, mas mabusisi ito.  She felt nervous, pero her determination was greater than her fear.  Pero bago sya naghanap ng recipe, she decided to open her e-mail.  She literally had hundreds of new e-mails, and she decided to ignore each and every one of them.  She decided to e-mail her mom and dad and copy Rachel, just to let them know that she was still alive.  Her e-mail had no greetings, no salutations, no emoticons, no nonsense.  It simply said I'm okay.  She hoped that would tide them over until she decided to go home because she had no intentions of checking her e-mail again.

Next she searched for chicken curry recipes.  She wanted something that won an award or something.  She didn't want just any recipe.  She wanted the best.  She printed out the recipe and watched the accompanying video.  She knew she had to get started early because there were a lot of prep work to do and there were some things she had to get at the market.  Pagkatapos nun ay clinear nya ulit ang browser history at lumabas na ng opisina ni Ashton.  At dahil napagsabihan na sya na magpadrive kay Eman, yun nga ang ginawa ni Stephanie.