Marrying the Boss (EDITED VERSION)

Equation Thirty Six

Marrying the Boss (The Edited Version)
storyline by toneewritestragedies
EQUATION THIRTY-SIX. Consequences. How to Take it Seriously.

Bumalik agad ng Pilipinas ang parents at kapatid  ni Jirou nang malaman nilang naghiwalay sila ni Chaerin para pakasalan ng anak nila si Bettina—ang anak ng taong nagpabagsak sa pamilya nila. 'Di sila makapaniwala na gagawin iyon ni Jirou kaya umuwi sila at bumalik sila para kausapin ito. Pagkadating palang sa NAIA ay dumirecho na sila sa tinutuluyan ni Jirou na dating bahay ng parents ni Chaerin.

"Jirou, are you insane?! Hiniwalayan mo si Chaerin para pakasalan si Bettina?! Nasa tamang pag-iisip ka pa ba?"

"Jirou, we can start all over again! You are really fool! Instant yaman kasi ang gusto mo! Malaking insulto ito para sa pamilya natin!" his sister, Minji added.

"Aren't you get my point? This is all for us!napakalaki ng nawala sa atin! I'm just helping our family to be on top again! Ayaw niyo bang mangyari ulit yun?!" React naman niya.

"Anak naman, ok na kami sa Hong Kong. Kumikita kami ng malaki sa convenience store. Si Minji naman ganoon din. Madami siyang customers sa shop. Anak, wag mo nang ituloy ang kasal." Mrs. Sue-Chien tried to comfort his miserable son pero arang walang panahon ito para pakinggan siya.

"No, 'Ma, I have to do this." Buo na ang loob ni Jirou at tumigin ng direcho sa pamilya niya.

"But how's Chaerin? Where's she?!"

"We promised her parents na hindi natin pababayaan si Chaerin. Look what you have done! 'Di kita pinalaki para maging iresponsableng tao, Jin Rouji!" babanatan na dapat si Jirou ng Papa niya pero pinigilan ito ng Mama niya.

"Pa! Alam ko ang ginagawa ko! Pwede ba wag niyo na akong pakialaman?"

Minji slapped her for the first time. Ngayon lang siya sinaktan ng ate niya. "Ganyan ka na ba ngayon ha?! Wala kang kwentang anak Jirou! At lalong mas wala kang kwentang asawa dahil iniwan mong nag-iisa si Chaerin at hindi mo alam ngayon kung nasaan siya!"

Di na nakagalaw pa si Jirou.

Did Minji said it to him?

His lovely sister.

His confidante.

"Napakasama mo Jirou! Bakit pa ba kita naging kapatid ha?! I can't take what you have done!"

"Minji, tama na."  their mother said calmly but full of sorrow.

"Nakakahiya ka Jirou." Sabi ni Mr. Sue-Chien.

Now he's down. Akala niya matutuwa ang pamilya niya sa ginawa niya.

Yes, he sacrificed. But it wasn't enough. It was dead wrong! He did a wrong choice for heaven's sake!

"I know, I made wrong. I know this will put our family to shame. But then again, I firmly stick on what I am going to do."

There was no one talking. Jirou finally walk out to his family, still holding on to achieve what he wanted.

JIROU.

Alone.

Departed from the family.

Prodigal son.

Yeah, that's me. Itakwil man ako ng pamilya ko, wala akong pakialam, kung hindi man sila naniniwala na ginagawa ko ito para sa kanila, alam ko sa mga susunod na mga araw, they will thank me for doing this. I know it.

Chaerin's with Nikos. He can take care of her well.  Alam ko hindi pa dapat ako maging confident sa mga ginagawa ko, I need to file an annulment case para sa amin ni Chaerin. Kaunting tiis na lang at babalik na ulit ako sa dati.

Napahinto ako nang may bumusina ng malakas malapit sa akin.

Damn! What was that?!

"Gotcha Mr. Sue-Chien." He grinned.

"Nikos, what on earth brings you here?"

"Wala naman, I am suppose to go somewhere but then I saw you."

"Kilala mo pa pala ako."

"Of course I do. You are my best friend."

"Best friend. Wow. Big word."

Nagkatawanan kami ni Nikos sarcastically.

"By the way, how are you and my ex-wife?"

"We're doing good. And yes. If you're gonna ask if she's moved on of you. I might say yes."

I clenched my fist. Nag-aasar ba siya?!

"We went to our rest house in Tagaytay and she enjoyed it, man. Buti na lang at ako ang taong pinuntahan niya at hindi ang iba. I am very much welcome to help her." 

"Okay."

"Chaerin's a great lover. You are really full of damn f*cking bullsh*t, Jirou because you let go of her—"

'Di ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko kaya sinapak ko siya ng malakas. He did the same thing to me, too. Out of the empty street, me and my bestfriend were hitting each other. Very dramatic crap!

When we're both exhausted, pareho kaming napaupo sa semento.

"Is that hurt you?" Pertaining to that little bruise.

"Hell, yes."   

"Malakas ka pa din palang sumuntok."

"Akala mo ako lang? Ikaw din."

"Nikos, I have something to tell you."

"Go ahead."