Perfect Couple 2: Mr. Broken Meets Ms. Broke

Chapter 55

-VINCE-

"You look happy, son. Did something good happen?"

Napatingin ako kay Dad na kapapasok lang sa opisina.

"Po? Wala naman, Sir," sagot ko at napatikhim.

I couldn't believe I was thinking about Myca and what happened the night before while I was at work.

Hindi ko talaga mapigilang matuwa sa kalokohan niya. Research? Sino ba ang magre-research sa mga ganoong bagay? Siya lang. Si Mine lang.

"But you were smiling while looking at those reports," sabi ni Dad. He looked at me suspiciously.

Umayos ako ng upo at inipon ang mga papel na hawak ko.

"I just gathered enough data for my proposal para matanggap na siya ng Board. That's why I'm smiling, Sir."

Hindi ko siya matingnan sa mata. The old man was sharp as hell.

"Hmm, really?"

Bakit ba naging ganito siya kakulit?

"Yes, Sir," sabi ko.

He just laughed.

"If you say so, son. Anyway, we're going to meet some of our business partners at lunch today. Are you okay to leave now?"

Tumango na lang ako.

"Yup. Let's go?" aya ko bago pa siya makapagtanong ulit ng kung ano.

"Vince."

Tiningnan ko siya ulit. May lambong sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"I want to take you somewhere this afternoon. Pwede ka bang sumama sa akin?"

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

Malungkot na ngumiti siya.

"You'll know when we get there."

Matamang tinitigan ko siya. Hindi ko akalaing darating ang panahon na makakasama ko ulit siya gayong nabalot ng galit at poot yung puso ko sa nakalipas na mga taon.

Ngayon, nakatingin lang siya sa akin na parang nagmamakaawa.

I can feel my heart aching as I remembered his stoic face that night. I wanted to say No and reject him but Myca made me softer. She was the reason I learned to forgive.

"Okay," tipid na sagot ko at naglakad na palabas ng opisina.

It will take time to forgive my father, but it won't be too long now.

***

Naging busy ako sa maghapon. Yung mga business partners na kinausap namin ni Dad ay mga foreign investors pala.

Ipinakilala ako ni Dad bilang bagong CEO pero hindi sila nagdalawang-isip na makipag-partner pa rin sa kompanya.

"I know your son, Mr. Kai. He's a graduate of Stanford University in the US, right? And had the highest GPA in his batch," sabi ni Chris Evans, ang CEO ng isang malaking manufacturing company sa US.

Napatingin sa akin si Dad – a proud expression was on his face.

"Yes, Chris. I'm surprised you knew about that?"

Maging ako ay nagulat. I was just trying to become the best at my craft before para kay Sugar pero hindi ko inisip na may makakakilala sa akin.

"My little brother, Lyndon, was always the second best in their class because of your son."

Pakiramdam ko nag-init ang tenga ko. Wala akong maalalang may naging kaklase ako na Lyndon ang pangalan. Masyado lang talaga akong focused sa pag-aaral noon.