["Greggy,"] baritonong boses ni Don Luis ang sumalubong kay Greggy.
"Dad, napatawag po kayo?"
It seems weird that his father is calling him at this time of the day. Usually, abala ito sa trabaho at halos wala ng oras para makipag-usap sa kanya.
["We will have dinner with the Marcoses tonight. I will be expecting you. This dinner is important, don't disappoint me, Gregorio. Be ready at 5 PM sharp! Magsasabay tayong pupunta sa bahay nila. Don't bring your girlfriend, nagkakaintindihan ba tayo?"]
Due to shock, wala ng naisagot si Greggy. Pinutol na ng kanyang ama ang tawag. He is at his girlfriend's place, si Isabelle. Napalingon siya dito.
"Bakit daw?" tanong ng nobya.
"Pinapauwi ako para sa dinner namin kasama ang mga Marcos. Sabi niya importante raw," sabi ni Greggy at napaupo.
Nilapitan ni Isabelle ang nobyo at hinaplos ang braso nito. "Baka para sa company lang, hon. Puntahan mo na, baka magalit pa."
Sa kabilang banda, Irene is drowning herself in paperwork at her office, just to prove that she's worth it for the highest position. She suddenly received a call from her father that she immediately answered.
"Dad," bungad niya.
["Umuwi ka ng maaga ngayon— Mas mabuti kung ngayon ka na agad umuwi."] sabi ng kanyang ama.
Napakunot ang noo niya at napasandal sa swivel chair niya. "Why? Marami akong ginagawa, Dad. Ano bang meron?"
["May dinner tayo kasama ang mga Araneta ngayon. Kailangan nating maghanda, we'll be hosting the dinner. Importante ito, Irene. Umuwi ka na, ngayon din."] sabi ng ama niya bago pinutol ang tawag.
Afraid of making her Dad disappointed, inayos ni Irene ang mga gamit niya at umalis agad sa building na 'yun.
Both of them got ready for tonight's dinner. Ayaw man nilang sumipot pero wala silang magagawa. They're both scared of disappointing their parents. Silang dalawa ang huling alas ng mga magulang nila. Their siblings aren't really interested in politics. They have no choice but to accept their fate.
"Nandito na po ang mga Araneta," the maid announced, they opened the main door of the house.
Greggy was amazed by the interior of the house. Maaliwalas ito at maganda ang pagkakadisenyo. There are remarkable paintings, vases, and collections that could be seen inside their living room. Their floors were white statuario marble, which in his knowledge was quite expensive. The surroundings has a mixed of gold, white, and brown ash interior.
Eleganteng-elegante tignan ang bahay, maaliwalas ito sa mata. Iginiya sila ng mga katulong sa dining room.
"Behave, Gregorio." banta ni Don Luis sa anak bago makarating sa hapagkainan.
Ngumiti agad si Don Luis nang sinalubong ni Ferdinand. The parents greeted each other while the both stood behind. Nagkasalubong ang mata nilang dalawa.
Irene was wearing her white tube satin dress that reaches below her knee paired with a 3 inch white kitten heels. Nakalugay lang ang mahaba at maitim niyang buhok, she's also wearing her pearls. Greggy was wearing a simple white long sleeve polo and his slacks, his hair was slicked back.
What a coincidence that they're wearing the same color.
Hinila at pinalapit ni Don Luis si Greggy upang ipakilala sa mag-asawang Marcos.
"This is my only son, pare." pagpapakilala ni Don Luis.
Greggy formed a smile towards the couple at nagmano sa dalawa. He also shook hands with Ferdinand. "Gregorio Araneta, Madame, Sir. Greggy na lang po." pormal niyang pagpapakilala.
"Nice to finally meet you, hijo... Good parenting, Luis, magalang." puri ni Imelda. Napangiti si Greggy.
Don Luis proudly smiled and nodded. Sinulyapan niya si Irene na nasa likod. "Is this your youngest daughter?"
Irene initiated to take a step forward, nakipagkamay siya kay Don Luis. "Irene Marcos, Sir. Good evening," she said without showing any emotions.
"Finally, in flesh..." tipid na ngumiti si Irene.
Nagkatinginan ang dalawa, halata sa kanilang mga mukha na hindi masaya sa kanilang pagkikita. Greggy lend his hand and Irene accepted it and shook hands with him.
"Greggy,"
"Irene."
The dinner started abruptly. Tahimik lang ang dalawa habang nag-uusap ang mga magulang nila. Ayaw na nila makisali sa usapan at baka matuon pa sa kanila ang atensyon.
"You have a very beautiful house, pare." puri ni Don Luis.
Ferdinand laughed a little. "Thank you. Irene designed it and fixed the interiors, actually."
Nagulat si Greggy sa narinig, napasulyap siya kay Irene na tahimik na kumakain. Walang bahid na emosyon ang mukha nito. She seems uninterested about what's happening.
"Hijo, what do you do now?" tanong ni Ferdinand.
He shifted on his seat and answered the old man. "I'm currently the Vice President of the Araneta Consortium, Sir."
"That's wonderful! Are you going to take over soon? You're father is not getting any younger."
Saglit na napasulyap si Greggy sa ama nang marinig iyon mula kay Ferdinand. "Hopefully, Sir."
"How about... girlfriend?" tanong ni Ferdinand.
Don Luis looked at his son with full of authority. May halong pagbabanta sa mga tingin nito. It's like you better answer the way I want or else...
Napalunok si Greggy. "N-No, Sir."
Narinig nang lahat ang biglang pagbaba ni Irene nang mga kubyertos na nangangahulugang tapos na siya kumain. She wiped her lips with the table cloth and looked at her parents.
"Can I excuse myself, Dad? May pag-uusapan pa ba? I had a very long day, Mr. Araneta, I would like to rest now." Irene kept it formal.
Handa na sanang tumayo si Irene nang biglang tumikhim ang kanyang ama, she sat back down. Hinawakan ni Imelda ang kamay ng anak at hinaplos ito.
"We called you both here tonight to tell you about what's going to happen in five months." sabi ni Ferdinand.
Napakunot ang noo ng dalawa. They definitely have no idea of what's going to happen.
"Five months? Why? May mangyayari ba?" kuryosong tanong ni Irene.
"You're both getting married in five months. For the business. Marcos Empire and Araneta Consortium will be merging after your marriage. We need publicity to make this a talk of town, at para mapalakas ang negosyo." sabi ni Don Luis.
Natameme ang dalawa, hindi makapagsalita at higit sa lahat, hindi alam kung anong dapat ang sasabihin. For sure, when they don't agree with it, they get strip off their titles.
"What if I decline, Dad?" matapang na tanong ni Irene.
"You won't inherit the business, you won't be the CEO. And that means, you're going to be disappointing me. I can force your Ate if you decline this." seryosong sabi ni Ferdinand.
Halatang nagkakainitan na ang dalawa. Irene suddenly felt guilty. Matagal nang inaasam ng Ate Imee niya ang kalayaang natatamasa niya ngayon, she's not that selfish to make their parents cage them for the business again.
Walang naisagot si Irene at bumuntong hininga. "Excuse me," she said as she stormed out of the room.
Greggy quickly followed her, nakita niyang papunta ito sa patio sa likod. Irene stood there and tried to calm herself. Nakita niyang sumunod si Greggy sa kanya ang unti-unting lumapit.
"I just want to talk to you about that. Wala rin akong alam na ganon ang mangyayari. We are on the same page, I don't want to get married for the business, but I want to have the highest position." Greggy started as he stood beside her.
Hinarap ni Irene si Greggy, "Only son ka 'di ba? Why don't you just tell your Dad na ayaw mo 'to? Baka pagbigyan ka."
Greggy scoffed and shook his head. "You don't know my Dad, Miss. I don't say no to him, I don't want to get in trouble."
Irene rolled her eyes, pinagkrus niya ang dalawang braso sa harap ng dibdib niya at suminghap.
"There's no way out of this, mukhang pursigido sila. So what do you say? Shall we put a show for the business?" ani Irene.
Bumuntong-hininga si Greggy, "I guess. We have no choice but to follow what they say."
Tumango si Irene. "Let's just put a show for quite a while tapos ipakita natin sa kanila na it won't work out, then we'll annul."
Greggy smirked. "Hindi pa nga tayo kinakasal, nagpaplano ka ng mag-annul."
"I have no time to joke around, Mister. That's the plan," pagmamaldita ni Irene.
"Okay, kalma. Nagbibiro lang ako."
She finds it ridiculous. How could this man beside her be the next President of Araneta Consortium? Halata sa mukha nito na wala itong alam sa pamamalakad ng negosyo at puro paglalakwatsa lang ang ginagawa. It's also obvious that he's terrified of Don Luis.
"By the way, I have a girlfriend." sabi ni Greggy.
"Okay?" walang pakialam na sabi ni Irene.
"I'm just informing you. Don't worry hindi masisira image natin pag kinasal tayo, our relationship is a secret."
Tumango si Irene. "Okay. Make sure to explain it to her. Ayaw kong may biglang susugod sa akin, my image is sacred, Mr. Araneta."
Greggy nodded. "Will do, Miss."