Madrid, Spain.
"Trap,"
"Yes, Sir," the man with the surname Trap, walks towards the two people. It's been five minutes and the two of them just look at each other. He almost thought that he was in a staring contest.
Trap cleared his throat and carefully placed all the folders on the small, long table.
"Chairman, here are all the business deals obtained by CEO Syquia during the two months he managed the SGC. In the coming two or three years, SGC will grow even more here in Spain," Trap said politely to the old man on the other side.
SGC or Syquia Global Corporation, iyon ang pangalan ng Syquia Corporation sa ibang bansa.
The elderly man carefully took up one of the papers placed in front of him, maintaining a calm and cool manner. Despite his advanced age, he exuded a clear aura of authority. His furrowed brow eased as he carefully reviewed the contents of the folder. He had not expected to be granted this specific project, but he remained composed.
This grandson of him.
As the old man sat at the right side of the table, he felt a sense of admiration and awe wash over him as he took in the sight of his grandson before him. This young man was undeniably handsome, with chiseled features and a strong jawline that seemed to exude confidence and power. But it was Arem's aura that truly captured his attention—there was an unmistakable air of superiority that surrounded him, even though he was much younger. It was as if he possessed wisdom and experience beyond his years, which only served to further increase the older man's conflicting emotions. Taking a deep breath, he couldn't help but feel a sense of danger in the presence of his grandson.
"I won the bet, Mr. Chairman. Now, can I have my life back?" The young man asked arrogantly.
He looked distant and aloof.
The old man sighs.
"Arem, kailan mo ba ulit ako tatawaging lolo?" Sentimental na tanong ng matandang Syquia.
The young man raised his eyebrow. And he smiled sarcastically.
"Maybe... Never?" He said in a very unfriendly manner. "In the first place, you're the one who asked for this,"
Huminga ng malalim ang matanda.
"It's for your own good, Arem. Why can't you understand that I only did it to secure your future?" May galit na tanong ng matanda.
He's getting tired of this issue. Over the years, buong akala ng matanda ay mauunawaan ng kanyang apo ang ginawa niya noon. Pero sa halip na maintindihan nito kung bakit niya ito inilayo sa sarili nitong ina, mas lalo lang lumayo ang loob nito sa kanya.
"Wrong. Mr. Chairman, I strongly disagree with your statement that taking me away from my mother was for my own good. From my perspective, it was solely for your own interest. You didn't have my well-being in mind when you made that decision. You were motivated by your own selfish desires, without any regard for the impact it would have on my life," Arem said coldly.
"I refuse to be manipulated by your insistence that taking me away was for my good. I am not stupid, nor am I young. You cannot threaten me with anything. You did not consult me before making such a life-changing decision, and you have no idea what is good for me. Your only motive was to train me like a mad dog because you had no other options. Your business is falling apart, and I am the only one who can manage it. However, that does not give you the right to treat me like a commodity and take me away from my family and everything I know." Arem added.
The old man's eyes trembled.
It is the first time that this grandson of his talked to him this way.
Arem is a quiet child. He never complains.
The old man sat rooted to the expensive chair.
Tumayo naman mula sa kinauupuan si Arem Syquia at saka tiningnan ang limang folder na nakalatag sa harapan ng biological grandfather niya. "These projects will give you billions of revenue in just two years. I'm sure, it's enough to pay for my tuition fees, right?" Sarkastikong saad pa ng gwapong binata. Marahan itong tumayo at dinampot nito ang kulay itim na coat mula sa sandalan ng mamahaling sofa saka naglakad palayo sa matanda.
Noong malapit na ito sa may pintuan ay muling nagsalita ang binata.
"Oh, I almost forgot. You never pay for my tuition fees because I have a lot of scholarships in the first place," nailing na lumingon si Arem. Nang-uuyam na tiningnan ang lolo niyang pinipilit kontrolin ang sarili na huwag magalit.
Pero sa bandang huli ay nanaig pa rin ang galit na nararamdaman ng matanda. He trained him. He gave everything for his success and this is all that he would get in exchange?
What an ungrateful brat!
Pero walang takot na sinalubong ni Arem ang nagbabagang tingin ni Chairman Syquia. Ang business tycoon na hinahangaan ng lahat.
Arem just smirked with arrogance.
Hinawakan niya ang doorknob ng pintuan.
"And before I forget, please remind your good-for-nothing daughter-in-law that this is the last time she will interfere with my marriage, or else I might find a suitable husband for her beloved Cynthia,"
"Arem! She's your cousin!" Naggagalaiting sigaw ni Chairman Syquia.
"But the people you're bullying are my family, Mr. Chairman. Please, let's not see each other again," Arem said flatly and coldly closed the door.
*****
Seryosong binasa ni Arem ang impormasyong ibinigay sa kanya ng kaibigang si Yuno. Noong nakaraang araw niya iyon hininga sa kaibigan pero ngayon niya lang nagawang tingnan dahil sa sobrang hectic ng schedule niya.
Naroon ang halos lahat ng pwedeng malaman patungkol kay Samantha Daureen Sandoval.
"Ano nang plano mo ngayon? Uuwi ka na na sa Pinas?" Yuno asked curiously.
Ibinaba ni Arem ang hawak na folder. Wala man lang ka-thrill thrill basahin ang impormasyon ng babae. Hindi na siya nagtataka kung bakit pumayag ito sa kasal.
Sinong nilalang ba ang tatanggi sa labinglimang milyong piso bilang dowry?
"I can't. There are so many things to finish here first,"
"So pumapayag kang magpakasal sa babaeng 'yun?" Nakangising tanong ni Yuno.
"As long as she's not harming my family, I would let her stay with them for a while,"
"Tsk. Tsk. You've been single for all your life, why not take her seriously this time? Mukha naman siyang disenteng tingnan," Yuno suggest in a nonchalant manner.
Arem looked at his friend impatiently.
"Alright, alright. Hindi na ako makikialam. Uuwi na ako sa LA tonight, hinatid ko lang 'yang impormasyon na hinihingi ng mo at binisita na rin kita dahil sabi mo ay lalayas ka na sa poder ng lolo mo. Tsk. Arem my friend, sigurado ka bang kaya mo nang banggain ang buong pamilya mo?" naiiling na tanong ni Yuno.
Hindi nito maitago ang pag-aalalang nararamdaman para sa kaibigan. Sa Pilipinas pa lang ay magkaibigan na sila. Noong mag-decide siya na mag-aaral sa ibang bansa, hindi niya inaasahan na doon din mag-aaral ng college ang kaibigang si Arem. Although hindi sila nag-aaral sa iisang University, mas madali naman para sa kanila na bisitahin at puntahan ang isa't-isa.
"That's why it took me this long," Arem answered seriously.
"How's your business?"
"Good,"
"Alright. Kumain muna tayo sa labas bago mo ako ihatid sa airport. Baka matagal na ulit bago tayo magkita,"
Kaagad namang pumayag si Arem sa request ng kaibigan niya. Maging siya man ay nagugutom din dahil hindi pa siya kumakain mula pa kaninang umaga.
Pagkatapos ng huling meeting na ginawa niya sa SGC kanina ay nag-resign na rin siya as CEO ng kompanya. Pagkatapos ay nagpunta siya sa bahay ng lolo niya sa Madrid para ibigay dito ang mga projects na isang buwan niya ring pinaghirapang makuha.
Now, he can finally focus on his own company. And after completing his task here, after a month, he can finally go home and take care of his mother.
15 years.
In 15 years, hindi man lang sila nagkita ng mommy niya ng personal dahil pinagbabawalan siyang umuwi ng lolo niya. Ni hindi man lang niya nakasama habang lumalaki ang mga kapatid niya.
That's why in the past fifteen years, he did his best to build his force.
Hindi siya papayag na habang-buhay siyang hawakan sa leeg ng kanyang lolo at lola.
Now, he's not the fifteen years old boy back then. They cannot threaten him with his family's safety anymore.
"Nakausap mo na ba si Henri?" habang nagda-drive ay tanong ni Arem sa kaibigang si Yuno. Abala ito sa pagbutingting ng sarili nitong cellphone.
"Yeah. Your uncle's family will be busy for a while. I'm sure, wala na silang oras para guluhin ang mama at mga kapatid mo,"
"Tell him thanks,"
Pinagtaasan ni Yuno ng kilay ang supladong kaibigan.
"Why don't you tell him that directly though?" Nagtatakang tanong nito.
"Uuwi na rin naman ako, I want to thank him personally,"
Napailing na lang si Yuno. Pero ginawa niya naman ang simpleng request ng kaibigang nagda-drive.