Zebedee Glenn Mondragon.My brows furrowed as I read my mother's note. I scoffed and slightly smirked.Yeah, I'm so sick of it. Dammit.I unbutton my black suit and hang it on the dry rack. Then, I stride down the hallway to the spacious kitchen.The lavish fridge, which was like a wall, seemed like nothing around the place, but with a single tap on the side, you could almost see what was inside."Damn, Morris," I mouthed and drank the sparkling water.I don't know how to answer my mother this time. I refused to respond, and I knew she would never give up.Hell, do I look like an old bachelor of all time? I must be. Four failed engagements and two long years of hiatus on women make me look like an old bachelor. I shook my head, imagining my mother's face.It's a reaper. This is Morris's fault. This should be him and not me. Damn, him."Do I look like an old bachelor to you, big Mors?"Kausap ko siya sa kabilang linya at komportable ang pagkakaupo ko sa malambot na sofa. Naka-on ang
Erykah Sunshine."Do you think he'll love this?" I gazed at Samantha, and she nodded weakly."I supposed." She rolled her eyes in dismay, giving me a cold shoulder of disapproval."Come on, Erykah. You are not that stupid, are you? Can't you see that Arnold is just using you?"Napabuntong-hininga siya at hindi maipinta ang mukha habang nakatitig sa akin. Nawala ang ngiti ko sa mukha at nabalot ng kaba ang puso ko.Si Arnold nalang ang natitirang pag-asa. Siya ang buhay ko ngayon at bukas. Mahalaga siya sa akin at umiikot lang ang mundo ko sa kanya."Sam, you should try to open your heart. You will see. . ." Umikot akong saglit at saka tinitigan ang kabuuang hitsura ko sa salamin.Somehow, I felt worried, and the pain kept bothering me."Ugh, kung katulad mo lang magmahal ay hindi na ano! Ayaw kong magpakatanga na tulad mo. I-I mean, there's nothing wrong to fall in love, Erykah, but not to the extend of turning a blind eye to everything," she looked at me, feeling worried too.Hindi
Zebedee Glenn."And now he is threatening you." Morris laughed hard in the line. "I told you, little Zeb. You can't get away with him. But I don't want you to worry. I can manage my business on my own. I can survive." He winked.My jaw tightened as I looked at him.Nakakatawa nga naman ang hitsura niya sa kabilang linya. Iilang kaha ng beer na kaya ang nauubos niya? Mukhang hindi pa rin siya tinatablan ng alcohol."I will see what I can do, big Mors."He laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry. I have other means of finding money. The boys all look good, you know. Enzo's grandfather is out of the country at the moment, and we are operating well."I sighed. My mind is blank at the moment. Iba nga naman kapag si Papa na ang kumilos, pero kung inaakala niya na matatakot niya ako, ay nagkakamali siya, dahil hindi ako takot sa kanya."Worry about yourself, little Zeb, and please take care of Mama.""Can you stop calling me little Zeb, big Mors? I'm no longer a little boy," I chuckled.
Erykah SunshineLast will and testaments.Kung may pinakamasakit na pinagdaanan ang buhay ko ay ito ang ngayon.For the past six weeks, I have felt lost and directionless, longing for my father's presence. Despite my prayers for his healing, it seems that they have gone unanswered by heaven and he quietly passed away. My stepmother, who wanted to rule the business, made her way, and my two stepsisters acted as if they owned the entire place and were unfriendly to me. They seemed to have lost touch. I wasn't there to care for the business because I was with my father the whole time.I'm also tired of asking a question to Arnold about him having an affair with Sarah. I don't want another rejection. The pain I have now is enough for me to stand for a while and I don't want to add more to that.Blanko akong nakatitig sa malaking family picture frame namin sa pribadong library room ng ama ko.Ang bahay na dating puno ng saya at sigla, ay pawang tahimik na. Iba na ang bawat sulok ng palas
Erykah Sunshine.Hindi mapigilan ni Samantha ang tawa niya sa bandang gilid habang binabasa ang kopya ng huling testamento ni Papa.Philip and I are in a deep conversation regarding the assets I now have in my name. They are the ones from my deceased mother.Agad kong nakuha ang lehitimong pagmamay-ari nito, dahil ako lang naman ang anak nila ni Papa at wala ng iba. Pero ang pamana ko na galing kay Papa ay on hold pa."My goodness, I can't understand why you had to do it this way, Erykah. You honestly created your own grave of mistakes when it comes to this. I can't help but laugh. And take note, ang cute ng pemanship mo noong bata ka pa." Lakas na tawa niya.Ngumuso ako at nilingon siya. Nahinto si Philip at sabay naming tinitigan si Samantha ngayon. Hindi pa rin siya nahinto at tawang-tawa parin sa sitwasyon ko.I sighed, feeling shit because of that. I couldn't blame my younger self at that time. That's what I wanted, and that proves that I collaborated with my parents for that in
Erykah Sunshine.It's annoying to see the two people peaking at each other like crazy. I want them to vanish before me, or perhaps I could evaporate? But that's not possible because Emelda is keen to bid something fancy. She only kept me beside her because elite people in the business knew me. Without me beside them, they're nothing."Oh, I love that one. That will suit me!" si Elloida. Tumaas na nga ang leeg niya sa bawat model na pumaparada. Parang gusto niyang bilihin ang lahat ng mga suot ng modelo."That doesn't look good on you, Elloida. Mangingitim ka. It doesn't fit your skin tone," arteng boses ni Sarah."Pakialam mo! Hindi naman ikaw magbabayad, ano!""Gosh, nagsalita ang may pera. Bakit ikaw ba magbabayad sa mga ito!? Eh, hindi naman ah!"Kulang nalang ay magbardagulan ang dalawa dahil sa ingay. Agaw atensyon pa sila at nakakahiya sa iilang prominanteng bisita rito."Girls, stop it! Stop now!" Pigil na boses ni Emelda, at panay ang pekeng ngiti niya sa iilang mga tao sa ta
Erykah Sunshine.All done and dusted. I got the item he needs and he bought one hundred shares which was surprising for me. I find him attractive, but he seemed not available. Mabilis siya at tahimik. Wala kaming pinag-usapan maliban lang sa konting conversation sa item na pinapa-bid niya. Gusto ko pa nga sanang magpaliwanag sa rules tungkol sa pagiging share holders ng SOLO, pero pinigilan niya ako. May kontrata naman daw. Alam niya raw kung paano magbasa.Napangiti ako sa sarili habang iniisip ito. Kakaiba nga naman siya."That was surprising. You bid on that item at a lower price?" Ngumiwi si Samantha.Pinagalaw ko lang ang ilong ito at saka niligpit na ang iilang mga gamit rito. "He bought hundred shares on me, Samantha. That should pay more than enough for the SOLO.""What? One hundred shares?" Napatakip-bibig si Samantha. "Kaya pala ang laki-laki ng ngiti ni Mrs Bridget sa' yo kanina. Ganoon pala ang nangyari. My goodness! Bilib na talaga ako sa karisma mo pagdating sa pagbebent
Narrator's POV.Lingid sa kaalaman ni Erykah ay may masamang balak na pala ang madrasta niya sa kanya kasama na ang dalawang step-sister niya.They want to teach Erykah a lesson that she will never forget. They want to scare her and just leave the company alone on their hands, but Erykah is different. She's not like her father. She's pretty tough.Erykah's stepmother is a scoundrel hiding in a sheep's skin. She can play with Erykah's father, but it seems hard for her to play with Erykah, as Erykah was too clever."Why not we'll just kill her?" suhesyon ni Sarah sa ina niyang si Emelda."Oh my, sis. That's a bad athing to do," tugon ni Elloida."It's not really. Ipapalabas lang natin na kinidnap si Erykah at hiningan tayo ng malaking halagang pera.""Oh, you mean kidnap for ransom?""Yes, yes! That’s it! And then. . .bingo. She's dead.""Hmm, not a bad idea. Pero saan ka naman hahanap ng kidnaper na killer aber? Eh, madadamay at madadamay tayo n'yan ano?" Napabuntong-hininga si Elloid