Chapter 3

Raul's Pov

"Surprise! Happy first monthsary, babe," Umi shouted with her playful smile. It was irritating, I'm not in the mood right now. 

I just looked at her and paid attention to the room, I'm here now in her condo. She smiled at me and then hugged me tight, tss, poor woman.

"Hey, babe, didn't you like it? Pinaghandaan ko talaga to para sayo, are you happy? Hmmn?" Tumingkayad ito at hinalikan ako sa labi.

I'm tired, I don’t have time for such damn things, and it’s fucking dramatic.

"Is that all? We can celebrate by making out kaysa sa mga ganyang naiisip mo. Ang baduy, you're just wasting my time. What do you think?" I grinned and squeezed her waist pababa sa pwetan nito, alam ko namang mas gustong-gusto nito ang ibinibigay kong sensation sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, babe, I have my period right now, next time. I promise Raul." Pinag-taasan ko siya ng kilay at inilagay ang dalawang kamay ko sa bulsa.

"Naahh, maybe no more next time, babe, alam mo naman kung anong napagkasunduan natin right? This relationship is all about sex, kaya kitang palitan sa isang pitik lang." Bumagsak ang balikat nito at tila mangiyak-ngiyak na. 

Oh come on, she entered on this relationship with clear agreement. Now she wants more than I can offer? Alam naman niyang hindi ako seryosong pumapasok sa isang relasyon.  

"But you said na hanggang napapasaya kita, rito ka lang saakin, right? Raul, naman..." She grabbed my right arm, lumapit ako dito at hinawakan siya sa left cheek tsaka ngumiti. 

Ngumiti ito pabalik. Nakakatuwang makita ang mga ganitong babae, pang-ilan na ba siya sa naging koleksiyon ko? Hindi ko na rin mabilang. Lumayo ako at marahan na tumawa, she stared at me with full of confusion.

"Oh well, that's a good question, you now what? You’re fucking boring, I am starting to get bored at you." Napakagat-labi ito dahil sa narinig mula sa akin at nagsimula ng umiyak na inikairita ko pa lalo. 

"No, Raul, please, ayokong mawala ka... I'm begging you, don't do this to me! I gave all you want!" Pagmamakaawa nito sa harap ko, I don't fucking care. 

"Are you fucking kidding me? O, let me guess Sweety… are you saying na kinuha ko lahat? Remember, you are no longer virgin nung nakipag-deal ka sakin. Don’t be silly," natatawang anunsiyo ko. 

Alright! I’m done here, in fact wala akong panahon para sa mga walang kakuwenta-kuwentang mga bagay, at isa na siya roon.

"But, Raul, I love you! Please don't leave me..." Humagulgol na ito ng iyak, disgusting! Inayos ko ang nakatali kong buhok, at boring ko siyang sinipat mula ulo hanggang paa. 

"I got to go, take care, baby." I uttered filled of humored on my tone. I heard him shout in frustration before I left her condo unit. 

Yeah, I'm Raul Antony Arthit, 20 years old. And here I am, the playboy of Clarkston Academy, well, hindi ko sila masisisi sa bagay na pagiging playboy ng campus. 

Isa na naman si Umi sa mga babaeng napagsawaan ko na, isa na namang b****a ang tinapon ko. And I don't even care sa mga feelings nila, hindi ko naman kasalanang ialok ang dignidad nila sa akin para lamang makuha ang atensyon ko. Naging klaro ako sa simula, pinanindigan nilang pumasok sa ganitong relasyon, ngayon, hihingi sila ng higit pa sa kanya kong maibigay? Never!

I'm in the middle of fucking traffic now, nakakaabala ang traffic na ‘to, araw-araw nalang nakakainit ng ulo. Nakailang busina na rin ako pero hindi pa rin umuusad ang sasakyan. 

Bullshit! 

I took my cellphone out of my pocket because someone's calling. When I glanced at the caller, I saw Thrina’s name appeared. I pressed the accept button.

"Kuyaa! Grandpa's here! Where are you kuya? You have to go home, Lolo papa's looking for you." Medyo inilayo ko ang phone sa tainga ko dahil sa lakas ng boses niya, Thrina is my younger sister and I hate her being like this. She's too noisy and loud at the same time. May pagka-brat din kung minsan. 

"Can you please lower your damn voice? I'm not deaf Thrina," walang kabuhay-buhay na turan ko, hindi na nga umuusad ang putanginang traffic, sumabay pa siya.

"Okay, chill kuya, basta raw dumeretso ka here… bye!" She already ended the call, tss. 

I thought the old man was sick, ano na naman kaya ang ginagawa niya rito sa Pilipinas?

I'M AT THE HOUSE now, after I parked my car I noticed the old man's car so I went inside the house, I immediately heard Thrina's voice. 

"Where are they?" I asked the maid, I'm not staying here, I have my own condominium cause I don't want to hear Thrina's resounding voice every day.

"Nasa sala po sila sir," nakayukong sagot ng matandang kasambahay so I walked inside the living room, ano na naman kayang kailangan niya.

When I entered, I immediately saw the old man, pleasantly sitting while he and daddy in the middle of their conversation. They stopped talking and looked at me when they feel my presence, mom and dad facing the old man while Thrina was on the side arranging the old man’s luggage.

"It's been a long time grandson, how are you, huh?" he asked me, I slightly smiled and stared at him. 

He is like a saint in front of my mom and Thrina, he's really good at pretending, I laughed sarcastically at what I thought. Lumapit ako sa kanila kasabay ng pagtayo ng matanda at sinalubong ako ng tapik sa balikat, he smiled at me, I already know what kind of smile is that.

"Long time no see man…" ngisi kong turan at kinindatan pa siya.

"Raul, what kind of manner is that?" mommy uttered in a dismayed because of my manner towards the old man. 

"Son, ayusin mo ang pagbati mo sa Lolo mo," dugtong ni daddy habang nakatingin din sakin, I already greeted him, what else do I need to do to satisfies them?

"Hindi pa ba kayo sanay kay kuya, mom, he's always like that kaya," Thrina said with artfully tone, tss.

"No, it's okay." Pakitang-tao talaga siya, 

I sat down in couch and crossed my arms, then closed my eyes. 

"How's school Raul?" tanong ng matandang nasa may gilid ko. Ugh! This is a boring topic.

"Fine, nothing's changed." It's a miracle he asked about my studies, narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya, siguradong nawawalan na ito ng pasensiya pero of course mom and Thrina's here so he could not show his true self and evilness. 

"Raul, ayusin mo naman ang pagsagot mo, anak," protesta ulit ni mommy, dumilat ako at tumingin kay mommy galit na ito sakin kaya tumango nalang ako at muling pinikit ang mga mata.

After they talked about various things, Mom and Thrina decided to came out because the old man wanted to talk to us with daddy privately.

"You! Where's your good manners, why you to talk to me that way, huh?!" He pointed at me, he exploded in anger. He took the can and he was about to slap it on my head when daddy speak.

"Dad, forgive your grandson, Thrina is right, he is always like that. Ako ng bahalang dumisiplina sa apo niyo, daddy," Dad begged and helped the old man to sit down again. 

Sana tinuluyan na lang niya. Psh!

"You didn't raise that man well! He has no respect!" Galit parin niyang sabi, ang dami niyang alam. Why don’t he talked to me straight to the point? Ang dami pa niyang dada, he's wasting my time.

"Just say what you want, I know that you won’t came here for no reason,” walang ganang sabi ko sa kanya, nagtiim bagang ito pero wala akong pakialam. Hindi ako nagpatinag.

"Will you shut up, Raul?" Daddy said with a prognosis tone.

"Okay, chill," mahinang sabi ko, siguraduhin lang niyang importante yan. Hindi nagtagal ay tumikhim na ito at tumingin sa aamin ni dad.

"Timothy, do you remember Mr. Sy?" Old man asked to dad, tumango si daddy ng may pagtatakang expression. Huwag niyang sabihing ipapapatay niya iyon.

"Yes dad, Sy is your new business partner, right?" pabalik na tanong ni daddy sa matanda.

"Exactly! Raul, I want his daughter to be your girlfriend, gusto kong i-date mo Ang unica iha niya, may gusto raw iyon sayo. In fact, wala ka namang girlfriend right, Raul?" may pagdidiing tanong niya sakin, I looked at him and I grinned. Alam ko ang tinutumpok ng sinasabi niya ngayon, hindi ako pweding magkamali. This is connected to power and influence. 

"Oh, come on, wala na bang mas mahirap sa pabor na hinihingi mo?" walang kaemo-emosyon kong tanong sa kanya, lumaki ang ngisi nito at umupo ng maayos.

"We will get there at the right time and moment, huwag kang magmadali," makahulugang saad niya habang umiinom ng kape. I looked at dad na naka-tingin din sa matanda.

"Dad, is that the right way? Kilala ko si Raul sasaktan lang niya iyong sinasabi mo…" pag-angal ni daddy. 

Daddy knew me very well. He's right, hindi lang din iyon magtatagal sakin, I assure of that, ibinaba naman ng matanda ang hawak na kape at tumingin kay dad.

"If your son did unethical, ako mismo ang kakalabanin niya," pagbabanta niyang sabi tsaka tumingin ulit sakin. " Remember that Raul, madali lang kitang itatakwil bilang Arthit, and when that happens, you will not receive any inheritance from me," pananakot niyang dagda.

"What can I gain for this agreement? Hindi lang pwedi na kayo ang makinabang. Alam mong lahat ng ginagawa ko may kapalit, tanda." Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko at pumalakpak pa. Tss! I am disgusted of him. 

"Wais din ang anak mo, Timothy.." natatawang sabi niya kay dad, insane old man. 

"Dad, wag niyo ng idamay si Raul dito." Nakakunot na sabi ni dad, he is always like that and I hate him for being soft man. 

"Let me do it, dad, it's easy,” sabat ko, ayokong hanggang ngayon ay bumababa pa rin ang tingin niya sa akin. Iniisip niya na hindi ko kayang gawin ang mga ginawa niya. 

"Iyon naman pala Timothy, and for the replacement na sinasabi mo Raul, pag-iisipan ko pa." Nakangising turan niya, kung ganun ano ang ibig niyang sabihin? Na kailangan ko munang gawin ang gusto niya bago niya ibigay ang pabuya? Tsk! Mas wais ang matandang ‘to.

After a useless and boring conversation, the old man left because he still have some important things to take care of. Let me guess, sigurado akong gumagawa ng hindi maganda ang matandang iyon. Well, that's not my problem anymore, ang iniisip ko ngayon kung ano ang ibibigay niyang kapalit sa pagtanggap ko ng iniuutos niya.

"Raul, we should to talk," usal ni daddy ng papalabas na sana ako ng living room, nakapamulsa akong lumingon sa kanya at ngumiti ng tipid. 

"Dad, you don't have to worry. Besides, I'm not a child anymore." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at siya na mismo ang lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko.

"I know how powerful the Sy family is, when you do what your grandfather wants at masaktan mo lang ang anak nilang babae, hindi maganda ang mangyayari. Alam mo yan." Daddy touched my shoulder, I looked at him without blinking.

"I will do what he wants, just like how you follow everything he wants." I removed his hand on my shoulder then I turned around.

"Raul, come back here! Don't turn your back at me, we're still talking!" narinig kong sigaw ni daddy mula sa loob ng Living room, nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at hindi siya pinakinggan.

"Kuya! Where are you going?!" Thrina asked, but I look back at her, diret-diretso lang ang lakad ko palabas.

"Sa lugar kung saan hindi ko maririnig ang nakakarindi mong boses," I said teasingly, I heard him complain about what I said pero pinagpatuloy ko parin ang paglalakad palabas ng bahay, that old man wasted my time to worthless conversation.