Mr. CEO's Obsession (SPG)

Chapter 6

Garrison's P. O. V.

I was about to leave my office when I heard someone open the door. I sighed, they know that I hate when someone doesn't knock on my door.

"Dare to knock---" I stopped when I saw my father walking towards my desk.

I turned off my laptop and closed it. I wonder why he's here. He never visited me unless it's important or urgent.

"Let's talk."

I slowly nodded.

Hinawakan niya ang lamesa ko at hinila ang aking swivel chair. Naupo siya roon habang ako at nanatiling nakatayo.

"About what?" tanong ko.

"Who is that woman?" Nagsalubong ang kilay nito.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. I know he is talking about Eviane, pero napakabilis namang makarating sa kaniya ng balita na 'yon.

"I don't know who you're talking about---" I acted fool but my father is indeed a smart man.

"I know that you know who we are talking about, Garry."

He already called me on my nickname that Mom gave me. I bet he's really serious.

"Dad... She's nothing."

"Nothing? Nagawa mong dalhin sa penthouse mo and call that nothing? Kailan ka pa natuto mambabae? Don't you dare do what your brother did. F*ck women and leave them pregnant!" sigaw ni Dad.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay sa akin niya binubuntong ang galit niya kay Kuya?

"I'm not like Jimuelle," madiin kong sabi.

"Then stop seeing that woman. I heard that you hired her as your secretary. Hindi ba't mayroon ka nang personal assistant at may chief of staff ka pa. Para saan sina Maxine at Jonathan kung kukuhanin mo pa ang Eviane na 'yan!?" inis niyang sabi.

"Dad, I am the one ruling this business you gave me---"

"This business is not all. Tandaan mo isa pa lang ang pinahahawakan ko sa 'yo mula sa lima. Remember that all of my businesses are written in your name. You're my only son!" Tumayo siya at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko.

I suddenly felt the pressure I never wanted to feel. It feels like, kailangan ko gawin ang lahat to please him, not to ruin the company our ancestors made and he made.

I am their only biological son. Noong una ay akala nila Mom at Dad ay hindi na sila magkaka-anak. That's why they adopted Jimuelle. My father needs a child that will inherit all of our ancestors businesses. Still, they are hoping that pills and some medication can help them to bear me. I came into their life and since then, me and my not blooded brother are in conflict. Hindi kami nagkakasundo sa kahit anong bagay, but then William came. He was also adopted, we are in good terms and right now, he is in third year college.

"I understand everything, hindi mo na kailangan ipaalala---"

"Kailangan ko itatak sa kokote mo, bago pa tuluyang malason ang utak mo. Huwag mo gayahin si Jimuelle. You stay away from women, because once you taste their poison, you're done like Jim."

"Dad, she's just someone I barely knew---"

"You already knew her entire life in one click, Garry."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Wala akong palag sa kaniyang mga sinasabi.

"I know what I am doing, just please don't mend with her life. Wala siyang kasalanan kung nagagalit ka sa akin because I've been good to her. She needs money so I offered her help by hiring her as my secretary." Pilit akong nagpapaliwanag kahit pakiramdam ko ay hindi naman ako paniniwalaan ng sarili kong ama.

"Garry, I hope so na hanggang doon lang talaga. Don't you ever forget that you signed an arranged marriage contract, last year." Napalunok ako ng ilang beses sa sinabi ng aking ama.

"I-I remember that..." bulong ko.

"Ga-graduate na si Azrielle sa buwan ng Mayo, dalawang buwan na lang. Magaganap na ang engagement party ninyo oras na umuwi siya dito sa Pilipinas." Lumakad si Daddy patungo sa malaking glass wall at tinignan ang mga ilaw sa building na nagsisimula nang lumiwanag dahil nagdidilim na.

Napayuko naman ako. Azrielle is one of my friends, we are childhood best friends dahil father niya ay isa sa mga kaibigan ng magulang ko at noong bata kami, palagi kami naglalaro kapag pumupunta kami sa building o kaya sa meeting.

Signing those papers we're just my intrusive thoughts, because I am single for already a year kaya I decided to push that arrange marriage they are planning, but I didn't knew that I'll be having someone to like. It's a big plot twist of my life.

"Bigyan mo 'ko kaagad ng apo. Habang bata pa kayo ni Azrielle." Nagulat ako sa sinabi no Dad.

"D-Dad---"

"Garry, you knew what happened to us. Inuna ko ang trabaho, I was already in my 30's, hirap na din magbuntis ang Mom mo that time. We lose hope but we have you. Have children at your young age with your wife, I need to secure our ancestors businesses. I need to make sure that my grandchildren will inherit them all." Humarap sa akin si Dad.

We never talked like this before. It feels like father and son communication. I never knew that he has grandchildren in his mind.

"Tumatanda na ako, Garry. Nakakaramdam na ako ng sakit ng katawan. I already have my maintenance medicine. Pinangako ko sa Mommy mo na babantayan kita at aayusin ko ang landas ng buhay mo hanggat nandito ako sa mundo." Lumakad siya papalapit sa akin at tinapik ang balikat ko.

"May you realize how much I love you, anak. Huwag ka sana magrebelde sa akin." Tuluyan siyang lumakad papalabas ng aking opisina.

Huminga ako ng malalim, tila ba may nagtatalo sa aking konsensya, hindi ko alam kung dapat ba ko bang sundin ang pansariling kagustuhan ko o ang kapakanan ng pamilya ko.

"I must talk to Azrielle, kailangan ko ayusin ang arranged marriage na 'yon. If ever I had a chance to love Eviane and marry her... I must settle everything." Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at agad na nag-message kay Azrielle.

It's been months since we had our last chats, mukhang matagal pa bago magreply ito.

Kinuha ko ang susi ng sasakyan. Binulsa ko ang aking cellphone at naglakad palabas ng aking opisina. Nakita ko kaagad si Jonathan paglabas ko ng office. Nakatayo lamang siya at naghihintay sa akin. Mukhang inaantok na ito dahil kita sa mga mata niyang namumula na.

"Jonathan."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"You may now go, I can sense that you are tired."

"O-opo, sir. Pasensya na po. Nakakapanibago nga kayo, parang hindi naubos ang energy niyo."

Napangisi ako. I got my energy kiss today, so I never felt tired. I saw and kissed Eviane and it's more effective than any energy drinks.

"I'll go home now, see you at exactly 6 am."

"B-Bakit ang aga ata, Sir. Sa schedule niyo kasi 10 am pa ang conference meeting niyo kasama ang production team 3." Nilabas niya ang kaniyang ipad at tinignan ang schedule ko.

"I told Eviane to come at exactly 6 am. I want to have breakfast with her. I'll take her to an elegant restaurant. Have me a reservation."

"Sure, Sir."

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