The Gentlemen's Game Series 3: Alfonso Ian Zaragosa

Chapter 1

"So, your Ahia's going there next week?"

From folding the sides of the scented paper, my gaze averted to Harper, my best friend.

I quickly narrowed my eyes on her. I set aside the scented strip I was holding and look at her intently.

"Do you like Ahia?"

My foolish best friend looks shocked. Her chinky eyes got a bit bigger. Her cheeks turned red, like the color of a freshly-picked apple.

"What the hell you're talking about, Corrine?" Inis na hinipan n'ya ang iilang bangs. "Wala! And your Ahia has been engaged with the Tan's Luceanna!

Ramdam ko ang pagtikwas ng kilay ko. Shrugging my shoulder, I went back to what I was doing. I'm making cranes using my favorite pink scented paper that's only customized for me. A thousand pinkie cranes are my goal. And I'm just on my fifty-sixth!

Noong isang linggo lang din naman ako nag-umpisa. Hindi ko rin magawang pagtuunan ng pansin dahil hindi kaya mg schedule ko. Pinipilit ko na lang talagang makagawa ng kahit isa hanggang lima sa tuwing nagkakaroon ako ng oras. Katulad ngayon.

"Ano palang mangyayari sa kanila? Are you going to comfort Luceanna?"

I folded the side of the paper carefully. "Why would I?"

"Of course! Aalis ang kapatid mo and maiiwan n'ya rito sa Beijing ang fiancee n'ya!"

"That's a petty reason, Harper. A joke I never heard of." I glanced at her, my brow almost raising up. "Why would I bother myself with someone like her?"

"She's a Tan!"

I just shook my head then continued folding the wing of the crane.

"Oh, yeah! I forgot!" aniya nang may maalala. "She's just Luceanna Tan, you are Corrine Ayra Liu."

My best friend sighed.

"I thought okay kayo? Okay naman sila ng kapatid mo."

I didn't comment on that. I smiled when I finished making another crane. My fifty seventh crane!

"Corrine..."

I gave a small frown at Harper.

I have no ill intention nor hate for that girl. Luceanna Tan? Who is she that I would bother myself for someone like her? That's just a waste of my time.

Yeah, I didn't hate her, I'm just disgusted with her likes in general.

Luceanna really likes my brother. That was so obvious naman. She's a few years older than me but I already see through her.

She's beautiful, prim and intelligent. But aside from her positive qualities, she's a Tan, a Chinese. She's the perfect candidate for Ahia's future partner in life. Bukod doon, they are best friends.

But her being a Tan is also the reason why I'm not comfortable with her presence on my brother's life. She may love my brother but her family likes Ahia for a different reason. Because he's a Liu. And I hate everyone who's after us because of that pettiness.

"What if..."

Just like what I expected, Harper has no intention of dropping the subject.

I looked at my best friend, she's frowning. Mukhang may gustong sabihin but still organizing her thoughts.

I know naman. She likes Ahia. Katulad ni Luceanna. And Harper Shiloa Sy is also a good candidate for my brother's lifetime partner. If only she was born before Luceanna.

Hmm...

Harper and Luceanna. Both Chinese with a proud family background.

I shook my head. Even if my best friend likes Ahia, her family is just like Luceanna's family. The Sys are successful but like the Tans, they're still aiming for power and the answer for that is us, the Lius.

"What if he falls in love with someone else? Other than Luceanna?"

My eyes narrowed as I tilted my head. The idea is ridiculous but not impossible.

"That's not gonna happen."

Harper's gaze sharpened. "Pero that's possible to happen!"

"It won't. I know Ahia. He's very aware that he's bound to marry Luceanna. Aside from that, they're best of friends. Inseparable and he won't hurt her..." I paused for a brief moment. "And even if that happens..."

I didn't continue what I was going to say. Malungkot na katotohanan iyon lalo at kapatid ko ang pinag-uusapan pero I know Ahia. Sobrang kilala ko ang kapatid ko.

We were trained the moment we learned how to write our names. Ahia was and is still training under our parents and Ahma's guidance while I was under some assistants' care.

There's a reason why we were trained by different people. Ahia's mentor is our parents and our Ahma. He was trained under the best teachers because he's destined to lead the Lius when the right time comes.

Malaki ang responsibilidad ni Ahia. And his future? It's already written. I'm a hundred one percent sure that he won't tolerate any hindrances on his way to his well written fate. Ahia's ambitious and success-driven. He won't pause nor stop for something irrelevant. Katulad ng gustong sabihin ni Harper.

"And if he really did—"

"That girl would be unlucky."

Little did I know, Harper's ridiculous what if happened just a month after my brother settled down in the Philippines.

"Miss Corrine!"

I was about to get into my room when my assistant rushed to me. Namamawis ang noo n'ya kahit air-conditioned naman ang mansyon.

I crossed my arms and raised a brow.

"What is it?"

"Change of schedule, Miss Corrine. May ballet class ka in thirty minutes. Your instructor is already on his way here."

I looked at my newly polished nail. Katatapos lang ng Filipino class ko and I'm relieved that I can really speak and write the language just like Ahia.

I sighed then nodded. "I'll just change."

Do I have a choice? Wala naman.

All I have to do is follow all the rules and instructions from my parents. Hindi lang naman si Ahia ang planado na ang buhay, ako rin. Matagal nang tapos ang kuwento ng buhay ko at ang naging writer ay si Ahma. Of course, my parents agreed to it and they really have no intention to argue with Ahma.

My only role here is to act out what they wrote on these shitty palms of mine.

I was seven when I started the basic training of being the only daughter of

the Liu's conglomerate. Years of learning etiquettes in different aspect as I grew up remains on my mind until I finally understood what's the meaning of all of those.

I have no time to spare. My weekdays are composed of schedules both from school and personal lessons. My weekends are all about activities that will benefit the Lius in the future.

"Miss Corrine..."

My brow is so used on twitching whenever I heard my assistant's voice.

I didn't even glance at her as I resumed walking inside my room. I didn't close the door, an indication that she can enter.

"Your Ahma's asking if you already have a country for your training, Miss Corrine."

Dinig na dinig ko ang boses n'ya kahit nasa loob na ako ng walk-in closet. I scanned the dresses on the rack without any reason. Agad na kinuha ko ang dalawang mini dress na naroon at patamad na lumabas mula sa closet.

I threw the dresses on the floor. "I want you to throw those." I removed the pair of earrings I was wearing and threw it into the dresses. "Throw them all. Or better burn them."

Kaagad na tumango ang assistant at mabilis na kinuha ang nasa sahig. Lumabas s'ya at nagbigay ng utos sa house attendant na nasa labas ng silid.

"May I know who offended the young miss?" she carefully asked, not even lifting her head to look at me.

I tilted my head as I became busy eyeing the bag I used earlier.

"Some girl from the Tans copied my style. She brought those things and wore them, too." She was so flexible that she caught the bag I threw. "Delete the photos where I wore those trash."

She sighed before nodding. Muli s'yang lumabas dala ang bag, her phone is already on her ear.

Some attendants rushed inside my room. Dumiretso sila sa bathroom to prepare my bath. Mabilis ang naging kilos nila habang ang dalawa ay naging abala sa loob ng closet para mamili ng isusuot ko.

In just a span of five minutes, everything is ready. Nanatili lang akong nakikinig sa audio lesson na kanina pa natapos.

"Is it really that important?" I asked the assistant. She's now standing beside the closed door.

"Your Ahia did this, too, Miss Corrine."

I nodded. Of course, he did. He's the heir of this household and it is his responsibility to do all the trainings that were prepared for him.

Ahia went to Nigeria when he was only ten years old. He stayed there for a year and that was the first time he was away in a foreign land.

"Any candidates on your mind?"

"Philippines is the best option, Miss," she answered immediately.

I frowned at her. Of course, that's what I was thinking as soon as Ahia decided to go there. But I have to fake my emotion as well as my expression. My parents, especially Ahma, tend to do the opposite. Kapag nakita n'yang gusto kong gawin ang isang bagay, ang kabaliktaran niyon ang ipagagawa n'ya sa akin. That old woman is a control freak.

"That country is quite boring." I flicked my finger and smiled as I looked at my nails. "How about Vietnam or Malaysia?"

I saw how my assistant's lips curled up. She's my family's servant and her loyalty is with Ahma. She's with me since I was a kid and all those years has no value when it comes to money.

"Let's just talk about that next time." I stood and she rushed to me. She undone the zipper of my dress. "Just tell Ahma the options I have on my mind. I would visit those countries soon, right?"

She nodded and smiled.

I left her there and went to the bathroom. The rose and lavender scent reached my nose and it calms me a bit. I let my body submerge on the hot bath before closing my eyes.

I'm able to enjoy the bath for a few minutes before I heard my assistant's voice on the bathroom's intercom.

"Miss, you have an early schedule tomorrow. It's a gathering between the young ladies..."

I ignored the details she's been spouting.

I'm just a kid but my life looks like those of adults. All those schedules and activities, they're sucking the hell out of me.

Ahia's only a few months away since he settled in the Philippines. I thought he went there to train further. But right now...

I smiled bitterly. My brother really is strange.

One thing I'm sure about, he went there to experience the only thing he crave the most—freedom.

Should I do that, too?

Hindi magtatagal sa Pilipinas ang kapatid ko. After a few years, he's going to return here. But at least, makakahinga s'ya even for a short while.

Those thoughts remained on my mind that night and even when I woke up the next day.

"Corrine!"

I eyed the girl who's now walking towards me. Cheska Uy. I have zero interest with her so I avoided her. I saw how her smile faded as I continued walking, passing her by.

One of the older women's past time is sipping tea while building connection and what's happening right now is similar to that fake event. Ang pinagkaiba lang, mas bata ang henerasyong nandito.

I sat on the chair prepared for me. Ako lang ang pinakabata sa mga narito. They're all teen agers, almost around Ahia's age. Ako? Papunta pa lang sa unang stage niyon.

The young ladies from high society's busy chatting with each other earlier, natahimik nga lang sila nang dumating ako.

"Corrine, what would you like to eat?"

I gazed at the young woman on my right. She's the granddaughter of the Tiangcos.

They're all from high society but no one is powerful enough to intimidate a Liu, even if it's a kid.

"Is this your family's clubhouse?" My eyes wandered a bit.

She smiled with enthusiasm. "The newest!"

I snickered, making her frown a little but still managed to put a smile in front of me.

"This place disgusts me," I said before standing up.

The order Ahma gave me is to attend this small banquet and assess the place. The decision is mine if I want to stay, if it's worth my time but it's not.

"Wait, Corrine!"

But I am already few feet away from her. Hindi na rin s'ya nakalapit pa dahil sa dalawang bodyguard na kaagad na humarang sa kanya.

My lips curled up to a lame smile when I saw Luceanna Tan.

Her face beamed with happiness. "Corrine!"

A Tan is really not that relevant but as Ahia's future partner, I have to endure taking and giving small kisses on her cheeks.

"How are you?" Her innocent face glimmered with happiness.

Harper used to tell me that despite having the most innocent eyes, Luceanna is really wicked. I don't know how did she come up with that idea but Harper can really read people well.

"I heard that you're having your first real training, right?"

Hindi lihim sa lahat ang klase ng training na ibinibigay sa bawat Liu and there are few families that has been trying to copy that strategy but still failed in the end.

I answered her with a hum.

"How about I ask Ahma to spare you a few more years?" She's excited.

"Did I ask you to do that?" I scoffed. Her bright eyes dimmed a bit. She's still smiling, though.

Should I try it? Should I try proving if Harper's guts is the truth?

A Tan or Ahia's future partner, she's still nothing in front of a Liu. We're not friends but I don't like her as her, I just dislike her because of her family. Other than that, wala na.

"Do you have a recommendation or such?" tanong ko na nakapagpagulat sa kanya. "A country that will suit me and my training?"

Her eyes narrowed a bit, she looks like she's thinking but I know she already have one name on her mind.

"How about the Philippines?"

My lips formed an ugly smile. "Your taste disappointed me, really."

Luceanna looks flustered. But she can't do nothing about it. But I hope, she'll do something. No, I wanted her to do something. She dislikes me, I'm aware of that fact. And that animosity was trigged just now and would definitely helped me achieve my goal.

Weeks after I had that conversation with Luceanna, Harper's guts about her was proven to be true. Days after I was called by Ahma, I landed in the Philippines.

That was also the first time I saw him—Alfonso Ian Zaragosa.