MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO HAVE A DADDY.

Chapter 20.

Namumula ako habang dahan-dahang sinusuklian ang yakap niya. Ang init.

"H-Hindi pa nga tayo, e-e. How could you call me y-yours?" alanganin kong wika na tinawanan niya lang.

"Silly me, then." kumalas kami sa isa't isa nang magbukas ang elevator. Hinila niya ulit ako hanggang makarating kami sa rooftop.

"Anong meron dito?" tanong ko habang hinahayaan ang katawan na hilain niya.

"Lunch date." bago pa ako nakapagsalita, may idinagdag pa siya. "Would you mind if I will have your time to this?" umiling ako habang nakanganga sa munting bahay na mala-kubo sa gitna mismo ng rooftop.

"A-Ano 'to?" I asked, amazed. Kung dayami lang ang ginamit sa pagbuild ng maliit na bahay, matatawag na siyang kubo pero more like a tourist unit dahil sa ganda. Salamin ang pader at gawa sa seramika ang bubong.

Mula sa labas, makikita ang magarang table sa gitna na may pares ng platong nakaayos. Sa kanang gilid, may puting malapad na sofa at sa kaliwang gilid naman ay pang isahang taong higaan.

"I built this when I am not in the company yet, I used to waste my time here. Minsan, dito na ako natutulog." he explained, unlocking the door.

"Pero narinig kong ikaw ang talagang Chief Executive Officer? What does it mean?" out of my curiosity, na-realize ko rin ang announcement kanina.

"I suggested this kind of business to my parents. And they're glad that it became a good company. Hindi ko alam kung nagsisisi akong sabihin sa kanila ang mga naiisip ko noon dahil nakahanap sila ng rason para kontrolin ang buhay ko." my head tilted.

"Why?"

"They suggest me to lead our second company, all about architecture and engineers." kinuha niya ulit ang kamay ko pagkabukas ng pinto. "I heard that Bambe applied there."

Nanlalaking mata akong tumingin sa kaniya, hindi na natuloy ang pag-upo sa upuang hinila niya para sa akin.

"I'm not the CEO yet, don't worry, I believe that she's worth the acceptance. Hindi ko rin naman ugaling idaan sa relasyon ang paghahanap ng trabaho." he then winked.

I know that. Kasi kung ganu'n man siya, awtomatikong cancel na siya sa akin.

Umupo na ako habang patuloy na ginagala ang mata sa paligid. "It's nice here."

"Thank you."

"Who designed? You're the one built it?"

"I built it together with a cousin, an architect from our company did the design." he took the telephone hanging in the corner. "What do you want to eat?"

"H-Hm? H-Hindi ko alam? You decide since I really don't know your company yet. Hindi ko alam na may pang-lunch rin dito." loko akong tumawa.

"There's a mini-restau for the workers. It's a free restaurant though. I told the staffs to cook other bunch of foods today. Anything is available. Would you like to eat a steak and spaghetti?"

I nodded and he ordered it agad. "Kapatid mo si Stephan, hindi ba? Why do you have to manage the two companies yourself? Don't you have other siblings? Nasaan parents mo? I just realized that we still don't know each other throughly."

Napatingin siya sa lamesa bago bumuntong-hininga. "Stephan's a doctor. Being a doctor is timeless. Kami lang, kaming dalawa lang ang magkapatid. Our parents, they're taking care of the other companies."

Namamanghang nilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kaniya. "What? Like, how many companies do you have?"

"Apat. The other one is for furnitures and the other one is for beauty products. Sooner or later, it will be passed on me as well."