Seeking Gaston Lynx Esquivel

Chapter 18

"Good morning, Sir."

The employees greeted me as soon as I entered the lobby. Kaagad akong umakyat sa opisina ni Papa, I'll be with him all throughout our sem break at may sarili na rin akong table doon.

I've been doing it for almost three years now since I started college. I saw Jess on his table at kaagad na binigay sa akin ang kape ko.

"Good morning, Sir."

I smiled at him. "Good morning too."

I looked at my phone but she didn't reply yet with my good morning. Napahinga ako ng malalim, this is fine. This is expected.

I opened the door at wala pa si Papa, instead I saw Gunner sitting comfortably in the lounge.

"What are you doing here?" I warmly smiled at him.

"So you and Ada are back together?" Kaagad siyang sumunod sa akin at umupo sa visitors chair ko.

"Yeah, I am courting her now." I enthusiastically answered him.

I removed my coat and placed it on my swivel chair.

He looked at me critically. Like something is bothering him.

"You came here just to gossip?" I accused him but his eyes were still the same.

"Why are you so serious?" I asked, laughing. Gunner is always serious but not this one.

Huminga siya ng malalim. "It was an accident, and I do not know if I should tell you this."

His voice has never been this serious before. He looks so problematic. Napatahimik ako ng tuluyan at tumingin rin sa kanya ng seryoso.

I licked my lower lip. This is serious, huh? "What is it?"

He swallowed hard before speaking and looked out of nowhere.

"Ada… is Peter's step sister."

Halos mapatayo ako sa sinabi niya. "Wait…what?! Peter? My friend?!" I asked him unbelievably.

He looked at me and slowly nodded. "Peter's father is under investigation for stealing one of the company's project budgets under my fathers command."

My mouth hung open of what he said. Nanatali akong nakatingin sa kanya at isa-isang prino-proseso ang mga sinabi niyang impormasyon. I didn't have any idea on that one. How about Carmella, does she know any of these? How about Peter?

"And yes, both of them know that fact. Except her sister Pauline."

Fuck! I have no single idea on that one. Just...how?

"And his father doesn't really acknowledge her as her daughter." He continued more.

Nagpahilot ako sa sintido ko sa nalaman. She hasn't really yet told me anything about her family, but it just makes sense because I am still courting her. At kahit siguro maging kami na, hindi niya pa rin sasabihin. It is her personal life. Too personal in fact!

"I managed to get that information just because of the case, but her father is all clear now."

Peter's father was one of the executives under Gunner's family company. They have their own shipping line too but they just started it a few years ago kaya maliit pa lang.

Peter has a sister who is currently studying in the U.S. And their mother was with his sister most of the time. Minsan lang sila umuwi ng Pilipinas. His family wasn't okay. Their parents have not been in a good relationship for a very long time now.

And to think that Carmella was her step sister was beyond my imagination. And what the hell did he just say? He didn't accept Carmella as his daughter? Kaya ba mag isa siya ngayon? Nasaan ang ibang kapamilya niya ngayon kung ganoon? Ang mama niya nasaan?