Ever After Contract

Chapter 3

"I told you Carlos, it is time for you to man up and honor your Lolo's will. We have already discussed this before you went to college pa."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard that Papa and you also know that I am not ready and maybe I will never be ready for marriage. You can order me to manage any or all aspect of our business but please Pa, just not this."

"If you want to keep the business, you have to do this. It is for your own future."

"Pa..." punong puno nang frustration na sambit ni Carlos.

The past month, paulit ulit na lang silang nagtatalo nang ama niya on the matter habang papalapit na ang araw na itinakda na makaharap niya yung pamilya nang ipinagkasaundo sa kanya nang lolo niya. His father had seen to it na Carlos knows his responsibilities and role on their business kasi yon yung hiling ng lolo niya on his deathbed. He made his son Miguel promise na ihahanda niya si Carlos kapag ito'y nasa tamang edad na.

Kaya, two weeks ago umuwi na sila nang Pilipinas kasama ang buong pamilya. He knows that his son is becoming responsible as a young executive in their company. Pero kilala rin niya yung pananaw nang anak niya when it comes to relationships. His son doesn't like to be tied down, his relationships always have a duration, mga six months yata yung pinakamatagal nitong relasyon. Kaya nga alalang alala rin yung Mama nito. They had raised him naman in a loving family atmosphere. His wife always asks him where had they gone wrong sa pagpapalaki sa kanya at kung kelan kaya mag mamature yung anak nila. Their answer sana is kung matatagpuan na niya yung babaeng para sa kanya, pero malabo na yata yung chance na ito dahil wala na sa kamay nang kanilang anak ang pumili nang babaeng mamahalin at makasama habangbuhay.

His father, Carlos, whom their son was named after had seen to it that his apo will marry the granddaughter of his long time bestfriend, Cornelio Vallejera. Miguel can still remember how his Papa and his tito used to be, kaya nga they had come into an agreement to merge their family sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga apo.

Tutol man sana si Miguel pero wala na talaga siyang magagawa dahil huli na nang nalaman niya ito. Pero, on the other hand, kilala rin naman niya kung anong klaseng pamilya meron si Tito Cornelio niya, he was also friends with his son Lukas, so parang okay na rin sa kanya kung mapapangasawa nang anak niya ang anak ni Lukas.

Bilang parte nang pangako ni Miguel sa kanyang ama, he did not try to contact the family ni Tito Cornelio niya. His papa instructed him to wait for their lawyer in the Philippines to let them know when it is the right time for them to go home and to meet with the family together with the granddaughter of his tito.

He knows that the right time will always come for them. Both grandfathers thought na mas mabuti na yung dalawa yung mag take ng effort upang kilalanin ang isa't isa at yung nasa tamang edad na sila when they will meet.

At dahil na rin sa pagiging busy nila sa kanilang perfumery, the matter was put at the back of his mind since his father's death almost a decade ago.

Ngayon, looking at the surly expression of his son. Miguel can only hope for the best kung magkakaharap na sila nang mapapangasawa nito comes Monday.

"I'll get going na pa, I have to take my car to a shop." Paalam ni Carlos sa ama at nagmamadaling sumakay ito uli nang kanyang sasakyan at buong pwersang pinatakbo ito mula sa kanilang garahe.

In Carlos mind, he have to get out of their old house immediately. Na susuffocate na ata siya sa antigong ambiance doon and adding up to it is his Lolo's last will. Puro na ata kamalasan ang araw na to, umagang umaga pa lang kanina when his new car got scratched by an irresponsible girl driver. Mag tu-two weeks pa lang yung sports car niya and this got marred already. One of the things that Carlos cannot stand is when his car gets dirty or masisira. Hilig niya kasi yung pagmamaneho at cars. Before he was influenced by his father to get into business, he dreamed of becoming a race car driver. Kaya yung frustrations niya on racing, he unleashed it na lang by buying top of the line sports cars at sa pagmamaneho nito na minsan na parang baliw when he got the time.

Ngayon, habang binabaybay niya yung coastal highway ng Catalina binuhos na ni Carlos sa speed ng dinadala ang lahat ng kanyang nararamdaman. At medyo unti unting naiibsan na rin yung sikip ng dibdib niya as his mind slowly cleared up at nagkaroon siya ng konting perspective to take this matter or rather his fate as day goes by. Pero, umaasa siyang there must be a way that he can stop this arrangement. There must be... he mused.