Zechariah's POV
It's morning and this is our 2nd day here in Dumaguete.
I do nothing but eat, sleep, and watch tv.
Nasa kwarto lang ako palagi, si Zephaniah kasi tumutulong sa preparation para sa kasal ng pinsan niya, ganun din sina mama at papa, bukas na kasi ang kasal. Si Ezekiel naman ay palaging lumalabas ng kwarto.
Yes, we stay in one room.
Wala akong magawa, na-bo-bored na nga ako dito eh.
I decided to take a bath and dress up. Lumabas kaagad ako ng kwarto at sumakay nang elevator.
Nang makalabas ako ng hotel, nakita ko kaagad ang boulevard. I directly crossed the street at umupo sa isa sa mga benches na nandoon.
It's 9 in the morning kaya medyo mainit na dito. The boulevard was beside the sea. May nakita akong mga vendors na nagtitinda ng mga street foods. Ginugutom na ako! I didn't eat my breakfast yet.
I was about to stand up ng mahagip ng mga mata ko si Ace na naglalakad patungo sakin. May dala itong plastic bag and I don't know what's inside it.
"Hi Zechariah" bati niya sakin na nakangiti
"Hello" nakangiti ko ding bati sakanya
"Can I sit here beside you?" tanong ni Ace sakin
"Yeah, sure" sabi ko, kaagad namang umupo si Ace sa tabi ko at biglang inabot sakin ang dala niyang plastic bag
"Ano to?" tanong ko
"It's food, alam kong hindi ka pa kumakain" he said
"Oh... thank you" sabi ko
"Anyway, how did you and Ezekiel meet? Last time I checked he was still in a relationship with Chrisha" he suddenly asked
"Sorry! You don't have to answer my question—"
"Arrange marriage" putol ko sa iba pa niyang saabihin
"Huh? Arrange marriage?"
"Yes" sagot ko
"Oh well, that's normal in business world..." sabi niya
"I know"
"Pero bakit? May merging ba na magaganap?"
"Our business sinked"
"Sinked? Wait! Ikaw ba ang anak ni Mr. Marcus Santiago? The owner of Luxary Hotels and Resorts?" tumango naman ako bilang sagot
"I'm really sorry about your company" I just smiled
"It's okay"
"I knew it! First time I saw you, alam ko na na ikaw ang anak ni Mr. Santiago. You looked familiar to me"
"Huh?" bakit familar ako sakanya? Nakita niya na ba ako noon pa?
"Palagi kitang nakikita kapag may event para sa mga business man and women" that explains it
"I suddenly heard news about you running away from your house... and after 4 years you showed up" natahimik ako sa sinabi niya
"By the way, can I have your number?" biglang sabi niya
"Why?"
"Nothing, para may kausap naman ako kapag bored ako, or kapag wala akong ginagawa"
"Wow! So parang pampalipas oras mo lang ako? Ganun?"
"What? No! It's just... argh! Just give me your number!" natatawa niyang sabi
"Actually, wala akong phone" nahihiya kong sabi
"What? Seriously? Wala kang phone? Hindi ka ba binilhan ni Ezekiel?" gulat niyang sabi
"No, hindi ko naman kasi siya sinabihan eh" sabi ko
I lost my phone on the mansion so... yeah... wala na akong phone.
"Bibilhan nalang kita! Okay?" bigla niyang sabi
"What? No! It's okay... I have my own money"
"No, really... save your money, ako na ang bahala sa phone mo" sabi niya at bigla akong hinila papunta sa kotse niya na naka park pala sa gilid ng kalsada
