Kiss the Wind

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Deal

Flynn's PoV

Hindi nalang ako sumagot sa naging pahayag ni Duke. Look, tulad ng sabi ko noon, wala akong choice. If not for Papa, there's no way I'm doing this.

Pwede namang kay Rome ako humingi ng tulong pero hindi maganda ang flow ng pera ng pamilya niya these days.

Kung humiram man ako sa kaniya ng pera, alam kong hindi tatanggi 'yun, dahil kahit loko-loko siya, he's a very good friend. At ayokong abusuhin 'yon.

Si Doc Clad naman, that goes without saying.

Practically, boss ko siya, kahit lagi niyang sinasabi sa amin na i-disregard namin ang family title niya dahil colleague namin siya.

Pero kahit sabihin niya 'yon, nakakahiya naman humingi ng ganito kalaking pabor, lalo na't business din ang dahilan ng conflict niya sa pamilya.

Believe me, halos lahat na ng option na pwede, naisip at natanong ko na. Pero dahil sobrang work-oriented ko, hindi ganoon kalaki ang connections ko sa business. Lahat halos ng kakilala ko ay nasa field ng medicine.

And this brings me back to Satan. Napatingin ako kay Duke nang magsalita siya ulit.

"So what brings the little devil here? Last time we talked, you were very sure that you're not accepting my proposal."

Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan niya tsaka pumunta sa harap ng lamesa niya at sumandal rito. Niluwagan niya ang necktie niya tsaka muling tumingin sa akin.

"It's just a family problem."

I just sighed. Hindi ko talaga maisip kung paanong naipatalo ni Papa ang ganoong kalaking halaga. I mean, normally you would lose hundreds. Wait, did I just tolerate what Papa did?

Napailing ako tsaka nakipag-laban ng tingin kay Duke. This is so brazen of me to just come here after ko siyang mai-pahiya ng very slight. I know that.

"So I want to ask if your offer is still up?"

Medyo hopeful akong tumingin kay Duke. At oo, medyo lang. Hindi ko alam ang takbo ng utak ng isang negosyante. At kung maririnig niya ang terms ko, he probably wouldn't agree to it.

"You know that I'm a businessman, Arianna. Once my offer is rejected, I'll find another one who is willing to accept it. But since I'm feeling nice today, let's hear your conditions."

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong mapairap dahil sa sinabi niya. Anong feeling nice? Upakan kita diyan, makita mo eh.

I took a deep breath. C'mon Flynn, for once, get your shit together. Kalma ka muna. Ikaw ang may kailangan sa kaniya.

"I'm in a real dire situation. My family currently has a debt of 30 million. Once you can lend me that sum, I can agree to your proposal of marriage."

Matapang akong nakipag-laban ng tingin sa kanya. For once in my life, I'm ignoring my belief in love and pride for myself.

Ilang minuto pa ay tumawa si Duke, at ako naman ay natuod lang sa kinatatayuan ko. His laugh wasn't all happy that he closed a deal, but rather so cold that I couldn't even call it laughter.

Mula sa pagtawa ay bumalik ito sa seryosong mukha. Tiningnan niya ako ng diretso sa mata tsaka pinatong kamay sa lamesa at tinapik ito.

"Fine. I'll agree. But you have to offer more than marriage. This is a total loss for me, because just so you know, the amount you're demanding is not an easy sum."

I know I'll really regret this later on, pero napatango na lang ako at sinabi ang dagdag sa offer ko.

"How about I give you the marriage that you want, plus, you get to order me whatever you'd like. Bahala ka. For that two years, I'll do anything you want."