5

AFTER his office works, Alas went home and had a dinner with his father. It's the first time they will be together after he came back in the Philippines. Masyado siyang naging busy para hindi madalaw ang ama niya sa kanilang bahay.

"Good evening Dad," he greeted his Dad who was already seated in front of the table.

"Good evening too, son. Please have a seat. Let's eat," ani nito, malapad ang mga pinakawalang ngiti.

The dinner was set and he's the one who was waited. "Wow. You really knows me, dad. All of these are my favorites," nakangiting saad niya saka nagmamadaling kumuha ang plato at naglagay kaagad ng mga paborito niyang pagkain.

"Yeah, I know it's all your favorites, that's why I ordered our chef to cook all of these. Okay, let's eat. Let's talk later."

"That's better, dad."

Biglang tumahimik ang paligid. To ease the deafening silence, nagsalita si Alas. Naalala niya ang tungkol sa paghingi ni Jomari ng tulong para sa anak nito.

"Dad, kailan ba magsisimula ng trabaho si Yna sa company bilang secretary ko?" he asks. He is excited to meet her again, it's been awhile since they've met.

Huminto sa pagkain si Eduardo at tinitigan ang anak niya. "I'm sorry son, I haven't told Jomari yet that you agreed already. I will tell him tomorrow so that he can talk to her daughter as well."

"It's a good idea. It's it really true that she changed now?" curious na tanong niya.

"As I heard from Jomari, she really does. Pero kung makikita ka niya muli, I am sure she will go back to her old soul."

"I hope so. I want to help uncle Jomari. Sana makakaya ko siyang maimpluwensiyahan ng good vibes."

"I know you son, you can do it. Nandito lang kami if ever na magfailed ka. Pero sa galing mong 'yan, duda ako na hindi mo mabibihag pati ang puso niya."

Napapangiti siya dahil sa sinabi ng ama niya, gustong-gusto niya na talagang makita si Yna. Hindi na niya sigurado kung natatandaan pa siya ng babae. Kung magagalit o matutuwa ba ito kapag nagkita sila. Pero isa lang ang nasa isip niya ngayon gusto niyang tulungan si Jomari.

"Oh, are you full already? Why did you stop eating?" napansin ni Eduardo na hindi na siya dumagdag pa ng mga pagkain sa plato niya.

"Yes dad. I don't eat too much. I want to have a firm and masculine body as I have now," Alas said as he chuckled. Tama naman, walang halong kayabangan.

Natatawa rin si Eduardo sa sinabi ng anak niya. "You are really like me, son. You're so diligent to have good looks. I remembered you in my younger years. I'm so sexy and manly that can attract a lot of women at pinakamasuwerteng naakit ko ay ang mommy mo."

"Yes of course, Dad. I'm your son, so I inherited that trait on you," he smirks and drinks some water.

"Really? But why until now I never heard some news that you have a girlfriend or someone dated?" Muntik masamid si Alas mula sa narinig na sinabi ng daddy niya.

Alas clears his throat first. Dinahado siya sa sinabi ng kaniyang ama. "Well, I guess having a girlfriend as of the moment is not my top priority. I'm busy managing our growing business, maybe it should be planned after sometime. "

Napangiti si Eduardo. Tama naman ang anak niya. Pero hindi na ito nagbibinata pa lang. He need to build his future family as well, gusto na niya makakita ng kaniyang apo.

"Okay. You're already twenty-eight years old, that's why you should need to find a girlfriend or maybe a fiance. But if you aren't in a relationship after two years, I will make some way for you to have a wife."

Napapangiti si Alas sa sinabi ng kaniyang ama. "I will put that in mind, dad."

Concerned lang naman si Eduardo sa kaniyang anak, ayaw niya itong paglipasan ng panahon. He never seen him before having a fling or someone being dated. Sometimes he thought Alas is a gay but it has no hint that he is.

Only he remembers that Alas had a crush on his childhood friend, pero napakatagal na 'yon. Nang mag migrate sila sa US ay wala na siyang balita sa kababata niya, they never meet and seen each other again until now.

Napakabilis ng dalawampung taon dahil ngayon ay nasa tamang edad na sila. They are totally adults that can possibly handle their own responsibility but it's opposite to what Yna does, she's still acting like a child.

May isang text message siyang natanggap. "Dad, I think I shouldn't stay any longer. I have an important matter to do. I'm really sorry for now. It's really urgent."

"Okay. Go ahead. I understand, I was too busy before when I'm the CEO. But now, I can breathe and take a longer sleep. I already gave that to you."

Eduardo guided his way to the garage where he parked his car. "Be careful son."

"Thank you Dad. Bye." Alas immediately got inside his car. Revved his car's engine and drove off.

Eduardo waved his hands and waited until he couldn't see his car and went inside the house afterwards. He's happy to have a responsible son. He has nothing to complain about Alas. After his wife died, they lived together in the United States and bonded over a good relationship.

ALAS attended an emergency meeting together with their new business investors from South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. Ayaw niya itong ipagpabukas dahil napakaganda nitong opportunity para mas mapalawak ang scope ng investments at mapalaki ang bilang ng mga investors sa kompanya. Both parties will gain million of dollars if this partnership will be successful.

Mabilis namang natapos ang meeting. It's successful, pumayag ang mga representative ng mga bansa sa mga terms and conditions ng kompanya. It's a new achievement for him. So far, ang buong araw niya ay naging maganda.

His staff was left to take care of this people. They provide hotel accommodations for his business partners to stayed tonight. Kailangan na siguradong satisfied sila sa kanilang serbisyo para mas makuha nila ng puso Ng mga ito.

Nakaramdam na siya ng pananakit sa buong katawan kaya dumiretso na siya ng uwi sa kaniyang condo. It's past 10:00 PM when their meeting has ended. He immediately take off his coat and loosen his neck-tie. He throws it in the laundry tray.

Humiga siya sa kaniyang kama at pumikit, subra siyang napagod ngayong araw. Wala siyang naging pahinga. Before he is only dreams of becoming a CEO without realizing how hard his responsibilities will be. He now fully understand na mahirap at nakakapagod pero worth it kapag nakikita niyang may success siyang nagagawa.

Napamulat siya nang maamoy ang familiar na amoy ng isang erotic perfume nanunuot sa kutson ng kama niya. He even cursed when he remembers something.

"Stupid." He stood up and take off the bed cover and threw it somewhere. Bumangon siya at nagtungo sa shower room. Subra siyang nainis.

"Bakit ayaw akong tantanan ng bangungunot na 'yon?" Alas scolded himself. Napapamura siya sa ilalim ng shower.

After taking a shower, he laid in his bed. He thinks about something that might happen when he meets Yna. He misses her so much.

He smiled while his eyes were nailed to the ceiling.``Is it really true that you've changed Yna?" He creased his eyebrows then pinch his forehead. Pinikit niya ang kaniyang mata, he needs to take some rest because it's too late for his sleep.