Chapter 3

“Gabriel, naghihintay ang mga customers sa labas,” awat ni Shelly sabay hila sa bata papalayo kay Gavinn, desperately trying to control the situation before her entire life collapsed right then and there.

Gabriel sighed, adjusting his tiny denim jacket. “I'm sorry, Mom. But this dude was low-key delaying our transaction queue."

Tumingin siya ulit kay Gavinn. "Excuse me again, sir. You were actively intervening with the efficiency of our operations. Time is money.”

With that final mic-drop, Gabriel casually pushed his utility cart straight toward the alfresco area of the café, nag-iiwan ng trail of squeaks sa bawat hakbang niya para lang i-serve ang mga orders sa naghihintay na customers.

“So,” bulong ni Gavinn. Hinay-hinay siyang sumandal sa counter, just as his intense gaze was locking onto Shelly like a predator cornering its prey. “You're the mommy.”

Lalong nagwala ang tibok ng puso ni Shelly, but she still forced a complete hyper-polished customer-service smile bago hinarap si Gavinn.

“Pasensya na, Sir! He watched too many business documentaries instead of cartoons. Nagpupumilit rin siyang tumulong dito. Baka, nainggit lang siya sa suit niyo."

"Anyway! The total price for your wife’s custom cake is already flashed on the screen. Swipe na lang po natin ang card niyo para makuha niyo na ang receipt, and you can finally go."

Gavinn didn't reach for his card. Instead, he tilted his head, a dangerous, mocking glint in his eyes as he looked at her frantic face, then back at the door where the mini-CEO was conquering the alfresco area.

"Funny." he softly echoed, his fingers lightly tapping the marble counter. "His attitude looks genetic."

Agad na napatigil si Shelly, halos mapigtal ang string ng apron niya sa sobrang paninigas ng katawan. Before she could even process the absolute panic rising in her chest, Gavinn dropped his black card across the counter, sliding a sleek, textured business card right along with it.

"Deliver the cake to my office tomorrow," utos niya, his baritone voice leaving no room for negotiation. "Personally."

Bago pa man makasagot si Shelly, binalingan na ni Gavinn ang pinto. With his massive presence and peak corporate audacity, he walked out of the shop, leaving the digital chime ringing in his wake.

Napasandal na lang si Shelly sa counter, her knees shaking as she stared at the elegant typography embossed on the card: Gavinn Lucero, Chief Executive Officer, Lucero Prime Holdings.

Pagod na isinandal ni Gavinn ang ulo niya sa headrest ng leather seat habang binabaybay ng mayordomo ang daan pauwi sa condo niya. Hindi rin niya mapigilang isipin ang batang nasa cake shop kanina. It was impossible. But his gut instinct, the one that made him a ruthless billionaire in the Philippine business scene, was screaming otherwise.

"You're late, Gavinn."

Sinalubong agad siya ni Doña Fatima nang sandaling makarating siya sa condo, na prenteng nakaupo sa high-back lounge chair habang humihigop ng tsaa. Elegante ito gaya ng dati, pero ang aura nito ay puno ng seryosong awtoridad.

"Mom. Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ni Gavinn habang tinatanggal ang kanyang necktie.

"I’m here to remind you of your responsibilities," diretso at walang paligoy-ligoy na sagot ni Doña Fatima, ibinaba ang mamahaling porcelain cup.

"Five years. Limang taon na kayong kasal ni Luna, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kayong anak? You are not getting any younger, Gavinn. Patanda ka na nang patanda."

Umirap si Gavinn sa hangin, ramdam ang pamilyar na bigat ng family pressure. "Mom, we are busy with the regional campaigns—"

"I don't care about the campaigns! Ang kailangan ng pamilyang ito ay ang tagapagmana ng Lucero Prime Holdings," putol ng kanyang ina, her tone turning ice-cold.

"Dapat ngayon pa lang ay may anak ka na, Gavinn... para habang lumalaki siya, nasasanay at nae-expose na siya sa takbo ng korporasyon. Kung kailan ka pa tatanda at hihina, tsaka ka pa lang ba magkaka-anak? Dynamic business landscape ang kinakaharap natin, Gavinn. We need an heir who is ready when the time comes."

Sa gitna ng matinding sermon ng kanyang ina, biglang nag-flash sa isip ni Gavinn ang mukha ng limang taong gulang na bata sa cake shop kanina.

Five years old...

Kung nagbunga ang gabing iyon, ang bata ay eksaktong limang taon na ngayon. ​The timeline perfectly matched.

Nang makaalis na si Doña Fatima, hindi mapakali si Gavinn. He immediately swiped through his contacts until he found their core circle's group chat, then speed-dialed his best friend, Lance.

"Bro, napatawag ka?" sagot ni Lance sa kabilang linya, may background noise pa ng isang maingay na club.

Hindi na nag-aksaya ng panahon si Gavinn. His voice was dead serious, laced with an intensity that made Lance instantly sober up.

"I need you to remember everything about my bachelor party five years ago. Sino-sino ang mga pinalabas ninyong performers noon? Specifically, the girl who wore the cat woman outfit."

Natahimik ang kabilang linya. "Wait, bro. Why the sudden curiosity? Five years na ang nakalipas ah? At saka, diba sabi mo part lang yun ng laro?"

Hinigpitan ni Gavinn ang hawak sa cellphone niya, his eyes darkening as he stared at the city skyline outside his floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

"Just drop the questions and find the coordinator, Lance. I need her identity. ASAP."

*****

​The smell of freshly baked vanilla sponges and rich cocoa filled the air. Nilulunod ni Shelly ang sarili niya sa trabaho sa kusina ng kanilang bahay, pero nagwawala pa rin ang kanyang sistema. ​Naka-kunot ang noo niya habang marahas na nagka-crush ng cookies para sa gagamiting filling. Ang utak niya, naka-loop sa eksena kanina sa cake shop.

"Mommy, are you trying to bake or are you trying to destroy the kitchen counter?" seryosong puna ni Gabriel, nakaupo sa high stool malapit sa island counter habang may hawak na baso ng gatas. "You're over-processing the ingredients."

Napatigil si Shelly at napabuntong-hininga. "Mommy's just stressed, anak. Marami kasing orders para bukas," palusot niya, pinapantayan ang tono ng bata para hindi ito makahalata.

Gabriel took a sip from his milk, acting like a literal CEO during a performance review. "Stressed? Or was it because of that corporate dude earlier? The one who was clogging our transaction queue?"

Muntik nang mabitawan ni Shelly ang spatula niya. "Gabriel, I told you, customer lang natin siya. He's just a regular client who wants a customized cake for his... wife."

"You know what, Mom? We do have similarities." giit ni Gabriel, blinking his deep-set eyes with terrifying intelligence. "The resemblance is too high to be statistically random. Parang feel ko ako yung younger self niya."

"Gabriel, maraming tao ang magkakamukha sa mundo, okay?" saway ni Shelly, feeling completely attacked sa talas ng dila ng limang taong gulang niyang anak.

Umalis si Gabriel sa kusina at nagpunta sa sala, leaving Shelly leaning against the counter, holding her chest as she tried to catch her breath. ​Pero hindi nagtagal, nakarinig siya ng kalaswas doon kung saan niya padalos-dalos na inilapag ang kanyang mga gamit kanina.

"Gabriel? Ano'ng ginagawa mo riyan?" tawag ni Shelly habang naghuhugas ng kamay.

Walang sumasagot.

Gabriel was standing by the coffee table, holding a sleek, textured black business card in his tiny fingers. The light from the living room lamp hit the embossed silver letters perfectly. ​Naka-kunot pa ang maliliit niyang kilay habang binabasa ang nakasulat. He slowly looked up at Shelly, his deep-set eyes mirroring the exact same dangerously sharp look that Gavinn Lucero gave her hours ago.

"Gavinn Lucero. Chief Executive Officer of Lucero Prime Holdings," Gabriel read out loud, his voice dropping to a serious tone. He tilted the card, staring at the company logo, then back to his mom. "So, this is his portfolio. He’s the toxic billionaire on the internet, right?"

"Gabriel, ibalik mo yan dito. Bawal pakialaman ang gamit ng customers," utos ni Shelly, her voice trembling as she stepped forward to snatch the card.

Pero mabilis na iniwas ni Gabriel ang card. A mischievous yet incredibly intelligent smirk creeping onto his lips. It was the ultimate mini-mastermind expression.

"No, Mom. If he wants a customized cake delivered to his office tomorrow, then I'm coming with you," matigas na sabi ni Gabriel, sliding the business card into his oversized denim jacket pocket.

"I need to audit this guy myself. If he thinks he can just barge into our operations and stress you out, he’s wrong. Our corporate defense is officially activated."

Napanganga si Shelly, literal na na-stuck ang salita sa lalamunan niya. Shet, lumalabas na talaga ang Lucero blood ni Gabriel. At bukas, pagtatagpuin na naman ng tadhana ang mag-amang xerox copy.