Chapter 1: Got Cheated

"DAD? CALLIE?" the words I said when I saw my naked fiance sitting on top of my father with his polo shirt unbuttoned. My father was lying on the sofa in his office while my fiance was sitting on his stomach.

"Fernando!" The two exclaimed in shock and couldn't move for a few seconds when they saw me.

I couldn't move as well as I could from where I was. So many emotions surround me right now. I wanted to get angry and lose my temper, but I stopped myself because we were in the office.

Yes, we are in the office. To be exact, it was in the private office of the president of the company, who was none other than my father. I went to see him today because I wanted to discuss a new marketing strategy for our canned products.

That's why my father's secretary was so quiet when I entered his office earlier. She even covered up for my father and told me that he was not there, but I heard a murmur, so I peeked into his office. I don't normally interfere in my father's affairs, but I heard the familiar name he said, so I couldn't help but be curious. And this is what I witnessed.

Before the two could move, I decided to leave. Because if I hadn't done that, I might have done something else that I know I'll regret in the end.

I heard Callie calling my name again, but I continued to leave and rode in the elevator down to the parking area.

~*~

THREE WEEKS LATER...

"Brother! Brother, I know you're there. Open the door."

I woke up to the sound of my youngest brother knocking on my door and calling my name. His name is Federico, and he is twenty-five years old. I left all my responsibilities in the company to him since my ex-fiance's cheating incident happened.

I am Fernando Desejo Jr., twenty-eight years old and vice president of Desejo Group Incorporated. Our company is the producer and distributor of well-known canned sardines in the country.

I am hands-on in the field, so I always visit our factories and fish farms. My father, Fernando Desejo Sr., is the president. My father is fifty-three years old, but he is health-conscious, so he is still elegant and looks young. He looks like local actor Edu Manzano. So it's no wonder that many women are obsessed with him. The bad thing is, even my ex-fiancee liked him too.

Even if it is said that I am younger, more handsome, and more macho than my father, there is something about him that is just better than me. And that's why my ex-girlfriend cheated on me.

"Brother! Open up or I'll break the door," I heard my younger brother say again.

I am here in my one-bedroom condo unit in Ortigas. I'm not sure how he found me here because I was the only person who knew about this condo unit. I haven't used this unit in a long time. Since Callie became my girlfriend, we have always been at my house in Makati.

Yeah, we used to live together. After three months of our relationship, I asked her to move in with me. And in the fourth month, I asked her to marry me. It's fast, isn't it?

But I was sure that Callie was the one I wanted to marry at that time, so I didn't wait any longer and asked for her hand in marriage. Gladly, she said yes. We plan to get married after a year of our relationship. That's what Callie wanted. If it was my decision, I would have married her right away, but I also respected her request.

But a year has passed, and she is still asking for an extension. She said she was not ready yet. Her reason was that she was about to get a big break as the female lead in a television series. So, we postponed the wedding plan. But until now, nothing has happened in her career. The woman just made me hope.

I can already hear the guard’s voice outside talking to my younger brother. I felt sorry for him, so I got up lazily. I was only wearing boxer shorts, but I didn't hesitate to get dressed. It's up to whoever is out there if they see me half-naked. I don’t care at all.

Not to brag, but I take care of my body through exercise, so even though I neglected myself a bit in the past, I never forget my daily exercise. 

I was still scratching my groin when I opened the door. I saw the people who were now in front of my unit turn to me. Aling Nena, who lives in the unit next to mine.

I saw that Aling Nena was still staring while slowly observing my body. The lady was obviously drooling, especially when she looked down at my bump.

"Ahem," I say, pretending to cough to get her attention. The lady seemed to come to her senses and pretended to look in another direction.

"Sir, is he your guest?" asked the guard.

"Ah, yes. Sorry for the trouble," I answered.

"Whatever your problem is, talk it out privately. You are bothering the other unit owners because of your loud voices. It’s still early in the morning but you guys are so noisy," said Aling Nena gruffly. She can no longer look at me.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again," I apologized again and pulled my brother inside. Before I could close the door again, she threatened me again.

"Mister, don’t be too careless. How many times have you disturbed your neighboring units? This is your last warning, as the president of the unit owners. If you want to make noise, lose, or party and bring off anyone in your unit, it's okay. But keep it down. Again, this is your last warning. I can kick you out of here," said the lady.

"I'm sorry again. It won't happen again." I said and made a cute smile at the lady. I saw her blushing.

"Hmph. If only you weren't macho," she whispered and left with a frown.

I also apologized to the guard, and after that, he also left. I closed the door and went straight to my mini-fridge and opened a can of beer.

"It’s too early for that," my youngest brother said to me.

"Vitamins," I explained as I sipped my beer. Cold beer is so delicious in the morning!

"Anyway, I won't be long. I am just here to tell you that Dad is requesting you back to the office."

Upon hearing what he said, I squeezed the can of beer that I had already finished. I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. I missed the garbage can. I just left the beer can on the floor and opened another beer. I know my brother is just watching me.

I entered my mini-living room and sat on the sofa, still clutching my cold beer. My things were scattered all over the unit. Clothes, food, beer cans, and other things got mixed up on the floor.

"Sit down first, Ferdie. Didn't you miss me?"

"I don't want to sit here. It's filthy and disorganized. I just came to tell you what Dad said. I won't be staying long either. Goodbye," he said directly, and quickly left my unit.

I just laughed. Even though my brother was cold and serious, I knew he cared about me. But sometimes he acts as if he's the older of our siblings because he's so self-conscious.

Although Ferdie is really strict and serious, I know he is also worried about me. That's why he went to see me. If I know, he just wanted to check if I'm still alive.

My siblings know that my ex-fiance cheated on me. That's why I'm acting like this. But they don't know that my father himself is involved. I didn't say anything more. I also don't want to spoil Dad with my brothers.

I respect the man so much that I really don't know how to deal with the situation now. So I decided to just shut up and go away to think.

My ex-fiance, Callie Jimenez, is twenty-three years old. She is not a famous celebrity, but when I first saw her, I was fascinated by her. I have met many girls and had flings, but I never took them seriously.

Why her? I also do not know. They say it's like that as long as Cupid's arrow hits you. At first, I didn't believe in that kind of love. But when I met Callie, all my beliefs changed.

Besides being beautiful and sexy, Callie is also very sweet and modest. She also resembles the actress Marian Rivera. She is so prim and proper. So I can't really imagine that she has any malice.

I was not her first, but that is not important to me. What I loved more about her is that she is very caring and thoughtful.

Callie is materialistic, I admit, but I don't care about that because that is also my way of showing her how much I appreciate and love her. You can say that I gave her all her luxury.

Dad and Callie tried to explain their side. I didn't talk to my father anymore, but I asked Callie why she did that to me. She just answered that my father is richer than me. That's one thing my father is better than me at.

With that, I woke up to the fact that the woman's love for me was just a disguise and she was really only after my money. I was very hurt by what happened. I really thought it was her I would end up with. I was wrong.

So here I am living a hermit life here in my condo. My phone is off and I don't intend to open it until I have to.

If I'm not here drinking, I'm in bars getting drunk. Random girls will be brought home to the condo and will lead the party. Of course, that includes one-night stands. The girls I brought here are also noisy. So the next day, the president of the unit owners will reprimand me. None other than Aling Nena.

So, that's mostly what happened in my life after I caught my ex-fiance sleeping with my father.

I'm laughing at the part where when I decided to be serious, I was fooled. It can be considered karma, and the pain is excruciating. This is my karma for making many women cry and hurt. Now, I can relate. Damn it.

I was sipping my beer as I looked at an old painting my mother had done. That painting has an image of the ocean as the sun is setting. There is also a shadow of two children playing on the beach.

When I saw that piece, I immediately packed my belongings. I'm going to the location where that painting was created.