Miggy's POV
We talked while eating, but it wasn't about the case he was handling. We talked about different things about the "community", about "current events", even "politics" was included in what we talked about.
As usual, I ordered a drink as we discussed the "main agenda" of this meeting.
"How was your walk?" It was Tito who opened the matter.
"What is important for you to tell us today?" I saw that he had taken some documents for him to show us as before.
"I don't want to wander around anymore. I found out that Teresa died two years ago, because the bus she was riding in had an accident. If you remember a bus that fell from the sky two years ago, he was one of the passengers on board, "he said as he showed us the death certificate.
"But she was not with his daughter at that time because she was at school. The boy was left to grow up with their close neighbor when her daughter grew up. Now she is studying at a state university in Bulacan while working as a waitress during non-working hours and sometimes as a part-time waitress in a bar right there in Bulacan to support herself. Because a few years after he was living with her mother's closest friend, the old man died of the disease, so he was alone right after his high school. But he still insisted on living in that house that the old man left because it was an old girl, and then the old man's relatives were in Mindanao, "he explained to us.
I turned to my uncle when I saw that he was holding his head and then shaking because of what I heard.
"Did you see him? Or have you tried to visit him at his places of work? " I couldn't help but ask.
"Once, I saw him because I went to his place of work. But when I came back there, he said it wasn't there because he said he wouldn't come because he had to study for the exam. "
"I can't believe it! She must have been working so hard to survive, whereas I was raised in a comfortable environment with my father's presence. Everything I needed has been well provided by my parents, while she, on the other hand, strived harder as much as she could so she could have food to eat and so she could continuously go to school. "
The guilt within me is now swallowing me alive, all over again. "I pity her, my sister. I know she deserves more. She deserves a comfortable life, a better world to live in. I don't know who I am going to blame for what happened in her life. I am sure that she doesn't deserve to suffer a lot because daddy has a sufficient amount of money to support her. But what can I do if her mom, Teresa, chooses to stay away from my father to avoid chaos in our family? I am not sure if it is right for me to say that I should be thanking her for staying away from my dad, but when I think about my poor sister, I feel angry and guilty. I don't know why. I want to see her so I can help her and provide her with the things that she was supposed to have a long time ago. "
But while my mind was busy with what I wanted to do for her, I suddenly remembered mommy. I don't know how to tell him this. I'm afraid he might not understand, or if he can understand, he prefers not to understand, because the pain that daddy caused by betraying him one night will be more prevalent.
"Tito, I want to help him for and for the sake of daddy because I know daddy will not be happy to see his only daughter suffering. I knew he had committed a great sin against mommy and I was also hurt to know all this. But I also can't deny that he is still my brother, "I said sadly.
"Yes, I know, but what I'm worried about is your mommy. How can we let her know?"
"I don't know either, but I thought now maybe it's time for me to let Uncle Manuel know this. Maybe he can help us explain this to mommy when the time comes for me to introduce him to her. Because I know I can't hide from mommy for the rest of my life, as I continue to hide it, my conscience swallows me up even more. "
"It's better that we let Manuel know, let me help you talk to him." I breathed a sigh of relief at what I heard because I knew Uncle Rick would never really let me down with this problem.
"I know you're having a hard time, but if you can be careful, your mommy won't notice what you know," he reminded me.
"How can we tell her this?"
"We need to plan that thing first because I know, like us, he will be surprised when he finds out the truth."
"Can you talk to him, I mean try to be friends so that somehow we can get more information from him while we prepare to show and introduce him?" Hesitantly, I asked Willie.
"No problem, sir. I'll do it. "
Our conversation didn't end there. We had a lot of discussions as well as planned when we would show up to introduce ourselves to him. It can't be sudden so that he doesn't have a hard time. I know it won't be easy for all of us to do next. I know we will consistently adjust in the coming days for the good of all.
Because it took us a long time to finish, I decided not to go home to Uncle Manuel's house first, so I just called mommy and uncle to let them know that I had worked overtime. I'm against it, but because I can't tell the truth yet, I have nothing else to do, if not to make another reason why I stayed up late, so I can't go home tonight. I didn't send Meynard home either because I knew he was too tired to go home to them.
I didn't sleep well last night. Even though I rolled over in bed a few times, I had a hard time falling asleep. My drowsiness did not even visit me, but unlike before, I did not drink alcohol while sitting on the veranda overlooking the various buildings shining in the small lights, not even the car that was still driving down the road even in the dis-hours of the night. I was just staring blankly at nothing but my brain was blank. Maybe I was tired of so much information that came in earlier, so now nothing.
Early morning came, and I walked like a zombie, obviously because I didn't get enough sleep last night.
"Didn't sleep well again?" Meynard opened up to me when he saw me sitting on the veranda holding a mug with only coffee.
I just shook my head in response to his question.
I heard him sigh before leaving and walking to the kitchen. I knew that even though I hadn't looked at him, it was obvious from his footsteps. A few moments later, he called me to say that the food was ready. It was just bread toast and then he cooked bacon and scrambled eggs because the refrigerator didn't have much stock. I haven't come home here for a few days because we are temporarily staying with Uncle Manuel. I will go with mommy.
I just made up for my lack of sleep with food so that somehow I would have energy later in the office. The work could not be affected because of my personal problem.
But I couldn't help but get my mind floating as I sat in the conference room, hopefully listening to a team for their presentation for a project. It would have been nice to have Meynard by my side so that I could somehow get back to the present. But since I didn't understand anything in their presentation, I just said that I would first study their concept and then give feedback. Because I don't want them to think that I wasted their time presenting and then I don't care. But honestly, it's not that I don't care, it's just that no matter what I do, I don't notice that I'm stunned again.
"Sir, Andrew's team is asking if you're going to the shooting on Saturday?" Meynard while we were eating lunch, because another team's presentation ended at lunch time.
"If nothing goes wrong, it's okay," I blurted out, but the truth is I really plan to go to see him, because I didn't reach him during the contract signing.
"He also mentioned that one of the bosses of our company's clients would come because it was reported to him by a staff member who is always here."
"Oh, okay. No problem, I'll be there if that's the case. "That's good, so it won't be too obvious because it's like I need to entertain. But the truth is that he is the reason why I am going to the shooting on Saturday. I am very careful with my actions because they know that I don't hang out every time there is a shooting for a commercial. I'm just going to the location to check on them, but I'm not going to stay longer than an hour.
"As much as possible, I don't want anyone to notice how I look at her, that I like her. I already admit it to myself, but I am not ready yet to announce it to the public. In the first place, I don't want to publicize it. I prefer to remain as private as possible. So even with Meynard, who is my trusted person, I can't tell him because I fear that will be the reason for him to constantly yell at me. "
"Will you come with me on Saturday?" I asked, out of respect for him, that we both know that he really has a personal life. Even if I say he is my assistant, I still give him the option of coming or not. Unless he really needs to come along.
"Of course."
"Don't you have a date with Shane?"
"He has a job, so I'll just pick him up at work after we walk, because we'll finish what we're going to finish before he finishes his duty."
"Maybe your girlfriend is sulking because we've been so busy lately?"
"No, I'm explaining it to him well, and then, like me, he's busy with his work."
"Even though, eh, what about the time he was off duty and then you were with me because we went somewhere or maybe we're busy here in the office?"
"Don't understand that, he knows what's going on because I always tell him so that I can give him the assurance that I really have to work hard. It will also be for us when the day comes. Then when I first told him that I was not rich, he said I had to work hard. Eh, he's also the only one expected right now that his brother hasn't graduated yet, so he understands. "
"Really? Is that okay? "
"You know, sir, if I'm with you, I'll start looking for the woman I love and want to be with forever."
"And why did the conversation come to me again?"
"It's better because we can't just talk about my love life like now, right?"
"Oh no! Do you think I can still insert something like that now into the state of my life? The mess that is over now that I have to put the search on? If I see anyone, you know, he's just unfortunate because he shares a lot of my time. Then I don't want him to be involved in the chaos of my life now. The right time will come for that. When everything is okay, right now, even if I want to, I'm not ready yet because I have to focus on mommy, especially since she will soon be blinded by daddy's secret that she has been hiding for a long time. "
"You have a point, it's still messy. You are right to end that problem first before you search. Hmmmm… "I saw him holding his chin while thinking of what.
"What are you thinking about that?" I seem to know what's next. If my suspicion is correct, the next one is definitely bullshit.
"I'm just wondering how old you are now and then how many of you will start looking for a life partner," he replied seriously as if still thinking.
"Eh, what do you want to release now?"
"Nothing, you're getting older brother, and I might have a hard time finding you a wife."Because, of course, when you meet someone, there is still a getting to know each other stage. We don't know how many months it will take then. Then the courtship stage. I am not sure how many months you will wait for him to answer you. Then it will be you. When he answers you, you will immediately process a marriage proposal with him, right? When we add up all that, it will take a few years, we don't know. Oops! You were already dead! "
I couldn't keep quiet but I hit him right away.
"You, you can never talk sensibly for a long time because you are always mixed with nonsense!" It would have been better if we were the only two in the office, if I hadn't been embarrassed by what he was saying.
"Aray ko naman! It's really not funny anymore, everyone is serious, "he whispered while nuzzling what I hit on his head but I could still hear.
"Is that so? So, is it really my fault? You will see that one day I will go to see Shane at his place of work and I will not hesitate to slander him. "I threatened to pretend, but I will not listen so that I will just scare him when he stops me from his nonsense.
"Ay! 'Don't be like that brother. I'm sorry. I won't tease you anymore. I promise I'll be nice to you, "he begged. But I ignored him because…
"Oh no! 'Please don't let what this mokong said come true. Knock on the wood three times. It's scary to think you might be 'jinx'. When I see the woman I like, that's how I hear her, alas! That's not right! I hope Gabie doesn't have a boyfriend yet, because when she has a boyfriend it means she's not for me. But when she doesn't have a boyfriend, hehehe... it only means one thing: we're meant to be. " I enjoy whispering to myself.
"Luh! Kuya! Are you sick?"
"Huh? What are you saying there? "
"Because a while ago you resisted the annoyance and now you're smiling at that, it's like you don't know!"
"Another teasing, I'll be true to what I said!"
"Not anymore, this is it, oh, I'm going to put away what we ate because I still have a lot to do, that's right, I have a lot more brother," I said.
I was just shaken. I'm not really annoyed with him; it's been normal for us to bully since we were kids. He was always the one who teased the two of us. At first I was still pissed off, but eventually I got used to it, but when I turned on him by teasing him, he was pissed off because he lost to me.
It's funny to think that no matter how serious our problems in life are, God still balances everything. Like me, I never thought or even dreamed that this would be the chaos of life I would experience. Since childhood, I have grown up well and happily with my parents and friends. But now, as if I were in the middle of an area with many landmines planted, one wrong step I would have exploded. And in that explosion, there will be many casualties, not just me. So no matter how awkward my position is, I need to be strong and courageous so that I can stay strong and not accidentally step on my foot in the wrong place. I have to be very careful with my every move. No matter how hard I try, I will not just take a step that will hurt many.
The heaviness is for me because I know everything depends on me, how to act without hurting the people around me so much. Because whatever I do will really hurt but will avoid the bad if I can balance everything, and put things right.
Gone are the days when I was often swallowed up by my floating because I never lost my mind about daddy's son, Teresa, Mommy, but it's good that even though I have a lot of problems with what to do, Somehow, someone makes me happy that only I know. I don't know why I'm reluctant to let anyone or even Meynard know. I can't understand how light and happy it feels every time I see him, especially to see him smiling. I'm content to the point that we don't even talk as long as I see him as if I'm suddenly becoming 'energtic'. If he is the balancer of my life full of questions and chaos, he is the reason for me to be stronger to fight all the problems I have now.
From the first time I saw him, I felt something was strange to me, but I couldn't say what it was. I can find no words to describe what is strange. All I knew was that I wanted to get to know him better, but I knew it would be far away, so I had to make myself look at him in the distance.
Saturday morning came, and I woke up early because, you know, I was excited about seeing the beautiful woman I like. But of course I can't reveal that to anyone, so I have to keep my normal behavior. The truth is, my chest felt like it was going to explode earlier because of the strength of my heartbeat. I don't know why.
"Sir, sir Meynard is already here," said their assistant uncle as they unloaded the food for breakfast.
"Please tell him to come here so he can eat with me," I ordered. I was the first to come to the table when I was just starting to eat. Mommy was just downstairs.
"Yes," then he left to go to Meynard, "Maybe in the garage looking at my car."
"Good morning!" Mommy then kissed me on the cheek.
"Good morning mom."
"Now you said shoot a commercial, didn't you?"
At the same time, I gave her a smile.
"I almost forgot. If I hadn't seen you dressed now, I wouldn't remember."
"Why? Is there anything you want us to do? "
He drank his coffee.
"Carla and I will leave later because I have a schedule with the psychiatrist."
"How are you?"
"So far, okay. I'm having fun because someone can talk and then I don't drink anymore, but some nights I still have trouble sleeping, but not like before."
Mommy and I broke up when Meynard came in.
"Good morning," he greeted us as he approached the table.
"Good morning son, come sit down. Come with us to eat, "mama said to her.
"Good morning," I also greeted him when we looked at each other and I pointed to the table for him to sit down.
When his aunt and uncle arrived.
"Good morning!" they greeted us at once.
"Good morning, we're ahead of you," said mommy.
"That's right, we don't have to wait as long as there's food here on the table ready to eat even without me or Manuel," said the aunt after sitting down and putting the food on her plate.
"Do you have work today?" Tito after drinking his coffee that was just given by the maid, who had previously been busy taking care of the food to and fro in the kitchen.
I explained, "There's a shoot for a commercial I have to go see because the big boss will be visiting later."
I let them know, and then Meynard and I stood up together.
"We'll go first, thank you for breakfast," Meynard said.