Matapos nilang magyakapan ay nagpaalam na si Aubrey. Marami pa raw siyang iimbitahin.

Aubrey Annadelle Realta, she was her fiance for three years.

It was planned by both their scheming parents.

They were both on their third year in college nang ireto sila sa isa't isa.

He was supposed to refuse her ng pinilit siya nitong makisama nalang.

She wanted them to pretend to love each other para mapaniwala ang parehong mga magulang nila.

Nagkaintindihan naman sila. Pareho silang may mahal na iba. He's in a relationship with Sienna and she's having this unrequited love with someone she won't let go. Nathaniel Farrales.

It was a plan for convenience, all they have to do it to pretend in front of their parents at di na sila pipilitin nitong madaliin ang kasal.

Nagmakaawa naman si Aubrey sa kanya dahil kung tatanggi siya ay irereto naman siya sa ibang lalaki at baka tuluyan na nga siyang matali sa iba. Pumayag naman siya dahil sawa na din siyang palaging ipinipilit sa kanya ang iba't ibang mga babae ng magulang niya.

They kept up their pretense until they both have their own work and were rich enough to break free from their parent's clutches.

Intensyon niyang hindi ito patagalin hanggang sa makagraduate sila but Sienna happened. He was supposed to marry her after they graduate but she just had to cheat with someone he knew.

Matapos nun, Aubrey became his best friend and his drinking buddy pero hindi siya nagsasabi ng mga problema niya dito. She was like a sister he never had, an annoying sister.

Naglakad na si Andrius papunta sa HR at kinausap ang manager. It didn't took 5 minutes dahil minadali niya ito. Avah is waiting in his office. Siguradong naiinip na ito. Ibinilin nalang niya doon sa manager ang pagbili ng icecream.

Pumasok na siya sa elevator nang makasalubong niya si Oliver. His blood boils everytime he sees him.

Nagkunwari lang siyang hindi ito nakita.

Magsasara na sana ang elevator ng hinarang ni Oliver ang kamay niya kaya bumukas ito muli. "Look dude. I know you're angry--"

"I thought I already told you to leave my building, Hudson." malamig niyang sabi dito. Napakuyom siya ng kamao.

"I know but dude, I know your holding a grudge on me, pero tang!na naman, sabihin mo kung ano yun! Hindi ako manghuhula. Iniwasan mo na ako noong college. Akala ko dahil yun sa paghihiwalay niyo ni Sienna pero putcha ano bang pinuputok ng butsi mo ha?" aniya.

Hindi napigilan ni Andrius at sinugod siya.  He punched him on his cheek.

Napasalampak naman si Oliver sa sahig dahil sa lakas ng suntok nito. Mukhang ilang taong galit na kinikimkim niya ay ibinuhos niya rito

Muli na sana siyang papasok sa elevator nang di niya inasahang  sugurin siya ni Oliver.

Pareho silang natumba sa sahig.

"Gago ka talaga eh. Ano bang problema mo ha?" kwinelyuhan siya nito.

Sumara na iyong elevator pero wala nang paki si Andrius dito. "You have the nerve to say that to me matapos mong patusin si Sienna. You knew she was mine pero pinatulan mo, gago." galit na giit ni Andrius tsaka itinulak ito palayo sa kanya. Nakasalampak lang sila sa sahig. If others were to see them ay talagang maguguluhan sila. The CEO and a major stockholder of the company are both sitting on the floor.

Natigilan naman si Oliver sa sinabi nito.

"All these years you hate me because you think we were cheating on you behind your back?" di makapaniwalang tanong nito sa kanya.

Nanatiling tahimik si Andrius na siyang ikinatawa ni Oliver. "Damn I can't believe this. Ferrer, baliw ka parin talaga sa babaeng yun."

Sinamaan niya lang ito ng tingin.

"Jeez dude, at least sinabi mo nalang saamin noon pa para kumpirmahin kung totoo. I don't even like her like that I mean... sure she's sexy, malaman, matalino at.." sinamaan niya ito ng tingin.

"I mean dude alam mo namang di ako pumapatol sa babaeng taken na. And she's like my little sister. Why the hell would you think I'd betray you? Ganoon ba kababa ang tingin mo sa akin? Kay Sienna?" Bulalas nito.

"I saw you hugging."

Oliver gave him a blank look. "That doesn't prove anything."

"Nang maraming beses. I'm not stupid Oliveriano" dugtong niya.

Magsasalita na sa ito ng biglang bumukas iyong elevator kay pareho silang napatingin doon .

"Oh my god! My son, Andrius. What happened to you!"  Tahimik namang napamura si Andrius. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Too many people are showing up unexpectedly.

Agad naman silang tumayo at inayos ang mga damit nila.

Di nila pinansin ang matandang kakarating lang.

"Seeing you now, I knew you're still not over her, Ferrer. Payong kaibigan lang, don't ever make conclusions out of anger and at tungkol sa sinabi mo, think about it, baka sinaktan mo rin siya ng maraming beses to seek my comfort. There are two sides of a coin Andrius. Always remember that."

Tinalikuran na siya nito at pinindot ang sa elevator.

"Looking forward for our next meeting Ferrer, maybe next time with a cool head." Nginitian siya nito at pumasok na sa elevator.

Nakatulala parin siya sa elevator na sinakyan ni Oliver ng maagaw ang pansin niya sa babaeng nakahawak sa pisngi niya.

Marahan niya itong itinulak at lumayo sa kanya.

"What are you doing here?" malamig niyang sabi.

He couldn't bring himself to call her mom.

Sinisi niya ito. Maybe if she wasn't so desperate finding him a wife hindi sana nawala ang babaeng mahal niya sa kanya. He blamed everyone, his mom for being desperate, Hudson for being a traitor, Sienna for being a slut and himself for being a loser.

He hadn't seen his mother for 5 years. The last time they met ay itinutulak parin siya nito sa isang heredera ng malaking kumpanya sa ibang bansa.  Mukhang ganun na naman ang sadya ngayon.

"Son...your father's company is in the brink of bankruptcy." simula nito.

"I can give you any financial assistance. My company is more than capable of helping." Mahinahon niyang sabi.

"Oh no need, we fixed it." kalmang pahayag dito kaya napakunot ng noo si Andrius.

"At bakit pa kayo nagpunta rito?" His jaw tensed. Alam niyang kada makikita niya ang ina niya ay puro sakit lang ng ulo ang palaging dala nito. There must be something she had in mind.

"You know too well na ikaw rin naman ang magmamana ng kompanya ng ama mo diba? So we decided na ipagkasundo ka sa anak ng may-ari DeVera Inc. They were good enough to save us from bankruptcy. It's the least you could do to repay----

"You did what?" Tiim bagang niyang sabi.

"DeVera Inc. is one of the leading corporation in the industry. Anak, tumatanda na kami ng daddy mo. We want to see our grandkids before we die."

"I'm not interested. Tell them to back off. I'll handle  the company's problem." Malamig niyang sabi.

"But we already---"

"My answer is no and that's final." putol nito sa ina.

Pagak namang napatawa ang ina niya. "I know where this is going. It has something to do with that girl you were dating in college isn't it?"

"That's not the point. You're controlling my life. Ilang beses ko na bang sasabihin sayo, I don't want you sticking your nose in my personal life. It's my decision what I want to do with my life and---"

"And what? Marry some pathetic gold digging rat like that Huloglangit girl?"

"Get out."tiim bagang niyang sabi.

"Oh my god Andrius. You know well enough na walang modo ang babaeng yun. She came from nothing! She is nothing! Isa siyang hampaslupang mababa ang lipad! Hindi kayo bagay!"

"For the last time. Get out."

Pinanlakihan siya nito ng matam "I'm your mother Andrius. I know what's best for you. Listen to me!"

"No! For once, you listen to me. It's my  own fucking life not yours. I get to do what I want. I decide what's best for me. Next time you set me up with another girl, kalimutan mo nang anak mo ako."

"A..adrius." natatakot na tawag ng ina niya.

"I'm not kidding." seryoso niyang sabi.

Tinignan nalang siya ng masama ng kanyang ina pero wala ring nagawa kundi mag-walk out.

Pumasok siya sa opisina niya at napasandal nalang sa pinto. Napabuga siya ng hininga.

Nagpunta naman siya sa mesa niya para hanapin iyong pakete ng sigarilyo niya.

He was looking through the compartments.

"Wala pa po ba iyong icecream?" Nagulat naman siya ng marinig ang boses, he almost cussed.

He had almost forgot there was this little kid in his office. He just stepped out of his office at andami nang nangyari.

Nilapitan niya si Avah sa sofa at nagulat nang makita ang pakete ng sigarilyo niya doon. She had transformed it into some kind of art.

Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin. He was not mad at all. Nagulat lang siya.

"Sorry po. Nainip po kasi ako and..and sorry po talaga. Papaluin niyo po ba ako? Sorry po nagbad ako di ko na po uulitin." Mangiyak ngiyak nitong sabi.

Nilapitan naman niya ang bata. Umupo siya sa sofa at ikinandong ito sa kanya.

"Hey angel. It's not your fault, you don't need to apologize. I'm not angry okay." he caressed her hair.

"Y-you're not?" Nanunubig parin iyong mata niya and she was trying hard not to sob.

"No, it was not a big deal. I'm sorry I took too long."

Ngumuso ito sa kanya. "It's okay po, it's not a big deal rin."

Napangiti nalang siya habang tinititigan ang mukha ni Avah.

Just one look at her, parang walang problemang nangyari sa kanya kanina.

"Angel?" Tawag niya.

"Yes po?"

"How about we meet your mother."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito at tuluyan nang napuno ng tili ang buong opisina and he just can't help but chuckle.

He would love the woman who raised this adorable child, maybe it could take his mind off things that has been bothering him lately.