Kairo's POV

"Come on, Mom. I don't need to have a relationship right now!" I told my Mom habang may binabasa sa cellphone. Kanina pa kasi ako kinukulit ni Mommy na gusto niya na ng apo, ako din naman gusto ko ng anak pero wala naman akong asawa to make a child!

"Kairo, 'nak, hindi ka pwedeng tumanda ng walang asawa! Sa gwapo mong 'yan walang sariling pamilya?" she said and I scoffed before standing up. "Look, you're 24 na, Kai. Mahirap humanap ng babae sa ganitong edad."

Agad ko naman siyang tinaasan ng kilay, "How ironic that you and Dad Elliot met when you're 25 years old and he's 26." I told her at umiwas naman siya ng tingin. "Kung may darating man, edi dumating. I don't have to chase love, Mom." I said before getting my things. Aakyat na sana ako papunta sa aking kwarto nang magsalita ulit si Mommy.

"It's different naman sa amin, anak. We were not finding love noon dahil hindi pa kami successful. Ikaw, hindi ka pa pinapanganak successful ka na agad dahil sa perang iniwan sayo ng ama mo. Kung tutuusin, hindi mo na nga kailangang magtrabaho kasi may pera naman na tayo eh. Hindi mo na kailangang iahon ang sarili mo sa kahirapan kasi kami na ang gumawa no'n." hinawakan ni Mommy ang balikat ko at tinapik ito.

I sighed defeatedly, "Okay, Mom. Gusto mo bukas may apo ka na agad eh." I joked and she chuckled before letting me go. I don't even know kung ano na ang type ko eh, basta hindi ako peperahan at mahal ako okay na eh.

Habang nakahiga ako sa kama bigla ko namang naalala si Jordyn. Wala namang dahilan para maalala ko siya pero bigla bigla talaga siyang pumapasok sa utak ko! Aish, I don't need to think of her. Think of something else, Kairo. Uhm, how about I tell my Mom that I'll be doing that real estate business of hers?

I should call a family meeting tomorrow at Mom's building, by that I mean at her office. Sabado naman bukas kaya hindi kami gaanong busy.

I opened my phone and messaged our family group chat.

To: Miranza & Eugenio Fam.

we should have a meeting tomorrow at mom's office, 2 pm.

Agad naman nag reply si Mommy.

From Miranza & Eugenio Fam.

Kianna: that's great anak, i have something to tell all of you as well. i hired someone new, great for our family's businesses.

Hindi na lang ako nag reply sa message ni Mommy. Sino kaya ang hinire ni Mommy? All of the people working for us are already a good help, bakit kailangan pang magdagdag?

May kumatok naman sa aking pintuan, "Come in!"

Pumasok si Luna sa loob at humiga din sa kama ko, bigla naman ako nagkaroon ng urge para sabihin sa kanya na ilang beses na kaming nagkita ulit ng ex naming tatlo.

Grabe din kami pag laruan ng tadhana 'no? Biruin mo, kaming magkakapatid iisa ang ex. Si Jordyn. I sighed before looking at Luna. Tinaasan niya naman ako ng kilay kaya umupo ako ng maayos.

"May problema ka ba?" tanong niya sa akin at tumango naman ako. "I'm all ears, you can tell me what's the problem." she said at umayos din ng umupo.

"Is it wrong if I'm seeing Jordyn again?" I asked and it sounded wrong. Mali ang pagkakasabi ko!

"WHAT?!" sigaw niya and I hushed her down, baka kasi marinig din nila Mommy eh di magugulat din sila at makikichismis sa sinabi ko.

"I mean, noong nandoon ako sa Singapore nagkita kami. Siya kasi yung parang taga interview sa akin for the documentaries I did." I explained to her at tumango tango naman siya trying to process what I just said.

"So anong balak mo? Bakit mo naman 'yan pinoproblema?" she asked, confused. Even I don't even know why it's a problem for me. Kasi kapag problema na nagkita kami ulit ni Jordyn magmumukha na affected pa rin ako sa kanya.

It's half true naman.

Basta binabagabag niya ulo ko ngayon.

"Would it be possible to love someone even after almost 5 years of separation?" I asked her, she looked at me before smiling and shaking her head. "Ba't ka naman nakangiti?" I asked her while frowning.

"I don't know. But it is possible in some cases, pero Kairo. If you still love her, bakit parang naiinis ka ngayon sa kanya? Sa tono mo kanina, parang ayaw mo siya makita eh." aniya niya sa akin and I frustratedly held my pillow and buried my face into it.

"Naiinis ako sa kanya dahil bawal ko na siyang mahalin." 'yan lang ang naisagot ko sa kanya and she curiously looked at me.

"Bakit bawal, Kai?" she asked and I shrugged. "Wala namang pumipigil sa inyo, gusto na rin naman ng Mommy mo na magkaroon ka ng life partner."

"I don't know, baka dahil kay Hiara? Minahal niya ng sobra si Jordyn. I can't just take her again for myself." sabi ko sa kanya at tinawanan naman niya ako.

"Bro, for all I know Hiara is already over Jordyn. Besides, she is already seeing someone—"

"What?!" pinutol ko siya. May jowa na ulit si Hiara? Bakit hindi ko 'yon alam? Agad ko naman tiningnan si Luna na umiwas lang ng tingin dahil malalagot siya kay Hiara kasi nadulas siya. "What do you mean she's seeing someone?" I asked in a monotone, she then sighed before answering.

"'Wag mo sasabihin na sinabi ko sayo ha? Ang alam ko lang ay may boyfriend siya, lagi 'yon umuuwi minsan ng late at naririnig kong may kausap lagi na boses lalaki. I don't know who she's dating, basta may boyfriend siya."

Tumango naman ako. After a few minutes iniwan naman na ako ni Luna at nakatulog na din ako.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm and I did my usual morning routine before showering. Wala naman masyadong ganap sa bahay ngayon dahil nandoon na si Mom and Dad sa office nila, probably waiting for us.

I cooked lunch for us three before we drove off to Mom's office.

Pagpasok namin doon, the staff knew us kaya binati kami nila at dumiretso na lang kami doon sa office. Umupo na kami sa harap ng table at hindi muna nagsalita dahil may tumawag sa akin, it was my secretary.

"Excuse me," I told them at pinalabas naman nila ako.

"Hello? What do you need?"

[Sir, regarding po sa meeting niyo today, should I move it sa Monday?]

"Yes please, I'm with my family today."

After the call pumasok na ako ulit at nagsimula na.

"So, I called a family meeting because I want to tell you all that we're going to start building the real estate office and our estimated start of the construction will be in 3 months." I told them at biglang naexcite naman si Mommy. She really wants to push this business so I'm making it work for her.

"That's so cool! Do we already have investors?" tanong ni Mommy at nilabas ang notebook niya, to take down some notes. "Thank you, Kairo." she said and I just gave her a kiss on the cheeks.

"Speaking of investors, I could call someone I know para doon. I'm sure they'll love to be involved in our family's business." Luna offered and I nodded before taking a phone call. Hiara then just stayed silent, wala pa naman kasi siyang maitutulong sa amin dahil hindi pa siya graduate.

I called Amber and told her about the new project we're going to be doing. [Isn't this too soon, Kairo? We just recently launched our new branch of Eugenio's Cuisine in Singapore last week. We also have more plans coming to expand and collaborate with other restaurants.] She informed me and I massaged the bridge of my nose.

"I don't care, Amber. Let's make this work for my Mom. Kapag hindi ka payag sa bagong offer ng project na 'to, hahanap ako ng bagong business partner." I said at doon naman siya walang nagawa kung hindi pumayag.

I also called the trusted architect we know, "Architect. I have a new project for you. Can you give us three designs for a real estate company building?"

[Wow, your family must be up to making more money huh?] I chuckled with what he said.

"Thank you, Architect." I ended the call.

Mas okay na trabaho ang inaatupag kaysa sa harot 'no! Wala naman akong mapapala kapag puro pag ibig ang ginagawa ko.

I was called back to my Mom's office dahil ipapakilala niya na ang taong hinire niya for our companies. "Kairo, Luna, and Hiara. 'Wag kayong magugulat ha, and I know this is on short notice but I hired Jordyn to be our journalist and head of our media group."

Kaming tatlo ay agad namang nagulat, "ANO?!" we three exclaimed. Tutol agad ako dito, kakasabi ko pa lang na ayaw ko na siya makita ulit tapos ano 'to? Mas madalas ko pa talaga siya makakasalamuha?

Tanginang tadhana nga naman.

"No Mom!" I shouted at hindi niya naman ako pinansin.

"Hiara, Luna, are you fine with working with Jordyn?" tanong ni Mommy sa kanila at walang ganang tumango ang dalawa. What the heck?! Akala ko naman ayaw din nila makita si Jordyn, ano ba?

"Eh basta, hindi ako sang ayon sa inyo." I said in a monotone.

"Ako pa rin ang masusunod Kairo, sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, she will work with us." seryosong saad ni Mommy at tila bata akong padabog umupo sa couch.

Tumayo naman ako para umalis na ng office pero sakto nakita ko si Jordyn na maglalakad paakyat. Nagtama ang tingin namin at imbis na lagpasan ko lang siya hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kanyang palapulsuhan at hinila papunta sa aking kotse.

Pinapasok ko siya sa aking kotse at umikot ako papunta sa drivers side at pumasok din sa loob. I turned on the aircon para hindi siya mainitan.

I sighed before turning to her, "Bakit mo kailangan tanggapin ang trabahong binigay sa'yo ni Mommy? Pwede ka namang umayaw!" I shouted and she flinched, probably scared that I raised my voice. "Tangina, Jordyn. Don't make this hard for the both of us."

"I took the offer of Tita Kia kasi alam kong may atraso pa pamilya ko, lalo na noong nangyari sa insidente." she softly said and I scoffed.

"Hindi mo naman alam ang nangyari pagkatapos no'n. Umalis ka 'di ba? You chose to leave 'di ba?" I sarcastically told her at napansin ko na nanginginig na ang kamay niya. She's probably having an anxiety attack or a panic attack. Kinuha ko naman ang water bottle ko from the compartment box at inabot 'yon sa kanya.

"I'm sorry," I said. "It's just that... I don't want you back... in our lives." I told her and I saw pain from her eyes. I'm sorry, Jordyn. Ayaw ko lang talaga na magkagulo kami ni Hiara.

"Bakit, Kairo? May nagawa ba akong mali na hindi ko alam? Did I commit a crime that only you and I know? Tell me, Kairo." She urged me to talk. Nakita kong kinagat niya ang ibaba niyang labi para pigilan ang sarili sa pag iyak. She was already close to crying and I don't want to see her cry right now. Baka bawiin ko lang ang sinabi ko at tuluyang kainin ko na lang ang pride ko.

"Jordyn... I'm afraid that if we spend more time together, you might end up back in my arms." I told her at natulala na naman siya sa aking mata. Fuck, I actually told her what I'm feeling right now.

"That's a good thing, right?" She asked me and I looked away and focused on the wind coming out of the air conditioner.

I didn't answer her, hindi ko naman kasi alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sa kanya.

"Kai..." She called my name and I immediately turned my attention to her. She touched my arm at napalingon ako doon bago ituon ang aking tingin sa kanyang mata.

"Kairo, mahal pa din kita. Gusto pa rin kita at alam ko sa sarili ko 'yon." she told me at nagulat naman ako. I didn't expect for her to actually tell me that she still has feelings for me.

Part of me felt good but still some part of me is still worrying about Hiara kahit alam kong may boyfriend na siya.

"Imposible 'yan, Jordyn. We just met recently again and you're telling me that you still love me?"

She held my hand, "When you fall in love Kairo, hindi na mawawala 'yung love na 'yon. Kahit kapag naghiwalay na kayo, hindi mawawala 'yon, it will just slowly fade." She told me at nagtaka naman ako. Kung gano'n edi mahal niya pa rin si Hiara?

"So you mean, you also still love Hiara and Luna?" I asked at agad naman siyang umiling bago bumuntong hininga.

"Kai, it's different when it's with you. Masaya kang mahalin, I never felt uneasy when I'm with you. Masayang magmahal kung ikaw ang mamahalin ko." she told me at natahimik na lang ako.

"Paano si Hiara?" tanong ko.

"We'll tell her, don't worry. I also plan on telling your parents this time around if it's okay with you." She said at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ginagawa niya 'to.

"Bakit, Jordyn? Why do you still love me? How are you so sure that you still love me? Nagkita lang tayo last week after almost 5 years tas sasabihin mo sa'kin na mahal mo pa rin ako?"

"Alam lang ng puso ko na mahal pa rin kita. I'm going to prove that to you. Kasi alam kong one part of you still loves me too. You're just afraid of confirming it." She said confidently.

"I'll take you home, 'wag mo na muna kitain ang magulang ko. Naroon kasi si Hiara at Luna at alam kong ayaw mo sila makita." I told her and she nodded before giving me her address.

When we arrived at the front of her apartment building. Lumabas siya at umikot papunta sa side ko. I rolled down the window at tinaasan siya ng kilay. May kailangan pa ata siya.

"Give me a chance to love you again, and this time... I'll love you for good." She then kissed my cheeks before walking away from me.

Putangina.

Mahal niya pa rin ako... at mahal ko pa rin ata siya.