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CHAPTER 1
TYRON was busy reading the report for the expansion of the Zapanta Hotel in New Zealand when his secretary entered his office. He didn't look up even though he knew he was already in front of his desk because he was busy with what he was doing.
"Yes?" He said without looking up.
"Sir, Mrs. Zapanta is in line four. She was persistent to talk to you."
He heaved a deep sigh and then he grabbed the cord of the telephone.
"Thanks, Lara." He said to his secretary before he answered the call.
He waited for his secretary to leave before answering the call.
"Good morning, mom." His voice greeted her cheerfully.
"Good morning to you too, son." The mother's voice was tinged with a smile. "Anyway, I was called because I wanted to ask you what date you will be coming home to Panggasinan for Christmas and New Year?"
He let out a deep breath. "Mommy, I'm busy. I can't go home, I'm doing a lot here at the office."
Ever since his father retired, he managed all their businesses. At the age of twenty three, the responsibility of managing their company was placed on his shoulders. his sister Kreiya did not want to help him. And then he and his wife Sky are on their honeymoon in Europe.
"Son, how are you? It's a holiday. Can't you take a day off?" There was sullenness in his voice. "Please child, our relatives from abroad will come and have a reunion because after ten years the whole family will be complete. Even your godmother Grace will come home to be with us for Christmas and the new year."
He rolled his eyes. "Mom, Grandma Grace is coming home because her husband just died and she has to leave. It has nothing to do with me."
"Son, don't say that." His mother scolded him. "Your godmother is not like that. We talked on the phone and they will be coming home on December 23. They will stay at our house."
his face was wrinkled. "They?"
"Yes. Her daughter is coming with her."
"Oh. Okay" He replied briefly.
"So, when are you coming home?"
He picked up the candle. He has reasons why he doesn't want to go home for Christmas. because he and his girlfriend, Careen, were talking about going to Boracay for Christmas and El Nido for New Year. He promises and he doesn't break a promise, but his family is the replacement.
"Son, are you going somewhere for Christmas?" his mother asked from the other line when he didn't speak.
He sighed again. "Mom, I have a plan with Careen." He didn't want to lie to his mother. "I promise to her that we're going to Boracay this Christmas and in El Nido for New Year."
the mother on the other line was speechless then she spoke, no emotion in her voice. "Okay. Have a happy holiday." After saying 'non' he cut the call.
His stomach hurt. Her mommy seems sullen because she won't be going to the reunion. he wants to but he has already made a promise to Careen.
"Hey, oh my." He leaned his back against the back of the swivel chair and closed his eyes. "I hope Mommy's sulk goes away soon." I wish.
He was restless so he called his mommy using his cell phone.
"Mom?" he said when he answered his call.
"Yes?" His voice was emotionless.
"I just want to explain why I can't go home-"
"No need." There was no emotion in his voice, he was clearly angry with her. "And if you called to find out if I was sulking, yes, I was sulking because you chose that girl over your family-"
"Mom, that girl has a name and her name is Careen."
"Please don't interfere. I still don't like her. I don't even know why you like her. she looks like a tramp! If you don't want me to sulk, go home, because if you don't, I won't kill you until I die!"
He looked at the cell phone screen when the mother on the other line disappeared. It looks really angry and sullen.
he was restless that his mother was sulking, so he called Careen.
"Hey, babe. Miss me?" Careen spoke softly to answer his call.
"Hey babe." He took a deep breath before speaking. "Babe, mom called."
"And?" There's haughtiness in her voice. same as her mom, she doesn't like her mother either. "Whatever he said, just please, make sure it's good to hear."
"She wants me to be with them this Christmas and New Year."
Silence reigned on the other line, a few seconds passed before he spoke.
"What are our plans for the Holiday?" This is a straight question. "Don't tell me you're going to change me at that reunion? That mommy of yours is always a villain!"
He was a little annoyed by what he said. Doesn't it make sense? "Babe, they are my Family. And she is my mom. don't talk to him like that. Please, understand. Only now will our family be complete after ten years-"
"Don't go home! Buwesit! Take care of your life!" He shouted and hung up. "Oh, by the way, let's break! Get fat! Get together with our villain!"
Shaking, he placed the cell phone on the table and sighed. Careen's behavior is not very good, especially when she doesn't get what she wants. And it's always 'let's break' its mouth when it doesn't follow what it wants. she had gotten used to his behavior because they had been dating for three years. Her screaming and breaking up with him is not new to him.
careen has been his girlfriend for three years and she's a psychologist, but sometimes, she doesn't act like a psychologist, she acts like an unprofessional person who doesn't understand people.
But her anger can't change his decision. he has to go home if his mommy doesn't really sulk. Then he will fix whatever problem he and his girlfriend have.
Raine's eyebrows went up when the pilot announced that the plane they were on was about to land. honestly speaking, he wanted to leave Canada but his Mommy forced him to go on vacation with them in the Philippines.
She knows that he brought her together because he didn't want her to be alone. Ever since her father died from Heart attack, she always feels alone. she was a Daddy's girl.
"Try to smile, Raine." His mommy said when the plane landed and the passengers got out one by one.
She forced a smile on her face. "Like this?" She will bet her life that it looks so fake.
Her mother grimaced. "How about a genuine smile?"
She rolled her eyes. "Mom, you can't force me to smile when there is no reason for me to smile."
"Son, smile. You might be mistaken for a snob." His mommy said while he was looking in the mirror and adjusting the make up on his face.
She smiled at that. His mommy still beats him when it comes to coloring his face. aside from face powder, lipstick and blush on, she doesn't put anything on her face. It's not that she doesn't want to, maybe she just got used to not using it, especially when she was with her Daddy.
when she was in grade school up to middle school, she was boyish and was once mistaken for a tomboy by her own mother. He only stopped suspecting that he was gay when High School came and he had a Boyfriend.
She gave out a deep sigh. "Mom, when are we going home?"
today is December twenty-three.
"We've just arrived, Raine." His mother let out a deep sigh, she seemed to have given up on him and stood up. He turned to her before walking away. "I will take care of the boxes and you'll take care of our luggage." he said, pointing to their luggage that was just above their seats.
She nodded grimly. Luggage. Argh!
"And, speak Tagalog." Her mom added then she walked out of the plane.
He nodded even though his Mommy didn't see it. It's not difficult to speak Tagalog. he lived that was the language they used inside the house. They only speak English when they are outside the house.
He took a few breaths before he took their bags from the luggage compartment. the first thing he slung over his shoulder was the sling bag that contained all his gadgets, the next thing he slung was his big backpack that contained his clothes, then he slung it over his other shoulder was his Gray sling bag that contains personal things likface powder, lipstick, etc.and lastly, the heaviest of all is their large luggage that is not on wheels. Good thing you can pull it.
When he got off the airplane, he immediately made his way to the exit. Of course, the bags have to be checked that's why he put everything they brought in the scanner.
after their bags came out from the scanner, he counted them. He frowned when he noticed that his black sling bag that contained all his gadgets was missing and it was replaced by a black sling bag that was also small. Her heart thumped in panic. No! My laptop!
she quickly looked around, when her eyes saw a woman walking towards the exit carrying a black sling bag the same size as hers, she turned to the Guard guarding the scanner.
"Please watch first, Sir. Someone else got my bag."
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