There was a deafening silence on the dining area so I walked near Vynz at ako na ang nagsalita para basagin ang katahimikan.

I cleared my throat before I started. "Everyone, this is Vynz Devaughne, a friend." Ipinagdiinan ko ang salitang friend para malaman nila ang nais kong iparating. I saw my Mom staring at me at nanliliit ang mga mata na para bang sinasabing maguusap kami mamaya. Yeah, right, may kasalanan pa siya sa akin.

"Vynz, this is my family." He slightly bowed his head facing my relatives as a respect at muling tumuwid ng tayo.

He didn't flashed a smile and he remained stoic and cold. Kahit no'ng bumati siya kanina ay ganoon ang kanyang ekspresyon. Ito 'yong Vynz na una kong nakilala, the cold and ruthless mafia boss. I remember something, I glanced on my cousin, Theo na matalim ang mga tingin kay Vynz. Gosh!

Theo refused to be an underboss of Cosmos because he said that he wants to focus on the field and to Lozano Cruises that's why I assigned him as one of the caporegime at hindi imposible na kilala nila ang isa't isa.

"Have a sit hijo, apo." Lolo gestured the vacant seat beside mom at ang kinauupuan ni Damien kanina na ngayon ay bakante na. Manang and the other maids cleaned the dining table kaya malinis at bakante na ang lamesa.

Sinunod namin si Lolo at ipinaghila pa ako ni Vynz ng upuan. My relatives were just staring at us until we settled down.

"Engineer, you're the CEO of Devaughne enterprises? and the chairman of engineering and architectural firm." It was Uncle David trying to lessen the heavy atmosphere. Good thing that he knows how to deal with the situation.

"Yes, Sir," Vynz nodded his head.

"Those are good companies, right, Papa?" Tito turned to Lolo at bigla akong kinabahan sa isasagot ni Lolo. I was about to speak when Lolo answered.

"Indeed." Lolo even nodded his head. "How's Thomas, Hijo. He is a good friend of mine at matagal tagal na rin ang huli naming pagkikita." Anong sinasabi ni Lolo?

"What?" I whispered at akala ko ay mahina lang iyon pero bumaling ang atensyon ng lahat sa akin.

"Yes, apo."

"You must be Leonardo, Sir? My grandfather mentioned you to me last time," Vynz answered. Seryoso ba?

"Yes hijo and don't call me sir, just Leonardo or Lolo. At sana ay maganda ang sinabi Thomas tungkol sa akin?" What Lolo? Ano siya apo?

"He mentioned a lot of good things about your friendship," Pormal na sagot ni Vynz habang ako ay hindi mapakali sa kinauupuan.

"That's good then."

Vynz and Uncle's conversation continued at minsan ay nakikisali rin si Uncle Ricos, Tita Ellena's husband and Tyler my cousin habang si Theo ay tahimik lamang at kapag isinasali ng ama sa usapan ay tango at iling lang ang isinasagot. They are talking about business. Habang ang mga babae naman ay may sariling usapan. Good thing na mukhang pinipigilan ni Mommy ang sarili na magsalita laban kay Vynz dahil mukhang nagulat rin sa sinabi ni Lolo.

"I want to talk to you, Apo. In my private room," Lolo said at nagpaalam na sa lahat. I was hesitant at first dahil kay Vynz. Ako ang kinakabahan para sa kanya pero mukha namang magiging maayos siya.

"Hija, let your Uncle take care of your man," Sambit ni Lolo nang makita niya na hindi pa ako sumusunod. My lips parted as my brow arched.

I leaned closer to my Mom and whispered. "Mom, be good." I flashed a smile on her but I know that she knew that smile, my mom knew me very well that's why she rolled her eyes on me.

"Vynz, I'll just talk to my Lolo," I muttered to get Devaughne's attention.

"Yeah." He nodded and gave me a smile. When I rose up ay ramdam ko ang pagsunod ng tingin niya sa akin.

I walked on the grand staircase papunta sa ikalawang palapag ng mansyon kung nasaan ang private room ni Lolo. I knock on his room before I entered. Lolo is seating on his swivel chair at doon ako umupo sa chair sa harap ng table niya.

"Lo, about the Cosmos-" He raised his hand, dismissing my sentence.

"I heard about it, apo. I don't want to talk anything about Cosmos."

"But I want to talk about it, Lolo." I insisted. I am his only granddaughter yet ako ang pinakadisobedient sa apat na apo niya.

He chuckled. "Go on, my favorite granddaughter." He keeps on calling me his favorite granddaughter kahit nagiisa ako.

"So..." Binasa ko ang aking labi pago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "You heard about Cosmos being on the third spot. I'm sorry, Lo. I promised the top yet we got the third," Pahina ng pahina ang boses ko habang sinasabi iyon sa kanya.

Cosmos used to be on the first spot noong si Lolo pa ang Universe nito, minsan ay pumapangalawa at ang Devaughne ang nangunguna minsan naman ay Amherst. My dad didn't have a chance to handle the Cosmos because he died in an early age. At ngayong napunta ito sa akin ay lagi lang ito sa pangalawa at ang Devaughne lagi ang nangunguna, ngayon ay pangatlo pa! Damn.

"I told you, apo hindi ang unang pwesto ang hinihingi ko sa iyo." My late dad was his oldest son at ako ang panganay na anak ni Daddy kaya naman sa akin napunta ang Cosmos that's why I want the first spot so that Lolo will be proud. But I know even though pangalawa lang ang Cosmos, he's proud of me. But I want the first spot. I'll get it.

Pati na rin ang Lozano Empire ay sa akin napunta. Tyler and Theo are handling the Lozano Airlines and Cruise line. Bukod pa roon at may sarili ring kompanya sina Tito at Tita. Naghihintay naman ang law firm kay Damien ngunit parang walang hilig ito sa ganoong bagay. Sa ngayon ay sina Tito at Lolo ang namamahala roon.

"But, Lo-"

"I want a grandchild, Mirae iyan ang hinihingi ko sa inyo nina Theo at Tyler, si Damien naman ay masyado pang bata." I want to give him what he want, pero saan naman ako kukuha ng anak? Kung pwede lang magmagic ay ginawa ko na maibigay lang ang gusto niya. Wala ngang asawa ang mga apo niya tapos apo pa ang hihingin niya sa amin?

"Fine, kapag nakuha ng Cosmos ang first spot ay maghahanap na 'ko." Maybe I can adopt a child. Mamahalin ko siya at ituturing na parang tunay kong anak.

"Anong maghahanap, apo," He massaged his temple then he continued. "Hindi masamang magampon pero gusto ko ng apo na may dugong Lozano." Pwede naman kumuha ng dugo sa akin tapos ay isalin sa bata. Kidding. Muntik na akong matawa sa iniisip ko.

"Paalala ko lang po, Lo, wala akong asawa, boyfriend nga wala din," I muttered, reminding him about realities.

"Ang apo ni Thomas, isn't he your boyfriend? One glanced and I already knew that he is a good man and he's now the mafia boss of Devaughne. That proves that he is good in all things, kaya't hindi mo malamangan ang Devaughne ngayon?"

I almost rolled my eyes. "He's not my boyfriend po."

"But I can see that he likes you." Oh really, Lolo? Kung alam mo lang. He just confessed kanina bago kami pumunta rito but I don't know if it's true.

"He's...courting me." I was hesitant at first but I think baka tigilan na muna ni Lolo ang paghingi ng apo kung sasabihin ko.

"Really? That's good then, sagutin mo na at magpakasal na kayo ng mabigyan mo agad ako ng apo! Matutuwa si Thomas kapag nalaman niya na ang biruan namin dati at magkakatotoo." He seems excited. Kulang na lang ay magtatalon siya sa swivel chair niya. And what? Anong biruan nila ng Lolo ni Vynz? Close ba talaga sila? Gosh! Pinapasakit ni Lolo ang ulo ko.

"Lolo! Binubugaw mo na 'ko kay Vynz!"

"Hindi ka naman langaw para bugawin, hindi ba apo?" He asked innocently. Niloloko niya ba 'ko?

"Ang kilay apo, tumataas." Lolo said. I didn't know that my brow rose up kung hindi lang sinabi ni Lolo.

"Kasi naman po."

"Alright hija, hihintayin ko na lang at alam kong malapit mo na akong bigyan ng apo," Lolo uttered and seems like he is so sure.

We heard a knock on the door at agad namang pinapasok ni Lolo ang naroon.

"May tawag po para sa inyo Don Leonardo." One of our maid said.

"Mauna na 'ko sa baba, Lo," Paalam ko bago niya tanggapin ang telepono. Tumango siya at sinabing susunod na lang.

I walked down the grand staircase leaving the second floor of the mansion where the private rooms are located. The interior of the whole mansion were screaming elegance despite of its ancient theme.

I saw Tita Wena, Tito David's wife walking towards the kitchen.

"Tita," I called her at mukhang narinig naman niya iyon.

"Mirae, halika sa kitchen at tulungan mo kami ng Mommy mo. Naghahanda kami ng miryenda."

"Sandali lang po. Alam niyo po ba kung nasaan si Vynz?" I asked dahil pagbaba ko ay wala ng tao sa hapag.

"Nasa hardin kasama ng mga tito mo."

"I'll just go to the garden po, I'll be back. Tutulungan ko kayo nila Mommy." She nodded at dumiretso na sa kitchen habang ako at nagtungo sa hardin.

I saw Vynz talking with my uncles and Tyler. Nakatalikod si Vynz sa akin kaya hindi niya nakita na paparating na ako. Sa harap naman niya ay si Tito Ricos at Tyler habang sa kabila ni Vynz ay si Tito David.

"Mirae, hija." Si Tito Rucos ang unang nakapansin sa akin. Their attention turned to me when they heard Tito. Vynz rose up at sinalubong ako.

"You alright?" Bulong ng makalapit siya na nakapagpakunot ng noo niya.

"Yeah, bakit naman hindi?"

"Nothing," I replied and shook my head.

"How about you? You alright? I thought something happened your lolo..." He asked, yeah right akala ko rin.

"Later." Iyon na lang ang naisagot ko sa tanong niya.

He nodded and asked me to sat down beside him ng makarating kami sa kinauupuan nila but I rejected dahil sabi ko ay tutulong pa akong kila Mommy.

"Anong gusto niyong meryenda?" I asked.

"Hindi ba at naghahanda na sila Wena, natanong na kami kanina, hija," Tito David muttered. I slowly nodded. Sabi ko nga.

My relatives all know that Vynz is a Devaughne. Tita Ellena, Mommy, at si Theo lamang ang nagtuturing na kalaban kay Vynz habang ang mga tito ko, si Tyler at tita Wena, they are casual.

I went back to the kitchen at naabutan ko roon ang dalawang tita ko at si mommy na naghahanda ng pagkain.

"Mirae, pakidala nga ang mga ito sa hardin. I don't want to see any Devaughne enjoying in our property. I don't know why you brought that man to our mansion. Kung pwede lang ay nilagyan ko na ng lason ang inumin ng lalaking 'yon but maybe you have a plan at maaaring masira ko ang plano mo kung gagawin ko iyon." Tita Ellena stared at me and continues.

"Siguraduhin mo lang na may plano ka talaga." Inabot niya sa akin ang hawak niyang tray na may mga baso at juice. Si Tita Wena naman ay may hawak ding tray na mayroong mga cake at cookies.

"Bumalik ka Mirae, we'll talk," Mommy said bago ako mabalabas ng kitchen. Nauna na sa akin si Tita Wena at pagkarating ko sa garden ay pabalik na siya.

I placed the tray on the table na napapalibutan nila. I leaned on Vynz at binulungan ko siya.

"Kakausapin ko lang si Mommy then uwi na tayo," I whispered dahil baka may gagawin pa si Vynz at hindi lang makaalis dahil sa akin at sa mga tito ko.

"Alright."

Pagtalikod ko ay naroon na si Mommy na mukhang hinihintay akong bumalik.

"What was that? May pabulong bulong ka pa!" Mommy grimaced at medyo malakas ang pagkakasabi niya kaya lumingon ako sa likod para tinignan kung nakuha ni Mommy ang atensyon nila Tito at laking pa salamat ko ng hindi nila narinig iyon.

"Sinabi ko lang na uuwi na kami pagkatapos nating magusap." She scowled at me because of what I've said.

"Bakit kasama mo ang lalaking iyon?"

"I have a plan Mom and he is making it easier for me because he said that he likes me and sabi niya ay liligawan niya ako. That means mas mapapalapit ako sa kanya."

Mom gave me a disapproving look as she raised her brow. "What?! Gusto ka? And you believed him?"

"I don't care if that's true or not basta I have a plan."

She rolled her eyes on me. "Siguraduhin mo na hindi babalik sa'yo ang mga plano mo. I don't want to see you cry because of that man." I she worried? I can't help but smile.

"Don't worry, Mom-"

She shut me up and her brow automatically rose up."I'm not worried."

"Yeah, you're not. Sabi mo." I shrugged at pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. "You told me na inatake si Lolo kanina," I muttered at tinalikuran ako ni Mommy pero agad ko siyang hinarangan para mapatigil siya.

"Hindi ka pupunta dito kung hindi ko sinabi iyon," She replied at akmang aalis na ng pigilan ko ulit siya.

"Pero you're worried nga?" I asked to annoy her more.

"Hindi nga! Ano ba, Mirae! God! Pinapasakit mo ang ulo ko," She dramatically massaged her temples na ikinatawa ko.

"Kalma lang, ang presyon Mommy tumataas and the feeling is mutual, sumasakit din ulo ko sayo, my." I uttered while chuckling na lalong nakapagpainit ng ulo ni Mommy. My Mommy is concerned ayaw lang aminin.

I wear my Louboutin heels and carried my hand bag at handa ng pumasok sa opisina when my condo's door bell buzzed. I opened the door at bumungad sa akin si Vynz with his suit at mukhang papasok na rin sa opisina. What is he doing in here?

Last day ay hinatid niya ako dito sa condo pagkagaling namin sa mansyon. He even said that he'll see me tomorrow even though wala akong maalala na may napagusapan kami na magkikita kami at ngayon ay nasa harap ko nga siya.

"What are you doing here?" I even gave him a questioning look.

"I'll drive you to your office," He casually said.

"And why is that, Engineer Devaughne?" I asked but I have a hunch kung bakit niya ako ihahatid sa office and my heart beats fast dahil sa hinuha ko. I cleared my thoughts. Your heart can't beat fast because of that Devaughne, remember that. Maybe it's because of nervousness? Oh don't fool your self, Mirae hindi ka kinakabahan ng ganoon lang.

"I told you I'll court you. Masanay ka na, araw araw 'to and I'll fetch you later." My brow rose up automatically.

"Really?" Sarkastikong tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yeah, let's go. Parehas tayong malalate kung hindi pa tayo aalis and I don't tolerate tardiness, Ms. Lozano." He smirked at iginiya ako papunta sa elevator.

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