Niyakap ko kaagad si Daddy at hinalikan sa pisngi nang makita ko siya sa living room. Ganoon rin ang ginawa niya sa akin.

"Daddy! So how's work? How is your woman?" Nakangiti ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya na tinatanong siya. I'm really curious at the woman my Daddy likes or loves. Hindi naman kasi habambuhay kailangang magmukmok ni Daddy sa pag-iwan sa amin ni Mommy.

"She is still not ready, my little angel." Ngumiti na lang ako.

"Okay fine." Mabilis akong pumunta sa kwarto ko at nagbihis na ng pambahay. Pinuntahan ko si Daddy at yinakap siya. "Dad, kanila Chronic na muna ako." I kissed his cheeks with a stubby beard and was about to go out when he stopped me.

"Balik ka rin mamaya. We will have dinner with a new business partner." Tumango ako.

"Okay, Dad. Thanks!" Mabilis akong pumunta sa bahay nila Chronic, na naglalaro ng Mortal Kombat. Nag 2 players na lang kaming dalawa kaya malaya rin kaming nakakapag-usap kahit naglalaban ang mga avatars namin.

"So, what's with tito Bradley? Dad is sure he's seeing someone." I shrugged.

"We've talked about that already," tumigil ako dahil nagkakaroon na ng suspense sa laro namin, "and I think he really is seeing someone, but he said she is still not ready so okay." I shrugged again. "How 'bout you? Is tito Angelo seeing someone?"

"That's impossible. You know my Dad, 'Couz." Yep, it's really impossible. Tito is a playboy. "How 'bout you, 'Couz? Are you seeing someone?"

"First win goes to me!" I mocked him at bumalik na sa postura ko ng pagkakaupo. "Nope. None. I'm not seeing someone." He made a babbling sound and eventually spoke out.

"How about Raven?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Are you shipping us?"

"Most probably. You two are cute— you shit! Hindi ka mananalo sa akin this time, Dainty!"

"You are gonna lose, Chronic!"

"Let's take a bet?!"

"Yeah!"

"You'll ask Raven a date if you lose!"

"Kiss Jax's cheeks if you lose!"

"Okay!"

"Okay!"

-

Nakangisi akong nakapamulsa. Giving out the vibe that I won in our little game.

"As I said, stop competing with me, C. I will win and will still win whatever you'll do." I gave him a puffy grin which he ignored. Yep. I won! I won! Hahaha. Tumingin ako sa watch na nasa left wrist ko. "I gotta go. May fancy dinner pa kaming pupuntahan." I was about to go when I remembered something. "Wanna come with us?"

"Sure." Sagot niya. Kumuha na siya ng tux niya at sumama sa akin pauwing bahay. Nakita namin sila Daddy at Julia na nakahanda na, ako na lang at si Chronic ang hinihintay. Mabilis rin naman kaming nakapag-ayos kaya ayos lang. Sumakay na kami sa four seater na car ni Dad, malamang kaming dalawa ni Chronic sa likuran, lagi namang ganoon.

Bilang secretary ni Dad, madalas ay isinasama nito si Julia bilang date nito sa mga dinner na gaya nito. Madalas rin kaming sumasama ni Chronic kaya sanay na kami sa ganitong set-up, at malamang ay kami ang date ng isa't isa.

Pumunta kami kaagad sa table namin at kami pa talaga ang nauna. Eight seater ang table, at sa dulo umupo si Julia, na katabi ni Daddy, sa kanan ni Dad ay ako at ang katabi ko naman ay si Chronic. Ilang saglit lang ay dumating na rin ang hinihintay namin.

"Mr. Andrada, I am finally glad we are now business partners." Tumayo si Daddy at nakipagkamay kay Mr. Andrada.

"No formalities please, just Vincent."

"Then you can call me Bradley too." Nagkamayan sila bago umupo. "I know you've met this lady here already, my secretary, Julia David." Ngumiti si Julia at nagkamayan sila nila Mr. Andrada o Vincent. "This is my daughter, Dainty, and this is also my nephew, Chronic. He is Angelo's son to her deceased wife, Pia." Nakipagkamay rin kaming dalawa.

"You can call me tito Vincent," sabi niya sa aming dalawa, "and this is my wife, Calista, you two can call her Tita Calista too." Napatango na lang kaming dalawa. "These are my sons, Raven Jet Andrada, our oldest, and Kyle Frances Andrada, our youngest." Napaangat ang ulo ko. Si Raven nga... Ni hindi ko man lang siya napansin. "I believe you three know each other? After all, you are all schoolmates, right?" Tumango kami.

"Is my Raven good to you two?" Ngumiti kami ni Chronic at tumango. "Then fine it is."