Sydney, Australia
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"Daltos! Oh, thank heavens you're here! I didn't expect you to be here today!" Bati ni Mrs. Melena Sacramento sa kanyang panganay na anak na si Daltos nang magbukas ito ng pinto ng penthouse.
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Hindi inintindi ni Daltos ang kanyang ina na nakaabang ang mga kamay para sa isang mahigpit na yakap. After all, they just saw each other last two weeks ago.
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Instead, he asked, "Where's Dad?"
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Mrs. Sacramento rolled her eyes and pointed at the room upstairs. "In his study. Now, is that a way to greet your Mom you haven't seen for a long time?"
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"Mom, we had dinner two weeks ago." Protesta ni Daltos sa kanyang ina ngunit pinagbigyan niya ito ng halik sa pisngi at pagmano sa kamay. Despite of growing up in Australia, he still has Filipino blood and he was taught by her parents the basic form of respect.
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"Getting more handsome day by day!" Pahabol ng ina sa kanya nang magumpisa ang binata na tahakin ang hagdan patungo sa opisina ng kanyang ama.
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He had to talk to his father about an important matter.
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After three knocks, he opened the door and greeted his father who was in the middle of a phone call. His father threw him a glance and gestured for him to sit down.
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Walang nagawa si Daltos kundi ang sundin ang ama at maghintay. The phone call lasted about thirty minutes, at tungkol ito sa strike na nagaganap sa isang planta sa Vietnam.
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His father is a magnanimous multi-billionaire business tycoon and at the age of 69, he has 113 different businesses worldwide. From shipping services to retail franchises, he is able to disrupt the market and the GS Empire continues to thrive.
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And when the time is ripe, Daltos Gregory Sacramento will be inheriting half of them. The rest is to his younger sister, who's still stuck in college.
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But being the first born and an only son, he is expected to take over and become the next face of GS Empire.
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Kaya hindi malaman ni Daltos ang dahilan kung bakit nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa kanyang secretary at binalita sa kanyang naka-hold ang lahat ng bank accounts niya at kaya nag-decline ang kanyang cards.
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"So, what brings you here?" Tanong ng kanyang ama nang bumalik ito sa pagupo para magsalin ng whiskey sa kanya. "Do you want some?"
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"I'll pass, Dad." Sagot ni Daltos. He cleared his throat to sound more serious. "My secretary told me you've put a hold on all my cards since yesterday. She was just trying to pay for my employees' lunch."
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No matter how ridiculous his concern may sound, Daltos remained his cool. As usual, ginagawa na naman siyang parang bata ng ama.
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"Ah, yes," Dali-daling pagtango ni Mr. Sacramento sa kanya sabay lapag ng itim na folder sa harap nito. "Thank you for being here, son. I will send you somewhere to do a very special task and I need you to do well on that."
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"Pardon?" Natatawang tanong ni Daltos. "I am acting CEO in your stead at GS Interlink, why would you send me off somewhere like a ninja on a mission? And why hold my cards like that?"
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"Well, for one, I am your father. You need to oblige to whatever I asked you to do. Two, is I think you need a little breather son."
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Daltos could only laugh. He really couldn't understand his father sometimes. "Breather? What do you mean breather? I am old enough to take matters into my own hands and I handle everything well--"
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"Alam ko," patuloy na pagpuputol sa kanya ng ama. "And heaven knows how much I thank them for giving me such a responsible and obedient son like you are. But you said it yourself, you are old enough to take things to the next level. Konting panahon na lang at mapapasaiyo na ang GS Empire. Sa inyo ng kapatid mo. But I need you to have a life before all of this happens."
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His father speaks in riddles. Hindi niya ito maintindihan.
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"I don't know what you mean by me needing to have a life, because I do have it here, Dad. I have a life here with work. With family."
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"Not your own family." Sagot ni Mr Sacramento sa kanya sabay taas ng kaliwang kilay. There was an obvious emphasis on the word 'own'.
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Daltos opened his mouth to speak but failed.
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"You are now at the right age to settle down, son. At twenty nine, you've become wise. You've become everything I wanted you to be."
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Daltos looked away and remained silent.
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"But, for so many years I've observed you. Wala ka pang pinakikilalang babae sa amin ng Mom mo. I tried to have you followed but you never even go on dates. Never even seen you with anyone at the parties. What's going on? Are you asexual? Are you gay? Because it's okay. You can tell me."
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Halos malaglag ang panga ni Daltos sa mga narinig niya sa kanyang ama.
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"Hold on, so you cut my cards off because you think I'm gay?"
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"No, no, no. Definitely not. I did it to have this moment to speak to you like this. Ginawa ko lang iyon para makuha ang atensyon mo. Hindi ka naman nakikipagkita unless business ang paguusapan natin."
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"For the record, I am not gay. Let's clear that up. Second, if you're worried about my sex life, please don't because I've got that taken care of. Lastly, I don't see myself getting married yet. My mind is set to work and work alone as of the moment. End of story."
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Tumayo na si Daltos para lumabas. He was preparing to leave. The conversation is getting funnier by the minute. His father and his tricks! Lagi na lang!
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"Daltos, get back to your seat. I am not yet done." Utos ni Mr Sacramento na tila sumeryoso ang mukha. Daltos didn't have much choice but to oblige. "Narinig mo ba ang sinabi mo kanina? Para kang robot. A functioning robot with no joy in life."
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"I am quite happy with my life, Dad." Argumento ni Daltos. "Now if you want to see me dating, then fine, I'll start seeing women publicly. Now I need to go."
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"Not quite finished, young boy." Huling banta ng kanyang ama. "I still keep the hold on all your accounts and will continue to do so until you agreed to my proposal."
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Curious, Daltos went back to his chair. His Dad can be this irrational sometimes. "What proposal?"
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"Gusto kong umuwi ka ng Pilipinas para i-manage ang La Isla Scramento. I want some changes here and there. I want you do it to prove to me that you are capable of anything, son."
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"That one resort you own in the Philippines? Are you kidding me?" Daltos wanted to laugh.
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Kung dito sa Australia ay multi-million company ang pinamununuan niya nang matagumpay, paano pa kaya ang isang maliit na resort sa isang isla na pagmamay-ari ng kanyang ama?
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"Alam ko ang iniisip mo. It's too easy for you. Yes, I know. The challenge is if you can make the resort successful by maximizing the tourism and have it be acknowledged internationally. You have three months to do that."
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"That's easy. I'll only need a month for that." Daltos answered without even batting an eye.
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"I am giving you three months because I also want you to have fun and relax. Hindi mo alam kung gaano ka-espesyal ang islang iyon para sa amin ng Mom mo. That's the place we met, at doon kami nagpakasal. I want you to experience that special place son. At kung suswertihin ka, baka doon ka makakilala ng mapapangasawa."
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Napailing si Daltos sa huling sinabi ng Dad niya. "What about GS Interlink? Are you gonna take over?"
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"Yes, for the meantime. It's only a matter of three months. If you returned successful, makukuha mo na ang lahat pagbalik mo at piprmahan ko na ang mga papeles. You'll be the Chairman of the GS Empire."
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Too easy, Daltos thought. It's too easy that it's making his heart race in excitement. In three months' time, he'll be the new face of GS Empire at the age of 29.
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Inilahad ni Daltos ang kanyang kanang kamay at tumango. "I accept the challenge."
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His Dad took his hand with a firm grip and a warm smile. "I know you will, young boy."
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Hindi na nagtagal si Daltos sa opisina ni Mr. Sacramento dahil kailangan niyang magasikasong mag-book ng flight at ayusin ang mga bagay-bagay bago umuwi ng Pilipinas.
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His father is always a funny one, he thought. And a little dramatic too. Kailangan pa niya talagang ipa-hold ang bank accounts niya para lang makuha ang atensyon niya.
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Chuckling, Daltos reached out for his phone in his pocket and typed a message to his friends about the news. Kasalukuyan kasing nasa Pilipinas rin ang mga kaibigan niyang sina Quin, Yen, at Skylar at ito na ang tsansa para makapag-reunion silang apat.
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Mr. Sacramento, on the other hand, was happily humming his favorite song as he stared out of the window looking outside.
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He knew his son won't fail him. He just hoped that he'll also come around the fact that he needs to enjoy life. Also, he prayed that he would come back with a wife.
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