Chapter“ call me Kuya!”

TOM POV :

The next morning, around 10 am Tom, got a call from his father. He went to their meeting place, In a coffee shop nearby their company and that coffee shop owned by his mother.

The ambiance of the place is quiet and serene, the jazz music we're playing, and the aroma of coffee is intoxicating.

Tom sat on the corner table, his mama came by with a tray. A pi0

s+ce of cake and black coffee were served for him, Tom sip and checked his phone. He notice that Anna started following her, Anna's Instagram is in public mode. He checked her photos.

"Is that Anna?" His father asked

"Yeah" he answered and suddenly turn off his phone

" what can you say about her?" He continued to ask while seated on the chair next to him

"What do you mean by that" he intrigued

He shrugged his shoulder signing his hand randomly "Nothing, just randomly questioned" he explained

Janeth looked at him And Marvin widened his eyes

" Father wants you to come back "

"For what?" He started to frown "He said Im no longer his grandson"

"Could you please put aside your ego " Marvin please him and Janeth grips his wrist

" That was a long time ago Tom," his mother said calmly " your grandfather that time was anguish with sorrow, that is why he said that " she added

Tom frowned, he clutched his fingers and put on his chin, and leaned forward. He took a deep breath

Janeth saw his reaction, she tap his broad shoulder

"it's alright," she said and hug him

Tom cannot forget what was happened two years ago, he and Mildred were supposed to be in Paris and start a new life there. Tom and Mildred are in the airport and waiting for their flight.

TWO YEARS AGO :

"Are you sure, that lolo will be okay if we're doing this"

Tom hissed "of course!" He said and throw his baseball cap on the metal chair " what time is it now?" he asked and looked at his wristwatch, it's a 1hour before their flight.

He sat down, and crossed his arms on his chest, and cross his leg.

Mildred rolled her eyes and hold her bag

After an hour, they saw their plane number and time flashing on the tv screen, they both lined up at the entrance gate, Meanwhile, the airport police came by

"Thomas Yang!" the airport police called his attention

They both looked back

"could you please come with us?" he said politely

The couple felt anxious and scared.

" Please don't cause any trouble here!" the other airport police said when Tom hold his girlfriend's hands

"Ma'am, you can go ahead,!" he said to Mildred "we need some clarification and verification from Mr. Yang on his visa?"

"But we're..." Mildred interrupted

The airport police handcuffed his hands, Mildred tried to stop them

" Maam we don't need you, only him!" he said angrily" unless you want to cancel your flight"

" don't touch her!" Tom warned them

"Sir if you've followed us quietly, then we will not cause any trouble here " he warned them

"it's an okay babe... I will come back" tom said and kissed her " you should go first"

Some passengers were looking down on the feeling they committed a crime.

Tom followed them and brought them to the interrogation room. The police uncuff him and he was left alone in an enclosed glass room. He was imprisoned there.

After an hour the plane took off, Mildred was alone traveling to Paris.

In the meantime, Tom was furious, he wanted to break the glass behind him when Chairman Yang's lawyer came in.

"Let's go sir" he invited him

Tom clasp his hand and walked into him, he wanted to punch him but he controlled himself.

"where's the key?" he asked furiously

"We can send you home sir"

He pulled his suit " give me the key!" he shouted

Chairman Yang driver gave the car keys to him.

He hit him on the shoulder using his shoulder, he suddenly walked out, he drove off and doesn't care if he was spending too much or not. He drove off to their house, when he arrive at Chairman Yang study room, he opened it and slammed the door

Chairman Yang was sitting on the chair, he's waiting for him

"what are you doing?" he shouted him,

"I told you, you will never win, try to do something and you will regret it for the rest of your life boy" he politely said to him

Tom sighed and he punched the table

Chairman Yang doesn't move an inch to his chair but he gazed at him

Janeth and Marvin step in, and some of the maids came in when they heard noises coming from that room

"Tom!" Marvin interrupt them " what are you doing?" he shouted "are you out of your mind" he continued "he is your grandfather!" he added

"he is not my grandfather" Marvin slapped him

"Ohh Good lord!" Janeth said "Stopped both of you! " she said walking toward them

Tom's wrist is wounded, but he doesn't feel anything. He walks away

Janeth followed him

"Tom please stay, where are you going?" she asked anxiously

"Paris," he said

"tried to do that and you are no longer connected to us," Chairman Yang said while tightening his wrist

Tom continued walking through the door without looking back

Chairman Yang was desperate, he confiscated all his cards, bank account, and anything he had, even his passport. Chairman Yang called the immigration office to ban him in any country thus he is not allowed to go abroad.

Tom work hard, he never came back to their house even once right after the incident. His mother secretly helps him.

Tom was frustrated and felt grudges against him.

Janeth hold his hand " you do not know how much he loves you!" she whispered

Tom's eyes filled with tears, and looked away, holding his tears.

"try to reconcile with him... And you will understand" Marvin said

Tom shook his head and drank his coffee.

He walked away, he went somewhere to unwind. He drove off to Anna's house.

He took a deep breath and parked his car in the mall nearby.

He got out and went inside, on the escalator he accidentally saw Anna downstairs, He hurriedly came back but he's already in the middle. He stopped walking upstairs and turned around.

He saw Anna was looking at him.

"what are you doing?" Anna asked "That escalator is going down, your mom doesn't teach you that!?" she said sarcastically

Tom steps out when he finally at the floor

" blah blah blah!" Tom said "What are you doing here?" he asked

"My house is nearby, and yours is too far away.."

"Well, can't you see... Window shopping..!" his excuse

Anna raises her eyebrows

" I like it in here, only a few people!" he continued

"Okay... Enjoy!" Anna said and left

Tom pulled his hand "Whoah whoah!!" he stopped her

She struggled from his grip

"What?" she wondered asked

"Can I come with you?" he asked

"and why?" she asked, " though you're on WINDOW SHOPPING!" she imitated him

Tom smiled

"It's my second time in this place... You know. Maybe I will lose my way..."

Anna laughed

"LOST? !" she asked

Tom nodded and made a poker face

" This mall has only two floors!" she said, " how you will be LOST ON YOUR WAY!?" Anna teasing him

Tom hissed "Right, if you don't want to, I thought you and I were friends!" he said

Anna chuckles and looks at him

"I'm going to the bookstore,!" she said

Tom smiled and followed her "What are you going to buy in there?" he asked innocently

" fish!" she sarcastically answered

Tom glared

" I'm so sorry," when she caught Tom looking at her

And she bit her lower lip causing her not to laugh again

"HA HA HA HA" Tom sarcastically laughed in front of her

"Are you mad?" she asked "I am going to buy a ballpen, I need black, red, and blue color..." she explained

Tom remained silent.

Anna looked back at him and studied his reaction

" Ohh dear you really mad,?" she said

" no I am not!" he answered and went to the magazine corner.

Anna smiled and went to the ballpen section

Tom saw Mildred in the magazine. He picked it up and went to the counter where Anna paid her ballpen

Tom put the magazine on the counter

" included this," Tom said to the cashier

"Hey!" Anna interrupted

Tom smiled at her

" Maam are you going to pay this," the counter asked her while holding the magazine

Anna sighed and nodded to the cashier

After that, when they left the bookstore Anna gave him the magazine

"thank you," he said "Come!" he invited her

" WHERE?" She asked

Tom walked toward her back, and he suddenly put his palm on her back and pushed her to the Starbucks beside the bookstore

"HE HEHEYYY'!" she said

"come on," he said

They both went inside the café and sat on the couch, Anna put her paper brown bag on the table in front of the couch. Tom went to the counter and made an order.

He came back and sat down

" thank you for this," he said while holding the magazine

Anna nodded

"You don't have a class for today?" he asked "And don't tell me... THAT IS WHY I AM HERE!! " he continued

Anna chuckles "Ahhhh your learning huh !"

Tom put a checkmark on his chin

They both laughed

Later after, the barista called Tom, He got up and went to the counter. He came back with a tray.

He put their order on the table.

Tom opened the magazine, he read the contents about Mildred.

" look at her!" he proudly said to Anna "This is my girl" he continued

Anna smiled at him "She's adorable..." Anna said

"I know" he answered

Tom put aside the magazine and drank his frappe

" you know what, you two are a lovely couple... When will you two get married?" she asked interestedly

" did you propose to her?" she was intrigued

"slow down..." Tom said to her " Soon I will" he answered her

"And I want you to be there on our wedding day, Mildred loved to hear that"

Anna nodded with a smile on her face

" I was hoping soon enough!" she said

" of course," he said and sighed

" WHAT?" Anna asked when she saw his reaction "You should be excited about it!" she's encouraging him

" My grandfather really likes you," he said

"oww!" and sip her frappe

" How did you do that?" he asked

"I don't know... He doesn't..." she smiled " Ummm... Can I ask questioned?" she seriously asked

Tom looked at her

" Seem you both are not in a good..." she was interrupted when Tom talk

"Yes, we're not"

Anna straightened his lips and nodded

"Can I give a friendly advice..."

"no you're not" he quickly response

Anna drank her frappe "Okay" he murmured

"I'm just kidding, Go ahead!" he said

"I already forgot the advice," she said

"What!??" he asked "You're crazy" he added

" All I can say is be grateful because he is still alive, even if he's still there and ruling your life," she said " because one day, you will no longer be able to talk to him or see him and I'm sure you gonna miss it " she added " Life is short" she whispered

" I lost my grandfather eight years ago," she said

"Tom looked at her deeply and Anna covered his eyes

" tsk... " she said and stood up

Tom smiled" I'll think about it"

"don't think... Do it..., because one day if you have your own children, you're going to tell a story about him..." she said

" by the way, I need to go"

" I'll send you home," he said

" No, I'm fine thank you for today," she said

"No, I should be the one who would say that" he replied "Thank you for today,!" said " You made me happy" he continued

Anna raised her eyebrows and bow

"you're welcome majesty," she said

Tom nodded. And smiled at her

Tom Got up and opened the door for her.

"Please call me KUYA! " Tom said " I wanted you to be my younger sister," he said (Kuya means older brother)

Anna felt something strange in her chest. Like lightning struck on her chest.

She smiled at him and "Yeah sure.., I'll be your always younger sister" she replied " Goodbye," she lifted her right hand and waved to him

Anna left and there was no looking back, while Tom continued looking at her.

Stay tuned!

Chapter 8: Outreach Program