After lunch, the Tan couple decided to go home. While they were on the road, a phone suddenly rang.
Ring. Ring. The middle-aged lady answered the call.
"How's my beautiful, young-looking mother?"
"Oh my, look who called. Your slippery words won't work on me, young man. Do you think I am not going to grill you? Well, you're mistaken."
"Mom, I'm coming home."
"I didn't hear you. Can you repeat that?"
"I.Am.Coming.Home." He emphasized every word.
She turned the speaker on. "Old man, am I hearing things? Our second son wanted to come back home." She looked at her husband, not really asking him but to mock her son.
"Well, you asked for him to…." After saying that, he grimaced in pain suddenly. It turns out that his lovely wife just pinched him. "I mean..."
"Are you getting old, mom? Is this one of the so-called signs of aging?"
"Who's old?"
"Well, you just said you can't hear me."
"I definitely can! Can't you hear the sarcasm in my voice a while ago? Tsk, maybe, you are the one getting old."
"Fine, I'm the one who is old. Is the speaker on?"
"It is."
"Hi, dad!"
"Son, I heard you are coming home."
"Yes. Mom is threatening me with my cameras."
"I have to. Don't think that you will be left scot-free. The next time you ignore my call, I'll smash your collections instantly. I'm not going to give you any more warning. You get me?"
"Mom! You can't do that."
"Try me."
"...fine." He sighed.
"When are you going to tone down your exploratory tendencies? You don't even call us - your parents. I understand that it is your job, your passion, but don't forget that you have a family wondering if you are safe or where you are. At least inform us." Clara fired rapidly at one go. She really does worry a lot.
"Mom, I understand. I'm sorry." He felt guilty.
"Good that you are sorry. You are now 31 years old. When are you going to settle down too? You and your older brother are getting old. I worry that you two will grow old alone."
"Mom, don't lump me with brother. He is different from me, ok? I have dated before, while he has zero. I think you need to worry more about him."
"You two are both my sons, so I am going to worry
about you two brothers. I know you have dated before, but... have you ever really been in love?"
"....."
"See? You don't. So, what is the difference between you and your brother? None."
"Ouch... you know where to hit me, mom. But I wanted you to know that I have had a harmonious relationship with my past girlfriends. Even though it is not 'true love,' you can't exactly tell me that it is a failure. We started good and ended things in a good way."
"Well, yes, it is not exactly a failure, but just as what you have just said yourself, it ended."
"It ended in a good way." He reiterated.
"Uhuh... what I wanted for you two brothers to have, is that of a never-ending love."
"Mom, in this day and age, there is no forever in romantic love."
"Then what do you call your dad's love for me? Hmm?"
"Dad is different. If he stops loving you, he will probably be executed by you." He jokingly said to his mom.
"Why you!"
"But honestly, I kind of envy you two, mom."
"See... you two brothers need to find love. ASAP."
"Hahaha.... mom, you are really keeping up with the internet lingo." He felt amused by how his mom could still be young at heart.
"Of course, I don't want to be left behind. Not someone here who doesn't know many things about the internet world." She looked at her husband.
"I'm old, and it's ok not to be knowledgeable about these things. Besides, I have you with me." James looks at his wife and holds her hand.
"Aww.. old man, you are really something. You know what to say." Clara gazed at her husband lovingly.
"Helloooo… I'm still here. Ugh.. save me from the mushiness." The son complained. His parents can sometimes give you the cringe, but he got to give it to them; they deeply love each other.
"You are just 'jelly' that we have what you don't have. Anyway, I'm going to wait for your return this week."
"Kk, I will definitely come home this week. I don't want my 'babies' smashed into pieces."
"That's good. See you soon, and take care of yourself."
"Bye, mom, dad. See you soon."
"See you, son."
And the lengthy call ended.
Several days passed, and the night of the gala was finally here. At Shangri-La, a skinny man in his early fifties is intensely looking at the handsome man before him. He couldn't help but feel on edge while the president of the top company in the country was reading his proposal. You couldn't blame him. The Tan Corporation's president has this intimidating aura with him without even speaking. He was just sitting there and reading, but it felt like an invisible hand was slowly suffocating the skinny man. Despite him being older than the man before him, he felt intimidated. The moment he saw that President Tan was done reading his proposal, he immediately broke his silence.
"President Tan, what do you think of the proposal."
"This proposal of yours is something else, President Han." Angelo looked straight into the jittery skinny man's eyes while he put down the folder.
Silence ensued. President Han tried to analyze the underlying meaning in the young CEO's statement, but to no avail.
He was waiting for President Tan to expound further, but he seemed not keen on doing that. He thought nothing would happen if he didn't say anything, so he decided to go for it. "Meaning?.. I do not understand your take on the proposal, President Tan."
"President Han, do you know what I hated the most? There are several."
Upon hearing it, President Han doesn't know what President Tan is trying to say. He got more confused. He was stumped for words.
"Do you even know what auditioning is, President Han?" Angelo asked amicably.
"This.." Another question was thrown at him. Although the man before him looks amicable at the moment, something tells him that everything is not going to plan. He doesn't know what to say.
"So, I don't see why there is a need for this proposal."
"This proposal is beneficial to you, President Tan. You won't lose anything. What I am proposing to you is that, if you choose one of our models, you only need to pay 50%... no.. even 45% of what you usually pay to your ambassadors." President Han hurriedly tries to explain the good points of his proposal.
"President Han. You don't seem to understand me." Angelo stood up elegantly. His sharp eyes stared at the paling man before him. His smiling persona suddenly looks scary - like his persona turned one-hundred-eighty degrees.
The middle-aged man suddenly felt chills down to his spine. "President Tan, won't you consider it?"
"Secretary Rod."
"Yes, President?"
"You know what to do." Not even glancing at President Han, he just left the poor man confused.
"President Han, since you don't understand the President's bottom line, then the Tan Corporation will no longer welcome you. Your models can now audition at another company."
"What do you mean by that, Secretary Rod?"
"It is what you think it is, President Han. Your models are not welcome anymore to audition for our current and future campaigns. Please expect a detailed formal email from our corporation to your company." Rod bowed and then proceeded into the exit without listening to the hopping madman.
The duo head straight to La Credenza Hotel for the charity gala. Upon arriving at the room, the stylist is already inside waiting for them.
"Good evening, President Tan and Secretary Sy."
"Good evening." Angelo gave a curt nod.
"Good evening too, Ken." Rod greeted back and immediately spotted the suits hung on a rack. "They look nice."
"Thank you. So, shall we start?"
"Sounds like a good plan," Rod said and looked at Ken - the stylist. "Let us start with President."
The silent president was sitting comfortably on a grey armchair and about to stand up when his phone started ringing. He looked at his phone, and it was his dear sister. "Rod, you go ahead. I need to answer this call first."
"Ok."
Angelo answered his phone. "Hello."
"Brother, you have to help me! Please tell mom and dad to lift my confinement."
"No."
"No?"
"You are not that deaf. How did you get a hold of your phone?"
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you have to help me."
"Of course…. Not."
"Brother, please. I can't stand it anymore! I'm bored."
"Good. Maybe, you need to experience boredom sometimes."
"Brother, I'm serious! I've been cooped up in the house for what seems like forever. At least allow me to accompany you to the charity gala tonight. Pretty please?"
"No. You need to be confined. It is about time for us to be strict with you. This is your deserved punishment for the trouble that you have caused."
"Hmph! You all are too heartless. You are not my brother anymore." Crystal ended the call, obviously peeved.
Angelo can only shake his head in response to his sister's behaviour. After his call, he started getting ready for the ball.
"President, are you satisfied with the look tonight?" Ken asked.
"Mm," Angelo responded while looking at himself in the mirror.
Rod was done getting ready and looked at the president's appearance for the gala. He can't compare himself with the man before him. Well... there is no comparison to begin with. How can a single person be so perfect? He can't even get envious because the gap between them is too vast. Rod can only admire.
"You look especially dashing tonight President."
"Yes, he does! With President's spectacular face, physique and aura, coupled with my stylings, no one can outshine him tonight!" Ken bubbly stated. He looked at the president like some cherished treasure.
"You did well."
"Thanks, President. You did the right thing to task the fabulous me with your outfit for tonight." Ken proudly stated with confidence.
"Hey Ken, don't you know the word 'humble'?" Rod jest.
"Nah, I don't have that word in my dictionary." Ken winked.