Sacrifice Of A Friend

Llanie can't say anything. She could only listen to her mother's devastated cry and his father's weak self. Kalmado ang ama niya but Llanie could feel his frustration. She is frustrated as well. But all she can do is listen and silently cry for her parents. At times like this, her parents need her to be strong.

Her father was blackmailed by none other than Red's aunt Marga. Hindi niya alam na magagawa iyon ng tiyahin ni Red sa mga magulang niya. They'd been business partners for years. Marga had always been nice to her parents. Yun pala may hidden agenda ito. They all thought that Marga was helping her father para palaguin pa ang negosyo nito. But huli na nang malaman ng ama niya that Marga is actually transferring all his father's right of his own business in Marga's name.

Marga is ambitious that she didn't care if she looses a friend in the process of reaching her desires. She was actually aiming for the wealth remains of Red's parents. But his father was so wise na hindi nito iyon maagaw kay Red. Thus, she shifted to the closest asset she can grab.

Llanie's father met Marga thru another business partner. Bilang ito ang representative sa kumpanyang pag-aari ng ama ni Red, she approached Llanie's father in good faith simply for investment. But along the way, nakakita ito ng opportunity na unti-unting makuha ang mga shares nito na sa una'y simpleng investment lang. It was already too late for Llanie's father to take it back. They cannot sue Marga for everything she did was actually clean and legit and documented. They trust her so much that they actually handed their business to a double crosser.

"Wala na ba tayong magagawa?" Llanie's mom cried out. "That company is yours from the beginning how could you just simply give it to her."

"She's planning all this. I didn't realize I am actually losing friends and business partners. She was bribing them to support her. "

"That easy? What type of people have you employed in your company?" turan ng ina ni Llanie.

Napabuntong hininga ang tatay ni Llanie. He was running out of strength. Napatingin ito sa kaniya. Her father was actually worried about her. She always know that his father works hard para mabigyan siya ng magandang buhay. Her father wasn't born rich pero dahil sa pagtyatyaga nito at sa determinasyong mabigyan siya ng maluhong buhay, she was able to grow up with a silver spoon.

Ang tingin nito sa kaniya is tila nagsasabing kung kami lang kaya nitong bawiin ang lahat ng nawala sa kaniya. But because of her, it will be very difficult to bear at alam niyang ayaw ng ama niyang mahirapan siya.

"Dad, is there anything I can do?" she voiced out.

Napailing ang ama niya. Bumuntong hininga saka malungkot na ngumiti sa kaniya. "Are you worried na maghihirap na tayo?"

"I'm scared," amin niya. She's used to living luxurious. Hindi niya alam anong pakiramdam ng mahirap. Thus, she is scared of the thought.

Lumapit sa kaniya ang ama. Niyakap siya nito as if sa kaniya kumukuha ng lakas ng loob to survive this hardship.

"Dad, please tell me, it's gonna be ok," she started crying. Her father rubs her back. Napatingin siya sa ina. Napaupo ang ina niya in devastation.

"I won't lie, my daughter. I'll try my hardest na bawiin lahat ng kinuha satin but this will not be easy and we won't be ok. But all I'm asking you is to be strong and do what you must to survive as well," ani ng ama niya.

Napayakap siya ng mahigpit sa ama.

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Llanie walks in papasok ng opisina ni Marga. Her father told her to be strong and do what she must to survive. But she just couldn't sit down and wait. Thus, she went to see Marga. She was scared to face her pero nang matanggap niya ang mensahe nito nung nakaraang araw, she got interested kung anuman ang gustong sabihin nito. Baka kahit papano may magawa siya.

"Come in," udyok ni Marga nang matanawan siya sa pinto na alumpihit na pumasok. "I was expecting you 2 days ago. Have a seat," utos nito na nilahad ang couch sa gitna ng opisina nito. Tumayo rin ito mula sa office table at tumungo sa couch area. Sumunod siya ng upo rito.

"I always have this undeniable liking towards you. From the very start I met you, I know I wanted you as a daughter. I may not have a son but I have Red and he is like a son to me," turan nito.

"Pasensya na po pero kung ipagpipilitan niyo po ako kay Red, hindi na po ako makikipag-usap sa inyo. Hindi po yan ang pinunta ko rito," she said trying to act tough.

Ngumiti ito into an almost devil grin. "I know. But I ask you to come here. I have the right to say what I needed to say."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Llanie. Napasandal sa sofa si Marga.

"I know Red's girlfriend. Is she your friend, right?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

"I don't like her. But I know that Red was so fascinated with her that I can't break them up. So I'll be needing your help," Marga is looking at her mischievously. Dumukwang ito sa kaniya at halos pabulong na nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "I wanna share with you a little secret that I know about Red. Red's father left all his wealth to his one and only son. I was just a mere caretaker. And I cannot touch it. No matter how I tried. But you know what, there is one thing that I cannot do but you can." Marga is smiling na tila naeexcite na ikwento sa kaniya ang sekreto nito.

"In Red's heirloom, there was one specific amount of wealth that is not Red's. That is for her soon to be wife," lumapad ang ngiti ni Marga. Llanie's interest had been piqued. "Interesting, right?"

Marga chuckled.

"I didn't know my step-brother was actually a hopeless romantic. Or maybe sobrang yaman niya that he thought that his wealth cannot be handled by just one child. So he had it prepared in advance. Pinamanahan niya in advance ang mapapangasawa ni Red. No conditions. Only Red's choice."

Llanie got even more interested. She somewhat understands kung ano ang gustong mangyari ni Marga. It maybe somewhat bad, pero aminado siyang interesante asa kaniya ang ideyang iyon.

Red is definitely a dream come true prince. He was almost perfect. Hindi ito mahirap magustuhan. Bukod sa mabait din ito sa kaniya, he had never shown disrespect towards her. But then kaya ba niyang agawin ang nobyo ng best friend niya?

"I'm sorry. Pero I hope I'm wrong," she said. Hindi man siya makatingin kay Marga. She is trying to be firm. "I know you always matched us together. But Red is no more than a friend to me."

Marga grinned wider. "I knew you'd say that. But," napaangat ito into a firm sit-up position. "I know can persuade you. I am not a bad person. I just want the best for my step-nephew. That's why I am choosing the right girl for her."

"No! It will never happen," tumayo na siya akmang aalis.

"Let's put it this way, then..." Naphinto siya. "I don't intend to keep your father's company. I am actually helping them to grow it. But what if we make a switch,"

Bahagya luminga si Llanie paharap kay Marga.

"Find a way to marry Red even without love. Once the heirloom was transferred to yours, Ibabalik ko sa Papa mo ang kumpanya niya, but you have to give me that heirloom."

She smirked. "Do you think I trust you?"

Marga grinned again. Tumayo ito at humarap may inabot na envelop sa office table. Inilahad nito iyon sa kaniya. "To prove you, I have given him back half of what he used to have just because you came here today. You can bring this to him and simply sign it." Lumapit ito sa kaniya at iniabot ang dokumento.

Alumpihit man inabot yun ni Llanie. She read it. It was legit. Muli siyang humarap dito.

"I am not expecting you to answer now. You can think about it... But you better think fast baka mainip ako." Tumalikod na ito sa kaniya at muling umupo sa lamesa nito.

Napayuko na lang si Llanie as she held the document in her hand tightly...