Chapter 45 - Just Dinner #2
Cebu expansion delayed by lease negotiations.
Clark office under budget.
The Cebu location was already three months behind internal target.
I took a drink.
Tori noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Her eyes narrowed.
Later.
Definitely later.
Tita Elena continued.
"See? That's what I mean. Very established."
Carlo looked uncomfortable.
"Tita, Lia has a business too."
"Oh, yes, of course."
There.
That tone.
Not insulting.
Technically.
But—
small business.
Cute.
Nice.
While Carlo—
senior director.
Company car.
Condo.
Stable man.
Normal future.
I almost smiled.
Not because I felt insulted.
Because the comparison was—
objectively hilarious.
Tori saw my mouth move.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You're thinking."
"Always."
Her mother looked between us.
"What?"
"Nothing," Tori said.
Correct.
Then Tita Elena asked me—
"How many employees do you have now?"
I told her.
She nodded.
"That's nice."
Nice.
I looked at Tori.
She was already staring at me with an expression that said—
Do not.
I didn't.
Growth.
"Carlo manages more than a hundred people," her mother added.
Carlo physically flinched.
I looked at him.
"Directly?"
"No."
I nodded.
"Good."
He laughed.
"Exactly."
Tita Elena frowned.
"What?"
"Nothing po."
Carlo and I were now unfortunately allies.
Tori hated it.
I could tell.
Then Tita Elena moved to education.
Apparently we had categories.
"Carlo finished his master's."
"Ma."
"At Ateneo."
"Tita, please."
"Very good school."
"Yes po," I said.
She looked at me.
"You studied education, right?"
"Science Education."
"Teacher?"
"Originally."
"And then business."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"See? Very hardworking."
At least I had received one attribute.
Then—
"Carlo did business."
Tori put her hands flat on the table.
"Ma."
"What?"
"What exactly is the objective here?"
There.
Product manager entered the chat.
Tita Elena sighed.
"No objective."
"Then stop comparing résumés."
"I'm not comparing."
"You have covered job title, property ownership, education, direct reports and company benefits."
Carlo looked at her.
"That's actually accurate."
I looked down before I laughed.
Tori pointed at him.
"Do not assist."
"Sorry."
Tita Elena's face tightened.
"Fine. I won't say anything anymore."
Classic.
No one believed her.
She lasted approximately ninety seconds.
Then—
"Carlo also wants children."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Tito Ramon closed his eyes.
Bea whispered—
"Jesus Christ."
Marco stared at the ceiling.
Carlo—
looked like he wanted the floor to open.
Tori went very still.
I didn't move.
Tita Elena looked at her daughter.
"I'm just saying."
"No," Tori said.
Quiet.
"Don't."
"You told me you don't know if you want children."
"Yes."
"He knows."
"That is not compatibility."
"You might change your mind."
"So might he."
Carlo nodded.
"True."
"Carlo," Tita Elena snapped.
He shut up.
I liked him more every minute.
Tori's voice stayed controlled.
"My fertility decisions are not a reason to invite men to dinner."
"I didn't say fertility."
"You didn't have to."
Tita Elena looked at me then.
Big mistake.
"Do you want children?"
There.
Not her business.
Not appropriate.
Not discussed between Tori and me.
I could have answered.
Instead—
"Tori and I haven't decided whether that's even a conversation for us yet."
Tita Elena frowned.
"But if you don't want—"
"Ma."
Tori's voice changed.
Enough.
Even her mother heard it.
Tori looked at her.
"You are not going to interview my girlfriend about whether she can give you grandchildren."
Silence.
There.
Not me.
Not Lia.
My girlfriend.
Tita Elena looked hurt.
"I didn't say that."
"You are saying it."
"I am thinking about your future."
"You're thinking about the future you want for me."
Her mother stared.
Tori continued—
"And then you're trying to put people in front of me until I pick one that fits it."
Carlo lifted one hand.
"For the record, I would prefer not to be selected as a demonstration model."
I laughed.
Couldn't help it.
Tori did too.
Even Tito Ramon smiled.
Tita Elena looked betrayed by the entire table.
"This is funny to everyone?"
"No," Bea said.
"It's actually extremely uncomfortable."
Marco nodded.
"Very."
Tito Ramon finally spoke.
"Elena, enough."
She turned toward him.
"Again? You're taking her side again?"
"She's not a side."
There.
Quiet.
Strong.
"She's our daughter."
Tita Elena's face changed.
Then—
"I am trying to protect her."
Tori looked tired now.
Not angry.
Tired.
"From what?"
Her mother opened her mouth.
Stopped.
Because saying the answer honestly would sound exactly as ugly as it was.
From women?
From being gay?
From uncertainty?
From social judgment?
From a life she couldn't brag about easily?
From no biological grandchildren?
From not being able to explain Tori at reunions?
Tori waited.
Her mother looked down.
Then—
"From regret."
There.
Tori nodded slowly.
"I can regret a man too."
Her mother said nothing.
"I can marry Carlo and hate my life."
Carlo nodded.
"Please don't."
I almost laughed again.
Tori continued—
"I can marry Lia and regret that too."
I looked at her.
Accurate.
No offense taken.
"Or Lia can regret me."
Also accurate.
"Or we can break up."
Her mother's face did the—
see?
Tori caught it immediately.
"And that still wouldn't make you right."
There.
That landed.
"Because the point isn't whether Lia and I last forever."
Silence.
"The point is I chose her now."
I looked at Tori.
She didn't look at me.
She was looking at her mother.
"And I need you to stop treating my choices like temporary mistakes you're waiting to correct."
Nothing.
For several seconds.
Then Tita Elena's eyes filled.
Great.
Emotion.
Very effective complication.
Tori saw it.
Her face softened—
just enough.
But she didn't take the boundary back.
Important.
Her mother whispered—
"I don't know how to do this."
Tori's shoulders dropped.
"I know."
"I really don't."
"I know."
"You're asking me to change everything I imagined."
There.
Tori answered quietly—
"No."
Her mother looked up.
"I'm asking you to understand that what you imagined was never a promise I made."
Silence.
Oh.
That was good.
Carlo looked down.
Bea's eyes were wet.
Marco suddenly became very interested in water.
Tito Ramon stared at his daughter.
Proud.
Maybe.
Tita Elena wiped one cheek.
Then—
looked at me.
Of course.
I did not know what she expected.
Proof?
Reassurance?
A statement that I'd never hurt Tori?
Impossible.
So I gave her the only thing I could honestly offer.
"I really care about her."
Tori looked at me.
Her mother listened.
"I don't know what our entire future looks like."
Important.
"I won't pretend I do."
Pause.
"But I'm not here because she failed to find a man."
There.
Tita Elena's face changed.
"She chose me."
I looked at Tori.
"And I chose her."
That was enough.
No résumé.
No bank account.
No acquisition history.
No—
actually, Tita, statistically speaking—
Nothing.
Just—
choice.
Dinner should have ended there.
Emotionally.
Naturally.
Respectfully.
Unfortunately—
Tita Elena had one more round.
Because apparently she was committed to being unbearable.
We were eating dessert.
Cassava cake.
Everyone exhausted.
Then she looked at Carlo.
"Try this. Homemade."
He did.
"Very good po."
"My daughter's girlfriend's mother made it."
I froze.
Tori froze.
Bea looked up.
Marco looked up.
Tito Ramon looked at his wife.
Did she—
Did she just—
girlfriend?
Voluntarily?
Progress?
Then Tita Elena continued—
"Lia's mother is very nice."
Okay.
"And Lia also has a business."
Okay.
"Though of course Carlo's company is much bigger."
There it was.
Never mind.
Tori dropped her spoon.
"Ma."
I closed my eyes.
Almost.
Almost growth.
Tita Elena continued before anyone could stop her.
"Meridian Axis has branches everywhere."
Not everywhere.
Seven major operational sites.
Three satellite offices.
But—
fine.
"Very stable company."
Carlo sighed.
"Tita."
"And they've been around twenty-three years."
Twenty-one.
"Very difficult to build something like that."
True.
I looked at Carlo.
He looked at me.
Then he asked—
"Wait."
Oh no.
He leaned forward slightly.
"What did you say your full name was?"
Tori looked between us.
"Why?"
I answered.
"Lia Ramos."
Carlo stared.
Then—
"Ramos?"
"Yes."
His expression changed.
Oh.
Interesting.
"What?"
He looked uncomfortable suddenly.
"Nothing."
Tori narrowed her eyes.
"No. Something."
Carlo looked at me.
"You're not connected to Ramos Strategic Holdings?"
Silence.
Tita Elena frowned.
"What is that?"
I looked at Carlo.
Technically—
yes.
Very early.
Not huge.
Not public-facing.
But yes.
"Somewhat."
Tori stared at me.
"Somewhat?"
I ignored her.
Carlo sat back.
"Oh."
Tita Elena looked confused.
"What?"
No one answered.
She looked at Carlo.
"What is Ramos Strategic Holdings?"
Carlo rubbed the back of his neck.
"Investment company."
I corrected gently—
"Operating and investment group."
Carlo nodded.
"Right."
Tori was now staring at me.
Hard.
"You didn't tell me this part."
"You know I invest."
"You said selective."
"It is selective."
Tita Elena looked between us.
"And?"
Carlo laughed once.
Awkward.
Then looked at me.
"Were you the group that requested our information memorandum last quarter?"
Silence.
Oh.
Well.
That was unfortunate.
Tori's eyes widened.
Slowly.
I said—
"We reviewed several companies."
Carlo stared.
"So yes."
"Possibly."
"Lia."
Tori.
Warning.
I sighed.
"Yes."
Carlo sat back.
Marco made a noise.
Bea whispered—
"No way."
Tita Elena still didn't understand.
"What information?"
Carlo looked at her.
"Acquisition review."
Silence.
There.
Tita Elena blinked.
"Acquisition?"
"Yes po."
"What does that mean?"