CHAPTER 7 "PATRICK RAMOS"

"GET MARRIED, give in to your father's demands. He's old and maybe he wants to experience what it feels like to be a grandpa," Patrick was his best friend.

Patrick was his classmate from kindergarten. In many cases or more correctly to say in almost all cases it is he who becomes his pillar of strength and adviser in his problems. He has always been his ally in his bullshits especially when it comes to women since he started dating. He considered him more than a close friend. He will always be the brother that he never had. And even if he didn't speak, he knew he was the same with him, because like him, Patrick was an only child.

"It seems like what you're saying is so easy. How about you? When is your plan with Tanya?"

With that question, Patrick just shrugged his shoulders before taking his cup of coffee and drinking.

As Joaquin said earlier, he chose to just go to the office since he has nothing to do at home. And he also had to admit that his father's repeated reminders to him about marriage were the reason why he decided to avoid him.

At the thought, Joaquin sighed sadly.

With his great love for his father, he could not stop feeling intense guilt because he could not give what he asked of him. It's not easy. And he could not afford to risk himself and his own personal happiness for that even though he loved his father so much.

"To tell you the truth I don't know. This situation is quite difficult, we know that our parents will not accept what we do but we love each other very much," was Patrick's answer to his question.

Patrick and Tanya's father is a former business partner.

Tanya is Patrick's girlfriend and his childhood friend. The three of them are classmates from kindergarten to elementary. They were in high school when Tanya left the Philippines and her parents sent her to Italy to continue her studies there. She just came back when she graduated from college and is now a full-fledged fashion designer.

As he said, Patrick and Tanya's fathers were former business partners. But everything that they have started was ruined when the truth came out about the secret relationship between Patrick’s mother and Tanya’s father.

Trust is broken yes but above all was their parents' good business partnership. To his knowledge, they were kids when that happened. And also because of each family's cherished image and reputation, both couples did not reach the point where they had to file legal separations. But the rivalry between each family especially the two heads of the family's when it comes to business has been fierce.

"Romeo and Juliet," he said in a sympathetic tone.

"That wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the forced marriage of Mommy and Daddy," said Patrick who sipped his coffee again.

"Then you just wanted me to give Papa what he wants me to me do. To marry someone I don't love?" he said chuckling.

Patrick shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows, you might learn to love the woman your father says. Unlike my mother, she used to say that she will never be able to take Tanya's father out of her heart. She even added that they really are the ones who should be married by now, it's just that my father's family intervened."

Joaquin knew about it because Patrick had told him more than once. And when he hears that, he can say that he was right in his decision not to support what his father wanted to happen and has been telling him for a long time.

"But if you will not fight for your love, if you keep hiding, it's not impossible for what happened to your parents to happen to you. And you probably don't want history to repeat itself between the two of you. Fo your future children to experience the same situation as you are now. You know I am a pleasure seeker and I love women though as I have said taking them seriously is and has always been not included in my options dude but I am very much against adultery. That is why I don't want to get married just like that and I don't want a serious and long-term commitment. I have to admit that I learned a lot about your parents and Lovi's. "

When Patrick didn't say a word, Joaquin continued. "Marriage is sacred to me and I don't want to give it to a woman I don't love. And if I ever get married, I'll do it to just one woman. I want marriage and a relationship with a solid foundation. The type that we may even have divorce here in the Philippines in the future I know I won’t be needing that,” he long explained.

"Marriage, not everyone who gets married loves each other. And not everyone who loves each other can get married," Patrick said bitterly.

"I understand. But you and Lovi have a choice. I know there are many possible consequences, you can both be deprived of your inheritance but is that still important? You can build your own empire with the woman you love," he said.

Joaquin thinks that by doing that he will somehow give Patrick enough courage and fortitude to fight for what he really feels. Because in fact, it is not only Tanya's family that he knows will be against what he does but also his own family, especially his father.

"I still have to think about everything, but if what you're thinking and worrying is we're going to be like what happened to our parents, I'm not going to let us get to that and I know Tanya's the same. The truth is, it's just really hard to decide because whoever and whatever we choose we both know we have families that can be hurt and that’s what we don’t want to happen.”

He nodded. "I feel you, bro. But tell me, am I too old at the age of thirty years old for Papa to push me into marriage?"

Patrick laughed at his question. "What is wrong with you, Wacks! It's like you're insulting me with that question! You know we're the same age, don't you? I'm even three months older than you!" he even used his nickname to call him.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know you were feeling old to yourself?" he said laughing as well. "But hey, thank you and you came here, I really plan to call you too since it's Saturday. I just really need your advice. You know you're the only one I can tell personal things like this," he said the truth and he did not hesitate to say and admit it even though the truth is that he knew Patrick would tease him and he was not mistaken.

"That's the side of you that I want to see you show to the woman you're dating but that doesn't seem to happen," Patrick told him.

"What?" he asked as his brows knit.

"Despite being a playboy, you have a soft side that only those people you have known for a long time can see," he told him.

He shrugged then leaned his back against his leather office chair.

"Why I can't wait to meet her," he whispered.

He knew that what he said reached Patrick's hearing but he did not comment on it and instead just finished the coffee in his cup.

Part of his heart was really touched by what his best friend said and he agreed with that.

Despite everything, behind his coat and tie, he knew he was right.

He has a soft side that only people close to his heart can see. That part of his personality is not seen in him by others and many women who are just after his money.

The truth is that he does not totally disagree with his father. He knows himself and he also feels his gradual exhaustion of the kind of life that has not changed. But what can he do if he really sees true love in any woman involved with him?

Love is not forced and maybe if some people have worked together because of the arranged marriage it is because in that way they are destined to be together.

Meaning to say fate wants that and they are really destined to stay together.