UNA ROSA

Chapter 9-The Ghost Comes Back

Nat's place was in a medium-rise condominium in Pasig.

The gable roof was dark brown while the façade was painted white with gray trim.

The porch had a glass and metal railing and it overlooked the parking lot.

Fifteen minutes before 8pm ay nasa parking lot na ako.

I was still debating kung tama ba ang desisyon ko to show up.

Pero ayoko naman na ako ang maging reason para maging unemployed si Chloe.

I mean ganoon ba kaheartless si Lexie para sisantihin siya just because things didn't go according to plan?

Hindi pa ba sapat ang seven hundred roses para maging masaya ang lola niya?

Kahit naman siguro sisantihin si Chloe ay makakahanap pa din siya ng ibang trabaho di ba?

Ako nga itong mawawalan ng kita.

Ako din ang lalong mababaon sa utang dahil I have to take another loan from the bank para manatiling bukas ang flower shop.

I have more to lose kapag nagsara ang Una Rosa.

Pride ko nga lang ba ang reason kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay bukas pa din ang Una Rosa?

But I made a promise to Lola before she passed away.

Alam ko na mahalaga sa kanya ang negosyo na tinayo niya.

Pero kahit naman isara ko ang flower shop ay alam ko na hindi siya magagalit.

She was the most understanding person I know.

Kung buhay pa siya at nakikita na lugi na ang negosyo ay baka siya pa ang magsabi na magsara na kami.

I could imagine her telling me that I have to learn how to give up the fight.

But it was not easy to put up the white flag.

I won't surrender as long as there's still a chance.

Pareho lang kami ni Kuya Basti.

Hirap siya na i-let go ang trauma na ginawa ng Damasco Corporation.

Ako naman, hindi ko matanggap na nagfail ako sa promise ko kay Lola.

Sa tatlong magkakapatid, hindi ako nabiyayaan ng ganda tulad ni Ate Jocelyn.

Commercial at print ad model siya.

Nadiscover sa mall when she was thirteen years old.

Mas mukha siyang foreigner kesa sa Pinoy.

Namana niya ang good looks and mestiza features ng mga Concepcion.

Ate had delicate features, maganda ang bone structure, matangkad, maputi and she had this mysterious air that drew people to her.

Dahil kapatid ko siya, there was nothing mysterious about her.

Kabaliktaran nga kasi si Ate ay very open, spontaneous at down-to-earth.

She was not a diva despite being famous and popular.

Sa New York na siya nakatira at umuuwi lang sa Pinas during Christmas vacation.

Si Kuya Basti ay may itsura rin at matalino.

Accelerated twice during elementary kaya maaga nakagraduate.

Nagdouble major pa ng accounting at business management sa college dahil why not?

Pagkagraduate, nag-aral pa ng law dahil why not nga di ba?