45
"On my way to Busan, ma."
"Busan? And you're alone?" May pagpapanik sa kanyang tono.
The traffic light went to green light. Pinaandar ko ang aking kotse.
"Ma... I can handle it. That was years ago. Don't worry too much. I memorized all the streets and roads already." I giggled.
Iniisip pa rin niya iyong nagpasya akong magdrive ng mag-isa noon at sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari, naligaw ako. Mabuti na lang at alisto noon si Aldrev.
That day is one crazy day. I had fun getting lost in the streets of Seoul, though.
Suminghap siya ng malalim. Mukhang wala na siyang magawa kundi pakawalan ako.
"Alright. If you must say. What are you going to do in Busan? Are you meeting friends?"
"No, ma. Miko and Yumi is not in Busan today. Soft opening ng Lunace Kiosk. I'll check if operations are going well."
"Paris, there are people in Lunace who can do that. You're one with the Luminance Board so you can just sit in your office and wait for papers to sign yet you are there..."
Blah... Blah... Blah... She's been ranting about this for months.
Sinabi ko na kasing ibalik niya ako sa Copywriting Company ng Luminance sa States ngunit ayaw niya. Gusto niya raw ay nakikita niya ako lagi sa main building. Dito kasi sa Korea ang pangunahing gusali ng Luminance.
Five months ago, I was in America.
Naging Chief Operating Officer ako ng Luminance San Francisco sa loob ng tatlong buwan dahil nirequest ko sa kanyang gusto ko ay nasa copywriting line ako. Gusto ko ay iyong nasusubsob ako sa trabaho.
But here I am right now, escaping to do outdoor work. Kahit hindi naman talaga kailangan.
I know, alright? I'm still as stubborn as I was four years ago.
Naboboring kasi ako kung nasa opisina lang ako. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ka karapatdapat sumweldo ng malaki kung nakaupo ka lang.
FG's a whole different workplace. Kahit nasa opisina ako noon maghapon ay marami akong ginagawa.
"Ma, I'll just call you when I get to Busan. Alright?"
"Alright. Just— Paris, I might call Aldrev to follow you there."
I rolled my eyes. Gusto ko agad magprotesta ngunit sa tingin ko ay hindi ko siya makokontra ngayon.
"Bahala po kayo..." sabi ko na lang. Ibinaba ko na agad.
I don't mind driving around Busan with him but Aldrev also has his own life. Sa Lunace Bachelor pa rin siya nagtatrabaho ngunit ngayon ay dini-date niya ang isang modelo galing Italya.
That would be a big NO if he's going to Busan with me. I know how much of a jealous girl his girlfriend is.
Fours years outside the Philippines was a big challenge. And you know what's fulfilling about challenges? When you surpass it.
Noong lumabas ang result ng DNA ay inayos agad namin lahat ng kakailanganin upang maging permanenteng residente ako ng Korea.
I'm not an Agravante anymore. I embraced the blood of being a Cua. My real mom did everything to turn me into one. Ngunit nanatili ang isang bagay sa pagkatao ko.
