Chapter 55
Gaya ng inaasahan nila ay nasa mansyon na kina Lorenzo, Ashley, Aliyah and most of all Athrea. Gustong umorong ng dila ni Samantha ng batiin siya ni Ashley. Ashley seems friendly the first day they've meet but Samantha couldn't stop thinking she might don't like her. What everyone think about her is always matter to her, she wanted to assure that she's giving them a good impression.
"Are you okay, Ate?" Wika ni Ashley at winayway ang kamay sa mukha ni Samantha upang makuha ang atensyon nito.
Samantha snapped back in reality, she cleared her throat. She don't know how to act infront of them, she always having trouble socializing with others, lalo na't kapatid ito ni Ace.
"Um-Yeah I am perfectly fine" she said.
Just act normal, Samantha. Think that Ashley is Hell. Talk with her like you're old friend
Wika ni Samantha sa sarili.
"Good to hear that then, oh let's get in. Kanina pa nila tayo inaantay, dinner is almost ready... I guess" she saidand chuckled.
Naging magaan ang pakiramdam ni Samantha sa mga inakto ni Ashley.
Inakay siya nito papasok ng mansyon. Nauna na sa loob si Ace at Peyton, ng dumating kasi sila ay agad siyang sinalobong ni Ashley at nangamusta. Pagpasok sa loob ay nadatnan nila ang mag-aamang naka upo sa couch seryuso ang mga itong nag-uusap. Of course they'll talk about business, Lorenzo is still the CEO.
Agad na napaisip si Samantha. Lorenzo Sanford is back, and he'll back at his company too. It would mean that Ace will be leaving the company, not totaly. What she mean is Ace will leave the building, Ace office is located in other building or should she say in the other branch of Sanford Company. As Samantha know, Lorenzo want Ace to seperate his company to him and look after the second branch of the company, it would be his training too. Ace will be the next CEO, the next leader, the next tycon and a legend.
"They're talking about business again" busangot na wika ni Ashley ng pumasok sila ng kusina. Naroon rin si Aliyah na busy sa pagluluto kaya't hindi man lang nito napansin ang pagpasok ng dalawa.
Where is Athrea?
Iyan agad ang pumasok sa isip ni Samantha. Why she's finding her anyway?
"Oh your here"
Biglang nabuhay ulit ang kaba sa puso nito. Gosh this Sanford is really good looking, well all of them has a beauty. But Aliyah's gorgeous face is different. In just looking at her Samantha know she's really perfectionist. The way she took off the apron she's really perfect. Pano nalang kaya pag nagkamali ito? Aliyah will surely going to yell her.
"Um H-hello"
"You're Samantha, right?" Tanong ni Aliyah at naupo sa kaharap niyang island chair.
She manage to smile even her system is shaking due to nervousness. "Y-yes"
"Am I scaring you?" Natatawang wika ni Aliyah.
Mapakla namang ngumiti si Samantha. Yes Aliyah is scaring her to death.
"Don't be scared, okay? I won't eat you" wika nito at muling natawa.
Ngumiti nalang si Samantha.
"Where's Ate Athea, ate? The dinner is almost ready?" Tanong ni Ashley habang nag-aayos sila ng hapag kainan.
And because she wan't to have a good impression to Aliyah she helps Ashley on preparing the table. Aliyah cook all of their foods, without tasting them she knew Aliyah cooked good. She's perfect anyway.
"She's on the guestroom, nagpapahinga. She's not feeling well, I guess"
"Manang Nasly patawag po si Ate Athrea" utos ni Ashley sa katulong na agad namang tumalima.
"Where's Peyton, ate?" Ashley asked as she put the carbonara on the table.
"Um Yaya where is Peyton?" Baling naman ni Samantha sa yaya ni Peyton na ngayon ay tumutulong kay Aliyah sa paglilipat ng niluto nito sa lalagyan.
And guess what? The plates, mugs, utensils and everything is pink. At hindi rin nakakapagtaka ng mulong inayos ni Aliyah ang naayos na nioang hapagkainan. She is really perfectionist.
"Nasa kwarto niya po. Nang dumating kayo kanina pumanhik siya agad sa taas"
Alam ni Samantha na nagtatampo ang anak nito, ilang ulit na ba ito? Una ay ang bagay tungkol sa surname at ngayon naman ay ang nakansela nilang family dinner. Maintindinhing bata si Peyton, hanggat maaari ay iniintindi nito ang ina sa pagkakaroon ng hectic na schedule. Peyton understand his father, but she can't change the fact that Ace disapointed his son. Hindi madalas magtampo si Peyton, at pagnagtampo ito ay hindi mo kakayanin. He'll ignore you as much as he can. He want to be on his room, reading book or doing his school works. At isa ito sa mga ugali ni Peyton na kaylangang paghandaan at indinihin ni Ace.
"Are you okay?"
Napalingon siya sa pinto ng dining room ng magsalota si Ashley. Pumasok roon ang isang magandang babae. She is a goddess, gosh in any angle she really look good.
Nanliit sya rito. Ibang iba siya kay Athrea, sobrang lamang nito sa kanya. She's really doubting her beauty. Maganda ito sa litrato pero mas maganda ito sa personal.
"Yeah, I just need more rest." Fluent itong magsalita ng engles.
"Pakitawag na po kina dad" utos ni Aliyah sa katulong na agad namang tumango at tinungo ang kinauupoan ng mag-ama.
"SO how's the company?" Iyan agad ang sinalubong ni Lorenzo sa anak ng pumasok ito. He don't even ask if he's okay. Tsk wala ng bago roon.
Pareho silang naupo sa couch, alam na ni Ace na kompanya agad ang paguusapan nila and he already ready his self for this.
"Well everything is good," iyan an lamang ang isinagot niya sa ama.
Well totoo naman iyon, maganda ang naging takbo ng kompanya sa pamamalakad niya, napapansin din ni Ace ang pagtaas ng income nila. Ang mahirap lang ay madami siyang tinanggal na trabahador.
"Good then. Though I'm back I can't go back on the company for now, and since your the next CEO i'm letting you stay as the temporary CEO. And besides I'll be retiring soon and as our deal I'll be leanding you the company. You have you heir now, and wife."
Ngumiti lang si Ace.
Naalala nito ang anak, nagtampo ito sa kanya, alam niya iyon. He really need more time to boned with his son.
"Take care of your family Ace" his father voice change in a sudden. Bigla itong nalungkot.
Alam na nito ang nangyari sa ina, galit ito sa asawa dahil sa ginawa. Isa si Lorenzo sa may gustong itayo ang La Vega Publishing house, at muntik ng sirain ni Alana iyon.
"I know I'm not a good father. I only thinks money, money and money. Malayo ang loob niyong magkakapatid sa akin habang lumalaki kayo. I controled your life, I want you to be one of my papet. You only have your mom when your growing, and losing her now is such a big lost. Don't let it happen in your son and wife, Ace. H'wag mong hayaang lumayo ang loob nila sayo, lalo na si Peyton. Let him do what he want. H'wag kang gumaya sa kin, h'wag mong kontrolin ang buhay ng anak mo. Don't ruin your family just for money. You only have them. Choose them over anyone else."
She thinks of what his father said.
Lumaki siya malayo ang loob sa ama, minsan na siyang nagtanim ng sama ng loob rito. Gaya ng sabi nito, pera lang ang iniisip ng ama. Minsan na lamang itong umuwi ng mansyon nila, kung umuwi man ito ay magtatrabaho pa rin ito. Gusto niyang magkaoras ang ama sa kanila pero palagi nitong sinasabing kaylangan magtrabaho ng ama para magkapera sila. He don't need his money, he want his father, only him.
Ayaw niya rin namang maranasan ng anak ang naranasan niya. Gusto niya itong bigyan ng oras, hanggat maaari ay ibubuhos ng ang oras at pagmamahal sa anak at kay Samantha.
His father is right, he only have them. And he guess he can't live now without his son and wife. Sa konting panahong nakasama niya ito ay hindi na niya kakayaning mawala ang mga ito. Sanay na siyang gigising na nandyan si Samantha, matutulog na nandyan ito sa tabi niya. Na gigising sa halik nga anak. Gigising na may anak at asawa.
Noong ayaw niya ng bata dahil makulit ngayon, gustong gusto na niya. Si Samantha at Peyton na ang buhay niya, ang matatawag niyang pamilya.
"I'll be a good father, dad"
"You will be. Take care of your wife and son, don't let the past ruin the future" makahulogang wika ng ama.
Is his dad refering to Athrea?
"Sir kakain na ho" biglang sulpot ng katulong.
"I won't let, dad. I'll choose the present not the past"
Hindi niya hahayaang mabulag siya ng nakaraan. Hindi niya hahayaang mawala sa kanya ang mag-ina.
Past is past. Never discuss!
Authors Note:
Hey to those writers who joined Wattys2021, support✊
Ps. Unedited part.