I am enjoying myself with the view outside the car. Just to clarify, gumagalaw ang sasakyan and we're on our way to our company.
Wala namang ikinaganda ng view sa labas. Puro jeep, matataas na building , minsan may mararaanan ka pang squaters area, maiitim na usok, mga batang kalye, hepa lanes, iba't ibang sasakyan, malls, at si Aling Puring, nakita ko kasi yung Puregold.
I am just enjoying it. Somehow I am able to reminisce my past. Kung paano ako magkumahog sa pagsakay ng ordinary bus na kapag umandar na mapapakapit ka talaga sa lahat ng posible mong kapitan.
Kung paano ako malakad sa kalye ng ilan para mamalengke, maghanap ng trabaho o' minsan dahil sa kulang lang talaga ang pamasahe.
Everything's different now. I cannot explain how different. It saddens me everytime I realize how different it is now. I don't feel normal. It's like there is something inside me that blocks a lot of good auras away from me.
"May meeting po kayo sa mga Japanese investors sa Friday and Saturday sa Singapore po ang venue, then tomorrow my orientation po para sa mga employees ng Delacarte, tapos--"
I feel like someone is talking so I pull off my earphones and I turn to gaze my secretary whose mouth is half open.
"Were you telling something?" I asked him. Mukhang windang na windang ang itsura nito.
"N-no ma'am I-I'm so-sorry " I stared at him for a moment before turning my gaze away from him.
Barbero itong secretary ko. I heard everything he said dahil wala naman akong pinapakinggang music. Then he'll tell me he did not say anything? And wait! He did speak normally, he did not stutter not when I gazed at him.
The moment I walk inside the building of Delacarte, employees started to greet me. Just like the rest of the days, I did not give them any response. Dire-diretso akong pumasok sa loob ng elevator.
My secretary speaks again.
"He-here's your w-weekly schedule ma'am to-tomorrow you'll be the speaker for the o-orientation for the employees, o-on thursday Atty. Y-Ygo Samera would like to have an appointment with you and last the co-conference withe the Japa-nese investors o-on Friday to Sa-Saturday."
Thank God natapos siya! I really thought aabutin kami ng buwan bago niya masabi lahat ng appointments ko for the week.
Nasa opisina na kami when I chose to broke off my silence. This is a disadvantage of me. May katamaran kasi akong magsalita that's the whole reason why I hate attending meetings and conferrences.
"Regarding an appointment to Atty. Ygo, Please tell him that he's not suppose to talk to me if this is about the Seagull Empire."
"Pe-pero kasi--"
" Look, I can't handle additional responsibility. I can only find a banana and search for the monkey. If he is really persistent for someone to look after the Seagull, nandoon naman na si Jeremy, why ask for my help?"
That monkey! Where the hell is he?! I know what he's been throught but it doesn't mean that he'll hide himself on a jungle. Pati tuloy ako nahihirapan. He's suppose to handle his company! And now his lawyer is pushing a merger with my company, para iisa nalang ang maghandle even wala siya! Well Jeremy Monteverde is there but may sariling company yun and a family!
"O-ok ma'am I'll inform Atty. Samera. And one more th-thing ma'am."
"What?" I lazily asked while scanning documents at the top of my table.
"About the land you bought 4 years ago. The Brgy. Tomasino. The CEO of the Globals is actually--"
"He's still pushing his luck for that land?" I asked. My secretary nodded. I close my eyes to count 1-10 so I could release my frustration.
"I change my mind. Make me an appointment with Atty. Samera. This time it's not about the Seagull Empire, I want him to prepare to contract for Brgy. Tomasino land, a no buy-back contract or any contract that would serve as a public notice that the land is exclusively mine. "
"Isn't tha-that quite impossible? La-lalo na po na the Globals are a-actually offering a huge amount just to ge-get that land. I can't really see the-the reason why are you t-two fighting for-for that land ma'am."
I play with my ballpen while staring at my secretary.
"Because that's the land where I grew up. That answers all your confusions. " I said.
I bite the tip of my ballpen.
So..until now kinakalaban parin niya ako regarding that land?
I remember 4 years ago, I made a deal with dad. The moment na nalaman kong binibili ni Fortalejo ang lugar kung saan ako lumaki at pilit na pinapademolish ang lugar ay kinausap ko si daddy just before I went to America.
I wasn't ready to ask help from my father so I swallowed my pride and ask him to buy the said land double the Fortalejo's contracted price. In exchange of me, handling the Delacarte. At iyon ang dahilan kung bakit kahit wala sa interes ko ay tinanggap kong pamunuan ang kompanyang ito.
And now I won't definitely give him the satisfaction to ruin my hidden paradise. Pinaganda ko ang lugar na iyon at pinanatili ang mga tao doon.
Look who's still having grudges against me? Ngayong nalaman kong inaagaw niya ang lupang binili ko na. Pwes, humanda siyang mamulubi. Even at billions I won't give him the land.
"Ah ma-ma'am la-labas na po a-ako." My secretary said.
"Mr. Stutter--"
"Stunner po. " he corrected me.
"Bakit ka laging nauutal?" I asked. Well I got curious. I heard him spoke on a direct and well, understandable manner kanina why now?
"Natatakot ka ba sa akin?" I asked him with matching raising my brow.
He was about to answer when an intruder came. A girl with a tigh bun on her head. Siya yung isa ko pang secretary.
"Ma'am--"
"Did you knock?" I asked. I'll bet mauutal din ito.
"P-po? O-opo" she answered. I rolled my eyes. I stand up then extend my hand asking her to go out.
"Do it again. I did not hear it. If you're knocking you are suppose to get an attention. Do it again." she nodded then went out. This time she knocks.
"Louder." I said. Sinabi kong louder and louder hanggang sa tunog kalampag na ang naging katok niya.
"Galit ka?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"No'-No! Hindi po ma'am." I just nodded and continue what I was doing.
"Why are you here Ms. Dina--"
"Diaz po." She corrected me. Ugh! I'll remind them to use tag names.
"Ma'am gusto ko po aanang itanong kung may gusto ka pong inumin?"
"Coffee will do." I asnwered without taking my gaze away from my computer.
"Brown or black coffee po?" She asked.
"Black." I said.
"With less sugar or more--" this time ay titigan ko na ito. I tap my ballpen on my table. A sign that I'm being impatient.
"May creamer po--"
"Ms. Dina--"
"Diaz po." Sabay pang sagot nila ni Mr. Stutter.
"Kung lalagyan mo ng creamer yan, hindi na yun black coffee. Buy me a softdrink na lang."
"8 ounce, 12 ounce or 1 lit--"
"Seriously? Paiinumin mo ako ng isang litro?" I anwered her.
"Nevermind. Just get out. Ako na kukuha ng tubig ko."
"Ma-ma'am? Naku! Huwag naman po! Marami po akong pinapakain, may sakit po ang nanay ko--" I raise my hand to stop her.
What the heck?! I just asked her to get out. What is she saying?
"Did I say you're fired? Kalma ka lang. I just asked you to go out." Para naman itong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib nang sabihin ko iyon. Sabay pa silang lumabas ni Mr. Stutter, todo alalay pa si kumag.
Hmmm..I smell something fishy between those two.
"Haven't I reminded you not to scare our employees Aldea?" I was shock for a moment when I heard dad's voice.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Dapat ay nasa Singapore na ito for Alarcon Group of Companies conferrence with Chinese investors.
"Parang ayaw mo naman akong nandito. Anyways, my flight is cancelled. And you young lady, pinagtitripan mo na naman ang mga empleyado dito."
I laugh. Yes. I do laugh. Gaya nga ng sabi ko sa harap lang ng pamilya ko. It's true. Dad was telling the truth. Hilig kong pagtripan ang mga empleyado. Napaka obvious kasi nila kapag natatakot. Kapag nakatalikod na sila ay todo pigil akong ngumiti.
"Sorry dad! If you could just see their faces. Pero dad mabait naman ako sa kanila."
"I know..I know you are not that harsh as your brother Ashton na ang hilig magfire ng empleyado."
"Nasa menopausal stage ata yun si kuya." I said. Natigilan lang kami sa pagtawa nang magring ang phone ko. Kumunot pa ang noo ko nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.
"Kuya" bungad ko. Dad glanced at me with a curious look. I shrugged my shoulder telling I am not yet sure.
"Aldea. Could. You. Please. Go. Home. For. A. While." He's giving stress on every word. And now I think I know why. I could here shrieks and shouts on his background.
"But kuya I just got in here. Wala pa nga akong natatapos na trabaho--"
"Just do what I said." He said then drop the phone. Ang sungit talaga nun.
"What is it?" Dad asked. I just gave him a smile.
*****
I love teasing kuya. He's ill-tempered kasi. So instead of walking fast to get inside the house, I walk like a model.
The moment I stepped inside our living room, I stop myself from laughing.
"Chloe! Stop jumping! Can you please..please stay here baby..you may fall." Kuya's trying to minimize his voice.
"Devaughn! Not my phone.."he said to Vaughn.
"Tito do I look pretty na po? I use mama's lipstick! It sooooo reeeed." I gulp when I see my daughter's face. She looks like a clown with a messy hair.
"Tito!! Tito!! Let's take a selfieeee! Hey Vaughny! Give me tito's phone!" Chloe said as she pulls the phone on his brother's hands
"Nooooo!" Vaughn stomp his feet when Kuya stole his phone away from my children's hands.
Nagsimula na naman maghabulan ang dalawa at mukhang litung-lito na si kuya kung sinong uunahin niya. The whole place is a total mess!
"And there you are just laughing your ass out of me!" Then kuya saw me. Mukha na itong napipikon.
"Having fun kuya?" I asked.
"I.Love.Your.Kids." he said with an irritation on his face. Tawa ako ng tawa dahil halatang pagod ito kababantay ng mga bata. Mukhang nakikipagdate na naman ang mga nannies ng mga anak ko.
"Bakit kasi ikaw ang nandito?" I asked.
"Do I have a choice? Nagdedate na naman ang mga yaya niyang mga yan! They are definitely your smaller version you know. Not to mention the attitudes only. King itsura lang--"
He stop because I glared at him. He'll insult me again. Sasabihin niya na hindi ko kamukha ang mga babies ko. Yes they are twins. They are already 3 years old. Si Chloe Noreen and Devaughn Miguel. I did not know who put Miguel on Devaughn's name! Pero may hinala akong si Didi iyon. Baklang iyon talaga!
"Mama!!!" Bigla akong sinugod ng yakap ng dalawa kaya medyo naout of balance pa ako.
"How's my naughty angels? Did you make tito's day miserable?" I asked them and I heard kuya groan..
"Very funny Aldea. Very." Kuya said.
"Mama! Look I'm so pretty na ba?" Chloe asked.
"No! You look like a clown Claweee!" Vaughn said.
"Mama, Vaughny away pp akoooo" pambihira itong dalaga ko palaging mahaba ang bawat salita. Minsan feeling ko nasa theater ako dahil pakanta pa magsalita minsan.
"Ops. You kids, behave. Kayo talaga. How can mama focus on work? Hindi kayo behave" I said. Kinarga ko na si Chloe habang si Vaughn namam ay sumabit sa paa ko.
Nagtitili na nama an prinsesa ko na kala mo nasa rides.
"Aldea." I was quite taken a back when kuya appeared out of nowhere with a serious face.
"Why?" I asked.
"Phone. " he said. Kumunot ang noo ko. Nobody knows my phone number dito sa bahay unless my cellphone number. I'm sure this isn't business. This should not be because if it is, sa cellphone ko dapat tumatawag and not through the landline.
Ibingay ko muna si Chloe kay kuya at si Vaughn naman ay naupo na at nahiga. Napagod ang dalawa.
I sighed before taking the phone.
"Aldea Alarcon, how may I help you?" I said.
Walang sumasagot. After a minute I heard someone sigh and drop the phone.
"Is it business?" Kuya asked. Nandoon parin ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya which I don't know why.
"No. Wala naman akong nakausap. Binabaan lang kuya. May sinabi ba sayo? Are you sure it's for me?"
"Yeah. " he said. Kinuha ko na si Chloe na medyo inaantok na. I called Vaughn at agad itong kumapit sa kamay ko. I was about to walk with my kids when I felt my whole body froze with what he said.
"I think it's Fortalejo."
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A/N
I am not disregarding your request for Luigi's POV. Magkakaroon po pero kailangan pa po nating maghintay. I'm sorry kung di ko po agad maibibigay. :)
Pease vote and comment :))