The days, months, years flew really past. The pain, burden, and agony are slowly fading. For the past two years, I have realized that living is not that bad. You just need to move forward and love yourself more than anything, and doing it was the best thing happened to me.
“Ma'am! I am just going to remind about the meeting this afternoon for the collaboration with the chief.”saad ng secretary ko kaya napatingin ako rito at tumango.
“Thanks I almost forgot about it. By the way... is the pastry critique result's already out? I need to send it to Mr. Carraga.”tanong ko at muling binalik ang tingin sa papeles sa harap ko.
“The survey isn't completed yet, but I heard it's going to be completed this friday.”saad nito kaya napatango ako.
She already went out while I continued working on my papers. I had a lot of work to do this day so I need to work everything faster.
When lunch time came, I just ate at my office with my secretary. Although we were eating, we are still talking about work. Of course we need to. Kung hindi kami mag-uusap ng tungkol sa trabaho ay hindi namin matatapos lahat.
After eating. I went on the bathroom and fixed myself for the meeting. My secretary drove me in the restau where we are meeting our chosen chief.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Alcazar!”bati ko at nakipagkamay rito.
“Same to you, Ms. Escabella.”bati rin niya pabalik at ngumiti.
They address me as Ms. Escabella since I loved to be called that way. I liked my second name a lot because Relcy sounded like a trouble maker dumbass.
“Please follow me, Ms. Escabella.”saad nito at nauna ng mag lakad.
Sumunod naman ako rito at pumasok kami sa isang parang opisina ng restau. He owned this place so he probably have this office to work on some of his recipe.
“Have a sit.”saad nito kaya agad akong umupo sa upuan kaharap ng upuan niya.
“Is there any progress in the product we are launching, Chief?”tanong ko rito.
“Yeah. Take a look here and give some sentiments.”tumayo siya at kinuha ang parang brochure at ibinigay iyon sa akin.
“This looks good!”natakam ako habang binabasa ang description at ang sample photo ng pagkain.
“I am planning on putting different ingredients from that one. What do you think if we make it as an vegan food?”tanong niya kaya napatingin ako sakanya.
“What would be the result of we do that?”tanong ko at muling tumingin sa papel.
“We're going to make a squash nuggets, carrot soup, and potato drum stick. And kiwi juice would be good, what do you think?”tanong niya kaya napaisip ako.
That sounded nice though since we're planning to make our next food kit a healthy one. Napatango ako at nginitian siya.
“All settled?”tanong niya ulit. Tumango ako at tumayo na sa upuan ko.
“Let's have a taste test next week. I need to go.”paalam ko at lumabas na ng opisinang 'yon.
Noong makalabas ako ay agad akong sinalubong ni Ira. She drove me back to the company because I still have a lot of pending works.
“Thank you, Ira.”saad ko at bumaba na ng kotse noong makarating kami sa kompanya.
Agad akong pumasok sa loob at sumakay ng elevator papunta sa opisina ko. I'm sure that this day would be so tiring. I would always go home exhausted and probably I am looking old for working too much now.
Trabaho nanaman ako pagkapasok ko ng opisina ko. I did all the papers and checked what I need to do tomorrow. Buti nalang ay hindi na gaanong marami ang mga gawain bukas at maaga yata akong makakapag pahinga.
It was already 9 pm when I finished working. I immediately got up and stretched because my back hurts a lot. Pagkatapos kong mag ligpit doon ay tinawagan ko na si Ira sa nasa opisina lang din niya.
Si Ira ang nag maneho habang ako ay nakaupo lang sa backseat dahil sobrang sakit ng katawan ko. For the past two years, I got to used being like this. Lagi akong umuuwing pagod. Pero mas gusto ko ito dahil sa pagod ko ay unti-unti kong nakalimutan ang mga problemang matagal kong kinimkim. And now I am healing. I won't get hurt again, I promised that to myself.
Nakarating din kami agad ni Ira kaya lumabas na ako ng sasakyan ko at kumaway sakanya.
“Thanks.”saad ko at naglakad na papasok ng bahay ko.
Ira is the one who's using that car originally. Pero minsan dinadala ko siya rito sa bahay at ako ang nagmamaneho kapag nakikita kong pagod din siya. I am known for not being kind, but I am considerate at least.
Noong makapasok ay agad akong dumiretso sa kwarto ko dahil nailock ko narin naman ang mga pinto. This house was quiet big but I am living here alone. Simula noong makagraduate ako ay bumili ako ng sariling bahay gamit ang mga perang kinita ko sa ground. I don't want to live under the same roof with my dad because he was so loud if he's there. And there's no difference since palagi rin naman siyang wala kapag doon ako nakatira.
Naligo muna ako dahil ang lagkit ng katawan ko sa pawis. Pagkatapos no'n ay umupo ako sa harap ng vanity mirror at nag lagay ng mga kung ano-ano sa mukha ko. I also blower my hair and comb it afterwards. My hair grew really long. Hanggang bewang ko na ang haba nito at ang ganda tignan sa sobrang tingkad ng pagiging itim niya.
I looked at my reflection and stared at it for a moment. My scars are all gone. My lips are not pale unlike before. I looked pretty again like how my mom wants it. I look like her again. A perfect replica of my mom.
Pagkatapos kong mag day dreaming sa harap ng salamin ay agad akong humiga sa kama ko at natulog na. Bukas ay panibagong araw nanaman at panibagong pagod nanaman.
I WOKE UP 7 in the morning and I immediately got up and went to bath. I wore my lousy polo and black skirt pared with white pumps. After fixing myself, I already go out because Ira is waiting outside.
“Good morning, Ma'am!”masiglang bati nito kaya nginitian ko rin siya.
“Morning. Is there any important meeting today? Appointments?”I asked when I got inside the car.
“Your schedule is clean today, Ma'am. You just need to work on your papers pero hindi naman marami.”sabi niya kaya tumango ako. I already checked that one yesterday.
“I guess that's the reason why are you so happy?”tanong ko kaya mas lumapad ang ngisi niya.
“May family gathering kasi kami mamaya kaya baka pwedeng umuwi ng maaga?”tanong niya kaya sumimangot ako.
“Sabi ko na eh.”sabi ko kaya umiwas siya ng tingin. “okay fine! Maaga rin naman akong uuwi mamaya dahil may event akong pupuntahan.”sabi ko rito.
“You won't need me?”tanong niya pa.
“Why? You wanna go?”tanong ko kaya agad siyang umiling.
“No thanks.”sabi niya at muling tumingin sa kalsada.
Ilang minuto rin kaming nasa kalsada bago nakarating sa kompanya. Agad akong nag trabaho para maaga talaga akong makaalis. I was also invited with the exhibit of my former ojt workmate. I'm glad at natauhan siya kung ano talaga ang gusto niya and she's now successful with her chosen field.
Tamang-tama at alas kwatro palang ng hapon ay tapos na akong mag trabaho. I called Ira saying na pwede na siyang umuwi at hindi na niya ako kailangan ihatid. She also said na magka-cab nalang nalang siya para may magamit akong kotse sa event kaya ako ang mag magmamaneho no'n.
I went to the mall first to buy something as a gift for her exhibit. I just bought her an painting material na umabot pa ng 120 thousand. Pasalamat talaga sila at galante ako mag regalo.
Umuwi muna ako sa bahay pagkatapos para mag palit. I showered again because I felt soak. Pagkatapos ay nag lagay ako ng kolorete sa mukha. I just put a light make up since hindi naman ako naglalagay ng mga heavy make up.
I wore my black backless dress and my black heels. Purse lang din ang dinala ko dahil tinatamad akong mag hand bag. I curled my long black hair and already went out.
I drove myself in that event. And it's already 8 in the evening when I arrived. Agad akong pumasok sa loob at hindi mawawala ang mga kumukuha ng larawan. I refused to do an interview since wala naman akong kailangan sabihin tungkol sa buhay ko.
I found Zorina my friend back then when I was still a student in our company. She was chit-chatting with the other visitors.
I waved my hands when she already saw me. I saw how she excuse herself and went on my direction.
“You came, Escabella.”sabi niya kaya napangiti ako.
“Thanks for inviting me, Zorina.”saad ko kaya napangiti rin ito. “I have a gift inside my car. Pwede mong ipakuha 'yon mamaya.”sabi ko na ikinatango nito.
“You don't have to but thanks.”sabi nito pero umiling lang ako.
“So? How's business?”tanong niya sakin.
“Exhausting.”sagot ko kaya mahina siyang natawa.
“If that face means exhausted, I would love to be exhausted everyday.”sabi nito kaya natawa ako.
“I know I'm pretty, Zorina.”sabi ko pa rito.
“By the way. I have a very fine visitor today, and all of my women investor were all heads over hills on him. Wanna meet him later?”tanong niya kaya umiling ako.
“If he's that handsome, I am not interested. Ayaw ko ng kaagaw.”sabi ko kaya sabay kaming natawa.
“Sira! Tara?”tanong niya pero umiling ako.
“I'll stay here. You need to entertain your other customers miss painter. I'm good here.”sabi ko kaya tumango ito. She bid her goodbye and went on other visitors.
Hindi nag tagal ay nagsimula rin ang exhibition. I walked around to look for a nice painting. Maybe I should bought one and hang it on my room. My room looks boring so I guess I deserved this.
“Wow this is so good.”saad ko habang nakatingin sa painting kung saan kumakain ang isang pamilya sa mesa.
The way it was painted was so amazing. I will bought this one. I was ready to find Zorina to buy her painting when I bumped into a well built man.
“Damn.”mura ko noong mabitawan ko ang purse ko.
I was ready to get it when the man who bumped me got it first.
“Here. I'm sorry.”saad niya at binigay sakin ang purse.
“No, it's okay. Sorry for cursing.”sabi ko at pinaspas ang purse ko. “thanks–”napatigil ako noong makita ang mukha nito.
Hindi siya sumagot at basta nalang akong tinalikuran. Nakanganga lang ako habang nakatingin sa papalayong bulto niya. Damn it! Why is Javier here? What does that multi billionaire doing here?
“Relcy!”doon lang ako natauhan noong may tumawag sakin.
“Yes?”wala sa sariling saad ko at tumingin kay Zorina.
“Come here! Ipapakilala kita sa sinasabi ko.”bago pa ako makatanggi ay hinila na niya ako kung saan.
Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta pero nakita ko nalang na papalapit kami sa mga malalaking taong naririto. Parang gusto kong umatras noong makitang nandoon si Javier na kinakausap ang ibang bisita ni Zorina.
“Zorina I think I should go home.”sabi ko at tumingin sa babae.
“Tumigil kanga! Tara na!”saad niya at patuloy akong hinila papunta sa pwesto nila Javier.
Hindi ako makatingin ng maayos sa mga taong naroon dahil ramdam ko ang mga malalamig na matang nakatutok sakin.
“She's Relcy my friend. She's the owner of the E&R'ATE.”pakilala niya sakin kaya napabuntong hininga muna ako bago tumingin sa mga taong nasa harap namin.
“I heard a lot about you. How's your day Ms. Relcy?”tanong ng isang lalaki doon na halos kaedaran ko lang yata dahil mukha pang bata.
“I'm fine. Please call me Escabella.”sabi ko at nginitian ito ng maliit.
“Hoax Morgan!”saad niya at naglahad ng kamay kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.
He's a Morgan? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita kahit dati. Kaano-ano siya ng mga Morgan?
“Relcy Escabella Suarez.”saad ko at tinanggap ang kamay niya.
Nagpakilala rin ang ibang matanda at mga kaedad ko na mga may ari rin ng negosyo. Isa nalang talaga ang hindi nagsasalita pero pansin ko ang mga nanunusok niyang tingin.
“Ah I almost forget. This Javier Morgan. My very rich second cousin.”saad noong Hoax kaya napatingin ako kay Javier.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Morgan.”saad ko at inilahad ang kamay ko.
Tinignan niya lang ito kaya napakagat ako sa ibabang labi at akmang babawiin iyon noong hawakan niya ito.
“Nice meeting you too, Ms. Escabella.”saad niya gamit ang malamig na boses.
I don't know how I survived that akward moment. I mean I haven't seen him for almost two years. Ngayon ko nalang siya nakita ulit kaya medyo kinabahan ako kanina.
And fuck! Why is he look so much fine? Hindi ko itatanggi na sobrang gwapo niya sa suot na three piece suit. Damn Morgan face cards that never declines.
“Are you really going home?”tanong ni Zorina noong mag paalam ako sakanya.
“Yeah. May trabaho pa kasi ako bukas.”sabi ko rito. Kinawayan ko siya ulit at lumabas na ng building na iyon.
Dumiretso ako sa parking lot at hinanap ang kotse ko. Pinatunog ko muna iyon at noong marinig ay naglakad na ako patungo roon.
“Fuck!”I cursed when I was almost hit by a car. “what the fuck?!”mura ko at masamang tinignan ang kotseng 'yon.
Natigilan ako noong bumaba ang may ari ng kotse. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin upang hindi salubongin ang malamig niyang tingin.
“Bakit hindi ka tumitingin ng maayos sa dinadaanan mo?”matapang na tanong ko kahit ang totoo ay nanginginig na ang mga tuhod ko sa kaba.
“Was it me?”tanong din niya kaya napatingin ako rito.
“Why it isn't?”balik ko rito.
“I was beeping the whole time and there was you walking like a fashion model.”sarkastikong saad niya kaya tumaas ang kilay ko.
“Ikaw na muntik makabangga, ikaw pa galit?”hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
“You got mad first.”saad din nito kaya napabuntong hininga nalang ako.
“I am not!”saad ko habang nakataas parin ang kilay.
“You're not then.”he even did roll his eyes and went back inside of his car.
He drove it living me dumb founded. Damn that man! How dare him! Matatalim ang mata ko habang nakasunod ito sa sasakyan niyang paalis na sa parking lot. I just stomped my feet and also went on my car. Kainis!
Umuwi nalang ako sa bahay at nag palit dahil inaantok na ako. Akmang ipipikit ko na ang mata ko noong mag ring ang cellphone ko sa bed side table kaya kinuha ko ito at sinagot ang tawag.
“What is it this time dad?”antok na saad ko.
“Am I disturbing your sleep?”tanong nito sa kabilang linya.
“Yes you are.”sarkastikong saad ko at umupo. “what do you need?”tanong ko dahil alam kong may kailangan siya.
“Meet me tomorrow.”iyon lang ang huli niyang sinabi at pinatay agad ang tawag ng hindi manlang ako pinasagot.
Ilang segundo ay nakatanggap ako ng text sakanya and it is a location of a company. If I am not mistaken, the owner of this company is Fon. Anong gagawin namin doon? Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at natulog na.
Noong magising ako kinabukasan ay agad kong ginawa ang mga kailangan kong gawin at nag maneho na papuntang kompanya. Nakatanggap ulit ako kay Dad ng text at nakasaad doon na kailangan kong pumunta sa sinasabi niyang kompanya alas dose ng tanghali.
Nagtrabaho nalang muna ako at noong sumapit ang tanghali ay nag paalam ako kay Ira na aalis muna ako. Dumiretso ako doon sa address ng kompanya nila ni Fon at agad naman akong pinapasok ng walang kahirap-hirap.
“Are you the daughter of Mr. Sandejas, Ma'am?”tanong ng babae noong makaakyat ako sa floor na sinasabi ni dad sa text niya.
“Yes. Do you know where is my dad?”tanong ko rito. Tumango naman siya at ngumiti at sinabing sumunod ako sakanya.
Pumunta kami sa pinadulong opisina at agad akong nag pasalamat sa babae na agad ding umalis. Binuksan ko ang pinto at halos matigilan ako dahil ang daming tao sa loob. Ang mas ipinagtataka ko ay bakit nandito rin si Fon at si Javier na ngayon ay nakatutok na ang mga mata sakin.
“Have a sit, Ms. Suarez.”utos ni dad kaya napatingin ako sakanya.
WE'RE CURRENTLY sitting on a wide table. I'm in front of these big people who keeps talking about business. Hindi ko alam kung anong role ko sa usaping 'to.
“The field we're going in is currently adjusting it's abilities to progress on a way more higher position. We need to merge the company and this is Mr. Roman Sandejas. He's going to foster a collaboration for a great partnership.”panimula ni Fon habang tahimik lang na nakikinig ang lahat.
“Javier, please stand up!”Fon order his eldest. Javier immediately obliged on his father's order.
“This Javier, he's the inheritor of this huge company. We have a lot of different branches of field. But I'm entrusting Javier to handle the big one's.”all of the people inside were just listening carefully on Fon like they really respect him. “As he already graduated two years ago, and managing his own companies now. I'm going to step down on the position, and pass everything to him. Because as you can see if you saw his businesses, he's very good at handling it. And it was so successful.”saad pa ni Fon.
Tahimik lang si Javier habang nakikinig sa tatay niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nandito. Hindi pa nakakabawas ng kaba ang isiping nasa iisang kwarto lang kami ni Javier.
“As part of the collaboration. Mr. Sandejas please speak in.”saad ni Fon kaya pumagitna si dad.
Tumikhim muna ito bago nagsalita. “We decided about this a long time ago. Since Mr. Fon and I were partners for a long time ago. Actually, we're just a guide. The true partners has not been revealed and we will now. As I was saying I will also going to step down as my company's CEO. And also pass it to my daughter, Relcy.”saad niya at itinuro ako. “She also graduated two years ago. And I hope you can guide her as I step down on this positions.”sabi pa nito.
Hindi ko maintindihan ang pinag-uusapan nila. Kahit ano hindi ko maintindihan dahil wala talaga akong interes sa ganito. My only interest is on my dad's organization na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa naipapasa sa'kin.
“I think you already have the idea on whom are going to be partners?”agad na nagbulong-bulongan ang mga tao sa loob. “Yes it's my son, and her daughter.”sabi ni Fon sa lahat.
“It is possible for two people to collaborate without being intimate, or rather have casual relationship? You know we have tradition Fon. We allowed this company to collaborate together with Mr. Sandejas because we were all friends since highschool. But are you sure that this kids can handle it well? They doesn't seem close or casual with each other.”saad ng lalaki. I know him because he's my dad's friend.
“Yes also that. We know we have the tradition. As respect for our friendship for a long time ago. These two we'll be great partners. We ensure that.”sabi ni Fon at nginisihan ang mga taong 'yon.
“And how possible for them is that Fon? Like the tradition? You know we don't accept unwilling people.”saad naman ng isang babae.
“Yes we agree that the both of you have connections as their parents. But what our concerned is that both of your offspring seems don't have connection at all.”sabi pa no'ng isa.
Based on what they saying is they are talking about us. The tension right now is uncomfortable for me. Why would they force connection on people's partnership? They seemed believed that people without the same mindset can't work with reliability at all.
“They will have the connection before the merging.”sabi ni Fon kaya kumunot ang noo ng mga tao.
“How so?”tanong ulit noong babae kanina.
“Marriage. Isn't that part of tradition? You all seemed forget it. You know we're all married with fixation.”saad niya at ngumiti.
Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nito. And who the heck are they to decide? Isn't it way more impossible to hold a great partnership if the marriage will be force? And really? Marriage with Javier? That's quite out of the hand.