JULIE ANN
DOON AKO nagpahinto sa gilid ng bahay kung nasaan ang terrace ng kwarto ko. Luckily, mukhang hindi nalaman ni mama na lumabas ako dahil naroon pa rin ang lubid na ginamit ko kanina.
"Are you sure you can climb up there?" tanong ni Roro. Halata sa kanyang boses ang pag-alala.
I gave him an assuring smile. "Just watch and learn." sabi ko.
Agad kong hinawakan ang lubid at unti-unti na akong umakyat. I used the wall of the house para apakan ng paa ko upang maiangat ko ang sarili ko. Para akong isang professional magnanakaw ngayon. Tsk.
Matapos ng ilang minuto ay nakasampa na ako sa terrace. Dahil sa pagod ay humihingal ako at pinahiran ang aking pawis sa noo gamit ang aking kamay.
Tumingin ako sa baba kung saan naroon parin si Roro. I look at him with a smile at ganun rin ang iginawad nya.
I showed him my thumbs up and he nodded.
Then after a while, he mouthed, 'I love you' na ikinangiti ko. I smiled and mouthed 'I love you too' but with matching flying kiss.
And I want to laugh nung nakita kong parang sinalo nya ang flying kiss ko at itinapat nya ito sa kanyang dibdib.
I admit na kinilig ako sa ginawa nya. He's so cute doing that.
Kailangan talagang ganun lang ang aming gagawin dahil baka marinig kami nina mama kung lakasan namin ang aming boses.
He then waved goodbye at pumasok na siya sa kanyang kotse. Tiningnan ko siyang pinaandar ang kanyang kotse papaalis sa bahay.
Saktong-saktong pag-alis nya ay may kumatok sa pinto ng aking kwarto. Bahagya pa akong naigting.
"Anak, kakain na tayo." rinig kong sabi ni mama.
I took a deep breath. "Yes ma. Coming." sagot ko.
I look at the clock at saktong alas syete na pala. Hooh! That was super close.
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"Today, you will come with me at the company."
It's saturday in the morning at kakababa ko pa lang ng hagdanan nung marinig ko ang sinabing iyon ni mama.
I coldly looked at her. "Why?" walang ganang tanong ko at saka pumunta sa mesa at umupo.
"Soon you will be the next CEO of the company. Mas maiging sanayin mo na ang sarili mo doon." sabi niya matapos uminom ng tubig.
Mas maiging sanayin? Next CEO? Tsah! Kung iba sigurong anak ay matutuwa kung marinig ang mga katagang iyon. Not me. Not me when they already plan something for my future---for my partner. Tsk!
Hindi na lamang ako kumibo kasi kahit na sabihin kong hindi ako sasama, yung gusto pa rin nila ang masusunod.
I just silently took my breakfast at pagkatapos ay nagbihis ng maganda---kasi sabi nila. Wala na talaga akong gana sa buhay na ito. I wanted to escape from their tie but I don't know how. Well, I don't want to be rebellious to them. I just freaking don't know what to do para matakasan itong unreasonable decision nila para sa buhay ko.
By 9 AM, we took dad's car and drove towards our company.
Mga ilang kilometro lang ang layo ng Suarez Company sa bahay namin. Ang company na ito ay pagmamay-ari pa ng great great grandfather ko. It was one of the oldest and known company here in the Philippines.
Noon, feel ko ang swerte ko kasi may company ang pamilya namin. We were living in a decent life. We were the ones who give rather than to receive. Pero hindi ko alam na aabot pala sa ganito lahat. This company is the reason why I need to be tied in their illusion.
"Julie," my attention was diverted to my mom who was beside dad in the driver's seat. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin through the rear mirror so I stared at her, non-emotionally, there. "We don't want to be harsh to you. Look, we are your parents. Hindi namin gusto na pahirapan ka---"
"Which you already did." I cut her words short before I looked away.
I heard her heaved a sigh. "But I hope you understand that what we did was for the betterment of our family... for your future." sabi niya.
I don't know, but what's the catch? Her words seemed to be nice right now. Lately, parati niya akong tinataasan ng boses. This was, somehow, new to me.
"If you really care about my future, just let me decide for my own." sabi ko sabay tingin muli sa kaniya. My eyes glanced at my father who was busy driving pero alam kong nakikinig siya. "Hayaan n'yo sana na ako ang mamili kung sino ang gusto ko at kung anong klaseng pamilya ang magagawa ko."
I did not let my voice stuttered. Gusto kong malaman nila na malaki na ako, at may sarili akong desisyon sa buhay. Sumisikip ang dibdib ko ngayon kasi gusto ko silang pagtaasan ng boses para ilabas lahat ng frustrations at galit ko pero pinigilan ko lang.
"We need the Sandovals!" Now, my mother's voice slightly raised. Nag-iba na ang kaniyang reaction. Tumingin na siya sa akin ng diretso. "We need them stick to our company. And this is the only way---"
"Company. Bullsh---!"
"Julie!" Dad suddenly butts in. "Watch your words!"
An air escaped from my mouth and I slammed my back. This is really it. There's no point in arguing with them.
"You will understand us when we arrived at the company." My mother said and I did not reply anymore.
Minutes later, we arrived in our destination. Pagkababa ko ng kotse, bumungad sa aking mga mata ang mataas na building with our surname written in a bigger size located on top. Maraming tao ang nagsidaanan and some of them were bowing their heads the moment they saw my parents.
We took a cement road stairs until we reach the huge door.
"Good morning, ma'am, sir." the two guards greeted us.
This is not my first time to be here in the company pero namamangha pa rin ako dahil sa laki nito. Maraming employees na bumabati sa amin with their blue suits, mayroong naka-white tshirt lang, and any uniforms.
Suarez Company was known for being a number 1 who produces good quality of clothing, shoes, furnitures, and food beverages. Sa pagkakaalam ko, maraming business partners ang company namin kaya I did not get the idea that I should marry the son of one of our business partners. We can be able to circulate the money kahit na iba ang mapapakasalan ko.
And I don't freaking want to marry that man! I hate this absurd and stupid idea. Argh!
We were now walking towards the door where meetings were always held. So they have meeting, huh? At anong point bakit nila ako dinala dito?
Pagkatapat namin nito, agad na pinihit ni Daddy yung pinto at bumungad sa paningin ko ang mga taong nakaupo na sa pahabang mesa. And what makes my forehead crumbles is when I saw him sitting on one of the corners of the room.
"Let's get in." sabi ni mommy. I was about to step back when she looked at me. "You're coming inside. Sit beside Drake."
I momentarily closed my eyes. "Bakit ba talaga ako nandito, mom? This is a private meeting with your staff and partners. If gusto n'yo lang na i-check ko ang company, dito nalang ako sa labas. I'll wait pagkatapos ng meeti---"
"As I said, you're coming with us inside. Dapat marinig mo kung ano ang pag-uusapan namin." my mother said with conviction and after that, she and dad get inside at wala na akong magagawa pa.
On the side, Drake looked at me seriously. He's smiling, but I could sense seriousness in his eyes. I still remember the incident happened in the restaurant and I feel really bad.
"Hi, Julie." bungad na bati niya pagkarating ko sa gawi niya. "Kumusta ka?"
I sat at the space few inches away from him. "Ayos lang. Ayos pa rin kahit grounded ako dahil nagsumbong ka na ni-reject kita." I sarcastically said directly with my eyes directed to my parents who are both at the edge of the long table.
Mayroong malaking screen sa harapan na tila mayroong presentation na magaganap doon.
I heard him chuckled. "Well, they asked if kumusta tayo, I just told them what you said to me. And I'm sorry if you are grounded because of that." he said and I glared at him because of that.
"Sa tingin mo mai-in love ako sa 'yo sa pagiging grounded ko? Imbes na I should be free para makapag-isip at mabigyan ka ng chance---"
"Mayroon ba, Julie?" he stopped me. He looked at me in the eye and I saw his jaw clenched. "I was hurt that night. That night that I thought na mayroon akong pag-asa. Dinaan kita sa tamang proseso, Julie. Sinabi ko sa 'yo na ikaw ang gusto ko kahit hindi pa ito ginawa ng magulang natin. Umasa ako..." he paused. With that, I looked down. "Umasa ako kasi pinaramdam mo sa akin. Pero ano? Sinabi mo na wala talagang pag-asa. At ngayon, you have the guts to say that?"
I looked back at him. "Keeping me tied will never do good to me, Drake." Iyan lang ang nasabi ko kasi wala akong pag-rebut sa sinabi niya kasi totoo naman.
Pinapaasa ko siya. Pinapaasa, in a sense that I forced myself na gustuhin siya. Pero I realized that I couldn't.
"Hindi kita nadaan sa mabuting usapan. And keeping you grounded is the best idea than being free, Honey. Iyan lang ang paraan upang mailayo ka sa lalaking nagustuhan mo..." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. He's out in his mind!
And what did he say? Para mailayo ako sa lalaking gusto ko? Kay Roro? Does he knew?
"...kung meron man. Meron ba? I hope not. Kasi kung meron, mas lalo kang mahihirapan." After he said that, he moves closer to my direction and smiled at me sweetly.
I was about to answer him nang nagsimula nang magsalita ang isang babae sa harapan ng making screen.
"The company has been serving people for many decades now. It has helped people in many ways." the woman in blue coat started. Sa pagkakaalala ko, siya yung head ng finance department dito sa company. "But the thing is, others say it does not develop."
Images flashes on the screen at kita ko sa mga mata ng babae ang lungkot. Mayamaya ay naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Drake sa balikat ko at agad ko iyong iniwaksi. I heard him chuckled.
"And because they find our company in that matter, few weeks ago, Frazes, Jester, Smith, Hallison, and Jackson family have withdrawn their partnership in the company. The only partner left was the Sandoval Family." the woman continued and everyone looked at the couple who were sitting at the other end of the long table.
Honestly, I am quite surprised sa sinabi ng babae. Business partners withdrew?
"And in case the Sandovals also withdraw their partnership to us, this is what happens." as the woman said that, another set of images flashed on the screen. A line graph that shows downward motion, and any such bad signs. "The company may experience bankruptcy."
Everyone gasps as we all heard that. I looked at my parents and there, I saw them still showing their chin up despite the bad news. And I see what this conversation is going.
Pagkatapos ay marahang tumayo si mommy. "But don't worry. The Sandovals will never withdraw their partnership with us. Right, Beck?" she confidently said while looking at the woman named Beck, Drake's mother.
Before the woman answered, she looked at us first. Her eyes seriously looked at me for how many seconds at pagkatapos ay sa kaniyang anak. Then she looked back to my mom's. "Yes, of course. As long as there is still a reason why we should continue to invest this company."
Matapos sabihin nun ng ina ni Drake, my mother looked at me. Parang sinasabi niya sa pamamagitan ng tingin na ako ang makakagawa ng kondisyon ng pamilya ni Drake.
That I should marry Drake to save the company from banckruptcy.
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