Tyler's POV
"Get lost," walang emosyong sabi ko sa secretary kong puputok na ang uniform sa laki ng dibdib.
Wala naman sana akong balak i-hire 'tong babaeng 'to. But my Aunt recommended her so I gave her a try and pinagsisihan ko 'yun.
Napakatagal naman kasi bumalik ni Secretary Kim. He asked for a short vacation and next week pa ang uwi niya. So I have no choice but to suffer with this chicken brain secretary of mine.
Ring Ring
Napatingin ako sa cellphone kong mamahalin nang bigla itong tumunog. I grabbed my phone to check who's calling me. It's fucking David.
"What?"
"Good morning din dude. Where are you right now?"
"I'm in a place that's more important than what you're about to say."
"Ano ka ba! Stop your work muna. Let's chill and celebrate."
"Celebrate?"
"It's your birthday dude! Have you forgotten? Kakatrabaho mo 'yan. Leave it to your Aunt muna. I'll talk to tita."
I almost forgot about my day.
"Fine."
"We have a surprise for you!"
"If babae lang din naman marami na ako niyan so don't bother."
"No dude I'm sure you'll love our present for you."
"Bye."
"Wait I'm n—"
Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at pinatay ko na ang tawag. I have no time to have a girly chitchat with him.
I finished my important duties while drinking my favorite coffee. It's really nice to have a peaceful working space. I'm just glad my secretary's desk is outside.
Nang matapos ako ay pinagmasdan ko ang indoor garden ko. It's really green and very colorful. I'm a big fan of nature and I really love flowers. It might sounds gay but yeah, I do.
I'm the CEO of Greenville. One of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines. I'm undeniably hot and handsome. A lot of people say I'm self-centered, haughty, ambitious, and money-driven businessman, but I don't care because they're true anyway.
Greenville supermall is known from its nature inspired theme kaya maraming dumarayo dito. But this is not the only mall in the country. Of course, marami kaming competitors.
Using my gold telescope pinagmasdan ko ang mga customers na pumapasok sa Greenville.
That's right fellas. Pumasok lang kayo ng pumasok. Nilipat ko ang tingin ko sa ginagawang mall sa tapat namin. Speaking of comp—
"President we have a problem!" biglang sabi ng secretary ko.
Oh yes, we have a problem and it's you. Tss.
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at mukhang seryosong may problema nga.
Sinundan ko siya at dinala niya ako sa private room. Pagkabukas niya ng pinto ay ang nililigawan ko ng investor ang bumungad sa'kin.
Automatic na ngumiti ang mukha ko. I should give this old hag a smile dahil kailangan ko siya. Pilit akong ngumiti sa kanya at nag-bow.
"Chairman what brings you here?" magiliw na tanong ko at umupo.
He doesn't look so happy kaya nawala rin ang ngiti ko at seryosong tumingin sa kanya. Tumikhim ako at tahimik na tumingin sa kanya.
"Thank you for your generous offer of 115 million for 15 percent equity. But this isn't going to work. I have to decline your offer, but I'm sure we will both find someone to better meet our needs soon," he said and left leaving me dumbfounded. I chuckled sarcastically.
"Fucker..." I murmured.
He should have told me sooner. Akala niya ba ay siya lang ang investor na naghihintay. That son of a bitch!
I tried to control my temper. Right off the bat I know he will be such a jerk, but I wasn't expecting him to beat the title. Tss.
I need some air...
—
"Dude!" Napatingin ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at mukha ni David ang bumungad sa'kin.
"Stop that! I talked to Tita already," parang batang sabi niya at nagpapadyak pa. I'm still on my office kasi doing bunch of reports.
This retarded asshole really. Tss.
Nang bumalik sa isip ko ang scenario kanina ay parang sumakit ang batok ko. Yeah, I guess I do need some time to relax.
"Fine," pagsuko ko.
Umalis kami at sumakay ng sasakyan. Ang sabi niya ay nandoon na raw sina Brian at ako na lang ang hinihintay. Like as if I care.
Napatingin ako sa mga madungis at mukhang mabahong mga bata na binubungkal ang isang trash bin sa tabi ng main entrance.
What the fuck are they doing.
"Wait," sabi ko sa driver at agad bumaba upang lapitan ang mga duwende na 'to.
"What do you think you're doing?" tanong ko sa kanila.
Nanlaki ang mata ng mga bata at tinago ang mga kamay nila. Mukha bang may balak akong bawiin ang kinuha nilang basura?
"Bakit n'yo ginugulo ang laman ng trash bin?" tanong ko sa kanila.
"W-Wala na po kasi kami makain," sagot ng mapayat na batang mukhang buto na tinubuan ng mukha.
"May sakit po kasi si Nanay kaya kailangan po naming mangolekta ng plastik na bote," dagdag ng batang babaeng mas payat pa sa stick ng posporo.
Napatakip ako sa ilong ko nang umihip ang hangin.
Baho shit!
Kinuha ko ang wallet ko at kumuha ng gift card. "Take this," Nakatakip sa ilong na sabi ko sa kanila. Kinuha nila ang card sa'kin.
Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa at tinawagan ang secretary ko.
"Hello Sir?"
"Get your ass in the main entrance. Once you see three stinky children, accompany them."
"Ye—"
Binabaan ko na siya at saka tiningnan muli ang tatlong batang nagtatakang nakatingin sa gift card.
"Hey... What you're holding right now is not a toy. It's a 10,000 peso worth of money kaya ingatan niyo 'yan. Get everything you want. You can buy food, clothes and toys with that," sabi ko. Napatakip na naman ako sa ilong ko nang sumingaw ang amoy nila.
"Pero i-prioritize niyo ang sabon at shampoo. Alcohol na rin. Wait for a dumb looking girl here, she will accompany both of you. Understand?" sabi ko sa kanila. Tumango naman ang mga bata.
They're not stupid after all. 'Yung secretary ko lang talaga.
Bumalik na ako ng sasakyan at saka kami nagpatuloy sa pag-alis.
—
"What is this place?" nakakunot noong tanong ko kay David. It's full of trees and greenery. I like the place, but I don't like what I'll come across in here.
"Chill dude," sabi nito.
Napansin kong medyo umaakyat kami kaya medyo kinabahan ako.
I have entomophobia. I have an extreme fear of insects. Specifically flying insects. Nakuha ko 'to nang may mangyaring accident sa'kin twenty-one years ago.
How ironic lang because insects our commonly found in plants, trees and flowers which I'm a big fan of. My house is secured with anti-insect nets.
I just don't like seeing them. They give me nightmares.
"We're here!" sigaw ni David.
Napatingin ako sa labas at pumukaw sa pansin ko ang isang malaking resthouse.
Wow.
"That's awesome," tanging nasabi ko. It's a bahay kubo-inspired house and it is surrounded by tall trees and bushes.
Lumabas kami at mas lalo kong nakita ang ganda ng lugar.
Sa gilid ay may fish pond and sa right side ay may isang malaking puno. Literally malaki because may tree house sa taas.
This is really amazing.
"The three of us bought this and it's for you."