Zadie's POV:
"I heard the news about our project. Congratulations, Zadie and Zion, both of you did a great job." We looked at each other and smiled at our Dad. "Thank you, Chairman."
"As I expected from both of you," then he looked at us with his playful look. "Come to think of it, kailan niyo ba ako at ang Hixson Group binigo, ha, mga anak?"
Zion and I just laughed at Chairmain, the founder of Hixson Group, which is now the most prominent organization in South Korea. Well, the Hixson group now has a total of 23 department stores, 18 galleries, two factories, and five establishments for the charity nationwide. And I, the company's vice-chairman, am very proud of that achievements.
Mom and Dad dedicated their whole lives to raising and expanding the Hixson Group, so we are doing everything we can do to make it even better and more prominent.
"Matanda na ako mga anak, ang mommy niyo hindi na rin makapasok sa trabaho," Dad said. I frowned and looked at my brother. He should stop Dad from telling this kind of topic. I don't know why, but I feel so nervous every time we talk about that.
"Appa geuman haeyo! yeojeonhi jal cheoli hal su ​​issseubnikka? Dangsin, nawa naui nunaleul dobgi wihae hangsang yeogiissneun gos."
(Dad, stop it! You can still handle it. Where always here to help you, me, and noona.)
I nodded at what Zion said that made the Chairman laugh.
"Naega alji," (I know, I know), then he glanced at me before looking back at Zion. "Tell me, son, should I make your noona the chairman of HG?"
My eyes widened as I exchanged glances with the two of them. Zion smiled at me and then nodded to the Chairman, which surprised me even more. What the hell?!
I was about to speak when the Chairman grabbed my hands. "I think it's time to tell you about this, Zad. Napag-desisyunan namin ng mom mo na sa 'yo ipamana ang HG. Ikaw ang heir at susunod sa yapak ng Dad mo." My mouth literally formed an 'o', but Chairman Hixson just shrugged and smiled playfully at me. "You should be ready for that."
"P-pero, c-chairman—"
"Ya, ibwa wae geuleohge haengdong hae? mullon buhoejang-igi ttaemun-e god hoejang-i doel geos-ibnida!"
(Hey, why are you acting like that? Of course, you'll soon be a chairman because you're the vice-chairman!)
I glared at him and looked back at Chairman. "H-Hindi po ba si Mrs. Villin—"
"She supposed to be, but I trust you more than her," he cut me off. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa mga oras na 'yon. All I can do is follow his command and do everything for the sake of the Hixson Group. I know the Chairman trusts me a lot, and I will not disappoint him.
Pabagsak akong nahiga sa kama ko nang makauwi kami sa bahay. I am currently here in South Korea. I am no longer in Canada. Two years after my graduation, chairman immediately sent me here to work.
For the first two years of my career as an employee, I was promoted to manager of a department until I had a position in the Hixson Group. From director, I became vice-president until I reached my current position as vice-chairman of HG. Nakilala man ako bilang anak ng chairman ng iba naming kasamahan, hindi ko iyon ginamit para makarating sa pwesto ko ngayon o kahit si Zion.
We worked hard for this position for almost eight years.
Maraming nang nagbago, tama. A lot has changed especially sa akin. I became brave and resilient. I learned from my mistakes and applied them so I reached my dreams and my family's dreams for me. Wala na akong kinakatakutang harapin na mga pagsubok o obstacles sa buhay ko. Hindi na ako natatakot pa, kay Mrs. Villin, sa mga taong walang ibang ginawa kundi i-judge ako, at sa mga desisyong gagawin ko.
For me, the scariest thing I faced was my past. I hid the truth and deceived the man I loved even my friends. I ran away and lived alone. No family or even a friend was by my side, but me. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, wala akong ibang ginawa kun 'di abutin ang mga pangarap ko. Sa totoo lang wala akong balita sa kanila. Kahit pa maliliit na detalye, wala.
Like me, I just think that everyone has moved on and had their own family. Maybe they forgot about me, but me? I never forgot them and did not think of them every time. Never. Gustuhin ko mang makibalita, wala akong phone. Pfft!
Sampung taon akong hindi gumamit ng phone. I only used telephone at home. Kapag sa trabaho naman ay laging nand'yan ang sekretarya ko para tawagan nila. Pero maniwala man kayo sa hindi, wala talaga akong sariling phone. Also, nakakasigurado naman ako na okay sila.
Keid is probably one of the most popular and has millions of youtube subscribers. Ara is probably a full-fledged ophthalmologist today. Aenna may now be teaching children as a good teacher. Yna may be one of the flight attendants working in the Philippines. Ang mga boys naman, I'm sure may kaniya-kaniya ring mga trabaho. As I remember, the business ad was their course in college.
Si Vince Asher? Hm, baka siya na ang namamahala ng company nila na umabot na sa iba't-ibang sulok ng bansa. Siguro rin, masaya silang namumuhay ni Ate Za together with their child. Ayon kay Zion, tatlo na ang anak ni Ate Zarine and I'm so happy for them.
Isang dekada na ang lumipas at masasabi kong buo na ulit ako. The wound in my heart has healed and I have forgiven everyone, even myself. Kayang-kaya ko na rin sigurong humarap muli sa kanila, past is past nga hindi ba? Siguro naman ay napatawad narin nila ang isa't-isa lalo na ako. Right now, we are just waiting for the right time to get back.
* * *
"Noona, noona, beolsseo 9 sini ije il-eonaya hae!"
(It's already 9, you have to wake up!)
Nakapikit akong bumangon at naupo sa dulo ng kama ko nang maramdaman ko ang unan na tumama sa mukha ko.
"Ya, oneul-eun seungjin-iya jigeum il-eona!"
(Hey, today is your promotion, get up now!)
Inis ko siyang tiningnan at saka bumaling sa wall clock. Gano'n na lamang ang pagmamadali ko nang makita kong mag-aalas nuwebe na ng umaga at mahuhuli na nga ako. "Darn! Bakit ngayon mo lang ako ginising?!"
Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa banyo habang naiwan naman ang kapatid kong hilaw na nakakaintindi ng tagalog, pero hirap magsalita at hangul lang ang alam na tawa nang tawa. He can only speak english from now, ngunit hindi rin diretso.
What's with that pabo? Nakuha pang tumawa, e, late na nga ako! Palibhasa nag-date off siya dahil may meeting sa school nila Zigrid ngayon.
"Pabo! Where's my key?" Mabilis naman niyang hinanap ang susi ng kotse ko. Siya ang huling gumamit no'n kaya siya ang maghanap. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang maglagay ng make-up sa mukha. Matapos kong magsuklay at ayusin ang suot ko ay dali-dali akong lumabas. "Pabo, gisingin mo na ang anak mo, baka pati kayo ma-late."
"Al-ass-to."
(Okay, I will)
Tumango lang ako at in-start ang kotse habang hinihintay na magbukas ang pinto ng garahe. Yes, my twin already has a child. Her name is Zigrid Ayen Hixson and she's now 5 years old.
Mahabang istorya pero walang asawa o girlfriend si Pabo. It was just an accident. Pabo and the girl named Suji is drunk that night. Ang kaso nga, gustong ipalaglag ng babae ang baby, but thankfully nakuha siya sa pakiusap ni Dad at ng pamilya namin.
Wala namang naging problema after that. Pabo is doing his best to be the best father in Zigrid's world and I'm doing mine para tumayong ina sa kaniya. She calls me 'eomma' which means mom and guess what? She is a prodigy.
Ibang-iba kay Pabo, sa kakambal ko. I used to call him pangit when I was young, pero Pabo na ngayon which means idiot. He's totally an idiot for doing 'that thing' sa babaeng hindi naman pala niya kilala. Yes, naging issue iyon pero hindi naman lumaki beside, they actually admired Pabo for raising a prodigy and adorable child like Zigrid.
"What the hell—" I suddenly stepped on the brake when I saw how dark the surroundings were. I thought it was already 9 am?! Mabilis akong tumingin sa orasan ng kotse ko. "Damn it!" I clenched my fist in anger. Alas-tres palang ng madaling araw! "I'll kill you, you idiot!"
Dali-dali akong bumalik sa bahay. Pigil na pigil ko ang inis ko at sarili ko na huwag sapakin ang kapatid ko, dahil katabi niya ang anak niya at baka magising pa ito. "Ah, you got me this time pero hintayin mo Pabo. Babawian kita!"
Inis akong bumalik sa kwarto ko at natulog. Mamaya nalang ako gagawa ng ipaghihiganti ko kay Pabo. Talagang mananagot siya sa 'kin!
Where did he get the courage to wake me up at three o'clock and say it's already nine o'clock?! He even changed my freaking wall clock para lang mapaniwala ako. Darn!
* * *
"You’ve been in your job at work for a almost 8 years, and I am glad that you have shown not only to me but to everyone the determination settled in the Hixson Group." I smiled at my Dad when he said those words. Matapos niya akong yakapin ay humarap siya sa harap ng mga kasapi namin at mga employees na nandito ngayon sa conference room.
"Today, in front of our members and employees, I appoint you as the new Chairman of the Hixson Group at the end of the year who will continue my footsteps. Let me introduce to all of you my daughter, Zadie Aria Hixson, our soon-to-be Chairman!"
Kahit nabigla ako sa pagpapakilala sa 'kin ni Dad bilang anak niya sa media, nakangiti akong tumayo at nagpasalamat sa kaniya. I didn't expect na sasabihin niyang anak niya ako ngayong nagdagsa ang mga reporters dito. Hindi tuloy nila maiwasang magbulungan sa narinig.
Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita. "First of all I want to thank God and of course my Dad for trusting me. I would not be able to reach it without them, my real family. Once again, I'm Zadie Aria Hixson, the daughter of our founder here in HG." Pagkatapos ay magalang akong yumuko sa kanilang lahat. I think it is the right time para malaman ng lahat kung sino ba talaga ako. Ngayong ako na ang mamumuno sa buong HG, kailangang malaman nila ang tungkol sa'kin. Ang totoong Zadie Aria Chrysler.
Matapos ang celebration at ilang pagtatalaga sa mga bagong uupo sa iba't-ibang posisyon sa conference room sa darating na taon. At tulad ng inaasahan ay dinagsa kami ng mga reporters sa labas.
"Excuse me, now that you are now the chairman of HG, will there be many changes?"
I smiled and nodded. "Of course, things are a little different now, but, as a chairman, I want nothing more than for our employees to succeed." Samu't-saring tanong ang narinig ko at hindi ko narin masyadong mga naintindihan ang iba.
"Yes, that's true. People only found out about me now because I want to achieve what I have achieved not as the daughter of the former Chairman but as an ordinary employee. I want to inspire people like me who started as employees. Nothing's impossible, right? If I can be the Chairman of HG without the credit that I am a child of its founder, so can you, and I believe in it."
Nagpasalamat na ako at mabilis na sumakay ng sasakyan na maghahatid sa 'kin sa dati kong opisina. Isa iyon sa mami-miss ko sa main company kapag naupo na ako bilang Chairman at nalipat ng office, wala na akong makakausap na mga employees at ka-trabaho ko.
I was totally surprise nang sumalubong sa 'kin ang hinanda ng mga kasamahan namin ni Pabo sa main company. Halos dalawang taon ako bilang vice-chairman at sa dalawang taon na iyon, napalapit na silang lahat sa'kin.
"Chugha hoejang!"
(Congratulations, Chairman!)
"Thank you so much! Isn't it too much?" I said in the Korean language. I referred to their balloons, banner, flowers, and they even bought a cake.
"This is our last time, hoejang. You're now on the top. We will not be able to come and talk to you."
"Jinja?" gulat na sambit ni Soon Kim, isa sa mga nagtatrabaho para sa'kin noon. "Is it true, hoejang?"
Umiling naman ako kaagad sa kanila. "Don't hesitate to come to me with any issues you might have. My goal is still the same, to provide you with training, oversight, skills, and an environment that promotes your own success here in HG."
Well, the good thing here in HG is sanay sila magsalita ng English kahit papaano. Since malaki na ang sakop ng HG ngayon, kailangan talaga na matutunan nila ang magsalita ng English.
Kasalukuyan akong nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko nang biglang pumasok si Pabo at kasama nito si Zigrid. "Eomma!" Mabilis itong tumakbong papunta sa 'kin at mahigpit akong niyakap. "Chugha hoejang!"
Natatawang napailing naman ako at bumaling kay Pabo. I crossed my arm over my chest. "Ano? Masarap ba 'yung cookies kanina?" then I laughed when I saw his reaction.
Pinalitan ko lang naman ng toothpaste ang palaman ng cookie kanina at binigay sa kaniya.
He glared at me and answered. Nagulat pa ako sa biglaang pagsasalita niya ng English. "This is war! This is a prank war!"
I laughed. Bring it on, pabo. Hindi kita aasaran! Pfft!
* * *
Us, Again
by: thesweetest_thing