Chapter 4
“Tough”
Hindi ako nag-abala na gumising ng maaga ngayong araw lalo na’t birthday ni Kuya Sanch, pinsan ko kay Mama. Naplantsa ko na rin naman ang pagreschedule ng lahat ng meetings ko ngayong araw kaya wala na akong magiging problema pa. All thanks to my lovely secretary, Veolly.
I checked my phone, if there’s anything that Mikha has sent me and surprisingly there were none.
Therefore, I assumed that she’s doing just fine and probably hasn’t wake up, yet. Kadalasan kasi ay nagtetext siya sa akin, para hindi ako masyadong mag-alala sa kalagayan niya. So far, the state she was into yesterday wasn’t her worst, it was one of those mild cases. Konting suka lang at hindi naman siya nagwelga about her family or lovelife or even our so-called friends.
Maliligo na sana ako ng tumunog ang cellphone ko na senyales na may tumatawag sa akin. Nakita ko agad kung sino ito, si Mommy Yvette pala. Siya ang kapatid ni Mama na Mommy ng pinsan ko. Napangiti na lamang ako.
“Mommy Yvette!”
“Ferry, hija. I’ll be expecting you later at the party, ha?” sabi nito at base sa tono ng kanyang pagsasalita ay ang hindi maikubli nitong kasiyahan.
Her voice, she almost sounded like Mama. Oh, how I miss her.
“Yes po, Mommy. I’ll be there.” I answered her instantly, smiling also.
She was relieved with my response, and I was too with hers. She reminded me once, ahead of time. Maybe she thought that I was too busy with everything that I would forget my Kuya’s birthday. I highly doubt if I’d do. But I’m glad that she called me, though.
Buti nalang talaga at hindi galing ang tawag na iyon sa opisina ko at mukhang medyo masisira talaga ang mood ko, lalo na’t ala sais palang ng umaga.
I was again, getting ready for a shower when my phone rang again. Marahas ko itong dinampot at sa lakas ng pagkakakuha ko ay muntik pa nga itong mahulog sa sahig. Napamura na lamang ako nang napakalakas na dahilan upang maalarma ang Yaya Candy ko.
“Ferry, okay lang jan hija?” halos natatataranta nitong tanong sa akin.
“Everything’s fine, Yaya Candy. I’m sorry.” Agaran ko namang sagot sa kanya.
“Sigurado ka ba jan, hija? Kung may kailangan ka, tawagin mo lang ako, hija ha? Babalik na ako sa kusina, Ferry.
“Opo.” Sagot ko naman at narinig ko ang yabag niya papaalis sa harapan ng pintuan ng kuwarto ko.
Napamura ulit ako ng malaman kong kay Veolly ang tawag na ‘to at sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi ko na nilakasan ang boses ko’t mag-alala na naman si Yaya Candy sa akin. I unwillingly answered it.
“Ma’am Ferry. I’m sorry to disturb you po but there’s something urgent here in the office. Si ano po kasi Ma’am…”
“It’s Mr. Cervalle, isn’t it?” sagot ko sa kanya.
“Hindi po.” Well, it isn’t what I’ve been expecting to hear from her. Mr. Cervalle is one of the owners of La Grande Hotels. Matagal na niyang gustong magmerge ang kompanya nila sa kompanya namin pero hindi talaga pwede. The performance and the numbers of their company won’t simply do. May dalawang branch lang sila, isa sa Luzon at isa rin sa Mindanao. They also have poor accommodation despite of their label as a five-star hotel, what a shame. Sabagay, isa sa investor ng kanilang kompanya ay may mataas na posisyon sa gobyerno kaya nagkaganoon. He’s been bothering me for months! I just won’t do as what he pleases, I won’t bring any shame to my parent’s company, not on my watch.
“So, who is it?” takang tanong ko.
“Si Mr. Santiago po, Ma’am. The CEO of our near competitor company.” Sagot ni Veolly na ikinagulat ko naman.
“What?! Is it the grandfather or the grandson?”
Halos bulong na lamang ang isinagot niya sa akin. Para kasi siyang kinikilig.
“Yung apo po, Ma’am. Si Sir Louis Kendrick V. Santiago III.” Nalukot ang mukha ko sa sinabi niyang iyon bukod sa bad news na nga ang dala ng pagtawag niya sa akin ay hindi ko pa nakikilala sa personal ang sinasabi niyang Louis Kendrick Santiago na ‘yan. I only met his grandfather, si Mr. Santiago.
And I therefore conclude kung bakit kinikilig ‘yang si Veolly. His grandfather has the looks. So as expected, the grandson would have it too.
“Nariyan ba siya? Anong pakay niya?
“Ma’am ayaw pong sabihin e. Ang sabi po gusto niya po raw na mag set ng appointment sa ’yo. As in ngayon po talaga.” Paliwanag niya naman sa akin na para bang umaasa siya na pauunlakan ko iyon.
“Reschedule it, then. Veolly, listen to me. I’m not available today, I’m attending my cousin’s party today. So, that means I won’t entertain any business talks today. Do you get me?” sabi ko sa kanya habang hinihilot ang sarili kong sentinido. Nandito na naman ako, kahapon nga lang ay ipinaliwanag ko na ito sa kanya at ipinapaliwanag ko na naman sa kanya ngayon.
“Pero Ma’am…”
“Don’t you understand me, Veolly? I’ll fire you if you dare to insist one more.” I threatened her. “Saka hindi available ngayon si Lola.” dagdag ko.
“I understand po, Ma’am Ferry. I’ll reschedule your meeting with him, bukas po.” She sounds so defeated and shocked.
“Okay, then. If he’s the one who will insist then you’ll have the rights to talk to him about that matter that he’d like to discuss with me.”

“Talaga po ba, Ma’am?” naramdaman ko sa boses niya ang galak at maging ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
“Yes. If he’ll continue to insist, so…”
“Thank you po Ma’am! I’ll do my best po!” Masigla naman nitong sabi.
When I was done talking to her, hindi na ganoon kabigat ang pakiramdam ko. Just like my bestfriend, Veolly has that positive vibe that I clearly love.
I turned my phone off so nothing would bother me from stepping into the bathroom.
Lumabas na ako dala-dala ang regalo ko para kay Kuya Sanch at nagdrive patungo sa bahay nila. It’s just 9 am. He’s probably up now, lalo na’t birthday niya ngayon. And I bet he’s probably drunk from last night because I’ve seen in his Facebook status na nagcheck-in siya sa Tipsy Tavern. Pero kahit na nagkaganoon man siya ay hindi niya papalampasin ang araw na ito.
His real name is Sancho Crisostomo R. Ramirez and I call him ‘Kuya Sanch’ of which everyone calls him. Sancho or Sanch. In fact, I’m the one who picked up his nickname.
Napahinto ako sa pamamaneho ng mag-red light ‘yung traffic light. Kay nagkapagmasid-masid ako sa ibang mga sasakyan na nasa likuran ko kasi ako ‘yung nasa harapan. Muntik akong mabilaukan ng mapansing may isang pamilyar na kotse sa akin. Isang itim na Sedan at masyadong makapal ang tint nito kaya hindi ko mahagilap ang pagmumukha ng driver nito. I’ve checked his plate number on his bumper and… I’m right! Nakita ko na talaga ito, parang ito ‘yung katabi ng sasakyan ko kung saan ako nagpark kagabi nung pumunta ako sa bar ni Ate Miki.
I let go a heavy sigh. I’m probably too stressed to think of that kind of matter or I was just maybe drunk from yesterday. I don’t know, it just became a habit, lalo na pag masyado na kong na-ooverwhelmed sa trabaho, I became so suspicious of everything.
I pulled myself together. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at saktong green light na.
***
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ferry calls her biological parents as ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa, for her auntie and her auntie’s husband she calls them as ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy’.)