"Akala ko uuwi ka rin?"
He lifted his gaze on me. Mula sa laptop ay lumipat ang nanunuri niyang tingin sa akin.
I continued checking the designs for the upcoming launch next week. Ang aking mga staff naman ay namamasyal sa iba't ibang tourist spots. Sinusulit ang natitirang mga araw ng pananatili namin dito bago tumulak pa-New York.
Ayoko naman ipagkait sa kanila iyon. They worked hard for this fashion week. Alam ko rin ang stress at pressure na pinagdaanan nila, maging successful lang ang event. They should relax atleast bago naman sumabak sa trabaho.
"Hindi ba kayo sasama, miss? Plano sana naming kumain sa labas kasama kayo," si Len.
I can also hear the other staffs' voices in her background, hinihikayat din akong sumama.
I would love to come. Kaya lang nangako ako kay Denver na dadalo sa exhibit niya. I still have to prepare for that.
Isa pa nandito rin si Rylle na akala ko'y uuwi rin ng Pilipinas pero nagkamali ako.
I didn't think he would actually stay with me even in New York. Alam ko naman na abala rin siya sa negosyong pinamamahalaan niya kaya maiintindihan ko kung hindi niya talaga ako masasamahan. "No I'm not. I'm coming with you no matter what." He would always say that everytime I tell him to just go home for work. Wala nalang din akong magawa dahil hindi siya matinag sa desisyon niya. Isa pa, gusto ko rin naman talaga siyang makasama. "You have no plans in working for LHR again?" He caressed my fingers as he pulled me to his chest. Bukas na ang launch ng aking brand at kahit nasasanay na, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang kabahan. It was a long day of preparing for it and my eyes are a bit heavy. Maaga pa naman pero inaantok na ako sa sobrang pagod. "No, not yet. Hindi ko rin alam. Isa pa, si Santi na ang namamahala noon ngayon. Speaking of, I think he's more capable of handling LHR than me. And I see no reason why my parents won't e
Rylle I always think everything in life is pre-destined. May magbago man dahil sa mga desisyong ginagawa natin, those would always lead to the things meant for us. In a twisted way. That's what I believe growing up. I learned to live with the expectations or people from me. My parents expected us to follow their steps and I've got no problem with that. Maybe because I like what they want us to do too o hindi ko lang talaga alam kung ano ang gusto kong gawin. But when I met Eirene, that belief changed gradually. She is so sure of herself, her decisions and her passion. I have never met anyone before as passionate as she is. I remember the first time I saw her, she was crying while hugging her sketchpad. It was around six in the evening and a friend invited me at his house to play videogames. Nasa dulo ng subdivision ang bahay nila at may madadaanan pang maliit na parke. I stopped when I heard soft sobs from the children's park. S
What can be the worse thing than death? To not be able to live when you're alive. My passion has become my life. It has been my reason to strive everyday. Hindi ang pagmamahal ng mga magulang na kahit kailan hindi ko naman naramdaman. Sapat na sa akin ang iilang taong alam kong nagpapahalaga sa akin kahit na hindi naman nila ako kamag-anak o malayo man sila sa akin. I have learned to live without my parents kahit pa nasa iisang bahay lang naman kami. I have learned to live unnoticed basta ba hindi lang nila pakikialaman ang bagay na mahalaga sa akin. Like what they are doing now."Anak you can still do designing kahit na management ang kinuhuka mong kurso!"Tumataas na ang boses ni mommy habang ipinipilit nila sa akin ang kanilang gusto. They want me to study Business para sa negosyo. I didn't want it. Nasa fashion designing ang passion ko at hindi nila maintindihan iyon!"Ma, let Santi handle LHR dahil ayokong mag shift ng course."Hindi ba nila naiintin
Malalim ang aking buntong-hininga nang matuon ang pansin sa naka-empakeng gamit. So I think this is it huh? After 5 years of freedom and peace muli na naman akong babalik ng Baler. The place that holds a lot of good and bad memories for me."Ei..."I looked at her. My very best friend na itinuring ko na ring isang kapatid. Her eyes are filled with worries. I smiled at her - an assuring one."It's gonna be fine, Au.""It's just that you were fine handling LHR even from here. I don't think you need to stay there for good. You can just occasionally go there to handle things," worry is still evident in her voice.Oh my sweet, Aurora."Of course I have to, silly," I chuckled. "Don't worry about me. I can handle everything."Tumango lang siya at malungkot na ngumiti. I know what she's afraid of and I can't blame her. But I won't make that mistake anymore, not ever. And I promised myself I won't let him affect me the way he want.
Maaga ako kinabukasan para makauwi sa condo. Pinagbigyan ko lang si nanay Soledad kagabi na sa mansyon ako matulog. Wala rin naman sina mama at papa kaya ayos lang. Iginugol ko ang buong araw sa pamamasyal at pamimili sa mall. Bukas ang board meeting at bukas din ako pormal na ipakikilala bilang COO ng Lopez Hotels Inc.I haven't visited the building in a year at masasabi kong may iilang pagbabago rito. I asked a close friend of mine who happens to be an architect to re-design the whole building lalo na ang office na gagamitin ko. The renovation started last year according to my liking. Mas pinauna ko nga lang ang magiging office ko kaya siguro hindi pa natatapos ang lobby ng first floor.I find our building a bit boring at first given its close to ancient interiors at antigong mga sculptures and paintings. I wanted it to become more modern with a pinch of Western style designs kaya ko naisipang ipa-renovate.Hindi ko pinansin ang mga empleyadong bumabati at yum
"Is a welcome party really necessary?"Kanina pa ako nakikipagtalo kay mama over the phone. She wants to throw a welcome party in our hotel here para sa akin. I kept on insisting for like hours that I'm fine without it pero ayaw niyang paawat."It's for you to get acquianted with everyone in the company, Ei." Her stern voice suggests that I can never win this argument.Great! It's just 6:00 in the early freaking morning and it's freaking ruined already! Mariin kong hinilot ang aking sentido para kahit papaano ay kumalma at baka makita ko nang husto ang katuturan sa mga pinagsasabi ng nanay ko."Wasn't it enough that I was already introduced to the board, ma?" Ang diin sa aking boses ay naroon.Akala ko iyon na iyon. I tried so hard to suppress my frustration towards the topic. All I want is to work in peace kaya bakit kailangang may mga ganito pa? I'm already so worn out sa mga trabahong kailangan kong habulin at transactions na kailangan ko pang a
Para akong nabingi sa aking narinig. No! This can't be serious! Okay, I know I'm overreacting but I don't give a damn! I don't want to see him all the more be a part of LHR!"Kung ganoon bakit hindi ko siya nakita sa shareholders' meeting?"I was trying really hard to suppress my anger and frustrations. I know I should be cool about this. Wala na sa akin lahat ng iyon at dapat hindi na ako apektado ngayon. I've changed at siguro naman ganoon din siya. Yeah, I'm cool with this. I should be."He was in Singapore po with his team para sa isang conference doon. I don't know the details po of the conference at iyon lang naman po ang sabi ng kanyang assistant."I inhaled deeply at pinutol na ang tawag. My lost poise is now back. Buti nalang walang ibang tao rito sa loob habang para na akong bulkan na sasabog. I put on my facade again ang went back to our table. Malayo pa lang ay ramdam ko na ang kanyang titig, pinapaso ako niyon. I didn't look at him and
The first week of work was hectic and tiring. Sobrang daming paperworks unang araw ko pa lang. Iyon ang una kong inasikaso at sa ibang mga araw naman ay palipat-lipat ako ng lugar, checking all the transactions ng bawat hotel sa iba't ibang lugar. Kaya naman kahit weekend ay nagtratrabaho pa rin ako. Ngayon ko lang narealize talaga na lumalago na ang LHR. We're also starting to expand in Asia.Umaga ng lunes nang ipatawag ko si Bella para sa aking schedule para sa araw na iyon. Kauupo ko lang mula sa paggtitimpla ng kape nang pumasok siya."What's my schedule for today?""You will attend a proposal presentation po ng Architectural firm ni Mr. Tan for the architectural design ng itatayong hotel sa Taguig along with the directors mamayang alas diyes. Next is lunch meeting with Mr. Balmaceda for the supplies po ng mga kakailanganing furnitures for-"Nabilaukan ako sa kanyang sinabi! Agad kong naibaba ang aking kape at nagpunas ng bibig. Damn!"W-What