The Genteel Flower (Yutang Bulahan Series #5)

TGF - 11

THE VACATION.

That first election changed our lives. Whole lives. All our lives.

Noong una naging masaya ang lahat. Naging smooth ang lahat. Einny became a councilor. He decided to quit his job in LSC and focused his attention on becoming a full-time councilor.

The family supported his decision kahit alam kong kailangang-kailangan nina Mama at Papa ang atensiyon ni Einny sa negosyo, lalo na’t nagkakaroon na ng problema sa kompanya. Pero sinuportahan pa rin nila ito at hinayaan siya sa naging desisyon niya. The LSC was then handed to Kuya Decart as the next successor, at ang maaasahang makaka-solve ng problemang kinakaharap ng LSC.

First few months of him being a councilor, walang naging problema. Although he was on an adjusting period and still learning with the kuskos-balungos ng public serving, I still supported him all the way, we supported him all the way. Nakikinig sa mga hinaing niya sa araw-araw na kinakaharap niya sa opisina. Sa sessions nila. Sa meetings. At kung ano-ano pa.

Nandito lang ako, handang makinig sa kaniya. Like a good wife do. No… like the best wife do.

But because of Einny’s new responsibility for public serving, nawalan din ng makakasangga ang kompanya. Kaya kahit na nag-aaral pa, Mama Felicity offered me a not-so-official internship in the family’s milling company. As early as now ay in-expose na niya ako sa kalakaran ng kompanya since I somehow showed interest in working there when the time comes I graduate college. She asked me if I want to work daw after studying college and I immediately said yes, and nag-show nga ng interes in working sa milling instead of working on one of Daddy’s businesses. To tell you honestly, hindi ko talaga forte ang mga negosyong itinayo ni Daddy.

And since I’m taking BS Psychology now, sa Human Resource Department ako inilagay ni Mama as an apprentice. Isang Lizares ang HR Director. Actually, the top executives positions and mostly ng board of directors ng milling ay mga Lizares ang may hawak. Mrs. Woody Ann Lizares Ferrer is the longest HR Director of Lizares Sugar Corporation.

It has been like that in the next few months. A wife, a mother, a daughter, a cousin, a friend, a student, an apprentice. I took those roles in one body. Medyo mahirap at nag-a-adjust pa rin hanggang ngayon but I’m so happy for myself that I was able to provide enough happiness as a wife and mother to Einny and Colly, and to the people around me.

Life is still perfect. Life is still the main source of my happiness. Life is family. Therefore, my perfect happiness is my family.

One summer afternoon, after the hectic schedule of my last year as a student and as an apprentice, so as Einny’s busy schedule in his office, we took this opportunity to have a fair share of tea and coffee in the manor’s lanai.

Masarap ang tea, umiihip ang hangin galing sa kanlurang bahagi ng ciudad, hindi gaanong mainit ang sikat ng panghapong araw, naririnig ko ang tunog ng mga dahon sa malapit na pananim at mga puno nang dahil sa ihip ng hangin, naririnig ko rin ang mga ibon sa paligid. Everything is serene and quiet. Peaceful. Perfect.

And what made it perfect is the fact that I’m beside the man I love the most. Embracing him like I’ve never embraced him before. Sobrang gaan sa pakiramdam. Sobrang payapa. Sobrang saya.

You may skip this part… this story rather. It will only show perfections. Perfections in life, in love, in everything. You can’t see or read any flaws about my life here. I am driving my life into perfection. Everything is in its right places. Everything is… normal.

“Hey, you two.”

Sa tahimik at kalmado naming pamamahinga ni Einny, biglang sumulpot sa lanai si Sonny at agad na umupo sa katapat na espasyo sa garden table na kinalulugaran namin ngayon.