The Nasty Pretender [ON GOING]

32. Goodluck

Chapter 32

It's been almost a week when I received the urgent message from Aicel, my Mom's secretary. Since then ay nagsimula na akong maging busy sa work. I even had to resign from my former job post so that I could get to focus on my other job that needs major attention. Kaya naman from usual two to three hours work from home schedule ko ay minsan umaabot na ako hanggang six hours doing zoom meetings almost everyday.

After I graduated from University, I started working as HR Manager in my mom's company. Noong una ay ayaw ni Mama sa posisyong ito dahil mababa raw ito para sa akin. She wanted to put me on the top management so that she could train me bilang ako naman daw ang susunod sa yapak niya bilang CEO. I insisted that I wanted to start on an entry level position to prove not only to her but also to myself that I could stand on my own.

Gusto kong maging independent sa career na tinatahak ko despite being the only son of one of the business tycoons locally— my mom. At first, tinutulan niya ang kagustuhan kong maging HR Staff lang muna pero eventually ay hinayaan niya na ako on two conditions condition: Una, papayagan niya akong magtrabaho sa mas mababang posisyon pero hindi bilang staff kundi bilang manager at pangalawa ay maging minority stockholder ako. So, I agreed.

Being a stockholder is like waiting for a fruit to fall straight into my mouth while being the HR Manager is like climbing on the tree and harvest the fruit myself. I may have been working for my mom for quite sometime, rather than working with her, but I guarantee that in every penny I earned is a lesson learned.

Pero dumating na yata ang panahon na kailangan ko nang umakyat mula sa ibabang posisyon at tabihan na si Mama sa top management. It so happened na ang Chairwoman at CEO— si Mama, ay kinailangang umuwi sa London dahil kritikal ang health condition ni Lola roon.

Nagkakagulo ang board of directors dahil sa nangyari kaya kali-kaliwa ang meetings. They were even discussing to oust my mom as the CEO and just rather stay as the Chairman since it is really complicated to work on both positions. Her absence makes the corporation crippled.

I snapped back from my deep and stressful thoughts when my phone suddenly vibrated. Du'n ko lang namalayan na matagal na pala akong natulala sa view ng dagat sa harapan ko. I immediately checked my phone thinking it might be another email from work again pero nakahinga ako nang maluwag at saka napangiti nang makita ang pangalan ni Kosher.

Kosher: On the way na ako. :)

Me: Okay. Ingat. :)

Despite my stressful week at work, hindi pa rin nababawasan yung quality time naming dalawa ni Kosher. Dahil sikreto pa ang relasyon naming dalawa ay patago kaming nagde-date. Sa katunayan ay nasa lover's lane ako para hintayin siya. We consider this place as our secret date place.

Minsan ay kasama pa namin tumambay sa lover's lane si Lily. Madalas naman ay sinusundo niya ako sa bahay pero minsan ay dumidiretso na ako dito para hindi na hassle sa kanila ni Kosher. Kapag uuwi naman, either we go on our separate ways o hinahatid ako ni Lily pauwi dahil mahirap na. I know very well now. Maraming mata ang nakakalat sa paligid.

Tumayo muna ako saglit at lumapit sa decking view para makita nang maayos ang asul na dagat. Kahit na busy at stressed ako, dalawa lang ang nagpapakalma sa akin; si Kosher at ang magandang view ng dagat sa harapan ko.

The scenery was calming yet I couldn't help myself but thought over stuff about work. Last night, I was thinking that I should head back to Manila soon. Araw-araw akong kinukulit ng secretary ni Mama na kailangan nila ako sa kompanya. I wanted to contact Mama as well but she was too occupied by her situation with Lola. I was starting to realize that the company is not only the one that needs my presence but so does Mama.