The Campus Queen Bee

Chapter 18: Plain day

2 weeks has passed by. It's an early Monday morning at katatapos lang ni Brandon magbihis. Maaga syang naligo at gumayak dahil madami sya kailangan asikasuhin sa araw na iyon. Sa bahay sya ng daddy nya umuuwi nitong nakakaraang araw dahil sa dami ng school projects nya na kailangan asikasuhin, tambak na trabaho nya sa kompanya at iba pang business proposals at sunod sunod na meeting nya sa pagkakaroon ng annual report, sumabay pa ang pagkakaroon ng holiday season kaya napagpasyahan nya na dito muna umuwi dahil mas malapit ito sa Maxfield Industries.

He reached for his phone on his bed and take a look on it if there is any messages or phone calls from his assistant or even Martin. He wanted to make sure that everything is going perfectly right. He's so sure that his hounds doing their job to "act" now. Ginagawa na kasi nila ni Martin ang planong binuo nila. Huling linggo na din ng pasok para sa first sem. So Martin made sure that he finished everything including his school stuffs kaya isinakatuparan na nila ang planong matagal na nabuo.

He silently smiled in the thought. Martin seems to be so desperate on gaining Allysa's trust once again so he lend his hounds to act as a "bad-ass-guys" where Martin played the role of being Allysa's superhero. He wear his watch and go downstairs.

Sinalubong sya ng nanny nya na si Manang Aida. Matanda ito ng kaunti sa daddy nya. Isa itong dating nurse sa US na nabuntis ng American na bigla nalang naglaho na parang bula kaya napilitan itong umuwi ng Pilipinas. Kinuha naman ito ng mommy nya upang makapag simula ng bagong buhay ulit buhat ng itakwil ito ng magulang dahil sa pagdadalangtao at naging sanhi din ng maagang pagkamatay ng ama nito. Ito din ang nag aalaga sa mommy nya noon nagkasakit ang huli at tumayo din na ina sa kanya. May isa itong anak na kasalukuyang nag aaral sa Manila kasama ang mga lola nito doon na regular na pinapadalan ng pera ni Manang Aida.

"Brandon! How are you today? C'mon, I serve the breakfast in a few minutes." His nanny told him. He gave the old woman a wide smile and take a look of what she's been preparing for breakfast. It's a fried rice with grilled pork and smoke fish. His favorite!

"I'm doing fine. Where is dad, nanny?" Tanong nya dito. "Nasa veranda. You know your dad. Go and have a cup of coffee with him while I'm still preparing your favorite." Pagtataboy sa kanya ni Manang Aida.Tumango sya dito at nagpunta sa veranda. He saw his dad reading newspaper. Hindi pa sya nakakalapit dito ay napansin na sya nito.

"Goodmorning, hijo. Why you're early? Do you have some matters today? I can handle it for you if you are thinking about the M.I." His father Bernard told him. "No, dad. Don't bother. I already sort things in your company and got these people as my business. It's my matter so only me can resolved this." He added calmly and pour a coffee. "MY company? When did you learn to take it as YOURS too?" His father said in an exaggerated voice. Hindi lang minsan nagpakita ang daddy nya ng intensyon na gusto na nitong magretired at palitan ito sa pamamahala ng Maxfield Industries. Gusto nito na tigilan na nya ang pagse-set ng sarili nyqng business at pagtuunan nalang ng pansin ang kompanya. Pero hindi nya ito sinunod. Ayaw nyang makilala ng ibang tao ng dahil sa daddy nya that's why he put a business himself and prove anyone that he can be successful in his own ways. He worked under his dad in M.I for so long and saved the money. When he has enough money, he invested it in different kinds of businesses that he would think might be a good investment and it worked well. At dahil na din sa point ng daddy nya na matanda na ito ay tinangggap nya na pamahalaan ang M.I. "Dad, I have my own. Its your legacy. Infact, I wouldn't let any of your efforts and sufferings will go down the drain." He said while sipping his coffee. "Brandon, when I die it will be yours too. So why not treat yourself as it is now your own? You're my only successor unless, you want to get married and fill this house a laughter from my grandchilds." Bernard said in a hopeful voice.

Muntik na maibuga ni Brandon ang kape na iniinom nya. Napatingin sya sa ama na parang batang nagniningning ang mga mata. "Don't look at me as if you were in shock. When do you plan to get married? I'm not getting any younger and I want to see my grandchilds to grew up and guide them and taught them." His father added. "Dad, you're not that old! And I'm only 24 for crying out loud!" He said in a very irritate voice. "Yes, you are 24 and turned 25 soon. You will be graduating this February so settling down too soon wasn't a bad idea after all. You and Ms. Ayala seems to brought wonderful grandchilds to me." His father said as if it was bullying him. Hindi nya naiwasan itago ang pagkapula ng mukha nya dito. Ilang linggo at holidays na din ang nakaraan at hindi nya nakikita si Juliane. Balita nya kay Edward ay umuwi ito sa Colorado para i-celebrate ang Christmas at New Year's eve kasama ang mga abuela. Natanaw nya ang pagdating ng nanny nya daladala ang pagkain. Hinainan sila nito ng daddy nya. "You are just hungry, dad. Go and eat all you wanted. And stop playing as cupid." He said and served his self a food.

Pag katapos kumain ni Brandon ay nagpaalam na sya sa ama. He used his white e-coupe Mercedes-Benz to meet all his clients. He put on his seatbelt and leave. On his way, his phone keepa ringing. He answered the phone.

"Yey, buddy! Where are you? I need to treat you out!" Sabi ni Martin na nasa kabilang linya. He knew it. "I'm on my way to meet my important clients." He said in a bored voice. "Oh man! Pass it to Lin! He can fixed it so we can dine out!" Martin said. "No need. It won't take long. So we can surely dine out. I'll hang up now. Call you later." He replied and cut it off. Bumaba sya sa isang hotel kung saan gagawin ang meeting. Maya-maya pa ay nakita nya si Lin. Ang assistant nya. Nilapitan sya nito at sinabing kanina pa naghihintay ang mga kliyente nya. He greeted anyone to that room and settle down its matter.

Makalipas ang dalawa at mahigit na oras ay natapos ang meeting ni Brandon. "Ehemm." Lin grinned as he standing beside his boss. "Speak up, Lin" Brandon said, still sitting on the swivel chair. "Can I take a break now, sir?" Sabi nito sa kanya. Pagdating sa trabaho ay istrikto sya. Si Lin ay isang BA graduate at dating gangster pero hindi iyon hadlang para hindi nya ito tanggapin. In fact ay bilib sya dito. Kabisado sya nito pati ang temper nya. "Oh, call the Administration now and tell them you will have an anual leave." He replied with a serious face. "Really boss?" Lin said in amusement voice and wide smile on his face. "Yes. You can also take 1 year leave. No... no.. take 3 or 5 years." He added. "Sir. I'm just kidding. I am going to work with you here." Lim replied with a disspointed look. "Okay. I thought you are going to insist your wants." He said and stood up and walk where he parked his car. "No, sir. I love my job." Lin said. Nagpipilit ito maglabas ng isang ngiti. Napailing sya. The reason why he couldn't fired it. It was efficient and hardworking. They are also buddies too. Hindi lang nya ito pinapahalata. Hinatid sya nito sa parking at nagpaalam na din sya dito.

He dialled his cousin. "Yeah, cous. Let's just have a lunch in my place. I'm really starving." Martin said. "Okay. I'll be there." He said and hang it up. Hindi naman ngtagal ay nakarating na sya sa condo nito. Pagdating nya ay may pagkain na sa lamesa.

"Dear, cousin. You don't know how grateful I am. I owe this to you." Martin said. "I knew it." He boredly replied. "Just got a problem in one of your boys. I really hit him hard, eh." Muntik na nya mailuwa ang pagkain na sinubo nya. "What the heck?! Does he alright? You must be hurt by me too." Sabi nya pinsan na ikinabahala nito. Martin crossed his arms and tell Brandon "No, cousin! I pay him. I already said sorry for it. So don't intervene with us." Martin grinned. "That Juliane always brought troubles." Martin added. He just smile and shook his head. Itinuloy nila ang pagkain nila at nagkwento lang ng nagkwento si Martin ng nangyari buong araw. Nag aya din ito uminom ng gumabi.