Past The Storm Clouds

Chapter 23

Ang bagal ng galaw ng mundo habang tinitingala ko ang langit. The sky seemed so near yet so far. I stretched my hand upward to try and observe the distance. I never felt so small as I looked up above me.

"Papayag ka ba?" tanong ni Dior kaya inilipat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"I told you already, magiging employee na lang din ako," I muttered. "'Di na ako magsasayang ng pera. I've closed the property. Tumigil ka na."

"I can be your investor. Kami nila Ram, kahit maliit lang munang amount. I can let you borrow money," pagkukumbinsi niya.

"Ayoko, Dior. I feel like I'll owe you all." Ngumuso ako.

Natawa siya. "Then pay us after. Kaya magsimula ka na ulit. What could've happened if you continued business instead of closing last year? Baka may employee ka na nga sana ngayon."

Ititigil ko na talaga dapat ang paglalaan ng oras para sa dati kong plano at sinimulan. All the furniture, and even the property that I leased, I was so ready to throw them all away but Dior never stopped telling me not to. Nalaman na rin nila Dad kung anong nangyayari. They said that it was already expected from me. They began convincing me again to work for Lino Corporation which is their company because I was unemployed.

Of course, hindi ko sa kanila pinakita na ang pagtigil ko sa pagpapatayo ng sarili kong kompanya ay malaking bagay. I didn't let them see one disappointed expression on my face. Along the darkest arcade where no one walks in, it's where I can freely sit down with unmasked feelings. How dumb of me for thinking I'll stop what I have started! Mas tanga nga naman sila kung iniisip nilang basta-basta na lang talaga akong susuko.

"I want to purchase the property instead and renovate every corner," sabi ko kina Dior.

"I can be your engineer for this project. I'll call on my team," ngiti ni Dior.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko sa kanya. "You're already providing investments. Wala na bang ibang available?" tanong ko kay Ram.

"Engineers from the RBM group. Tulad ng sinabi ko sa'yo kahapon, pumapayag ang head engineer na mag-take on sa renovation. "

"RBM?" I pursed my lips and shook my head at him. "Cancel them. I'll go with Dior's team."

Ram stared at me, raising an eyebrow. "Mauna na muna ako. May mga kliyente na naghihintay."

"Thanks, Ram. Sana maibenta mo ang property," I said, smiling.

"Another house on the market?" Ngumisi si Dior sabay palakpak.

"Swertehin sana, p're," Ram chuckled in a low voice.

Lumabas na siya at isinara ang pintuan.

"Start as early as possible if you can right after I settle the purchase procedure with the landlord," pagpapaalam ko kay Dior.

"You're back to business. Medyo sumaya ka na," pang-aasar niya.

I snickered. "I have a high ROI. From past investments. Diretso bulsa niyo na 'yun."

Umiling siya. "Nababaliw ka na talaga, Farizah. Unahin mo muna ang negosyo mo at saka mo na kami bayaran."

Sana nga lang ay talagang maging matagumpay. The second time around, things might go well. Naihanda ko naman na ang sarili ko. Matagal na.

Mabuti na lang at hindi sentimental ang owner ng dating inaupahan ko kaya madali ko lang nakumbinsi si Mr. Ybañez. Ang hirap dahil palibot libot na ako kung saan-saan para ayusin ang mga papeles. If this is really what it takes, could I actually handle a company of my own? Of course, I can. Magaling naman ako. As I think of it, there's pressure and fear building up, weighing my shoulders down.