Boss Lady #3: Gold's Impurity

VII. Crush

"ATE, andito na kami sa restaurant. Saan ka na?"

Gold closed her car door and locked her car as she held her phone close to her ear. "Parking lot na. See you in a bit."

She wore a simple pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers for her Sunday brunch with her siblings. They don't usually get together because of their busy schedules, but when they can, they make sure to bond with each other.

Ang mga kapatid lang ni Gold at si Nay Coring ang tanging nagbigay ng masasayang alaala sa dalaga noong nakatira pa siya kasama ng mga ito.

Ngayong nakabukod na siya, patuloy pa rin siyang gagawa ng masasayang alaala kasama nila pero hindi na roon sa mansyon.

It would take a life and death situation for Gold to come back there.

As she stepped in the restaurant, she immediately saw her siblings waving happily at her. Gold cannot help but smile upon seeing their bright expressions.

"Hello, mga mahal kong kapatid!" masaya niyang bati.

Her siblings immediately got up to greet her and gave her a tight, group hug.

"Hindi niyo naman ako na-miss, noh?" she said sarcastically. Her siblings laughed and let her go so she can take a seat beside Kaleb. Si Krisha at Kali naman ang magkatabi na nasa harapan nila.

"Ate, we missed you. Ang tagal ka na naming 'di nakikita kaya," Krisha admitted.

"Alam ko naman 'yun. Eh alam niyo naman ako, 'di naman ako umuuwi sa mansyon at saka busy ang schedule ko."

"Naku, Ate. You have a lot of things to tell us," sabi naman ni Kali. "Dad has been fuming mad ever since the fiasco you had with him and Mom."

Gold laughed. "I don't have a lot of things to say. Anyway, um-order na muna tayo at ako'y nagugutom na."

Kali passed the menu to Gold then called for the waiter to give their orders. May kanya kanya silang order pero nag-order din si Gold ng food for all.

While waiting, her siblings decided to start bombarding her with questions.

"Ano bang nangyari, Ate? Last time you talked to me, sabi mo you have your own house," Kaleb said. "The next thing we know, galit na galit na ang Daddy dahil lumayas ka na raw."

"Everything you just said, my dear brother, is correct," Gold grinned. "I have my own home now in Katipunan. You can visit me anytime!"

"Since when, Ate?" tanong ni Kali.

"I moved in recently lang. Since last year pa tinatayo 'yon. I decided to invest my money to my own home because I want to move out," kwento niya.

"You know how strict our parents are especially towards with me. Bawal mag-boyfriend, bawal gumimik, bawal umuwi ng gabi, bawal mag-fashion, bawal umiba ng career path. Everything that I had to do were dictated by them. Wala akong freedom to do what I want to do or else they will cut me out of the family. Dad and Mom treated me like a robot they can order around because I'm the eldest. Hindi sila ganon sa inyo, kaya nga ang swerte niyo eh kasi hindi nila kayo pine-pressure at kinakahon."

Krisha held her hand. "I'm really sorry for what happened to you, Ate. If only we could help."

Bago makasagot si Gold ay dumating ang waiter dala ang mga pagkain nila kaya 'yon muna ang kanilang inabala. Nang makapagdasal na sila ay saka lang nagtuloy si Gold.

"You don't have to help, guys. Your support is enough. Kaya ko rin ito ginawa dahil kaya ko na ang mag-isa. I don't have to rely on anyone, not even on our parents. Dad always questioned my career path and called it a hobby, well, that brought me to this level of independence."