Autumn of May

CHAPTER 2: Rain In A Sunny Morning

I woke up when my phone started to ring. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed that my clothes are wet. Bumangon ako at tiningnan ang aking phone. It is already 10 am in the morning. I was about to stand up when someone barged in my door. He was wearing a typical office suit and a tie. May apat na lalaki ang nakatayo sa kaniyang likuran and looking at his face, he is so angry.

"What is the meaning of this Xavier?" He shouted at me. I just looked him in the eyes at bumangon. I stand slowly pero bigla akong nahilo kaya napahawak ako sa aking ulo. The liquor bottles are scattering at the floor as well as my clothes and a woman's sexy dress.

"It is so early and yet you are shouting at me Dad" I said to him. Nadagdagan ang galit sa mukha ni Dad at kumuha ito ng isang liquor bottle mula sa sahig. He aim the bottle at my head at ititira na sana niya pero pinigilan siya ni mom. "Philip stop! Calm down, let's talk about this and your son" Hinawakan ni Mom ang kamay ni Dad habang si Dad naman ay nagpupumiglas upang paluin ako ng bote sa ulo.

"TALK? WE TALK ABOUT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, STELLA. PERO ANG ANAK MO HINDI NAKIKINIG. HUWAG MO AKONG PIGILAN. MAS GUGUSTUHIN KO PANG MAWALAN NG ANAK KAYSA MAGKAROON NG ANAK NA PURO LANG KAKAHIYAN ANG BINIBIGAY SA PAMILYA NATIN" Bigla akong nanghina sa sinabi ni Dad. Yes, it is true. All I give to this sh*tty family is all humiliation. All my life mga karantaduhan lang ang ginagawa ko.

"Steve, STEVE!" Nagmamadaling pumasok si Steve sa kuwarto ko ng tinawag siya ni Mom. Steve is my secretary and he is serving me for almost 7 years already. He is been loyal to the family and one of my treasured friends in the industry. "Steve, clean all this mess and bihisan mo si Xavier. We need him for a talk this breakfast. Bilisan mo" Mom asked Steve na linisan ang kalat na ginawa ko sa room. Me and this girl, I don't know her name is drinking all night and enjoying the moment.

Kumuha kaagad si Steve ng walis at nagsimulang iligpit ang kalat sa aking kwarto. My Dad calm down for a bit. Kinausap siya ni Mom ng masinsinan habang si Steve naman ay mabilis na naglilinis sa mga kalat. "Xavier, take a shower, dress properly and mag-usap tayo sa kainan. Maghihintay kami ng Dad mo" My mom signaled me to obey her or else magkakagulo na naman kami ni Dad sa umagang ito. My Dad glared at me and let out a deep sigh. He left a warning gaze na parang humanda-ako-mamaya-sa-kanya. I let out a funny laugh when my parents left the room. As if I am scared of them. In my life, I face everything alone. I grew up making my own decisions and building my own life.

Uupo na sana ako sa kama at akmang babalik sa pagtulog ng lumapit sa akin si Steve. "Xavier, obey natin ang Mom mo para naman hindi na kayo magkagulo ditto. Ako ang papagalitan nito eh, alam mo namang kailangan ko ang trabahong ito. Gamot ni tatay, Xav. Please naman!" Pagmamakaawa ni Steve sa akin, He was holding the garbage bag habang nakaluhod sa sahig. I let out a deep sigh at tumayo pabalik.

"Okay then, just get rid of everything..." Itinuro ko ang mga kalat sa room at bigla akong napahinto ng tumayo sa kama ang babaeng dinala ko dito kagabi para mag-inuman. "Get rid of her" I said to Steve while pointing her. The girl give me a disappointed look on her face and suddenly grab her clothes on the floor. "No need to kick me out, I can do this on my own" She remarked at lumabas sa room ko. Nagtinginan lang kami ni Steve.

"Who is she? Stacy? Margaret? Yung model o di kaya yung magandang chef, sino yun si Bella?" I shook my head. Lumakad ako papunta sa walk-in closet ko at pumili ng damit na susuotin. Steve followed me in the closet and assist me in choosing my clothes. "I don't know her Steve" Napahinto si Steve sa narinig niya. "Hindi? Bakit mo siya pinapunta dito sa condo mo?" asked Steve. I shrugged my shoulders and pick a blackish gray office suit. Kumuha si Steve ng necktie at isinuot ito sa akin.

"Wah, Xav, you're a total player. Hindi ko alam kong ano ang kapalit na karma nito sa iyo. Sinasabi ko talaga" Hinigpitan ni Steve ang pagtali sa necktie. I just let out a laugh at humarap sa salamin. "A rich man like me will never believe in karma Steve. Marami akong pera. I can buy anything even can manipulate a person using my money" I proudly say at Steve while styling my hair. Umiling lang si Steve at kinuha ang aking sapatos. "Then, try to manipulate your dad today boss Xavier" Steve remarked while leading me out of my room.

Pagbaba ko sa hagdanan, nakita ko agad si Dad and Mom na nakaupo sa dining area ng aking condo. Tss. Why did they barged in here and make a scene like this. Napansin ni Mom ang aking presensiya kaya tumayo ito at ngumiti sa akin. She asked Nanny Lisa to prepare the plates at pinaupo ako sa tabi ni Dad. My Dad is staring at me na parang inaabangan lahat ng kilos ko. Umupo ako at nagsimulang magsalita.

"So, what do we need to talk now?" I ask grumpily. Dad let out a cough indicating na hindi siya nasisiyahan sa panimula kong salita. "Xavier, me and your Dad talked about teaching you how to act like a gentlemen lalo na ikaw ang heir ng company. Your great grandfathers built the company with so much care and hindi gusto ng Dad mo na masira lang ang image na ilang taon na nilang inaalagaan dahil lamang sa nagkulang kami ng time na turuan ka" Mom give me a sign of comfort and encouragement na this time, susundin ko lahat ng gusto nila and maging isang good boy na anak nila. Isang mabuting heir ng kompanya. I let out a laugh kaya napatingin sa akin si Dad. Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang kamay ni Dad. He's clenching his fist. It looks like he is stopping himself from getting angry.

Mas lalo akong natawa, this is so much fun.

Iniabot kaagad ni Mom ang kamay niya kay Dad. I know Mom is making this everything smooth but I can't help it. "I can't do your request Stella. I'm sorry but I have my own company to give my attention to. I don't care about Dad's company or anyone. I want freedom. That's all" I aim to stand up but Stella hurriedly stop me. Pumunta siya sa aking tabi at dahan dahang akong pinaupo.

"You should work at our local branch starting tomorrow. I will assigned you in the province and started to work from scratch" Napatigil ako ng nagsalita si Dad. He sip the coffee in the table calmly. "What did you say Dad? Working from scratch? Didn't you know I work all my blood out para sa company na itinayo ko ngayon?"

"Company? You know you got the investors and stakeholders from MY COMPANY. Ako ang nagpakahirap para ibangon ka at ang proud na proud mong company. In simple words, without me, your company will not stand alone!" Biglang natahimik ang mga tao sa condo. Nagsimula akong nakaramdam ng init kaya I loosen up my necktie at humarap sa kaniya.

"Okay fine, let's say it is your investors and those stakeholders. But I am the one managing that company. Without me, that company will not grow and run smoothly up until now.." I feel a hand at my back and I saw Stella asking me to stop arguing. She gently tap my back and ask me to sit down and be calm.

"Xav, what if we follow your Dad's decision. It is a great experience naman diba?" Stella said. I harshly push Stella's hand away from me and nagulat si Dad sa ginawa ko. His eyes widen pero halatang nagpipigil siyang magalit.

Dad cleared his throat, "Kung gugustuhin ko, I want to kick you out in the family but Stella asked me not to do it, instead just give you a job that will mold your nasty personality. Dapat magpasalamat ka kay Stella, not acting bossy and parang alam mo na ang lahat" Dad calmly sip his coffee again.

I let out a laugh kaya hinawakan ako ni Stella sa kamay. Nagmamakaawa siya sa akin na itigil na at sumunod nalang sa gusto nila. "Don't tell me that Stella and you know what's best for me" Naramdaman ko ang pagloosen up ng hawak ni Stella sa akin. "You never been there for me since I was a kid. At si Stella? How she f*cking knows what's best for me? Diba replacement lang siya ni Mom? Hahaha Stella, you, don't act like you know everything about me because you can't own me. In this lifetime, you can never replace Mom and.." Hindi ko na naituloy ang aking pagsasalita ng nakaramdam ako ng malakas na pagsuntok galing kay Dad. Napaupo ako sa sahig habang hinawakan ang aking bibig. I saw blood dripping from my Dad's hand. Nabasag ang ibang mga baso at pinggan dahil sa biglaang pagtayo ni Dad.

Napahawak lang si Stella sa kaniyang bibig dahil sa gulat. Pati si Steve at Nanny Lisa ay hindi lang umimik. Nakayuko lang silang dalawa. "I'M DONE. THAT'S IT. COME ON STELLA LET'S GO HOME" Hinawakan ni Dad ang kamay ni Stella at sabay silang umalis ng condo. Nang makaalis na ang dalawa, agad na nilinis ni Nanny Lisa ang mga nabasag at si Steve naman ay tinulungan akong tumayo.

"Ikaw naman kasi Xav, bakit kasi .. ay ewan ko na talaga sayo pare" Steve remarked while cleaning the blood from my mouth. Malakas ang suntok ni Dad sa akin dahil sa pumutok talaga ang mga labi ko. I let out a laugh kaya napatigil si Steve sa ginagawa niya. "May lakas ka pang tumawa kang bata ka. Ewan ko sayo!" Idiniin ni Steve ang paghawak sa aking bibig kaya napasigaw ako.

"Arghh Steve. Assh*le!" I wipe my mouth using my hand and check my phone. It is already 1:00 pm. I need to go to work. Kinuha ko ang susi ng sasakyan at naglakad palabas ng condo. I texted Steve to clean up the condo at sumunod sa akin sa office.