He's My Boss

Chapter 6

Deuce

"DOES Daddy even know what you did? Pinapabantayan mo ako sa isang babae? Damn it, this is so frustrating!" Naiinis kong tanong kay Mommy habang nakatayo sa kanyang harapan at nakapamaywang.

I can't believe it. Never in my life did I imagine na magagawa 'to sa'kin ni Mommy. Her, of all people. I'm still enjoying my life—trying to live freely. And now? Everything feels messed up. I don’t even know how to deal with it. I’m so fucked up right now.

Dalawa lang kaming magkapatid ni Kuya Marcus. Ako ang bunso—at alam naman nilang lahat, ever since, I’ve never liked being boxed in. Si Kuya, he’s always been the responsible one. Organized. Focused. Exactly the kind of son any parent would trust with the family business.

He’s already managing most of it now. Dad is still working, but we have a lot of businesses, and they need my help. The thing is, I don’t want to focus on the business kaya si Kuya Marcus ang tumutulong kay Daddy.

Pero gusto na ni Kuya ang mag-settle down kaya pinipilit na nila ako ngayon na mag-manage dahil siya ang magma-manage ng business ng kanyang mapapangasawa.

"Alam ng Daddy mo ang tungkol sa desisyon ko, Deuce. Kung sana ay pinakinggan mo lang kami ng daddy mo noon pa, we will not end up doing this to you. Marcus wants to settle down and he needs you right now. Pero ni isang business natin ay ayaw mo man lang hawakan."

Umupo ako sa single couch at napahilamos ng mukha out of frustration. Hindi ko talaga gusto ang ideyang ito ni mommy.

"You know that I don’t want to be trapped in boardrooms and meetings. Hindi pa ako ready, Mom, and I’ve made that clear."

"Pero kailangan ka na namin, Deuce. And I hope you understand why I am doing this. Kailangan mong matuto."

"But why do you still have to watch over me? Like I’m some kid who can’t be trusted. Like I’m someone you have to control."

"Because you're not listening to me, Deuce. And I'm tired of begging you to help your brother with running our business."

"And do you think this is a good idea? Ano ang maitutulong niya sa akin? She knows nothing."

"Magaling si Thea at maganda. You’ll like working with her. I know she can handle you."

Maganda nga si Thea, pero mataray. Noong una ko pa lang siya nakita sa coffee shop ay napansin ko na agad ang maganda niyang mukha. Busy siya sa ginagawa niyang pakikipag-text kaya hindi ako napansin na nakatingin sa kanya kaya nabangga ako. Pero doon pa lang sa coffee shop ay mataray na siya. Hindi man lang naging mabait sa'kin kahit alam niyang customer ako. Ni hindi man lang umobra ang karisma ko sa kaniya. Parang wala akong dating sa kaniya. Siguradong mahihirapan ako sa kanyang tumakas. Mukhang hindi magpapatalo.

We'll see kung hanggang kailan siya tatagal sa'kin at kung hanggang kailan siya magiging mataray.

"Fine. Magaling na siya kung magaling. But I just don't get it. Bakit pati ang pera ko ay sa kanya mo ipapahawak? What if, she's a thief?"

I am hopeless and totally a mess.

"She's not like that, Deuce. I will not hire her kung hindi siya karadapat-dapat sa trabahong ito." Makahulugang ngumiti sa 'kin si mommy. "Huwag kang mag-alala dahil hindi niya magagalaw ang pera mo. Huwag ka lang magkakamaling takasan si Thea dahil ikaw din ang mawawalan ng pera. And I will even cut your cards if I have to do it sa oras na hindi kayo sumunod na dalawa."

I don't like being controlled by someone. I do what I want to do. And this idea is really making me frustrated.

"Be nice to her." She said when I didn't say anything.