YuanFen

Chapter 5

Akira

"We're working behind schedule. Yung mga contractor natin nagrereklamo na din dahil sa pagdedelay natin ng demolition. Ginigisa na ko ng board. I don't even know what to do anymore."

Mula sa ginagawa kong pagsketch sa planner na nakita ko sa ibabaw ng table ni Dewei ay umangat yung tingin ko dito.

He looks awful.

May mumunting stubble na ito at bahagyang nanlalalim na yung mata. Halatang pagod at kulang sa tulog.

At kung dati ay lagi itong presentableng tingnan, ngayon ay wala sa ayos yung suot nitong necktie. Yung suot nitong white polo ay bukas din ng hanggang tatlong butones mula sa taas at bahagyang gusot sa may bandang siko.

If there's still something that seems in place about him, that's his shoes. Malinis pa din at makintab.

"What's causing the delay?" Ibinaba ko yung hawak kong fountain pen at itinuon yung buong atensyon dito.

Whatever happens to our family business also affects me. I should take this talk seriously. Lalo pa at pinapunta ako nito dito dahil siguradong hirap na din itong solusyunan yung problema.

"Calvry's."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Again."

May sumpa talaga yung pangalan ng mga iyon. Lagi na lang itong tinik sa lalamunan namin mula pa nung umpisa.

Maybe it was because of the undeniable tangled fate of our parents towards the Calvry sisters.

History has it's own way to remind us that we are always under their mercy.

"What's with it this time? Akala ko ba naayos na lahat ng permit at dokumento na kailangan? Why are they delaying the demolition?"

Bumuntong-hininga si Dewei. "Elle told me that the project was put on hold for further review of their board." Itinuro nito yung newpaper na nasa ibabaw ng file case nito. "There was an issue."

At kahit pa may hinala na ako kung tungkol saan iyon, naiinis pa din na hinablot ko yung dyaryo at hinanap yung business section.

"Elle says na naapektuhan yung sales nila dahil dyan. The article causes a lot of controversies and had gone viral online. The media was condemning Calvry's and the consumers are now hesitant to support their product line."

That made me crease my forehead.

"C'mon, Calvry's brands are such a good brand. Consumers can't deny that. Besides if pagbabasehan ang market range kumpara sa mga kalaban nila, masyadong malayo yung presyo at quality ng mga produce nila. I don't think consumers would even opt to buy other options that would cost them more. Not in this worldwide inflation, Dewei. That's stupidity."

Dewei made a ticking sound using his tongue. Obviously in opposition of my statement.

"Don't underestimate the local consumer's buying power, Aki. Dito lang naman sa bansa sinasabi na walang pera yung mga tao pero madaming pera para gumastos sa mga luho. Bumili ng mga imported kesa suportahan yung mga local goods." Itinaas nito yung kamay nito sa ere.

"Goodness, they could even give a good amount of tip sa mga high-end restos pero grabe makatawad sa mga maliliit na negosyo. Of course, people have money. They just want to go with the trend. Kung anong uso. At uso ngayon na iboycott ang mga produce ng mga Calvry because of that goddamn article." patuloy pa nito.

Napasandal ako sa swivel chair na kinauupuan ko. Marahan ko pa iyong pinaikot habang nag-iisip ng counter move.

I'm pretty sure that no one in the industry would dare try to mess up with the Calvry's. Unless malalaking tao din sila at kaya nilang makipagsabayan ng matagal sa mahigpit na labanan, then it will be such an entertainment. Unfortunately, that thing never occured for a decade. And most likely will not happen.