Her Fearless Ways

Chapter 42

A CHANGED LEAF STILL CAME FROM THE SAME ROOT

After the impressive performance of one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the country and the CEO of Schwartz Philippines, Tarhatta Schwartz is set to disappoint people who had seen her as an inspiration. Multiple bullying allegations from her alma mater, incompetency that led to forfeited scholarship, and rumored relationship with a politician's son, are some of the issues our short-time hero has been facing as of the moment.

That was just an excerpt from one of the articles about me. Hinalungkat nila lahat tungkol sa buhay ko noon. Ultimo saan ako nakatira, pangalan ng mga Guevero, pati ng mga taong naging malapit sa akin noon ay dinamay nila. They even brought up that I was kidnapped that caused someone's death. Kinaawaan pa nila ang namatay na kidnapper kaysa sa 'kin na biktima.

Bakit? Alam ba nila na pinatay din ng mga taong iyon ang buhay ko noon?

Kaya nga pinili kong lumayo, eh. Kaya pinili kong ayusin at baguhin ang buhay ko dahil bago ako umalis ay ilang tao na ang pumatay sa pagkatao ko.

They only know a little of the whole story yet they are so quick to judge. Laganap na rin ang clout-chasing pages na nakikisali sa pag-post ng kung anu-ano tungkol sa akin.

Are they worth my time? NO.

Dapat ko bang patulan ang mga keyboard warriors na 'to? HINDI.

Should I defend myself? YES, I SHOULD. BUT I CHOSE NOT TO.

Hindi ako mapapakain ng mga bashers na 'yan. I didn't even want this fame, let's start with that. I was living quietly and peacefully tapos bigla na lang kumalat ang balita tungkol sa promotion ko. In Canada, they didn't care who I was. Bakit dito sa Pilipinas, big deal kung sino at ano ako?

"Media control won't stop this. Let them feast on my name. Mukhang gutom na gutom sila sa tsimis."

Siru looked at me in disbelief. Alam kong iniisip niya ang pwedeng maging epekto nito sa kompanya. I think of that, too. But with or without Schwartz Philippines, I can make ends meet.

"If you don't request to have media control, can I at least do something?" he paused. "I can work on codes that could hide your name on search bars."

Of course, he can, but I shook my head.

"Let them say whatever they want. That issue won't affect the company that much. Walang kinalaman ang pagiging basagulera ko sa binebenta kong mga makeup at sabon."

"Actually, some competitors are using the issue to build their own names," he sighed. "Including the former Governor. His team is throwing shady comments about the company."

"His line of business concerns with technology and gadgets. Ano naman ang gustong patunayan ng upaw na 'yon?!"

"He's trying to get rid of his name from the issue by highlighting that his scholars are all deserving and not... competent," he gulped. "He's using it for his next political platform."

Politicians and their logic. Quite predictable.

"You were his scholar, too, right?" I asked, and I saw him hesitating to answer. "Don't answer if you're uncomfortable."

Umiling siya. "Hindi naman sa hindi komportable. Forfeited din kasi ang scholarship ko on my last year in college. For the same reason... incompetence."

Siru is one of the smartest people I've met. He lost his scholarship due to incompetence? How? Hindi imposibleng may hokus pokus na namang ginawa ang Henry Aguila na 'yon.