So Close Yet So Far (ON HOLD)

Chapter 36

I have been staying back in my parents house ever since I came back from Paris.

My mother didn't let me stay in my condo because she feels like I am safer if I am at home. Mabuti na rin iyon dahil matagal ko na rin silang hindi nakasama.

I wasn't able to stay here ever since I got married and then when my marriage ended, I choose to stay out of the country.

I missed my childhood home. I miss my mother's genuine face as she welcomes me on the dining table. Lagi itong nauuna at inaantay kami ng aking ama simula pa noong una.

Slowly unti unti kaming nakakabawi, I was able to stop some of our employees withdrawal. Specially the ones who are the assets of our company.

I offered them payed working hours kahit naman wala masyadong ginagawa ang mga Architects namin at Engineers dahil sa wala pa kaming natatanggap na bagong proyekto at nag kansela na ang ibang kliyente namin.

As of the moment, ang may mga trabaho lang ay ang mga Interior designers and office personnel. Kahit papano ayus na rin iyon because our company is still operating amidst the crisis.

I woke up late but before I left for work, I decided to visit my parents room kung saan nagpapahinga ang aking ama.

He had a mild stroke because of stress. Buti nalang hindi ito lubos na nakaapekto sa kanya, he just have to take a rest and refrain from stressing out.

It's been three weeks since the collapse happened sobrang daming nangyari sa mga nakaraang araw isa na rito ang nangyari sa aking ama.

It was a shock but we are relieved that he is still fine and striving. Sa ngayun ako muna ang inaatasan sa kumpanya at si Brianna naman ang inatasan kong mamahala muna sa Interior designing field na dati ako dahil sa dami kong ginagawa.

"Dad, you alright?" I asked my dad as I give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Yes." Anya at pilit akong binibigyan ng masiglang ngiti.

He have been through a lot. Panahon naman para ako ang bumawi sa kanya.

"Don't worry dad. We are getting there." Sabi ko at hinawakan ang kamay nito.

Buti nalang at mild lang ang nangyari sa kanya at mabilis na naisugod sa hospital, if not then we would have faced much worse, my father could have half of his body paralyzed but it's a good thing that it didn't happened dahil naagapan ito ng maaga.

I always complain kung bakit laging nasa aming kumpanya si Hugo kahit may malaki itong kumpanyang dapat isipin but that day I am very thankful that he is with my father dahil kung hindi, I don't think I could push myself further.

I haven't thanked him properly, I couldn't even face him for the past few days. Mas nangunguna parin ang galit ko sa kanya. What he did to my father is I am beyond thankful for but it doesn't mean that it changes things.

Hugo accepted the position few months after I left, it's the position that my father offered him when we were still married, kaya kahit anong pilit kong paalisin siya hindi ko ito magawa dahil sa katunayan napakalaki ng natulong niya.

The day that my father was rushed to the hospital, that was the time that we or should I say Hugo found something that could get us away from the crisis, the real reason why the building collapsed.

We were right all along. There was a foul play, someone mercilessly did but we didn't know who.

Someone might have ordered someone to give us a foul. Hindi namin alam kung sino at kung bakit.

Someone who hated us? Or someone from our competitors. It is not hidden that we still have Lardizabals trust and all their projects are still with us at hindi rin kami nawawalan ng kliyente. Other big companies are also entrusting us with their projects kaya hindi imposibleng hindi nila kayang gumawa ng ganto upang makabawi sa nakaraang taon na wala silang nakukuhang mga proyekto.