Her Steps (GS #1)

Chapter 6

Napailing ako nang takbuhan nanaman ako ni Tienn. Nakit ako pa ang halos pagtapilok niya sa mataas na heels na suot niya. Bakit ba kasi lagi siyang nakaheels nang mataas e lagi naman siyang naaout of balance?

Itinuloy ko ang pagbabasa nang makatanggap ng message mula kay Lady Rhianne.

RGell
Your mom sent me a message. Your Dad's back? Punta ka sa office ko mamaya.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. I have to control myself not to tell her the truth about my sister's death. Kapag nagkataon ay baka ampunin na ako nito nang tuluyan at siya pa mismo ang maglayo sa akin kay Dad.

Inayos ko ang gamit ko at nagtungo sa huling klase ko para sa araw na ito. Nang matapos naman iyon ay dumiretso na rin ako sa office ni Lady Rhianne.

"Your Mom told me to persuade you." Sabi nito. Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa kaniyang PC.

"Persuade me?"

"To give your Dad another chance." Sagot niya.

"And what are you gonna do about it?" I asked which made her stop typing on her PC.

"Jhie, I don't meddle in someone else's family matters unless you tell me to. I want you to be here so I can ask you what help you want me to do?" She looked at me. Seryoso ang mukha nito at iniharap nang tuluyan sa akin ang kaniyang sarili.

"A job, Lady Rhianne." Umirap ito sa akin.

"Jhie, I told you ayokong gumaya ka sa akin na pinagsabay ang pagtatrabaho at pag-aaral. I did it for a reason but I eventually stopped. Maaaring tumigil ako sa pag-aaral dahil kay Yenna but that's just the one who pushed the trigger. There are still lots of factors behind it." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Work is addicting and I don't want you to experience the same thing. I want you to earn your degree first then we'll talk about work." Mukhang hindi ko na talaga siya mapapapayag na pagtrabahuin ako.

"Accept my financial help then work for it in the future. What can you say?" Napakagat ako ng ibabang labi ko. Siguro'y mas maganda nga iyon.

"What do they call it? Study now pay later?"

"Utang. Pinaganda mo pa." Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"You and your terms, ang pangit Jhie. You want work so you'll earn now, right? Then let's just have a contract. I will pay your other school fees excluded from your scholarship, and we will settle an amount for your monthly allowance. In exchange, you'll render 3-5 years of work in my company once you graduate. Of course you're not gonna work for free, we'll decide on the percentage we'll get on each of your salary para rin madetermine natin kung 3 4 or 5 years ka ngang magtatrabaho sa akin. Does that sound good to you?" Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

I am always considered smart but Lady Rhianne's brain really is something else.

"Oh make it 50 years." Tumawa si Lady Rhianne sa sinabi ko.

"I'm sure you'll settle for something else in the near future." She said.

We ended the conversation with some wine before I went home. Sasabihan na lamang daw niya ako kapag nakahanda na ang kontrata.

The next day, there was no sign of Tienn. Weird, I thought but that's fine too. I got to have a peaceful day.

"Jhie, you think this one is good?" Tiningnan ko ang cellphone ni Gail.

Nag-oonline shopping siya. Wala nanaman yatang magawa.

"Black." Sagot ko. Pinatingnan niya kasi sa akin ang isang bag at nagswipe ng mga kulay.