Yula's Prequel

6. I'll take this chance

Monte's

"What are you doing here, Mr. Yu?"

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa sahig ng hallway ng residential building ni Miss Sioson. Nakapamulsa akong humarap sa kanya at tinitigan siya mula ulo hanggang paa.

"You look expensive now, Miss Sioson. Is that what my father's influence did to you and your career?"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong pinagsasabi mo." Inilabas niya ang keycard ng unit niya mula sa bag na dala niya. Even her bag is expensive now. "Kung wala kang sasabihin sa akin, umalis ka na. Wala rin naman tayong kailangan pag – usapan."

"Marami. At alam mo iyon. Pero hindi ito ang tamang panahon para sa paniningil ko, Miss Sioson."

"Then what do you want?" She snapped at me.

"I need you to do your fucking job right, Miss Sioson."

"I am doing my job. Wala kang karapatang pagdudahan ang kalidad ng trabaho ko."

"Oh? Is that so? Then what are you doing with Yula Maria Consunji?"

Natigilan siya at tiningnan ako. May ngising gumuhit sa labi niya saka siya humalukipkip.

"Look at you are taking interest in that poor girl."

"You'd be surprised who you're calling poor."

"Ano bang gusto mo?"

"Yula Maria needs to pass your subject in order to pass the sem. Bakit hindi mo siya bigyan ng pagkakataon na ipasa ang dapat?"

"She needs a voice to pass my subject."

"No. You need a heart to listen to her. Wala ka kasing puso."

"What do you get from this, Monte?"

"I get nothing. But if you don't do the right thing, Yula Maria's family might do something to you."

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay kunot na kunot na ang noo ni Miss Sioson. Tumawa naman ako.

"For a gold digger like you, hindi mo kilala ang mga taong dapat ay kilala mo. You have the internet, you have a phone, search for it. Who is Yuma Maria Consunji. Saan siya angkan galing at gaano ng aba ang impluwensya ng angkang iyon. Maybe by then, you'll know what to do."

Nilagpasan ko si Miss Sioson, bago ako tuluyang lumayo ay nilingon ko siya, I saw her taking out her phone. Ngumisi lang ako at saka tuluyan nang umalis. Sa paglabas ko ng building na iyon ay may isang itim na SUV ang huminto sa tapat ng main entrance. I stopped because I recognized the car. I stopped and waited, hindi naman nagtagal ay bumaba ang pinakahuling taong gusto kong makita sa mundong ito.

Maybe his executive assistant saw me. May ibinulong siya sa kanya at saka lang ito huminto para tingnan ang direksyon ko.

"Montgomery." He called out my name. Hindi naman ako lumapit. I raised my middle finger and left.

I don't want to see the person who ruined my family. I hate him. I hate my father with all the rage that I have.

xxxx

Yula's

I was so happy because finally my professor – Miss Sioson have accepted my homework. She even gave me a high score. Tuwang – tuwa talaga ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, siguro naawa na siya sa akin dahil ilang beses na akong bumabalik sa office niya. Finally, all my efforts paid off! I have a grade of 98 in my homework. I cannot wait to show Dydy and Mymy this, so I took a selfie with my paper and sent it to them before I sent it to the family group chat.