The Secretary and The CEO | Mikhaiah AU

The Pamamanhikan

“Saan tayo pupunta?” Shai asks looking out the van window. “We're meeting someone muna” Mave says. “Sa bahay po namin tayo pupunta saglit” Aya says excitedly. “Aba inuwi” “Mamamanhikan?” “Meet the parents?” “May big announcement?” Jules, Shai, Soph and Cal says one after the other. “Mga uto” Mave says as she looks out how Aya will react through the rearview mirror.

“Ma! Pa!” Aya shouts after seeing her parents again, the last time she was home was before she even worked for the Laxamanas. Mr. Laxamana always offered to give her vacation time but Aya always refused thinking it's best to earn more money so she can bring G to Manila. Speaking of G… “Hala mga Ates may pogi ohhhh” Shai says squealing after eyeing someone walking down the street. “Ate?!” G shouts after seeing her sister hugging her parents. “Ate Aya” she shouts as she run hugging her sister and her parents.  “G… bunso ko…” Aya says hugging G. “Ate bakit umuwi ka na? Wala ka na trabaho?” G asks innocently. “Uto…” Aya says smacking her head “Kasama ko nga mga boss ko” Aya says looking over to them. “Uhm Ms. Mave, Ms. Cal, Ms. Jules, Ms. Shai, Ms. Soph… parents ko po si Maria at David de Ayala” she says presenting them. “Ate Mags!” G says and approaches her. “G ang tangkad mo pala” Mags says as they hug each other. “G!” Shai says then hugs her. “Magkakilala po tayo?” G asks as Shai hugs her. “Ah hindi pero we should get to know each other better” Shai says releasing the G from the hug then giving her a wink. “Dami mong alam” Jules says. One by one they present themselves then shake hands with G. “Good afternoon po” Mave says as she approaches Aya's parents and does ‘mano’. “Ma Pa si Maverick po… boss-” Aya says. “Kaibigan po ni Amaya” Mave says smiling at them. “Ah Ms. Laxamana, nakukwento ka samin ni Amaya” Mr. De Ayala says. “All good things I hope” Mave replies jokingly.

“Maraming salamat po sa pag papatuloy samin Mrs. and Mr. De Ayala” Mave says as they eat lunch together. “Nako walang ano man gusto din naman namin kayo nakilala” Mr. De Ayala says, “Pasensya na kayo napaka simple lang ng mga naihanda ko, surprise na surprise naman kasi talaga pag dating niyo” Mrs. De Ayala says. “Sobra sobra pa nga po ito parang may fiesta” Mags says. “Napaka sarap po ng luto niyo” Cal says. “Mrs. De Ayala sana namana ni ate Aya galing niyo sa pag luto” Soph says. “Nako sobrang galing din yan magluto lalo na ng Lumpia” Mr. De Ayala says with a little laugh. “Nako Pa baka maniwala sila sayo, kawawa naman mga toh pag natikman talaga” G says. As the dining room filled with laughter, one person was observably timid and quiet. Aya who was sitting next to her noticed. “Ms. Laxamana…” calling her attention. Mave just turns to her. “Are you ok? Do you want anything?” Aya asks. “I'm fine I'm just… taking in everything they are saying” Mave says then smiles at her.

“Coffee kayo guys timpla yan ng Tita Maria niyo” Mr. De Ayala says bringing them coffee from their café bar. Aya remembered how Mave couldn't sleep after drinking coffee. “I'll just get you something else” Aya says to Mave about to stand up. “No no it's ok” Mave says holding her hand. “Baka hindi ka na naman makatulog” Aya says arguing. “I'll be fine… it's disrespectful not to” Mave says pulling Aya to sit. “Uto wag ka mahiya” Aya says about to stand again. “I promise I'm ok” Mave says holding her hand then caressing it. “Uyyy si Ate” G says noticing their hands. Mave retracts her hand. “Hmmmm” says both Cal and Mags as they look at Mave and Aya respectively.

“Sana naman mas madalas ka bumisita anak” Mr. De Ayala says as he bids farewell to his daughter. “Oo nga masyado ka na ata na-o-over work anak… ang payat mo na” Mrs. De Ayala says tearing up a little looking at her daughter. “Ma Pa alam niyo naman po bakit ako nag t-trabaho diba, para din po kay G toh” Aya says explaining and giving comfort to her Mom.

“Boss Mave hindi po ba kayo nag hahanap ng bagong katulong?” G says approaching Mave as they get in the van while Aya was with their parents. “Hindi naman, bakit?” Mave asks. “Gusto ko po matulongan si Ate, pag napunta na po ako sa Manila mas mapapahinga na siya” G says looking at her sister from afar. Mave feels empathetic towards G and their family, but she doesn't want to meddle with Aya's plans. “Alam naman ng ate mo ginagawa niya… Don't worry ako bahala sa kanya doon.” Mave says holding G’s shoulder and giving her a reassuring smile. “Sama ka na muna samin… para masulit mo time with your ate” Shai says breaking the sweet moment. “Eme mo gusto mo lang siya sulitin” Soph says from the back of the van.

Sneak Peek for Ch 10:

“Ma'am I'm so sorry po, we thought that there would only be 4 of you”