Enchanted Series 1: Ang Huling Tagaingat

Chapter 40

Nakaupo si Don Mariano sa kanyang wheelchair malapit sa anak na may tinitingnang spreadsheets sa kanyang laptop. Nakatingin ang matanda sa hardin nang tanungin niya ang abalang dalaga. "How's the company?"

"Dad, the company's fine."

"Are you sure?" Nakatuon pa rin ang atensiyon ng matanda sa hardin.

Kumunot ang noo ni Sandy na umasik. "Why?"

"I'm still the owner of the company, Sandy, which means I have access to our records, and --"

"What are you trying to say?"

"We're losing money."

Hindi alam ni Sandy kung maiirita sa mga sinasabi ng ama o maiirita sa mabagal na pagsasalita nito. "I can handle it."

"Can you?"

"Don't you trust me?"

"Hindi kita ilalagay sa posisyon kung hindi kita pinagkakatiwalaan."

"Then leave the job to me."

"What are you going to do about our huge losses in the last 6 months?"

"I'm going to meet with our accountants and financial analysts tomorrow. I'll also have meetings with our investors and partners planned."

"You should have done that a long time ago. Masyado ka kasing abala sa ibang bagay."

Kumunot ang noo ni Sandy. "Dad, can you just stop pestering me? Can't you see, I'm doing something right now, and this is for the damn company, for your company!"

"I didn't mean anything... Ang gusto ko lang ay --"

"Just shut up! Pagod na ako sa paulit-ulit mong pagchecheck sa lagay ng kompanya. Kung gusto mo, go back to the company, and I'll be very glad to relinquish the position."

"Cassa... Sandy, hanggang ngayon ba hindi mo pa rin makuhang magustuhan ang pagpapatakbo ng kompanya?"

"We've had this conservation, dad. I'm not having it again."

"I'm just worried about our future, your and your sister's as well."

"We're big girls. We can handle ourselves. Besides, don't lay all the blame on me, dad. The company was in pretty bad shape before you got sick."

"I know, but I had hoped that you could fix it."

"Well, since mukhang alam mo na naman, all right, I can't fix whatever the hell your company is in. I told you before, running your business wasn't my cup of tea. Dapat binenta mo na lang kasi ang kompanya noong mataas pa ang value nito."

"I already sold 3 of our businesses, but I can't let Hedgeworth Pharmaceuticals go. Tinayo at tinaguyod namin ng mama mo 'yan."

"Dad," -- tumayo si Sandy at binagsak ang isang palad sa mesa, dahilan upang malalingon si Don Mariano sa sindak -- "I was a doctor before you pulled me into this mess." Inayos ni Sandy ang salamin sa mata. "And dammit, I was doing a pretty good job as a physician!"

"I'm sorry." Tulala si Don Mariano na sandaling tumingin sa nagngangalit na si Sandy.

"Ate, ano 'yung narinig kong nagsisigawan?" Lumapit ang isang babae sa kanila na may hawak na mga pinamili.

Lumingon si Sandy sa pinanggalingan ng boses. "Diana, where have you been?"

"I bought groceries."

Kumunot ang noo ni Sandy at nilagay ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang baywang. "Bakit ikaw ang bumili? May mga katulong tayo."

"Ba't ka ba nagagalit? Don't you realize ang hirap maghanap ng bukas na mall ngayon? Look, gusto ko lang makatulong dito sa bahay. Sa Amerika, I do all these things." Nilapag ni Diana ang mga pinamili sa sahig.