Somewhere between Life and Love

~Chapter Twenty~

*snap!*

"This company has better things to than sitting and staring around Mr. Santos. Now, Mr. Montefalco is calling you." Nabigla ako ng nasa harapan ko na pala si Ma'am Bella.

"Yes Ma'am Bella." Sabi ko at dumiretso na ako sa office ni Mr. Montefalco.

Kumatok muna ako, "Good afternoon, Mr. Montefalco."

"Ah,hijo. Good afternoon. Sit down." Sabi ni Sir Augustine at ngumiti sa akin. "How's work?" dagdag pa niya.

"Sir, maganda po. Marami po akong natututunan." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Good, good. How about you do me a favor my son, we need to get another client today." Sabi niya. Ako naman, kinabahan kasi baka kung saan na naman ako mag-drive.

"Sino po Sir? If I may ask, bakit po ako? Nand'yan naman po si Ma'am Bella?" sabi ko naman.

Tumayo naman si Sir Augustine. "I'll be frank hijo. I was once you."

Ano daw? Once me? Sabi na nga ba! Totoo ang time travel! Nandito s'ya para sabihin ang kapalaran ko!

"You want to hear my story?" sabi pa ni Sir Augustine habang nakatayo sa may harap ng transparent windows. 'Eto 'yung part na may mga flashback. Oo, 'eto na nga 'yun.

"There was one night na nagbantay ka sa isang convenience store, as a security guard. I've been eyeing at you for some time and I occasionally see you at places like restaurants as waiter, salesman at record bars, or others. You never knew I handled all of them because they were all part of the company." Sabi pa ni Sir Augustine.

So, all this time, nagtatrabaho na pala ako kay Sir Augustine since mamatay si Papa?

"Managers recommended your service, they all praised you. Doon, nakita ko sa'yo ang sarili ko."

"Excuse me Sir, how could have you possibly see a successful man in me?" sabi ko naman.

Tumawa naman s'ya. "Before there were diamonds, they were once coal." Saad pa niya. "Dati din akong sekyu, fry cook, sales man, bouncer sa bar, magtataho, maglulugaw at kung anu ano pa. I did everything to live. The truth is, I was an orphan. I never met my parents, I never had family." Sabi ni Sir.

Wala naman akong sasabihing matino kaya hindi na lang ako umimik.

"Pero may isang mabuting mayaman na lalaki na kinupkop ako, itinuring akon sariling anak at legally, he adopted me and gave me the name Augustine Montefalco. All my life, I did everything to raise all his riches that I forgot to have my own family."

"Wa-wala po kayong pamilya Sir?" tanong ko. Ang stupid ng tanong ko! Malamang Baste, kakasabi n'ya lang 'diba?

"None, I never had time for myself." Sabi ni Sir Montefalco. "Kaya kita kinuhang intern para makatulong sa'yo. Dahil alam ko 'yang hirap na 'yan kasi naranasan ko 'yan."

Bumalik naman s'ya sa kinauupuan n'ya. "Bella is teaching you how to be successful hijo. I told you, there is no easy road to success." Sabi niya. "Kaya kita isasama for you to learn that the road to success is tough, and I'm willing to take you there."

Ngumiti naman sa akin si Sir Augustine, "Prepare tomorrow, we're going to Pampanga. There is one client there. Mr. Carioso, he's a farmer, a haciendero! Yes, that's right. I know you can handle him. Drag your friends along. The road to success is broad, take along those who you want and be successful together."