Close As Strangers

Chapter 30

"Is everything clear?" final checked ito para sa runway na gaganapin mamaya para sa mga latest fashion na irerelease ng company at lahat ng mga tauhan ay abala lalong lalo na ako. Everyone keeps on saying na kaya na nila but I still answer no for them, I want everything to be perfect.

"Ma'am someone from the board wanted to clear something from you." Agad akong napahilamos sa sinabi ng sekretarya. Wala talagang pinipiling oras ang matandang yun! Grrr. "Okay, George I leave these all to you. Make sure everything is crystal clear. Did I make myself clear?" sumagot naman and sekretaryang si George at tumungo na ako sa conference room. 'Whew, it's just Mr. Ferrer. I can do this!' sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Nang pumasok ako, laking gulat ko na it is not just freaking Mr. Ferrer I mean, all of the board members are here and...my family. I was stunned for a minute pero nakabawi rin ng biglang may sumabog na confetti.

"Ooops, sorry na'late ng pagsabog ang confetti." Sagot ni Pia na siyang nagpatawa sa lahat.

"What—what is this for? I—I'm confused—" Nilapitan ako ni Mama at niyakap ng mahigpit. "Congratulations anak." Masayang sabi niya at binitawan ako. Hindi ko alam kung maiiyak ako sa saya or sa kaba? I don't know and I feel like I can't find my words.

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at mistulang naging iba ang itsura ng conference room. Sabay-sabay nila akong binati ng congratulations which is I don't even know why they have to tell that to me.

"I forgot to tell you all that your current CEO is you know, a kind of slow so let me explain this to her—" binatukan ko si Nicko dahil sa mga kabaliwang pumapasok na naman sa utak. For Pete's sake alam naman niyang nasa Company kami gaganito siya.

"That hurts. Anyways ate Congratulations for the success." Napangiti ako sa biglang singit ni James. "Aww, that was so sweet of you kapatid." He hugged me at nakisali naman si Nick. Kaloka panira talaga ng moment ang lalaking 'to.

Halos lahat ng board members ay binati ako ng congratulations even Mr. Ferrer, kanina pa ako nagsasabi about this man pero kasi itong lalaki na 'to ang lagging nagco'contradict sa akin. Tuwing may mga plans ako about shipping some clothes or importing clothes from other countries or kung mag-i'invest he will always contradict it.

"Ms. Arzaylea I'm glad you did great after all of my contradictions about this project of yours. Congratulations." Saad niya sa akin. Kinamayan ko siya at nagpasalamat. Mahirap na, baka mamaya may masabi na naman.

"Speech ka naman diyan Ma'am Ara!" napalingon ako kay Pia na ngayon ay may hawak na ice cream. Freak talaga 'to. Nag-agree lahat and since wala akong choice I need to do this right away.

"Honestly, I......I am totally speechless." Nagtawanan muli ang kalahatan at tumigil rin kung kaya't iyon ang nagsilbi sa cue ko para ituloy ang sasabihin ko.

"I wanted to thank all of you who support me on this. It's been almost a year since I started working in this company and I am really thankful." Napangiti ako sa thought na 'yun dahil nagsimulang magflashback ang lahat.

"I admit, the first time I stepped here it was very hard. I everytime feel this pressure because I am the daughter of Mr. Mendez who owns this big company. There are lots of trials we've been through most especially to my family and I am still thankful really because they never leave me though Dad's in the hospital and I am more thankful to my best friend Nick and also to my cousin who guides me and who keeps on uplifting my thoughts. I am no good in this kind of speech so bear with me but to top it all we will never achieve this if we didn't come along with each other. Thank you so much." After I said that someone from the board said "Cheers!" we end up taking some pictures and we leave with all smiles.