Sugarcoated Karma

◖Chapter Forty-three◗

Other room

Time flies so fast when you're busy. Tatlong araw na kaagad ang nakalipas mula nang makabalik ako dito sa Pilipinas.

I visited Veyron at Papa's new house and I was surprised with his own room there. Ang bilis.

Napasok ko na rin ang kompanyang nakatayo sa Nueva Ecija. I could get the informations online pero sa tingin ko'y mas maganda kung pupuntahan ko 'yon. So I did.

Malaki ang ibinaba ng demand sa Celendrez OCG. At tama si Papa, we lost the grip to the Escarcegas... They were one of the ropes we used to have para mapanatiling maayos ang negosyo. Sila ang nag-aadvertise ng oil mula sa amin together with their business that has something to do with expensive cars. They're well known kaya malaki ang itinaas namin pero nang mawala 'yon ay bumagsak ang halos lahat.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago isa-isang pinindot ang numero sa telepono ng opisina ni Papa.

[ From Escarcega's Luxurious Car Companies, how may I help you? ] bungad sa akin sa kabilang linya.

Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata ko. Now I feel like I'm crossing a goddamn line that would lead me closer to what I'm scared of...

"This is Julio Veroncio's daughter from the Celendrez Oil Company Group, may I schedule a meeting with Mr. Escarcega?" I politely asked while trying to sound so calm.

I did some research at nalaman kong si Garvan pa rin ang may hawak sa negosyo nilang ito. And now I'm praying that he'll grant the schedule I'm requesting.

Besides, what may have happened when I left, when Titus got angry for his false expectation with that arrangement, is still not enough reason for their company to drop us off.

Setting my thoughts aside, I asked Dad if I'm doing it right at sinabi niyang tama lang daw. Mas mabuti na rin daw na hindi si Titus ang makakausap ko... I almost forgot he's handling the Investigation and Services company but our paths crossing again is still possible right?

Tumahimik ang kabilang linya at mukhang nagpapaalam na mas nakakataas sa kanila.

I felt nervous again. I can imagine this person I'm talking to is telling Garvan already about the request they just received from the company they dropped off.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang magsalita muli ang nasa linya. His question even made me more nervous.

[ May I ask for your name, Ma'am? ]

"Adi Celendrez."

Well, they didn't ask for the "full" one so I could say Adi right? Besides it's also from my "Madisen".

Tumahimik muli sa kabilang linya. Confirmed. The guy's reporting to their CEO, Garvan, while talking to me on phone. Intrigued? Maybe.

Iniisip ko tuloy kung paano nawalan ng kapit ang kompanya namin sa kanila dahil lang sa galit ni Titus gayong hindi naman siya ang CEO doon. Paano nga bang nangyari 'yon? I thought he wasn't into business that time? Paano niya nagawang makontrol ang sa bagay na 'yon kung hindi pa naman siya ang may hawak?

[ Okay, Ma'am. We'll call you back to inform you with the settlement of date and time. ]

"Okay, thank you..." I sighed as the call ended.

I won't always be in Nueva Ecija for the company but here in San Pablo for the Escarcegas.

It's sad that this is the only thing I can do... I can't fully control our business because firstly, I didn't choose business during college, and I didn't finished college.