Silent Tears

chapter 17

Having no choice,  here I am set to join the board meeting in Poveda Fashion Institue.  Last night mom and I had a heart to heart talk.  She explained to me how long dad waited for me to get involved in running the business.  Now I realized why dad encouraged me take my masters in business ad while finishing fashion design in Paris.  Yun pala kasi hinanda niya ako para dito.  My clever dad. Napailing na lang ako.

Soft knock on my door.  Alam ko na si mommy yun. 
"Cassy anak?  Are you done?" malambing na boses ni mom.  Kaya hindi ko makayanan tanggihan si mom.  She really knows how to tame me.
"Yeah mom,  I'm done here." pasigaw kong sabi sa kanya.

Sabay na kaming bumaba ni mom.  Nakagayak na rin si dad,  wala kaming imikan dalawa.  Baka nakiramdam din sya sa akin.
"Mom I'll just take my car.  Deritso na rin kasi ako sa school mamaya.  Tumawag na yung secretary ni dean.  She reminded me of my class schedule this afternoon." 

"Swettie, sabay na lang ako kay Cassy papuntang office." paalam ni mommy kay dad.  I still haven't spoken to dad, yet.
From being busy with his phone, he lift his head.  Looking at us,  he simply nodded.  Said something to his driver.  Tumalima naman yung driver niya papuntang sasakyan nila dad.
Lumapit si dad sa amin.  In his most apologetic look, hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat.
"Princess, i know this been hard for you.  But thank you anak.  Your mom might have worked magically on you.  You just don't know how happy I am.  I already thanked your mom when she told me that you agreed to do it.  Please understand daddy.  We can't make it on our own.   anymore."
"Okay dad."
"We will not hinder your love for fashion design.  You can do it while in the company anak."
"Don't worry dad,  i already palnned it.  I might do my work in CIM while in Poveda.  Maybe just visit there once in a while.  Andoon naman si cheska at yung secretary ko."
"Thank you.  I love you princess."
"I love you too, dad."
"Let's have a group hug then." makwelang sabi ni mom.

Convoy kami ni dad papuntang Poveda.  Today, they will formally turn-over the position of Senior Vice-president for Human Resource.  Kabado din kasi ako.  Don't know what awaits me there.  Well, there's nothing to be afraid of kasi ako naman ang boss pagdating ko dun.  Kaso di pa rin maiwasan kabahan kasi baka di ko ma meet ang expectations ni dad sa akin.  Tsaka yung pamamalakad ni mom, baka di ko ma meet yung standards niya.  Mom may have felt my axiety, maagap niyang hinawakan ang kamay kong nasa gear control.
"Mom..."
"Princess, there's nothing to be worried about.  Magaan katrabaho ang mga tao duon especially Daniel. Hindi ka niya pababayaan.  Andito lang ako nakasuporta sa yo.  I'm just a phone call away." pumalatak sabay kindat sa akin.  Goodness I almost step on the break pakabanggit ni mom ng pangalan nung beast na yun. Hay wala talagang maidudulot na kabutihan sa akin ang taong yun.

Panay yuko ang bawat taong madadaanan namin. Andito na kami sa kalagitnaan ng looby. Nakakapanibago.  Kanina dinaanan namin ni mom magiliw naman sila.  Why is that?
Yung mga babae naman duon, napahagikhik at parang kinikilig.

"Gosh makalaglag panty talaga ang kagwapuhan niya"

"Bet ko yung mysterious type na katulad niya"

"Totoo ka dyan girl.  In love na yata ako.  Sana mapansin niya ako."

"Siya ang laman ng pantasya ko!"

"Good morning sir."  Halos sabay sabay na bati ng mga empleyado duon.  Yung iba pormal ang pagbati sa kanya.  Ang iba naman ang may halong landi ang boses.
Alam ko na nasa likuran lang namin ang dahilan.
"Morning."pasupladong sagot nito. That baritone voice! Gosh!
Namimilog ang mga mata ko.  Siya nga pala ang current CEO dito.
Kunot noo akong lumingon, in particular dun sa pinanggalingan ng boses na yun.
His eyes on the floor.  Nakayuko ito habang naglalakad.  Katabi niya ang babae na seksi sa suot niyang corporate attire.  She is maybe the secretary.  She's holding a pen and notepad while talking to him.  Probably his schedule for the day.
May kabilisan ang kanilag paglalakad kaya naabutan kami.  Pasimpleng lumipat ako ng pwesto sa paglalakad.  Yung hindi niya ako mapansin.  Sana nga hindi,  crossing my fingers.   Ayoko pa siyang makausap.  Ugh! He is my boss figuratively.  And I hate it.  Bakit kailangan  pa mag krus ang landas naming dalawa.  I know it will happen since both our families are so close.  Kaya nga maagang akong nasaktan kasi that situation leads to be in relationship.  Only with painful memories.  Nothing else.
Nang mapansin niya kami, he greeted mom.  "Kayo po pala tita.  Good morning po."  Ayun na naman yung pamatay na signature smile ni Daniel.  Bumeso siya kay mom.  Napairap na lang ako.
"Good morning iho.  Yeah.  Kasama ko si Cassy." Seriously mom? "Nauna na ang tito Ali mo."
Patuloy lang ako sa paglalakad.  Namalayan ko nlng na may kamay nakahawak na sa likod.  Pumadaosdos ito sa bewang ko.  I stiffened.  Really Daniel? Right in the middle of this lobby mo ako lalandiin?  Oh pluuease!
"Good morning hon." sobrang lapit ng bibig niya sa tainga ko sabay halik niya sa buhok.  He sniffed on it.  Seriously?  I hate to make a scene lalo na we're starting to attract some attention.  Girls are looking at us.  Pasimple ko siyang siniko para matanggal ang braso niya sa bewang ko.  But instead he gripped on it more tightly.  Madrama pa siyang dumaing, "ouch!"
Napalingon tuloy si mom. "Iho are you okay?
"Yeah tita.  Much fine."  and smiled sweetly at my mother.  Grabe pwede na itong mag artista talaga.

Pagkadating namin sa executive floor kung saan naroon din ang conference room, nagpaalam si Daniel na sasaglit lang daw siya sa office niya.  He is working for more or less 8 years in this company.  Almost 4 years na din siya bilang CEO. 
Nadatnan namin sa conference room si dad na kausap ang mga board members.  Nandoon na rin sila tito arthur at tita mariz na parents ni Daniel.  They both welcomed me and thanked me for joining the company.  Kung alam niyo lang,  I don't to be working with your jerk son. 
The elder sister of Daniel is also there.  Siya ang currently highest paid model.  Member din ata siya ng board dito.  Mga dalawang anak na ito but she doen't look like one. 
I felt the atmosphere of the room suddenly became suffocating.  Paano ba naman,  nakapasok na ang beast na siyang humigop ng lahat ng hangin sa loob ng silid.  In his three piece dark grey suit proudly sitting on his chair. Hah!  I so really hate him. 
I can see him in his signature smirk while looking at me.  Pero di ko siya nilingon.

I am happy na napagbigyan ko si mommy sa kahilingan niya.  Now I am offically the member of Poveda Fashion Institute.
"She graduated fashion design in Paris and earned her unit in masters of business administration.  She worked at Stanfold Fashion Industry forba year and have been evolved to different department during her stay in the company.  Being the skilled HR expert, I am confident that she would continue the legacy of her mother in this company.  She is currently the owner of CIM fashion house and recently joined the New York Festival.  Let us all welcome our new Senior Vice-President of Human Resource Department, my lovely daughter, Cassandra Isabelle Montrero."

Hindi ko na pinansin ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko.  I breathe in and out before walking towards dad.

"Thank you.  I am flaterred knowing my parents' great confidence on what I can do and share in Poveda Fashion Institute.  Well, it's quite intimidating though, since my mother have some exemplary contribution during her stay.  I am hesitant at first inspite of my father's persistence.  Yeah, my company is at its growing phase but I just can't say no to mom.  Sorry dad." tawanan sila.  My father just nodded while mom smiled at me.
"So here I am.  I, for sure, will be learning from you and hope you could learn from me  as well."
My eyes landed on Daniel.  Kanina pa siya titig na titig sa akin.  Ano bang problema niya? Pinaglalaruan niya ang kanyang mga labi, his other arm rested on the edge of the table while the other one on his lap.  Nakasandal siya sa swivel chair.   His very presence is distrscting me.  Big time.
"Good morning everyone."  yun na lang ang nasabi ko.  I lost for words.
Bigla siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin.  Kinuha niya ang mic. Abah gusto niyang magka moment ha?
He got hold of my hand.
"Morning to all if us.  Finally,  Poveda got a gem.  I must thank tita Anna for her irristible charm making Ms. Cassandra Isabelle Montrero as one of us.  It is an honor to work with you here.  We assure you that we will make your working environment as comfortable and happy as you want it to be."  He put the mic on the podium.  Let go of my hand and hold me by the waist.  Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.  Anong gagawin niya? I'm gonna kill you Daniel.  Argh!
He looked at me as if reaching for my soul.  Nakalimutan ata niya na nasa harap kami ng sangkatauhan ng Poveda.  Goodness!
"Honey, it's my pleasure to welcome you in our company.  Thank you."  pulled me closer in his arms and gave his gentlest kiss ever.  Tell me.  WHO WILL NOT GONNA FALL WITH THIS BEAST?
Oh em gee! Confusion is written all over my face.  Surely,  I am as red as tomato by now.  We're infront of our parents for pete's sake. 
Hinatid niya ako sa aking upuan na wala sa aking sarili.  Mom hugged  me and murmured some thank you anak  na hindi ko na naintindihan ang iba.  Nagsalita rin sila tito arthur at tita mariz. Wala akong naintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi nila.  All I could think of is how good that kiss feels like.
Oh no! This is not me.
"Anak we're going to visit your office. C'mon."  duon pa ako natauhan.
We left the room after the board members congratulated me.
Di ko na rin nakita ang beast na yun.  Baka umalis na.  Lagot talaga yun sa akin.  The nerve of him for making a scene kanina.  Ugh!