Choices in Between

Kabanata 1

Vacation.

"Why don't you just shut up and hand me my bag?!" singhal ko dito sa tatanga-tangang bagong sekretarya ng kuya ko.

Her stupidity is getting into my veins. I can't imagine Clay even approved of hiring her.

"Pasensya na po Miss Pris di na po ma uulit" hinging tawad niya ulit.
Oh God! She has been apologizing for tons of times now!

"What else can your sorry do to my already wet bag?!" I exclaimed again. God! This is not how I expected my morning to be.

Pagkatapos niyang makabawi sa halos pag sigaw ko ay kinuha niya na ang bag ko na nasa sahig. My poor Limited Edition Channel bag that I bought in London last week is now covered in a brown liquid.

"What's this about?" I heard a curious voice from behind. Even without turning my head I know who exactly owns that voice.

"Kuya! Look what your secretary did to my bag!" sumbong ko na parang batang naagawan ng laruan.

Most of people who don't know me well see me as a liberated and independent woman. But little did they know, I'm not all grown-up when it comes to papa and kuya.
"What happened?" He asked again matapos dapuan ng tingin yung bag kong pinupunasan ng natatarandang kamay ng sekretarya niya.

"Well, I didn't know Stupidity became a requirement for hiring our employees." Sagot ko habang tinitignan yung sekretarya niya.

"Pris." Kuya called in a warning tone.
I know okay? Maybe I went too far again. Ugh whatever.

I heaved a sigh and marched in to his office. Siguro naman ihahatid nalang ng babaeng yun yang bag ko dahil ayaw niyang ibigay sakin kanina.

A well-designed room welcomed me as I entered Clay's office. He really has a thing for black and white and so here I am sitting on his couch that resembles that if a chess piece. This part of his office's floor also resembles that of a chess board.

"So? What made my little sister this mad early in the morning?" medjo natatawang tanong siya habang tinutungo ang puting swivel chair niya. It's kinda big for me but sakto lang para kay kuya.

Binalingan ko yung tanawain sa likod ng malaking black office table niya atsaka nagpakawala ng buntong hininga.

"Well. Quite as you noticed kuya, I wasn't able to close the deal yesterday" I said in a bit sarcastic tone.

And without even eyeing me, my brother just let out a chuckle.
Mas kumulo lang ang dugo ko sa tugon niya. "You find it amusing huh?" Inis kong tanong.

"Well, Pris. What else can I say? Even the finest and most wise businesswoman of today could also make mistakes." Sabi niya na hindi parin nawawala ang konting ngiti sa mga labi.

"Wow. And that supposed to be a?" Medjo naasar kong tanong ulit.
"A compliment of course." He half-heartedly said.

I would never believe him in times like this because I know more than his annoying smile.

"So wait, are you saying that I made a mistake that's why I wasn't able to close the deal? For heaven's sake Kuya I mastered that proposal from the very start. I almost know everything about construction, engineering and design because well I'm an architect myself!" Singhal ko ulit. Ignoring what he said in the latter part.

I really can't believe that I wasn't able to pulled it off yesterday. It was the very 1st deal since my 2 years of working na hindi ko nasara.

"Pris. Just let this one slip out of your mind okay? I admit, not being able to close that deal is a loss for us but don't be so overruled by it." He said while scanning the papers in front of him.

"Besides this is your first-" He stopped mid air and looked at me. Para bang iniisip niya tamang salita na sasabihin niya. "well, Failure?" dugtong niya saka tumawa ulit ng mahina.

My kuya is a very reserved person pero kung magsasalita naman siya parang gusto mo nalang siya patayin minsan.

"Well my dear President brother of Mirades Constructions and Designs, since your just laughing out there, I'm so proud to tell you that we a lost multi-million deal." I sarcastically said.

"Uh huh." Yun lang ang naging sagot niya.

Maging si papa nung nalaman niya ang balita ay tinawanan niya lang din ako na para bang hindi kawalan yung deal na di ko nasara.

"You know what baby girl? I think y
ou should take a break." He said out of the sudden. Na nagpagulat sakin saglit.

"I knew it! Now you're thinking of me as a failure!" I exclaimed.

Medjo nagulat siya sa sinabi ko kasi nag taas siya ng tingin sakin.

"What? Saan mo naman nakuha yan?" tanong niya nung nakabawi na siya. "Look, I just want you to take a break for like a week or two because it seems like your abusing your mind and body." He said full of concern.

Napa singhap naman ako. "Ganon na ba talaga ako ka tutok sa work kuya?" Tanong ko ngayon sa mas mahinahong tono.

"hundred percent" Sabi niya lang at binalik ang mata sa mga papeles na binabasa niya.

Yes, I Ivvy Pristine Mirades is a very workaholic woman. Since mom died because of cancer, I diverted my attention to business just to forget the pain, just like what papa and kuya are doing.

Pero kahit noong buhay pa si mama, may interes na talaga ako sa aming negosiyo kaya naman noong nakapagtapos ako ay nag pumilit na akong tumulong kila papa. My dad who's the CEO of our company always supports me in everything that I do and my kuya who is the President of our company also does the same. Simula ng mamatay si mama ay sa akin na nila tinuon ang pagmamahal na meron sila. And ako din naman. Papa and kuya are my only living treasure.

I'm the vice-president but actually I'm more into design side of our company. I finished my degree in Architecture in Sydney when I was 19 and I've been working in our company for a couple of years now.

Our Company is into Construction and Design business. We do and design buildings for big clients not just locally but internationally as well. And right now we're planning in expanding the business and enter the housing world. Condominium units, Subdivisions, Hotels and Apartments.
After thinking over I made a decision that will surely surprise my kuya and papa.

"Sige kuya. I'm taking a two- month leave." I said. And I think di siya naniniwala based sa expression niya.

"Really?" Di maka paniwalang tanong niya. Medjo natawa naman ako ng konti doon.

"Really really." I assured him with a smile.

"Finally!" sabi niya na para bang isang himala ang pag leave ko sa trabaho.

"So? What are your plans? Are you gonna paint again?" He excitedly asked.

"I think. I'll be out of town." The only answer I can give him.