Changing Fate

Chapter 5

I anxiously waited for a week to receive my funds.

Even though I knew the old man is a man of honor but still there is doubt in me. After all, it is human nature to distrust children.

Sa panahon ngayon sino ba ang magpapautang ng pera sa isang bata? What more kung twenty million pa?

But true to his words, after one week I received the account for twenty million. I am so relieved that time, para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan.

Nang matanggap ko na ang pera, I immediately put my plan into motion.

Dahil may pera na ako, akala ko magiging madali na ang lahat. I never expected that my age can have a huge impact on my plans. 

But because of my young age, I had a hard time looking for a lawyer and an accountant who will handle my financial and legal affairs.

Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang law at accounting firm ang napuntahan ko bago ako nakahanap ng mapagkakatiwalaang lawyer at accountant.

Nang maayos ko na ang lahat, I created my own investment firm; Athena.

Tamad na akong mag-isip ng firm name kaya naman ginamit ko na lang ang aking pangalan. Yes, Athena is my second name. 

Kalila Athena Lauder Alcantara, ang buo kong pangalan. Pero masyado iyong mahaba kaya madalas 'Kalila' lang ang binabanggit ko sa ibang tao.

Only few is aware of my second name, which is a good thing for me because as much as possible I want my identity hidden.

As soon as Athena was established, I started my investment venture.

Kahit alam ko na ang mga magandang investment, pinili ko pa rin na pag-aralan ang lahat ng project na napili ko. Just to be on the safe side. Mahirap na, ayokong mapahiya kay tanda.

I chose those with highest risk but great returns. Well, hindi naman sila risky sa part ko since alam ko naman na magiging successful sila.

Naging busy ako ng mga sumunod na araw. Nag-aaral ako sa umaga at sa gabi naman ay inaasikaso ko ang aking investment firm.

Gaya ng inaasahan, lahat ng investment ko ay naging matagumpay.

More successful than I expected actually.

Tatlong buwan pa lang ang nakakaraan ay naipon ko na ang pera at interes na ipambabayad ko kay tanda.

But instead of giving back the money, I decided to use some of it to buy a condo and reinvested the rest of it.

Everything happened too fast.

Nang makahanap na ako ng condo ay kaagad na akong umalis ng bahay.

Akala ko noon magiging emosyonal ako sa pag-iwan sa bahay na iyon. But how wrong I was, instead I felt so light.

"Paalam." bulong ko habang nakatanaw sa bahay na buong buhay kong tinirhan mula sa likod ng taxi.

Hindi man ako naging masaya sa bahay na ito, pero masasabi kong maswerte parin ako kumpara sa ibang mga tao.

My parents may not love me like my sister but they provided me everything that I needed while growing up. And for that I am really grateful.

Soon the view of my parents house started to get smaller. With one last look, I diverted my eyes in front.

In this second life, hindi na ako mabubuhay sa nakaraan. Lahat ng sakit at hinanakit ay iiwan ko narin gaya ng bahay na iyon.

Instead of dwelling in the past and always looking back, I will give my sole attention to my future.

This time I will work for the life that I always wanted.

I will search for my worth and potential. Kung sa huli ay mabigo man ako, then I guess that's my destiny. Wala akong pagsisisihan dahil ito ang daan na pinili kong tahakin.

This second time around, I'll definitely live a fulfilling life.

This is just the start.