diminutives

photograph

"arch. mendoza i see you've met my grandson."

uhmm... good evening po chairman. yes sir ahmm...i've met mr. faulkerson

"architect please follow me at my office"

sir pauwi na po si architect

"oh richard i'm sure arch. mendoza can spare a little of her time with me. you can wait for her if you prefer."

tumingin si rj sa akin. he seemed uncertain and does not want to let go of my hand. i nodded to let him know it's alright. he sighed and let go of my hand. i made my way to follow his grandfather, preparing myself of getting fired.

"come in, architect. have seat please."

naupo ako sa silyang nasa harap ng kanyang lamesa. hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko at kung ano ang sasabihin ko. kahit nakayuko ako ramdam ko ang tingin ng lolo ni rj sa akin. narinig ko syang bumuntong-hininga.

"architect, richard is my only heir. he might not have my last name but my blood runs in his vein. he is the only man i can rely on to continue the legacy i have built for my company. i made sure he understood that it is and will be his responsibility to continue what i will be leaving behind. it is not just for the company itself but more importantly for the people and families that rely on it. i was hard on him because i want to make sure he knows what to prioritize."

naiintindihan ko po chairman. ahmm... yung nakita nyo po kan—

he waved his hand to cut me off and continued,

"i may have gotten what i want from richard. i might have establish him to prioritize this company and the people working for it but the downside of it, i hurt him, arch. mendoza. i disregarded his happiness. i let him sacrifice the person that made him the happiest. and for that, i'm sorry."

i looked at him bewildered. hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko o kung dapat ba akong sumagot.

ahm sir, hindi ko po naiintindihan.

"i hope you can forgive me iha. inilayo ko si rj sayo noon. natakot ako na baka mapares sya sa nanay nya na ipinagpalit ang kumpanya para lang sa pag-ibig. rj, is my last hope. alam ko na hindi tama ang ginawa kong panggigipit sa kanya to leave you. i recognized that mistake when i saw how devastated he was when you disappeared. so i made sure i to do everything in my power to find you. because i know i need to bring you back to him. kailangan kitang ibalik sa apo ko. kaya arch. please give my grandson a chance. malaki ang kasalanan ko sayo at kay richard but i hope someday, mapatawad mo ako. kayo ni richard."

sir... wala naman po kayong kasalanan. naiintindihan ko po. ginawa nyo lang po ang tama para sa mas nakakarami. wala pong mali doon.

"alam mo iha hindi nagkamali ang apo ng mahalin ka nya. ngayon mas kampante ako dahil alam kong sa laki ng puso mo magiging mabuti ang lagay ng nga tao na nagtatrabaho sa kumpanyang ito."

sir—

"architect mendoza, it's lolo... please call me lolo"

he stood up and made his way to where i'm seated. i must admit i was surprised.

"payakap naman ang lolo, apo"