Ngayon nga ay nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng press conference ng itatayong resort-casino ng pamilya namin at ni Nathan.
Magkatabi kaming nakaupo ni Nathan sa harap kasama ang magulang namin at ang iba pang may kaugnayan sa business.
Tapos na i present ng mga team ng architects and engineers ang plano ng resort. Maganda ang pagkakagawa dito na tila akala mong totoo ng nakatayo ito. Even the amenities were presented by the department heads. Maging kami ay nakikinig lamang sa kanila habang nakaupo at nakangiti sa harap ng media and press people.
I was well informed by my dad's secretary that personal questions will be asked. And as much as possible, I should answer it politely. Iwasan ko raw ang sarkastikong pagsagot, dahil madalas nga naman daw ay napaka lakas ng sarcasm ko, lalo kapag wala sa mood. She said I should answer the question straight to the point at walang paligoy ligoy.
Pinapangalagaan pa rin naman namin ang reputasyon ng pamilya at ng kumpanya, kaya kailangan maging maingat.
Years ago, my parents had the biggest challenge. That's when they confirmed to the people that their only son, was a gay and a pre op transgender.
Hindi man ako nakarinig ng reklamo at pag daing, ay alam ko na isa itong pagsubok sa pamilya namin at sa buong kumpanya. Na ang nag iisang tagapagmana ng Torres Group ay isang bakla. Ano na lamang ang sasabihin ng ibang tao.
But my parents faced them all, ng buong paninindigan at walang kahihiyan. They stand for what they believe. They stand for me. Kahit na ang nakataya ay ang buong buhay na pinaghirapan nila.
Kaya mahal na mahal ko sila, at kailangan kong sundin ang mga bagay na alam kong makakabuti para sa aming pamilya at kumpanya.
The question and answer portion started. And our parents answered all of it. Maging ang mga team managers and leaders ay sumasagot rin kapag tungkol sa kanila o sakop nila ang mga katanungan.
Nagtanong rin sila kung bakit hindi involve and Torres Group at Aldama Corp.
Both are one of the biggest conglomerate in the country. At kung tutuusin ay maliit na investment lamang ang itatayo kung mag kakaroon pa ng merger ang dalawang conglomerate para sa isang project. Besides, this is a strong partnership between two families, hindi ng dalawang kumpanya.
Oh diba, habang nakangiti ako sa harap ng mga tao ay nakikinig rin naman ako.
"Jem, it's your eighteenth birthday next month. What are your plans?" One of the reporter asked.
"Actually I don't know yet. Maybe a simple celebration in our house will do." And I smiled.
"Torres Group owns one of the largest hotel group in the country, do you consider having a party in one of them?" Follow up question ng isa sa kanila.
Ano bang pakialam nila? Eh sa gusto ko sa bahay namin? Our house is a mansion and can accomodate hundreds of visitors. Pakialamerang froglet.
Ngumiti na lamang ulit ako. "I'm thinking about that. But our home is where my heart is. That's why I was thinking of celebrating it there. But let's see, wala pa naman pong final decisions about that."
Ngumiti naman din sila sa akin.
"You and Nathan were both famous sa pinapasukan niyong university. Based on our sources, both of you are super close, and both of you are dating. So how true is that?" Tanong ng isa sa mga echuserang palaka.
I froze. Paano ko sasagutin ang tanong na ito. Nawala na ang ngiti ko sa labi.
Napatingin naman ako kay Nathan. Hindi nagbago ang reaksyon sa mukha niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Your Love (transgenderXstraight)
RomanceIs he still the same guy I used to know? The same guy I met years ago? The same guy I fell in love? The same guy I'm still in love with. This is a story of a transgender and a straight guy. About wrong decisions and mistakes in life, regrets, second...