From Mavis, With Hate

Chapter Thirty

Author's Note: May dinagdag po ako dito. Please read the updated version. Thank you!

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"MA'AM?" nagtatanong ang mga mata at tinig na sabi ni Mavis sa presidente ng Dela Vega Corporation. May iniabot itong pamphlet sa kanya at nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mavis nang makita kung ano iyon. Although mas lamang ang pagka-confuse sa kanya ngayon.

Magtutulugan na silang lahat nang bigla siyang ipatawag ni Ma'am Vicky sa kwarto nito.

"There's more to you, Mavis," makahulugang sabi ni Ma'am Vicky.

"Hindi...Hindi ko po maintindihan. Ano po ito? Para saan po ito?" tanong niya rito. But Mavis can feel it. Her heart on the verge ofsinking through the pits of her stomach.

"I want you to go there," sabi ng presidente.

"Pero, Ma'am—"

"I'll take care of everything, Mavis. Ako nang bahala sa family mo. Hindi na lang naman ikaw ang magtatrabaho sa pamilya n'yo ngayon, 'di ba? Ga-graduate na ang mga kapatid mo. Hindi mo na kailangang i-shoulder lahat ng problema n'yo," paliwanag ni Ma'am Vicky pero hindi pa rin niya maintindihan kung bakit nito ito gustong gawin.

"Dahil po ba ito kay Rush?" seryosong tanong niya rito. She swallowed the bitterness in her heart and mouth. "Naiintindihan ko po, ma'am. Ayaw n'yo pong maging magkarelasyon kami ni Rush."

"Ayokong matulad ka sa pinagdaanan ko, Mavis. Because you can't walk the same path Rush is walking on to right now kung hindi mo ito gagawin. You will never be his equal at this rate," paliwanag ni Ma'am Vicky. "I'm giving you a chance to be more. I want you to be more confident in yourself. I want to give you a title. And I apologize if this will give you the impression that a title would define your worth here, but it's the only way where you would be comfortable on having a relationship with my grandson."

Sumasang-ayon naman si Mavis sa sinabi nito. Kahit na mas naging malapit na sila ni Rush ngayon sa isa't isa ay hindi pa rin niyon natatanggal ang hesitation na mas maging malapit pa dito. To cross that line. To really be with him. Mavis might feel something for Rush right now but it's still not enough to be with him. Kaya naiintindihan niya ang ibig sabihin ni Ma'amVicky.

She's not confident to be with him. Yet. Dahil alam niyang hindi sila equal. Hindi sila pareho ng mundong ginagalawan kahit na magkasama pa sila. She'd always feel a little bit less than him. Therefore, she can never love him wholly. She wanted to be more. And with this opportunity, she can be more.

But doing this means leaving him, and Mavis was afraid to do that.

"Love requires a little sacrifice, you know," sabi pa ni Ma'am Vicky.

The question is, would she be strong enough to make that sacrifice?

"You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, Mavis. What's stopping you from taking this chance?" tanong pa ni Ma'am Vicky sa kanya.

"The rumors that might arise. The future. For sure, marami pong magsasabi na hindi ako deserving sa opportunity na ito, ma'am. Or sasabihin nilang nabigyan lang ako ng ganitong opportunity dahil kay Rush. And what if, hindi naman po talaga kami ni Rush ang para sa isa't isa? What if I failed to meet your expectations?"

Victoria Dela Vega levelled a hard gaze on Mavis. "You don't strike me as a coward, Mavis. Sa tingin mo ba hindi ka deserving sa opportunity na ito? Sa tingin mo ba binibigay ko ang opportunity na ito sa'yo dahil lang kay Rush? You know, sometimes, you have to learn how to control your emotions. You have to learn that your 'what ifs' won't matter in the end. Your 'what ifs' would just lead to your regrets later on. Always live with no regrets, Mavis."