Not Me, Maddie

Chapter Seven

"How's your first day, baby?" asked Ate Yannie. Pag-uwi namin ni Duncan, she was here na e. Dinner na ngayon. Parents are out of the country for some business matters.

"It's—fine, Ate Yannie. Why did you come home pala? How's work?" she was about to say something but Duncan, being the epal that he is, cut her off.

"Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung kumusta ang araw ko, Julyan?" he said, he was being annoying na naman.

"It's Yannie! You scum. Are you the chairman of your team?"

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Duncan.

"Seriously? It's team captain, Julyan." he said in a duh tone.

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were the chairman since you're always—what do you call that?—uhm, bangko?" Ate Yannie laughed and that's when it all started. The World War III.

"You unsupportive brat!"

I left the kitchen counter where we were eating and tumaas na sa kwarto ko. Kapag kaming dalawa or tatlo lang kasi sa bahay ay sa counter lang talaga kami nag-eat kasi the dining table was too large for us. Like, it just feels lonely. Five kaming magkakapatid but just like our parents, busy sila sa mga business ng pamilya. Ate Yannie made her own beauty line and built her own company with the help of our parents, of course, kaya hindi siya kasingbusy kagaya nina Kuya Aster and Kuya Ling kasi hindi pa naman siya kalevel ng iba't ibang company ng Davidson-West family.

As far as I know, Talent Agency ang isang company namin which is handled by Kuya Ling. Real Estate naman kay Kuya Aster. I went to Duncan's room and he was there, playing basketball na naman sa ps4. Mukhang aalis siya tonight kasi nakacap siya and nakaporma. E lagi lang siya half naked 'pag nasa bahay. So asal tambay.

"Yes, Maddie the queen of evils?" he said when I lied on his bed. I threw a pillow on his face. He just made face. So annoying.

"It sucks to hear your stupid voice but I'm gonna endure it muna. Tell me something about your investments! Aren't Mom and Dad gonna be mad kasi you're doing that without their consent?" he looked at me for a second before he focused on playing ulit.

"Duncan!"

"Pupusta ko ang black mastercard ko at ang milyones sa bank account ko. Pustahan, matutuwa pa sila sa akin. When I invest, it also builds connections, Maddie." Duncan and his tambay words. Kaya lagi ko siyang sinasabihan ng tambay before e, because of his words.

"But why do you invest secretly naman? I mean, when you graduate, the company in US will be yours na. You'll be annoyingly rich. Super rich."

"Exactly. I don't want the company that I know for certain will stress the shit out of me. I have my own life, they can't force me to manage a family business when they can do it themselves. It took me 3 years to make a hundred. Saka hindi lang iisa ang bank account ko."

My mouth hung open. What?

"I told you, I invest a lot. I have my own buildings for rent, I also invested in different companies which I know the products will never get old, you know what I mean? Diskarte lang 'yan."

I need... air. The Duncan in front of me is not my brother!

"My income... It may not be as much or as big as our brothers, still, it's big enough to make a living. I can also provide what you want and need. Ayokong magtrabaho sa kompanya. I'm pursuing my passion. Saka, I don't need billions. Wala pa naman akong asawa e, at kung magkakaroon man, we still don't need much. Wala naman akong balak bilhin ang mundo para magpayaman nang sobra."

"Are you sick, Duncan?" that was all I could say. He looked at me as if telling me how unbelievable I was. He was unbelievable! Not me.

"What the fuck? Are you serious?" his forehead creased na naman.