Ikaw At Ako

Simula (Part 2)

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Joaquin

As usual I woke up before my alarm. I got out of bed and went on my morning jog. Nang makabalik ako sa condo ay agad na rin naghanda para sa pagpasok sa opisina.

I am always early. Always on time. At nakikita iyon ng mga empleyado ko kaya wala halos na-l-late sa company. I am their boss and I should set an example to my employees. Sunudsunod ang bati na natatanggap ko mula sa mga nadadaanang nagtatrabaho sa kompanya.

"Good morning." I would try to greet back.

"This is your schedule for today, Sir." salubong sa akin ng isang secretary.

Pumasok na ako sa mismong opisina ko. I started working through the papers I got on my desk.

"And, Sir, bibisita raw po rito mamaya ang Mama n'yo." pagpapaalam ng sekretarya.

"What time?" She didn't call me.

"Mga lunch daw, po." the secretary answered.

I nodded. May konting oras naman ako mamaya para sa pagkain.

Napatingin ako sa suot na wristwatch. "Are they here?" I asked. Referring to the members of the board.

The secretary nodded.

"Good." Tumayo na ako at papunta sa pinahandang conference room.

Pagdating doon ay halos naroon na rin ang lahat ng kasali sa meeting. And my usual day continued.

I had meetings and papers to sign and approve for the company. It wasn't easy at first. Hindi madali ang sabay-sabay na pagpapatakbo sa mga negosyo ni Papa. But I had to do it to help my father. He's getting old at sa lahat ng mga anak niya ay ako pa lang ang maaasahan niya lalo sa negosyo. Lahat ng kapatid ko ay babae and I am his only son. Wala namang problema sa akin because he's a good father to me, too. Ni minsan ay hindi ko naramdaman na napabayaan ako. Although he's not always beside me while I was growing up. I grew up in the U.S. with my mother. Hindi lang talaga perpekto si Papa but as a father he is for me. I know he's always trying his best para sa amin ng mga kapatid ko.

When lunch came ay dumalaw nga ang Mama. May dala rin siyang pagkain para sa 'kin. "Hijo," she kissed my cheek.

"Stefano Joaquin," seryoso niyang tawag.

Mula sa pagkain ay nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. She still looks young for her age. My mother is beautiful and elegant. She's kind, too. She was my father's girlfriend before he even had an arranged marriage with another woman. Noon hindi ko pa talaga naintindihan. Pero kalaunan ay naintindihan ko rin ang sitwasyon. When my father's first wife cheated on him nagkaroon din sila ng affair ni Mama. That resulted to them having me. Nagkagulo noon nang nalaman din ng dating asawa ni Papa kaya pinili ni Mama na umalis. To protect me, too.

Years after nagkaroon ng second wife si Papa. Na-annulled sila noong first wife niya at hindi rin sila nag-work ni Mama dahil umalis nga rin ito noon. Noon rin nakilala ng Papa nang mga panahong 'yon si Tita Christine nang umuwi siya sa probinsya nila galing Manila after the annulment was granted.

When I was younger I admit I hoped for a complete family, too. Pero kalaunan inintindi ko na lang din. Pinapaintindi rin sa akin ni Mama. There are just things that we cannot force. Instead accept it and be contented. Kaysa magsayang ako ng oras sa pag-iisip na baguhin ang mga hindi naman na talaga mababago. What's important is that I get the support I needed from both of my parents.