Against the Barrier (Magnates Series #1)

His POV

His Point of View

"I would like you to meet one of my closest friends and business partners, Idrigo Malcolm Pontevera." masiglang sabi ni Papa sa hapag namin nang may dumalaw na bisita.

The man smiled and nodded politely. Nakaupo lang ako kasama ang mga kapatid ko habang kumakain. Sanay na kami sa mga ganito dahil sa trabaho ni Papa.

Our family is one of the wealthiest business magnates but was never formally introduced in the elite circle. Pinanatili ni Papa na tago ang totoong estado namin dahil ayaw niya ng masyadong atensyon.

"This is my daughter, Ishina Astrid Pontevera." nakangiting sabi ng lalaki.

May dumungaw kaagad na babae sa likuran niya. Wearing a light pink dress, her wavy hazelnut hair, her round innocent eyes, and her natural pink lips were distinct. She looks as if she has foreign blood which is evident in her appearance.

Tipid na ngumiti ito at bahagyang tumango. Mabilis lamang niya kaming binalingan ng tingin dahil agad na tinignan niya ang kapatid niya.

"Idris, sit here." marahang sabi niya sa kapatid at inayos ang suot nitong dress shirt. "You should've been careful, hindi mo na dapat hinabol 'yong aso."

She patted the dirt on her brother's pants like a mother. Tahimik ang kanyang kapatid at sinunod naman ang sinabi niya. Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa kapatid na tila ba nakalimutan na niya ang ibang tao sa paligid.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain kasama ang mga bisita. Nag-uusap ang mga matanda habang dumapo ang tingin ko sa babae kanina. Instead of eating, she is putting some food on her brother's plate. She chuckled as she introduced some unfamiliar cuisine to her curious brother.

"What's your dream, ija? What do you want to be when you grow up?" tanong kaagad ni Papa habang nasa kalagitnaan ng pagkain.

For someone young, I was expecting some cliché response. Nagbago lang iyon ng makita kong biglang nagseryoso ang mukha niya.

"Since I will be inheriting my family's company, I was hoping that my parents would let me experience working outside our field." she fluently explained. "Gusto ko po sanang subukan ang trabaho sa ibang kompanya bukod sa amin. Para po may alam rin ako sa ibang bagay bukod sa mismong business na inaasikaso ni Dad."

My lips parted upon hearing it. Coming for a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, I was expecting that she wouldn't even have a plan yet. Hindi ko inaasahang sobrang detalyado at specific ng gusto niyang mangyari. She looks so certain of doing it in the future.

Napatingin ako kay Papa at nakita ko ang multo ng ngiti sa labi niya na tila ba natutuwa siya. My mom also showed admiration, as well as my brothers here.

"Pasensya na, ganito talaga mag-isip ang anak ko. She is really eager to be responsible to manage our company." natatawang sabi ng tatay niya.

Humalakhak si Papa. "That's actually a good mindset. I'm sure she will be a great leader in the future."

Nagtuloy lamang sila sa pag-uusap kaya naman nabored ako. As for me, I actually have no plans. If they want me to lead, I will do it without hesitation because that is my responsibility as a son of a wealthy tycoon. But her, she has a very concrete yet complicated plan for herself.

"Dad, samahan ko lang po sa banyo si Idris." pagpapaalam ng batang babae.

Tumango ang Daddy niya kaya naman tumayo siya at hinila kaagad ang kapatid. Naiwan kami rito at napunta ang usapan sa plano ng mga matatanda. She was going to be married off to my brother, Darius.

"We'll settle it out in the future." sabi ni Papa bago bumaling kay kuya. "Are you fine with this arrangement, Darius?"

"Sure, I don't mind." hindi man lang nag-isip si kuya.