Disturbing The Calm Water

Prologue

Path

"Dad!" Frustrated kong tawag sa kanya. Pinanood ko siyang tumigil sa pagsusulat ng kung ano.

Sumandal siya sa swivel chair niya at humalukipkip, staring at me.

"Were you not listening to me, dad? Do I need to explain everything again?" Halos maiyak kong sabi.

"Nakikinig ako. I'm just thinking about your plans." Sabi niya at kinuha muli ang business plan na dala ko.

Mag-iisang oras na yata ako dito sa loob ng office niya explaining my plan to open a coffee shop but until now, he remains undecided. He's so hard to convince!

"Thinking about what? I think my plan is already solid, I just need investors. You specifically!"

"Yani." Seryoso niyang tawag sakin at hinilot ang sentido. "Look, I know you worked hard on this, I also know that you did your best specially that you are not a business major. You have great ideas pero most of them are leaning towards menu development kaya I'm worried sa magiging management nitong proposal mo. Have you consult this with your sister yet?"

"Well... barely. She's so busy with work pa but she already agreed to invest. Pati si Kuya Flint and 2 of their friends, kaya dad, you have nothing to worry about since puro business people naman ang investors ko, I'm sure they will help me out in managing the café." I tried to convince him more.

He flipped through my business plan again bago tumango at binalik sakin. "I think your sister will get busier for the following months lalo na't baka mag-simula na yun mag-plan ng wedding. Let's-"

"Hold on." I said, cutting him off. "Wedding? You mean mag-propropose na si Kuya Flint kay Ate Mish?"

His eyes suddenly widened, realizing that he probably just spilled a top secret. "Don't tell your sister anything! Nagpaalam pa lang naman si Flint, I don't know when he's planning to propose yet."

"OMG! I'm excited!" I said while clapping my hands.

"Don't give your sister any idea yet at baka masira pa ang plano ni Flint."

"I won't. Ikaw ang dapat mag-ingat, dad! You didn't even realize that you accidentally said it!" I said defensively.

"Let's both be careful! Ano nga yung sinasabi ko kanina?"

Napaisip din ako saglit sa pinaguusapan namin bago kami nadistract. "Oh, that Ate Mish will probably be busier kaya hindi niya ako matutulungan sa management ng café?"

"Right! I just remembered, may start up company akong nakilala. They provide management and consulting services that I think will help you. I even recommended it sa friend ng mama mo na nagpatayo ng coffee shop din and they liked the company."

"Okay... so?" I asked, hopeful to finally hear the magic words.

"I will find for that company's details and then I'll send the information to you. Then set an appointment with their consultant to discuss about your plans. Mas mapapanatag ako if you'll let a professional company manage your café. Lalo na't since you will focus on baking and cooking, I doubt magkakatime ka to manage the business aspect of it; your inventory, manpower, finance, marketing & sales."

He stopped to breathe. Ako rin, nahilo sa haba ng sinabi niya.

"If you want, isama mo si Mischa at si Flint, they are business majors so you can ask them things if you don't understand anything. We'll talk about how much I'll invest after you give me a revised business plan."

"Yes!" Lumiwanag ang mukha ko sa narinig. Basta't the key point is we will discuss about how much he'll invest the next time I come back! As long as he agrees to spend money for my café, kahit anong condition pa yan, I'll do it.