Disturbing The Calm Water

Chapter 19

Pride

I spent my weekend practicing driving again.

"Alam kong matagal na akong hindi nakapag-drive, pero nag-driving lesson naman ako dati." I told my sister who is on the passenger's seat.

"Yun nanga, matagal ka nang hindi naka-drive." Sagot niya.

"Oh, come on! Ang OA mo."

She's holding so tight on the car handrail kahit na nasa loob lang naman kami ng village umiikot. She's constantly yelling at me pa kaya lalo ako nagpapanic.

Binaba ko siya sa bahay dahil mas nasstress ako sa kanya kesa sa pag-dridrive. Si Kuya Flint ang pumalit sa kanya and he's so much better.

"Sige, ituloy mo lang, malayo pa yan." He encouraged. He even told me na ayos lang magasgasan ang kotse basta ang importante ay walang masaktan na tao.

May point naman siya, pero I can already imagine my sister's face if ever magasgasan ko itong kotse niya. Since she rarely uses her car, dahil nga nandyan naman si Kuya Flint, she told me to use it if I want to or kapag may kailangan akong puntahan.

"How's it going with the consulting firm?" He casually asked.

"Oh, come on, kuya. Wala bang pa-break sa business talks mo? It's Sunday today!" Reklamo ko.

He chuckled. "Fine, fine. Give me an update tomorrow."

"Ok!" I answered cheerfully.

Pagkatapos ay sabi niya mukhang ready na ako so he suggested we drive out of the village and go to a drive thru to order food.

Kabado ako habang nag-dridrive pero naitawid naman. Pawisan pa ako nang lumabas ako ng kotse pagkabalik namin ng bahay kahit na may aircon naman yung kotse.

"See? I can do it." I proudly told my sister. "Sigaw ka kasi ng sigaw eh, kaya nawawalan ako ng focus kapag ikaw ang kasama."

The next day came and I was woken up by another call. I didn't even need to check the caller, I knew it's Kuya Flint. Umupo ako sa pagkakahiga at inisip ang mga sasabihin.

"Updates?" Salubong niya.

"Yes kuya. As you know natapos at na-process na yung contract last week, I also sent a copy to all of you for reference. The agenda for today will be reviewing the business plan para mafinalize na. Also, they already sent the proposal or options of locations to be checked out baka bukas, pupuntahan na iyon." I answered.

"That's good to hear. Sasamahan ka naman nila mag-visit ng sites nyan, so don't worry. Goodluck later!"

I did my usual routine bago tumulak papunta sa ExAd. This time, para maka-pagpractice ako sa pagdridrive sa labas, I told our driver to sit on the passenger side para maguide niya ako sa daan.

"Sige, ma'am. Kaliwa ka dyan." He's so attentive beside me, napaisip tuloy ako kung kinakabahan ba siya dahil ako ang nagdridrive?

"Bakit ang layo, kuya?" Hindi ko mapigilang tanong. Dahil ba kabado ako o dahil malayo talaga? Tumawa lang si kuya, though.

"Good afternoon ma'am." Salubong ng receptionist sakin, kilala na ako.

I greeted her back before following her to Vini's office. I can feel a slight nervousness creeping in me. This is the 1st time we'll be seeing each other again since the last argument we had.

"Chef Rivera is also there." Dagdag niya bago kumatok at binuksan ang pintuan.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Monteverde, Chef Rivera." I greeted both of them when I stepped inside.