Like a Boss

29 : Ikaw

Maaga akong nagising sa araw na ito at maaga ring nagpaalam kina Ate Yella. I really wanna go home. Hindi naman sa hindi ako masaya sa bahay nina Ate Yella. I just wanna go home. I feel more comfortable there. Yeah, right. There's no place like home.

Nanonood lang ako ng tv shows sa HBO dito sa living room. Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement. One of my favorite movies. Hangang-hanga talaga ako kay Anne Hathaway & Julie Andrews. They're both beautiful, just like me.

Pero sa kalagitnaan ng favorite scene ko kung saan pinlay ang Breakaway, sumabay ang pagkanta ng phone ko.

After 1,000 centuries! Naisip pang tumawag ni mom.

"Mom." untag ko.

"Oh, anak! How are you?" Tanong ni mom.

"Just fine." matipid kong sagot. "You?"

"We're fine, too. By the way, nakwento pala ni Jarviella sa'kin na nakauwi na raw sila." kwento ni mommy.

"Yep. At pinagdrive pa nila ako." irap ko.

"That's good!" tumawa si mommy.

"Yeah, good." sarcastic kong sinabi.

If you think na wala akong respeto sa mga magulang ko, you're wrong. Dahil honestly, mataas ang respeto ko sa kanila. I respect and love them. A lot. It's just that I don't think na ganoon din ba sila. Kaya heto ako, may pagka-bitter at cold. Pero sometimes, close din naman kami ni mom. Well, sometimes.

"By the way, anak, did you visit Cindy at the cemetery?" tanong niya.

"Nope." sagot ko.

"Okay.." malungkot na buntong-hininga ni mom. "Your dad wants to talk to you."

Wala lang akong imik hanggang sa narinig ko na ang boses ni daddy.

"Avery Katerina." tawag ni dad.

"Po?" sabi ko at hininaan ang volume ng tv.

"I have something important to tell you." wika niya.

"Ano po 'yon?" tanong ko.

Don't tell me na tatanggalin mo ako as president sa company? 'Cause, dad, I won't let you. I'll prove to you na I'm worth it. Well, I'm always worth it. 'Di niyo nga lang nakikita.

He cleared his throat before telling me the thing that I'm about to know.

"You will be transferring to a different company." simple niyang sinabi na naging dahilan kung bakit ako napatayo.

"WHAT?!" napasigaw ako. Nagulat ako sa reaksyon ko. "I mean.. What? Sino na ang president ng company?!" mas mahinahon kong sinabi.

"Si Lyzelle. And you? You will transfer to Crown Regency." Sabi niya.

Lyzelle is my cousin too (sa kasamaang palad). Lyzelle Vian S. Valderama. Medyo childish at mapang-asar siya pero loving at caring. We used to be close. Medyo masaya ako dahil nakabalik na siya galing ng New York.

And, one more thing, Crown Regency is our hotel. Chain of hotels. May branch nito sa New York, handled by my uncle, France, Cebu, handled by my cousins, London, handled by my Stupid Kuya, and etcetera.

"Dad, you're joking, right?" tumawa ako.

"No. No, I'm not. Kailangan mo nang lumipat doon dahil umalis na si Veronica. She will go to New York after Christmas. Ikaw na ang CEO." sabi niya.

Veronica is also one of my cousins. Veronica Elise N. Valderama. We were close. Hindi na kami masyadong nagco-communicate simula noong naghigh school siya sa America at trabaho kaagad ang inatupag niya rito sa Philippines.