By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 9: The Homecoming Party

Chapter 9: The Homecoming Party

I was already well-dressed. My hair was curled as well, and my face had a light make-up on. I looked sophisticated and elegant at the same time. I looked like I was made for royalty, I was looking so beautiful. I mean, maganda naman na ako dati, pero mas lalo pa akong gumanda. The makeup artists really outdid themselves. I have to give kudos to them. Nagsuot din ako ng alahas na binigay sa akin ni Papa kanina.

“Ma’am Keana, oras na para lumabas kayo. Pinapatawag na kayo ni Don Karmon, pinapasabi niya na lahat ng bisita ay nasa baba na,” it was one of our housekeepers. I nodded. Bago ko napagdesisyunang lumabas ay sumilip muna ako sa bintana ng aking kuwarto. My room was situated at the front of the house too, kaya kita ko ang malawak na frontyard. When I took a peek, napansin ko ang maraming mga fairy lights na kumikinang. It was probably cold out there in the night, tumingala ako at napansin din ang crescent moon at ang maraming mga tala sa himpapawid.

“Alright, I am coming now.” I said, after that, I walked along with the caretaker who assisted me towards the front of our mansion. But I managed fine by myself since I was also used to wearing high heels due to my modelling career before that was my part-time work at Hawaii. Tahimik lang kaming naglakad dalawa at habang palapit kami sa actual venue ay mas lumalakas ang tunog ng musika. Naririnig ko na rin ang ingay na tila mga pinaghalong tinig at boses ng mga bisita.

When I was already at the door that was still closed, I saw my father who was there. Nakasuot din ito ng Amerikano, at nakatingin siya sa akin nang seryoso, “you look beautiful, your grandfather is outside, and he is about to give his speech. After that, he will welcome you, and that will be your cue to go out and show yourself to the people.” Aniya.

Tumango naman ako at tahimik lang na tumayo sa aking puwesto. As if on cue, biglang humina ang tumutugtog na musika at umalingawngaw ang tinig ni Lolo Karmon.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to see that everyone I have invited came to pay respect and celebrate the homecoming party of my beloved daughter, Keana Kares Kehanu. She has left to Hawaii five years ago in order to study there Bachelor of Science in Economics, and now she has returned with a bachelorette’s degree. As the grandfather, I am very proud of her. Despite being a woman, and despite my reluctance as well, we have decided to let her take charge as well of the family business, and that is the main reason why she has returned from Hawaii.”

Tahimik lang ang mga tao na nakinig sa talumpati ni Lolo, ako naman ay hindi ko maiwasang mapa-roll na lang ng eyes dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. I believe that leading a business is not really gender-based, but skill-based. To be honest, I know my grandfather was against the fact that a woman will lead our family business, but my father was stubborn about it. Ang nais nga ni Lolo noon ay si Kuya Kael na lang ang mag-manage ng lahat dahil siya ang nag-iisang lalake. My grandfather could never entrust the business to anyone, but I proved him wrong when I gave a business proposal when I was still a sophomore in my program, and they used the proposal that I gave, iyon ang naging rason bakit mas lumago ang aming negosyo, at iyon din ang oras that I proved my grandfather wrong. I changed his mind that time, and that was the very moment he finally surrendered and agreed on letting a woman take charge.

But still, he is very sexist—it is his personality, and we all know how hard it is to change someone, especially old individuals. There is no hope for Lolo, but he is still my Lolo so I cannot hate him about it. He is a good person, mali lang ang mindset at pananaw niya sa buhay. He still thinks that men are far more superior than women, it is very evident with the speech that he has given right now.

“Now, it is time for our princess to make an appearance,” I looked at everyone and saw that most people have disinterest on their face. Most of them were familiar faces, kaya alam ko agad na alam nila ang itsura ko noon. That explains why they were not that interested, I deactivated my old social media accounts before and made a new one when I was already sexy and confident, and rather than using Keana, I used Kares. They may be expecting a fat woman to come out, and that made me smirk. I looked across the crowd but did not see Maverick, pero alam kong kasama siya sa mga naimbitahan dahil na rin sa gusto kong maging business partners kami.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our princess, Keana Kares Kehanu,” as if on cue, the door opened, revealing me, and a spotlight suddenly pointed at me. Hindi ko maiwasang masilaw dahil doon, but nevertheless, I walked out from the house, and everyone were seated at their respective tables that were scattered on our large front yard.

Suminghap ang lahat ng tao, nanlaki ang mata ng iba, at ang iba naman ay natulala na lang habang naglalakad ako. That’s right, stare at me. I used to be that fat woman, and now I no longer am. Ngumiti lang ako, savoring the taste of the spotlight. I was already used to the attention, but the attention I am getting right now is different, and it is very satisfying. Nagbago ang ekspresyon ng karamihan, lalo sa mga nakakakilala sa akin dati. But they only know me for being fat, they do not know of the everyday struggles I faced before.

A servant came and assisted me to my table. Sumunod na rin si Papa, bale ang mga kasama ko lang dito ay sina Papa at Kuya Kael na tila abala sa pagtingin sa mga bisita. Tila hindi siya mapakali, kaya naman nagtataka na ako kung bakit, pero hindi na lang ako nagsalita. Si Lolo naman ay abala lamang sa mga bisita.

“You look beautiful, li’l sis.” My brother smiled at me.

“Thank you, Kuya.” Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya. Nagsimula nang kumain ang lahat at muling lumakas ang tugtog ng musika. May mga binata rin na nagtangkang lumapit upang ipakilala nila ang kanilang mga sarili sa akin, I simply faked a smile, hiding my disinterest. Sumunod naman ay si Lolo kasama ang isang matipunong lalake.

“This is the governor’s son, Kendrick Cojuanco.” Pakilala ni Lolo sa lalake. Napansin ko ang discomfort sa ekspresyon nito, at nakita ko rin ang pagbabago ng ekspresyon na nakapinta sa mukha ni Kuya Kael.

“Hello,” Kendrick faked a smile at me. Alam kong pilit lang iyon. I looked at Kuya and at him, they both exchanged this look, as if both of them were mentally talking. That’s when it hit me. As a person who used to observe a lot before, I know there is meaning behind it already. And basing on the demeanor of this man, I think he was not straight, and that’s when I was able to connect the dots—he is the lover of Kuya Kael.

“Kendrick, you may find it too straightforward, but I find you as a prospect husband for my daughter.” Tumawa si Lolo, nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pagngiwi ni Kendrick at ang pamumutla ni Kuya Kael.

“Lolo, I told you I am not interest to get married yet, and I will be the one to choose the man I will marry.” I stated, I looked at Kendrick after and faked a smile too, “don’t worry, my Lolo is just kidding. Right, Lolo?” There was authority and command in my voice, and he seems to be taken aback by it.

“Yes, indeed... But the offer is still up, if you want to grab it someday.” Tumawa si Lolo. Pagkatapos ay umalis na siya, si Kendrick naman ay tumingin muna kay Kael bago ito bumalik sa kaniyang lamesa rin.

The homecoming party went on, tahimik lang akong kumain. I was bored, that is why I decided to stand up, bahagya namang may mga lalakeng nagtangka na muling lumapit upang hingiin sana ang aking kamay at isayaw ako gaya ng ibang mga babae ngayon, solemn na kasi ang kantang tumutugtog kaya ganoon, but I simply ignored them. I was searching for a specific man, I wonder if he has joined us? I made sure he and his family will be invited.

There was no sign of him. I sighed, and felt like all my efforts to look like this went down the drain. I wanted to give him the impression na sinayang niya ako noon. Pero paano ko magagawa iyon kung wala siya?

Disappointed, I decided to go to our garden, away from the crowd, to be by myself. I liked the comfort of nature, silence, and myself. And right now, staying here at the main venue was not helping at all. Nang nasa garden na ako ay may nakita akong pamilyar na pigura, ngunit mas matipuno lang ito sa akin. Nakatalikod ang lalakeng naka-Amerikano sa akin.

“Come on, Mav. Man up and go back there, show yourself, and apologize properly.” Saad ng lalake. Paulit-ulit nitong sinasabi ang mga salitang iyan, as if convincing himself to do something. Kumunot naman ang aking noo.

“Are you lost? The party is in front of the Mansion.” I told the man, tila nagulat naman ito dahil napatalon siya nang bahagya. Madilim din kasi ang lugar.

“Aatakakehin ako sa iyo.” Linya niya ito at tuluyan na siyang humarap sa akin, as if on cue, the streetlamp lights that were scattered at the large garden automatically opened, tumama na ang ilaw sa kaniya at sa akin, at naaninag ko na nang tuluyan ang kaniyang mukha.

My eyes widened, but I managed to get my composure on the spot before it gets too visible. It was Maverick.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Maverick.” I sneered after.

“Excuse me, but do I know you?” He asked. “And I am not lost, I am actually composing myself. I am about to do something I normally do not do.”

Bigla kong naalala muli ang nangyari noon—dark red dress, in the middle of the night, at the garden, and all that. It felt nostalgic, hindi ko maiwasang maisip na it was like I was reliving everything again. It felt like prom night all over again, but this time, I was no longer that chubby and fragile girl. I was already aware of the game, and I know better than anyone already on how to play it.

“Of course, you know me...” I chuckled darkly.