By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 7: Morning before the Party

Chapter 7: Morning before the Party

 I was already in my room. I decided to connect to the internet of the mansion. Same pa rin ang password ng wifi, after that, I logged into my social media account and browsed through my news feed. Mostly, it is all about photography, modelling, and about the updates of my friends back in Hawaii. I specifically have no best friend there, but I have a circle. Kumbaga mga barkada lamang, just acquaintances—there is no depth in the relationship, and I guess that is better since I won’t even stay in Hawaii long enough. I was only there for the time-being in order to study Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Kasabay nito, nakatanggap ako ng mensahe sa mga kaibigan ko sa Hawaii, I opened one by one, and mostly, it is about people telling me to have safe travels. I checked my recent post, and saw that fifty thousand people have already left reactions and likes on it. I am quite an internet sensation, or I do not know what that is called... An internet personality, perhaps? I do not know. I cannot really claim that I am a celebrity. Most of my followers are foreigners, and there are a few Pinoys too, but it is very rare to see them commenting. While two nationalities are in my blood, the dominant one is my mom’s, the Hawaiian one.

Nang nadalaw na ako ng antok ay sinara ko na ang aking cellphone at saka ako natulog na. When I woke up, it was already the next day where my grandfather plans to hold a welcome-party celebration.

Bumangon na ako sa kama at saka ako tumungo sa banyo upang maligo, pagkatapos ay nagbihis ako. Lumabas na rin ako sa kuwarto at saka dumiretso sa dining hall upang kumain na ng almusal. As expected, wala ni-isa sa aking mga kapamilya ang nandito. Parang tradisyon na rin na saka lang kami sabay kumain tuwing gabi, at kapag umaga at tanghali naman ay hindi sabay-sabay dala na rin ng iba’t ibang oras ng aming trabaho. Speaking of work, I will probably get into it next week. As of now, busy pa kasi si Dad kay Kuya Kael, sa pagturo sa mga iba’t ibang bagay na kailangan niyang malaman sa pamumuno ng bayan.

“Yaya Teresa,” ngumiti ako kay Yaya nang pumasok siya sa silid. Tiningnan ko ang mga nakahain na pagkain sa mesa, at saka tumingin sa kaniya, “sabayan ninyo po ako parang dati.”

“Naku, hija, nauna na akong kumain kanina.”

“Hulaan ko nagkape lang kayo, Yaya.” Ngumisi ako sa kaniya.

“Ikaw talaga, kilalang-kilala mo ako. Alam mo naman, hindi ako mahilig kumain masyado tuwing umaga. Mas gusto ko ang kape na lang.” Aniya, “pero alam kong na-miss mo akong kasabay sa pagkain ng almusal, lalo noong bata ka, dahil nalulungkot ka lagi na mag-isa na kumain, kaya pagbibigyan kita ngayon,” aniya at naglakad palapit sa akin. Pagkatapos ay umupo siya sa upuan sa harap ko at nagsimula siyang kumuha ng kanin at saka bacon. Sumunod naman ako at nakangiting kumain.

“Nakaka-miss kang kasabay kumain, Yaya...” I said.

“Ako rin.” Matapos ang ilang segundo, mukhang may naalala siya at saka siya tumingin sa akin, “oo nga pala, naka-set na ang welcome party mo mamayang gabi, at maraming mga imbitado ang nagkompirma nang pupunta sila. Mukhang sabik din ang lahat na makita ka muli. Oras na rin para ipakita mo sa mga tao dito na iba ka na... At hindi ka na basta-bastang maaapi. Narinig ko nga na naimbitahan din si Maverick Maximillio at ang kaniyang pamilya, dahil gusto mo raw ng partnership sa kanilang negosyo. Magandang simula ito, pero naiisip ko, ano nga ba talaga ang tunay na rason bakit gusto mo ng partnership? May history kayo ni Maverick... Ano ang plano mo, hija? Kung okay lang na tanungin ko.”

“Wala naman, Yaya...” I smiled, but deep inside, I can feel it. The hunger for revenge. I want to turn the tables around. Maverick played my heart before, he used me as a tool to get what he wants, and he must also pay the price of his actions to me. He is the only man I ever loved, tapos ganoon ang gagawin niya sa akin? How dare he! Makikita niya kung sino ang nawala niya!

Mukhang napahigpit ata ang hawak ko sa kubyertos at napansin iyon ni Yaya Teresa kaya naman pumeke ako ng ngiti sa kaniya.

“Kumusta na pala ang pamilya mo, Yaya?” Tanong ko.

“Ayon, masaya sila sa bagong bahay namin na regalo ng iyong ama. Sobrang laki ng pasasalamat namin, dahil alam mo na, kahoy lang dati ang bahay namin at kubo, ngayon, semento at bungalow na.”

“Walang-wala iyon sa tagal ng serbisyo ninyo sa amin, Yaya.” Ngumiti ako. It is obvious how much she adores my family, and how much she is truly grateful for what we have given to her. Pero in comparison to her service and all that she has done for my family, this is nothing. She is a genuine person, and I know she is about to retire because she is already old, the thought of that made me sad, but I guess this is part of life. She also needs to be with her family, dahil sinakripisyo niya ang maraming oras na kasama sana sila, upang pagsilbihan kami.

Nang matapos kaming kumain ay niligpit na ni Yaya ang aming mga pinagkainan. Nagpaalam na rin ako sa kaniya at napagpasyaan kong maglibot na lang muli sa mansion, lumabas ako at tiningnan ang malawak na front-yard, may fountain din sa gitna kung saan may tubig na dumadaloy. Maraming mga halaman din, at sariwa ang simoy ng hangin. Doon ko lang napansin na may mga truck nang isa-isang pumasok sa lote namin mula sa gate ng bahay, at dala-dala nito ay mga mesa at upuan.

“Seems like they are already preparing for the party,” I rolled my eyes, knowing that the purpose of it is not to welcome me, but for my grandfather to find prospect partners for me whom he will want me to be wedded with. Of course, ang mas pipiliin nito ay ang pamilya na may magandang background para mas gumanda rin ang imahe ng aming pamilya. He only wants the benefits, all he ever thinks of is a marriage of convenience, and to think he will partner me to someone I do not know—hindi ako papayag. I have my own rights and I decide what will happen with my life. I will not let anyone else dictate. Kung ipilit nila akong ipakasal sa iba, aalis na lang ako at babalik sa Hawaii.

I only came here because I am grateful to them, I sacrificed my dreams for them too, and took a career path that I barely want out of consideration for my father.

Bumaba na ang mga trabahador mula sa truck at nagsimula silang magdiskarga rin ng mga upuan at lamesa. Bahagyang napapatingin din sa akin ang mga tauhan habang ginagawa nila ang kanilang mga trabaho. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang mga malalagkit na tingin nila sa akin, sa halip, tumalikod na lang ako at napagdesisyunan kong pumasok. Natigil naman ako dahil nakita kong nakatayo na roon si Dad.

“I have already called people to come to do your make-up and everything else later, you have to look more beautiful later because that is going to be the first time after five years that people will see you,” he insisted, “and I have also called a famous dressmaker to come and show a few dresses for you later, maagang darating iyon para tingnan kung kailangan ng adjustments, ay agad na magawa ito.”

I nodded. As if on cue, may bumusina na sasakyan. Isang puting van, tumigil ito sa harap ng porch namin, at saka bumukas ang pinto’t lumabas ang isang babae na nakasuot ng sunglasses. Nakaputing tuxedo ito, at puting pants din, na tinernuhan niya ng puting belt na may gold sa gitna. The woman looked sophisticated, and she looked at Dad, then at me.

“Speaking of the devil,” my father smiled. “This is the fashion designer, Marah Clarences,” she introduced her to me. I managed to put a smile on my lips.

“I am Keana Kares Kehanu,” I introduced myself.

“You have an elegant stance, you give off the aura of a fashion model. By any chance, are you experienced?” She asked.

“Yes, I used to do modelling back in Hawaii as part-time.” I smiled. Naalala ko na naman si Figaro. He is the one who discovered and scouted me, he polished me, a raw diamond, in order to become what people want. I am so grateful for him. I guess you can say he is one of the closest people I got, even though most of our transactions are just purely work.

“I see, by any chance, if you have free time, will you model for my clothes?”

I faked a smile, “I think I will have no time for that, since sooner or later as well, I will be the one managing my family’s business.”

“Hence, me saying if you are free.” Ngumiti siya sa akin.

I nodded.

“Anyway, I have brought several dresses with me,” she snapped her fingers, at bumukas ang likod ng van kung saan ang kaniyang mga tauhang dala ay nilabas ang mga ito.

“Let’s get inside.” Saad ni Papa matapos ang ilang sandali.