I took off my headphone as soon as the plane landed!
I'm now in the Philippines. Inilagay ko ang aking phone sa aking pocket. Kinuha ko ang backpack ko sa overhead compartment. My assistant, Rob wants to carry it because it's his job pero pinigilan ko siya.
"Just take care of my other luggages," I said kaya hindi na siya nagpumilit.
Yes. I have an assistant na kasa-kasama ko from the first day I arrived in America, up to now!
Rob is 27 years old. He's one of the most trusted persons I know apart from Dad and Matt. Kung ano 'yong course na kinuha ko, 'yon din ang kinuha niya para lang masamahan niya ako kung saan man ako magpunta. Gaya ko, pinag-aral din siya ni Dad to be my personal assistant. It's because Dad wanted to make sure na hindi ako ma-bored at pag may kailangan ako, meron akong uutusan.
Nakatayo ako ngayon sa may pinto and ready to step out of the stairs.
I saw Matt and his guards, waiting for me outside the plane. They can get inside because Welch Mart Corp is one of the benefactors of this airport.
I took a deep breath!
Pagbaba ko ng hagdan, agad kong naramdaman ang init.
I took off my black leather jacket at agad naman itong kinuha ni Rob.
Now, I'm wearing a white shirt with a black lining, black ripped jeans, and a shoes with a mixed color of black and white. As you could noticr, I love colors black and white. Feeling ko kasi it makes me look more clean and neat and these colors also suits with my skin complexion. My headset is also color black with white lining, by the way.
"Buti nakauwi ka the earliest day possible!," matamlay na sambit ni Matt. I can see the misery by the way he stares. It's the same agony I feel.
Malungkot akong tumango.
Dumiretso kami sa burol ni Dad. Agad akong lumapit and as soon as I see him, hindi ko na napigilan, tuluyan nang kumawala ang aking mga luha na kanina pa gustong lumabas.
Biglang bumalik sa 'kin lahat ng mga ala-ala niya from the day na nakita niya ako sa may kalsada and took me home nang ma-kumpirma niyang mag-isa na lang ako sa buhay. He's the most kind person I know! I never thought bigla na lamang siyang mawawala nang ganito.
According to the doctors, he died of heart attack!
"Dad, thank you for everything. Sana nakasama pa kita ng mas matagal," sabay hikbi kong sambit.
In the midst of grieving, I managed to speak bagamat halos wala nang lumabas na boses dahil sa pag-hikbi.
"I promise to take care of everything you've left. I will protect the company just like what you intend me to do"
Tumabi sa 'kin si Matt at nagsalita rin siya.
"Dad, me and Mareuz will pursue what you have started," paniniguro niya, bagay na sinang-ayunan ko.
I sat in the front sit while still trying to sink this situation in. Deep inside kasi, hindi ko pa rin matanggap ang nangyari kay Dad.
Hindi ako makapaniwala na darating ang araw na 'to. I know someday, he will leave us, but I never thought it's gonna happen this early and through this situation.
Mayamaya pa'y nagsidatingan ang mga nakiramay. Most of them mga taga-Welch Mart Corp.
I'm not familiar with them but most of them are wearing formal attire at diyan ako nag-base kung bakit ko nasabing mga taga-WMC sila.
"You must be the heir of Barry Welch"
Habang naka-upo ako at nag-iisip ng malalim, biglang may nag-approach sa 'kin which I think is nasa early 40's. She has a short wavy hair, payat, and young looking. She's wearing a black formal attire.
Napa-isip ako ulit sa tanong niya. Tama ba'ng narinig ko?
"Sorry?" I asked politely to let her know na hindi ko naintindihan ang tanong niya
"I'm wondering if you're the bet Matt has been talking about earlier to replace the former CEO"
Napaisip ako!
It is clear to me na si Matt ang papalit sa 'kin and I will only assist him. So the answer is no.
"I'm s-sorry but--"
"Yes! He's the one!"
Napalingon ako sa biglang sumingit, ang dahilan kung bakit hindi natuloy ang aking sasabihin.
It's Matt!
I gave him a what-are-you-talking-about-look pero hindi niya ako pinansin.
"Oh! I'm pleased to meet you," natutuwang sambit nung babae
"By the way Mrs. Zhang, his name is Mareuz Oliver Welch," sambit ni Matt
Ako naman, hindi ko alam ang ire-react ko sa sinasabi niya. Nalilito ako sa pinaggagawa niya. Gustong-gusto kong mag-excuse sa conversation at tanungin si Matt pero magiging obvious ang dating 'pag ginawa ko.
"Call him Mareuz for short", dagdag pa ni Matt
I faked a smile!
"Mareuz, meet Mrs. Jing Zhang, one of the corporation's board of directors"
"Nice meeting you Mrs. Zhang," napilitan kong sambit
I offered my hand for handshake. And Mrs. Zhang took it.
"So what's the perks of choosing him to replace Mr. Barry Welch?" she asked.
"Well, all he did was study abroad! He took up several courses there. Specifically, these were Bachelor and Master's degree in Business Administration and he even took up Law to ensure the welfare of the company," Matt answered confidently.
Tila kina-career ni Matt ang ang pag-endorse sa 'kin. Samantala, tinignan ako ni Mrs. Zhang.
" Well then I like you to be the next CEO," kumpiyansa niyang sagot.
Sa tono ng pananalita niya, tila nga tuluyan na niyang ibinigay sa 'kin ang kaniyang tiwala. Bagay na hindi ko gustong mangyari.
"Uhmmm-----"
"Then that's great!!!" agad na sagot ni Matt.
"I will endorse you to the other board of directors. I think the company is safe with you!" paniniguro ni Mrs. Zhang.
Labag man sa loob ko, I smiled as a sign of respect.
"Thank you Mrs. Zhang!" sagot ni Matt.
Napatingin sa 'kin si Matt.
"You're also thankful right, Mareuz?"tanong niya sa 'kin at pa-simple niya akong siniko.
"Ah..y-yes! T-thank you for the trust, Mrs. Zhang" pagku-kunwari ko para tumahimik na si Matt.
Mrs. Zhang nodded.
Mayamaya pa ay nag-excuse na siya.
The moment na naka-alis siya, agad kong tinanong si Matt.
"What was that?" pagtataka ko.
He just smirked!
" W-wait Matt...a-ano'ng ibig sabihin ng smirk na 'yan?"
Napakunot-noo ako saka ko tinuloy ang aking sinasabi
"Ipaliwanag mo nga sa 'kin!"
"Don't worry man! I'll explain to you everything but not now. Marami pa akong ipapakilala sa'yo!"
"What?"
Mas lalong nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay sa tinuran niya.
At totoo nga. Ipinakilala pa niya ako sa iba pang nakikiramay na board of director din. One of them is Mr. Ferrer as Matt had mentioned.
He examined me the moment Matt introduced me to him.
He has an aura of being serious. I think nasa 50 years old siya. His hair is gray na rin dulot ng katandaan. He's tall at katamtaman ang body built niya. When he speaks, parang nasa kaniya lagi ang authority.
"Do you think you can handle the company the way your Dad managed it well?" seryoso niyang tanong.
Dahil hindi ko inakalang ganyan ang itatanong niya, hindi ako agad naka-imik.
Hinugot ko ang natitirang kumpiyansa sa aking sarili at pinilit ngumiti.
"Honestly, Mr. Ferrer...I'm not sure-----"
Matt cut my statement nang mapansin kong medyo nagsalubong ang kilay ni Mr. Ferrer. Halatang hindi niya gusto ang sagot ko. Obviously, he has a high standard when it comes to managing a business.
"He's not sure!" sambit ni Matt. Sinulyapan niya ako saka itinuloy ang kaniyang sasabihin.
"It is because he's planning to exceed the excellency our Dad has shown," kumpiyansa niyang sagot
"Is that true?", tanong ni Mr. Ferrer
Tinignan ko si Matt. His looks is telling me to agree!
" Y-yes Mr. Ferrer!", sagot ko na para'ng na-hypno.
"The board of directors are planning to try Ms. Gabriel for the position. She's a dedicated woman!"
Hindi kami nakasagot.
"But I'm glad you introduced him! There's nothing we can trust more than the heir of the former CEO," bawi niya.
I rolled my eyes nang makita kong nabuhayan si Matt.
" Thank you Mr. Ferrer!"
Nilingon ako ni Matt. I know what he means kaya wala na naman akong magawa kundi sakyan siya sa gusto niyang mangyari.
"Thank you Mr. Ferrer," sagot ko
And then he excused!
" I can't believe this," bulong ko sa kaniya.
"Unang apak ko sa Pinas, puro pagsisinungaling agad ang ginawa ko," reklamo ko sa kaniya
"Don't worry! Para rin ito sa kompanya," sagot niya.
Hindi ako umimik.
" Once we get home, I'll tell you everything," paniniguro niya.