Memento

/6/ Karma Chameleon

"Good morning, Madam Melba."

"Good morning, Sir Jaime. Ay, siya po ba yung anak niyo?"

Two weeks later, ngayong Lunes ng umaga ang first day ko sa Luxuriant Department Store for my summer job (or parusa). Dad took me first to his executive lounge and introduced me to his secretary, a middle-aged lady with graying hair, glasses, and a medium build. She wore a lavender suit set and smiled at us.

"Yes, this is my daughter, Anna Diana, or Adie for short." Seryoso akong tinignan ni Daddy sa kanyang tabi. "The one I told you about."

"Good morning, hija."

Nilahad ni Madam Melba ang kanyang kamay at kinuha ko ito to shake hands with her.

"I'm Adie, or Andie," matipid kong ngiti. "You can call me either way. Nandito ako para mag-intern sa mall."

"It's my summer job for her," Dad chuckled.

"Sir, baka parusa mo ito sa kanya," ika ni Madam Melba.

"Hindi naman!" Natatawa nitong tinanggi. "She's taking up Business Administration in her university and she wants to gain some work experience here."

"Aba, mukhang masipag ang dalaga ninyo! Sana ganyan din ang unico hijo ko, imbes na magbulakbol ngayong bakasyon!" Tawa ni Madam Melba.

"Mga bata talaga ngayon," ika ni Daddy.

I tried not to roll my eyes right now. Hay, ang mga matatanda talaga.

"Maganda rin ang isang ito. Kamukha niyo po, Sir."

"Oo nga, she has my eyes. Yung panganay, mas hawig ng asawa kong si Eloisa," kwento ni Daddy.

Hanggang sa pagmumukha ko, nandoon ang bakas ng pagiging anak ni Jaime Miranda. But I'm not my dad and I will never be him. Because I am my own person. And I want to be known as me someday, if not today.

"Paano po Sir Jaime, dadalhin ko na po ba sa mall para ipakilala siya?"

"You may do so, Melba. Sa records store siya nakatoka as one of the staff members. Si Nixon ang manager doon, ang kanyang pinsan."

"Dad, di mo sinabi sa akin andito pala si Kuya Nixon?!" Gulat kong tinanong.

"Matagal na," kaswal na sagot ni Dad. "You have forgotten that his father, Uncle Thomas, is one of the associates of Miranda Group. Dito muna siya hanggang sa matuloy ang plano ng pagtatayo ng isang branch ng Luxuriant sa Cebu City."

I sighed. I have met Kuya Nixon before, during those rare family reunions with dad's side of the family. Pinsang-buo ni Daddy si Uncle Thomas at ang nakatatandang kapatid nito na si Uncle Gregorio, na mga nakatira sa Cebu. Ang ama nila Uncle Thomas ay nakatatandang kapatid ng ina ni Daddy, na namayapa noong panahon ng giyera.