Sway Along The Waves (Bellariva Series #1)

Chapter 31

"Kier wants me to learn how to manage our business."
 
Kinuha ko ang tong kay Chino para palitan siya sa pagluluto ng meat. Kita ko ang iritasyon sa kanyang mukha nang marinig na naman akong bumuntong-hininga. Instead of eating the last piece of kimchi, he put it in my cup. 
 
"Ano naman ngayon? Bakit parang problemado ka? Ayaw mo 'yon, men? Negosyo niyo naman 'yan e," balewalang sabi niya.
 
I put the cooked meat in his cups. Nagpasalamat ako sa waitress na nag-serve sa amin ng panibagong batch ng meat at side dishes. 
 
"Wala naman sanang problema ro'n. Ang kaso, ginagamit 'yong kondisyon ni Kier para hindi ako makaalis," I said.
 
"Bakit? Aalis ka? Sa'n ka naman pupunta?" Chino started to become more attentive when he asked that.
 
Umayos ako ng pagkaka-upo. I acted like I was busy cooking, but for him, as my best friend, this kind of tactic won't work anymore. 
 
"Aalis ka, men?" Ulit ni Chino sa tanong niya. Nangungumpirma na lang ang tono niya ngayon.
 
I was actually planning to say this to him on our graduation day. Mukhang hindi na nga lang aabot. 
 
"Mag-aaral ako abroad. After graduation ang alis ko," sa wakas ay nasabi ko.
 
Tumigil ako sa pagluluto. Chino was already frowning when he looked at me. "Kaya mo ba ko nilibre ng samgyupsal dahil tingin mo, 'di sasama loob ko sayo sa ganitong paraan?"
 
"Hindi," umiling ako. "Gusto ko lang bawasan ang sama ng loob mo kung sakali."
 
Nanahimik si Chino sa sinabi ko. He continued to eat his food. Tinuloy ko na rin ang pagluluto. Bawat minuto ay sinusulyapan niya ako gamit ang pinakamatalim niyang tingin. Siguradong nagtatampo na 'yan. 
 
"Alam mo, Vienna..." Chino trailed off. 
 
I feel strange after hearing him call my name. Mas nasanay kasi siya sa call sign namin kaya sobrang bihirang matawag niya akong Vienna sa tuwing nag-uusap kami. 
 
"Masaya ako sa kung nasaan ka ngayon. Bagay sayo ang ganyang buhay, pero minsan, napapa-isip din ako. Dahil diyan, lumalayo ang agwat natin sa isa't isa. Parang ang hirap mo ng abutin ngayon e," he paused to take a deep breath before he managed to continue talking again. "Ituloy mo kung aalis ka. Hindi mo kailangang ma-guilty. Susundan kita kapag yumaman ako."
 
I smiled after hearing that. It feels like his approval is the last thing I've been waiting for to make my decision firmer. He's my best friend for life, and his opinion really matters to me the most. 
 
"Thank you, Chino."
 
Natigil siya sa pagkain nang sabihin ko iyon. He acted like he was dying out of cringe. We both laughed after. Ang tawa namin ay kalaunang naging ngiti. 
 
Sumeryeso ako. "Salamat, Chino. Totoo 'to. Salamat sa pag-suporta sa akin, sa pagdamay. Salamat dahil hindi ka nagbabago. Mami-miss kita kapag nasa Australia na ako."
 
"Sus! Sinasabi mo lang 'yan. Maghahanap ka rin ng ibang kaibigan do'n," umismid siya.
 
"Maghahanap ako, pero ikaw lang ang best friend ko. Ipapa-tarpaulin ko pa picture natin sa bahay ko ro'n para 'di ka mag-selos," I laughed.
 
Naubos ang oras namin sa pagku-kwentuhan at pag-aasaran sa isa't isa. Chino seems to be fine with the fact that I'm going to leave, so I feel relief. Mabuti na marami rin siyang kaibigan dito. 
 
Pagkatapos naming kumain, bumalik kami sa school para sa graduation practice. Alphabetically arrange ang mga seats ng combined strands, so na-pwesto ako sa harap katabi ang kapatid ko. Matagal ng napalitan ng Bellariva ang pangalan ko at hindi na Samonte. Simula noong maging Bellariva ako, mas napadali na sa akin ang pagkuha ng mga school requirements. I think that name really holds power. 
 
"Sa Bellariva po ako," sabi ko kay Gregoire, pagpasok ko sa loob ng sasakyan.
 
Every after practice, ay sa office ako ni Kier tumutuloy. Usually, three pm ako umaalis ng school. Hanggang seven pm naman ako nag-i-stay sa office. Kier's currently on vacation with ate Danielle and Kiero. He's really serious when he says he wants me to learn how to manage our business. 
 
Buti nga't isang business pa lang itong ibinibigay niya sa akin. Kung pagsasama-samahin ang lahat ng negosyo ng pamilya naming hina-handle niya, baka hindi ko kayanin. 
 
His secretary, Mr. Raclin, is the one who assists me in the office. Talagang lahat ng iniwan niyang gawain ay sa akin nakatoka lahat! If it's not only because of the contract we signed, I don't really have the plan to do this. Sadyang naisip ko lang na sa ganitong paraan ay mas mapapadali ang pag-alis ko. Kier already agreed with my decision to study abroad after learning how to manage our business.
 
He knows I'm planning to take a business course in college. Akala niya siguro, dahil sa mga negosyo namin ang dahilan. Hindi naman ganito ang gusto ko. I want something built from scratch. Iyong talagang pinaghirapan kong itayo at palaguin.
 
Pagpasok ko sa building ng Bellariva, sinalubong agad ako ni Mr. Raclin. Gladly, I've already changed my uniform to a black skirt and a white spaghetti-strap top covered with a black blazer. The last time I came here wearing only my uniform, muntik pa akong hindi papasukan ng guard. Now, I learned.
 
Kabilaan ang mga employee na bumabati sa akin sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko. Everyone recognizes me now because of Mr. Raclin. 
 
"Mr. Chairman wants me to arrange you to a meeting with the board. As the company's acting CEO, you should introduce yourself to them," Mr. Raclin said.
 
Diretso lang ang tingin niya sa harap ng elevator. Halos hindi ko makita ang mga mata niya dahil sa kapal ng kanyang specs at sa bangs ng buhok niya. Mr. Raclin is still young. Kasing edad lang ata siya ni Kier. 
 
"Hindi kaya magalit sila dahil ako ang ginawang acting CEO ni Kier? I mean, senior high school pa lang ako. Walang masyadong experience sa mga ganito," I said, matter-of-fact.
 
"If that happens..." Inayos ni Mr. Raclin ang suot niyang specs bago muling ibinalik ang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang slacks. "All of them will be dead."
 
I see, masyadong mahirap tumawa sa mga jokes niya lalo pa't madalas iyong dark. Sa ilang araw ko siyang nakakasama, natututo ako kung pa'no mag-seryoso. He doesn't even smile. When he talks, he talks so coldly, as if he's always trying to make me freeze. 
 
"Kailan ba ang meeting?" Seryosong tanong ko. 
 
"It's rush, so maybe tomorrow afternoon." 
 
Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator. Sabay kaming lumabas ni Mr. Raclin. Bumungad agad sa akin ang malawak na office ni Kier. Dumiretso ako sa table niya na ngayon ay table ko. Maraming mga nakatambak na papeles doon. Sobrang linis ng office niya at tanging ang mga ito lang ang nagiging kalat.
 
He only has few furnitures and few decors in the wall which shows how unmaterialistic person he is.
 
"Sinasadya ba akong i-pressure ni Kier?And what about these papers? 'Di ba, katatapos ko lang pirmahan ang mga department reports, sales report, project approval at mga, kung ano-ano pang papeles kahapon?" 
 
"These papers are the petition of the board. I'm sure you read the reports from the sales last month. The sales are low, which has caused the company's stock price to decrease. Due to our country's high inflation rate, our foreign investors start to pull their shares and invest in another foreign market. They're scared to risk their money and lost its value."
 
"Wow! And with that, nagawa pang magbakasyon ni Kier?" I unbelievably ask.
 
"He trusts you, that's why," Mr. Raclin confidently answered. "The board of directors is mad because Mr. Chairman sold almost 1/4 of the company's stock during its low rate. Tingin ng board, nalugi ang Bellariva sa ginawa niya."
 
I chuckled while scanning each paper on my table. "Lugi naman talaga 'yon."
 
"Mr. Chairman doesn't take any actions without thinking them through first," he tried to defend Kier. "He surely has reasons."
 
Umiling lang ako. "Obviously, he did that to make a problem and for me to resolve that problem he made."
 
I put my glasses on before starting a thorough review of the papers. Mr. Raclin leave me alone so I can focus. Sa buong oras ko sa office, ganoon ang ginagawa ko. I can't think of any solution to resolve what Kier did. Balak ba niyang abonohan ko ang nasayang na stocks na iyon? 
 
The next day, I skipped our graduation practice to go to work early. I wanted to ask Kier what I should do about our company, but Mr. Raclin told me he couldn't contact him. Devin is my only hope, but he's also busy with his own stuff. I should have at least one of my brothers here to help me.
 
"It's lunch time." 
 
Hindi ko nilingon ang kapapasok lang na si Mr. Raclin sa office. Nanatili ang mata ko sa laptop, nagbabasa. Nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na tikhim ni Gregoire ay saka ko pa lang nagawang mag-angat ng tingin. Isang malaking brown paper ang inilapag niya sa table ko. 
 
"Pinahahatid ni Isidora. Tama na ang trabaho, Senyorita. Kumain ka muna."
 
Isinara ko ang laptop saka tumayo. Nagpasalamat ako kay Gregoire bago sila lumabas ni Mr. Raclin. I quickly finished my lunch before going back to work again. Nagre-research ako para sa board meeting mamayang alas tres. Kinakabahan akong baka wala man lang akong maisagot mamaya. Naiinis talaga ako kay Kier. Ako ang ginawa niyang sangkalan sa problemang sinimulan niya.
 
I read mostly about the company's information, reviewed the company's previous sales this year, and researched information about the members of the board. 
 
I was so occupied that afternoon that I didn't notice the time. Nang muling pumasok si Mr. Raclin sa office ay oras na para sa meeting.
 
"Ms. Chairwoman, the conference room is now ready," he said.
 
"S-sige, mag-aayos lang ako." The panic is too obvious in my voice.
 
Mr. Raclin smiled at me, perhaps to lessen my stress. "Sure, take your time."
 
Pagkalabas niya ay agad kong inayos ang suot kong skirt at green na blazer. I retouched the makeup on my face by adding powder and putting gloss on my cheeks and lips. I had a call with Aries on my way to the conference room. Masyadong halata ang nerbyos ko sa panginginig pa lang ng kamay ko.
 
"The board knows you already. They were at the party when Kuya Kier introduced you as our sister. 'Wag kang kabahan. You'll only end up being intimidated by them. Keep your cool," he advised. 
 
"Baka wala akong masagot. Paano kung tanungin ako?" I asked.
 
"Don't answer if you have nothing to say. 'Wag mo lang ipahalatang wala ka talagang masabi. Once they ask you and you feel like you're cornered, look at them in the eyes and don't say anything at all. That's how you tell them their questions are irrelevant."
 
"But what if the question is relevant?" 
 
Aries chuckled. Nakukulitan na siguro siya sa akin. "Just look at them in the eyes, Vienna."
 
Our conversation ended when I reached the door of the conference room. Nauna si Mr. Raclin sa akin para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. I took three steps forward. As soon as I entered the room, I heard everyone gasping for air as if they had just seen a ghost. 
 
"This way, Ms. Chairwoman."
 
Hinayaan kong igiya ako ni Mr. Raclin sa pinakadulong upuan ng long table. Ang lahat ng matang naroon ay pinapanood ang bawat hakbang ko. 
 
U-shaped ang style ng mahabang lamesa. All the swivel chairs are normal white mid-backs, except for my black leather chair. I looked around the spacious room, consuming some time before taking a seat. There was only a big flat-screen TV in front of the long table, a three-drum chandelier on the ceiling, a few frame of paintings on the walls, and three vases of indoor plants. Maaliwalas naman ang paligid, pero nabibigatan pa rin ako sa presensya ng mga taong nakapaligid sa akin.
 
They were all unfamiliar to me. Well, except from the man who's first to approach me, Mr. Guillermo from my party last time. 
 
"Vienna Bellariva? The only heirs of the Bellariva, wow!" Mr. Guillermo exclaimed. He even stood up from where he was sitting just to shake hands with me. Sa sobrang kaba ko, nakaupo lang ako nang tanggapin ko ang kamay niya. "I hope you still remember me. I was at your party last time. We had interactions together; do you recall?" 
 
I smiled as I nodded at him. "Yes, I do."
 
"Care to explain why you're here? And where's Mr. Chairman? Don't tell me tataguan niya lang ang problemang 'to?!" A woman, who I think is in her early 50s, just like Mr. Guillermo asked. 
 
Hindi ko siya nakuhang sagutin nang maunahan ako ng tikhim ni Mr. Raclin. "Everyone, let me introduce to you the acting CEO of Bellariva. The temporary President and the Chairwoman of the Board, Ms. Vienna Bellariva."
 
Lahat ay tahimik sa naging introduksyon ni Mr. Raclin sa akin. Everyone is looking at me with their dead serious pair of eyes as if I were a big joke to them. Umayos ako mula sa pagkakaupo. I made sure I had a good posture to look at. I let Mr. Raclin continue with what he was saying.
 
"She'll oversee the operation of the whole Bellariva in the meantime. Before you take any action, make sure to consult with her first. As for Mr. Chairman, he's currently on leave. He'll still be updated on what's going on at the company, so no one has to worry," he said, pausing for a moment, which made me gaze up at him. I saw him looking intently at the woman who spoke earlier. "And even if he's not around, make sure to maintain your high respect for him. I bet no one's here who wants to be a news headline the next day as a member of the board who kicked his ass out of this building."
 
The defeaning silence lasted for more than a minute. I took that chance to speak for myself. 
 
"I know we don't have to see each other often, but I'm still hoping to get along with you for the time I work here," I said. "I have read all of your complaints. I am fully aware of what's happening to the company right now. I just wanted to ask if there was anyone among you who had an idea or suggestion for how we should deal with these problems?"
 
"You're the acting CEO. You should now know what to do before you come to this meeting," one of the board members says.
 
I took a direct look at him. "We're in this meeting to think of a solution. Board members are owners of this company too. Kailangan ko rin ng opinyon niyo."
 
Sarkastikong natawa ang isa sa board. "Don't be so harsh to her, Mr. Reyes," saway ng babaeng tingin ko'y ka-edaran lang ni ate Danielle. Sunod niya akong binalingan ng tingin. "How old are you again, Ms. Chairwoman?"
 
I set my arms flat on the table when I met her gaze. Hindi ako sumagot. Tumitig lang ako sa kanya. Dahan-dahan ay nawala ang magandang ngiti niya sa akin nang hindi ko siya sagutin. 
 
"I see, you're still young. Are you still in college or senior high?"
 
"Excuse me, but you're already out of the topic, Ms. Beaves," singit ni Mr. Raclin.
        
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary. What I am just trying to say is that Ms. Chairwoman shouldn't make this company a place where she can do job training, especially since the position she holds is no joke," the woman argued.