The Unexpected Guy

Chapter 1 - Reminder

"Macey."

Hm?

"Macey."

Hala may kumakatok pala.

"Macey hija, gising na."

"Opo manang, mag-aayos lang po ako." Nag-unat unat pa ko at humikab.

"Osige, pababa na din ang mga kapatid mo."

And with that, I got up from my bed and did my morning rituals. Bago ako bumaba, I checked myself on my mirror. I'm wearing a black dress with nude pumps and some accessories to complete my look. Inipitan ko rin ng parang half ponytail ang buhok kong wavy. Tadah! I'm all ready.

Onga pala, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Macey Champagne Gatchalian. 22 years old and I finished Clothing Tech, sa UP Diliman. I run a boutique named "Precious Champagne", well, sa mommy ko yun at pinamana nya sakin. My mom passed away when I was 13, at nung grumaduate ako, ako na ang nagpatakbo ng boutique.

I have two siblings, twins to be exact. Si kuya Theodore Andre at ate Penelope Clairette. They both work sa company namin, si kuya ang CEO at si ate naman ang CFO. Si kuya, may band yan, past time nya yun and passion. Habang si ate naman, photography at painting.

Myy dad, Lucas, he is the president of the company. We run a winery company na kilala locally and internationally. Plus, all of our second names came from famous brand of wines. Mom's idea, that's what dad told us.

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto ko dala ang bag ko, dumiretso ako sa dining room, and I saw my dad reading newspaper while sipping his coffee, while my ate and kuya are talking about something.

"Good morning dad!" I kissed him oh his cheeks.

"Good morning princess. Go and take a seat and have your breakfast."

"Yes po." Bago ako umupo, umikot muna ako sa pwesto ni kuya. "Good morning kuya." And I also kissed him.

"Good morning baby."

Pumwesto naman ako sa tabi ni ate, pero bago ajo umupo, hinalikan ko rin sya sa pisngi. "Good morning ate."

"Good morning Mace. C'mon let's eat."

"Yes po."

Susubo pa lang ako ng magsalita si daddy.

"Do you guys have any plans for tonight?"

"I don't have any. Why dad?"I said.

"Same with Mace dad, wala naman. And for sure, si kuya din."

"Salamat sa pagsagot Peach. Tss." At sinamaan ng tingin ni kuya Theo si ate Peach.

"Oh, wag kayong mag-away sa harapan ng grasya. Well, I was planning to have a dinner with you guys out of town. Papakita ko kasi sa inyo yung rest house na pinaayos ko."

"Rest house, daddy?" Sabay na tanong ni ate at kuya.

"Yes, your mom's rest house in Tagaytay. Pinaayos ko yun para sana meron tayong mapuntahan para makapag-unwind, di ba?" Sabi ni daddy while looking at the three of us.

"Perfect daddy! Para naman makaalis na tayo sa polusyon dito sa Manila." Biro ko na ikinatawa lang nilang tatlo.

"True Mace, pero we can't just run away like that. We're running a company and you have a shop, remember little sister?" Sabi ni ate sakin.

"Don't be an antagonist Penelope Clairette. What she's trying to say is we can go there during weekends or holidays. Di ba Mace?" Pagkontra ni kuya kay ate at tumango lang ako bilang sagot sa kanya.

"Hey! Theodore Andre, namumuro ka na ah! Porke mas matanda ka ng 2 minutes sakin? Ha?!" Nagulat naman kaming lahat sa biglang outburtst ni ate.

I looked at her and said. "Ate, meron ka ba? Ang sungit mo eh." Natawa na lang sila daddy and kuya.

"Shut up. And so what kung meron? Bwisit na Theodore to eh!" At itinuro ni ate ang bread knife kay kuya.

"Theodore! Penelope! Para kayong mga bata. Calm down! Ganito, we can all go there during weekends or holidays, okay? Or you guys can go there any time you want. Just inform me, okay?" Sabi ni daddy at pinagdilatan sila ate at kuya.

"Yes dad." We all said in unison.

"Well, I better get going. May meeting pa ko. See you in the office Penelope and Theodore."

"Yes dad." They both said.

"Macey, call me if you need something or if there are any problems with the boutique, okay?" With that, he kissed me on the forehead.

"Yes dad. Take care." And he left the room.

We went back to eating when kuya's phone rang.

"Hello? Oh bakit? Nasa bahay pa ako. Wednesday? Time? Place? Yun lang? Oh sige. Okay. Bye."

"Who was that?" Tanong ni ate kay kuya.

"Polo. Regarding sa auditions."

"Oh okay." Bumalik naman kami sa pag-kain.

"Peach, 8:30 na, let's go." Sabi ni kuya habang nakatingin sa wrist watch at nagmadaling ininom ang kape nya.

"Oh yeah, Mace. Una na kami. See you later, okay? I love you." And she kissed me on my cheeks.

"Bye ate, ingat kayo ni kuya." And I kissed kuya on his cheeks.

Tinapos ko lang ang pagkain ko at nagpaalam na rin ako kay manang.

***

Pag dating ko sa boutique, sinalubong agad ako ni Lou, ang secretary ko. Sinabi nya lang sakin ang mga orders na kailangan naming ifollow-up. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagdedesign ko ng isang gown, nagtext si kuya sakin.

Kuya Theo:

Mace, free your sched on Wednesday, huh? Whole day tayo. It's audition day! Sa Acropolis Studio. Call me when you read this huh?

I immediately called kuya after I read his text. After several rings. Sinagot nya, pero inunahan ko na sya magsalita.

"Kuya, bat mo ko pinatawag?"

I heard him laugh a little. (Wala lang. Baka humindi ka eh.)

"Kuya, kinontrata mo na nga ako eh. Tsaka papayag naman ako no."

(That's why you're the best eh!)

"Whatevs kuya. Sige na, I'll hung up na. May tinatapos pa kong design eh. Love you kuya, bye!" And I ended the call there.

I called Lou to check on my schedule this Wednesday, kung meron man, ipapacancel or ipapamove ko na lang. Luckily, wala akong mga appointments sa araw na yon. Swerte ni kuya!