Kabanata 40
No Way
Sumama sa amin si Maxxine hanggang dinner, lagi niyang kinukulit si Lauren kaya agad niya itong nagustuhan. Lauren is usually shy when it comes to someone she just met pero etong si Maxxine ay naging komportable agad siya.
Dito na rin namin hihintayin si Ate Xena na galing trabaho kaya nag order ako ng pangmaramihan at pasta dahil paborito iyon ng dalawa
"You want Italian foods, Lauren?" Tanong sa kandong kandong na si Lauren. See? Close na talaga sila
"Yes..."
"Oh, may pinagmanahan?" Nilakihan ko ng mata si Maxxine. Alam kong walang ideya ang mga bata pero feeling ko malalaman nila kapag pinagpatuloy ni Maxxine ang pangaasar sa akin
Habang kumakain ay natanaw ko si Ate Xena na papasok sa restaurant at kung paano siya nagulat nang makita si Maxxine sa harap ko. She clearly thinks that it's just me, the kids, Rose and Percy, Maxxine is clearly out of the picture.
"Mommy!" Bumaba si Dior sakanyang upuan at pinuntahan ang kanyang Mommy habang si Lauren ay nanatili sa kandong ni Maxxine. She usually do what Dior's doing pero abala sa bagong kasama kaya walang pakielam sa bagong dating
"Oh where's my kiss, Lauren?" Parang doon lang napansin ni Lauren si Ate, mabilis itong bumaba at lumapit sakanya. Tumayo ako para mahalikan siya, ganoon rin ang ginawa ni Maxxine.
"Long time no see, Maxxine. How are you?" Sabi ni Ate habang pinapaupo na si Dior sa kanyang tabi habang si Maxxine naman ay bumalik na sa upuan at pinaupo na rin si Lauren sakanyang tabi
"I'm good, ate. Kamusta ang business? I heard ikaw na ang namamahala."
"It's doing good. Maraming interesadong investors kahit mataas ang stocks and it's still number one on the list."
"Your father also competed other company kaya nagstart siya ng business for construction and buildings. Are you also managing that, Ate?" Napatingin ako kay Ate Xena, wala akong alam sa sinabi ni Maxxine. I know that our company involves clothing line, schools and food and beverage pero never nabanggit ng kahit na sino sakanila ang tungkol doon.
"Si Dad na muna ang nagmamanage doon habang ang S & K, T & X, Francis & Francoise ay kay Mommy." Ang sinabi ni Ate Xena na mga stores ay initial nila Mom and Dad, it's a gown and tuxedo clothing line while T & X stands for Tiara and Xena that is a fashion retailer for young adults for both gender while the newest line na sinabi ni Mommy ang Dior and Coise ay para naman sa mga baby, toddler and kids.
"So you're managing the whole LT Prime Holdings?" Hindi na maitago ni Maxxine ang pagkamangha sa kaharap. Well, I also adore Ate Xena for being this hardworking. Kahit noong nasa Paris kami, sobrang tutok niya sa business dito sa Pilipinas. But that was not enough for my parents kaya kami nandito sa Pilipinas.
"I'm like the acting CEO since my Dad is busy monitoring the construction sites and Tiara will help me next week." I started joining the conversation while the kids are busy coloring the book that the restaurant provided for them.
Maxxine is working for their airlines as one of the staff in the airport. She wants to start from a scratch before officially managing the business at hinahayaan naman siya ng magulang niya. It's her day off every weekend so I decided to invite her to have a sleepover like we usually do when we were in high school.
"Your Mom has a new clothing line right? Francis & Francoise?" sabi ni Maxxine habang pinagmamasdan ang mga bagong sabit na frame sa living room. It's a family picture of the six of us, me and Lauren, Ate Xena and Dior and the both kids. They are wearing a Parisian outfit and posing on one of the famous streets there.
