DEFYING THE ODDS

1.

Deanna's

It's been 3 years, Who would have thought that babalik pa ako dito sa Pinas.

3years ago I have my best life ever, after my UAAP career nagkabalikan kami ni Jema, she was there supporting me hanggat sa makagraduate ako.

Halos tumira na ako sa apartment niya we have so many plans. We don't need to hide anymore my parents and her parents are okay with our relationship na kaya kahit madami haters it doesn't affect us anymore, Marami din ang nagpakita nang  respect and support to us kaya naging madali samin ang lahat.

I followed dad's path in bussiness industry everything is smooth but nang magkasakit si Mom everything changed after that.

Everything changed a year after ko magraduate. Inatake sa puso si Mom habang nasa vacation sila ni Dad sa US kinailangan ko pumunta sa US to help Dad pati narin yung bussiness ng family namin doon.

At first, it was okay sanay na kami sa long distance kasi she and her team are always on travel lalo na sa mga matches and training nila.

Months passed by at nararamdaman na namin yung hirap lalo na nung nagtake over na ako sa bussiness.
Sobrang nahihirapan na ako lalo na ng  naging critical si Mom and eventually hindi na kinaya ng Mom ko. Nang mawala si Mom, si Daddy ang pinakanaapektuhan kaya kinailangan namin lumipat lahat sa US para matulungan si Dad.

It was the hardest and the toughest time of my life.

I needed her on my side.

But she wasn't there.

Wala siya nung sobrang kailangan  ko siya.

Ilang beses ko siya niyaya na sumama sakin sa US pero hindi siya sumama mas pinili niyang pumunta ng Thailand to play volleyball.

After that wala na akong narinig mula sakanya..

Nawala siya.

Iniwan niya ako.

Kung kailan sobrang mahina ako.

Everything thing falls apart pero wala akong choice kundi maging matatag to save our family, to save Dad, to save everything we have. Wala ko karapatan maging mahina or to even  grief I needed to step up and leave everything behind.

Years have passed and things got different.

Dad's okay now, the business is fine now. Tahimik na kami na naninirahan dito sa US, wala na ko balak bumalik sa Pilipinas.

Andito na nagaaral sina Peter and Dean, Si Ate Nicole doctor na siya dito, even Ate Cyrille build her family here already so wala na akong rason para bumalik pa.

Pero kinausap ako ni Dad.

"Anak wala ka bang balak umuwi ng Pinas? Ok na kami dito andito na ang mga kapatid mo."

"That's the point Dad andito na kayo bakit pa ako babalik ng Pinas, this is home."

"Anak gusto ko na ayusin mo yung shares natin sa Rebisco Company, I'm the Chief Operating Officer there ikaw ang gusto ko na humawak noon kaya kailangan mo pumasok sa Company na yun."

"Bakit hindi nalang natin ibenta yung shares mo and leave it all behind? May sarili na tayo kompanya dito sa US Dad, Dean is taking Business course too so may makakatulong na tayo. Hindi na natin kailangan yun."
I said.

"No, gusto ko maging parte parin ako ng kompanya na yun Sir Jonathan and I are close friend, plus jan kami nag umpisa ng Mom mo, jan namin kinuha ang pambuhay sainyo."

"But da--."

"No buts, mamili ka ako ang uuwi o ikaw kaya ko pa naman e."

"NO! Ako nalang, I'll set and fix everything  as soon as possible para maka uwi ako dito agad."

"Ok I'll contact Jonathan for your mentorship, jan din ko nagumpisa and look where I am now. Alam ko marami ka matutunan doon."

Tumango nalang ako.

Ngayon andito na ko sa Pinas.
Mabilis kong inayos ang lahat para makapagumpisa na ko sa Rebisco at makauwi na sa US as soon as possible, i don't feel good about this.

"Welcome back to the Philippines Deanna Wong," Sir Alan said as she enters his office with Sir Jonathan the CEO of Rebisco.

"Sino magaakala na hindi na pala kita sa court makikita sa opisina na pala."

"Well Volleyball is not a life time career sir, kaya nga nagaral ako for this," I simply said

"I don't play Volleyball anymore, that's not my thing." I continued

Kinalimutan ko na ang pagvovolleyball kasama niya.

Sir Allan got surprised of what I said,until Sir Jonathan Ong interrupted as to formally introduce me and my purpose.

"Deanna Wong here will be your Co-Manager in Creamline Sir Alan as she is on the mentoring stage  as the next Chief Operating Officer as requested by her Dad ." Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Sir, I knew it Dad set me up.

"It will just be easy for you because you know some things in Volleyball alam mo naman na Volleyball club ang under sa Creamline Ice cream " Sir Jonathan continued.

Oo nga pala, Yung Volleyball club niya dati, I wonder kung member pa siya, Ang alam ko sikat na Volleyball player na siya sa Thailand.

"Kilala mo na din naman yung mga players doon. Bukod kasi sa office works sasama ka kay Sir Allan in handling the club since isa sila sa nagpopromote ng product, Do you understand Ms.Wong."

Tumango ako ang alam ko Ate Jia is still in that team, may contact kami kasi she handles business din with Kuya Miguel her fiancee.

Si Ate Ly din member pa siya despite of her busy career on and off the volleyball court.

Ate Maddie and Ate Bea is also in the team already. Last year kinuha nila si Ate Bei after Ate Pau retired because of injury.

Ate Bei, Ate Mads, Ate Jia and Pongs are the only connection I had  here in the Philippines.

"Be ready for tommorow sasama ka samin  to finally introduce you sa Team."

"Ok sir,I'll get going na po para makapagrest kailangan ko pa ayusin mga gamit ko. Mukhang matatagalan ako dito eh."

"Ok Deanna welcome to Rebisco" he offers her hand for a handshake.

"Thank you sir."

Pag uwi ko sa Condo agad ko kinontak si Dad.

"Dad how did you do this me, you plan all of this. Akala ko ba Mentorship lang and aayusin lang yung shares bakit mo sinabi na ako na papalit sayo?"

"Cause you will replace me Deanna,
Deanna para sayo din yan."

"Dad masaya na ako jan kasama niyo."

"Masaya ba talaga Deanna? Anak for 3 years kami lang inasikaso mo, Anak ok na kami okay na ako, gusto ko na bumalik yung Deanna na masaya, yung nagdadrums, naggigitara, nagvovolleyball. Ayoko nung Deanna na workaholic, alcoholic at messed up."

Napatigil ako sa mga sinabi niya all along alam niya pala mga pinaggagawa ko.

"Kilala kita Deanna alam ko mga ginagawa mo hindi lang ako nagsasalita kasi alam ko naging unfair kami sayo at hinayaan ka namin harapin mo lahat ng yun para samin."

"Okay, I'll accept it pero Dad kung ano pinunta ko dito yun lang ang gagawin ko nothing more, nothing less so don't expect me more than those, this is me now and I'm happy with my life now."

I ended up the call.

It's been a tough day, and mukhang magiging madalas na ganito ang magiging buhay ko dito.

"Ahh Deanna welcome to the Philippines" i said to myself.

A/N

Sorry sa Errors.