Every Sunday (Sisterhood Series #1)

CHAPTER 3

—ALISHA'S POV—

FINALLY, WE'RE DONE planning everything! From the place where he will propose to Yhuri and the engagement ring and other stuff to be use, up to the whole set up. I suggested him to make it simple and private. As much as possible silang dalawa lang, no other people. I admit that I'm bitter especially in everyone's love life but then I want them both to be happy. They deserve it and I'm thinking that it would be better if private proposal. Knowing Yhuri, she hates pressure, I and Pax also wants that she'll agreed to the proposal whole heartedly.

"Maiba nga tayo, Ali. Wala ka na bang balak mag boyfriend ? Ilang beses na kinwento ni Yhu sa akin ginagawa mo pag may nanliligaw sa 'yo. May puso ka pa ba?" kapagkuwan ay tanong ni Paxton.

"I guess so? Nandito pa nga ako sa harap mo, kita mo buhay na buhay—"

"Huwag mo nga akong pilosopohin, Alisha!"

"Huwag ka rin kasing tanga kung magtanong. May puso pa ba ako? Anong klaseng tanong 'yan. Aba, bakit saan ba pumunta 'to?" pabalang kong sabi sa kaniya at tinuro pa ang nasa kaliwang dibdib ko, saktong sa kinaroroonan ng dibdib ko.

"What I mean is why are you being rude to boys. If you don't like them, atleast try to tell them in a polite and kind way!"

"Hoy, Pax! Just so you know, I did those things para hindi sila umasa. Parang hindi mo ko kilala." I crossed my arms and raised my right eyebrow.

"And just so you know, Alisha, may damdamin din ang mga lalaki, nasasaktan din kami." I just rolled my eyes at him.

"What about those blind dates? That was set-up to you by your step sisters? You really don't have plan to enter in a relationship?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako saka sumimsim ng kape ko. Ngumisi ako sa kaniya at umiling-iling. Nagiging chismoso na naman 'to sigurado.

"Look, I don't have a problem with Yhu, doing you a favor but don't get me wrong, Ali but is it because of him? You still haven't moved on?"

Mabilis pa sa kidlat nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha. Napaismid ako sa narinig at mabilis siyang pinatigil sa pagsasalita.

"Stop it!" Pabagsak kong binitawan ang tinidor na hawak. I was about to slice a piece of pancake but here he is, trying to make a worst topic. "Are we done? I think I need to go. I still have to visit Shun in the hospital."

"Alisha, you knew exactly what I'm pointing to. This is not something like you should ignore."

"Shut it up, Pax. I knew it and I actually starts to hate it. Naririndi na nga ako, kasi hindi ko lang sa 'yo ko 'yan naririnig. Even Qianzy and Quenxi, they're so desperate to find me a partner. To find someone who can replace Kysler!" I said almost shouting, then gritted my teeth just to lessen the anger that is now starting to build in me.

"Ali, naiintindihan ko sila. Baka nakakalimutan mong you're turning 30, tumatanda na tayo. We need to find partner for our future. We need someone who we can share the rest of our lives. Hindi sa lahat ng oras ay kaya nating mag-isa, Ali!"

"Oh c'mon, Pax! I can live without a partner. Besides my siblings and cousins needs me. May pinapaaral ako, including my cousins. If I settle down now or in the next years what will happen to them? It would be too hard for me to sustain their needs if ever I became distracted again. That's the least I can do for them."

I am the breadwinner of our family. Walang trabaho si Mama habang si Tito Yuan, ay nabaldado n'ong nakaraang taon lang dahil sa aksidente. At mga pinsan ko namang si Zavia, Zaux, Zaeylla at ang nakakabatang kapatid nila na si Zero ay alila na, matagal nang wala ang mga magulang nila kaya bilang nakakatandang pinsan at dahil na rin sa pangako kay Tito Zen, ang ina nila at kapatid ni Mama, na ako bahala sa mga pinsan ko hanggang sa makatapos silang tatlo.

"Don't make your responsibilities as an excuse from stopping yourself to be happy, Alisha," he said with a dead serious tone. "Nandoon na ako sa responsibilidad mo para sa mga kapatid at mga pinsan mo pero 'wag mo namang hayaang tumigil ang mundo mo riyan. You have your future too, don't be too selfless. Open yourself to other people again. Hindi lahat mag-a-adjust para sa 'yo, kailangan mo ring kumilos," pilit na paliwanag niya.

"Bukod sa responsibilidad ko, sigurado akong alam na alam mo kung anong nangyari halos siyam na taon na ang nakalipas. Ayokong bumalik sa ganoong sitwasyon. Kaya ko at kakayanin ko kahit tumanda akong dalaga. I just don't want to go back in that past. So shut up."

"Then, free yourself from your past first. If that is what you need, free yourself from your past. You deserve to be fully happy again, Ali."

I HEAVED A deep sigh, quietly shake both of my hands. I looked straight at a rough blue transparent, texture glass door infront of me.

"Are you ready?" The man beside me asked. I just nodded as response. The door opened, revealing middle-aged men, wearing a formal, black tuxedo. Looking so old yet sophisticated people.

King, the man beside me, stepped in the meeting office.

I plastered a plastic fake smile while King, holding a laptop we walked through the center. We're going to have an urgent report with our new target investors; Warren Moribund, Trace and Apollo Fortritorre.

"Good morning."

Right after my meeting with Pax, I received a call from Yrra that I'll be reporting to an investors. Good thing, King had finished the papers early before Yrra told me, so I had a time to study and thoroughly examined it.

"So let me welcome you first to our company, the ABC company." I started and continued reporting. It's all about the performance of the company in the past few years. The loss and profits, and other things. Some information they want to know before they agreed to invest in our company.

Nasa kalahati na ako ng report ko nang magsalita ang isa sa kanila. I bet it's Warren Morribund.

"Since you've mentioned that the outstanding Accounts Receivable is almost one and half of a million. I don't think, the company could survive if a big percentage will turn as uncollected. Malaking kabawasan sa kita pag 'yan hindi nakabayad, right?"

I slightly smirked. Easy. "Sir, in the past 5 years, the company were very strict when it comes to our customer's accounts, as well as with the liabilities of the company. Our company has a maximum of 2% rate for uncollectible accounts. And as I could say, the company never or at least had a lesser problem with bigger amount in customer's accounts."

"And what about the Accounts Payable which is two million. Can you enlighten me why it has a bigger amount where in fact, the Company is indeed have a good reputation because of its always top grossing product."

"Well, Sir. Last year, the company were having a hard time adjusting and trying to gain our high sales back. As you look at it, the company's account were almost because of new equipments we could use for our production."

NATAPOS ANG MEETING at naging maayos din ang resulta. They decided to invest. Dapat lang, ginisa nila ako kakatanong ano?

"Good job, Ms. Audere," I heard King's voice, from my computer, out of nowhere I rerouted my gaze to him. As usual wearing his most charming smile, holding a cup of coffee with a sticky note on it.

"Coffee for you. Lessen stress." Tinignan ko lang ang kamay niyang may hawak ng coffee.

'Great job. Congrats!' ayan ang nakalagay sa sticky note. Binaling ko ulit ang tingin ko sa mukha niya at walang ganang lumingon sa computer ko.

Hindi siya nag abala pang magsalita. Nanatili akong nakatutok sa screen ng computer ko habang pinapakiramdaman ang galaw niya. Nakaupo lang talaga siya sa gilid ko. Naghihintay rin siguro sa susunod na gagawin.

I wonder what got into Miss Aki, of all people, why King? I mean, there's no doubt that he was very intelligent way back when we were in college, he is very much capable of doing this kind of job, but the thing is why settle for as an assistant if he could just be an accountant itself. I have no issues or problems with assistant but I'm really just wondering. Isa pa, Gia resigned that means there is vacant in one of the position of accountant in the company, p'wedeng p'wede naman siya sa posisyon. It confuses the hell out me, practically speaking, mas malaki at maganda ang benefits ng mismong accountant. Not unless there's something fishy going on.

"Miss Aki called me. Drink your coffee, baka lumamig, sayang lang." Natigil ang pag iisip ko nang marinig ang boses ni King.

"Why coffee?" I asked, out of the blue. I again, rerouted my eyes in his direction. Staring at him with no emotions written on my face.

Blankly staring.

"Why coffee?" I asked him again. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, trying not to be so rude but I think I failed. Base on his expression, confusion is visible to it. Binalik ko agad ang tingin ko sa computer.

"Why not coffee?" pabalik niyang tanong sa akin. "It's my treat so you don't need to pay me."

"Why are you giving me coffee? For what reason?"

"Do I need to have reason to give someone something?" I stopped and looked back to him again.

Kung ang dating payatot na King na nakilala namin ay sobrang kisig na. He's not that thin, skinny guy anymore. He look so matured yet cute. People change ika nga.

"Yes. You know me, right. I'm sure you know me so let me ask you, have you lost your senses already?"

"Hey, look, gusto lang kita bigyan niyan ngayon—"

"Pang dalawang beses na."

"Okay, okay. I hope you won't misinterpret my actions. Hindi ko ginagawa 'yan para magpasipsip o ano sa 'yo. I never had a chance to befriend with you when we were in college. Now that we're adult and working in the same company, I'm hoping if we could be friends."

"I'm not interested," I answered frankly.

"Huh?"

"I'm not interested to be your friend. You can go now." Pagkabaling na pagkabaling ng tingin ko sa computer inalis ko na agad ang atensyon ko sa kaniya. Bahala na siya sa buhay niya. Nasabi ko na ang dapat sabihin.

THE PLACE IS coated with silence, there's a small cottage in the middle of the lake. Stars are shining so bright, the cold wind hugging every inch of my skin as I'm staring at the two people inside the cottage, not so far from where I am now standing.

Paxton, who are bending his right knee, holding a small fictional book in his hand infront of Yhuri who are now crying. "Please, accept this book. Opened it and make me the happiest man tonight."

Sinundan ko lang ng tingin ang bawat galaw nila. Kinuha ni Yhuri ang libro sa kamay ni Pax at dahan-dahan binuksan ito. As she finally opened the book, a devilish smirk crossed my lips. Not so long, I heard a loud, thin shout from her.

"P*TANGINA?! ANONG GINAWA MO, PAXTON AEJI CHADWICK?!"

Pigil tawa akong tumingin sa kanila. This is exciting!

"THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK FOR GOODNESS SAKE. WHY DID YOUR RIPPED IT OUT AND PUT THIS f*****g RING. COMEBACK HERE,YOU IDIOT! I WILL KILL YOU!"

I burst out in laugh.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!" humahagalpak ako sa tawa nang maramdaman ang malakas na pagbatok sa ulo ko.

Napabalik ako sa wisyo at natigil sa nakakalokong iniisip at tinignan nang napakasama-sama si Paxton na ngayon ay bakas ang inis sa kaniyang mukha. Nakatayo at nakapameywang sa harap ko.

"Ganiyan ka ba ka bitter ha?! Pati lovelife namin ng kaibigan mo pagtitripan mo pa?!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA WHAT? IT'S SO ROMANTIC! THAT'S THE SWEETEST WEDDING PROPOSAL FOR ME—"

"For you. Not for Yhuri. You are not a certified wattpader or book lover or whatever, Alisha, kaya manahimik ka! Baka mabulilyaso 'tong plano natin aba, ayokong tumanda mag-isa tulad mo."

Tila napanting ang tainga ko at matalim ang titig siyang tinignan.

"ANONG TULAD KO?!"

"OH BAKIT? MAG AASAWA KA BA?"

Natigil ako. Saglit pang napaisip.

Mag-aasawa pa ba ako?

Magkakaroon pa kaya ako ng sariling pamilya ko?

Kung noon, siguro oo, mag aasawa at bubuo ako ng sarili kong pamilya. Marami akong plano para sa future ko, naming dalawa pero ngayon ewan. Wala akong ibang gusto ngayon kung 'di magampanan nang maayos ang pagiging Ate hindi lang sa mga kapatid ko, pati na rin sa mga pinsan ko.

Besides I still haven't found my soon to be groom, tho' I never really see myself wearing a gown, walking in the aisle while my close friends and family are there watching how cringe the scene is, giving my vows and committing my life for someone. That's the least I wished for my life now. Marriage is in the last option.

"Oh sige, tunawin mo muna 'yang ring kakatitig, 'wag mo akong tulungan dito. Baka gusto mong abutin tayo hanggang midnight. Okay lang naman sa akin, kahit wala akong tulog. Sino ba naman akong gwapo para tulungan," sarkastikong sambit niya na hindi ko na lang pinatulan pa.

After that, I set aside all the thoughts in my head and rerouted my gaze to him. I saw him arranging the chairs and table in the right side. Muli ay napatitig ako sa singsing na hawak, simple pero napakaganda. It has a small, heart shape Amethyst in the center of it. Sinara ko ang ring box saka lumapit kay Pax at binalik ito bulsa ng polo niya. Wala na rin naman siyang sinabi kaya tumulong ako sa pag-ayos ng mga gamit.

Sana umayon sa plano 'to bukas.