The Business Rivalry

Chapter 8

The next day after the dating issue, I instantly looked for my phone to see the company stocks, and surprisingly... the price went up.

It's kinda weird, I know a few of Rayni's fans are possessive pero bakit kaya tumaas ang stocks namin? Hmm, never mind, at least it didn't fall down.

-----

"Tita Viv!" Hannah and I simultaneously shouted.

Nandito na kami sa orphanage and tita Vivian is the keeper. She's not a nun but a directress.

Matagal na siyang namamahala dito ever since na dinala ako dito, siya na ang head of this place. She became my mother, I wish siya na lang talaga ang nanay ko. I don't have any hard feelings against my mother, pero kasi...

"Oh, nandito na pala ang mga pasaway at magaganda kong anak-anakan." Nagbeso-beso at niyakap niya kami.

"Ito po kasing si Blaine, namiss na naman ang mga bata."

"May mga dala po pala kaming pagkain, kumain na po ba sila?"

"Hindi pa, alam ko namang parating kayo kaya hindi ko muna sila pinakain, tara sa sala nandoon sila naghihintay sainyo."

------

"Ate Blaine, ate Hannah!" Bungad ng mga bata at niyakap kaming dalawa.

"Nagugutom na ba kayo? Kain na tayo baka bigla na lang kayong mangagat diyan eh." Pang asar ko sa kanila.

A total of 23 children are living here. The eldest is 13 years old and the youngest is an infant.

Dexter was 8 when his mother left her in the playground, si Margaret ang nakakita sa kanya, tita Viv's assistant here in orphanage. Mamimili daw sana siya ng makita niya si Dexter na umiiyak sa swing. Dinala niya sa police station but no one claimed him, Margi told the officers to take him to the orphanage for 3 days pero sabi ulit ng officers na wala naman naghahanap na nawawalang bata kaya pumayag sila na tumuloy 'yung bata dito.

Since then nandito na siya hindi na kasi binalikan ng nanay niya, at single parent lang daw ito.

'Yung baby naman iniwan sa labas ng gate, no other information, even the baby's name hindi man lang binigay.

As for tita Vivian, wala siyang asawa at anak. Wala daw siyang balak kasi sakit lang daw sa ulo, pero heto siya at nag-aalaga ng dalawang dosenang bata.

The old orphanage where I was raised was demolished. I asked for tita Viv's permission to destroy that place. I don't want those men to find me again, kaya nirelocate ko sila sa isang isolated area. For kids' safety na din.

Kapatid. Kapatid ang hinihingi ko sa parents ko noon. That's why I want to be an ate to these children. I was alone in the house, playing, eating, studying, and sleeping, with no other people to talk to except my nanny. Almost 8 years kong tiniis ang mag-isa dahil walang time ang parents ko sa akin because of our businesses.

But being alone doesn't end there when the accident happened..... I think it's my fate to be alone in life.

These kids, I don't want them to feel alone, like what I felt when I was a child. So, as much as possible I want to play and talk to them kahit na full ang schedule ko.

Pero may napansin ako, we have a new kid?

"Tita, sino 'yun?" Tinuro ko 'yung bata sa corner na tahimik na kumakain.

"Ay, oo nga pala. That's Jeremiah, you have the same past. Car accident, wala siyang nanay, 'yung tatay niya naman dead on arrival. Walang gustong mag adopt na relatives niya kaya nandito siya."

"Kailan pa po? Pwede ko ba siyang kausapin?"

"Blaine, kumain ka kaya muna. Ang haba kaya ng binyahe natin."

"Hans, para kasing... how can I explain this? Hindi ko alam pero parang gusto ko siyang kausapin."

"Ate Blaine, he's not talking po since he came here 5 days ago." Sabi ni Nathan na katabi ko.

"Hindi niyo naman siya inaaway? Kinakausap niyo naman ba siya? Kahit isang word niya hindi niyo pa naririnig?"

"Hindi po namin siya inaaway, sabi niyo po bad 'yun eh." Elena said after swallowing her food.

"Hindi rin po siya namamansin kaya hinahayaan na lang namin siya." Benj added.

"Tita."

"Tama si Hannah, kumain ka na muna. Kumakain din naman siya kaya hindi mo siya makakausap."

I don't know why, but I'm not starving. Hindi naman ako kumain bago kami umalis. This is weird.

"Gusto mo subuan kita? Ayaw mo ba ng mga pagkain? Mag-oorder ako ng iba. Ano bang gusto mo?"

"Lola Hannah, okay lang ho ako, kumain na ho kayo dyan." Nag sitawanan 'yung mga bata na nakarinig sa sinabi ko, at si Hannah naman sinamaan ako ng tingin.

"Napaka mo talagang bata ka. Nanggigigil ako sa'yo eh. Mamaya ka sa'kin, kukutusan kita ng malupet."

"Ano po 'yung kukutusan? Kuto po ba 'yun?"

"May kuto po si ate Blaine?"

"Hala, baka mahawa tayo."

"Mahahawa tayo kung tatabi tayo kay ate, kaya lipat tayo, tara."

Aba'y lokong mga bata 'to ah.

"Oy, Nathan, Elena, Leah, Julius. Grabe kayo sa ate niyo ah, gusto niyo bang bawiin ko 'yang mga kinakain niyo? Ha?"

"Ubos na po 'yung sa akin. Hehehe."

"Oh sige, wala kang dessert mamaya ah. Gusto mo pang lumipat Nathan, huh?"

"Joke lang po 'yun, si ate talaga."

"Alam niyo naman 'tong ate Blaine niyo, na stuck na 'yung age niya sa 9 year old Blaine."

"Hannah! Pinagkakaisahan niyo ba ako?"

"Oh, 'wag kayong magtalo sa harap ng mga pagkain at mga bata. Talaga kayo." Saway ni tita Viv sa amin.

"Tita, tapos na siyang kumain, kakausapin ko na siya ah."

"Sige, 'wag mong masyadong pilitin ha, baka mas lalo siyang hindi mag open up."

"Opo." Humarap ako sa mga bata at hinawakan sila sa ulo. "Babalik ako ha, magpahinga muna kayo bago tayo maglaro." Tumango naman sila at naglakad papuntang sala.

I'm nervous, I don't know why. Baka dahil... baka... baka magalit 'yung bata? 5 days pa lang siyang nandito, fresh pa sa kanya 'yung accident.

Dahan dahan akong umupo sa tabi niya, his eyes were glued to the window.

"Hi, Jeremiah. Ako pala si ate Blaine." As expected, no response. "Gusto mo bang pumunta sa labas? Sa playground?" Umiling siya. "Ilang taon ka na?" Again, no response.

Paano kaya 'to? Hmm.

"Do you know Jeremiah was one of the major prophets in the Bible? They called him the Weeping Prophet. Do you know why?" He shook his head as a reply. "Because his heart was so tender."

He lowered his head and played with his fingers.

"Ate Blaine grew up in an orphanage as well. Ayoko ng may kumakausap sa akin noon, ayoko ng may humahawak o tumabi man lang. Si tita Vivian ang laging kumakausap sa akin, tapos hindi ko din siya pinapansin kasi—" Napatigil ako kasi tiningnan niya ako!

His eyes are full of sadness, I was right. He's still broken. Hindi ka naman makakamove on sa mga nangyari eh, pero gusto ko lang na malaman niya na hindi siya nag-iisa. Nandito kami para makausap niya at kahit papaano mabawasan ang bigat ng nararamdaman niya.

Bagay na gustung-gusto kong gawin noon, pero natatakot akong magsalita. I was afraid that they might blame me for the accident, because I was the sole survivor.

"You're not alone, Jeremiah. I'm not asking you to forget and heal instantly. Pwede mo akong kausapin o kaya si tita Vivian. Kung may gusto kang gawin or gustong kainin. Sabihin mo lang."

"Are you from another country po?" Yes! He finally spoke!

"Uh, yes. How did you know?"

"Ang awkward niyo pong magtagalog." He looked out the window again.

Kalma lang, Blaine. Bata 'yan, huwag mong patulan. Chill.

"At hindi po kayo mukhang Pinoy."

"Do you know any sports? Let's play. Kakain tayo ng dessert mamaya. Anong gusto mo? Ice cream? Cake? Chocolate? Donuts? Cookies?"

"Bakit po kayo lumaki sa orphanage?"

"Wala kasi akong mga magulang, wala rin akong ate or kuya, o kaya bunso."

"Nasaan po sila?"

"Hindi ko alam eh, I'm sure wala sila sa heaven."

"Bakit naman po?"

"They were not following God's order. They were too busy with earthly things. Money and power."

"Si papa ko po, mabait at madasalin. Lagi po kaming nagpe-pray at nagsisimba. Nasa heaven po kaya siya?"

Hindi lahat ng mabait napupunta sa heaven, kung lagi ka namang nagsisimba pero ang dumi naman ng puso mo, edi no use lang.

"Oo naman, at alam kong ayaw ka niyang nakikitang malungkot." I caress his head and back. "Pwede ba akong magtanong sa'yo?" His eyes went to the floor.

Should I ask about her mother? Huwag na lang kaya? Sige na nga 'wag na.

"Nakalimutan ko na 'yung tanong ko. Gusto mo bang magkwento ako about my orphanage days? O may gusto ka bang itanong kay ate?"

"A-ano pong nangyari sa parents mo po?"

"Hmm, accident. Kaya mag-isa na lang ako. Pero nakilala ko ang nagpagulo ng buhay ko, si ate Hannah at ate Remi, mabait sila at nakakatawa kahit na may konting ailment eh at least may nakakasama ako at nakakausap."

"You look happy po, do you... still think about... your parents?"

"Yes, I missed them kahit wala silang time sa akin, kahit hindi nila ako pinapansin, I still love them. Kaya nagsumikap talaga ako, for them to be proud of me." Even though they can't see me aymore.

"Are you rich?"

"You don't know who I am?" Okay, medyo mahangin ako sa part na 'yun, sorry. "I'm Blaine Kingsley."

"May asawa ka na po?"

"Malapit na."

"Po?" He confusedly glances at me.

"I mean, she hasn't confessed to me yet. Torpe pa siya. Bakit mo naman natanong?"

"Torpe ka din po."

"Ha? Paano naman ako naging torpe?"

"Bakit mo po hinihintay siyang magconfess kung pwede naman ikaw na lang, tutal mukhang gusto mo din siya. So mas torpe ka po." Masyado ka naman na yatang komportable sa'kin bata ah.

Huwag mong sakalin, Blaine. Kumalma ka.

"How old are you?"

"8 po next month." I was the same age as him when I became an orphan. Is this a coincidence?

"Kailan ang birthday mo? Every week kami pumupunta dito, 'wag kang magsawa sa amin ha?"

"September 29 po." Oh...

"Do you want a birthday party? Anong gusto mong kainin? Do you have allergies?"

"Kahit ano po, wala naman po akong allergies."

"Oh sige. Tara, laro tayo?" I offered him my hand and gave him a reassuring smile.

----

I'm playing soccer with them dito sa covered pitch. Tita Viv and Hannah were cleaning the living room when we left the house.

"Tita!" Nandito na pala sila. Nagpaalam muna ako sa mga bata at tumakbo papunta sa pwesto nila tita.

"Oh bakit? Anong nangyari?"

"He's there, playing with the kids." She scanned the place and her eyes widened when she saw Jeremiah playing soccer with other kids. Hannah had the same reaction.

"Anong ginawa mo? Did you threaten him? Baka binigwasan mo Blaine ha!"

I placed my hand on my waist. "Hannah, Hannah, Hannah, why would I do that to a child? Don't you tru—"

"Susmaryosep kang bata ka! Baka binalibag mo at tinakot na hindi bibigyan ng dessert!" Aba, pati ba naman ikaw tita?!

"Kumalma nga kayung dalawa. Nag-usap lang po kami. He even teased me! Malokong bata."

"Did he open up? Anong pinag-usapan niyo? Nakwento niya ba ang family niya? How about his mother?"

"I didn't ask about his mother. Mukhang sensitive topic po at hindi niya nabanggit kung nasaan, he just mentioned his dad."

"I think he loosen up, ngumingiti na siya oh." Nakangiting sabi ni Hans habang nakatingin kay Jeremiah.

"Tita, birthday niya pala next month. September 29 daw. He has no allergies and he can eat anything. He didn't give any specific food he wanted to eat, so I'm going to hire a catering service and I'll file a leave—"

"Ikaw, magle-leave sa trabaho? That's impossible, Blaine. Kahit nga lumindol, bumabagyo, inaapoy ng lagnat e nagta-trabaho ka pa din. Huwag nga kami." Tuwama silang dalawa ni tita.

"Isasama sana kita para dalawa tayong naka leave, 'wag na lang pala. Ayaw mo naman pala. Sige 'wag na, ayokong ipagpilitan ang sarili ko sa taong ayaw—"

"Sige approved na ang 2 days leave mo. Pwede na ba 'yun or gawin kong 5 days?"

"Galing ah, ikaw ba ang boss at pala desisyon ka?"

"Ilang days?" Excited na tanong niya.

"3 days? 28 to 30. It's not actually a leave, I can do zoom meetings for my important meetings that need to be done and analyze."

"Pangit mo kabonding."

-----

After lunch umalis na din kami ni Hannah, we're going to the company. We just have a half day.

Yes, even weekends may pasok pa din. Double pay whoever works on weekends, but you need to do at least 5-6 hours of work, no break time.

"Hans, awkward ba ako magtagalog? Masakit ba sa tenga?"

"Ngayon? Hindi na. Dati kasi ang arte ng pronunciations mo, ang sarap mong sakalin." She gazes at me for a split second and turns her gaze back on the road. "Bakit? May nagsabi ba sayo na awkward ka magsalita?"

"Si Jeremiah." Para akong bata na nagsusumbong sa ate ko.

One of the reasons why I didn't speak to others when I was in the orphanage. We just immigrated here in the Philippines 7 months before the accident happened.

My dad opened a new branch, that was why we were here. My mom liked the Pinoys' hospitalities kaya she decided na dito na lang kami.

"Hindi naman na halata compared to when we were in our college days. Kaya dapat kapag nasa bahay tayo, No Engish Allowed ang rule."

"Bahala ka dyang mag nosebleed." I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat.

"Ewan ko ba sa'yong bata ka. Ikain na lang natin 'to sa Mc—"

"Jollibee!" I protested.

"Love ko 'to!"

"Bida ang saya!"

"Oh, sige mag it's finger lickin' good na lang tayo."

"Hannah naman, ayun na si Jabi, o!" Sabay turo ko sa papalapit na drive thru.

"Ako ang nagda-drive so ako ang masusunod."

"Libre mo?"

"Syempre ikaw magbabayad."

"Then, let's go to Jollibee."

"Eh! Mas masarap ang sundae ng Mcdo!"

"Mas masarap ang spaghetti ng Jollibee!"

"Hay nako, Starbucks na nga lang. How about J.CO? Burger King?"

"Expensive."

"Expensive ka dyan, yakang-yaka mo ngang bumili ng limang daang libong franchise nila. Ikaw lang talaga 'yung kilala kong billionaire na kuripot, nako."

"Do you want coffee? Donuts? Burgers?"

"Yes!" Hannah happily replied.

"If you want coffee, then go to the office now, or let's go home. As for burgers, doon tayo sa Jollibee. At least it's affordable, luscious, and you will be satisfyingly full."

"Kuripot."

"It's not kuripot, it's called practical. Ang dami nating coffee sa office, you can make your own without limit. Remember, brand ang binabayaran mo dyan sa Starbucks kaya mahal and because they're famous as well, plus their establishment's rent. That's why they need to make their prices higher for their quota to meet. How about this? I'll order different beans and syrups and place them in the break room. Okay?"

"Dami dami mong sinabi 'yun lang din pala ang solution mo. Okay, basta beans ng Starbucks at magdagdag ka for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Parang mas bet nila 'yun eh."

"Okay po. Masaya ka na? Kalmado ka na? Pwede na tayong magdrive-thru?" Ay, wait lang. "Hindi ba dapat ikaw ang manlibre? I'm sure mayaman ka din wala kang binabayaran na kahit ano eh."

"Oy, meron kaya. 'Yung ano... kotse ko."

"It was fully paid when I gave that to you. Even the maintenance, repairs, gas, accessories, everything is covered by the company."

"Uhh.... eh.." She scratched the back of her ear.

"I o u, ewan ko sa'yo, Hans. Hindi ka naman nagpupunta sa bar, we have hotels kaya for sure hindi ka gumagastos 'pag may dinadala kang babae doon."

It's not that I'm interposing, I just want her to prepare for her future. Hindi tayo mabubuhay sa love lang, that's not edible.

"Hold on, may babae ka bang pinapaaral? Who is she or they? Tell me I'll give them scholarships and be their benefactor.

"Teka nga, kumalma ka. Wala akong gano'n."

Well, she seems to be telling the truth, "Okay, fine. It's your money anyway. You can do whatever you want, but please, mag-ipon ka for your future."

"I am. Considering that mom is doing great and my siblings are well, kaya naman nakakapag-ipon talaga ako."

"You did great, Hans. Now let's go to the drive-thru!" I clapped my hands and raised them afterward.

She gave me a genuine smile. "Thanks to you. So, doon tayo sa love ko 'to?"

"Yeah, order ka ng sa'yo sa Mcdo basta ako sa Jollibee."