Simply Yours (SPG)

"Chef, someone's looking for you," Awtomatikong napataas ang kilay ni Krista nang dahil sa tinuran ng kaniyang sekretarya. "The who?" Krista asks calmly, as she continues to massage the dough in her hands. "One of your grandfather's men I suppose," tugon nito dahilan para si Krista ay mapahinto at malawak na napangiti. Walang pagdadalawang isip na binitawan ni Krista ang dough na hawak at naghugas ng kamay. Hindi na rin ito nag-abala pang tanggalin ang pink na apron na suot-suot, at basta na lamang lumabas. Two familiar faces welcome's Krista, as she open the door of one of her pastry shops private room. The two man are both sitting comfortably while drinking their cup of hot black coffee. "Dan, Dev," tawag ni Krista sa atensyon ng mga ito. Kapwa namang napatayo sa gulat ang dalawang lalaking nangngangalang Dan at Dev. "Señorita!" Singhal ng dalawa at kapwa pang nakahawak sa dibdib. Krista chuckles because of their reaction and sat across them. "Anong ginagawa niyo rito? Inutosan ba kayo ni lolo?" Sunod-sunod na tanong pa nito. Agad namang nakabawi ang dalawang binata at pagkalaon ay muling naupo. "Nandito lang ako para kumain at mangamusta Señorita, pero itong si Dan mukhang mayroon hidden agenda," ani Dev at tinuro pa ang kambal nitong si Dan na bahagya pang namumutla. "Dan?" Binalingan ito ng tingin ni Krista. Hindi magkakalayo ang agwat ng edad nilang tatlo, sa totoo nga niyan sila'y magkababata. Sila Dev at Dan ay anak ng katiwala ng kaniyang lolo, itong dalawa rin ang madalas niyang nakakalaro. "I'm waiting Dan..." Nakangiti ngunit may matatalim na mga matang saad ni Krista. "Ahh...ehh, kasi Señorita..." "Hindi tayo matatapos kaka-ahh, ehh, mo na 'yan Dan," puno ng sarkasmong wika ni Krista at bahagyang nag-ikot pa ng mata. Hindi naman talaga siya masungit kung iyon ang inyong inaakala, sadyang nauubosan lang talaga siya ng pasensya. Ang ayaw kasi sa lahat ni Krista ay ang paligoy-ligoy at paulit-ulit na pagtatanong gayon din ng pagsasalita—thou, gawain niya rin naman ang ilan sa mga mga 'yon. "Isa." Bilang ni Krista, dahilan para si Dan ay mapalunok ng mariin. "Umuwi ka na raw sabi ng Don!" Tila'y rap star na saad ni Dan, dahilan para si Krista ay mapabuhaglit ng tawa. "Ang tanga hindi yata huminga," natatawa ngunit naiiling na wika naman ni Dev na komportableng-komportableng naka higa sa mahabang sofa. Nagpakawala ng tatlong malalim na hininga si Krista upang kalmahin ang sarili. Bahagya rin nitong pinunasan ang magkabilaang gilid ng mata sapagkat ang luha niya kakatawa ay umaaplas na. "Breath Dan. Breathe..." Krista said, then chuckles again. Kitang-kita ni Krista kung paano namula ang magkabilaang pisngi ni Dan, na siyang dahilan para mas lumawak ang ngisi niya sa labi. Dan and Dev are both twenty five years old, and that means they're two years younger than Krista, na twenty seven years old na. "Pinapauwi ka na ng Don," ani Dan at bahagya pang nagkakamot ng ulo. "Why?" Krista asks, as she opened the huge black box with golden ribbon above the glass table in front of her. Alam niya kung kanino nanggaling ang naturang box, kaya nama'y hindi na siya nag-abala pang tanongin si Dan. Krista's eyes gleamed in excitement and happiness, when she saw a new two limited edition pink customized apron in it. Krista, then gently traces her name embroidered in the apron's middle part. It feels so good underneath her hands, and she can't wait to try it on and wear it. Her grandfather really knows her very well. "Malapit na ang kaarawan ng Don at ang nais niya ay ang makompleto kayo," saad ni Dan dahilan para si Krista ay mapahinto sa ginagawa. Krista stares at Dan's eyes directly. "Who?" Tanong ni Krista kahit na kilala niya ang tinutukoy ni Dan. "Ang nais ng Don ay ang makompleto ang kaniyang tatlong babaeng apo sa pagsapit ng ika-walong pu't anim na kaarawan niya," paliwanag ni Dan. "How's that even possible? Both of my cousins are living abroad," which is true, tanging si Krista lamang ang nanatili sa Pilipinas ayon na rin sa kahilingan ng kaniyang lolo. "The Don already sent someone to fetch them," sagot naman ni Dev sa usapan na ngayon ay nakaupo na. "Do you think that someone can soften my iron heart yet carefree super star cousin, Piper?" Krista asks then eventually laughs. Knowing Piper, masyado iyong abala sa concerts at shootings. "How about my double faced godzilla cousin huh? How about Farrah?" Tanong muli ni Krista na ngayon ay tuwang-tuwa sa reaksyon ng dalawang lalaking nasa kaniyang harapan. Paano ba naman, sa kanilang tatlong magpipinsan si Farrah ang pinakamataray at salbahe. Spoiled din kasi ito lalo na't nag-iisang anak na babae ng Tito Evander at Tita Frances niya. "The Don sent a special task force exclusively for Señorita Farrah," Krista gasps in surprise and horror because of what she heard. "Are you kidding me?" Nanlalaking mga matang tanong ni Krista kay Dev. "I'm not Señorita," Dev replied seriously. "Oh god..." Krista muttered in disbelief. "I hope they can take down Farrah's older brothers," "We hope so Señorita," Dev and Dan replied in unison. "Where are they by the way? I'd been busy this past few weeks kaya wala akong naging balita sa dalawa," Krista pause then alternately stares at Dan and Dev. "Where are they?" "Señorita Piper is currently at Barcelona, Spain. Mayroon siyang concert at shooting roon," tugon ni Dan habang nagtitipa sa selpon na hawak. "How about Farrah?" Krista asks again, with both eyebrows rising. "Nasa Rome, Italy naman si Señorita Farrah. She's been there for about two weeks as we talk," sagot naman ni Dev. "Let me guess, Farrah's there for leisure, am I right?" "You're right Señorita," tumatangong tugon ni Dev at bahagyang pumalakpak pa. Krista, Farrah and Piper are full blood cousins. Silang tatlo lang ang namumukod-tanging babae sa angkan kaya naman favorite sila ng kanilang lolo more than anything else. Farrah's the oldest but the most spoiled one among the three, and believe it or not she's a respectable woman figure in America. She's also into politics, and her oldest brother is the current Mayor in Palawan, Philippines. Farrah is a fierce woman with dignity, and also the walking godzilla on the family. On the other hand, Piper's in the middle. She's kind of pusong bato because of the tragedy that happened in the family that she witnessed, but she's free spirited and carefree. Piper is an idol and the superstar of the family. And last, the youngest of them all—Krista. Lumaking busog sa pagmamahal pero bitter, siguro dahil hindi niya pa nararanasan ang love. Sa tatlong babaeng apo ni Don Enrico Fortner, tanging si Krista lamang ang madalas na nakikita at nakakasama nito gawa nga ng ang dalawa ay nasa ibang bansa at abala rin sa kaniya-kaniyang trabaho. Krista is the bubbliest of them all, and the walking bitter gourd of the family. Krista heave a sigh and fixes the black box in front of her. Ayaw niya mang pumunta ay wala siyang magagawa, lalo na't ayaw niyang nagtampo o magtanim ng galit ang lolo niya sa kaniya. "Tell lolo to give me two weeks to settle my business first. Hindi naman puwedeng basta ko na lang iwanan ang pastry shop ko," Krista, then stands up and leave the private room with the black box on her hands. As Krista started on walking, she couldn't help but to smile in awe and amazement as she saw her pastry shops interior and costumers coming in and out of the store. Krista still can't believe her eyes, and she's still can't believe that she finally did it after years of hardships. Her parents are actually against it, especially her lolo pero no'ng nakita nila kung gaano siya kasaya—they eventually gave up and supports her na lang. Krista is the only one in the whole clan who's into baking. It's been her interest since childhood, siguro na rin kasi mahilig siya sa desserts and sweets—she got sweet tooth. Krista got a lot on her plate aside from baking. She's handling everything related to her business, at sa totoo niyan marami ng branch ang pastry shop ni Krista sa buong Pilipinas and she's planning to expand it abroad upon her cousin Piper's request. Krista's pastry shop is a fancy one. It is known and got featured in different newspapers, and also in local news. Pero kahit gano'n, mayroon pa rin makamasa desserts ang pastry shop ni Krista—na budget friendly rin. "Chef! Chef!" Napabalik sa tamang huwisyo si Krista nang dahil sa ginawang pagsigaw ng kaniyang sekretarya na kasalukuyang habol hininga. "What happened to you?" Pigil tawang tanong ni Krista sa kaniyang sekretarya, nang makitang ito ay pawisan at bahagyang namumutla na para bang nakipaghabulan kay kamatayan. "They're here again Chef," Kabadong saad ni Bubbles—ang sekretarya ni Krista sa loob ng tatlong taon. "Who?" "Reporters!" Bubbles snapped. Krista just let out a deep sigh and continued walking. As she reaches her office, she calmly put the box she's holding above her glass table and faces Bubbles who's still trembling. "Go get Dan and Dev. Let them handle those reporters," Krista then sits on her white swivel chair. "Yes Chef!" Bubbles replied and stride away. Napailing at napatingin na lamang si Krista sa kawalan nang dahil sa mga makukulit na reporters na ayaw siyang tantanan. She really needs to hire more security guards as soon as possible, it's for her safety's sake too. "I should ask lolo," Krista whispered in the air and started closing some deals.