Cold As Ice

Chapter 2

Ice POV

"Good morning." Bati ko sa aking pamilya nang pumasok ako sa dinning area ng bahay namin.

"Good morning, son." Bati ni dad. "Mabuti naman dumating ka na. Good morning." Bati naman ni mom sa akin habang inilalagay ang ginawa niyang club sandwich na favorite ni snow.

"Kuya pwede mo ba akong ihatid sa univesity today?" Malambing na tanong ni Snow sa akin. Graduating na siya sa college pero ayaw pa siyang bigyan ng sasakyan nina mommy, although marunong naman na itong magdrive at may driver's license na.

"Sure, after lunch pa naman ang meeting ko." Mahigsing sagot ko.

"Napapansin komlang little sis, bakit mas madalas ka nang magpahatid kay kuya Ice ngayon? Magtatampo na talaga ko sayo nyan." Wika naman ni Fire.

"Bihira kaseng umuwi si kuya Ice dito saka nakakainis ka ding kasama kuya kase nagkakagulo sa university kapag idinidisplay mo doon yang kagwapuhan mo. Atleast kuya Ice won't make such pagpapacute thing in the university." Sabi naman ni Snow na ikinatawa ni dad.

"Ganyan talaga Princes, wala tayong magagawa dahil gwapo ang mga kuya mo. Malamang pati kuya Ice mo pagkaguluhan din kapag bumaba sya ng sasakyan." Sabi naman ni mommy.

"For sure mom. Mabuti na lang talaga hindi pacute si kuya Ice, unlike kuya Fire." Sabi pa ni Snow.

"You know what bunso, likas na sa akin ang pagiging cute kaya hindi ko na kailangang magpacute okay, habulin lang talaga ang mga kuya mo. Natural problem yan ng mga gwapo." Dagdag pa nito.

"What so ever kuya." Sagot ni Snow. Nakikinig lang ako sa asaran nilang dalawa. Tawang tawa naman sina mom at dad sa reaction ni Snow sa pinagsasabi ni Fire.

"Son, have you seen Monique's interview? Is it true that you are dating?" Seryosong tanong ni dad.

"Of course not dad. You know that I even ban her to enter my office since she hurt my former secretary." Sagot ko.

"She desperate kuya. Actually nit just desperate. She's obsessed to you kuya, I think may sayad na yung babae na yon. Dahil pati mga staff ng Hotel pinagbibintangan na nakikipagflirt sayo kahit hindi naman totoo." Sabi ni Snow.

"What are we going to do Son, she's our Hotel's Ambassador right?" Tanong ni mom.

"Not anymore mom, We are not going renew her contract. Actually our new Ambassador will arrive from Paris in a week or two." Pahayag ko.

"Nakuha mo kuya yung nirecomend kong sikat na model sayo?" Excited na tanong ni Snow.

"Luckily yes." Sagot ko.

"You know the new Endorser of Emerald Hotel?" Tanong ni Fire kay Snow.

"Of courses kuya, I need to be updated in Fashion industry since I'm studying Fashion designing." Sagot ni Snow.

"Sinong model ba ang napili mong kapalit ni Monique kuya?" Tanong naman ni Fire.

"Avery Garcia. Sikat na Filipino-Spanish sa Paris." Maikling sagot ko.

"Avery Garcia? She will be in the finale at Ellite Fashion show next week Son." Bulalas ni mom.

"According to her management Ellite Fashion Show will be her farewell walk as a runway model." Dagdag pa ni mom.

"Her last Show? But why she accepted the offer as the new Ambassador of Emerald Hotel if she's going to end her modeling career?" Tanong ni dad.

"Zia told me that her contract will end next year but she decided not to renew the contract and she's about to take over their family's business." Sagot ni mom.

"So this will be her last project." Sabi ko.

"Parang ganun na nga. At least you still get her as the new face of Emerald Hotel." Sabi ni mom.

"Have you seen her photos kuya? She's so gorgeous and super elegant in clothes she wear." Excited na wika ni Snow.

"OMG I'm going to have a chance to meet her. And she's going to wear my masterpiece." Kinikilig pang wika ni Snow.

"Yes Princess, she's going to wear your first creation." Sabi naman ni mom.

Pagkatapos namin mag almusal ay ihinatid ko muna si Snow sa University bago pumasok sa Office.

Naabutan ko ang secretary ko na bitbit ang mga contract ng mga bagong investor na kailangan kong ireview.

"Good morning Sir, nandito na po lahat ng contract na ipinaprepare nyo. Nandito na rin po yung ipinadalang Profile ni Miss Avery. And si Miss Monique po pala tumawag nanaman para ifollow up yung contract nya sa Emerald Hotel." Mahabang wika ng secretary ko.

"Put the contracts on my table. And about Monique, tell her manager that we are not going to renew her contract. She's doesn't fit to be our Ambassador anymore there's a lot of issues about her and it's not good for the Hotel. Our new model will arrive by next week." Sabi ko bago naupo sa aking swivel Chair.

"Okay Sir, may ipaguutos pa po ba kayo?" Tanong niya.

"Inform our Staff that Monique is no longer connected sa Emerald Hotel." Bilin ko sa kanya.

"Copy sir. I'll go a head sir." Wika niya.paglabas niya ay kinuha ko ang mga files na inilapag niya sa aking office table. Nasa ibabaw ng mga files ang profile ni Miss Avery.

She's beautiful from head to toe. Her long and straight dark brown colored hair suits her. 'Avery Louise Garcia' basa ko sa pangalan niya. Her name sounds familiar. She has the same name with the girl we met in our primary School who happen to be our friend but she left without saying good bye to us. All we know was her parents died in a car accident. Nobody knows what happen to her after that accident. Is it her, it is just a coincidence? I'm still thinking about our friend when dad came in.

"Son, mukang malalim ang iniisip mo ah." Wika ni dad. "Is she the new Emerald Hotel's Ambassador?" Tanong pa ni dad.

"Yes dad." Sagot ko. Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang profile na hawak ko.

"She has the same name with our friend back in our primary years." Sabi ko kay dad.

"Avery Louise Garcia." Basa ni dad sa pangalan nya. "I remember that cute little girl son. Do you think it's her?" Tanong ni dad.

"I'm not sure dad. Baka po magkapangalan lang sila." Sagot ko nalang.

"By the way Son, we will have a board meeting Last quarter this year so we need to provide all the necessary report needed." Pahayag ni dad.

"Leave it to me dad, ako na po ang bahala." Sagot ko.

"I trust you son. You're good in business kaya nga ipinagkatiwala ko na sa iyo ang pagiging CEO ng Emerald Hotel." Sabi naman ni dad. "I'll go ahead son, nasa office ang nagmessage na ang mommy mo, she's in my office right now." Paalam ni dad.

"Okay dad." Sabi ko bago ibalik ang tingin sa envelop na hawak ko.

Itinoon ko nalang ang ate syon ko sa mga contract na kailangan kong i-review ng maibalik ko sa loob ng envelop ang profile ni Miss Avery.

Mag-aalas dose na ng tanghali ng magpasya akong lumabas ng opisina para sana maglunch sa labas ngunit palabas palang ako ng office ay pumasok naman si Fire.

"Lalabas ka kuya?" Tanong nito.

"Yeah, maglulunch sana ako sa labas, hindi ako nagpa-order ng lunch kay kuya Mark dahil may inaayos pa sya." Sabi ko.

"Bumili na ko ng lunch natin kuya, doon sa Filipino-Spanish cuisine sa mall." Wika ni Fure at ipinakita ang paper bags na dala niya.

"Ano nakain mo at dinalhan mo pa ako ng pagkain?" Tanong ko.

"Baka kase namimiss po na yung food sa restaurant na yon, remenber madalas tayo kumain don noong mga bata pa tayo?" Sabi ni Fire. Hindi nalang rin ako kumibo at sinimulan ko nalang ayusin ang pagkain namin.

"Mabuti pa kumain na tayo, may meeting pa ako mamaya." Sabi ko nalang. Matapos namin mag lunch ay kaagad ring umalis si Fire pupuntahan pa raw niya yung bagong gawang Emerald Mall sa Pampanga. Malapit na rin kase ang opening non kaya busy na rin si Fire. Pagka alis ni Fire ay nagready na rin ako para sa meeting ko ngayong hapon.