I'm here in my room, strumming my guitar. I know, I missed this jamming with Yuki.
I heard someone's knocking at my door. I stood up and open the door. It's my Mama.
"Hi Chea, can I talk to you for some minute?" she asked me and smiled.
"Of course Ma" I answered and opened the door widely. Then, Mama came inside and I closed the door.
"Please have a seat Ma" I offered my black mini couch.
"You're so formal Chain" She sat in the couch and so am I. I got some wiggles (marshmallow coated with chocolate) in a bowl.
I laughed and said, "Sorry Mama". I teared it and swallowed it. I was about to closed my eyes to feel the awesome taste when I saw my Mama pouting. I remembered Mrs. P to her.
"Mama, don't pout! You're not younger anymore" I teased her
"Chea! You're so mean!" Mama said in a fret tone.
I chuckled. "I'm just kidding Ma. You're younger than your age okay? Don't take it seriously. You want?" I offered my favorite chocolate and she shook her head.
"Old Chea is back. You're cracking a joke now and you're still eaing that soft mallows. Ayeeei"
"Mama!" she teased me back
She chuckled too and she stopped and looked at me.
"Gha, what's your problem?" She asked me seriously.
I sighed. Okay. I didn't count if how many people asked me that. I sighed again and answered her question.
"Ma, I don't have any problems. This is what you call, maturity. I mean, I am a matured lady now"
"Matured? You can be matured without changing yourself Chea" she said freaking seriously.
"Ma, it's for my own good and happiness"
"You're wrong Chea! It's for your sadness!" she said exhausted.
"Calm down Ma" I'm worried because she has a high blood and I don't want her to be hospitalized, I have a trauma in the hospital. Damn it!
"Please tell me what happened five years ago"
I sighed again. I don't want to talk it, but it seems that my Mama wanted to talk about it.
"Okay Ma, but for one condition" I said seriously
"Okay. What is it?"
"Don't tell this to Miyuki "
"What?!" she exclaimed
"Yes Ma. I know Yuki will be hurt if she knew this. Please Ma"
I heard her sighed. It looked like she gave up.
"Okay. Tell me"
I told to her what happened to me five years ago. In my first job, rejection and discrimination by the Marciano Drugstore, ASB Network and the MS Mall.
"So, you're telling me that you changed yourself because of rejection and discrimination? Am I right?" Mama asked
I just nodded.
"Chea..." She hold my right hand. "Rejection and Discrimination are not enough reasons to be changed. Rejection is always there and discrimination also"
"But Mama, they didn't ask me if what were my skills, capabilities and knowledge. They didn't give me a chance to show them that I'm qualified for that damn position! You know me Ma! I'm a fast learner! I wanted the job so badly because I want to help you, Papa and Yuki. Do you know the feeling of being useless Ma? That was exactly what I felt five years ago! I was just glad that an international publishing company discovered my story on the internet and look at me now, I'm successful Ma. I build our dream house, I bought my dream cars, Yuki's Education and helping my cousins" I said in a broken voice. Don't cry Chea! Don't you fucking cry!
"But Chain, I w-"
I cut her off.
"I'm sorry Ma, I need to rest"
Mama sighed.
"Okay Chea, but we're not done yet. We'll talk about it tomorrow. You know me"
I just nodded and Mama left.
They didn't understand me. I know that Mama knows that there's one main reason why I changed.
Someone's knocking at my door again. I lazily stood up and open the door.
"Hi Kuya! Can I talk to you?" It's my little sister.
"Okay. Come in" I said lazily.
She came in and locked the door. I sat down on my bed while she sat down on the couch.
"Are you busy tomorrow, Kuya?"
"Hmm. Why?" I asked while getting my wiggles again. Damn! I can't stop eating this one.
"I want to invite you tomorrow evening"
"Invite me? Where?"
"Roxas City" she answered.
Roxas City is the capital city of Capiz where malls, city hall, capitol and hotels are located.
"Okay? What will gonna do there?" I asked curiously.
"Hello?! Its Capiztahan Festival Kuya! Did you forget?"
Sht! It's April. Tsk! I totally forgot it. Today is April 10, 2018.
The Capiztahan is celebrated every second week of April combined joint forces from City of Roxas, Province of Capiz and One Capiz. There are lots of activities there. Just so you know, Capiz is the Capital Seafoods of the Philippines. There are many crabs, milkfish, tilapias, lobsters, and many more.
"Y-Yeah. I forgot"
"Then, let's go there tomorrow night. Please?" She said with her puppy eyes! Tss.
"Okay"
"Really? Yes! Yes!" She jumped while clapping her hands.
Tsk! She's just like Lyca. Childish.
"Yuki! Stop jumping and clapping your hands! You're not a kid anymore!" I shouted
She pouted her lips. Jeez!
"KJ"
Kill joy? Am I killing the joy?
"No. I'm not. I'm just telling the truth. You're 19 years old now, act a lady please"
"Psh! Yeah. I'm 19 years old and you're 25, but you don't have a boyfriend"
Here we go again, and again and again! What the hell?
"So?" I said while my right eyebrow is rising.
"So? Hahaha! You know what I mean Kuya, such a bitter lady one"
"I'm not Yuki" I defended myself, I am not a bitter person, I prefer I am a better person now.
"Really?" she asked me
"Of course. Do you want to cancel our appointment tomorrow?" I said while smirking.
Her eyes are bigger now. She was shocked. But,
"Try to cancel it Kuya Chea, then it's really true that you're a bitter broken hearted lady" She stood up. "Oh! Adjective words are too much. And you are eating that again?" she said with a teasing tone and pointing the wiggles on a bowl. Damn! She caught me off guard!
"Childish! Just tell me Kuya if our appointment will be cancelled. Good night!" she kissed my cheeks and she left.
Okay? What was that? Is Yuki won the battle? Argh! I couldn't believe it! She won for the first time! Tss! Every time we debated, I always won. Yeah! It was five years ago. I got wiggles once again. I'm stressed!
*****
I heard my ringtone, it was an OPM song entitled Sabik by Jireh Lim. I loved the song and the tune of the guitar, it makes me happy. I answered my phone.
"Yes hello?"
["Chinitaaaaaaa!"]
Okay! My eardrums are broken now -_-
I know that annoying voice!
"What was that for Lyka?! Do you want my eardrums broke?!"
["I'm sorry Chinita. I just missed you! Do you missed me too?"]
I know her eyes now are sparkling.
"Sorry to disappoint you, I didn't miss you"
["You're so mean Chinita!"]
"I'm being honest here"
["Bad girl"]
"Yeah. I know. My bashers also said that" I rolled my eyes
["I- I'm sorry Chain. I didn't mean t-"]
"Hahaha! I'm just kidding Lyca" I laughed
["W-what?! Waaaa! Chinita!!!!!"]
I distanced my phone from my ears
"Hehe. Sorry Lyca. So, why did you call?"
["Hmp! Sorry for disturbing you Chain, I just want to ask you if you want to have a meeting from MS Mall?"]
"Oh? MS Mall? Why would I?"
["They want your books in National Bookstore. Many customers finding your stories in their Mall"]
"Ah. Reject it"
["Seriously Chain?"]
"I want them to feel how to be rejected Lyca"
["Chain"]
"Please Lyka, reject it. I'll be happy if you do it. I can't accept their offer now, maybe soon"
["Okay Chain. So, how's your vacation?"]
"Great! I will be visiting my grandparents in Pontevedra later"
["It looks like you're enjoying your vacation leave"]
"Of course Lyka. I wanted to spend it for my family"
["I'm happy for you Chain. I have to go, bye!"]
"Thanks! Bye!"
I put my phone on the table. I'm here at the sala watching my favorite noon time show with my sis when an unexpected visitor came.
"Hi Chain"
Yuki's POV
"Hi Chain" Tita Nathalia greeted Kyu.
I saw my big sis face, it seems that she doesn't want to talk to Tita Nathalia.
"What are you doing here?" she asked with poker face -_-
"I want to talk to you" Tita Nathalia answered. She's standing at our side.
"As far as I know, you're talking to me now"
Oh-Uh. Kyu was so harsh. I couldn't blamed her. After what they did to us.
"I mean, privately"
"Why Nathalia? Are you ashamed that my little sis will know what kind of a person you are? Tsk! Tsk! Nathalia Regalado is ashamed now. Wow! That's a piece of a good news"
"Chain! What are you doing?!" We didn't notice that Mama was here.
"Nathalia, please have a seat" Mama said and Kuya rolled her eyes. Mama also sat down and Tita Nathalia
"Obviously Ma, I'm talking to her" Kyu answered
"Chain!" restraint of Mama
"What Ma?"
"Sorry for what Chain acted earlier"
"It's okay Beth" Tita Nathalia
"Wow! Rubber!" Kyu. I know it was a sarcastic tone
Mama stared at Kyu.
"What can I do for you?" Mama asked
"I want to talk with Chain, but I think she doesn't want me to talk with her"
"Oh! Very good! You know it!" Kyu said while clapping. I know it is sarcastic.
"Chain! Respect her! She's still you're Tita!"
"Huh! She's just my father's friend Ma. So, she's not PART of our family!" Kyu said while emphasizing the word "part"
"Chain!"
"It's okay Beth. I know she's still mad at me"
"Good to know that Nathalia. I wouldn't forget what did you did to me and to my family and especially to my father!" Kyu said. I saw her anger to my big sis eyes and then, she walked out and went upstairs.
"Sorry Nathalia"
"It's okay Beth. I understand Chain. I have to go" Tita Nathalia said and left.
"I don't know what to do to your Big Sis Yuki! She's different now. Did you see what she did? She didn't know how to respect a visitor. I know, your Tita Nathalia regretted what they did to us!" Mama said while crying. I went to her and tapped her back.
"Ma, please understand my Kyu. You know, she's sensitive. I know time will come, she can forgive Tita Nathalia. Don't lose hope, okay? And, she didn't forget to help the children of Tita Nathalia evethough she is mad at her"
Mama just nodded.
CK's POV
I opened the door and slammed it!
The heck! What's her plan again?! I wouldn't forget what she did! I wouldn't!
I sat down on my bed. Remembering what she did.
I'm very much mad at her! Why? Huh! There was an agreement between my parents and Nathalia about out rice retailing business. In the oral agreement, they agreed that my parents will provide the capital and Nathalia and her husband will sell. Every Sunday, they will meet to divide the profit and they all agreed that 50:50 profit share. In the first year, the business runs smoothly, but when I entered my College life, they didn't meet every Sunday. Instead, they gave it to my Lola to send it to us. The profit of the business is my allowance every week, sometimes the profit is reaching 1,500 pesos, but after years, it became to 300 pesos profit per week. Sometimes, I didn't have allowance because 300 pesos is not enough for one week but as a business administration student, I know there was an anomaly in our business and BOOM! My instinct was right.
And now, she went here to our house to talk with me? Huh! Stupid! My parents didn't file a case. I totally disagreed their decision, but of course, I was just student that time. I didn't have right to complain, but now, I will not allow it again. If she got my parent's trust back, then she will never ever get my trust!
I calmed myself. I enhaled and exhaled because I don't want to ruin my vacation. Damn it! I went to my mini sala and get my favorite wiggles. I sat down and tear the wiggles and ate it with force.