Chapter 5

Keith's Point of View

After grandma's operation, nanatili siyang walang malay. They transferred her to the most comfortable room they had at kinabitan ng kung ano-anong mga equipment to make sure she's doing fine while she sleeps.

Nakausap ko ang doctor niya. He told me Grandma will take time to recover.

I couldn't help but watch her all through the night. Nakaidlip lang ng ilang minuto pero dahil oras-oras ay may pumapasok ng nurse to check Grandma, napakahirap makakuha ng tulog.

I was sitting on a chair close to my grandmother's bed. Hawak ko ang kamay niya at doon nakaidlip ako. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal, but I knew I slept.

Nagising ako sa pagkatok sa pinto. Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata ay maliwanag na sa labas.

Hinayaan ko lang ang kumatok na 'yon sa pag-aakalang isa sa mga nurse. I went to the restroom to wash my face at nang matapos, I heard someone was knocking again. Dumiretso ako sa pinto after magpunas ng mukha using the clean towel na nakarolyo sa cabinet.

"Good morning, Sir. My name is Elias. You're grandma's personally assistant," pakilala ng isang lalaki na mukhang hindi nalalayo sa akin ang edad.

I haven't met him, but I know Grandma's assistant.

"Please come in," yaya ko sa kaniya at nilakihan ang bukas ng pinto para ito'y makapasok.

"Thank you, Sir," anito at muli akong hinarap nang isara ko na ang pinto.

"I'm here to inform you, Sir, that your Uncle called for an emergency meeting today. He called all board of directors and all shareholders," anunsyo nito.

"What's the matter with that? Uncle Frank can do so because he's the CEO of the company and besides—"

"Yes, Sir, he is," sabat niya at seryoso akong tinitigan sa mga mata. Bakas sa mukha nito na may iba siyang nais ipunto kaya naman binigyan ko siya ng pagkakataon magpaliwanag.

"It's not because he's the CEO he is in the position to call for an emergency meeting lalo na ngayon na wala pang malay si Madam. Last night—on your birthday party, Sir, Madam Janet planned to announce her plan of transferring the position she has."

Naguluhan yata ako lalo. Posisyon daw. Si Lola ang Presidente, so kung ita-transfer niya ang posisyon.

Biglang nanlaki ang mata ko. "W-wait... you're saying ako ang gusto ni Lola na maging presidente ng kompanya?" tanong ko para makasigurado.

"Yes, Sir," sagot naman ni Elias.

"P-pero bakit ako? Uncle Frank had been working..." Gulong-gulo ang isip ko.

It was so sudden.

"Kailangan po natin pumunta sa meeting. The shareholders are expecting you to appear, Sir," wika ni Elias.

I didn't I had a choice. Pupunta ako roon bilang representante ni Lola, not because I am the President. Alam kong magigising din siya and I need to hear from her kung talaga bang ako ang napili niya.

Elias drive me back to the mansion. I took a shower at nagsuot nang mas kagalang-galang na damit. I was still wearing the fashionable suit that Lola brought for me at kaya naman medyo uncomfortable.

While on our way sa company, my thoughts were all over the place. Hindi makapaniwala na Lola wanted me to manage our huge company. To think kaga-graduate ko lang. Habang nasa biyahe, one question struck me. "Did Uncle Frank knew that Grandma wants me to take over?"

I saw Elias's eyes move from the rearview mirror. He glance at me at mabilis ding ibinalik sa kalsada ang kaniyang tingin. "I don't think he knew, Sir. Iilan pa lamang po ang nasabihan ni Madam. She planned that announcement to be a surprise pero bigla naman pong nangyari ang nangyari kagabi kaya hindi na niya nagawa."

"Did Uncle Frank mentioned the purpose of today's meeting?" sunod kong tanong.

"No, Sir, but I have a feeling na tungkol sa pag-take over ng posisyon ni Madam habang wala pa siyang malay." Natahimik na ako matapos makuha ang sagot na 'to. Uncle Frank and I never had a nice relationship noonpaman. His family doesn't like me. He has a daughter, si Agatha na mas matanda ako ng apat na taon but she always bully me.

Mabait sila sa akin kapag nand'yan si Lola, pero kapag wala ay parang ibang tao ang turing nila akin. Mas lumala pa nga noon nang mamatay ang parents ko. I felt left out kapag wala si Lola.

Hindi ko makalimutan ang mga panahon na 'yon. I saw him sa party with his wife and daughter, but they didn't dare to approach me.

Habang nagmumuni-muni, hindi ko namalayan na nasa parking area na pala kami. Elias stopped the car and went out. He even opened the door for me. "Thank you, Elias." Ngumiti lang siya at itinuro sa akin ang daan.

Nang makapasok kami sa lobby, I was nostalgic. I looked around and all I could see was glasses. Napakaaliwalas ng paligid. Malawak ang lobby and I could see any trace of dirt and dust.

Napakatagal na nang huli akong makapasok sa loob ng company and the last, I was with my parents at sa mismong office ni Dad ay hinahayaan niya akong maglaro noon.

How I miss those days. Days that I couldn't take back no matter how much I tried.

Dinala ako ni Elias sa elevator. May mga empleyado na naghihintay sa labas but Elias motioned his hand at biglang nagsitabi ang mga ito para bigyan kami ng daan. Saktong pagbukas ng elevator kaya nakapasok kami agad.

"Do you really need to do that?" pabulong kong tanong sa kaniya.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but that's a protocol," sagot niya. Si Lola agad ang sumagi sa isip ko.

Nang makarating kami sa 8th floor, may natanggap ng mensahe si Elias. "They are starting," aniya sa akin at napansin kong bumilis ang lakad niya.

Sa labas nang assembly hall, dinig na dinig na nagkakainitan ang mga tao sa loob. Elias opened the door at lahat ng kanilang atensyon at napako sa akin. I saw relief in most of their eyes, but when I looked at Uncle Frank, his reaction was its opposite.