Chapter 26
La Fuerte

"Five million." The businessman who has been keeping an eye on our land stated his offered price. "I can give you the check right away, Miss Castellano."

I slightly raised my eyebrows and played with my fingers like I'm bored with his bid.

"Someone's offering me ten million pesos for our house and lot," I tried to bluff him to make him raise his offer. I need more money than that. "Guess he really wants to buy our land more than you do. I probably should call him now and transfer his name for the tax declaration of the land—"

"Ten million," he said and didn't back down.

I almost flinched when I heard the right amount that I've been wanting to hear from him, but I managed to remain my composure and acted like I wasn't amaze by his riches.

"I can make it thirteen million, if you will also give me the title deed of the land right away," he even bragged.

Tipid akong ngumiti at saka inilahad ang aking kamay sa kanyang harapan. "We have a deal, then, Mr. Rutherford."

Napangiti na rin naman siya at mukhang nakahinga ng maluwag at saka tinanggap ang aking nakalahad na kamay.

I'm just starting to live out my new life... One of my plans is to sell our land for a higher cost than what prices they usually bid to buy our land. It may not be a massive land, but they will certainly benefit from it. Nasa magandang lugar nakatayo ang aming bahay sa Bela Isla at ang dagat na nasa likuran nito ay napakalinaw. Madami ring yamang dagat katulad ng mga iba't ibang korales at mga isda ang naninirahan doon. Isama mo pa ang pino at puting buhangin sa dalampasigan. Kung tutuusin nga ay mas mataas pa dapat ang hingin kong kabayaran para sa aming lupain pero dahil nga hindi naman ito kalakihan ay ayos na ang presyong tinanggap ko.

At first, I wasn't planning nor I don't have any intention to sell the land. Wala iyon sa isipan ko dahil mahirap para sa aking bitawan ang mga ala-alang nakapaloob sa aming lupain. But when the truth hit me that night, I realized that it's not worth to keep. I'd rather have it sold. Mapapakinabangan ko pa ito ng lubus-lubusan kapag binenta ko lalo na't kailangan ko ng pera.

"Magkano mo ulit ipinagbili ang bahay at lupa niyo, Naiyah?" tanong sa akin ni Tita Edna nang tawagan ko siya upang ipaalam na naibenta ko na ang aming bahay at lupa.

"Thirteen million, Tita," sagot ko naman at saka humiga na sa aking maliit, ngunit komportableng kama.

"Aba't napakalaking halaga niyan, Naiyah. Hindi ba dapat ay nasa apat na milyong piso lamang ang bahay at lupa?" dinig na dinig ko ang kanyang pagkabigla.

"I just realized that the house and lot deserves a higher value, Tita," I reasoned out. "And besides, it's a substantial asset."

Napabuntong hininga naman si Tita. "Naiintindihan ko ang ibig mong sabihin..." sabi niya. "Pero may plano ka na ba kung paano mo palalaguin o gagastusin ang pera mo?"

"Meron na po," sabi ko at bahagyang ngumuso habang inaalala ang mga plano ko para sa perang makukuha ko.

"Spend your money wisely. Linya 'yan ng Tito mo," paalala sa akin ni Tita Edna at hindi ko naman maiwasang mapangiti.

There may be a million stars surrounding me, but only two of them are still shining for me. Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako na nandiyan pa rin si Tita Edna at Tito Franco na hindi pa rin ako binibigo.

I told them about the truth, the moment I got home that night. Tita Edna also grieved for my wasted and shattered trusts, while Tito Franco wasn't able to comprehend of what his brother and his wife did to their own daughter—of what my parents did to me.

The day after that mournful night, they immediately took me here in Manila. Kinuha nila ako ng bedspace na tamang-tama lamang para sa akin. May sarili akong kwarto at malaki-laki naman ito na parang studio type condo unit. I planned to look for a job as a Mass Com degree holder. I wanted to put what I learned to use and give back to my uncle and auntie. Kasabay nang paghahanap ko ng trabaho ay sinubukan kong kontakin ang mga businessman na nag-iiwan sa akin noon ng mga calling card kung saka-sakaling magbago ang desisyon ko sa pagbebenta ng aming bahay at lupa. Among those businessmen, I chose to meet Mr. Rutherford since he has the highest bid among all of the businessmen who replied back.

"Ibibigay ko po sa inyo ni Tito ang two million, Tita," sabi ko.

"Ha? Huwag na, Naiyah! Pera mo 'yan at ayos lang naman kami ng Tito mo. Lumalaki na nga ang kita namin sa pagdedeliver ng isda," agad na pagtanggi ni Tita Edna.

Alam kong tatanggi siya pero hindi niya ako mapipigilan sa pagbawi sa kanilang dalawa ni Tito. Sobrang laki rin naman ng matitirang labing-isang milyon. Hindi ko iyon mauubos lalo na't magtatrabaho na ako kapag nakakuha nang maayos na trabaho.

"Tita, hayaan niyo na ako sa gusto kong gawin," sabi ko naman at bahagyang natawa. "Wala pa nga ito sa kabutihang ipinakita niyo sa akin. You treated me like a real daughter, Tita."

"Hindi naman pera ang kapalit noon, Naiyah... Ni wala nga kaming hinahangad na kapalit. Tunay na anak na ang turing namin sa'yo ng Tito mo," pagpapaliwanag niya.

Muli naman akong napangiti. "Ah, basta, Tita! Ibibigay ko pa rin sa inyo ang dalawang milyon," giit ko.

"Bahala ka na ngang bata ka. Ang Tito Franco mo na lang ang kausapin mo tungkol diyan dahil kung ako ang sasabihan mo ay kokontrahin lang kita sa kagustuhan mo," masungit niyang sabi.

I chuckled and bit my lower lip.

"Paano naman ang mga natirang labing-isang milyon?" kuryoso niyang tanong.

"I will invest five million in a company, Tita. I will buy some shares and stocks," sagot ko. "Tumitingin-tingin ako sa mga business magazine at may napusuan na akong kompanya na mapaglalagyan ng pera ko. Mas mabilis ang paglago ng pera kapag nag-invest ako, Tita. Malaki ang balik sa akin ng limang milyong ipapasok ko sa kompanya."

"Hindi ba't delikado iyan?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.

"Don't worry, Tita. Pinag-aralan ko ng mabuti ang kompanya kung saan ako mag-iinvest bago ako nagdesisyon," paninigurado ko naman sa kanya. "Hindi ko naman hahayaang masayang lang ang pera ko sa wala. I did some investigations. The company's very stable. Napag-alaman ko ring taga-Bela Isla lang din ang founder nito kaya tumatak sa akin ang kompanya."

"Oh, sige. Nagtitiwala naman ako sa mga desisyon mo," sabi na lang ni Tita at hindi na muling nagtanong pa.

Nag-usap pa kami patungkol sa business nila ni Tito Franco at hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkagalak dahil kahit dalawang linggo pa lang akong nakakaalis mula Bela Isla ay umaasenso na talaga kami sa buhay.

If success is the reward of all the shits that I have gone through and conquered, I might as well be somehow thankful for those people who hurt me and tried to bury me down. The pieces of broken trusts that scraped my heart and made it bleed made me stronger.

Being happy is the best revenge to the people who hurt you. And as for a gift, give them your best smile.

Make them realize that no matter how far they've come in tearing you down, they still failed and weren't able to do so. That you're much stronger than what they think you are.

"I've only lived here for a year," the owner of the unit here in Bonifacio Heights told me while she was touring me around. "I'm gonna get married next, next week. May bahay na rin kasing napatayo ang magiging asawa ko kaya ibebenta ko na 'to."

"Sayang naman po. This condo unit can be one of your assets," sabi ko naman habang nagmamasid.

The condo unit has two bedrooms and she will sell it fully furnished for only 4,500,000 pesos. I can save a lot of money if I buy a fully furnished unit. And besides, Bonifacio Heights has outstanding amenities like you're in a resort and a prime location. It is also safe since it has expert securities.

"Actually, my fiancé also has a unit here. Dito kami nagkakilala. Tingin ko ay tama na ang isa para sa aming dalawa," paliwanag niya. "So... do you like it?"

Napanguso naman ako habang nag-iisip. Sa tingin ko'y hindi naman na ako talo sa pagbili nito lalo na't isang taon pa lang na napasakanya ang condo unit. Parang bagong-bago pa dahil masinop at malinis siya sa unit. Ayos na rin na may dalawang kwarto para kapag bibisita sina Tita Edna at Tito Franco ay may matutuluyan sila. May private parking space rin na kasama. Nagbabalak akong kumuha ng sasakayan para mas maging mabilis ang biyahe ko kaysa mamasahe, ngunit mag-aaral muna akong magmaneho.

"Kailan po ako pwedeng lumipat?" nakangiting tanong ko sa kanya nang humarap ako.

She smiled widely as she can't hide her happiness. "You can already move here tomorrow!" she exclaimed. "Wala naman na ang mga gamit ko rito."

"I'll settle the payment tomorrow night, pero baka sa makalawa na po ako lumipat," sabi ko naman. "May meeting pa kasi akong pupuntahan bukas."

"That's fine with me. Just message me the details of our rendezvous tomorrow. Thank you so much, Miss Castellano," she offered her hand to me as a sign of gratitude.

"Thank you rin po," nagagalak kong sabi at nakipagkamay sa kanya.

Pagkagaling ko sa Bonifacio Heights ay dumiretso na ako sa bangko upang mag-open ng checking account to deposit the check of Mr. Rutherford's payment, at para ipaayos na rin ang magiging paglabas-pasok ng aking pera. I already transferred two million pesos to the joint bank account of Tito Franco and Tita Edna.

I was already beaten when I got home at my bedspace. Pagkatapos kong magshower upang malinisan ang aking katawan ay agad na akong hinila ng aking kama upang makatulog dahil mukhang mas magiging mahaba pa ang aking araw kinabukasan.

"Hi, Naiyah..."

Nilingon ko naman si Daisuke. He's half-Japanese, but he's not that fluent in speaking Japanese. Filipino or specifically, Tagalog is his mother tongue since he was born here in the Philippines. Dito rin siya lumaki pero madalas silang magbakasyon sa Japan. Siya ang anak ng may-ari ng coffee shop malapit sa bedspace. He introduced himself to me when I went to their shop the last time. Napag-alaman kong siya rin ang nagbake ng nagustuhan kong cake doon.

He was wearing a shy smile again while looking at me with his chinky eyes.

"Oh, Daisuke!" I smiled at him and stopped walking to greet him properly.

"May lakad ka ba?" bigla niyang tanong sa akin. "There's a new movie showing in theaters today. Wala akong maaya kaya ikaw ang naisip kong ayain."

Muli ko naman siyang nilingon at saka muling ngumiti. "Pasensya ka na, Daisuke. Marami pa kasi akong gagawin ngayong araw. Sa susunod na lang siguro," maayos na pagtanggi ko sa kanya at saka isinukbit ang aking bag.

I saw how the smile on his lips faded. Kung kanina'y mukhang nahihiya na siya, ngayon ay mas lalo siyang nahiya.

"Sige na. Mauuna na ako." Tipid ko siyang kinawayan at saka tinalikuran upang makaalis na dahil may nalalapit pa akong meeting.

I've already contacted the company that I'm gonna invest on. They will present their financial statements for transparency to me.

"Naiyah Solaire Castellano," I told the lady at the desk reception as I stopped there to get a gate pass.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Ma'am!" she greeted me and handed me the gate pass. "It was ordered here to tell you that you're destination will be on the eight floor, boardroom."

Isinuot ko naman sa akin ang gate pass at saka ngumiti sa babae. "Maraming salamat!"

"You're welcome, Ma'am," she even slightly bowed her head as a sign of courtesy.

I couldn't help but to commend the La Fuerte's staff for being so accommodating. I think they are really trained to be hospitable and cordial.

Nang makarating naman ako sa eight floor ay dire-diretso ang lakad ko patungo sa boardroom na nasa bungad lang pagka-kanan ko. Sumilip-silip pa ako sa salamin na pintuan ngunit crystallized ito kaya hindi ko makita ang looban ng malinaw pero nakabukas naman na ang mga ilaw sa loob nito. Hindi ko nga lang makita kung may tao ba o wala.

"Miss Castellano?"

Halos mapatalon naman ako nang lingunin ko ang babaeng nakangiti sa akin. She looked more pleasing than the woman who accommodated me at the reception earlier.

"Ah... Ako nga po," nag-aalangan ko namang sabi.

"The boardroom's already opened, Ma'am," sabi niya at siya na ang lumapit upang buksan ang pintuan.

Agad namang bumalot sa akin ang lamig dahil centralized ito. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya papasok. May pa u-shaped na mahabang desk na halos sakop na ang buong boardroom at may mga upuan din. Apat na aircon ang nagbibigay ng lamig sa boardroom kaya naman parang dinaig mo pa ang nasa loob ng ice fridge sa sobrang lamig.

"You may sit at any chair, Miss Castellano," she told me while she's setting up a Macbook on the front table and connecting it to the projector. "Do you want some refreshments or snacks, while waiting for Mr. Villafuerte, Ma'am?"

Maagap naman akong umiling at ngumiti.

Bahagya naman akong napanguso nang may maalala sa apelyidong Villafuerte.

"Are you sure po?" magalang niyang paninigurado sa akin.

"Sure na sure," sabi ko naman.

Isang ngiti ang kanyang iginawad sa akin bago nagpatuloy sa pagse-set-up ng Macbook. Nang matapos ay kinuhaan niya pa rin ako ng bottled water para kung mauhaw raw ako ay may maiinom.

Bigla namang bumukas ang front door ng boardroom at agad akong napaangat ng tingin sa matikas na lalaking pumasok doon.

As soon as he entered the cold room, his eyes immediately pierced at me, and the whole room suddenly felt colder. I should not be surprised by this kind of coldness from him since he was always like this even before, but except when... nevermind.

He was wearing an all-black suit, and even his necktie was black. He became taller, and I can tell from the proportion of his body that he did a lot of working out. His angled jaw and pointed nose were more defined now. His thick eyebrows made him manlier. His natural tanned-skin slightly became paler, maybe because he's not exposed to any sunlight here in Manila. All in all, he grew more handsome.

"Miss Naiyah Castellano." The lady who assisted me the whole time I was waiting inside the boardroom, called for my attention.

I took a glance at her, but my sight immediately bounced back to the man in front of me whom I haven't seen for years now.

"He is Mr. Leandrew Villafuerte, the President of La Fuerte," she introduced him to me. "He'd personally tackle the financial statements of our company for you."

She doesn't have to introduce him, though. I am very familiar with this man in front of me, as he was one of my treasured friends.

Leandrew Sheridan Villafuerte.

Why didn't I even have a hunch? The founder of the company, La Fuerte, came from Bela Isla.

La Fuerte for Villafuerte, which is his surname. And he came from Bela Isla.

Napatayo naman ako sa aking kinauupuan at saka ngumiti sa kanya.

"Nice meeting you again, Drew," I sincerely greeted him with a smile.

One corner of his lips rose that made him show a very confusing grin.

"Well, it's a pleasure meeting you again, Naiyah," he said in a very manly way.