HER POV

"Why?" I asked. It doesn't make any sense to me. I'm currently in my uncle's office. He called me here just to tell me that I need to attend school-a public school, to be exact-even though I only have one year left in my homeschooling.

"That's the problem, Day. Are you only complaining now? Do you think you can manage a business and just complain when things get difficult? Complaining isn't an option in business, and it's a trait of weak people. You need to face challenges and find solutions." Here he goes again. I'm not even complaining; it just feels weird that he brought this up so suddenly.

"I'm not complaining. I'm just asking for the reason behind it."
Why should I accept this challenge if I don't even know the purpose?

"As I said, you need to gain experience. School is a good place to meet different kinds of people your age. It's just one year. You don't need to worry about the family business for now-think of this as a way to prepare yourself to take it on eventually."

"What's the difference between homeschooling and attending public school? All students are busy studying anyway. How would that help me if everyone's just focused on graduating? Ah, okay-I get it now. A student's goal is to graduate. If we relate that to business, the goal is to close deals with clients through studying and presenting. In school, you study. But I can do that through homeschool too, and it's more efficient because the target people for our business are here at the company. So why do I need to leave?" I explained to him that the outcome is the same whether you're in public or home school-both end up with graduation.

"And that's the problem-you're not open to other opportunities. We both know you stopped attending a private school back in Grade 5, so you haven't really communicated with people outside the ones you already know here. This is a challenge for you, Day. It's not just school-it's something you've never experienced through homeschooling. If you're unwilling to accept this, then you're not ready to handle the family business. And if you fail, it's the same thing. You can leave now. Come back once you understand and accept it so I can expla-" I didn't let him finish. The ending is always the same.

"I'll accept it, Uncle. If this is what you believe I need to do to prove that I'm ready for the family business," I told him. His assistant then handed me a piece of paper, which had something printed on it.

"So this is the rules and regulations?" I asked, after reading the bold heading at the top of the paper.

"You're not just going to school-you need to be independent. All your allowance will be cut off, but I'll give you 100,000 pesos. Use the money wisely. The day you start attending class, all connections you have with the company will be severed until you graduate. That way, you can't rely on anything from the company and truly start from scratch. Prove to me that you can handle this business by being an independent student." Well, I'm not surprised by his rules. Whenever he gives a challenge, he always adds restrictions to make it harder.

This isn't the first time he's given me a challenge.

"So, I guess I'm using another fake name again?"

In every challenge, I always win. I've never disappointed anyone. This one won't be any different. The only difference is that this challenge won't involve the company. He even gave me a new name and a fake life background so the people around me won't know that I'm the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Baker.

"Yes, and you'll be using the name Day-Day. As for the age, you'll use your actual one. Your background is written on that paper," he said. Day-Day? What kind of name is that? I'd rather use my real name than something like Day-Day.

"Did I hear that right? As in Day-Day is the name I'm using?" I asked for clarification, just in case I misheard.

"Yes, as in Day-Day."

"Can I suggest another-" Before I could even finish, he interrupted me.

"You can't. It's already been submitted to the school." Of course. I should've expected that. He always gives me weird names. The weirdest one he gave me was Dry-yes, Dry. That client I spoke to almost spilled his water when I introduced myself with that name.

"Okay then, when do classes start?"

"Classes started last week. So you'll be a latecomer. You'll start tomorrow. Your driver will drop you off, but after that, you're on your own when it comes to commuting."

"Okay," I responded shortly. "Is that all? Should I leave now so I can-"
I was about to ask when he finally stopped what he was doing on his computer and looked at me.

"No need. While we were talking, I already had my assistant inform your yaya to prepare your things so you'll be ready. I also transferred the money to your account."

Clearly, he didn't plan this thoroughly. Not surprising. "Well then, I'll go now," I said and left his office.

I checked my things first-just in case something important was forgotten in my bag, especially now that I can't just go home whenever I want.

3RD PERSON

"Are you sure about this? Won't this be too hard for her?" the assistant asked.

"Well, it will be hard at first, but she'll manage-just like the first time I gave her a task. The first time she spoke to a client on her own," he explained.

"But I still don't get it. Why send her to a public school when she already knows how to talk to clients? Isn't that the important part of running a business?"
He looked at his assistant thoughtfully because of what she said.

"I'm not sending her to public school to help her in business or in communication. She already knows that. After her parents' accident, she's taken everything seriously here in the company-acting as if she's already an adult. I want her to experience what it's like to be a teenager, to live the life of a high school student."

"So the reason you cut her ties with the company is so she won't think about it while she's in school?"

"Yup. I cut off everything related to the company so she can focus on school. I also changed her name so people won't give her special treatment." But the assistant still couldn't understand-why this school of all places?

"Well, this isn't just an ordinary school. In other schools, students are divided into sections based on their grades. But in this school, it's not just about grades-the students' backgrounds also play a role."

"Ah, so if you hadn't erased her company background, she would've ended up in section 1?"

"But to be honest, the reason I didn't use her real identity wasn't just to avoid special treatment. I actually don't plan to let anyone know about her. That's why she ended up in the lowest section." The assistant originally thought she'd be placed in section 2 or 3 under her alias, Day-Day. But she forgot that the uncle left Day-Day's background completely blank. And the Uncle has other plans in his mind, and that is for Day-Day to remember her past memories that she forget because of the accident.

"I want to see what story she'll come up with about her life as Day-Day. That's the real reason I chose this school. It's not just a school-it's something that I believe will help her discover something important about life. Not just the life of a student, but of a human being."

The assistant could only think to herself how confusing her boss can sometimes be.

"You may leave now," he said to his assistant. Once he was alone, he called someone-someone who entered through a secret passage in the office.

"Did you hear everything?" he asked, smiling at the person in front of him.

"Yes," the person replied.

"Good. Then good luck with your job. I'm counting on you-make sure Day doesn't run away."

"Yes, sir. I'll do my very best," the person said, then left.

Well then... let's see how long you can last in that school.

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To be Continue...

June 01 2025