CHAPTER 18 | THINGS CHANGE

Summer

MATAPOS umalis nina Brooklyn at Lauren, gumaan ng bahagya ang pakiramdam ko. Ngayon abala ako sa pagbuo ng konsepto sa logo ng negosyo na naisip ko. Isaac and me failed to secure the East Bank's loan. May kulang pa raw sa business plan ko na inaayos ko naman na. Kaso kanina pa ako nakaupo dito sa sahig, iniisip kung ano pa ang kulang sa nagawa namin ni Isaac. While doing the logo, I'm still thinking about how the bank rejected us.

“Hey, I need to... what are you there, Summer?” Naudlot ang dapat na sasabihin ni Isaac nang makita niya ako. I smiled and pit down my sketch pad. “You should take a rest now. Let go and stop thinking about the rejection. You're not like that.”

“What am I like then?”

He shrugged and the smile I always like to see in his face flashed. “Cheery. Positive.”

“Go on, Isaac. I won't struck you suddenly,”

Isaac chuckled. “Lunatic. Loud.”

“Okay. You're too much.” Natatawa akong nagtaas ng dalawang kamay para magpatulong na tumayo kay Isaac. He helped me stood up and wrapped my hands around his nape. “You're going home?”

“I have to even if I don't want to.”

“You can stay and sleep in other room. I mean inside the production room, there's a long couch you can use.” I offered, noting my father's rules in our house.

Isaac remembered that because my parents suddenly strict about inviting a guy at home. Hindi ko alam kung dahil babae ako pero si Brooklyn puwede gawin ang nais niya. Because he's a guy. I don't want to hate my parents more, but all the reason leading me to that kind of feeling. Gusto ko na nga kalimutan ang lahat pero sigurado akong hindi ko iyon magagawa dahil 'di ko pa nakaka-usap ang mga magulang ko.

“Shall I call your father to ask permission?”

Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko at inalis sa batok niya ang aking mga kamay. Hindi ko naman siya maaaring pilitin dahil masyadong gentleman si Isaac. Even if he's not an active member of the royal family, Isaac still has it in him. He's born with it. O mas tamang sabihin ko na pinilit sa kanya ang ugali na iyon para maging fit sa pamilya.

“You can just simply text him and please do tell that I want to meet them. Both of them.”

“Are you sure?”

Tumango ako at pinakita sa kanya ang ginawa ko na logo. “What do you think of this? They will take me seriously with a business logo.”

“Please don't think people is not taking you seriously, Summer. We just need to talk to the right people.”

“Who is the right people, Isaac? The person I can think off is my father. He'll resolve my problem about this business I want to pulled off.” Pero ayokong lumapit kay Daddy. He's my last string of hope, and I think I'm about to use it in no time. “I'm sorry. I guess you're right, I need to rest and call it a night.”

“Do you want a tea? I can make you one before I go to bed in your production room.”

“You're staying in?”

“Your father allow me,”

Ngumiti ako nang maluwang saka yumakap sa kanya saka hinayaan na siya magtimpla ng tsaa. That's our bonding and we developed it in Cretia. I think everything about us is evolving or should I say things change.

And we are all change.

***

ABALA akong nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko at katatapos ko lang magluto. My parents agreed to meet me and I set it inside my apartment. Para masabi nila na ayos lang ako dito. At kaya ko gawin ang ginawa ni Lauren. Sadly, Isaac can't join because he has a commitment to fulfill in DC.

He is invited to make speech in front of many students, not as working member of the royal family, but as businessman. He's representing my father actually because the dean mentioned Max Lewis before Isaac got an invitation. I know Isaac hates to walk on every shadow since he resigned. Gano'n din ako kaya gusto ko ipaalam sa mga magulang ko na kaya ko.

Iniisip ko ngayon kung ano pa ang kailangan at kulang. I worked on the ventilation, the candles which my mom loves. Lahat inayos kahit maayos naman na ang lahat dito sa bahay. Huminga ako nang malalim at sarili ko naman ang pinagtuunan ko ng pansin. Inayos ko ang aking buhok, damit at naglagay ng kaunting make up.

“Okay, Summer, let's try not to go against with them.” Ngumiti ako sa sarili kong repleksyon. Agad na bumaling ang tingin ko sa pintuan pagkarinig sa doorbell. Mula sa Brooklyn, bumiyahe ang mga magulang ko dito sa Queens kung nasaan itong apartment ko. “Hi!” Masigla kong bati pagkabukas sa pintuan. “Come in. You're welcome here.”

“How are you?” tanong ni Daddy sa akin.

“Can you tell?” Balik-tanong ko sa kanya saka binalingan si Mommy. “I made us lunch. Hindi bongga gaya ng lagi ginagawa ni Mommy pero makakain naman natin.”

“We will eat whatever you prepared, Summer.” Mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Mommy na kahit pinipigilan niya halatang-halata pa rin. “I miss you and your wittiness.”

I smiled at Mommy. “I'm still witty, but also serious of doing all by myself.”

“That's what Isaac told us via video call earlier before he proceed to his works in DC.” May inabot sa akin si Daddy na sobre na agad ko naman tinanggap. “You didn't ask it, but I'm willing to invest to your business so you can proceed now.”

“Dad...” I said and opened the envelope. It has a check in it amounting the money I need for start up. Sobra pa nga iyon kung pagbabasehan ko ang computations ni Isaac.

“The change is for you and Isaac. Your man is doing good in representing in the public eye. I hope he won't get tired of this.”

“For that, we will never know.” I said and keep the envelope.

Hindi ko talaga siguro kung hanggang kailan tatagal dito si Isaac. Hindi ito ang mundo niya pero masaya siya dito na mahalaga para sa akin. I may be his disaster in Brooklyn, he is my redemption in the same place I called home.

***

THE LUNCH went fine with my parents. I said sorry for running away and cutting communication with them. They told me they're too for trying to control me and failed in the end. Tinawagan ko si Lauren pagkatapos namin mag-usap at masaya siya na magkakasundo na kami ulit. Kinumusta ko rin siya sa bago nilang bahay at in-offer niya sa akin na iyong binyag saka family portrait nila ang maging first project. I cannot count Lauren's wedding, but I putted in my online portfolio.

Tinanggap ang offer ni Lauren at ang gagawin ko na lang ngayon ay gumawa ng proposal saka catalogue para sa kanila. Humingi ako ng tulong sa mga partners ko at sa isang group chat, naghati-hati kami ng obligasyon. I am overall in charge, but I still need some fresh eyes to see if there's missing and that eyes is knocking now on my door.

“Welcome home!” I gladly say upon opening the door.

“I think I need to accept business meetings away from home to received a hug like this always.”

“Do whatever you wanted to do, Isaac,” bulong ko sa kanya. Dahan-dahan siya lumakad papasok habang nakayakap sa akin. May kusa naman ang kamay ko at isinara agad ang pintuan sa kanyang likuran. “How was the meeting?”

“It was tiring yet I learned a lot. It's more like talking to world leaders too, but I prefer this because I don't to be formal from start to finish.” Tumawa ako nang marinig ang kanyang sinabi. Lagi talaga kinukumpara ni Isaac ang buhay niya dito sa kung ano ang naranasan niya sa Cretia. “Don't you miss home?”

“I do, that's why I asked my driver to dropped me off here.” Sinimangutan ko siya. Hindi naman ako iyong tinutukoy sa aking tanong pero nakakakilig na matawag na tahanan ng taong mahal mo. “The old home?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Do you miss your old home?”

Umiling si Isaac. “You never allow me to miss it.” Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi ni Isaac. I'm clearly not brainwashing him or what, but he's entitled of his own opinion. “Here, I can be myself. I can do whatever I want to. I can meet people, different people. You never give me a chance to think about my family.”

“Stop patronizing me, Isaac.”

“I know, but there's one thing I wanted you to know, Summer.” Tumingin ako sa mga mata ni Isaac at sinalubong ang kanyang tingin. “You are my home, and in this place I found you, hope and new beginnings. As the days go by, my love for keeps growing inside ny heart.”

He's really good with words, but I felt the great adorations Isaac has for me. I'm decided now to keep him even if things continually changing. All things change, but my love Isaac will never. He's my home too. My safe haven.