Naomi used her summer vacation to learn the basics of business management to help her make college easier. She is now in a private office inside New Empire International’s newly renovated building. It is fully airconditioned, the glass walls brought sunshine inside the cozy and blue office. She closed the folder she is reading and went near the terrace. She sighed; it is a new beginning for her. She chose to side with her family and so things are happening the way she is expecting.
In a month, she will be a fourth year high school. Slowly, she forgot some memory excerpts from her past relationship with JL. The sound of vehicle horns made her go back to her senses after reflecting with the path she chose. Luke talked figuratively, “How can we aid a wound that came from love?”. Naomi’s eyebrows furrowed as she turns around to see him calmly sipping a glass of wine from a corner. She gasped, “Still have the guts to ask that, huh?”.
Luke chuckled, “You have made a progress, Naomi. You seldomly think of JL and I bet you are closer to moving on” he said and looked at her with coldness in his eyes. Naomi looked away and crossed her arms. Luke loved the Gucci bodycon dress she is wearing. Naomi replied, “But that does not mean that I will like you back”. Luke stepped closer to her; he held her arm and whispered, “Someday you will realize that I am the cause why everything you have is yours today. All you have to do is to love me more than how you loved JL”.
Naomi moved away; she is still annoyed by him. She disgusts herself for letting her parents exchange her freedom for their company’s sake. “Please go back to your company now. I bet you have things to do there. As you can see, I am quite busy” she said and immediately sat back to her desk. Luke’s eyebrows raised, “Busy? But you still managed to wander around?” he asked. Naomi breathed heavily, “I just wanted to breathe some air and relax before I could go back to these papers” she answered. Luke finished the cup of wine and replied, “Alright, if you say so”.
Luke did retreat back to their company. She leaned back on a swivel chair. Naomi looked around while recalling what her mom said earlier. “This is the first time in a while that you visited the company. Everything you see will be yours in five years. All the people will respect you as you manage them and their work” Therese said earlier while walking with Naomi to the office where she is staying now. The annals of business management were placed on top of the table.
Naomi is interested yet she refuses to learn. She is doing what she wants and she should be happy; but there is a part of her that thinks that she is not loving what she is doing especially what she loves to do is to love JL. Little by little, she can get over him. Few weeks made her think that time ticks slower than the usual. It got slower the moment she stopped looking forward on what JL will give him in a weekday morning. She shrugged and opened again the folder in front of her to analyze their business and how to perfectly manage it.
Therese entered the office room and went near her. She caressed her daughter’s hair and said, “You are doing well since you got here”. She handed her some books and digests about business management. She left the room with Naomi staring at the pile of books and folders in front of her. She sighed and leaned on her swivel chair once again. She closed her eyes shut and shook all the boredom away. She opened her highlighter lid and started underlining the statements with neon colors.
The same day, JL is currently filling up the enrollment form in his desk. He thought of a medical course thoroughly. After his college admission request was approved, he double thought of things that can ensure his future with his family. Without risking anything, he chose to fill up a degree in nursing but as a pre medical course leading to crash coursing general surgery. Someone pulled the slip up off his desk. He looked up to see a military uniformed guy in front of him.
“Major Cevino Peredo, what brings you here?” he asked after saluting. Maj. Peredo pulled off his sunglasses and replied, “Have you forgotten? You still have to train for the legacy you chose to pursue”. JL facepalmed; he almost forgot the consequence he should receive after leaving his past relationship. Maj. Peredo handed him a brown envelope with his name calligraphed on it. He added, “That contains everything. Your schedule, the training strategy, even the illustrations of the clothes you will wear”.
JL scoffed, “So, everything is already well planned the moment I left the province?” he asked to confirm. Maj. Peredo nodded, “It is only you who is missing. So, try to adapt with everything printed in those papers because it is already planned. You are quite late to decide, you know” he said and left the room. JL sat down in the couch and read through the paper.
“A three-a.m. wake up call, three times a day meal, and a body and speech training… what a torture” he said to himself. Their legacy proves that their bloodline is still militarily present from when their grandfather left it for them to continue. He slid back the paper inside the envelope. He went near his wardrobe and opened a big compartment inside. He pulled out the Ruger hand gun he inherited from his family’s firearm supply when he turned sixteen.
Suddenly, his room’s door opened with a screeking sound. Maj. Peredo went back inside; he saw JL holding the handgun. For him, it is still unusual for JL to carry a gun but he understood the fact that he will be needing it in their legacy. Maj. Peredo raised his eyebrows and asked, “Why are you holding that gun? Do you want to practice firing now? Sorry, I left my sunglasses here”. JL shook his head, “I am just familiarizing my hands on how to handle these types of guns” he answered.
Maj. Peredo stood beside him and tapped his shoulder. “I am still not used to seeing you hold a gun with cold eyes. I cannot stare at you as I am not used to look with your fierce self whenever you hold a firearm” he said. JL’s eyebrows raised, “I look fierce? Do I look like a bad guy?” he asked. Maj. Peredo chuckled, “It’s not like that. I just want you to realize that you have powers and that you can now fight for yourself. Not because you have a gun in your hand, but it is because you are now a grown man. I can still remember when you used to cling to my leg just to beg me to take you to the firing range” he answered.
JL gave it a thought. His cousin is right; he can fight for himself, it’s just that he cannot stand for himself because of the thought that he is weak. He placed back the gun inside the compartment and secured it with a lock. He faced his cousin with fulfillment in his eyes. “I understand now, senior. I cannot promise to win in the competition but I promise, I will do my best. This time, I can’t be weak” he replied. Maj. Peredo is so proud of him at the moment. He vows to himself that someday, JL can already manage the six members of the legacy with him being the frontline.
Two weeks of training have passed. JL removed his camo gear leaving only his cargo pants. He faced the body mirror inside his geodesic dome tent. Sweat rolling down in his body after the exhaustive physical training. In that mirror he stared at himself and how he looks now. For the past one month, his lifestyle changed from zero to super active. His well carved six pack abs highlighted his body build. His skin is pale white and his eyes convey no emotions at all. His hair is quite messy but it added to his charisma.
He touched his face as if it changed. Dior entered the room with his dark green camo suit. He leaned to its wall and crossed his arms. He commented, “You are glowing up, JL. Have you moved on?” he asked. They saw each other again two weeks after JL left home to pursue college in the city. They are currently in their base camp training for their family’s legacy. They are armed with guns but they fight with brains through strategy. JL smirked and answered, “I guess I have moved on. I managed the pain quickly”. Dior shrugged, “I can say that. Anyway, I just dropped off to say that we only have four weeks left to train” he reminded.
JL just nodded and laid prostrated in his double layered bed. Suddenly, his phone beeped; he grabbed it and answered the call from his mother. Juliana initiated, “I just read the e-mail sent by the university. The course you applied offers you a scholarship where you can automatically apply in the biggest hospital in this city after you graduate”. JL’s eyebrows furrowed as he stood up, “Really? That instant?” he asked in disbelief. Juliana nodded on the other line and answered, “Yes, and that is because you did a job well done last school year. They are mesmerized with your outstanding GPA”. JL gasped; his passion is chasing him now.
Juliana added, “I will see you after the competition. Play great inside there, okay?”. JL smiled, “Of course, mom. I cannot stand to lose again this time” he replied. He ended the call; he looked outside to see the calm environment filled with gun powders in the air. The battlefield is his safe place as he sees nothing but colleagues and co-families who has the same aim as him – to bring victory back to their family after huge and multiple losses. He removed his combat shoes and prepared a hot coffee for himself.
He went outside and peacefully watched the firing sessions of another family down the ground. His tent and the peaceful setting made him remember of Naomi and their escapade. He smiled bitterly; “Guess we’ll end up like that? You left me with disgusting memories” he said and continued consuming the mug of coffee in his hand. Lorenzia heard what JL said; she was about to go to his tent but she was interrupted with JL’s harsh words. From a distance, she called up JL’s attention. JL gave his cousin a cold glare and asked, “What do you need?”. Lorenzia remained to stand from quite afar, “How long have you turned into a beast?” she asked back.
He sipped his coffee and sat on a folding sofa. “Just right now. I realized that I need to be quite harsh and at the same time put my thoughts into words to reflect my strengths. Two weeks developed me, Lorenzia. I know I have changed… and I have changed for the better” he answered with an evil smirk. For a second, Lorenzia felt the weirdness but she thought that maybe JL got really really tired of being abused just because he always chooses to stay quiet while being aggravated.
Lorenzia zipped up the entrance to JL’s space. “So… you want to be a bad guy?” she asked. JL looked at her, “Nah, I’m still the same. I know how to fight now that’s why I look bad. The next time Luke comes, I already know how to dispatch him. Three times harder” he answered. Lorenzia looks satisfied, “Yeah right, newborn rascal” she replied and chuckled while grabbing a cookie from JL’s mini pantry. From a distance, both of them heard Fonsi’s voice. “Lorenzia, come down here! I have something to show you” he said; shouting.
JL teasingly looked at Lorenzia, “Seems like you two are getting close with each other” he said. Lorenzia looked at him; feeling annoyed. She rolled her eyes and followed Fonsi downstairs. Out of curiosity, JL peeped through the door while the curtains covering him. Fonsi presented both of his fists closed in front of Lorenzia. He instructed, “Choose one”. Lorenzia looked at both of Fonsi’s fists in front of her.
He pointed the left one. Fonsi chuckled, “Are you sure you want this one?” he asked while raising his left fist. Lorenzia seemed not to be interested. She slowly nodded since she still has some curiosity left inside of her. Fonsi opened his fist in front of Lorenzia’s face. He even said, “Your wish is my command”. Her eyes widened when she saw what is hiding beneath Fonsi’s fist. She screamed to the extent. “SPIDER!” she kept screaming. JL laughed from the other side.
Fonsi laughed; he threw away the spider and whispered, “Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Spidey”. Lorenzia smacked his arm. “What the hell are you playing, Fonsi?!” she asked. Fonsi went nearer and nearer. He asked, “Aren’t you curious what is inside my right fist?”. Lorenzia looked away; their noses are an inch close to each other. She awkwardly replied, “W-what? Are you going to waste my time again?”.
Fonsi showed her a playful smile. He leaned closer and opened his right fist. “I just want to give this to you but I remembered you’re scared of spiders even before as a kid so I played a mini prank” he said. He gave her a rose gold leaf designed ring with sapphires. “I know your birthstone is sapphire because you are born on a September dawn” he added. JL interrupted, “You two are irritating my eyes” he said. Fonsi glanced at him badly. He replied, “Such a disturbance!”.