Chapter 3

Isabella was busy signing some papers when her phone rang. When she saw her father's name on the caller ID, she immediately answered the call.

"Hey Daddy, why did you call?" Itinigil muna ng dalaga ang ginagawa para bigyang pansin ang kanyang ama sa kabilang linya.

"Tomorrow will be Darryl's Birthday." His father was referring to his friend. "I want you to be there. It will be your opportunity to meet some businesspeople and professionals." He said sternly into the phone.

Isabella cringed as she heard her father's words. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang mga 'yon ay agad na nitong pinatay ang tawag, hindi man lang nito hinayaang makapagsalita ang dalaga. Isabella heaved a sigh. Hindi sana niya gustong pumunta dahil marami pa itong aasikasuhin ngunit hindi siya makatanggi sa ama. Her father was known to be strict and demanding, she's being controlled by him all the time.

Maya-maya ay nakatanggap siya ng mensahe galing sa ama kung saan at anong oras magaganap ang event para bukas.

Napabuntong hininga si Isabella at sandaling napatulala.

His uncle Daryl was on the same industry as her. Her father and her uncle Daryl had been friends in a long time. Isabella knew that the event she'll attend would be a big one, and she had no doubt that it would be filled with influencial members of the business world.

Isabella was starting to feel exhausted as she wrapped up her work. She knew she had been working overtime due to the sheer amount of tasks she had been given, and she was starting to feel the impact of it. She decided that it was time for her to go home for the night, as it was already quite late.

As she packed up her things, she let out a sigh of both relief and frustration. She was happy to be done with her work for the day, but she was also frustrated that there was still so much more to be done, especially the big event she'll attend tomorrow.

Isabella took the keys to her car and gathered all her things before exiting the building. As she approached her car in the parking lot, her phone began to vibrate once again, indicating that someone was calling her. She pulled it out of her bag and noticed that it was her brother's name on the screen. Isabella answered the call with a smile.

"Hey big sis, I miss you." Mas lumapad ang ngiti ng dalaga dahil sa turan ng kapatid.

"Really Ryan? What do you want?" Nagsimula na itong magmaneho habang kausap ang kapatid sa kabilang linya.

"Parang di mo ako na miss ah?" Bella can imagine her brother pouting while saying those words.

"Ofcourse I do! Spill it Ry, alam kong may kailangan ka." Narinig niyang napabuntong hininga ang kapatid. "Seriously, I don't need anything. I just want to check if you're doing well, o baka pinapagod mo na naman ang sarili mo dahil sa kumpanya?"

"Working hard is a necessary part of being a CEO, hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan ang kumpanya Ry." Wika nito sa mababang boses.

"But you also need to take care of yourself. Don't forget to take breaks and make time for self-care." Saad ng kapatid na nasa kabilang linya.

"Where are you? Let's have dinner together. I miss spending my time with my you."

"Not now Ry, kagagaling ko lang galing trabaho. Maybe some other time? Gusto ko na munang magpahinga."

"What? Nag over time ka na naman?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Ryan. Inikutan siya nito ng mata kahit hindi naman niya ito kita habang nangingiti.

Isabella always felt a sense of admiration and pride for her younger brother Ryan, who had always seemed to be more mature and responsible than her. Growing up as the oldest child, Isabella often felt the weight of her responsibilities as she struggled to keep her family and their business on track. Meanwhile, Ryan always seemed to have things figured out, with a calm and collected attitude that made him seem like the eldest. Despite their differences, Isabella loved her brother deeply and was grateful for his constant support and guidance.

"Ang dami kasing gagawin. And besides I'll be attending a big event tomorrow kaya tinapos ko nalang lahat ng gagawin ngayon para wala na akong iisipin bukas." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

"What event?" Napakunot ang noo niya dahil sa pagtatanong ng kapatid.

"Uncle Daryl's birthday. Why?" Pabalik niyang tanong sa kausap.

"Yea right, sabay na tayo bukas. We'll be attending the same event. Iñigo invited me." Ngayon lang naalala ni Isabella ma matalik palang magkaibigan ang anak ng kanyang Uncle Daryl at ang kapatid niyang si Ryan.

"Okay, sunduin mo nalang ako sa condo ko. And Ryan? Pwedeng bukas na tayo mag usap? I really missed you but I really want to rest." Pagod itong galing sa trabaho kaya agad siyang nakaramdam ng antok.

"Ofcourse, get some rest. We'll just talk tomorrow. See you." With that, Isabella said her goodbye and ended the call, feeling grateful for the support and love of her brother.

Sinunod niyang tinawagan ang kanyang sekretarya upang ipakansela lahat ng appointments at schedule niya para bukas pagkatapos ay nag focus na ulit ito sa pagmamaneho.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay nakarating na siya sa kanyang condo. Kailangan niya ng maraming pahinga para sa magaganap bukas, kaya naman, agad niyang nilinis ang kanyang sarili, pagkatapos ay agad na siyang nahiga sa kama, kalaunan ay dinalaw na rin siya ng antok dahil siguro sa pagod.

When the morning came, Isabella opened her eyes, feeling refreshed after a long night of sleep. She stretched her limbs and sat up in bed, feeling the warmth of the sunlight shining through her windows. It was a beautiful morning and Isabella couldn't help but feel grateful for the day ahead. She had a lot on her plate, including the event she had to attend later. With a smile on her face, she got out of bed and started to get ready for the day ahead.

Dumiretso ito sa kanyang kusina at nagluto ng kanyang umagahan. She knew she needed to eat a healthy breakfast before starting her day, so she grabbed the ingredients for a simple omelette and started to cook. As she flipped the omelette in the pan, she felt a sense of peace and calm wash over her. Gustong gusto niya ng ganitong pakiramdam, malayo sa stress. She allowed herself to enjoy the calmness and tranquility of the moment.

After finishing her breakfast, she spent a few moments enjoying a cup of tea before starting her morning routine. She took a quick shower, followed by a light workout to get her blood flowing. When she was done, she felt ready to tackle the day's challenges.

Hindi namalayan ni Isabella ang oras. Sobrang bilis ng takbo nito kapag oras na ng pahinga niya pero sa tuwing nagtratrabaho naman ito ay parang ang tagal kumilos ng oras.

Mag aalas quatro na ng hapon ng tumayo siya sa kanyang sofa at dumiretso sa banyo upang maligo. Alas sais magsisimula ang event kaya paniguradong nandito na ang kapatid maya-maya na siyang susundo sa kanya.

Isabella felt a sense of excitement as the time for her uncle's celebration approached. She knew that it would be a fun and memorable event, filled with delicious food and good company. She quickly got ready, choosing a dress that she knew it would look good on her and complement her skin tone.

Bella wore a dark red backless dress that was fitted and covered in sparkling glitter. The dress had a sleek shape that was both elegant and sexy, accentuating her curves and showing off her figure. The backless design was flattering and emphasized her long legs, while the sparkles added a glamorous touch to the look. The overall effect was one of bold and confident style, perfect for making a statement at a formal event.

As she looked in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in herself. She had come a long way from her days as a shy and nervous child, and she was proud of the strong and confident woman that she had become. She knew that the event would be a great opportunity to mingle with the industry's finest, and she was ready to make the most of it. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and visualizing the night ahead, feeling a sense of excitement and energy bubbling up inside of her.

After a few minutes of waiting, Isabella heard a car pulling up to the curb, and the sound of a familiar beep filled her with relief. She looked up to see her brother's car parked right in front of her condo.

Isabella took a deep breath and stepped outside. She felt a surge of energy and confidence as she made her way towards her brother's car. The dress she had chosen was perfect for the occasion, she felt elegant and professional. She was sure that she would make a strong impression on everyone she met. As she approached the car, she saw her brother waiting for her.

Sumipol ito at binuksan ang pintuan ng sasakyan sa front seat. "Hop in ate."