The Right Kind of Wrong (-edited)

33- Missing

"Why come up with this?"

Napatingin ako sa isang biglang nagtanong. May hawak itong maliit na notebook at recorder. Sa likod n'ya ay isang lalaking may hawak ng camera.

Hindi ko sila napansin kanina.

"Well at first, I think... Our main concern was our mothers. It started with just an idea on how to help our moms in order to do their chores less stressful. Kids can come here and play safely while they do the groceries. Daddies can watch while the kids enjoy their time. It's the multitasking skills, our mother has that we are aiding. Specially the single mothers."

"You must love your mother very much."

Napatingin ulit ako sa kabilang side kung saan nagsalita ang isang babaeng nakapusod. Holding the same notebook just like the other guy.

"Yes. Yes, I do," seryoso kong sabi.

I tried to smile and continued to speak.

"Tell us about the point card."

Lumingon ako sa bagong nagsalita.

Who the hell are these people? Hindi sila mga taga-opisina.

Tumingin ako kay Mr. San Diego. Nakangiti lang ito sa akin.

"The point card is the system that we have come up, again, to help. Not just our consumers for personal benefit, but they also have the privilege to use it as donation as well. They buy, they spend, they earn and they help. The management, and the owner of this establishment has compromised to share 30% of what the consumers will decide to provide for the donation."

"That's wonderful. Tell us about the foundation," sabi ulit ng babaeng nakapusod.

Napatigil ako. I shouldn't speak about it. It's not mine. Lumingon ako ulit sa likuran ko kung saan nakatingin si Mr. San Diego sa mga tao sa ibaba at satisfied na nakangiti.

Sumagi si Ameera sa paningin ko nang ibalik ko ang mata ko sa harapan. Our eyes met. Tumango lang s'ya ng bahagya sa akin.

"Well... I don't think I should be the one discussing that part..."

"How is the point card be able to donate?"

Stick to the playplace, Alec. Just stick to it.

Nakita ko ang pagsuot ni Mrs. San Diego ng salamin at ang galit na pagtalikod nito.

I wanted to sigh in frustration. Why do I feel like I'm facing the wrong pressure over this one?

Humarap ako ulit sa nagtanong.

"Most common people, like me, not just parents, or mothers, tend to spend with tight budget in their pockets. The basis of this point card is to have extra. Like these points can be convertible tickets for these play palace for their kids. Or peso point for buying extra things inside our supermarket or department store."

"And how can it donate?" the persuasive girl in a bun said.

This is going to be a hard game.

"Like I said, the point card is convertible. The holder can choose to share it to the foundation."

Nagtaas ulit ng kamay ang nagtanong. "About the foundation... "

****

Natapos ang launching. Or mas tama, conference at halos naubos ang lakas ko. Kasama ako sa early dinner na inihanda para kay Mr. San Diego.

Habang busy silang nagkukuwentuhan kasama ng ibang head, pasimple akong nag-text kay Ameera.

~Hey. What are you doing?~ - send