Don't Be Like Your Dad

Sunday afternoon of that week, I left Jasmine Garden and arrived at the Zapanta Compound.

Grandma was playing mahjong with her daughters-in-law at Uncle Philip's residence so she was not aware that I was already in my room. She ate her supper with her children and grandchildren and only came back to the villa when it was already eight o'clock in the evening.

When I heard her footsteps along the staircase I went out of my room to greet her with a genuine smile on my face while holding a bunch of lavender flowers I picked from the garden of my home in the suburbs.

"Grandma, good evening, this is for you." I said as I handed her the bouquet of flowers and kissed her on the cheek. It was surprising that Grandma didn't wipe her cheek and looked coldly at me after i have done that. She must have won in the mahjong game that she was peculiarly in a good mood.

She received the flowers and smelled it. "Hmm. This flowers really smell good."

Thereafter, she handed them to the caregiver who has been taking care of her and told her to put them in the vase in her room. She hanged on to my arm for support and allowed me to lead her to her bedroom. "Thank you, Julie. How thoughtful."

"It's nothing, Grandma. I really picked them for you from our garden. I know it's your favorite." I answered while helping her sit on her one-seater couch. I then removed the woolen scarf from her shoulder and hanged it over the headrest of her couch.

"How was your university entrance examination, by the way?" Grandma leaned on the backrest and crossed her slender legs then placed her arms regally over the armrests.

Briefly shocked from grandmother's seemingly care about my personal affairs just now, I hid my reaction by looking away from her stare towards the expensive Persian carpet covering a fourth of her bedroom floor. "I was able to answer all of the questions and finished them within the time limit given by the proctor. I have a feeling I will be able to pass and get in A University."

Grandma nodded her head with understanding. "Good. Good. You'll be studying in the same university that your father went to. I suppose you also want to take up your masters degree in the States like him?"

I have considered following in Dad's footsteps as I am the only heir of the company he and Mom built from scratch. However, I didn't realize that grandmother was also paying attention to me. All the while I had it in mind that she was only interested in the affairs of her older sons. She had never been generous in her compliments with regards to Dad and his family even if she had been aware of his business acumen, having built his own company without any financial or moral support from the Zapanta family.

"Yes, grandma, definitely." I smiled with pride at the thought that I will be like Dad in the future.

"And you're planning to take over the business your father built?" Grandma eyed me with suspicion which made my back burst in cold sweat.

"Yes, Grandma. That's the plan since the very beginning. Dad wishes for me to take over." I answered softly.

"Aren't you interested in our century-old canning company? Being listed in the top 20 of the country's oldest and most stable company is not something to belittle. What's wrong with helping your Uncle Philip move it up the ladder a few rungs higher?" Her pitch had rose a little higher.

"But, Grandma, you still have my older cousins, Uncle Philip's sons, to help him manage the company. They have graduated in the best business schools as well."

Uncle Philip had two sons. Kent, twenty-seven years old and VP for Operations and Chad, twenty-five years old, VP for Sales & Marketing. Everyone in the family thought that they both received their masters degree from Standford so they were entrusted with the task of assisting their father in running the company.

"I think that cousins Kent and Chad are doing a great job. With their capabilities, the company will soar to greater heights like never before. Our family business is just a small-time one."

"Hmp! They are capable indeed. Capable of bringing the company to bankruptcy...." Grandma abruptly cut herself and with a look of embarrassment shifted her eyes towards the view outside her window. The creases between her brows became more defined. There was a hint of anger in her eyes.

"Wh...what do you mean, Grandma?" I had become confused by her words and reaction. As far as everybody in the country knows, the Zapanta Corps is doing great in the local stock market.

"You think they are doing something great, but they are not. These boys have been spoiled by their father that they mindlessly spend the company money lavishly as if they own it all." Grandma straightened her back and had a look of defiance.

"Grandma, shouldn't you be talking to Uncle Philip about these things instead? I'm just a high school student." I had just realized that Grandma felt aggrieved with the knowledge that his son and grandsons were using company funds for their personal use.

"Yes, I know. Therefore, you have to finish your studies in the university and work in the company as well. Many new graduates would fight tooth and nail to work in our company because of it's good reputation but your father ignored the fact that the company fed and clothed him and sent him to the best schools." Grandma gave a deep sigh. "Julie, don't be like your Dad who is too proud and selfish as to walk away from the family business and put up his own. He doesn't know how to appreciate the good life he had from the company and feel indebted."

Grandma had always put emphasis to the company by mentioning it or implying to it. It was as if everything for the family was done and given by the company. She must have neglected her role as a mother for the many years she managed the company as the widow of Ramon Zapanta, the great grandson of the founder of Zapanta Corps, formerly Zapanta Tuna Canning Company, that it seemed like the company reared her children and grandchildren and given them the lifestyle they were now enjoying.

"I think Dad wasn't in the wrong when he started his own business. Shouldn't you be proud of him for being capable enough to do it?" I asked with caution. Knowing Grandma, she seemed easily provoked when his youngest son was being complimented.

"I don't know what got into his mind that he should start his own company. Does he think that Zapanta Corp. is not good enough? Or he felt some kind of inferiority against his eldest brother? Of course, the eldest should be at the helm and steering the company in the right direction and he should just support him." Grandma snorted as if disgusted.

"What about Uncle Ben and Uncle Joe? Aren't they suppose to help in the company too?"

"They are helping the company in their own way. If not for the company team that your Uncle Ben is managing, will our company name and image be retained in the consumer's mind? Your Uncle Joe's connection in politics have helped the company gain more cooperation with other big companies. They are after all indirectly helping the company maintain its standing in the business scene." Grandma's voice softened at the mention of his two son's names.

"Then there's no need to fret at all, Grandmother. Your company is in good hands." I spoke with emphasis on the words "your company."

"What do you know? You're just a child." She scowled at me while reaching for the bell on the bedside table. She rang it twice and her nurse hurriedly entered the room. "I want to take a bath now." She told the nurse then waved her hand to dismiss me.

I bowed low before her then turned on my heels to leave her hundred square meter bedroom.

I was kind of confused by grandma's statement there. She was the one who opened up the topic yet she still denied me opportunity to share my opinion on the matter. However, I wasn't really interested in the Zapanta Corp. as there are other things on my mind.