CHAPTER 14

"Hey!"

Chanel's voice pierced through the air as she called out to me while we strolled down the hallway, but I chose to pay her no mind, continuing on my way without so much as a glance in her direction. However, she persisted, her footsteps quickening until she positioned herself directly in front of me, effectively blocking my path.

I halted reluctantly, irritation simmering beneath the surface as I met her gaze with a cold stare.

"What?" I snapped, my tone laced with impatience.

Chanel's expression darkened, her frustration palpable as she confronted me. "What? Are you seriously going to feign ignorance? What was that all about earlier?" she demanded, her voice tinged with annoyance.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her dramatics, a scoff escaping my lips. "You really don't know? Do you want me to remind you by throwing something at you again?" I retorted, my words dripping with sarcasm.

"Do you really want—"

"Ah, whatever" sabi ko at nilagpasan siya.

"Hey, you bitch!"

Binilisan ko ang paglalakad para hindi na siya makahabol. Marami pa akong kailangang gawin at hindi ko sasayangin ang oras ko sa babaeng 'yon. Nakabukas na ang pinto ng sasakyan para sa akin.

"Kuya, sa eighty-seven forty-seven tayo" sabi ko pagkapasok ni Kuya Joberth sa sasakyan.

Tumango siya at pinaandar na ang sasakyan.

I make my way towards the penthouse, the designated location where I've arranged for Nerdy and me to study. Upon our arrival, the doorman graciously opens the door for me with a polite nod and a welcoming smile.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am," he greets me respectfully, his demeanor exuding professionalism and hospitality.

Acknowledging his greeting with a nod of my own, I step inside and take a moment to fully absorb the grandeur of the penthouse. The lavishness of the surroundings unfolds before me like a carefully curated exhibit, each piece of furniture, every ornament, and all the décor meticulously selected to create an atmosphere of refined taste and sophistication. The spaciousness of the penthouse is striking, its high ceilings seemingly reaching for the sky, imbuing the space with a sense of expansiveness that is both impressive and inviting.

The porter escorted me all the way to the elevator, where he kindly pressed the button to call it. As the doors slid open, I stepped inside, acknowledging the porter's farewell with a nod and a small smile. With a gentle ding, the elevator doors closed, enveloping me in a sense of tranquility as I prepared for the ascent.

I took a moment to appreciate the sleek and sophisticated interior of the elevator, with its polished metal surfaces and soft ambient lighting lending an air of elegance to the space. The gentle hum of the elevator's mechanism provided a soothing backdrop as I awaited my destination.

As the elevator reached its final destination and the doors gracefully slid open, I stepped out into the corridor, greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of my own floor. With a sense of satisfaction, I made my way towards my penthouse, ready to unwind and relax after a long day.

When I opened the door, a little smile crept onto my face as I saw how clean and tidy my penthouse was. I looked around and took in everything I saw. There were vases with fresh tulips, and the living room looked neat and tidy, like the sheets and curtains had just been washed.

The place felt peaceful and fresh, with sunlight streaming through the windows, making everything look warm and cozy. It was clear that a lot of care had gone into keeping the penthouse in such great shape.

As I walked further inside, I felt proud of my little sanctuary. Everything was where it should be, creating a cozy atmosphere that made me want to relax and unwind after a busy day.

Every part of the penthouse seemed to tell a story of comfort and luxury, from the soft cushions on the sofa to the shiny countertops in the kitchen. It was like a quiet retreat from the noisy city outside, a place where I could go to find peace and quiet.

With a happy sigh, I settled into a comfortable chair, enjoying the calmness of my clean and tidy penthouse. It was a place where I could truly be myself, surrounded by things that made me relax. And as I closed my eyes, I felt grateful for my little oasis in the middle of the bustling city.

Eight o'clock na nang may tumawag sa telephone ko.

"Ma'am, may bisita raw ho kayo" sabi ng babae sa kabilang linya.

"Yes, let him in" sabi ko at ibinaba ang tawag.

Tatlong minuto lang ang lumipas nang marinig ko ang doorbell ko. Sinarado ko ang magazine na binabasa at naglakad papuntang pinto. Maong na pants at V-neck na white shirt at may dalang bag ang bumungad sa akin pagbukas ko.

"Are you available at this time regularly?" I asked.

"No, I'll come earlier tomorrow," he replied.

I loosened the door and he entered, his eyes scanning my penthouse. I closed the door and went straight to the sofa to sit down.

"How about your siblings?"

He looked at me.

"I have a friend looking after them while I'm away," he replied.

I nodded. My gaze lowered to the black backpack he was carrying, but only one strap was over his shoulder.

"Did you bring the books you'll be teaching?"

He nodded. I pointed to the single sofa opposite me, as he was still standing.

"You can sit there," I said.

He followed and slowly placed the bag on the floor. I crossed my legs and looked at him.

"Let's start by sorting out our timetable," I proposed, meeting his gaze directly. "Which subjects can you teach right now?"

"How about we tackle two subjects each day?" he suggested. With us having a total of eight subjects, studying all of them daily isn't feasible.

I nodded in agreement to his proposal. "Alright, let's go with two subjects per day," I concurred.

I placed a blank piece of paper neatly on the table positioned between us. "You can decide which subjects we'll focus on each day," I informed him.

He nodded and took the paper.

"Now, about your payment, how much do you think your time is worth?" I inquired, capturing his attention.

"It really depends on what you're paying your current tutor," he replied.

"I haven't hired a tutor yet," I confessed. "How frequently would you like to receive your payment? Monthly? Weekly? Or perhaps daily?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's up to you since you're the one footing the bill," he responded.

Kinuha ko ang cell phone ko nagsearch kung magkano ang binabayad sa tutor per hour. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko ng makitang sobrang baba no'n. Hindi pa umabot ng tatlong daan. Ang pinakamataas ay mahigit dalawang daan lang. Pinatay ko ang cell phone at tumingin sa kaniya. Mukha namang kailangan niya ng pera.

"I'll pay you everyday. One thousand per hour" sabi ko.

Umawang ang labi niya. "That's too high. Hindi ka ba malulugi niyan?"

I shrugged and raised both hands as if to say that paying him a thousand pesos per hour was no big deal for me because I'm wealthy. My money doesn't run out quickly. It seemed like he realized that because he nodded. He's really smart.

Kumuha siya ng ballpen sa gilid ng bag at sumulat sa papel na ibinigay ko. Nakita kong may gumuhit pa siya ng linya roon. Pinagmasdan ko lang siya at biglang may napansin.

"Hindi mo suot ang salamin mo?" Kuryoso kong tanong. Saglit siyang tumingin sa akin at ibinalik din sa sinusulat.

"Nearsighted ako" simpleng sagot niya.

Tumango ako at pinanood lang siya hanggang sa matapos siyang magsulat. Inikot niya ang papel na nasa lamesa paharap sa akin.

"That's our schedule."

Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan.

His handwriting is beautiful. The lines are straight even without using a ruler.

I observed silently, impressed by the neatness of his handwriting.

"One and a half hours per subject?" I asked as I glanced at the time.

"Yes, but if you're able to grasp the subject quickly, I'll reduce it by thirty minutes. If not, that will be the set time, or I may even extend it if necessary," he explained.

His last statement felt like an insult. I'm not slow; I just struggle to understand the lesson. Tumango na lang ako at tumingin sa orasan.

"Let's start na para mabilis tayong matapos" sabi ko at tumayo. "Kukuha lang ako ng papel at ballpen"

Tumango lang siya. Umakyat ako sa itaas at dumiretso sa kwarto. Nasa study table ko ang bag ko. Binuksan ko iyon at kumuha ng yellow paper at iba't ibang kulay ng ballpen.

Pagkarating ko sa sala ay nakahanda na ang dalawang libro at mga papel na pag-aaralan namin ngayon. Kumuha ako ng dalawang pillow at nilagay iyon sa floor. Doon kami umupo.

"So, let's start with the basics. Can you tell me what you think accounting is all about?" He asked.

"Um, keeping track of money and stuff for businesses, I guess?" Hindi sigurado kong sagot.

Tumango-tango siya. "Yes, It helps businesses make informed decisions by providing them with accurate and reliable financial information."

"So, where do we go from here?" Turo ko sa sinulat niya.

"We'll start with that. Double-entry bookkeeping. Have you heard of it before?"

Naalala ko yung narinig ko kay prof last time. Wala akong magawa no'n at nakatingin lang ako sa labi niya kaya medyo tumatak sa akin ang sinabi niya.

"Yes, I remember hearing about it briefly. It involves recording transactions in two different accounts, right?"

Tumango siya at tumingin sa papel. Napatingin din ako roon.

"Every transaction affects at least two accounts: one account is debited, and another is credited. This system helps ensure accuracy and maintain the balance of the accounting equation." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"So, if one account increases, another must decrease by the same amount?" I asked

"Hmm-mm, double-entry bookkeeping follows the principle of duality, which states that every transaction has two aspects: a give and a take. By recording both aspects, we can track how resources are flowing in and out of a business."

Gumuhit siya ng kung ano sa papel. "Imagine you have a piggy bank..." He draw a piggy bank "...every time you put money in, that's like giving something to your piggy bank." Gumuhit siya ng pera na parang nilalagay sa piggy bank. "And every time you take money out, that's like taking something from your piggy bank." Sunod naman niyang ginuhit ay ang perang kinuha galing sa alkansya.

"So, double-entry bookkeeping is like keeping track of both giving and taking with your piggy bank. For every time you put money in (give), you also write down how much you put in. And for every time you take money out (take), you also write down how much you took out." Paliwanag niya habang tinuturo ang ginuhit.

Binigay niya sa akin ang ginuhit niya. Nakita ko ang explanation no'n sa bandang baba.

"By doing this, you can see how much money you have in your piggy bank at any given time. It's like making sure you always know how much money you have, whether you're putting money in or taking it out."

Tumango-tango ako. That actually make sense.

"You have a company, don't you? You should know this," he said, prompting me to glance at him.

We were sitting side by side so I could see and understand what he was explaining. I avoided his gaze.

"I'm not interested in our company," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my response. "Not interested?" he repeated.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the significance of my disinterest. "Yeah, it's just not really my thing," I muttered.

He studied me for a moment before nodding slowly. "Well, everyone has their own interests," he conceded.

We continued our study session, spending exactly an hour and a half on two lessons in one subject. I glanced at the clock on the table beside the long sofa. It was already nine thirty-two in the evening. I looked over at him, who was now immersed in reading.

"What time do you have to leave?" I asked, leaning against the side of the sofa.

He looked up at me. "I'll stay until we finish here," he replied, then returned to his reading. He flipped to the next page of the book.

"Do you want a snack?" I offered, but he just shook his head.

"Next is Fin 1," he said, and began explaining again. "It involves making decisions about how to invest money, how to raise funds, and how to allocate resources to achieve the financial goals of an organization."

"Ah, so, it's like managing your personal finances but on a larger scale?" I asked and he nodded.

"Just like you budget your money to make sure you can afford your expenses and save for the future, businesses also need to budget and manage their finances to stay financially healthy and achieve their goals."

Tumingin siya sa akin. "You have to decide how to spend their money wisely, like paying for supplies or investing in new equipment, while also saving some for emergencies or future projects."

Tumaas naman ang sulok ng labi ko. Para bang pinapatamaan niya ako kasi gastador akong tao. Well, I buy what I want.

"So, what else will we be covering in this course?" Pagtatanong ko, iniwas ang usapan sa akin.

"We'll also talk about financial statements, which are like report cards for businesses. They show how much money a company is making, how much it's spending, and its overall financial health. Understanding financial statements is crucial for making informed decisions and assessing the performance of a business."

Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay para akong nalanta. Sinabi pa lang niya ang coverage ay pakiramdam ko naubos na ang brain cells sa ulo ko. What more pa kung pinaliwanag na niya lahat?

"So, let's continue" aniya at itinapat niya sa akin ang librong nakabuklat. "About—"

"Do you want a snack?" Tanong ko.

Ilang segundo niya akong tinitigan bago dahan-dahang tumango. I could tell he noticed I was trying to avoid starting our next lesson. My head is starting to ache from all the new things I've learned.

Can we take a little break?" I asked, trying to sound casual. "I need to rest for a bit."

He nodded understandingly. "Of course," he replied.

Relieved, I leaned back in the sofa and closed my eyes.

"May sandwich sa kusina, kumuha ka na lang" sabi ko habang nakapikit.

With each breath, I could feel the tension slowly melting away, replaced by a sense of calm. It was as if the weight of all the new knowledge I'd been absorbing had lifted, if only momentarily.

Binuksan ko ang isang mata nang mapansing wala akong naramdamang paggalaw.

"Why are you staring?" Tanong ko nang mahuling nakatitig siya sa akin.

"You seem tired" aniya, hindi man lang umiwas ng tingin nang tanungin ko iyon. Muli kong isinara ang mata ang inilagay ang isang braso sa noo.

"Sa dami ba naman ng pinagsasabi mo sa akin, sinong hindi mapapagod makinig doon?" Sarkastiko kong tanong.

I heard him chuckled.

"Iisang subject pa lang, napagod ka nang makinig" pumalatak siya ng tatlong beses. "Kaya pala wala kang natututunan sa school"

Agad akong dumilat at mataray siyang tiningnan. "Wala kang alam"

"Shall we continue, then? Mukhang nakapaghinga ka na." Tanong niya kaya mabilis akong bumalik sa posisyon ko kanina.

"Not yet"

Ilang segundo ang lumipas nang maramdaman kong gumalaw siya at sumandal din sa sofa. Walang nagsalita sa amin. Ganoon lang at pinakikiramdaman ang isa't isa.

In the hush of the penthouse, I felt a profound sense of peace wash over me, as if all the worries and stresses of the outside world had faded into insignificance. It was a moment of pure tranquility, a precious oasis of stillness in the midst of life's chaos.

Nang ma-satisfy ay tumayo ako at kumuha ng sandwich at juice sa kusina. Siya ang pinakuha ko kanina pero hindi naman niya ginawa. Pagkabalik ako maayos na ang pagkakaupo niya. Nilapag ko sa maliit na space sa gilid niya ang sandwich at juice. Umupo ako at kinain ang sandwich na hawak-hawak ko lang.

I noticed he wasn't eating and just staring at me, so I paused and looked back at him. "What?" I asked.

"I'm not trying to pry, but are you alone here?" he inquired.

"Why? Planning to do something bad to me?" I shot back.

He picked up the sandwich and started eating. "No, just curious," he replied casually.

I nodded and finished eating my sandwich. I was indeed alone in this penthouse because Mommy prefers to stay at our house. She knows I bought the penthouse, but she hasn't set foot here even once. As if she has time to visit with all the things she's busy with at work and our company.

So far, only Rinoa and Ariena have been allowed to enter here. Oh, wait, and now this nerd too. Sometimes reporters come here to interview me, but I never let them in. I also don't do interviews. That's why I don't come here often. I'm only here now because I need to get tutoring. I'm not allowed to bring anyone to the house, and he can't be seen by Mommy. She might think of something weird.

After we finished eating, we set aside his used glass and plate under the table. Then, we continued our study session. He explained to me what financial statements are and how to create them, likening them to report cards for businesses.

He walked me through each type of financial statement - the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement - and explained what they represent. It was like learning the language of money, understanding how to read and interpret the financial health of a business.

Ugh, it's making me dizzy.