Chapter 18 - The Ramos Business School
Sunday lunch at our house was supposed to be simple.
Mama cooked.
Papa was home.
Sofia had no classes.
Ate Bianca came over.
Kuya Nathan arrived with Ate Vivian carrying two containers from their food business.
I brought nothing.
Personal growth.
Ate Vivian handed Mama one container.
"Ma, tikman niyo nga. New supplier."
Mama opened it immediately.
"Mas mura?" I asked.
Kuya Nathan sighed.
"Here we go."
"I asked one question."
"That's how it starts," Ate Bianca said.
Traitors.
I tasted the sauce.
Good.
Slightly sweeter.
"Same quality?"
"So far," Ate Vivian said.
"How many batches?"
"Three."
"Customer feedback?"
Silence.
I looked at Kuya Nathan.
He looked at me.
"Masarap naman."
"According to us."
Papa took another bite.
"Masarap."
I laughed.
"Family approval. Five stars."
Kuya Nathan pointed at Papa.
"See?"
"Family is not market validation."
Sofia nodded.
"Correct."
Kuya Nathan stared at her.
"Don't encourage her."
Ate Vivian sat beside him.
"So huwag muna full switch?"
"Not yet. Split muna. Test more."
Ate Bianca immediately—
"Speaking of suppliers—"
I turned.
"No."
"Hindi pa ko nagtatanong!"
"Packaging?"
She stared.
"Yes."
Of course.
She showed me two jewelry boxes.
One prettier.
One cheaper.
"Test both," I said.
She sighed.
"You're boring."
"Profitable can be boring."
Papa nodded.
"Tama."
"You don't even know what we're talking about, Pa."
"Basta profitable."
Fair.
Lunch somehow became a free business seminar.
Kuya Nathan showed me their bundle promo.
I checked the costing.
Then stared at him.
"You're barely making money."
"But sales went up."
"Revenue went up."
Sofia looked at the numbers.
"Profit didn't."
I pointed at her.
"Beautiful."
Kuya Nathan sighed.
"I hate this family."
Ate Vivian took the sheet.
"So raise price?"
"Or change the bundle."
"What if fewer orders?"
"Then at least you're not subsidizing everyone's lunch."
Ate Vivian nodded.
"Fair."
Kuya Nathan looked betrayed.
"Wife?"
"Business."
I liked her.
Mama finally raised one hand.
"Sunday ngayon. Tama na trabaho."
Everyone stopped.
Immediately.
Mama remained the highest authority in the Ramos organization.
Seven peaceful minutes later, Sofia opened her laptop.
"Ate, one question."
"No."
"One."
"This family doesn't know what one means."
She showed me her marketing assignment.
I stared.
"These questions are bad."
"Ate."
"Question two is too broad."
"Ate."
"Question three assumes—"
"Ate."
I stopped.
She pointed at the screen.
"Assignment lang. Huwag mong palitan curriculum."
I sat back.
"Fine."
Ate Bianca laughed.
"Teacher talaga."
Kuya Nathan:
"Science Education finally useful."
"No."
Later, I ended up on the sofa doing nothing.
No laptop.
No client messages.
Just my phone.
Dangerous.
Celeste messaged.
update
how many
11
I blinked.
students?
yes
Then—
grace trial next saturday
how many
4 english
Good.
Then a photo arrived.
Mirror selfie.
Celeste.
Very pretty.
Very polished.
Excellent nose.
New top.
I stared.
why are you sending this to me
feedback
on what
top
I looked again.
The top was fine.
Very fine.
Unfortunately attached to Celeste.
I typed—
are you flirting with me
Three dots.
Then—
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
tell me so i can respond responsibly
RESPONSIBLY TALAGA?
yes
what happens if i say yes
I stared.
Dangerous.
i assess the situation
HAHAHAHA ANO TO BUSINESS PROPOSAL
you asked the business consultant
Then—
so?
Pause.
charot lang
Good.
Then—
unless?
I closed my eyes.
CELESTE
HAHAHAHAHAHA
single ka naman diba
that is not authorization
WOW
consent and risk management
She sent several laughing emojis.
I started laughing.
Out loud.
Sofia looked over.
"Who?"
"Business."
She stared.
"Business made you smile like that?"
"Yes."
"Sure."
??
My phone buzzed again.
Celeste:
fine. not flirting. for now.
I stared.
WHAT DOES FOR NOW MEAN
goodnight
It was 3:42 PM.
Disgusting.
She had stolen my escape tactic.
Five minutes later—
Jane.
celeste posted
Same photo.
Of course.
I HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT
Immediate reply.
WHAT
Fuck.
HOW
she sent it
Long pause.
DIRECTLY???
yes
WHY
feedback on top apparently
apparently????
Then—
pretty?
yes
polished?
yes
excellent nose?
jane
very nice legs?
PHOTO DOESN'T SHOW LEGS
incomplete data
I laughed.
Then Jane asked—
was she flirting
I stared.
i asked
YOU ASKED HER???
responsible communication
LIA ??
what did she say
charot lang unless
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Then—
UNLESS????
Exactly.
By late afternoon, everyone was still at the house.
Ate Bianca wanted coffee.
Mama told her there was instant.
She complained.
Mama told her to buy her own.
Kuya Nathan and Ate Vivian started discussing their repriced bundle again.
Mama looked at them.
Both stopped.
"Tomorrow," Ate Vivian said.
I laughed.
Mama's governance remained undefeated.
Monday morning, actual business resumed.
Abigail assigned Claire's first packing batch without waiting for me.
Bea prepared materials.
Evelyn sent next week's branch forecast on time.
Isabella sent updated paper prices.
Ate Bianca messaged:
tested 300 prettier packaging, 300 regular
Kuya Nathan:
bundle repriced. less orders pero mas may kita
Sofia:
prof approved my answer ??
Good.
Everyone learning.
Including me.
Then Celeste messaged.
grace confirmed
trial only?
yes
rate discussed?
yes
payment terms?
Pause.
fuck
I smiled.
discuss before saturday
yes ma'am
Then—
also not flirting today
I stared.
thank you for compliance update
maybe tomorrow
I closed the chat.
Abigail looked over.
"Ma'am, okay lang?"
"Yes."
"You look stressed."
"Personal compliance issue."
She blinked.
"Okay po."
Good employee.
No follow-up questions.
That evening, I got home before Papa.
Mama was watching TV.
Sofia was at the table.
I sat beside her.
She looked at me.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You need something?"
"No."
She stared.
"New behavior."
Fair.
Mama looked over.
"Kumain ka na?"
"Not yet."
"Wait for Papa."
"Okay."
A few minutes later, Papa came home.
I stood.
"Pa."
I took his hand to my forehead.
"Pagod?"
"Konti."
Then dinner.
Mama.
Papa.
Sofia.
Me.
Ate Bianca had already gone home.
Kuya Nathan and Ate Vivian had their own house, their own dinner, their own life.
Normal.
No business emergency.
No optimization.
No need to prove anything.
And somehow—
that still felt like one of the biggest upgrades I'd made.