SUGAL NA PAG IBIG

KABANATA 2

RHIAN POV

One week after that incident, ang dami nang nag bago sa buhay ko. Wala na akong schedule para sa mga fashion shows namin na sunod sunod. Maging ang ilan ko pa sanang mga events outside the show ay nawala na rin. Ang laki ng impact nito sa buhay ko, may binabayaran pa akong condo unit at sasakyan ko, pati na rin ang ibang bags ko. I simply can't afford to lose this job.

Mas matatanggap ko pa kapag nawala si Jacob pero never kong matatanggap kapag nawala ang bukod tanging source of income ko. Ilang araw na rin akong umiiyak at tina trap ang sarili ko sa loob ng condo kong 24 sq meters, nababaliw sa kakaisip sa lalaking naka relasyon kong walang paramdam hanggang ngayon. Kahit nga si Irish, never na rin akong tinawagan or i chat.

Neither of them is more important than my job. And because I believe na ako ang nasa tama, hinde ako mahihiyang humarap sa kanila sa office namin. I wanted to talk personally sa talent Manager naming si Jona, ang becky kong mataray na manager. Mahigpit ito sa amin especially sa aming attendance.

She also happens to hold most of the events at kung sino ang mga kukuhain. I found it so unusual na I never received a call coming from regarding sa mga fashion events namin. While I would say na not yet ready pa ako, she should still call me within this week. I headed sa office at pag pasok ko pa lang sa lobby, pinag tinginan na ako ng ibang mga staff at lumihis sila kaagad ng tingin. They seem to ignore me. What's wrong with these people anyway?

I am in a hurry right now so I decided not to pay attention. Kung ayaw nila akong i greet kagaya ng dati, so what? I am still more beautiful than them anyway. Nasa second floor ang office ni Jona at sakto kasi papasok ito sa officen nito bitbit ang kape nang tawagin ko sya. Lumingon lang si beki sa akin saglit and just like the rest of the people, she ignored me and headed inside her office. And this is something I can no longer ignore. Naglakad ako papunta sa office n'ya at pumasok sa loob without knocking.

Sa tagal ba namang naming magkasama sa rehearsals hanggang sa mga events inside and outside this company, she knows that I don't need to knock on her door. Naka upo ito sa kanyang recling chair na halos pang president na ng aming company. She is sipping her hot coffee and looked at me, napataas s'ya ng isang kilay bigla. She has this kind of mannerism kapag masama ang araw n'ya. But regardless of that, I need to know what is happening in my career, something na s'ya lamang ang makaka sagot.

Umupo ako at nilapag ko ang bag kong branded sa katabing upuan. I treated is as my pet kasi ang laki ng investment ko para rito.

"Good day sir! Na miss kita!" sabi ko pa ng may mataas na energy.

"Che! You are gone for one week without even telling me? What happened to you?"

She asked me but her eyes, it makes me wonder kung alam na nito ang tungkol sa panloloko sa akin ni Jacob sa cousin kong si Irish. At assuming na alam na nito, that only means na kalat na ito sa office namin. Sabagay, papabor ito sa akin kasi ako ang biktima.

"Eh... wala na po kaming dalawa ni Jacob... sobrang sakit kasi ng nangyari kaya umabsent ako ng ilang araw." I reason out.

"So inuna mo pa talaga ang heart break mo kaysa sa sarili mong work? Look, uunahan na kita, I understand that feeling pero you have a commitment in your work which you really need to fulfill. Sa tingin mo ba ay binabayaran ka rito para magkaroon ng special treatment? Your company is not going to adjust just because of that!"

Para itong robot kung magsalita. Nonchalant ang mukha n'ya at wala man lang simpatya kaya ang hirap paniwalaan ng sinabi n'yang she understand where I am coming from. However, starting an argument won't resolve anything. Dadaanin ko lang s'ya sa matinong usapan.

"Sorry na Madam! I swear, nag break down lang ako at nagkaroon ng depression for an entire week but it does not mean na wala na akong pakialam sa work ko. This company gave me the life that I want. After my parents gone missing a long time agon, si tito Edward na ang kumupkop sa akin. He did not only adopted me but gave me a lavish lifestyle that I am experiencing right now. So give me a second chance to show that I am a better person now, I am new version of myself."

She sipped her coffee and put it down on the table. May kinuha pa itong envelope mula sa kanyang drawer at itinulak ito papalapit sa akin.

"Sorry din kasi it is too late to have a second chance because your career as a model here is already over. Actually, may kapalitan ka na sa rehearsal natin. She is younger and taller, smarter and more charistmatic. Aminin na natin, no matter how good you are at something, palaging may bagong darating. At nagkaka edad ka na rin, no offense pero our brand is not suitable for you anymore. It was a tough decision pero buong management ang nag decide to end your contract. Please accept the fact and enjoy your last salary. Malaki ang matatanggap mong pera. So you should be happier now. Explore the world and good luck on your future endeavors!"

Ang sakit sa tenga ng narinig ko sa bibig ni Jona. I can take her harsh words sa mga rehearsal namin pero not when she is saying something like this. It sink into my head, to think na ganito lang nila ako kabilis palitan after almost 1 and half decade kong dedication sa company na ito. I cannot allow this to happen. There must be a deeper reason why they want to fire me from my job!