All is Seen

The loud wind whispers through her opened windows, making her woke up unexpectedly. She stood up and closed the windows. It was 4:00 in the morning; the sun hasn't shown itself yet, so Clarisse Abigail got back to sleep; completely turning off her alarm. The sun's glow hit her face and she groaned. Looking at her phone, she realized that it was already 7:30 a.m. “f**k, I'm gonna be late!”she muttered. Clarisse has an interview at 9:00 a.m. sharp, its the one thing she mustn't forget…yet she did. Rushing with the ticking time, Clarisse didn't have the time to do her hair and make-up. “I swear, if there's traffic in Highway 32…” she said, while driving her Mini Cooper. Luck was on her side, fortunately. She arrived 15 minutes before her interview. ‘Ugh, I look like s**t’ she mumbled as she looked at herself in the mirror. “Miss Pineda, good to see you here. You're next in 3 minutes; fix your hair, dear.” said the office lady and helped her fix her unruly hair. “Let the next applicant in, please.” she heard a masculine voice. The lady that helped her gestured her hand to the door. Her knees buckled as she heard the man's voice. She almost stumbled while entering the conference room. ‘God, please help me get through this…amen.’ she prayed. The man's face turned into a shock the moment he saw Abi's face. “It can't be. She can't be her. She can't be my Abi…” the man said faintly. “Excuse me, sir. Is there something wrong?” Abi asked him. “N-nothing, please...s-sit down” he replied “Miss Pineda...why do you think we should hire you?” "Might I be frank, mister...Flores?" “Sure” “Good. You should hire me because, not only I'm one of a kind, smart, responsible, and trustworthy. I am not enjoying my life as a part-time employee. To be honest, I don't wanna die of the neverending bills that I have to pay since the orphanage decided to throw me out.” Mr. Flores just grinned at her remark. ‘This is one hell of a woman...just like her.’ his subconscious whispered. “You're hired then. See you on Monday, Abi.” ‘Wait, what? Abi? Did Mr. Flores just called me by my nickname? Oh my gods, does he know me?’ Abi's mind kept rewinding that moment onward, even after she left the conference room. * “Gab! Guess what?!” Clarisse shouted at the front door. “What happened? You got in?!” her friend Gabriella asked. “Yes, I did!! Can you believe that?” Abi replied. It was the two of them living in the apartment. “This calls for a celebration, vevs!! Come on, I'll treat you!” Gab said while she pulled her out of excitement. There is a small resto-bar near their apartment. They go there everytime they were celebrating, it doesn't cost much money yet the food, and its service are nice. "Stop the English, dudugo na ilong ko..." said Gab. Yes, they're Filipinos. “Oo na, titigil na. Na hawaan yata ako nung mga nagtatrabaho do'n sa FGC. In fairness magaling sila mag-English, hahaha.” sabi ni Abigail. “Nako, girl, balita ko nga. By the way, yung anak ba ng may ari yung nag-interview sa'yo? Gwapo ba?” sagot naman ni Gab. “Oo teh, gwapo... este bakit mo naman tinatanong? Bet mo ba siya?” “Hindi, shunga ka ba? Nakita ko lang kasi sa mga articles, y'know? Ano nga kasi yung pangalan nung anak ng may ari sa FGC?” “I believe his name is ano...Azriel Joachim yata? I'm not sure. His name do sound familiar.” * The day was well spent. Tired, the girls walked back from the resto to their apartment. Hindi pa rin niya malimutan ang nangyari kaninang umaga. ‘Siya ba yung kalaro ko dati sa bahay ampunan?’ isip niya habang naka higa sa kaniyang kama. “Hahanapin kita” 'yon ang mha salitang binitawan ng kaniyang kababatang si Aki bago siya kunin ng kaniyang mga magulang sa ampunan. “Sana hindi ako pinanganak na bulag…sana bago ka pa umalis nakita ko ang mukha mo.” mahinang sabi ni Abi habang hawak-hawak ang litrato na nasa isang frame. Isang batang lalaki na naka ngiti ang laman ng litrato.