When Blood Break Down

Chapter 5

Pinakilala ako ni Miss Desiree ng lunch sa ibang mga tao sa opisina. Sabi niya maganda raw iyon para hindi ako mabaliw. She said it jokingly but I know there's a big chance that I will go nuts working under that grumpy man.

Marami siyang pinakilala pero grupo ng mga call center agents and nag-aya sa aking sumabay sa kanila ng lunch.

"Hi, I'm Cathy." Bati ng babaeng may maikling buhok. "This is Emz, LJ and Rob." Dagdag niya sabay turo sa mga kabati niya sa mesa.

"Hi, Liyah pala." I said, recognizing their faces one by one.

"Hoy, atey ang ganda ng hairlalo mo! Halos same kayo ni Emz pero medyo light lang 'yong iyo ano?" Sambit nung Rob sabay hawak sa buhok ko.

"May paartsy meaning din ba iyan?" Patawang tanong naman nung Cathy.

I looked at them weirdly. But I know if I told them the truth about my grayish platinum hair, they are the one who'll be bewildered out. I just shrugged my shoulder before croaking a reply. "Wala, pa-cool kid lang."

They cracked into laughters.

"I like you atey! Iba ka." Sambit nung Rob sabay subo ng french fries na nasa harap niya.

"So ano, kumusta ang pananalagi mo sa pugad ng mahal na dragon?" Tanong nung LJ, which I guess na bading rin parang si Rob. Hindi nga lang siya cross dresser katulad ng kaibigan niya, pero mas malamya siyang gumalaw.

"Dragon?" I asked innocently. I don't want to bad mouth Carl to them. Though I'm pretty sure they know about his bad temper and constant yelling.

"Atey isa lang naman ang dragon na naninirahan dito sa toreng ito." Natatawang dagdag ni Cathy.

I maintained silence which made them all sigh simultaneously.

"Well, I've been here for six years at isa lang ang masasabi ko. Ganyan na ganyan talaga ang ugali niya na dinatnan ko." Emz kiddingly said but coupled with a restrained grimace.

I bet she encountered Carl's sour attitude first hand.

I looked down at my packed lunch the Emz continued.

"It's not the same here like what it is said when you're younger Liyah. You won't find a pretty princess trapped inside a tower. Dito, dragon ang matatagpuan mo sa pinakatuktok ng kongkretong toreng ito."

Those made me jerk my head up. She winked at me before drinking her soda.

LJ laughed, a mocking laugh seconding what his friend stated.

"Baka siya ang may kailangan ng knight in shinning armour. Naghihintay nga ako ng pagkakataon na makakakilala siya ng taong makapagpabago ng ugali niya. Kasi kahit si Miss Desiree na step-mother niya hindi umuubra."

"Step-mother?" I choked out curious. Nakita kong siniko siya ni Rob, but he went away.

"Ayon sa source namin, namatay sa heart attack ang mommy ni Sir Carl noong bata pa siya ng malaman niya na may kabit ang asawa niya. Kabit niyang bente ang agwat sa taon ng daddy niya."

"Si Miss Desiree?" Mahinang tanong ko.

They all fell silent, LJ nodding to acknowledge my thought.

"Ang sabi, hindi naman daw talaga ganyan ang ugali ni Sir Carl noon. He was quite the opposite, nagbago lang siya simula ng namatay ang mommy niya."

"Pero bakit Sir ang tawag sa kanya ni Miss Desiree?" At bakit Sir Carlos rin ang tawag niya sa asawa niya? Hindi ko na lang isinatinig iyong huli.

Cathy shrugged her shoulders. "Something about keeping work professional. Pero sa tingin namin ang katotohanan, hindi niya lang talaga tanggap si Miss Desiree. Haka-haka rin na hindi siya nagpunta sa mismong kasal ni Miss Desiree at Sir Carlos noon, which was a year after his mom's death."

"Oh." That was all I can say. Oh.

First day on the job and I get juicy gossips about my boss. What a life. But on the other side, maybe I should try understanding him more. He's been through a lot and I can't imagine myself walking his shoes. If that happened to me, I may have turned as bitter and sour as him.

I exchanged numbers with my new found friends before I headed back to my office. Sabi nila puwede naman daw akong sumama sa mga gimik nila next time, but I don't think Kyle will allow me. Masyadong protective iyon pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay. But maybe, if I introduce him to them, he might change his mind.

I started doing the rest of my to-do-list while Mr. Grumpy is out on a date with his Cheena. Paano kaya natatagalan ng Cheena na iyon 'yong boss ko kung ganoon ang ugali?

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako bago napailing. "Hindi mo naman problema iyan Jaliyah Harmony. Kung gusto niyang maging reyna ng hari ng underworld, wala ng kaso sa iyo 'yon."

Hindi naman na bumalik si Mr. Grumpy buong hapon. I don't know his schedule yet, di ba parte rin iyon ng trabaho ko? I'm feeling a bit worried about his missing some of his appointments. Baka kasi sisihin niya ako, but then again wala nga akong kopya pa ng schedule niya so I let the guilt roll off on me.

Matapos kong ayusin ang buong cabinet mag-aalas singko na. Hindi biro ang patong-patong na papel doon ha. Bukas ko na gagawin iyong iba, out ko na rin naman.

Napatingin ako sa relo, 5:15pm. Kyle is on his way by this time. Kailangan ko pang timplahan ng Ovaltine si Mr. Grumpy. Napakamot ako sa ulo ko, paano kapag hindi siya bumalik dito? Baka mapanis lang iyong Ovaltine tapos pagalitan niya ako. Kapag hindi ko naman ginawa tapos bumalik siya at ganoon rin ang mangyayari.

This is all painted in black and white. No matter what the course is, he will always find a way to shout at me. Buti nga hindi siya bumalik ng alas-dos, kundi baka sinesante na niya ako dahil nawala sa isip ko ang pagtimplahan siya ng Ovaltine niya.

I sighed while stirring his cup. I said I will try to understand his temerity right? So I should be preparing myself for tomorrow. I know his armalite mouth will fire me and wound me endless.

I took a piece of my notepad and worte, "Here's the last cup of Ovaltine to complete your day Sir Carl. See you next day:)" Kahit sobrang labag sa kalooban ko ang smiley na iyon, ipinikit ko na lang na isinulat.

Pinatong ko ang baso niya sa kapirasong papel na iyon. Pumeywang ako saka ako huminga ng malalim. I won't give my dreams up just because I work for the rudest man on earth. Siguguraduhin kong iyong ugali niya ang unang susuko at hindi ako.