Sleeping With My Boss

Chapter 3

“Anong ibig mong sabihin na hindi na tayo papasok bukas?” Bella asked, her voice rising slightly habang lahat kami ay nakatayo sa harap ng boss namin—ang mukha niya walang emosyon. She had just dropped the bomb: we wouldn’t be coming in anymore. Tapos na. Just like that.

"I'm sorry guys," she started, voice calm pero detached, “pero dahil sa ilang business deals with a former CEO, ida-demolish ang shop at papalitan ng five-star restaurant.”

“WHAT?” Bella’s mouth dropped open. My chest tightened.

“Ibig mong sabihin, binenta mo yung shop? Bakit?” I demanded, stepping forward. Her face remained unmoved. Parang hindi siya apektado, pero kita ko sa mata niya—may bigat din siya.

“Hindi ganun.” Umiling siya. “We were in debt. Malaki. The former CEO offered to clear it all… in exchange for the shop. I'm sorry, pero wala na tayong magagawa.”

Kash scoffed loudly. “Wow,” he muttered bago lumakad palabas, galit na galit. Sinundan siya ni Sam, mukhang parehong gusto lang lumayo. I couldn’t blame them.

I placed a hand over my face and slowly sat down on one of the stools. My body suddenly felt heavy. Parang lahat ng pagod, lahat ng stress biglang bumagsak sa balikat ko. I loved this job. I’ve been here too long to just… let it go.

I was actually planning to get a second job, pangdagdag lang sa bills. Pero ngayon? Wala na akong trabaho. What the hell am I supposed to do?

“This is so unfair,” Bella muttered, her eyes still fixed on the now-empty doorway where our boss had quietly walked out.

I knew she was hurting too, pero iba ‘yung sakit para sa amin. Kami ‘yung aalis. Kami ‘yung mawawalan. Siya? She still had options. Kami? We were left grasping at nothing.

I blinked back tears. My thoughts were spiraling. Rent. Bills. Food. How the hell will I survive?

“Anong plano mo ngayon, Calista?” Bella asked quietly, naupo siya sa tabi ko, trying to comfort me with her presence.

I shook my head. “Ewan ko. Uuwi na lang muna siguro ako. I need to clear my head.”

Bumangon ako at kinuha ang handbag ko. Hindi na ako nagpaalam. I just walked out of there, trying to keep myself together.

I wasn’t even paying attention to where I was going. My legs were just moving. Hanggang sa—

“Ah!”

I stepped on someone’s foot. A lady groaned loudly and stormed off before I could even say sorry.

“Great,” I muttered. This day just keeps getting better and better.

Biglang nag-ring ang phone ko. Tiningnan ko agad. It was my mom.

“Hello, Mom—”

“It’s Evie,” sagot ng voice sa kabilang linya. Urgent. Shaky. “Can you come to the hospital? Right now.”

“What? Why? Anong nangyari?”

“Your mom collapsed at school. Tinakbo siya dito agad.”

I froze for a second. Then everything started moving fast. I didn’t say goodbye—I just ended the call and flagged the first cab I could find.

“Sa hospital po. Bilisan niyo po, please,” I told the driver, almost begging.

He nodded and started driving.

My breathing was uneven. I could feel sweat forming on my forehead kahit malamig sa labas. My chest tightened. I wanted to tell myself, she’s fine, she’s strong, but I couldn’t. Kasi hindi ko alam.

She was fine this morning. Wala naman siyang sakit. Bakit siya biglang collapse?

When we finally reached the hospital, I threw the fare into the driver’s hand and bolted inside.

Evie spotted me agad and came running.

“Anong nangyari? Nasaan siya?” I asked, grabbing her arm.

“Room 206. Pero di ako pinayagan pumasok kasi hindi ako family,” she explained, clearly worried.

Tumango ako and walked straight to the front desk.

“My mom, Susan Almanza. She was brought in just now,” I told the receptionist.

She nodded and handed me a form.

Of course. A form.

Even during emergencies, kailangan pa ng papeles. I scribbled everything as fast as I could, not even caring kung tama lahat.

Sinubmit ko yun agad and rushed to the elevator, hands trembling. My entire body felt cold and weak. I counted under my breath, one, two, three, just to stay sane.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened and I ran straight to Room 206. Binuksan ko ang pinto—and the moment I saw her, my heart broke.

There she was, lying on the hospital bed.

My mom.

She looked so pale. Her skin was almost gray, and she was attached to so many tubes I lost count. Machines beeped steadily beside her.

I dropped my bag and rushed to her side.

“M-Mom?” My voice cracked. She didn’t respond. Her hand was cold when I held it.

The door opened, but I didn’t look.

“Miss Almanza, can I speak to you outside?” a deep voice asked behind me.

I turned to see a tall doctor in a white coat. I nodded weakly and followed him out of the room.

We stood in the hallway. He looked at me with a serious expression.

“I’m Dr. Brown. What I’m about to say is... difficult. Are you ready?”

I wiped my tears and nodded slowly.

“One of your mother’s kidneys has failed,” he began. “Dahil sa high blood pressure and untreated infections. Matagal na itong nararamdaman ng katawan niya.”

Parang may pumutok na balloon sa dibdib ko. The tears came back instantly.

“She needs a transplant, Miss Almanza,” he continued. “And the surgery… it’s not cheap.”

I gripped my jacket tighter. I felt like the world was tilting.

“Magkano po?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

He hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Due to the high-risk nature of the operation, and the patient’s condition, it’ll cost about half a million pesos.”

I had to steady myself para hindi ako matumba. Parang umikot ang mundo ko nang marinig ko ang halagang kailangan para sa transplant ni Mama. Half a million dollars. Halos pabulong ko itong inuulit-ulit sa sarili ko, pilit ina-absorb ang realidad habang nanginginig ang katawan ko. I felt a hand gently rest on my shoulder—si Dr. Brown—trying to offer some sort of comfort habang binibigkas pa niya ang masakit na katotohanan.

"Before we start the surgery," sabi niya in a low, serious tone, "we need a deposit of at least half of that amount."

Two hundred fifty thousand pesos.

Wala akong trabaho. Ubos na ang savings ko. Wala akong malapitan.

Tahimik lang ako. Hindi ko na alam kung paano mag-react. My mind was somewhere else entirely, floating above the chaos.

"She doesn't have a lot of time left, Miss Almanza,” dagdag pa niya. “If her other kidney gets affected, mas magiging komplikado pa ang kondisyon niya."

Parang may mabigat na batong bumagsak sa dibdib ko. Hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa sahig, as if it would offer me answers.

"Miss Almanza—"

"Please... please, don’t say anything more," I interrupted him in a whisper, my voice trembling. "Kailangan ko lang... I just need time. Time to think. Please."

Tumango siya with a solemn look and slowly removed his hand from my shoulder. "Okay. Do you have someone who can pick you up?"

"Yeah," mahina kong sagot, kahit wala talaga. Naglakad na ako palayo, bag slung on my shoulder, at pilit pinipigilan ang muling pagtulo ng luha. Bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto, lumapit ako kay Mama at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

"I’ll find a way, Mom," I whispered as I held her cold hand. "Please, stay strong. Mahal na mahal kita."

Pagkalabas ko ng ospital, tinext ko agad si Britt.

“Can you please pick me up?”

Pero ang reply niya?

“Can’t. Busy.”

Napapikit ako habang hawak ang phone. Hindi man lang nagtanong kung bakit ako nasa hospital. Hindi man lang nagpakita ng concern. Para bang... para bang ako lang ang may pake sa relasyon namin. In times like this, I needed him more than ever—but instead, I felt more alone.

Huminga ako nang malalim habang tumatama sa mukha ko ang malamig na ihip ng hangin sa labas. Kahit papano, nakakahinga na ulit. I started walking aimlessly, just trying to ground myself. Then I noticed a small crowd gathered sa may parking lot ng ospital. Curious, I slowly walked over to them.

May mga poster sa isang kahon. I took one and started scanning it.

MAID RECRUITMENT - D&A ENTERPRISES

IMMEDIATE HIRING – INTERVIEW TOMORROW

LOCATION: THE HOUSE OF HERRERA

Napakunot noo ako. “The House of Herrera?”

"Yes indeed."

Napalingon ako. Nandoon ang isang babaeng mukhang nasa late 50s. Short, chubby, curly ang buhok, at may malambing na ngiti. May hawak din siyang isang poster habang nakatayo lang.

"Are you trying out for the position?" I asked, curious.

She chuckled softly. “Ay, naku ‘day, hindi na ako para sa ganyan. I’m just waiting for my driver. But I saw you looking confused. First time mo marinig ang Herrera name, no?”

"Kind of…" sagot ko habang muling tinignan ang poster. “Ano ba 'tong House of Herrera exactly?”

“It’s not just a house, sweetheart—para na rin iyong mini-palace. Mansyon sa ibabaw ng mansyon, sobrang engrande. Pagmamay-ari ‘yon nina Ralphael at Amanda Herrera, isang billionaire couple. Inarranged marriage sila ng mga pamilya nila— parehong mayaman, parehong makapangyarihan. Tahimik ang buhay nila, very private, pero matindi ang impluwensiya. Kapag nakapasok ka ro’n bilang staff, secured ka na. Malaki ang sahod, at bihira ang makakuha ng ganong opportunity.”

Napalunok ako. Parang may kaunting pag-asa na nabuksan sa dibdib ko. “Paano mo alam lahat ng ‘yan?”

She smiled. “It’s no big deal. Word travels fast. Tsaka, in this city? Everyone knows them.”

Tahimik ako for a few seconds. I stared at the poster as if it were a lifeline. Sa dami ng problema ko ngayon, kahit gaano kahirap ang trabaho, kahit maid pa yan—willing ako. Para kay Mama.

Wala akong degree, wala akong impressive resume. Pero marunong akong maglinis, magluto, at higit sa lahat, desidido akong magsakripisyo. It’s worth a try. Kahit maliit ang chance, I need to take it.

“Good luck sa’yo, hija,” sabi ng babae habang sumasakay na sa dumating niyang sasakyan. “Baka ikaw pa ang kailangan nila.”

Ngumiti ako ng mahina. “Salamat po.”

I looked back down at the poster. Bukas ang interview.

D&A Enterprises.

The House of Herrera.

For my mom, I’ll walk into whatever door opens.