Conquer

Chapter 9: Resign

"Wala ka nang ginawang tama!", sigaw ni Cheena nang natalisod siya sa wires na ipinaayos sa kanya ni Cheena. "'Yan na nga lang hindi mo pa magawa!" 

Tahimik ang buong set dahil sa sigaw ni Cheena. Nandoon na ang mga artista ng isang noontime show at pati sila ay napatahimik. Nakayuko lang si Annika at humihingi ng pasensya. 

"What is happening here?!", bumaba si Allen mula sa control room at napa-irap lang ulit si Cheena. "Cheena, let's talk." Sumama si Cheena kay Allen sa isang sulok. Napaupo na lamang si Annika at mas lalong napatibay ang desisyon niyang mag-resign at bumalik ng Maynila. 

Nararamdaman niya ang mga mahinang boses na pinag-uusapan siya. Inilabas niya ang phone niya at tinawagan si Jao sa isang sulok. 

"Oh? Akala  ko may show kayo ngayon?", tanong ni Jao. 

"Jao, busy ka ba?" 

"Hindi naman, nasa bahay lang ako nagrereview ng script. Bakit?"

"Tara, labas?" 

"What happened?"

"I'm going to hand out my resignation after this. Immediate Resignation."

"I thought you'll still finish-", suminghot si Annika at nagbitaw ng isang malalim na hininga. "Okay, I got you. Be there at 3 pm." 

Natapos ang show ng 1 pm at nagkaroon ng debriefing after noon. Lahat masaya dahil sa success ng episode. Matapos ang debriefing, lumapit si Annika kay Cheena at Allen na naiwan sa conference room. 

"Sir Allen, Ma'am Cheena-", panimula ni Annika at inilapag ang letter sa table. Kinuha ito ni Cheena at binasa. May maliit na ngiting namuo sa labi niya samantalang kumunot naman ang noo ni Allen. 

Inilabas ni Cheena ang ballpen niya at pinirmahan. "Approved. Don't report tomorrow anymore, wala ka rin namang naitutulong." Pinipigilan nalang ni Annika na hindi pumatak ang luha niya. 

"Cheena-"

"What? Is this not what you want?", tanong ni Cheena kay Allen. 

"Annika, let's talk." Tumayo si Allen at lumabas ng room kasama si Annika. Dinala ni Allen si Annika sa cafe sa labas ng building. 

"What do you want?", tanong ni Allen. 

"Kahit ano po." Nag-order si Allen para kay Annika at nag-hanap ng mauupuan. "Don't make any rash decisions. If it's about what happened awhile ago, don't worry about it."

"I don't get it."

"What?"

"Nung una sabi mo sa akin sir na gusto mo akong magresign tapos ngayon pinipigilan mo ako." 

"Well, I-, I just think that since you already have an opportunity, do your best to show your potentials."

"Sir, ikaw na rin ang nagsabi na ayaw sa akin ng mga tao doon just because I had it so easy. How can I even unleash my potentials if no one ever supported me there? Writer na taga-ayos ng wires? Writer na pinag-aayos kasama ng mga OJT?"

"I always supported you."

"Yes, but it's not enough. And sir please understand that this is not a rash decision. I've been thinking about it for weeks now. The incident awhile ago was my confirmation."

"But the opportunity to enter the industry is already there, papaano ka magiging sikat na writer niyan? Are you going to throw away your dreams now?" Huminga ng malalim si Annika at tinignan si Allen na parang Tatay na kinukumbinsi ang anak na ituloy ang pag-aaral at huwag mag drugs.

"You asked me before what my trauma is-well, since I was a child I was bullied for my stutter."

"Stutter?"

"Yeah, I have a speech disability." 

"What? Seriously? Wala naman." Tumaas ang kilay ni Annika sa reaksyon ni Allen. 

"Let me finish. I don't have the time to orient you about it but yeah, I was bullied because of it. It may not show now since I was able to manage it in a way, but it doesn't mean that I did not suffer from it." 

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"The reason why I even started writing was because I was afraid to talk about what I feel. I expressed it all out in writing novels because I really wanted to get back to all the people who bullied me when I was in Elementary and High School. That's the reason why my stories have similar plots because I lust for revenge and victory. Luckily, you found me."  

"Huh?"

"You're the one who recommended me to the publishing house and since you're basically the owner, you got your way. And, I will always be grateful for that."

"Oh, how did you-nevermind, continue."

"Coming here and meeting my bullies made me realize a lot. I thought that my fame and success now would make them feel embarrassed but no. I met my greatest bully and she doesn't even remember what she has done. Nakakainis na parang nabuhay ako for years thinking about that day and it was not as fulfilling as I expected it to be. And I realized that we were all kids back then. They all grew up but ironically, me holding that grudge for this long was self-destructive." Ngumiti si Annika at napahinga. "So what I'm saying here sir that, I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me not just because you amplified my talent but you also paved a way for me to heal. But, this world is not for me. I can continue to be a signed writer of  Word Center but that's it."

"Then anong gagawin mo?"

"I'm going back to my life." 

"To Baguio?" tumango si Annika. 

"No." 

"Huh?", nabigla si Annika sa reaksyon ni Allen. 

"No, you can't go back. I can give you a job in GLC if you want. Just stay here."

"Why?" Tinitigan ni Allen si Annika at napalunok.

"Annika, I Li-"

"Annika.", Napatigil si Allen nang may lumapit sakanilang isang lalake. 

"Jao?", gulat na tanong ni Annika.

"Eli Jimenez?", tanong naman ni Allen.

"Sir Allen, nice meeting you here. I'm sorry did I interrupt you two?"

"Uh, no- you two know each other?"

"Yeah, we're friends for more than 2 decades already. I'm here to pick her up." Hindi nakasagot si Allen. "Are you guys finished, I'll just wait here."

"No, it's okay, tapos na kami mag-usap ni Sir Allen.", sabi ni Annika. "Sir, I'll just come back tomorrow to process my clearance with the HR and the other needed documents. Thank you so much for all your help.", paalis na sana si Annika nang piniglan siya ni Allen. 

"Wait-can I call you?", tanong ni Allen.

"Huh? Uhm, sure sir." Lumabas si Annika at Jao sa cafe. Sumakay sila sa sasakyan ni Jao. 

"Bakit ka raw niya tatawagan?"

"Ewan ko doon."

"Ah, hindi ko talaga gusto 'yon si Allen.", sabi ni Jao na may halong inis saka niya pina-andar ang sasakyan. "Huwag mong sasagutin 'yung tawag nun ha."

"Bakit naman?"

"Hindi ka ba nac-creepyhan don? He obviously-" natigilan si Jao at huminga na lang ng malalim. 

"He obviously what?" Tinignan ni Jao si Annika nang mabilisan at napahinga ulit ng malalim. "Alam mo bang 'yang ginagawa mong paghinga-hinga ng malalim eh nagbibigay sa kin ng too much anxiety. What is it?" 

"Do you not really feel anything? I mean, are you sure you even dated before?"

"Excuse me, mister-ayoko ng tone of voice mo." 

"I'm sorry, it's obvious that he likes you." Natawa si Annika at naisip ang mga sinabi sakanya ng mga staff noon.

"But she has a girlfriend."

"Ganoon ka na ba ka naive na hindi mo cinoconsider na kahit may karelasyon ang isang tao eh hindi sila pwede mainlove sa iba?"

"It's not that denying the possibility, I just don't want to ride on that idea. Besides, why would someone like him would like someone like me."

"Why? What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure I'm not as half as worthy as Ms. Cheena."

"I Like you." Napatahimik sila. Tunog ng car engine at mga bumibusinang sasakyang lang ang naririnig nila. Itinabi ni Jao ang sasakyan. "I like you, Annika."

"W-why?" Ngumiti si Jao. 

"We have a lot of time to talk about that. For now, let's eat first."