Chapter 1: Applicant no. 42

NASA labas si Evangeline Yang ng isang marangya at magarang building. Medyo kinakabahan siya at nagdadalawang isip rin siya kung itutuloy niya ba? O uuwi na lang at bukas na lang mag -apply. Hindi naman siya nanghihinayang sa pamasahe. Madami siyang ipon at hindi pa siya resigned bilang isang escort service.

Ngayon na graduate na siya sa kursong Business Administration major in Marketing Management. Handa niya na iwan ang buhay niya bilang isang escort ng Ligaya & Adonis Agency o ang LALALAND. Ilang taon rin siya ganoon ang trabaho. Nagpapasalamat siya dito dahil sa tulad niyang isang probinsyana na nakipagsapalaran sa Manila, ay nakabangon siya at nakapagtapos sa pag-aaral. Kahit papano ay tatanaw siya ng malaking utang na loob dito.

Huminga ng malalim si Eva at kusang mga paa niya ang gumalaw at tumawid ng kalsada upang makarating sa loob ng building. Kamuntikan pa siyang mabundol kasi biglang nag-red ang stop light ng patawid na sana siya. Kaya bumalik siya sa tabi.

The lobby of Ravel Inc. was intimidating in all the ways success often was: floor-to-ceiling glass, polished marble floors, and a faint scent of expensive perfume mixed with ambition.

She stood at the center of it all, her résumé clutched tightly in her folder, heels clicking confidently across the slick surface. Her beige blouse was pressed to perfection, her skirt modest yet flattering. Hair in a low ponytail, light makeup. Everything about her screamed "hire me"-but not in a desperate way. No, she was composed.

"Ma'am, may I help you?" tanong ng receptionist, isang babae na naka-uniform pa ng sleek black and gold.

"I'm here for the EA interview." She answered with a small smile.

The receptionist typed quickly, nodding. "Pahingi po ng ID." Binigay ni Eva ang school ID niya, though may mga government ID na siya, baka kailanganin niya kasi. Nang matapos na siya magpapicture at nag-imput ng name sa system ng building, binigyan si Eva ng temporary access."Sa 15th floor, Ravel Inc. May elevator po sa kanan."

"Thank you."

As Eva rode the elevator, she checked her reflection through the chrome walls. Her heart was beating in a measured panic. This wasn't her first interview, but it was definitely the biggest so far. Ravel Inc. was one of the top marketing ad companies in Southeast Asia. Known for handling billion-peso campaigns and launching celebrities into global superstardom, they were also notorious for their strict hiring process.

Okay lang, kaya ko 'to, she told herself. You survived worse than this. Smile lang, Eva. Pag bukas ng elevator, may another receptionist ang mismong kumpanya na.

May tatlong bagay agad na napansin ni Eva pagpasok niya sa Ravel Inc.:

Una, mas malamig pa sa ex mong ghoster ang aircon.

Pangalawa, lahat ng empleyado ay naka-neutral tones - parang may secret dress code.

At pangatlo, walang ngiti sa reception desk. Kahit isa.

Inabot niya ang kanyang resume at nag- abang sa applicant's waiting area. Ang tension sa waiting area pa lang ay napakalakas na. Ang iba kasi ay kinakabahan at ang iba ay nag-papractice pa ng isasagot sa tanong na: 'why should we hire you?' pati sa tanong na: 'what are your strength and weaknesses?' Sobrang daming applicant para bang pila sa palibreng bigas ng isang Mayor.

Pero si Eva kalmado lang. Hindi sa alam niya na makakapasa siya. Dahil sa labas pa lang habang nag-iisip ay tinanggal niya na sa katawan niya ang kaba.

"Applicant number 42?"

Tinaas ni Eva ang kanyang kamay at para mapansin na siya ang applicant number 42.

The door to Room opened with a soft click. Inside were two people: an HR manager who's a woman and another man.

"Miss Yang, by the way I'm Shiela." Pakilala ng HR manager. "This is Roy and Benj." Pakilala niya sa dalawa pa niyang mga kasama na hindi man lang tumungin sa kanya at sinusuri ang kanyang resume.

"Hello po, You can call me Eva." Pakilala niya habang umupo sa tapat nila.

"Shall we begin?" Sabi ng isang lalaki na nakasalamin na Roy yata ang pagpapakilala ayon kay Shiela.

They went through the usual questions: educational background, strengths, weaknesses. But when the conversation shifted to languages, the energy in the room changed.

"Fluent ka raw in four foreign languages?" Tanong ni Benj, raised a brow to her. "Sure ka dito?"

Eva smiled a little. "Yes po. Conversational in Mandarin and Korean, fluent in Spanish and Japanese. May I demonstrate?"

Napatingin yung Roy, impressed but trying not to show it. "Japanese, sige nga. Introduce yourself."

With flawless pronunciation and a natural tone, Eva bowed slightly again and said:

「こんにちは。私はエヴァ・ヤンと申します。ラベル社で働くことを楽しみにしています。」

(Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Eva Yang to moushimasu. Raveru-sha de hataraku koto wo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.)

Shiela blinked, caught off guard. "Spanish naman."

"Con mucho gusto. Estoy aquí para aprender, contribuir, y crecer con Ravel Incorporated."

The man beside Shiela chuckled. It was Benj, and he was impressed. "Mandarin kaya?"

Eva shifted gears without blinking. "你好。我叫Eva Yang，很高兴认识你们。" (Hello. My name is Eva Yang. Nice to meet you all.)

Tumango si Shiela ang HR manager. "How about Korean?"

She gave a tiny smile. "안녕하세요. 저는 에바 양입니다. 기회가 주어진다면 열심히 일하겠습니다."

(Hello, I'm Eva Yang. If given the chance, I will work hard.)

Bigla nag-iba ang energy sa room. They looked at each other, mildly surprised, then scribbled notes.

"Impressive," sabi ni Roy. "Pero curious lang kami... Where'd you train for that kind of skillset?"

Eva gave a polite smile. "Just a combination of early exposure, watching international media, and... life experience po." Half-truths are still truths, right? She's dealing with high-profile foreign clients at Ligaya & Adonis. And part of being a Best Flavor which is a highest rank in the agency. She needs to learn languages such as this to interact.

"Street-smart," bulong ni Benj.

She didn't reply, just kept her posture straight, her face calm.

"Okay, Ms. Yang. We'll forward your credentials to upper management. If selected, expect a callback within the week."

"Thank you so much po. Have a great day."

She bowed slightly again, then walked out of the interview room - steady, poised, and composed.

May lumapit naman sa kanya na babae. "Ate anong tinanong sa'yo? Ang tagal mo kasi sa loob."

"Ganun ba ako katagal? Parang saglit lang naman ako. Normal question lang naman like introduce yourself."

"Ah sige, thank you. Kinakabahan kasi ako."

"Wag kang kabahan."

"Hala ate aalis kana?"

Tumango siya na medyo confused. "Oo may flight pa kasi ako mamaya."

"Hala pasado kana."

Kumamot ng sa ulo niya si Eva. Nagsalita naman ang isang aplikante. "Kapag hindi ka pumasa sasabihin na agad sa'yo. Kapag sinabing wait for our call in a week or we will send your credential to the higher up, ibig sabihin lang tanggap ka na."

"Ganon ba sila rito tumanggap ng empleyado? Weird."

Ngumiti sa kanya ang babaeng nagtanong kanina. "Congrats ate."

Ngumiti pabalik si Eva. "Thank you."

Nagpaalam na siya sa mga kausap at umalis na. Sana lang makuha niya ang trabaho na ito. Kasi kapag hindi, baka umuwi na lang siya sa probinsya at mag negosyo na lang doon. Pero sa totoo lang, ayaw pa niya bumalik doon. Nasanay na kasi siya sa buhay sa syudad.