CHAPTER 2

EFFIE'S POV

Maagang akong bumangon sa aking pagkakahiga, ramdam ko ang sakit ng aking katawan at ng aking hita.

Tumungo ako sa malaking salamin sa loob ng aking silid at hinubad ang aking saplot.

I remember the man I was with last night as I glanced at my body. All of his touches, kisses, and moans are still fresh in my mind.

Napangiti ako sa aking naiisip. Kailan ulit kaya ako makakaramdam ng ganoong klaseng sarap, magtatagpo pa ba ang aming landas ng binata na iyon? Parang tangang nakangiti ako sa harap ng aking repleksyon. I'll never forget that night.

I have no regrets about giving up my virginity to a stranger because it allowed me to save my lola's life, and I'm glad that the young man claimed me. However, I still have a slight pang of self-pity.

Today, my lola is undergoing surgery, so I rushed to the bathroom after indulging in my fantasies.

Jeff mentioned that the young man I was with last night asked for my name, but he refused to give it, knowing that I would never return to that club again. Never again. Iyon ang una at huli ko sa club na 'yon.

After kong mag ayos ay lumabas na ako ng bahay. Ngunit bigla rin akong napabalik nang maiwan ko ang resume ko.

Maghahanap ulit ako ng trabaho dahil wala akong ipangtutustos sa pang-araw-araw naming pangangailangan ni lola. Mahirap lang kami, at kung hindi ako makakahanap ng trabaho, pareho kaming mamamatay ni lola.

Parang ewan na akong hinahalungkat ang mga gamit ko dahil hindi ko mahanap ang resume ko. Umupo muna ako sa kama at nag-isip kung saan ko nga ba ito inilagay, pero hindi ko talaga maalala.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at kokontakin sana ang kaibigan ko nang biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nangyari bago ako pumunta sa ospital noong isang araw.

"Ang tanga mo naman, Effie," bulong ko sa sarili ko nang maalala ko na naiwan ko pala ang resume ko sa sasakyan ng lalaking naghatid sa akin sa ospital. Nag kibit- balikat na lang ako at tumayo 'tsaka lumabas ng kuwarto.

***

WYATT'S POV

I hurriedly got into my car since I had an important meeting scheduled for today at my place of business.

"Why so stupid, self?" I whispered to myself. I realized that I had an important meeting today and almost forgot about it.

Just as I was about to start the engine, I noticed a brown envelope under the passenger seat. I picked it up and was about to open it when my phone rang.

"Hello, sir? The meeting will begin in 15 minutes," Manager Lee spoke up from the other line.

"Alright, I'll be there in 10 minutes," I replied and hung up the call. I placed the envelope on the dashboard of my car and quickly drove to the office.

Upon arriving at my company, I swiftly got out of the car. As I was about to close the car door, my eyes caught sight of the envelope. I grabbed it and closed the car door.

While walking, I opened the envelope and found a woman's resume inside. "Effie Cynara, 24 years old," I read. She had graduated from the School of Culinary. I nodded in acknowledgement, wondering how it ended up in my car. I was about to throw it in the trash bin at the entrance when I noticed a small photo on top of the resume.

The woman's face seemed familiar to me. She had a pretty face, fair complexion, and long hair. Napahinto ako nang maalala ko na siya 'yong babaeng dinala ko noong isang araw sa hospital.

"Oh, that woman," I whispered, before returning the resume back into the envelope.

Upon my arrival, the meeting promptly began. It ended with nothing but a headache for me because of their lousy plans and presentation. There were many mistakes in the tasks that I assigned to them, a lot of things were lacking, and the presentation was poorly done.

"Damn! Are you all professionals!? Even high school students can do better!" I shouted, throwing the papers that were on my desk.

"Edi sana nag hire na lang kayo ng highschool students," one of my employees whispered. Unfortunately, I heard it.

"What did you say, Ms. Hererra?" I asked.

She covered his mouth in disbelief as he realized what word had slipped out of his mouth.

"I said, what did you say?!" I raised my voice, causing the employees to jump in their seats.

"N-Nothing, sir," Ms. Herrera stuttered in response. I grinned, giving her a stern glare.

"Do you want me to hire high school students? Then, I'll replace you."

Ms. Hererra looked up at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "S-Sir?"

"YOU ARE FIRED!" I stated firmly.

Umawang ang mga labi niya na parang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig niya.

"S-Sir," she managed to say, her eyes welling up with tears.

"You hear me, right? You may leave now," I said without any remorse. She bit her lip and quickly stood up before leaving the meeting room.

"Perhaps someone else wants to join her?" I sarcastically asked. My employees kept their heads down, afraid to speak up after witnessing the sudden termination of one of their colleagues.

"So why are you still here? Get out!" I shouted. Mabilis silang nagsitayuan sa kanilang mga upuan at lumabas ng meeting room.

"Manager Lee, wait," I called out to the woman who was about to leave the room. She turned around, looking startled.

"Y-Yes, sir?" She caught the brown envelope that I threw towards her.

"Find her for an interview," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. "For what purpose, sir?" Manager Lee asked.

"She qualifies to be my secretary," I replied, and walked out of the meeting room.

***

EFFIE'S POV

Natapos na ang operasyon ni lola at naging successful din naman ito. Hinihintay na lang namin siyang magising. Nag lalakad ako pabalik sa kuwarto ni lola nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko.

"Hello, sino po sila?" panimula ko, dahil 'di naman naka-register 'yong number sa phone ko.

"Hello, good morning! This is Angelica Lee, manager of WR Food Company. Is this Effie Cynara?" tanong ng babae sa kabilang linya.

WR Food company? My eyes widened as I remembered that the WR company is one of the most well-known corporations in the food and beverage industry.

Ito ang company na pangarap kong mapasukan. Pero teka, bakit naman kaya tatawag 'to? Scam ba 'to?

"Yes, speaking," sagot ko. Baka mamaya pinagtitripan lang ako nito.

"Hello, Ms. Cynara, you have been invited to an interview at WR Food Company tomorrow. You are being considered for the position of secretary to Mr. Wyatt Roberts, the company's CEO. Please come prepared for the interview."

Parang nabingi ako sa aking narinig. "P-Po?" pag-uulit ko baka kasi mali lang ang narinig ko.

"I said you're invited to an interview at WR Food Company tomorrow because you're qualified to be Mr. Wyatt Roberts' secretary," pag-uulit din ng babae sa kabilang linya.

"Interview? Miss legit po ba 'to? Baka mamaya ini-i-scam niyo lang ako?" Sino ba naman kasi ang 'di mag dududa e, ang laki ng company na iyon at sikat pa. Isa pa, 'di naman ako apply doon paano ako na qualified as secretary?

Natawa ang babae dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Ms. Cynara, this is not a ruse or a rip-off. Mr. Roberts himself instructed me to find you. He even handed me your resume. You graduated from the School of Culinary, right?"

Resume? Yong resume ko? Don't tell me, CEO ng WR nakapulot no'n? Parang nabuhayan ako dahil sa narinig ko. So, legit nga 'to?

"Yes, I graduated at School of Culinary. Pero nawala ko ang resume ko."

Nag umpisa nang manlamig ang mga kamay ko dahil sa kaba at excitement na nararamdaman ko.

"It's possible that Mr. Roberts found your resume and was impressed by your qualifications. We'll expect you at the company tomorrow at 9 a.m. Have a good day!" the woman said, and dropped the call.

Nanatili akong nakatayo sa hall way ng hospital. Parang 'di pa nag s-sink in sa utak ko ang lahat ng narinig ko. After a second, I found myself jumping out of happiness. Gusto ko sanang sumigaw dahil sa wakas ay hindi na imposibleng magkaroon ako ng trabaho, at ang astig pa dahil sa isang famous na kompanya pa.

Pinipigilan ko sarili ko na makapaglikha ng ingay dahil bawal iyon dito sa hospital, baka mapaglitan ako at makaladkad ng security guard palabas.

Nang mahimasan na ako ay dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa kuwarto ng lola ko.

"Lola, alam niyo bang inimbitahan ako sa isang sikat na kompanya para sa interview? Lola 'di po malabong mag karoon na ako ng trabaho." masayang kwento ko sa kaniya kahit natutulog siya.

"Lola pag na tanggap po ako, mabibili ko na lahat ng gusto niyo," ani ko at hinawakan ang kamay niya.

Hindi mapag-sidlan ang tuwang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Sa wakas ay mag kakaroon na rin ako ng pagkataong makapag-trabaho. Hindi na ako mahihirapan sa paghahanap ng pera para sa pambili ng gamot ni lola.

"Gagalingan ko po, kaya dapat gumising na kayo," anas ko at hinalikan siya sa noo.

Pagkaumagahan ay maaga akong nagising para mag handa sa aking interview. I dressed in formal attire and went through my usual morning routine.

Tinignan ko muna ang aking sarili sa salamin para malaman kung desente ako tignan sa outfit ko. Mahirap na baka hindi pa nagsisimula ang interview, e umayaw na ang CEO.

"You can do it, Effie," bulong ko sa sarili habang tinitignan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. Sa interview na 'to nakasalalay ang ang future namin ng lola ko. Hindi ko p'wedeng sayangin.

Huminga ako ng mamalim at nginitian ang sarili ko sa salamin bago kinuha ang bag ko at lumabas ng bahay.

Pag dating ko sa 8:30 a.m. pa lang nang dumating ako sa WR Company. Mayroon pa akong 30 minutes para makapaghanda.

Taking a deep breath, I entered the building and looked around, searching for a place to gather my thoughts. Ngayon lang ako kinabahan ng ganito para sa isang interview. Sana naman ay masagot ko ng maayos ang mga tanong mamaya.

"Miss, may hinahanap kayo?"

"Ay kabayong buntis!" Bahagya akong napatalon nang may magsalita mula sa likuran ko.

"I'm sorry, miss. Nagulat ba kita?" A young man asked. He had a pointed nose, small eyes, and fair skin.

"Ah, medyo," natatawang sagot ko. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi magugulat pag bigla na lang may susulpot sa likod mo at mag sasalita 'diba?

"Naku! Pasensya na. Nakita ko kasing parang may hinahanap ka," anito at napakamot sa ulo niya.

"I'm glad na napansin mo ako. Mag tatanong sana ako kung saan ini-interview ang mga applicants?"

"Ah, what's your name?" tanong nito.

"I'm Effie Cynara," sagot ko naman at nginitian siya.

"Oh! Come with me to manager Lee's office. Ikaw siguro ang hinihintay niya."

Sinundan ko naman siya hangang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng isang opisina.

"We're here! Good luck sa interview mo," anito.

"Maraming salamat mister?"

"Jayson Cruz," dugtong niya at nginitan ako.

"Thank you, Mr. Jayson,' saad ko at binigyan siya ng matamis na ngiti.

"No problem. Mauna na ako, may trabaho pa ako. Pumasok ka na lang diyan," aniya bago umalis.

Kumatok muna ako ng tatlong beses, at ilang sandali lang ay may narinig na akong boses na nag bigay ng permiso para pumasok ako.

Pag pasok ko ay agad akong sinalubong ng isang dalaga na mukhang ka edad ko lang din.

"Hello, ako po si Effie Cynara," pag bati ko sa kaniya

"Oh, Effie! I'm glad you came. I'm manager Angelica Lee." Nilahad nito ang kamay niya sa harap ko at kinuha ko naman iyon para makipag-hand shake.

"Let's go to Mr. Roberts office, he's been waiting for you," aniya at giniya ako papunta sa CEO's office.

***

WYATT'S POV

I was organizing some documents when there was a sudden knock on the door. "Come in," I said, curious about who it could be.

"Wyatt, baby!" The sound of her voice made me lift my head, and I furrowed my brow when I saw my shameless ex-girlfriend standing in front of me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked coldly, closing the folder of documents I was working on.

"I'm sorry, baby, but I've started to realize that I still love you."

I couldn't help but give a sly grin as I looked at her seriously and chuckled.

"Oh, Chelsea, stop playing a dirty game," I said, leaning back in my chair.

"I am not, Wyatt. Please, baby, I want to be with you again," she pleaded.

I gave her a cold stare. "Please get out of here and stop pestering me," I grumbled.

Nag lakad ito papalapit sa akin at hahawakan sana ako. "Wyatt—"

"Don't you dare touch me," I said, to cut her off.

Napa-atras naman ito na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. "Stop bothering me, Chelsea. I'm no longer in love with you, so please, feel free to leave my office," I said sarcastically, pointing towards the door.

I had been patient enough with Chelsea to spare her any more hurtful words. Kaunting-kaunti na lang, mauubos na talaga ang pasensya ko sa babaeng 'to.

"NO! Wyatt, you are not allowed to do this to me! Hindi ako papayag," aniya na akala mo naman aping-aping. She's playing victim again.

Suddenly, the door opened, at niluwa nito ang isang babae. I stood up from my seat and walked towards her.

"Where are you going?" Chelsea asked, but I ignored her.

"Oh, darling, you're here!" I walked in the direction of the woman who had just entered my office.

Nang makalapit ako sa kaniya ay agad kong kinabig ang bewang niya at saka siya hinalikan.