SOLLAIRE I insisted to drive myself to the office kahit na ilang beses akong kinulit ni Vernon, ang boss ko, na sumabay na lamang sa kanya. Ang katwiran ko ay para makabisado ko na ang daan papuntang office para kaya kong magpabalik balik kung kinakailangan. "Godness, dami mong alam." Inis na banggit nito sa akin. Iniwasan ko na lamang na irolyo ang aking mata dahil pinapalalahanan ko ang sarili ko na boss ko ang kaharap ko. "Sir, it's really fine. I know how to drive and I got my license here." Iniabot ko sa kanya ang lisensya ko pero sa halip na kunin ito ay tinarayan lamang niya ako. Kung babae lang si Vernon ay aakalain ko na may dalaw siya dahil sa tindi ng ugali niya. "Eh, you are my secretary nga. Ride with me." Katwiran pa niya. Godness, di ba niya narinig ang sinabi ko kanina na ngayon lang naman kami maghihiwalay ng sasakyan? At tsaka para saan pa na binigyan niya ako ng kotse kung di niya naman ipapagamit sa akin. "Sir, ngayong araw lang naman para makabis
VERNONWhen I woke up, I was repeatedly calling Sollaire but I did not have her response.Napakunot na lamang ang noo ko bago ko abutin ang cellphone ko at makita na alas syete na ng umaga and that she should have been awake now.Mahigpit ko ring bilin sa kanya na gisingin ako pag nalate ako ng gising.When I walked past her bedroom, mas nagtaka ako nang hindi ko marinig ang tunog ng cooler niya. I did not have a chance to buy an ac yet kaya cooler muna ang nakalagay sa kwarto niya kaya rinig na rinig pa ang tunog ng cooler pag nakabukas ito. And when I had enough, kinatok ko na ang pinto niya."Sollaire? It's past seven, why are you still sleeping?" I loudly asked."Sollaire?""Sollaire? Get up, now. We have a lot to do.""Sollaire? I'm coming in, okay?"And when I opened the door, I was greeted by silence and a sight of no one"Where the hell is she?" Inis kong sabi habang dinadial ang number niya sa cellphone ko.And when she did not answer, I called Jane."Good morning, where you
SOLLAIRE Walang tigil si Vernon sa kakasalita at sa totoo lang ay nakakarindi na. Nakaabot na kami lahat lahat sa makati ay walang tigil sa paalala na para bang baguhan pa lang ako sa industriya. Let me bet, I can do his job better than him. "And remember, do not ever ever tolerate him." Mahigpit nitong bilin bago kami bumaba ng kotse. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Tolerate him with what?" Ngumiwi si Vernon at nagkibit balikat. "Eh, you will see what I'm talking about. Just don't be flirty and it is important for you to be appropriate." Napairap na lang ako pero sinabi ko na lang na, "Okay, sir. This is noted." Nakakabwisit, paulit ulit niyang paalala na be appropriate raw ako at wag daw kumilos sa malanding paraan. As if naman isa akong likas na malanding babae. Siguro nga eh mas malandi pa siya sa akin. Napaka kapal talaga ng mukha pero kailangan ko pa rin na maging professional kahit na sobrang bwisit na bwisit na ako sa boss ko. Pag pasok sa building, doon ko lang napagta
SOLLAIREWhen we entered the office, I was surprised to see the red and black interior of it. It screams hot. I like this office better than Vernon's office that looks so boring na para bang kwarenta anyos na ang nag-oopisina roon.Tutal para naman talagang kwarenta ang level ng ugali ni Vernon kaya bagay na bagay na ganoon ang itsura ng opisina niya."Where is he? Halos ma-late na nga tayo dahil sa kabagalan mo tas nauna pa rin tayo."I side eyeded Vernon dahil sa paninisi niya sa akin. Ano bang late ang pinagsasabi nito na ako ang naging dahilan? Eh sakto lang naman at mabilis ang kilos ko."I apologize, sir." Magalang pero plastik kong sabi.Instead of accepting ng apology, he rolled his eyes on me at kinrus ang kamay niya sa kanyang dibdib. Isinandal din nito ang likod niya sa sofa at pumikit.Salamat naman at nanahimik din si Vernon. Him continuously yapping is hurting both of my ears. Puro na lang reklamo at kasungitan ang nararanasan ko sa tukmol na to."Damn that bastard." Umu
VERNON We sat in silence while we wait for the bastard. Wala na rin naman akong ganang makipagusap dahil humupa na rin naman ang inis ko sa pagkalate ni Paulo. All I can feel right now is acceptance that he is late. "Good morning, you guys!" My head turned at the door's direction when it opened up, welcoming Paulo Avañes, also known as the bastard or the greatest manwhore in the CEO industry. "Vernon Ronan." He proudly speaks my name. "Looking sharp as ever, how are you man?" He asks. He extended his arm for a bro hug kaya tumayo na ako para salubingin din siya. "I'm fine, dude. How about you? Looking fvckin fine as hell as always." I cheerfully said. We have to accept that we might judge each other or talk behind each other's back, but when we meet, we remain is professionals. "Okay lang, dude. And this is?" He looks at Sollaire from head to toe, examining every inch of her until his stare landed at her unbuttoned top side of polo. At nang tumingin ako kay Sollaire
VERNON I remember what my Dad used to say, do not ever let them see you kind. And why did he say that? Because he knows that he needs people to know that his kindness is a privilege. I was really confused nang sinabi niya sa akin iyon lalo na at ang turo sa school namin ay pairalin ang kabutihan sa lahat ng oras at sa lahat ng bagay. Pero noong lumaki na ako at nagsimula nang magka-utak, I realized the deeper meaning of the advice that he gave me. Sa mundo namin, a lot of people are only with us just because of our influence, power, connections, and money. And when the betrayal of my ex-lover slash ex-secretary happened, mas naniwala ako sa advice ni Dad. I need to teach people that my kindess is a privilege that they need to earn. I have shown a lot of people kindness before, and unfortunately, I was betrayed many times too. "Where are you going, sir?" She asked. She is signing papers for our small transactions for other properties that we are supplying. "I will go home for to
SOLLAIRE "Get out, Anja." Tumaas ang balahibo ko sa tono ng boses ni Vernon. With his tone and with the seriousness that is written on his face, I just know that he is so angry. One thing I learned about Vernon is when he's calm and upset, that is his most scariest state of him. The girl Anja did not stop. Mapilit ito at makulit. Hindi rin ito nagpapadala sa paghila sa kanya ni Jane. Kahit nga ako ay nagsisimula nang mainis. "Withdraw your complaint about me. Hindi ako makahanap ng trabaho dahil doon--" I saw it very clear that Vernon had enough. Ano bang mayroon sa dalawang ito? At sino ba tong Anja na to at bakit sobrang galit na galit si Vernon sa kanya? I mean, galit naman si Vernon sa lahat but I am just reallt curious what made him really angry at Anja? "You think I give a damn? Use the money that you stole from me to find a honest way of living. Get the fvck out." Sarkastiko niyang sabi. So, this girl Anja is a thief? How dare her. I was surprised that instead
SOLLAIRE I missed my home. I missed it so much. Greater than I have missed anyone or anything else. Pinindot ko ang application sa phone na nagbukas ng gate ko. Hindi ata ako narinig ng tao na nasa loob pero hayaan mo na. Just when I thought he did not hear me, pag bukas ko ng pinto ay sumalubong sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Zion. Proud na proud niyang hawak ang lobo sa kaliwang kamay at ang cake sa kanan naman niyang kamay. "Welcome home, Sol." He excitedly greeted me. Maluha luha kong sinalubong si Zion nang yakap. He had to balance the cake out from falling dahil sa tindi ng pag yakap ko sa kanya. "Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" He asked. Hindi ako sumagot. I just hugged him more tightly. Marahang inilapag ni Zion ang cake sa lamesa at pinakawalan ang lobo sa ere, then he responded to my hug. Nang hinagod na niya ang likod at ang buhok ko, roon na tumindi ang luha ko. "Perhaps, your new boss isn't treating you pretty?" He asked again. I chuckled the