Prologue

Prologue

"Thank you for calling EXIV. My name is Sanya. How may I help you?"

Nakangiti kong bati kahit ang totoo ay antok na antok na ako. Tumingin ako sa ibabang screen and see that it was 4:20 am in the morning. Mahigit isang oras na lang at end shift ko na.

Gusto ko ng matulog.

Matapos kong tulungan ang customer ay nag-type ako ng notation sa account nito saka ito sinara at nag-Aux auto in muli para makatanggap muli ng panibagong tawag ngunit mukhang wala na gaanong tumatawag ngayon. Sabagay ay pahapon na rin kasi sa Amerika ng gantong oras.

Naisipan kong tumayo ako habang suot ang headset saka nag-inat-inat. I've been working as a call center agent for about 4 months now at kahit kailan ay hindi pa ako napunta sa morning shift. Araw-araw ay graveyard shift ang pasok ko.

Sa umaga ay estudyante ako at sa gabi ay isang ahente.

Well, I have no choice. Kung hindi ako magtatrabaho ay di ako makakapag-aral.

Napatingin ako sa tabi ng monitor kung nasaan ang aking family picture. I always have my family's picture with me. Ewan, for strength and inspiration na rin siguro.

Second passed, I heard a beep on my headset, sign that a call is routed on my system right now.

I tried putting energy on my voice kahit pagod at antok na.

"Hi, thank you for calling EXIV. My name is Sanya. How may I help you?"

"..."

The other line stays silent. Tanging ang tahimik na paghinga mulka sa kabilang linya lamang ang aking naririnig. "Hello?" pagtawag ko sa atensyon nito.

Napakagat ako ng aking labi. Kapag wala pa ring sumagot, I have to drop the call. I have to take care of my AHT.

I cleared my throat and stated my opening spiel again.

"Thank you for calling EXIV. My name is Sanya, how can I help you?"

But nothing answers me again. Nakakainis naman to, prank call na naman ata.

"Since I am not able to receive any response from the other line, I need to drop the call now—"

"Wait—"

Napamaang ako ng marinig ang boses ng sa kabilang linya. It's a husky and manly voice that somehow give shivers to my spine.

Lalaking-lalaki ang boses nito.

I look up to the account in my monitor, only to see his full profile.

Justine Klein Cordova, New York City.

"S-Sir?"" I call out to get his attention. "T-Thank you for calling EXIV. My name is Sanya, how can I help you?"

"Get me a bottle of whiskey. Here on my condo unit on New York City."

Napatanga ako sa narinig. May kausap ba siyang iba o ako kausap niya?

I didn't respond and stay quiet. Baka kasi di naman ako yung kausap niya-

"Why you're not responding?!"

Ha?

Ako ba ang kausap niya?

Teka, bakit niya ako hinihingian ng alak? Eh, telecommunication company ang account na hawak ko, di bentahan ng alak!

I calm my system down. "Ahm, Sir. This is EXIV's representative. EXIV is a Telecommunications company. Maybe I can direct you to any company who sells—"

"I don't f*cking care! Get me a whiskey, d*mn it!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko at marahas na napatayo.

"Eh, g*go ka ba?! Internet at Cable binebenta namin dito sa EXIV! Hindi alak! Adik ka ata, eh!" Sigaw ko saka binaba ang tawag.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka pilit kinakalma ang sarili. Huli na napagtanto ko na halos lahat ay sa akin nakatingin.

I saw my coach, mentors and even my OM looking at me. Gulat na gulat sila at tila may hindi talaga magandang mangyayari.

Patay.

I was buffling and panicking, I just burst in outrage on a customer. ON A CUSTOMER, which is the biggest no-no in this industry and I just failed to hold my freaking temper, out of all things na kayang-kaya ko naman kontrolin!

I don't know what to say. Everyone on the production floor is currently looking at me, staring and wondering, some even laughing, some are looking so disappointed and my team mates are looking at me sadly. I know what could be the end of me here, baka hindi na ako magtaggal sa kompanyang ito at mapaalis na lamang bigla. Very unfair but it's on our contract and job description.

Unti-unting bumalik sa normal ang lahat except for my heart pounding so loudly that I thought I forgot to breath.

Sumenyas ang Coach ko sa akin na mag-log out at umalis ng station. Pinasunod niya ako papasok sa office ng aming OM.

Dramatic as it sounds, pero mukhang dito gagawin ang hatol sa akin ng mga nakakataas. Nakakalungkot man kasi mukhang masisisante pa ata ako....

Anyway! Pwede pa naman ako mag-apply na lang sa iabng kompanya haha, pero bad shot to sa resume ko at record sa company. Pero wala, nangyari na eh, I-a-update ko na lang muna resume ko.