CORA'S POV
I was walking down the corridor when I noticed three of my employees in a serious meeting, and guess what? I am the main topic of their conversation.
My life is truly portrayed as a sleazy soap opera, which explains why everyone is so preoccupied with chattering about me that they didn't even notice my entrance. I took the lead and came to a halt behind them.
Employee 1 inquired, "Bago ka pa lang, di ba?"
"Oo," says the new employee.
Another woman's voice added, "Ngayon pa lang dapat malaman mo na na isang dragona ang boss natin." That was Employee 2, I guess.
"Bakit kaya gano'n siya?" inquired the new employee.
Employee 1 responded, "Ewan, basta kapag sinabihan mo siya na 'di siya maganda at matalino, o perfect, magagalit siya na parang wala na siya sa sarili. Nakakatakot!"
"Ha? Eh, maganda naman siya, pero nakita ko sa mga pictures na mas maganda ang mga—" she came to an end when I stamped my feet to command attention. This new hire has just stepped over the line!
With a smile on my face, I said, "Please continue speaking; no one would dare to interrupt you."
But she merely kept staring at the floor, motionless. I looked around at the other staff, and they were all staring somewhere else.
"Oh, hindi mo na kayang ipagpatuloy? Where's your confidence? Dali na, sabihin mo na habang mabait pa ako," muling usal ko.
Hindi pa rin sila natitinag at parang hangin lang ang kinakausap ko. The sigh of aggravation I released came out as a hiss.
"You are all aware that I despise comparing," I grumbled, then went on to say something else while pointing out the new hire. "But you dare to compare my beauty to anyone else's! Thank you, you've just wrecked my day!" My face darkened with bitterness, grief, and rage.
"M-Ma'am Cora, p-pasensya na po, hindi na po namin ito uulitin." Nakadikit pa ang mga palad niya at konti na lang ay luluhod na siya sa harapan ko.
"Get out of here!" I screamed at her, and she eventually kneeled. "I'm still going to fire you even if you cry blood and have a raspy voice begging for mercy!"
"Cora!" Zella appeared out of nowhere. She inquired, "Anong nangyayari?" When I caught her eyes, I could see the look of bewilderment on her face.
"Firing an insensitive employee," I said in a normal tone. Nasanay na ako na araw-araw may napapatalsik akong empleyado kaya normal na lang ang ganitong pangyayari.
"Kinompara ka na naman sa iba?" diretso niyang tanong.
"As usual." I sighed and rolled my eyes internally. I'm about to leave the scene and head to my office when Zella speaks again
"Cora, tigilan mo na 'to." I was truly taken aback by what she said. Nasanay na siya na ganito ako, kaya bakit niya iyan sinasabi ngayon?
My best friend is now attempting to prevent me from engaging in habitual behavior. Wow!
"No, she deserves to be fired," I said, clenching my teeth. When the new hire tears were running down her cheeks, a self-satisfied grin flickered across my full, red lips.
"Will you please think about it this time, Cora? They're not going to make the same mistake twice, for sure natuto na sila." She attempted to persuade me.
"No, I don't give second chances."
Kung para sa iba ay napakasimple lang naman ng kasalanan ng babaeng ito, pero para sa akin ay hindi. Sino ba kasing tao ang gusto na kinukumpara siya sa iba? Obviously, none!
"If you keep acting like this, Cora, you're going to lose everything: your staff, your company, your fine life, and everyone on your side, including me."
I was completely caught off guard! What is Zella trying to tell me now? Sh*t, I've just lost my virginity! And if I'm going to lose all I've worked hard for, I would totally go insane!
In aggravation, I let out a deep breath and glared at the woman who was still kneeling in front of me. "Don't you dare do again the sh*t that you did today, or else, my company's doors are wide open, you may select which door you want to go through, and you are free to leave." As quickly as I could, I turned away. My eyes welled up as my tears were about to fall!
Sh*t, Cora, don't let anyone know how weak you are!
To get some fresh air, I went straight to my workplace and opened all the windows. Naramdaman ko ang paglapit sa akin ni Zella at tumambad ang isang bento box sa harapan ko.
"Breakfast?" She offered, but I just ignored her. "Oy, sorry na, ayoko lang naman kasi na may masaktan ka na namang damdamin, eh."
"But you don't seem to care that I was also hurt. Ganyan naman talaga kayo, laging ang nararamdaman ng iba ang inuuna ni'yo, pa'no naman ako?" This time, I allowed my tears to fall, but I quickly brushed them away. "Nevermind." I sat in the swivel chair, opening the bento box she had prepared for me.
"Hihintayin ko kung kailan mo 'yan sasabihin, Cora, at kapag ready ka na, promise, makikinig ako," she said with sincerity written all over her face.
"Thank you for the breakfast." I quickly change the subject. I just don't want to be overly sentimental today. "You can now leave since you still have work," I continued.
"Sige, but don't put too much pressure on yourself." I simply nodded, and she smiled as a result of her relief. She then stood, straightened her uniform, and bid her goodbye. "I'm going to leave now." And I instantly raised my hand in a short wave and smiled at her.
Freiya abruptly called when I was busy eating my breakfast. "Hello," I greeted him right after I pressed the answer button. Pero, bigla akong kinutuban nang hindi siya nakapagsalita agad sa kabilang linya. "Hoy, don't tell me you won't be able to make it to the event this evening?" Damn, this gay is making me feel so freaking anxious right now!
I heard him let out a small laugh, which I overheard. "Chill, Corazon, gusto ko lang itanong kung kailangan ko bang magpagupit o hindi na?" he inquired, which caused me to take a deep breath and loosen up.
"Oh, I prefer a man with long hair; tonight, you can just tie your hair. I also don't want you to squander the effort you've invested in your crowning glory," I responded.
"Salamat, Corazon," he replied.
Even though it was a simple word, it made me smile. I know I made the right decision because I have received genuine gratitude.
But, seriously, I really adore seeing a male with long hair since it adds to their attractiveness.
"Bakit nga pala hindi ka tumawag kahapon?" I queried. I'm just curious since I remember telling him to phone me when he comes home, but evidently, I received nothing.
"Baka kasi galit ka," He promptly replied.
"Galit? Why? Is it because of what happened between us? Bakit naman ako magagalit, di ba sabi ko no one should be blamed?"
Sh*t, akala ko ba ay kakalimutan na namin iyon, pero bakit bigla na namang naungkat? Tsk!
"Huwag ako, Missy, marami akong alam sa babae dahil feeling babae ako. Alam kong galit ka, kung 'di sa akin, sa sarili mo."
He's entirely right. But, I must quit blaming myself for what happened. Minsan talaga nakakalimutan na rin kasi nating mag-isip nang tama lalo na kapag tayo ay lasing. So, next time, I have to consider the implications of being under the influence, para hindi na ako magugulat kinabukasan sa mga nangyari noong lasing ako. I've learned my lesson!
"Oh, sige na, kalimutan na natin 'yon, as in erase na, erase! Okay?" He was the one who broke the silence.
"Yeah, it's the best we could do," I replied.
"So, baba mo na. Alam kong you're a busy person."
"Sige, make sure you'll be there tonight, ha?"
"Oo naman."
Ahhh, I'm so excited to see their reactions, especially Silver's, when they meet me with another man after more than a month!
I am about to hang up the phone when he speaks, "Corazon, huwag mo masyadong pinapahirapan ang sarili mo sa trabaho, ha? Kaya ka hindi tumatangkad, eh..."
Kating-kati na akong sumabat, pero mukhang may gusto pa siyang sabihin kaya hinayaan ko na lang siya. Mamaya ko na siya sisingilin sa panglalait niya.
"...kapag may 'di magandang nangyari, just breathe in and out three times para kumalma ka. Mas masaya ang araw kung walang problema. Additional lang, pakabait ka dahil mas gumaganda ang babae kapag laging mabait," he further said that.
He almost made me smile with what he said, but that last line annoyed me!
"So, sinasabi mo bang hindi ako mabait kaya mo pinapaalala, ha?!" asar kong tanong at mahina siyang natawa.
"Hindi naman 'yon ang ibig kong sabihin, pero kung 'yon ang pagkakaintindi mo, Missy, eh hindi naman ako mangingialam."
So, talagang pinatunayan niya lang na hindi ako mabait dahil diyan sa sinabi niya?! Ugh!!! He was about to make my day better, pero hindi pa nga totally gumaganda ang araw ko ay muli niya na namang sinira!
"Joke, syempre mabait ka, papayag ba akong maging gay boyfriend mo 'kong natatarayan ako sa'yo?"
"Mukha mo, pumayag ka lang dahil may pera!"
Tawa lang ang isinukli niya sa sinabi ko. I really wanted to end the conversation, but I overheard another voice, trying to sound like a woman, frantically yelling Freiya's name.
"Iyong ex mong juts nandito! Naloka na may bitbit pang bulaklak ang hinayupak!" he added.
Freiya's ex-boyfriend? Did he get Freiya a flower? What the hell is going on there?
I'm about to ask him what's going on when the phone line goes dead. Tsk, I'm having a hard time grasping what I've heard!
But, should I go there? Paano kung makikipagbalikan pala ang ex niya at naging marupok siya? Paano na ako? Paano na mamaya? I'll be attending the event by myself? No way!!!