Love and Cigarettes

Chapter Seven

I was usually an early bird, but I stayed up all night transcribing so I initially planned to sleep in late. However, someone just had to ruin my sleep and barge into my home so early in the morning.

"Sir Lars," I was probably dead in the eyes when I opened the door for him. "Do you know what time it is? The sun's not even up yet."

My boss covered his eyes dramatically. "You don't get it, Moya. Have you forgotten already? We need to start preparing beforehand!"

I rubbed my eyes. "Prepare for what?"

"For the Christmas party."

"Mamaya pang gabi 'yon!" mangiyak-ngiyak kong sambit at tsaka nagmartsa pabalik sa loob ng unit ko. "Grabe naman, alas-sais pa lang ng umaga, maghahanda ka na? Daig mo pa pupunta sa prom!"

As soon as he closed the front door, Sir Lars shamelessy followed me to my room and even sat on the side of my bed. This guy...

"Listen, bitch. Do you even know what to expect in a party?"

I hid myself under the sheets. "Food, of course."

"Boys," he corrected me. "And lots of boys since other departments will be joining us in the party as well. Do you know what that means? This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a guy!"

Inis naman akong napabangon at napaharap sa kanya. "What do you mean 'once in a lifetime'? That's so rude! Para mo na ring sinabi na walang papatol sa akin sa buong buhay ko!"

"That's your issue?" he asked with a blank face.

"Besides," I pulled my hair in frustration. "As if anyone would be interested in a midget like me... I don't want to get my hopes up."

He shook his head in disapproval. "That's no good. Your goal today is to exchange numbers with someone. Kahit sino basta may tite."

My eyes widened in horror. "Sir Lars!"

He gave me an intimidating look. "Get up, bitch. Huwag mo nang hintayin na kaladkarin kita at ako mismo ang magpaligo sayo."

Labag man sa aking kalooban, bumangon na ako at nakasimangot na nagtungo sa banyo. It's so annoying how he orders me around and I can't do anything about it. What an inconsiderate boss.

"Isn't this considered abuse of power?" puno ng hinanakit kong sabi habang nagpapahid ng shampoo sa ulo ko.

"I can hear you!" Sir Lars shouted from the living room.

I sniffed. "I feel so oppressed."

Binilisan ko na lang din ang pagligo dahil nilalamig na ako. Paglabas ko ng banyo, nadatnan ko si Sir Lars sa kwarto ko at napasigaw ako nang makita lahat ng damit ko na nakakalat.

"Aria, your clothes..." Binigyan ako ni Sir Lars ng tingin na para bang naaawa siya sa akin. "Really, I have no words. They're so lame."

My cheeks reddened. "Pasensya na kung baduy ako."

"Whatever. Not like I expected anything. I guess we'll have to make a trip to the boutique." My boss seemed like he was lost in deep thoughts. "Anyway, done prepping? Let's have breakfast first."

This time, Sir Lars asked me to drive because he was busy thinking and he wanted to concentrate. Although it's technically my job to drive him around, that reason kinda annoys me.

Nagkasundo kaming kumain ng almusal sa pinakamalapit na fast food chain sa apartment ko. Habang nakapila kami, nakailang hikab na ako dahil antok na antok pa talaga ako.

"Eat as much as you can, Aria. We're going to skip lunch."

I panicked. "Huh? Bakit?!"

"Don't you know that ritual? If you have an important event to attend to, you need to skip at least one meal of the day." Sir Lars explained. "Para hindi mukhang malaki ang tiyan mo mamaya."