The Art Of Hating

Chapter Forty-one

XLI. Break

What the hell is going on?

My heels were ringing on the floor while I head to our office when I noticed some weird stares from our employees.

Mayroon namang bumati pero marami 'yong nakatingin na para bang may ini-expect silang reaksyon sa 'kin. I do received glances or stares even before since I got my position and when I'm already a regular employee pero ngayon, katulad ito ng pakiramdam ko noon nung magsimula kami ang tungkol sa amin ni Alexander. Something's not right. . .

Behati said (na pambobola rin) na maganda lang daw akong titigan dahil mistula akong rumarampa sa isang runaway kaya napapatigil ang marami. But Alexander said that the employees react this way because I am really intimidating. A lot are scared to do something in my sight.

Today. . . May napapansin na naman ako. At ang kutob na nararamdaman ko ang lalong lumalala nang may nakita pa akong nagbulungang mga babaeng empleyado. What the heck? Kahit hindi ko sila naririnig ay alam na alam kong ako ang pinag-uuspaan nila. There's no need for a smart person to know what's really happening.

Are they new, too? Isn't it weird that they don't know basic office ethics? Talaga bang bumubulong habang nakatingin pa sa akin?

I'm not a petty boss but this action seems really offending. Kahit sino naman ma-o-offend kung ganyan. I don't want to intimidate the 3 new employees but I had to stop to familiarise their faces.

They reacted in a really comical way. Iyong sabay-sabay na umatras at may pare-pareho pang ekspresyon.

Confirmed they are really guilty. Tss.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanila at nagpatuloy ulit sa paglalakad hanggang sa mabuksan ang glass door sa aming department.

There, I finally felt at ease lalo na noong sinalubong ako ng magaang ngiti ng mga ka-officemate ko. Mga pamilyadong tao na rin kasi at kaedaran lang ni Mommy kaya siguro magaan ang loob ko sa kanila dahil halos anak na rin ako kung ituring.

I greeted everyone back when I started arranging my things on my desk. Napatigil ako saglit at pagod na umupo. My chest hurt and I don't know why. . .

Hindi ako siguro kung pagod ako o kung paranoid lang talaga ako. I think it's my gut telling me that something's really wrong today.

Parang alam ko rin na may nangyari talaga pero hindi ko rin maisip kung ano. Iniisip ko kung may nangyari ba kay Lolo o hindi kaya kayla Mommy pero no'ng tumawag ako kaninang umaga lang ay maayos naman sila.

And there's Alexander. . .

He didn't call last night but it was already late so I understand. Iniisip kong mabuti kung may nasabi ba akong masama pero noong weekend ay maayos na naman kami. That was just our minor misunderstanding, I suppose.

So, ano nga?

I don't know what's wrong but something just doesn't feel right.

Shit.

Napahilot ako sa sentido ko at binuhay ang PC sa harapan. Though, I almost jump on my seat when the telephone on my side started ringing. Doon, mas naging alerto na ako. What the heck?

"Hyacinth Bliss Alvarado, speaking," I said right away.

"Hya!" A familiar voice. "Why aren't you answering our calls?"

Kumunot ang noo ko at nakahinga na rin ng maluwag ng makilala kung sino ang tumatawag.

"Yes, Jan? Nasa bag ko. It's silent," I said while I rummage through my bag to find my phone. Nakita ko ngang maraming missed calls mula sa kanila.