Nights Like This

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Hired

I have never felt this excited to be interviewed. Hindi ganito ang naramdaman ko noong interview ko sa Aquinas o iyong interview sa internship. This is different!

"You applied, Ate Bobbi?" manghang tanong ni Ali nang makita niya ako sa cafe. I'm waiting to be called. Siguro mga tatlumpung minuto pa kaya dito muna ako nanatili sa cafe. I'll just go upstairs if I only have ten minutes left.

"Yeah... I need money, so..."

"Oh, your parents are restricting you with money, too?" tanong niya. Medyo nagulat ako kasi ang diretso ng tanong na iyon. But I remember that I told her I'm being punished. Siguro hindi na rin nalayo sa isip niya na bukod sa sasakyan ay kasama na rin ang pera roon. "Sorry I asked."

"Yup, you're right. They terminated all my cards and gave me a new one. Isa lang,"I replied.

"You don't look like someone who should be punished."

Natawa ako. That's actually nice to hear but I know better. Kung alam ni Ali ang lifestyle ko, hindi niya masasabi 'yan.

"I've had a lot of issues this year. My family got fed up so here I am now. "

Tumango lang si Ali at parang walang balak na magtanong.

"Don't you wanna know what issues I've had? Mag-iiba ang tingin mo sa akin kapag nalaman mo," I said and chuckled a bit. I'm not proud of those but I'm thinking she might be curious or something.

"I don't really like going into details about other people's issues. And it's in the past so what's the point? You've been nice to me ever since I met you so I guess nothing would change?" she said and shrugged.

"You're very trusting... Paano pala kapag scammer ako at kinukuha ko lang ang loob mo?"

"I'd like to see the good in people. Plus, you never know. I might be a scammer too and I'm doing the same thing to you."

We both laughed at that. I really like her chill personality.

Ali gave me some tips. Ito na yata ang dynamic ng friendship namin- ang magbigay ng tips sa isa't-isa tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. It's nice. I don't have a support system at home so having one outside that household feels nice. Kung ikukwento ko sa mga kaibigan ang pag-apply sa part time job, I think they'll laugh at me and won't think I'm serious.

Because me? Barbara Isobel Vallejo is working to have money? Malayong malayo sa image ko na party girl, shopaholic at elite spender. But... things changed and I really need to work. Hindi maganda sa pakiramdam na may utang. Lalo na at kay Rex Niccolo pa iyon.

"I heard there are only a few applicants. Sure ako na matatanggap ka. Good luck, Ate Bobbi!" Ali said when I finally got up to go upstairs.

"Thanks. Sana nga matanggap ako."

Tatlo ang hinahanap ng coffee shop na part timers na papasok sa night shift tuwing Monday, Wednesday, Friday at Saturday. It's a 24/7 coffee shop so I understand the need for more staff.

"The last one I interviewed backed out. So, you're automatically hired. Unless you don't want to?" sabi ni Miss Grace, ang manager ng coffee shop.

Nalaglag ang panga ko dahil grabe naman? Ganito lang at tanggap na ako? I'm really hired?

"Bobbi Vallejo, 20 years old, Interior Design student at Aquinas University, interned at Universal Orlando... Oh, wow. You're rich," sabi niya habang binabasa iyong resume ko.

Damn. Baka bawiin ang pagkakahire sa akin dahil doon?

"Why do you want to work?" she asked, a bit confused.