Astonishing Us

XII

MAAGANG NATAPOS ANG klase ko ngayong araw, dalawang subject lang at pinauwi na kami, siguro dahil na din sa patapos na ang school year kaya hindi na nasusunod ang whole day naming klase.

I went out of our house after I changed my clothes, at magpaalam kay mommy na aalis muna thru call dahil wala din naman sila sa bahay. I'll go visit Ridge today, dahil sa haba kwentuhan namin sa call kahapon pati address ng company n'ya natanong ko na.

I'm also planning to bake a cake for him since he asked me once to bake for him. Plano kong sa condo n'ya mag-bake at doon na din magpalipas ng gabi since tanghali naman na ang pasok ko sa school bukas.

I sigh as I walked towards the terminal outside our subdivision. Nagdadalawang isip na kasi ako kung itutuloy ko bang kuhain ang engineering sa College o kukuha na lang ako ng course na kadugtong ng modeling.

It was my dad who wants me to be an engineer hanggang sa tumatak na sa isip kong iyon na din ang gusto kong kunin sa kolehiyo.

I've always been wanting to become a model or a novelist. Now that dad chose his second family over us: his legal family, I cannot see the point of fulfilling what he wants for me.

Sumakay ako ng taxi at sinabi ang lugar na kinaroroonan ng kumpan'ya ni Ridge.

I WALKED TOWARDS the information desk sa lobby ng company ni Ridge, nakahanda na ang masuyo kong ngiti para sa mga babaeng na sa likod ng desk na iyon.

The woman in high ponytail looked up at me as slowly her eyes widened while looking at me, "Are you somehow that new model? You look more beautiful in person!" Papuri n'ya sa 'kin na kinangiti ko.

Akmang magpapasalamat ako ng taasan ako ng kilay ng isa, "Don't lie, Rose, she looks completely simple, average beauty," tinignan n'ya ko mula ulo hanggang paa na kinatikwas ng isang kilay ko.

"What do you need?" The short haired woman asked.

"I'm here for Ridge," I answered na kinatawa n'ya ng mapakla na kinakunot na ng aking noo.

Anong problema ng babaeng lin'ya lang ang kilay na ito sa 'kin?

"See, Rose? Nakatikim lang ng spotlight iyan nangarap na ng CEO. He's too busy to entertain someone without an appointment."

Nagtagis ang bagang ko sa turan n'ya, gusto kong pumasok sa loob ng information desk at hilahin ang buhok n'ya pero bago ko pa 'yon magawa ay narinig ko na ang tila kulog na boses ng lalaking dahilan kung bakit andito ako.

"Where the fuck is the report, I'm asking for huh?! I gave you three days! Three days and you will give me hallow report?! You! Yes you! Where's your department's presentation for last month's report?! Y'all have me waiting in conference room then you will present incomplete presentations for each department?!" Galit at malakas ang baritonong boses na pagalit n'ya sa mga emplayado n'ya pagkalabas na pagkalabas pa lang n'ya ng elevator.

Napakura-kurap ako habang nakatitig sa madilim n'yang anyo. Napakalayo sa Ridge na sobrang maalaga at malambot pagdating sa 'kin...

So, this is how he is when inside his company.

The employees he'd been shouting out are trembling hanggang sa may isang naglakas loob na magdahilan.

"S-Sir hindi naman ho umabot ng trenta minutos kayong nag-antay—"

"Every minute is worth as gold! Don't give me that bullshit I'm a busy person does you think I have time to wait—"

"Ridge!" I called him out.

The short haired woman laughed bitterly again, "Oh, ayan feeling bida, gagalitin mo lang lalo ang boss namin girl, umalis ka na lang..."

I took a quick glance at her and rolled my eyes.