Love and Cigarettes

Side Story #2: Bad Luck

My name is Dan, and I work as a bodyguard for a man with an incredibly rotten luck, Sir Alex.

His family was filthy rich, so I thought he would be a spoiled kid who doesn't know the way of the world. Pero nagkamali ako, dahil matalino si Sir Alex at napakabusilak pa ng puso niya sa iba.

But like I've said before, he had rotten luck.

That was his only flaw.

"I'm tired." Sir Alex stared blankly at his office papers. "Kailangan ko na talaga ng secretary. Hindi ko na kaya. Are there no applications yet?"

Napaubo naman ako. "None at the moment."

"I wonder why no one wants to apply as my secretary. The wage and benefits are good." lugmok niyang sabi at napabuntong hininga.

Napasipol naman ako. It's because you're so unlucky, Sir Alex, and that rotten luck of yours often spreads to others.

It wasn't an exaggeration. Talagang lahat ng nagtatrabaho para kay Sir Alex, minamalas sa buhay. Minsan sa maliit na bagay lang, minsan sa malaki. May mga nababaon sa utang, may mga nagkakasakit, meron namang araw-araw nadadapa nang walang dahilan.

I was an exception, though. I'm not sure why.

"Cheer up, boss!" Sinubukan kong pagaanin ang loob niya. "Bukas na bukas, may magpapasa ng resumé sa atin. Tiwala lang! Meron 'yan!"

You see, I was a guy blessed with extreme luck.

Nagdilang anghel ako at talagang may nagpasa nga ng resumé sa amin kinabukasan. Tila hindi naman makapaniwala ang boss ko.

"It's here." Sir Alex calmly remarked while holding the paper in the air. "Dan, this is the resumé of the century. Should we just skip the interview and hire her asap?"

"Boss, mas mabuti siguro kung dadaan  parin siya sa interview process. Kilalanin mo muna siya."

"I suppose so." aniya habang nakatitig sa resumé na hawak niya. "I promise I'll take care of her if she starts working as my secretary. I'll spoil her."

If you say that, people might misunderstand...

Minsan nalulungkot ako para sa kanya kasi iniiwasan siya ng mga tao dahil sa kamalasan niya. But if people tried to know about him more, they would have liked Sir Alex for being kind.

Anyway, the applicant was scheduled to have her interview the next day. Nag-send kami ng email sa kanya at sumagot din siya sa amin na makakapunta siya. I hope she's a nice person.

Kinabukasan, nabigla naman ako sa nadatnan ko sa opisina. May tea set, may iba't ibang flavor ng cake, at may choco fountain pa sa gilid. Kailan pa nagkaroon ng choco fountain dito? Dios mio.

Napangiwi ako. "Boss, what the hell is this? You're not supposed to serve an applicant with food. Interview pa lang 'to, hindi welcome party."

"But we need to treat her well, Dan. What if she changes her mind? I really need a secretary." My boss nervously bit his nails. Boss, calm down... You're not the one who's gonna be interviewed.

Hindi pa kami tapos magligpit nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto ng opisina. Nagkatinginan kami ni Sir Alex at pareho kaming nataranta sa loob.

"Boss, tandaan mo, name, age, experience..."

"Alex Alterra, 25... Top?" kinakabahan niyang sabi.

"Boss, hindi ikaw, 'yan mga itatanong mo sa kanya! At anong top?!" nandidiri kong tanong.

Ako na ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa aplikante namin. Nang salubungin ko siya, napakurap ako dahil hindi ko agad siya nakita. Ang liit niya!