Play Pretend

Chapter 15

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 15
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Countless rejections poured into my life. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na akong na-reject ng mga ina-applyan kong trabaho. I came to the point where I felt useless. I was tired of hearing the same rejection spiel over and over again.

Hindi ko alam kung saan at ano ang problema. I was confident with my credentials. Maayos din ang working experience ko kahit na isang kompanya pa lang ako nagtatrabaho simula noong maka-graduate. That only meant the company liked my service — the reason why I managed to stay there for a long time.

"Sorry. We have no more available positions," malungkot na saad sa akin ng HR.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko. I passed their final interview three days ago. Ang sabi ay kokontakin nila ako kapag tapos na nilang magawa ang job offer at pipirma na lang ako ng kontrata. I thought my misery was finally ending, but it seemed like there was no end to it.

"I'm sorry din po, Ma'am..." Umayos ako ng upo. "Sa pagkakaalam ko po, I already passed the initial and final interview. Tanggap na po ako. I was told I just need to sign the contract at pwede na akong magsimula."

"Yes, but there was a miscommunication in our team. May nauna na pa lang i-hire sa 'yo na kakapirma lang ng kontrata kahapon," sabi niya. "We're really sorry for the inconvenience. If you want we can refer you to another company... uhm... sandali lang."

Habang medyo tulala ako sa pangyayari, nataranta ang HR sa pagkuha ng isang flyer. She then placed it down in front of me, reminding me of my past.

It was an advertisement flyer from Dela Vega Holdings. Nakalagay roon na naghahanap sila ng Administrative Assistant — the position I left vacant months ago.

Halos ilang buwan na rin akong wala sa kompanya. Hindi ako makapaniwalang sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon na wala ako roon ay hindi pa rin sila nakahanap ng kapalit ko.

I also had no idea why the HR showed me that flyer when she knew my past working experience. Nakalagay naman sa resume ko na sa DVH ako dating nagtatrabaho at ang posisyon na nakalagay mismo sa flyer ang naging posisyon ko. Bukod pa roon ay wala namang relasyon ang kompanya nila sa DVH.

How will they endorse me? Nagbibiro ba siya? I'm not stupid!

"Dela Vega Holdings is open for hiring. If you want, you can try and apply there," she told me as smoothly as she could, but I caught her expression twitching.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. On second thought, I felt like I already knew the answers to the questions inside my head. Alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit niya inaalok sa akin ang trabaho na 'yon at kung bakit biglang hindi na nila ako tatanggapin.

I refused to think I wasn't fit for the jobs that I applied for when I got all it takes to be hired. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin noon. Someone was certainly behind this suffering, at mukhang kilala ko na kung sino.

Kung totoo man ang iniisip ko, hindi ko alam kung bakit niya 'to ginagawa. I had not heard from him since I resigned. Kung bakit siya nagpaparamdam sa pamamagitan nito ay hindi ko alam, and I didn't want to take the bait.

Kagat-kagat ang ibabang labi, nakahawak ako sa disposable cup ng iniinom na kape. I usually drink iced coffees, but I needed something warm to make me feel comfortable while waiting.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay dumating na si Joseph. We didn't keep in touch that much, but he would text me every once in a while. Madalas ay kinukumusta niya ako at nagtatanong kung nakahanap na ba ako ng trabaho. He also said that if I needed anything, I shouldn't hesitate contacting him.