Would love be enough to survive when a jaded single father falls in love with an outrageously optimistic fresh graduate within the harsh world of the BPO industry?
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The names of people, places, and organizations...
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"Ask Kuya Wright to come," Frank Benedicto practically ordered Win who almost choked on his water.
"Why me?" Win sputtered as he tried to regain his composure while Frank slid onto the vacant seat opposite him. They were both staying in the pantry on their last break for the shift.
"You're the only one he talks to," Frank replied simply and Win shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly at the statement.
"Maybe because he always feels like he needs to guide me every step of the way," Win cleared his throat before taking another swig from his transparent tumbler.
"You are lucky you have a personal mentor, not all senior agents are that magnanimous toward newbies," Frank said ruefully as he used his fingernail to remove a grain of rice stuck on the table's surface.
"Maybe he can't stand me whining every time I don't know what to do with a particular customer, especially irate ones," Win confided with a weak smile as he remembered a particular incident where Wright created a spiel for him on the spot.
"He could have just ignored you, but he chose to help you. That means something," Frank pressed further causing Win to sigh uncomfortably. Their batch is planning a post-shift drinking session after they graduate from nesting by Friday. It was supposed to be some sort of celebration before they officially become part of Production and get ushered into the real world of BPO workers. This would also be the last weekend when their rest days would be in sync.
"I don't know what that means for him. He's always been so serious, you know?" Win asked as he leaned against the backrest of the semi-couch he is sitting on.
"Yeah, couldn't blame him though. The man's been through a lot so early in his life," Frank sighed sadly as he crossed his legs and win furrowed his brows at the new information.
"How did you know? I never saw you talking to each other," Win asked curiously as he leaned closer, eyes sparkling with interest. He never had the opportunity to talk to Wright about what happened to him since he found himself gravitating toward the younger and more boisterous group in their batch.
"We came from the same account and he is quite known there because he was one of the pioneers. We are from different teams so we aren't that close. But he used to support us when we were just trainees. He is strict but he is good at explaining things more simply, we were all surprised when we found out that he was also reprofiled since he has a good record despite being a relative newbie in the BPO industry," Frank narrated lengthily in a low voice, wary of anyone who might overhear.
"He once mentioned something about having seen too much of life and love to ever be optimistic again," Win answered in a similarly low voice as if they are talking about something of national significance.
"It's an open secret that he just came from a messy custodial battle with his ex-partner. He didn't go to work for days and we overheard the team leaders talking about how his ex-partner was threatening to take away their kids and since she is the mother, she has the upper hand. He went back to work looking distraught and haggard but once he takes a call, he transforms back into the amiable Wright whom customers like to commend in their CSAT reviews," Frank crossed his arms over his chest after the lengthy narration.
