Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 1: Her supervisor

"HECK NO! The guts you have there. Itinuloy mo pala talaga?!" My eyes rolled when Honey, my carefree friend, shouted on our video call. She showed me a bug eyed face.

"Kilala mo naman 'yang si Athena Penelope Jocson na walang hindi kayang gawin." Patch, an artsy friend of mine, mocked me with a cheeky smile.

"Kaya nga hindi ko sinasabi sa inyo even when I already received their email a week ago pa. Those reactions, I must say!" I reasoned out. Of course, paano na lang kaya kapag sinabi ko rin ang buong detayle kung paano ako umabot sa kalagayan ko ngayon. I did everything what I need to and what I have to. . . just to be where I was and where I will be heading to. Tinapos ko on time ang masteral degree ko at hininto ang business na pinagkakaabalahan ko para dito sa employment na inaasam ko.

However, the grin on my winning face suddenly dropped when Patch asked me, "Alam ba 'yan ni Tito Phillip?"

I was stopped, forced a smile, and heaved a deep sigh. "I wonder what will be his reaction. Nakiusap ako sa HR na pagpasok ko na sasabihin. I will head to his office after my first day to inform him about it."

"Do you really have to do this?" Patch blew a punch again. The conversation started to get serious. Napansin ko ring nawala na sa call si Honey, mukhang may inasikaso at hindi na nakapagpaalam. I diverted my attention back to Patch, the friend who never got afraid of telling me things.

"Kahit ngayon lang, Patch, gusto kong marinig na ina-acknowledge nila ako. Baka kasi kapag ginawa ko 'to, mapansin nilang deserve ko namang maging anak nila." I took a pause for a second. "But you know, when I said ang hirap palang hindi maging paboritong anak, I meant it."

"I can't blame you or preach about being a good daughter. Aware naman akong ako ang paborito ng mga magulang ko kasi." Patch scratched her temple as she felt awkward with the conversation, so I did her a favor.

"Wala man lang akong congrats?" Tinaasan ko pa siya ng kilay.

Patch sighed with a smile on her face. "Congrats, Athena. Alam ko namang kayang-kaya mo 'yan. Your grit is limitless and you deserve all the achievements you got!" She even clapped.

I was about to say welcome but our conversation was interrupted when I realized something, so I stopped and looked at her with wonders and confusions drew on my expressive face.

"What? Why?" Patch seemed a bit worried.

"You know what, Patch? I don't believe in superstitions, ha? Pero alam kong magiging maganda ang araw ko kapag napapanaginipan ko yung si ano. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na after namin, lagi na akong nananaginip ng ganoon bago ako makatanggap ng good news."

I did not even mention a name yet Patch gave me a smirk, na para bang alam na alam niya ang itinutukoy ko. "Baka naman kasi hindi mo pa nakakalimutan?" I could hear her teasing tone.

"Paano ko nga makakalimutan kung laging nasa panaginip ko?" I admitted.

"Athena, it's been five years. Move on move on din," Patch scolded me.

So I rolled my eyes once again. Then I rebutted. "Kinasusuklaman ko nga yung tao na 'yon. Hindi ko ma-imagine na babalikan o kakaibiganin ko man lang. Makausap nga ayaw ko. Mabanggit nga lang yung panagalan, naiirita na ako!"

"Just make sure! What if one day, makasalubong mo? Magtatago ka?" Curiosity filled her tone.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo. Sige na, kailangan ko pang mag-prepare para bukas," I told her as I tried to stop our nonsense conversation.

"Wait. Akala ko ba tapos na ang mga requirements na kailangan mo?" Her brows creased.

"First day!" Then a smile drew on my face.