Cliche (Candy Stories #5)
Copyright [Cliche (Candy Stories #5)]
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places,
events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used
in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or
actual events is purely coincidental.
The original image used for the book cover of this work is not the author's
property. No copyright infringement intended.
03:22 PM | May 20, 2018
Teaser [Cliche (Candy Stories #5)]
TCWDM: Use #ClicheWP for tweets ~
***
When I was young, I met a prince who told me I'm beautiful. Sabi niya, paglaki
namin, liligawan niya 'ko. We grew up, but unfortunately, I had a reverse story of
the ugly duckling.
The prince continued to be a prince, while I became the unpretty duck that wouldn't
become swan. Bumuhaghag ang buhok ko. Umitim ako. Natadtad ng taghiyawat. Sasabihin
siguro ng iba, okay lang pumangit paglaki. Beauty is something that should shine
from within. But that's not completely true. Kahit ga'no kaganda ang kalooban,
laging huhusgahan ang itsura. People judge with the eyes first before they use
either the heart or the head.
I learned easily how everyone desires to be interesting but not different.
Different is being that quirky cowlick when you already comb your hair and wearing
jeans instead of crowns when you want to be queen. In reality, everyone wants the
same thing—beauty, recognition, intellect.
I only wanted one thing—I wanted to stop dreaming for the prince.
But he's Maxwell. When he's in my life, he pulls me into his magnetic field no
matter how much I resist. When he's not, I miss him. Nagkaatraso ako sa kanya no'ng
college na kinatatakutan kong singilin niya kapag nagkita kami.
As fate would have it, we are going to see each other.
Again.
Chapter 01: You again [Cliche (Candy Stories #5)]
***
"Nope, not available. I'm busy."
Ibinaba ni Miss Kylie ang telepono sa cradle nito bago ituon ang matalas na mga
mata sa'kin. Halos nakasimangot siya but her seemingly glary eyes on me is her
natural, non-judgmental stare. Pero dahil hindi na 'ko nasanay, kumabog pa rin ang
dibdib ko.
"Are you done with the article?" aniya.
"Yes po. I emailed it to you kaya lang hindi n'yo pa yata nakikita." Which isn't
surprising. Miss K, aged thirty-one, runs two magazines, two restaurants, and one
PR company. Ako, aged twenty-three, ay humble employee lang niya.
I work as a writer for Savory (a magazine about food and lifestyle) and a reviewer
for Bon Apetit! app. It's a mobile application that lists, reviews, and recommends
restaurants and shops. It also connects to delivery hotlines.
"Hard copy," aniya at inilahad ang kamay sa'kin.
Iniabot ko ang prints ng tatlong articles na assignment ko sa Savory. Pare-parehas
lang na tungkol sa nagdaang Food Expo ang laman niyon pero magkakaiba ang focus. I
covered the three-day long event.
Inilapag niya sa tambak ng papel sa mesa niya ang iniabot ko bago ibalik ang mata
sa laptop niya. "I'll read it later."
I actually needed her to read my articles now. Six in the evening na. Karamihan sa
mga tao sa opisina ay nakauwi na. Ako na hinihintay ang review niya sa article at
iilan na adik sa overtime ang naiiwan. I have a six-thirty appointment sa
dermatologist ko na kapag hindi ako nagmadaling umalis ay mami-miss ko. Na naman.
"Actually, Miss K—"
"By the way, did you receive your schedule for the resto review next week?"
May natanggap akong schedule para sa mga resto na kailangan kong puntahan for food
reviews pero hindi ko pa nabasa talaga. It's weekend. Nasa pagpapahinga na ang isip
ko.
"There's been a change in the schedule," patuloy niya. "I know na sa Lunes dapat
'yong isang review pero bukas lang available 'yong isang resto. Is it okay for you
to work tomorrow?"
Actually, hindi. Part 2 ng session ko sa derma bukas. Sinabihan na 'kong kailangan
kong mag-stay indoors after it to prevent despicable break outs. I've been battling
pimples, acne, and break outs since puberty and I'm almost winning. Nasasabotahe
lang madalas ng mga biglaang work hours, gaya ng pinag-uusapan na naman namin.
"Ano po kasi..."
"I couldn't arrange for another date para sa review," dagdag niya.
Okay lang naman kahit na walang ibang date. May isa pa namang nagha-handle ng
reviews bukod sa'kin—si Pau. May on-call Chef din kami na kasama—si Chef Mino.
"Uhm... si Pau po?"
"Pau is resigned."
Napatanga ako. Resigned? Hindi man lang resigning? Kasama ko lang si Pau kahapon.
Nitong umaga, ang sabi lang sa'kin ay hindi siya papasok dahil masama ang
pakiramdam niya. Bakit at paanong resigned? "Kailan pa po?"
"Kanina lang. She told me over the phone. She's pregnant and been to the doctor.
Pinagbe-bed rest daw siya."
I couldn't fully grasp the news.
"May boyfriend po si Pau?" ani ko.
Miss K looked at me thoughtfully. "I actually didn't know. Hindi mo rin ba alam?"
Umiling ako. Dalawang taon na kaming magkasama sa trabaho ni Pau at tatlong taon na
siyang dumadaldal sa'kin pero wala siyang nabanggit minsan man tungkol sa
boyfriend. Akala ko, ayaw niya sa relationships gaya ng karamihan sa strong,
independent women ng company namin.
"It blew me away, too," sabi ni Miss K. "Chef Mino also resigned."
Kung gano'n... walang ibang puwedeng mag-review? At paano ako? Mag-isa na lang ako?
Miss K might have felt my agitation because she blew a sigh and looked at me with
soft eyes. "I'm still looking for another person to fill in for Pau. Pero dahil
Friday na today, it will be too short a notice para biglang mag-point ng kapalit."
