The Glimpse of Us

Capitolo Tres: Father for Hire

"Sinabi kasing mag-hire na ng private security, e!" tinakpan ko ang aking tainga sa lakas ng boses ni Kuya sa kabilang linya.

Ang aga aga nangsesermon.

"Kuya, kaya ko siya. At tsaka naman, hindi ako nag-hindi no'ng in-offer mo sa akin 'yan. Ikaw lang talaga ang matagal." 

Pinatay niya ang telepono at napahagikgik na lang ako. Kakahatid ko lang kay Maeve sa school kasama  ng kaniyang bagong babysitter.

I hired a babysitter for her protection, halos ka-edad ko lang din at magaling ito sa martial arts. I have warned her about Nyth and she promised me to take care of her with her might.

I sat down upang ipikit ang aking mata. Sobrang nakakapagod ng mga nangyari kahapon and I'm not happy about it. Random argument with my parents and Nyth suddenly approach my daughter and bought her ice cream without my permission. Kung hindi ko lang s'ya kilala, magmumukha talaga siyang mangkukulam.

I jumped out of my sit aggressively when my phone rang, naisip ko kung baka sino na naman ang natawag sa akin pero sinagot ko pa rin ito.

"H-hello, Grainne Lacerda speaking. . ." I formally said.

"Good morning, Mrs. Lacerda. I want to let you know that this is the Alta Inc. You're hired and you can start working tomorrow if you wish." the other line sweetly said but the formality was still on her voice.

"U-uh, Ms. lang po, b-but thank you! I can start tomorrow already. Salamat po!" I bowed kahit hindi naman niya ito nakita. 

Pinatay niya na ang linya pagkatapos magpasalamat. 

Masaya ako na medyo  kinakabahan dahil sakto raw na bukas dadating ang CEO ng kompaya-si Ms. Lilith Solenne Arano. Her name screams intimidation. 

She was searchable on social media platforms including Google already. She was just 21 when she became the CEO of Alta Food Inc. and according to old staffs, she is a strict one. Sabi nila ay halos ka-edad ko lang naman daw ito but she's still on college. Ewan ko kung magtuturo ba o naga-aral.

Marami na siyang nagawa at na-produce na iba't ibang uri ng produkto na kinilala sa iba't ibang bansa tulad ng Australia, Greece, USA, South Korea at iba pa. Wala siyang background tungkol sa pamilya niya pero alam daw ng mga matatagal na sa kompanya na isa rin siyang bata na ipinanganak na may gintong kutsara. Thet also said that she's been studying to Thailand while doing her job as a CEO kaya hindi raw siya maka-uwi. Pero, ang kaka-graduate lang nito sa kursong taking BS Education para makapag-turo sa mataas naantas ng paaralan kaya makauwi na siya rito sa Pilipinas.

I tried reaching out for my brother but he was unreachable kaya hinayaan ko na ang muna ito dahil alam kong may tampo siya sa akin. I can't find anyone I know who knows about her background kaya kinabahan talaga ako. But, I know I'd be fine. Hindi naman mahirap siguro makiasama ang CEO na 'yon.

Pagka-gising ko ay dumiretso na ako kaagad sa banyo para maligo. Maeve's at my brother dahil weekdays na naman and it is currently Wednesday. I took my office skirt and long sleeve at tinali lang ang buhok ko ng messy bun.

Kinuha ko na ang laptop bago sinuot ang stilettos at kinuha na pati ang aking susi ng sasakyan. It's 7:26 already at alas 8 ang simula ng aking trabaho. I'm afraid to get squished by the heavy traffic kaya medyo binilisan ko na ang paglalakad. Nang maka-sakay ako, I maneuver my car before going forward. 

I'm currently at the road and I was glad that the flow of the road is light only. Ilang minuto lang din naman ang byahe pa-Alta Building kaya hindi ako masyadong nagalinlangan. I have reached the parking lot already at tumakbo na ako papa-loob ng kompanya. A girl appeared out of nowhere at kinuha ang mga gamit ko, "Ako po si Tala Lacsamana, the secretary and I was the one who talked to you on the telephone, Ms. Lacerda."