Lessons in Apathy

07

I'm walking in the corridor, wearing a black blazer, inside it I have a black tank top and cream trousers, I chose black stiletto heels and I'm carrying my Louis Vuitton bag.

I noticed the eyes of the employees on me as I passed. Some looked up from their workstations to pay their respects, while others barely hid their nerves because I had returned to the company. I've only been gone for two weeks.

I pointed a few things to those I passed by. "Report at noon," I reminded Jenna, our newest project manager, as I passed her, she hurriedly nodded. "Fix the numbers on that proposal," I said to Thomas, one of the financial analysts.

Papunta na ako sa office ko nang salubungin ako ng bago kong secretary na si Sec. Aerie, nasa 28 years old na sya.

"May gusto pong kumausap sa inyo, Maam. Nasa loob na po sya," naka-bow nitong balita sa'kin.

Sino naman ang kakausap sa'kin?

"Okay, thank you," umalis na sya sa dinadaanan ko at binuksan ko ang pinto ng opisina.

Sya na naman? Napakunot-noo ako nang makita si Julius na nakaupo sa couch. Paano nya nalaman ang kompanya ko?

"Good morning, Ms—" tinignan nya ang name stand ko sa desk. "Ms. Alsava."

"What are you doing here? How did you know this?" tanong ko dahil wala naman akong naaalalang nagbigay ako ng information ko sa kanya. I closed the door and went straight to my desk.

"I'm here to talk to you for a while, I only found out about your company because my Dad told me,"

"What to talk about?" tanong lang ako tanong sa kanya. Nilabas ko ang sign pen ko at isa-isang kinuha ang mga papel sa desk ko.

"About you... I only know your name," he said. Kailangan bang makilala nya ako ng lubusan?

"What's my introduction for? Will Crescent Moon Holdings improve more, once I introduce myself to you?" saglit ko syang tinignan, umiigting ang panga nito dahil sa sunod-sunod kong mga tanong at binalik na ang atensyon sa ginagawa ko.

"Just to get to know you better, Crescent Moon Holdings can improve if we get along," napataray ako sa mga papel dahil dumadagdag pa sya sa stress ko.

"I can improve CMH by myself Mr. Santiago, I don't need support in building my company, I've done it before and I know I can do it now,"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm going out. You don't seem to want to talk to me."

Good you know.

Lumabas na ito ng opisina ko at nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair at inikot-ikot ito.

I feel so guilty.

"Ms. Aerie," pinindot ko ang bell na nasa desk ko sabay tinawag sya. Pumasok sya at lumapit sa'kin. "I just asked for an americano coffee,"

"Okay, maam, just a minute po?" masaganang sabi nito sabay yuko.

"Please take it to someone else, may ipapatapos ako sayo," I took another paper from my desk because it was messy. "Please check all those papers, scattered on my desk, come back to me after 30 minutes,"

Pilit syang ngumiti, marami ang papers na binigay ko at alam kong kaya nya yon ng 30 minutes. "S-Sige po maam, p-pwede po bang padagdagan yung oras ko... di ko po kasi kaya ng 30 minutes."

Tiningala ko ito at pinatong ang baba ko sa nakatungkod kong braso. "Okay," ngumisi ako at ngumiti sya sa narinig. "I'll add 20 minutes as long as you finish this pile of papers, if you don't finish it in 50 minutes... you know what I can do Secretary Aerie," matapang pero malambing ang boses ko. "I don't like complaining and sloppy people around me."

"Now, mamili ka... 30 minutes or 50 minutes?" sarkastikong tanong ko.

Napalunok sya ng maraming beses. Isang tumpok pa ang mga papers sa desk ko. "T-thirty minutes po... m-maam... pasensya na po kung nagreklamo ako... h-hindi ko na po uulitin,"

"Okay, get out of my presence, order someone else the coffee I asked for and I'm starting your time... now," mabilis na itong yumuko at kinuha ang hiniwalay kong mga papel para sa kanya, tumakbo sya sa labas at marahang sinara ang pinto.

Even better, Abby is my secretary who can't complain unlike the others. Pinagpahinga ko na sya bilang secretary ko dahil ayoko nang ma-pressure sya. She's been my secretary for 5 years, and I have to get used to my complaining secretary now.

About three minutes later I heard three knocks on my door. "M-Maam, a-americano coffee po," nanginginig ang boses nito sa labas. Hindi ito si Ms. Aerie, I think employee.

"Come in," utos ko habang abala sa mga papel na sunod-sunod kong nirereject dahil hindi ko nagugustuhan ang mga pangit na designs para sa mga bago kong dresses.

Napasinghap sya nang itapon ko ang mga nirerejct ko sa trash can na punong-puno na sa tabi ng desk ko. Mas marami pa ang mga nireject ko kaysa sa mga nagustuhan ko.

Nang makalapit sya sa akin, nanginginig ang kamay nyang pinatong ang kape sa desk, natapon pa iyon dahil sa panginginig ng mga kamay nya at kumalat sa papel na hindi ko nireject.

My eyes quickly turned to that paper and my head got even hotter, everything was covered in coffee. She was panicking while trying to fix and dry them.

"Stop," the tone of my voice is soft but inside, I want to pull her hair before she resign.

"M-Maam... s-s-sorry po... h-hindi ko po sinas—" pinutol ko ang paghingi nya ng tawad dahil wala namang magagawa iyon.

"It's fine," kumuha ako ng isang papel sa mga hindi nabasa ng kape. "these designs got tossed aside for being ruined... and if you're not careful... you'll be next." I threw the paper on the floor and gave her a devilish smile as I winked.

"Sorry po talaga... sorry po... hindi ko po talaga sinasadya." yuko sya ng yuko at takot na takot ang kanyang boses.

"You might want to get your stuff," I said, my tone intimidating to her. "Your time here has come to an end."

"Maam, patawarin nyo po ako, k-kailangan na kailangan ko po talaga ang trabaho na ito para mapagamot ang Nanay ko... maam, bigyan nyo po ako ng isang pagkakataon nalang para ayusin ang trabaho ko... s-sorry po maam, sorry po talaga..." pinagdikit nya ang kanyang palad at walang tigil ito sa pagtungo.

My heart softened when I heard what she said briefly, is her mother sick? I'm a compassionate person when I hear the sad stories of others.

"One last chance," tinignan ko ang name plate sa uniform nya. "Ms. Ruth." pinunasan nya ang kanyang mga luha nang hindi ko tinitignan.

"M-Maraming salamat po, maam... salamat po... pangako ko po na hindi ako papalpak sa susunod,"

"Just bring me a coffee," lumambot ang boses ko.

"S-Sige po, maraming salamat po..."

I called Mr. Inocando to find information about Ruth Radar. Sya ang may hawak ng mga information tungkol sa mga empleyado.

Ruth Radar, a 28-year-old Junior Designer at Crescent Moon Holdings. Living in a small apartment on Westwood Lane, he is the sole carer for his ailing mother, Evelyn Radar, who suffers from late-stage kidney disease that requires expensive treatment. With the death of her father when she was just 15, Ruth had to shoulder the burden alone, devoting most of her salary to medical bills and rent while working additional freelance work. Despite graduating with honors from St. James School of Design, constant stress and exhaustion began to affect his work performance.

Ruth Radar, a 28 years old Junior Designer at Crescent Moon Holdings. Living in a small apartment on Westwood Lane, she's the sole carer for her ailing mother, Evelyn Radar, who suffers from late-stage kidney disease that requires expensive treatment. With the death of her father when she was just 15, Ruth had to shoulder the burden alone, devoting most of her salary to medical bills and rent while working additional freelance work.

Graduating with honors from St. James School of Design, constant stress and exhaustion began to affect her work performance.

"Find where the hospital is, Mr. Inocando give me the name of the hospital,"