Celluloid Scenes | Guontiveros OneShots

ーׁ̫🔪ׅ★ ┊ on the desk 🦋ꦿ⭒

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“You only live once,” that’s what she always says. My boss, Risa, lives by it like it's some kind of mantra.

And, maybe that’s why she always has a new girl by her side. One night of fun, then on to the next, leaving broken hearts in her wake. To her, it’s just living life, no strings attached.

But me? I’m Alice. Her secretary, her personal assistant — the one who sees it all up close. I’ve watched her do it a thousand times: let someone in, share a laugh, maybe even a kiss.

Then, just as easily, she shuts the door and moves on. I’ve learned to not care. What else can I do? It’s not my life.

It’s her life. And I’m just here, stuck in the background, taking notes and pretending it doesn’t bother me.

It does bother me, the way she stared at me sometimes, felt like I'll be her next victim. But no, I will never be one of her women.

-

Night came, and my house was dimly lit. Sheila, my sister, walked over with a glass of wine in hand and sat beside me on the sofa.

“I found a better job for you,” she suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that had settled around us. My eyes narrowed, and I felt a flicker of hope.

I turned to her, curiosity taking over. “Within Tarlac lang ba 'yan?” I asked, my voice unsure. She nodded in response.

“Ye-ay sorry teh,” I said, my hand instinctively reaching to wipe the wine I’d accidentally spilled on her thigh.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Ikaw, ligalig mo,” she muttered, but she was already helping me clean it up, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.

-

The next day, I stood in front of her desk, holding the envelope filled with my final project. “Madam, ito na po yung pinagawa niyo sa'kin,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She gave me a look — sharp, calculating — as her hands flipped through the files I’d handed her.

When she finally pulled out a single sheet, I felt my stomach twist. It was my resignation letter.

I swallowed hard, my gaze drawn to her veiny, wrinkled hands as they crumpled the paper.

“Nope, you're not going anywhere,”  she sternly said before throwing my letter in the trash bin.

I was surprised, “Per-” she cut me off with a finger.

“No ‘buts’, Ms. Guo.” she voiced out, a smirk playing on her lips. She looked at me, up 'till down, a chill run down my spine as soon as that.

I was exhausted, I slammed my hands on the table, my upper body forward. My brows furrowed in confusion, “At bakit naman ayaw mo'kong paalisin dito? Wala naman akong kontratang pinirmahan diba?!”

“Raising your voice on me?” her voiced tinged with surprise. I can sense her patience, shortened.

I think I know where this is going, — no Christmas bonus, no salary for a month, bunch of paper works — or even, firing me but it's okay, still the same thing as resigning right?

I fixed my posture and calmed myself. “I'm sorry, Madame. It'll never happen again..” I sighed out, my voice soft.

She scoffed, “Of course, it'll never happen again, leave!” she scowled. Oh? I forced myself not to smile, but my face was a traitor.