First and Last Mistake

CHAPTER I

2:47 pm Nakatulala ako sa harap ng desktop at hindi ko napansin ang taong nasa harap ko.

"Uy! Akisha kanina ka pa pinapatawag ni Ma'am Flora!"

"Huh?"

Saka lang ako parang natauhan ngunit bago pa ako makatayo sa pwesto ko ay nakita ko na itong palabas ng kanyang maliit na opisina. Hindi maipinta ang mukha nito at bakas na bakas ang pagkainis.

Her fiery eyes blazing with fire of anger darted on me. Hinagis nito sakin ang mga folders at papel na hawak.

"Anong klaseng trabaho to Akisha!!! Last week ko pa to pinapagawa sayo! Hindi mo na nga tinapos, mali-mali pa!! Anong gusto mo---"

"Flora! Get into my office we have a meeting!"

Natigil sa pagbubunganga ang matandang babae nang biglang dumating ang Marketing Director. Napayuko ako dahil huling huli akong pinagagalitan ng Manager namin. Pakiramdam ko pati si Mam Flora ay napahiya.

"Humanda ka sakin mamaya! Malilintikan ka talaga sakin!" gigil na bulong ng manager sakin bago ito sumunod sa aming direktor.

Nawala ang tensyon sa paligid nang makaalis ang dalawang boss. Agad lumapit sakin si Carina, ang pinakamalapit sakin dito sa trabaho.

"Okay ka lang Kisha?" tanong nito.

Pinilit kong ngumiti sakanya kahit gusto nang tumulo ng mga luha ko. I don't know  what to do. I can't finish my work, I can't focus, I can't concentrate.

Maya-maya hinanda ko na ang sarili ko para sa sermon ng aming manager. I know for a fact that my mistake will escalate to the higher management. In our industry there is no room for mistake. Hindi na ako nagulat nang ipatawag ako ng direktor.

Nang makapasok ako sa opisina nito ay agad akong pinaupo.

"Have a seat Akisha"

Agad akong umupo. Mukhang mahaba-habang sermonan ito.

"How are you doing?" bungad nito.

Nagtaka ako sa tanong nya. Inaasahan ko nang sasabunin ako nito. Napatingin ako sa matandang nasa harap ko. Malaki itong tao at kahit alam kong may edad na sya ay hindi pa rin maiiwasang mapansin ang pagkatikas nito. Maaliwalas ang mukha nito kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

"Ayos naman po kaya lan---"

"I've heard what happened" he cut me off.

I frowned at him. Confused of what he is trying to say. When I didn't say anything he continued.

"I'm sorry about your break-up. Don't think I'm being too nosy. I know it's personal but as your head I need to know what is going on with my people when it's affecting their productivity at work. You see...I know how you work Akisha. You never failed or disappoint me. Among the people in this office I know that you are one of the people we could rely on. That's why I'm worried of what is happening now.

"I'm really sorry boss. Hindi ko naman po intensyon na sirain yun tiwala nyo sakin. I might as well resign. I'm really sorry"

Buo na ang desisyon ko. Mas mahihirapan lang ako kung ipagpapatuloy ko. I'm just an assistant and yet they trust me so much more than our marketing consultant. I was up for a promotion before the most unfortunate event in my life happened. Ngayon hindi na nga ako mapopromote may chance pa na matanggal ako. Kaya mas mabuti pang magresign na lang. I don't know what will be my next plan but I can't continue like this.

"No please Akisha! I won't accept your resignation."

"Pero boss....wala na po akong magawang tama."

"I can't afford to lose an exceptional employee like you. I'll give you a 30 days paid leave. Go on vacation. Unwind. Relax. Just get back here once you are okay."

Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko sakanya. Sobrang bait ng director namin na sakabila ng mga mali kong ginawa ay mas pinili nitong intindihin ang sitwasyon ko.

Hindi ko masasabing mayaman ang pamilya ko but I know for a fact that even if I don't work for a year I could still live. Kahit may trabaho na ako ay nagpapadala pa rin ang magulang ko sakin. Malaki laki na rin ang naipon ko. Pareho silang stable na at citizen sa U.S. kasama ang nakababata kong kapatid. Hindi na ako nakaabot para ipetition nila at lumampas na sa gulang. Kaya kung susunod man ako sakanila ay sariling sikap ko na.

And besides, it was my choice to stay here. I had so many reasons to stay and one of them is because of my boyfriend, I mean my ex-boyfriend. We had planned our life here and just like that he threw it away.

"Please think about it Akisha. We still need you here." pagmamakaawa ng boss ko.

Pagbalik ko sa table ko ay nilapitan ako.agad ni Carina. Sa totoo lang sya lang ang malapit sakin dahil sabay kaming grumaduate. Alam nya rin ang lahat ng tungkol samin ng ex ko. I could say she's my bestfriend. The only person who understands how I feel right now.

"Kisha....."

"Ikaw ba ang nagsabi kay boss tungkol sa break-up ko?"

Alam ko naman sya lang ang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa nangyari. Her face says it all. Guilt was written all over her face.

"I'm sorry Kisha. Nagtanong kasi si Boss. Ayaw ko rin naman na mawala ka dito" parang naiiyak na ito.

My bestfriend is pretty. She's small and petite. She still looks like a highschool student. Yung tipong makakadiscount pa sa jeep kahit nakaoffice attire pa ito. She's that type of person you can't get mad at all. She have this innocence in her. Yung tipong gawan ka man nya ng kasalanan at tingnan ka lang nya patatawarin mo na.

She knows about my plan of resigning, she knows everything about me. And when I told her about what happened to my 7 year long relationship she's the first one who cried.

"Kisha....ano sabi ni boss? Wag ka na umalis please. Pag umalis ka pano na ako?" paiyak na ito.

"I'm leaving next week." sabi ko dito.

Tumulo na ang luha nito. Inis na inis akong pinalo nito sa braso.

"Nakakainis ka naman eh! Papatayin ko talaga si Enzo!! Kasalanan nya to eh. Kung di sya nag walang hiya--"

"Magleleave lang ako ng 30 days. Babalik din ako. I have to clear my head"

Pinahid nito ang luha sa pisngi at napangiti pero patuloy pa rin ito sa pag-iyak.

"Babalik ka? Babalik ka talaga ah!" pangungulit nito.

"Oo. I'll be back" pati ako ay naiyak na rin.

"Everything will be okay Kisha." niyakap ako ni Carina.

It has been 3 days since I ended my 7 years relationship with the man I trusted so much. Hanggang ngayon para akong baliw. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Hindi ko alam kung san ako mag-uumpisa. I know 30 days isn't enough for me to really forget him. But I think it will be enough for me to have my head clear and focus on myself instead.

I promise to return stronger. I will return with a new me. I need to find myself. Get back into my senses.
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This will be a whole new story but with the same characters. This will be the story of Tof this time. So some characters from other stories might appear. Enjoyy!!