AMA-Con: The Compilation

At Her Service: Chapter 2

"Kuya, kelangan ko na magbayad ng tuition ko." Rizza whined, whilst eating her breakfast.

"Kelan ang deadline?"

"Sa 21."

"O, sa isang buwan pa pala. Sige, hahanap ako ng paraan. Mag-aaply ako ng trabaho ngayon."

"Sige, salamat Kuya Alden!"

"You're welcome. Sige na Riz. Pasok na. Ako na bahala kay Tay. Aral mabuti!"

"Syempre kuya. Thank you!"

Alden waved goodbye to his sister as he cleaned the table. His father, Richard was handicapped 5 years ago because of a stroke that paralyzed half of his body. Richard was the bread winner of the family, but because of his illness, Alden, his first born had to stop his studies to work to gain income. Alden wanted his sister to pursue her studies, so he had no choice but to do the inevitable, to apply for mediocre jobs left and right just to provide for Rizza. Good thing she was graduating the next year.

"Tay, kumusta po kayo?" He knocked on his father's bedroom door and entered in. He found him on his wheelchair by the window, with his mother's framed picture on his father's lap.

"Miss ko na din si Nay.." Alden's mother died of lung cancer 2 years before his father had stroke.

"Sigurado Tay, miss niya na rin tayo, kayo. Nangako ako sa kanya Tay, na kahit anong mangyari aalagaan ko kayo ni Rizza. Kaya wag na po kayo malungkot. Di ko po kayo papabayaan."

Richard, coupled with the paralysis of the half of his body, also lost his ability to talk. He could only communicate by inaudible sounds.

"Wag kayo mag-alala Tay, magapply po ako sa trabaho ngayon. Para mabili ko na po yung mga pangangailangan niyo. Konting tiis na lang Tay. Iwan ko muna po kayo kay Tita ha. Sige po, love you Tay."

Alden wiped the lone tear flowing from his eye before he kissed his father good bye and left him in the care of his aunt. He was on the hunt for another job, because he resigned from the previous one. It wasn't paying well. He knows that his qualifications are insufficient but he believes that what he lacks in education, he makes up for in perseverance. And he wasn't a man who gives up easily, especially for his family. No matter how hard it is, or how it will take a toll on his body, he will endure it.

He left around 8 in the morning, bio data in hand and positivity in mind. It was another hot and scorching day and sweat was quickly soaking his blue polo. He checked his wallet and found his last 1000 peso bill, and it definitely won't be able to cover their expenses for a week, let alone be enough for him to hail a taxi. So, he settled with walking around the city. He went to 5 different companies, each one he's applying for the same job, but all were either not hiring or offers a small salary. He needed more.

Lunch came and he settled for a sandwich and iced coffee. His money now down to 900 pesos, he walked into a television network, hoping to get a job as an assistant or anything that pays more than 10,000 pesos a month. He entered the restroom to fix himself and then asked around to find anyone who was hiring. Unfortunately, the only offered job pays less than 10,000 and he was considering taking it.

"Ano, Mr. Richards, are you taking the job?"

"Sir, ano po kasi. Wala po bang mas mataas yung salary? May sakit po kasi yung tatay ko, saka nag-aaral pa po yung kapatid ko. Kailangan ko po talaga ng pera."

"Kasi, Mr. Richards, based sa qualifications mo, eto lang talaga yung maiooffer ko sayo. Unfair naman sa iba kung ibibigay ko sayo yung higher position tapos hindi mo naman magagawa ng tama. Kung gusto mo talagang mas mataas na salary, try mo na lang sa iba."

"Sir­-"

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was Pat, Maine's manager.

"Ah, excuse me, Mr. Richards. Yes Mam?"

"Sam, kailangan ulit ni Maine Mendoza ng PA. Sinesante nanaman niya yung binigay mo nung isang araw." Pat scratched the back of her head because of frustration.

"Sige po Mam Pat. Maghahanap po ulit ako kaagad."

"Bilisan mo lang ha. Kelangan niya ngayong araw. Alam mo naman yung demands ni Maine Mendoza."

"Yes Mam."

Pat then closed the door and left Sam and Alden alone. Sam broke the silence.

"So, Mr. Richards."

"Ah Sir, sino po yun?"

"Si Mam Pat, manager ni Maine Mendoza."

"Yung sikat na artista po?"

"Oo, siya nga."

"Naghahanap po siya ng PA?"

"Oo, bakit? Interesado ka ba?

Alden had a wild thought. Maybe this is the job he was looking for. He thought, how hard is it to be a PA?

"Uhh..Magkano po yung salary?"

"70,000 pesos a month."

"Po? 70,000 po?" This will surely cover his family's needs and more. He could pay off his sister's tuition, his father can finally have his monthly check up, medicine supply and he could finally pay their debt.

"Oo, 70,000 pesos."

"Pwede po mag-apply?"

"Sigurado ka?"

"Opo Sir. Kailangan lang po talaga ng pamilya ko ng pera."

"Sige. Pero Mr. Richards, hindi biro tong pinapasok mo ha. Yung 70,000 na yun, paghihirapan mo talaga."

"Opo Sir. Paghihirapan ko po talaga."

"Ibang iba si Maine Mendoza na artista sa totoong buhay. Marami siyang demands. At sa totoo lang, sa limang taon niya sa showbiz, walang tumatagal sa kanyang PA. Naka singkwenta na siya, sa pagkakatanda ko. Ay hindi! 49 pala. Kung matatanggap ka, ikaw na yung fiftieth."

"Bakit po Sir, ano po ba ang kelangan kong gawin para matanggap?"

"Kailangang maging masipag ka, mapasensya, maintindihin. Kailangan din maging matalino ka at susundin mo lahat ng utos niya sa iyo. Kasi kung hindi, nako, lagot ka. At kapag may ginawa kang hindi niya nagustuhan, sigurado ako, sa kapangyarihan niya, hindi ka na makakakuha ng kahit ano mang trabaho sa iba. Kakayanin mo ba yun?"

Alden started second guessing about applying for the job, but, he really, desperately needed the money. So, with all the courage and perseverance he had in him, he said yes.

"Okay, Mr. Richards. Si Miss Mendoza ang magbibigay sa iyo ng final interview. So, kumatok ka sa dressing room niya at sabihin mong pinadala kita."

"Salamat po, Sir."

"Oh, and Mr. Richards?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Good luck and God bless."