Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter IX: New Beginnings

So I quit my job at Zara.

Andrea was surprised to realize how amazing it felt to quit after almost five years of working for her dream company, Zara. She was entertained by the horrified look on her best friend Jackie's (Charlene Gonzales) face who sat across from her as they decided to have a drink at Tragos, a small yet upscale bar in Makati.

Jackie is one of her very few best friends along with Hugo as they have all known each other since they were younger. She was one of the few, if not the only one, whom Andrea completely trusts. However, ever since she and Hugo left for Spain, they have not seen each other.

"What?! Andy, are you crazy?! What made you quit? You've always dreamed and wanted that job specifically at Zara."

Andrea took a sip of her dry Martini then smiled. How do I explain to someone that happiness isn't just career success?

Andrea, however, could see where Jackie is coming from. When she got her degree at University of Barcelona, she did all she could to get a job at Zara even if that meant she started out as an unpaid intern. She went to all the cocktail parties and ran all the errands just to make connections in the industry. Damn, she even tried to learn golf to impress associates and fly to Ibiza along with other executives even when she knew well how much she hated partying. Heck, she was the biggest nerd!

"A couple of things. I haven't really told anyone about it, even my own mother. I put in my two week notice two weeks before we came here. It was a bad coincidence na Tito Armando also passed away and we had to come back."

"Pero bakit?" Jackie insisted,

"I don't know. I've always wanted that job in that company and I think you don't really know until you finally have that one thing you've always longed for only to realize na maybe it's not meant for you."

"Hmm. So do you have any plans?"

"I haven't thought about it that much yet. I'm definitely going back to Spain but maybe I'll start my own boutique. Hell, I don't know Jack," Frustrated, Andrea responded.

Jackie had a flat look on her face, waiting for Andrea to keep going.

"I just hate my life right now Jackie. Guess what happened last night?"

Jackie was worried. "What?"

"So I was having a conversation with Hugo last night, you know, all those fun stuff. And you know what he told me? He said he's staying here to be a soccer coach again, that he's selling his restaurant in Spain and he's not going back."

Without realizing it, Andrea started crying.

"I mean, what the fuck Jackie? I feel so empty, ni hindi ko kilala ang tunay na Andrea. I can't even tell my parents and Hugo na I quit my job at Zara because ayoko silang ma-disappoint."

Jackie held Andrea's hand and squeezed it, "Andrea, you are amazing. You have to keep that in mind. And the fact na you nag-quit ka sa Zara because you're no longer happy is a huge step. You have to start thinking about yourself and the ones who truly appreciate you."

"Also, alam ko kung gaano mo kamahal si Hugo. Pero ikaw ang nasasaktan. He doesn't deserve all the sacrifices you have given to him. You have to open yourself to others and think about yourself. What actually makes you happy."

Andrea sobbed, "It's not his fault Jackie, it's not like he asked me to fall in love with him or give up things for him."

"Nagkita na ba ulit sila ni Lillian?" Jackie asked,

"Of course. And you know what hurts? Alam ko na si Lillian ang dahilan kung bakit gustong mag stay dito ni Hugo. She hasn't even done shit and Hugo's still all madly in love with her. Samantalang ako, I was with him in Spain when the reason why he left the Philippines was also because of the same damn woman. I was with him all through out but parang na-miss ata ako ng good karma."