For Her

Chapter 4 - The not so prince charming

Timecheck: 8:37 am

Naihatid ko na si Mimi sa school niya and I still have time to take ample amount of rest, anyway 11 am pa naman ang start ng duty ko.

Nagtatrabaho ako sa isang coffee shop, actually it was Andi who made it possible. Friend niya kasi ang may ari ng coffee shop na yun, his name is Alex Martinez. I loved my work there, ang ganda kasi ng ambiance nung shop so nakakarelax siya, and at the same time, ang bait ng boss ko. I don't have any plans na lumipat at maghanap ng ibang trabaho until everything got complicated.

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"Enjoy your espresso Ms. Sheila (name ng customer),"

inabot ko sa kanya yung order niya while smiling, yun lang ang ayaw ko sa trabahong ito, na kailangan mo ngumiti and tell everyone to "enjoy and have a good day" while you, yourself is always unsure of how to smile amd be happy again. I guess lies and pretentions will always be a part of my life and I should get used to it.

Going back to my work, I was about to entertain another customer when Sir Alex appear in front of the counter, looking as dashing as ever. Yes, dashing was the right adjective, he's just so attractive and fashionable in a very prince-charming-kind-of-way look. Sabi sa akin ni Andi, he was once a model sa isang sikat na clothing brand, but I didn't delve into so much informations about him because it's not my business after all. Ang mahalaga sa akin ay may trabaho ako, may sweldo, at mabait at gwapong boss.

"Good morning Sir Alex! Can I do anything for you?" I asked him oblivious of the other customers in line. Napansin niya yata na naka harang siya sa unahan ng pila kaya lumipat siya ng pwesto na malapit pa rin sa akin pero hindi na sa unahan ng counter, agad naman na may pumalit na ibang crew sa akin.

"Good day Maria. Can I order?"

"Yes of course sir. What is it?"

"Two lattes please. Make itstrong and the other, make it according to how you want it done. I want it delivered to my office if it's ok with you, and we also have to talk. That's all, see you there Maria."

Hindi lang gwapo si Sir Alex, he's also a great person as well, inside and out. He never treated us as mere employees only, infact, sa dami na ng trabaho na napasukan ko, he's by far the best employer one could have. Well his looks maybe one factor, but aside from being a successful person, downright attractive and intelligent, he's a great listener and a very approachable person as well. Whenever we're having problems with work, we never hesitated to talk to him about it and he listens then come up with a solution as quick as possible. There's actually no doubt that every girls here, except me, are falling head over heels for him. Sabi nga nila, having him as a boyfriend is tantamount to winning a jackpot prize. Siya yung tipo ng tao na hindi mo na pakakawalan kasi ikaw yung tanga kapag ginawa mo yun. Well yes, he's a total prince charming like that.

I'm here inside his office, everything is in order, napakasimple lang ng design at gamit sa loob nito but there's this subtle touch of his personality in it, pati office niya ay welcoming.

"Good morning Sir Alex. I made it just the way you want it to be" I told him while putting the cup of latte in his table.

"Alex."

"Uhh excuse me sir?"

"Alex, just call me Alex, Maria. Since wala namang ibang tao na makakarinig dito and besides, I feel old when you address me as sir."

"Ohh, ok. It will be ackward at first, but yeah, why not. Good morning Alex."

He chuckled then say "Better. So Maria, how's everything? I mean dito sa cafe."

"Uhm, great I guess? Marami pa ring custo-" he cuts my sentence "No I mean you. Kamusta ka dito. Nahihirapan ka ba? Do you like what you're doing?"

"Oh yes. Everything's good."

I really don't have any idea to where this conversation will go. It's getting ackward, but then, he seemed to relax his shoulder and lean on the table para mas malapit siya sa akin and took a sip of his latte.

"Good to hear that Maria, and this is good." Referring to the latte. "Why don't we cut the formality. To be honest, gusto ko lang talaga na makipag usap sayo. Out of all the staffs kasi dito sa cafe, you're the only one who seems aloof, and I don't want you to feel that way. Gusto ko maging comfortable ka," he continued.

"I appreciate your concern Alex. Hindi lang siguro ako masyadong sanay na makipag interact sa maraming tao. I'm more of an introvert. Pero maniwala ka, gusto ko yung trabaho at ginagawa ko dito." I also tried to relax, after all, this is just a friendly talk between a boss and his employer, that's normal right?

"Great. Mabuti naman gusto mo ang ginagawa mo. So shall we do small talks?"

"Hindi ba yun na ang ginagawa natin ngayon?" Hindi ko nanaman napigilan itong bibig ko. Hay. He seems to relax more upon hearing this and smiled. Gosh, ang sarap maging Cinderella.

"I find you interesting alam mo ba yun? I like you" He said smirking. Woah woah, from prince charming to dope real quick. Tss, ain't got time for those breezy lines dude.

"Why do you have to be so straightforward? Dude, that's not how you do small talks. Tsk." I rolled my eyes on him, ok fine, that's involuntary.

Mukang nag eenjoy siya sa pag uusap na ito, patay na. Tumawa siya ulit and continued talking. But this time, that prince charming goody good character is gone. Hay, after all ganun din pala siya. Boys...

"Then what should I ask you?"

"I don't know. Maybe ask me to leave your office then para magawa ko na ang trabaho ko?" I said raising my right brow.

"Woah that's rude, you really are something Maria. Well then answer this one first and I'll let you leave my office kahit na ayaw ko pa. Damn I can stay here all day with you."

"Aba't humihirit ang loko." I whispered to myself, but then again, he chuckled. Fuck that laugh, it sounds so manly yet annoying. Hindi pwede to, I need to stop this.

"I heard that." I don't care if he heard it or not, I proceed with my question so that I could just leave this place right now.

"So what's your question Sir Martinez? Spill it so that your employee can go now and do her job at your café." I asked him making sure to give emphasis on my words, nakakalimutan yata niya na empleyado niya ako and we should keep matters like this out of work. Parang na gets naman niya kung anong gusto kong sabihin, then that smirk left his face, suddenly, the warm office feels cold, he straightened his posture and said

"Nothing, nevermind. You're right Ms. Sta Maria, you should return to your work post now. Thank you for your time. You may now leave the office."

And just like that, the easy environment in my workplace becomes downright uncomfortable. Sinubukan kong iwasan siya kahit na alam kong imposible iyon. Naiwasan ko siya for four days, at ganun din siya. But then again boys will be boys, and I just found him one day, right there in front of me holding a bouquet of flowers aking me for a date. I declined. First, I don't want to date him and second, I'm allergic to flowers, for real.

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And the rest was history. I won't go into full details na kung paano pa niya ako kinulit at tinry ipursue the following days. Kahit na gusto ko nang mag resign ay hindi ko magawa dahil hindi niya inapprove ang resignation letter na binigay ko sa kanya noon, hindi ko na rin naman pinilit pa dahil wala pa din akong ipapalit na trabaho. Kaya hanggang ngayon ay doon pa din ako nag tatrabaho and I guess I just have to deal with him again.

Patulog na sana ako nang biglang nag-ring ang phone ko, may tawag from an unknown number. I hesitated at first kasi mamaya, pag sinagot ko, may problema na naman akong haharapin, pero naisip ko na baka nakitawag si Mimi and she needs my help. So I pick up anyway.

"Hello."

"Good morning Ms. Sta Maria, this is Jacob."

Shit.