Her Second Chance

"The Beginning"

Lorraine pressed the cancel button for the 10th time. Pero wala pang isang minuto ay ang message tone naman niya ang tumunog.

"Hoy babae! sagutin mo ang tawag ko kung ayaw mong magpadala ako ng ambulansya jan sa bahay mo!" ang message ni Kristine.

She met her just two months ago when she started working as a customer service representative sa isang malaking call center sa Baguio.

Madaldal at pala kaibigan si Kristine kung kaya't agad silang nagkagaanan ng loob.

Sa maikling sandali na magkakilala sila ay agad silang nakabuo ng magandang pagkakaibigan.

Kristine was the one who helped her adjust into this new environment.

They were on the same training group. But unlike her, this is Kristine's second job as a call center agent kung kaya't sanay na ito sa ganitong klaseng trabaho.

She on the other hand had a difficult time adjusting. Hindi naman kasi niya pinangarap na magtrabaho sa isang call center.

She always dreamed of working in the corporate world.

Nagtapos siya sa kursong Business Administration major in Business Management but it was difficult for her to find a job in this field so she decided to apply as a call center agent instead. Malaki rin naman ang sahod kumpara sa iba pang mga trabahong nakita niya kung kayat sinikap niyang makapasok sa nasabing kumpanya.

This job will be her stepping stone to a more successful career on her field she told herself.

She put her phone back on her side table when it started ringing again.

She sighed in frustration as she read Kristine's name on the the screen.

Likas na tahimik at mahiyain si Lorraine kung kaya't wala siyang naging maraming kaibigan noong college. Mas pinili niyang gugulin ang kanyang oras sa pag-aaral at pagtra-trabaho kesa ang makipag-barkada.

She had no choice.

Wala na siyang aasahan kundi ang sarili lang niya. Kung hindi siya magtra-trabaho ay wala siyang kakainin. Wala siyang gagamitin para tustusan ang kanyang pag-aaral.

Simula noong pumanaw ang kanyang lola Carmen ay natuto na siyang tumayo sa kanyang mga paa. Kung ano-anong trabaho ang pinasok niya.

Pagtitinda ng gulay sa palengke, paglilinis sa bahay ng kanyang mga teachers na handang tumulong sa kanya at finally ang pagiging crew sa isang fast-food chain.

Naging bahay at trabaho lamang ang routine ng kanyang buhay noong siya ay nag-aaral pa.

Until she met Ethan.

He was the one who made her understand that it's okay to have fun. To spend some time to enjoy life. He made her realise that life is not only about work and school.

He was her first boyfriend.

Pareho silang fourth year college student sa University of the Cordilleras noon. She was taking Businesss Management while he was a Nursing student.

Their schedules were busy. Parating may community duty si Ethan sa iba't-ibang lugar sa Benguet o La Union while she was trying to balance her time on school and work.

Their relationship worked and lasted until they both graduated college.

But everything changed when he was doing his Nursing board review.