Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Four

"I'd have to meet with Jerome, I guess sasabihin ko na lang I changed my mind. But," I pulled away and looked at Cienne straight in the eye. "Hindi pa sure na akin na 'yung job. I said I'll apply, and there'll be a job interview, I guess, pero that doesn't assure us that I'll get the job. Don't worry though, I'll really try my best."

Cienne nodded. She looks really down.

"Pleeeaaasssee, 'wag ka lang bumalik sa U.S.! Let's use our personal money for now, and, if I don't get the job, then... we'll figure something out." I hugged Cienne again. "Just please, 'wag ka nang bumalik sa U.S.!"

"Okay, okay." She replied. "Siguro hindi ko muna sasabahin kanila Mommy at Daddy. Basta Mikang, 'yung job ha!"

I smiled. Ayaw ko pa rin naman mag-work under Ara, pero, no choice na eh. I'd rather endure the pain of working for Ara than having Cienne leave me here. She's my best friend now, and honestly, hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko without her.

I grabbed my phone. I went straight to contacts and called Jerome, now I guess I'll have to meet with him.

---

"Mika, th-that's great! Really, I think my boss would be beyond happy," Jerome commented after I'd told him that I'd changed my mind and that I needed that job, fast. "B-But the thing is... since akala ko hindi ka na mag-a'apply, my other officemates looked for another person who could apply. And we found one."

"Oh." Shit. Hindi pwede. HINDI MAARI! "Pero... pero pwede namang more than one 'yung mag-a'apply diba, I mean, I just hope, the best assistant production manager would win."

"Ah," Jerome sat back. "Pwede naman. But are you willing to fight for that position?"

"Of course I am!" I stood up. "Si Mika Reyes yata 'to!"

Jerome laughed and stood up with me. "Okay. But you should know that you're going up against an experienced girl. Her name's Abbigail Garcia. She's been an assistant operations manager before, I'm just not sure kung saang company. Plus, kilala ni Ara 'yung kuya niya, they were schoolmates nung high school."

"Ilang taon na ba 'yung... Abbigail Garcia na 'yan?"

"I think she's 24 years old. Anyway, that doesn't matter. Mika, kailangan mong i-step up 'yung game mo. Two days ago the company wanted you, and only you, since they knew you would work well with Ara." I squinted at the thought. "But now that Abbigail's here, you need to show them na mas magaling ka. That they should choose you instead of an experienced girl like her."

"Okay, sooo... how can I beat her?"

"Ay competitive," He teased. "Well, it's simple. Abbigail's younger than you, so--"

"Uy," I cut him off. "One year lang naman pinagkaiba namin. Para namang ang tanda ko na!" I brushed my hair with my hands.

He shook his head and laughed. "Well, my point is, i-take advantage mo yung closeness niyo ni Ara. You know Ara better than her, kaya siguraduhin mong mapapakita mo 'yun..."

I stopped listening. I don't think I ever knew Ara, I mean, close kami dati, oo, but that doesn't mean I knew her, and I mean, really knew her. I thought I did pero hindi pala. Everything I believed she was were all lies, so, I think I can conclude that I never knew Ara. I guess Jerome's wrong.

"Uhm, Jerome, kailan yung interview?" I asked after he was done talking about how 'close' Ara and I are.

"Sa Wednesday. Pwede kita ihatid dun." He smiled.

"Talaga? Thank you! Sige, mauna na 'ko ha, I have two days to prepare, so, better make the most of it!" Ngumiti ako ng napakalaki at tumakbo papunta sa condo.