Bride for Hire

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Hindi makagalaw si Emilia sa narinig. Parang anumang oras ay maaari siyang matumba. She didn’t just get fired again. Not again.

Buo, malalim, at malamig ang baritonong boses nito. It sent chills down her spine and made her knees weak.

They got everyone’s attention. Nakaaawang lang ang bibig ni Emilia at hindi alam ang gagawin at sasabihin sa pagkagulat. She couldn’t even move a muscle, afraid that she’d make another mistake. She just squeezed her skirt to calm herself down.

Realisations are hitting her one by one. She promised she’ll do her best and she’ll never let this job go. But right now, it seems like the other way around. She’s on the brink of losing her job. Ni hindi man lang siya naka-isang linggo. That thought made her even more sad.

Paano na ang pamilya niya sa probinsya? Siya na lamang ang inaasahan ng mga ito. Wala siyang kahit anong ipon at napakahirap pa maghanap ng trabaho. She’s running out of time. Lalo na’t ilang araw nalang ay kailangan na niyang makapagpadala ng pera.

Minutes after the deafening silence, she took all of her courage to speak up.“I-I’m sorry, hindi ko poㅡ” Hindi na nito natapos ang nais niyang sabihin nang magsalita ang lalaki which made her flinch.

“You’re fired. Get the hell out of my sight!” Nanggagalaiti nitong sabi. Parang bulang naglaho ang takot na naramdaman niya. Imbis na mapaiyak ay naasar si Emilia rito. Bastos din pala ito at kalahati! How could she explain herself kung ganito ang customer.

Naghalo ang galit, takot, at panglulumo sa puso niya.

She held her thoughts back as she took a deep breath. Hindi niya kailangan sabayan ang galit nito. May ganito talagang customers, she should understand. She can handle this, she needs to be professional.

She inhabited disparate emotions. Lukot na ang kaniyang uniporme sa paulit-ulit niyang pagpisil dito. Nangingibabaw ang inis niya sa aroganteng lalaking ito. May pinag-aralan pa man din ay ganoon na lamang kung makaagawa ng eksena.

“Baka p’wede naman pong pag-usapanㅡ” He cut her off, again.

"Are you deaf? Or just too dense for your own sake? Or maybe you just don’t understand? Sinisisante na kita at umalis ka na!" Bulyaw nitong muli, tila nagliliyab na sa inis.. Pati ang pagsasalita nito ng Filipino ay may kaunting accent.

Hindi tuloy maseryoso ni Emilia. She finds him funny while speaking Filipino, kaya’t pinipigilan niyang matawa sa pagkagat ng kaniyang labi. “What the hell is funny?!” Nauubos na ang pasensya ng lalaki sa kaniya. She can feel it, too. Kung bomba lang ito ay kanina pa ito sumabog.

Emilia straightened up and cleared her throat. “Sir, with all due respect, I believe that we should talk to the manager first about this matter. Kahit sa owner pa po. You do know it was an accident.” She said, pinpointing the obvious. Sinalubong niya ang matalim na titig ng lalaki. Kumalabog ang puso niya. Wala itong emosyon, it’s very cold. Ang bigat talaga ng aura nito.

Tumayo ito sa kaniyang upuan at hinarap siya. Napaatras naman ang dalaga. “Do you know who you are talking to?” She shuddered. His voice is as cold as ice. His eyes darted to hers, as if it’s piercing her soul.

All she wants is this to be over. One thing’s for sure, she’ll do whatever she can to save her job. She has rights as an employee, too. Emilia is the kind to stand up for herself.