She's So Extra (Kiligserye Book1) | ✅

Chapter 47

"Ika'y mag-iingat, wag na magpaseksi at ika'y hindi naman malusog." Yapos ako ni mama habang kinakausap.

Niyapos ko ng mahigpit si mama at sumagot, "Opo." Bumitiw ako kay mama pero habang hawak ang mga braso nya nangako ako, "Balik po ako baka next week, Ma. May mga aayusin lang po sa Manila."

Ngumiti si mama, "Sya ika'y lumakad na."

Si papa naman nakaupo sa tumba tumba sa tapat ng bahay namin, lumapit ako at in-open nya ang mga braso nya para makayapos ako. Hinigpitan ko ang yapos ko sa papa at binigyan sya ng matunog na kiss sa pisngi, "Alis na po ako, pa."

Tumuwid na ako ng tayo at tumayo rin sya sabay sabing, "Ingat 'nak."

Tumango lang ako dahil sa totoo lang ayoko na sanang bumalik dun, pero I have no choice. It's part of being an adult – ang pagharap sa mga pagsubok.

Naglakad ako palayo at sumakay sa motor ni Dan habang kumakaway kina mama at papa.

At nagsimula na ako sa byahe ko pabalik sa lugar na ewan ko ba kung sinumpa sa akin or sadyang sinusubukan lang ang tatag ko.

***

Walking into the building lobby naalala ko yung unang araw ko na nakapasok sa building na ito for my first interview. May iba na akong working experience pero naramdaman kong iba ang magiging experience ko sa Company na ito, since I was mostly agency employee sa mga past jobs ko alam kong malaking opportunity para sa akin na matanggap as direct hire.

Malaki ang building namin and the Company kahit na hindi sobrang sikat, it looks stable and mukhang may growth ang mga employees.

I remember getting the call for the initial interview, sobrang ninerbyos ako pero I knew I had to prepare so I did my research about the company. Sobrang nakatulong yun sa interview ko because I appeared really eager to work here, and that's a really good thing kasi yun naman ang madalas na hinahanap ng mga employers diba? Yung mukhang kaladkarin, yung kahit anong pagawa mo gagawin nila kasi kailangan nila yung trabaho. And that was me in a nutshell. Kahit na pinag-photocopy lang nila ako the entire first month I was here, I was happy.

Getting into the elevator I remembered my first day as an employee here, I happily put on my I.D. at talagang pinag-handaan ko yung first day outfit ko, even if I was pretty much an errand girl nung first month ko nga, I was still excited.

And I feel sad because yung excitement na yun never faded in my two years here, well except now. Now I feel like I'm dragging my feet just to get to work, it's been like that for the past few weeks and my vacation hasn't changed my feelings about it.

It's another Monday morning but it's sort of a different Monday for me because now I feel like I have a purpose.

I, Olga Andrea have decided for myself without thinking about anything else other than the fact that I know what I want to do.

I march towards my cubicle and set down my bag and jacket without so much as glancing at the people around me.

I have a plan and I will stick to that plan.

Part one of which is to finish the work that I've missed during my vacation.

Game na, Olga. Let's do this.

***

"Hi Andi. How was your vacation?" Ms. Claire asks me as I set down the 3pm coffee on her desk.

I sigh and give her a sincere smile, "It was good. Thanks ma'am I really needed that."

She leans back on her chair and I remain standing, "So, are you okay now?"

Alam kong ang tinatanong nya is actually if I'm still thinking of pushing through with my resignation so I take a seat on her guest chair and share with her my plans.

I nod and gave her another smile, "I'm getting better pero hindi pa po totally okay. I don't think it would ever be completely okay with me – what I hear around the office."

It's true kasi kahit na sinusubukan kong hindi magpa-apekto hindi naman ako bulletproof para walang tatagos sa shields na nilagay ko diba? Kapag medyo matatalas talaga ang mga bala nila nakakalusot pa rin.

I look at her again, "I've thought about what you said ma'am and with the time off you gave me I really had a good chance to make up a sound decision."

She looks expectantly at me and I tell her what I have decided, "I'm really going to miss working for you ma'am, but for everyone involved I think it's better I find work elsewhere."

She deflates, "Huh? Seriously?"

I smile sadly at her, "I need to do what I think is right ma'am first for myself, I think I've given it a shot already to try and ignore the people around me but it's not working. Second, I still consider you a good friend..."

She smiles and nods so tinuloy ko na, "And as a friend I need to protect you too. My presence here isn't helping your situation as the boss."

She sighs and I continue, "And him..." Alam ko namang alam nya kung sino ang sinasabi ko, "I need to move away muna to heal properly, hirap po kasi talaga pag umaasa ka pa rin na maaayos pa and with everyone here thinking badly of us I don't think I'll be able to bear it."

I shrug, "Tao lang rin ma'am, baka may masabunutan ako diyan during company hours matanggal pa ako sa trabaho."

She grins wickedly, "Tulungan pa kita kung gusto mo."

Natawa na lang ako, "Di bagay sa inyo ma'am."

She laughs but then gets serious when she says, "So I can't convince you to reconsider? Wala na talaga?"

I sigh, "I think it's for the best ma'am."

She sighs and gives me a short nod, "I will never ask you to sacrifice your happiness and comfort so I will let you go."

But she puts her index finger up, "Pero, you must get me a good replacement okay?"

I smile, "Of course ma'am. Di ko kayo iiwan sa ere."

She puts out her hand and reaches over her desk so I take her hand, she says, "Wala akong makikitang assistant na kagaya mo. I also hope you'll let me help you get situated somewhere else."

I give her a questioning look and she lets go of my hand she bites her lip, "I hope you won't feel I'm intruding pero am I right to say na wala ka pang lilipatan na Company?"

I nod, "Wala pa ma'am. Actually I just decided that I'm going to resign today so wala po talaga."

She smiles, "I hope you'll let me help you in that aspect – as a friend."

Since wala pa naman talaga akong pinag-apply-an, I smile at her, "Sure ma'am. That would be great."

She smiles at me at parang may gusto pa syang sabihin so I just sat there; she takes out a paper in her tray and hands it over to me.

She turns serious and says, "We found out who sent out that picture of you."

Nasa kamay ko na yung papel but I stopped pulling it towards me. Gusto ko pa ba malaman? Will this help me or will this make things worse?

She gives me a smirk, "Someone was very determined to find out who the culprit was, this report was sitting on my desk since I left – ngayon ko lang nabasa."

Chuck said he would find out who it was and he did.

I flip the paper over para hindi ko makita yung nakasulat and told Ms. Claire, "I'll think about it if I want to read it ma'am."

She nods, "It's your decision. But I will need to impose the Disciplinary Action just so they will know actions have consequences."

Tumango lang ako, "I'll need a few hours siguro ma'am but I'll return this tomorrow."

She smiles then stands up she holds out her hand and I take it, she shakes it firmly, "It's been a pleasure, Andi."

I smile sadly at her, at my friend and say, "Happy to be of service, Boss."

One down.