Dumbfounded

The Boss

Chapter 2

Prudence’s POV

OMG. Ano na naman ginawa mo Prudence?

Napatayo yung Marvel Collins mula sa pagkakaupo niya on top of his desk. He’s looking at my outfit disapprovingly, yet he looks like he’s about to laugh. I knew it. I should have consulted Phoebe about my outfit, hindi naman talaga ako mahilig manamit kaya kung ano na lang meron ako, yun na lang. Kaso maaga siyang pumasok eh. Nakakababa tuloy ng self-esteem.

Ang tangkad niya. Fair-skinned. Medyo skinny siya, but he looks so hot anyway. His hair is tousled… or is it? It looks…styled, which adds to his hotness. One thing that really caught my attention is his eyes…those gray eyes. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but his goes beyond the soul… something I can’t explain. I don’t know, but looking into his eyes feels like entering a different realm.

How can a man look this glorious? It’s almost unfair.

I greet him and stretch out my hands, but I’m guessing he’s in a complete shock, while I’m in a trance. OMG. Thank you Phoebe! I could look at him all day.

He didn’t return my greeting, instead, “Please go to the waiting room.” he said in his authoritative, but sweet voice. Waaaaah! Ang ganda pa ng accent. How does he do that?

OMG. Please Lord, sana mapasa ko itong  interview na ‘to! This is the first time I’ve ever felt this way. I feel like a woman!!!

“Miss Fermantes?” sabi niya. Wait, paano niya nalaman surname ko?

“Gaga, anong sense ng resume?” saan galling ang boses na ‘yun? Nababaliw na ata ako. Baliw kay Marvel Collins.

“Baliw agad? Tss. Malandi. Get a hold of yourself, will you?” Sabi na naman nung boses. Whatever. Anyway. I think I’m gonna melt! He’s calling me! But…but…where is he? He’s not here? Hala. Anong nangyayari? Panaginip lang ba ‘to? Hindi, pero ito pa rin yung office niya.

“Miss Fermantes?” he said again. I realized I’m already hugging myself. I’m too giddy. No time for kilig kilig. Act professionally P.

I turn around and found him by his office door. Ang bilis niya ha. Oh gosh, he’s so handsome and hot, yung tipong kanina pa nalaglag panty ko. Nakadamit pa ‘yan ha. Hindi nga nagjo-joke si Phoebe.

“Is there a problem, Miss Prudence Fermantes?” this brought me back to reality. He’s already holding the door open, a signal for me to…to… leave? But why?!

“No!” Napabulalas ko. Napatingin tuloy yung secretary niya sa akin. Tumaas yung isang kilay ni Marvel. Lagot. Retrieving my composure, I said. “I mean, no. There is no problem.”

“Very well then, Michelle will lead you to the waiting room.” He said.

I stare at the pretty lady walking around her desk to escort me. Tama! Waiting room. Hindi pa ako basted! Eh..este, fired.

“Fired? Gaga. Hindi ka pa nga natatanggap.” Sabi na naman ng ‘di ko mailugar na boses. Mukhang mataray yung nagsalita.

Tiningnan ko yung pretty lady, baka siya yung nagsasalita, nababasa ang thoughts ko. Hala. Nakakatakot. Psychic? But she just looks at me quizzically. Di ko na lang pinansin yung nagsasalita.  Tara sa waiting room! Baby, I will wait for you!

We head for the glass paneled room with couches in different matching colors. I’m amazed. There are even knick knacks and beverages laid out on the long table at the far left side. Oh. My. Glob. Foodie patootie! Naglalaway na ako. If this is the waiting room, then I will wait for you forever Marvel!

“Help yourself, Miss Fermantes.” Said Michelle.

I nod enthusiastically. Para akong bata. Well mukha naman akong bata, except siguro sa napakakapal kong glasses. I’m now staring at the food… no. Control yourself Fermantes.

The task at hand is to wait for Marvel. From here I can see Marvel from his office, he’s talking to someone I can’t place. Nakatalikod eh. Pero by the looks of it, ang gorgeous ng hair niya, parang Brazillian ang style, and she have a very curvaceous body. The kind that you would envy.

Ha! Tumingin si Marvel sa akin. OMG. Tinuro ako. Hala. Tapos humarap yung babae. Ang ganda. Sobra. Wala akong panama.

Teka, ano niya ‘to? Girlfriend? Hindi naman siguro, baka personal adviser? Tama, baka nga. Ahy ano ba ‘tong iniisip ko. Affected much P?

Tapos…tumawa nang malakas yung babae… hanggang dito, rinig. Tumawa na rin si Marvel. OMG. Napayuko na lang ako. Aware na ako yung dahilan ng pagtawa nila.

Nakakapanlumo naman oh. Gusto ko lang naman magtrabaho para mapag-aral ang mga kapatid ko. Tapos, mukhang hindi ko pa makukuha yung job. I’m on the verge of crying. Oh no. I. Must. Not. Cry. Show them you’re strong P. Yes, act like a professional.

Hmmm…what to do? Call bessy. Tama. I fished out my phone from my bag and dialed her number.

She picked up on the 2.5th ring as always.

“Yo.” She answered boringly.

“Yo Bessy! Hala. I’m here na.”

“Oh tapos?”

“Nasa waiting room ako, naghihintay”

“Malamang, anong gagawin mo diyan? Kakain?”

I looked at the wide array of goodies on the table, hindi ko na mapigilan. Kailangan ko ng stress reliever. Lumapit ako dun sa table of goodies, at namataan ko! CHOCOLATES! My savior!

“Eh bessy kasi, ‘di ba dapat interview na agad?” I took a mouthful of chocolates. Gosh. Ang sarap! HEAVEN!

“Oo nga ‘no? Ano na bang ganap diyan?”

“Nanghihimtway ngou arkwo”

“Ha? Eh ba’t parang kumakain ka nga?”

“Naghihintay. Haha. Secret.”

“Anakanang. Nandiyan ka na sa UNLIMITED?!” Malakas niyang sabi, halos pasigaw. Nilayo ko ang phone.

“Aray. Oo nga, kanina ko pa sinasabi.”

“Sorry naman, nage-edit ako eh.”

Nasa same building kami. Nasa 30th floor lang siya. She recommended me here sa Magazine Department. Same publishing house, gusto kasi namin pareho nang pagtratrabahuhan. Well, that’s part of the reason why. The rest, it’s in the past. I don’t want to exhume the horrors it carries. 

She’s on the Manga Department. Head writer. Oh ‘di ba? Ang taray ng bess friend ko, parang Darla Sauler lang. Darla!

“Hoy! Prudencia!”

“Ay Darla!” Nagulat naman ako. Kahit kalian si Bessy.

“ Tsk. Wag mo nga akong maDarla-Darla. Di hamak na mas sexy ako dun. At mas maganda. So, kumusta naman si Marvel? Ang gwapo diba?”

Anong gwapo? Glorious!

“Hindi naman eh.” Pagsisinungaling ko.

“Naku, ewan ko sa’yo, ang hot kaya niyan!”

I stuffed my mouth with chocolates, naaalala ko na naman yung eksena kanina, pinagtawanan ba naman ako. Nakakasad, naging laughing stock ako.

“Hindi rin ‘no!” with a hint of rage na ang boses ko. I answered Bessy while I munch on the chocolates and continue to wander around the room. “Ang arrogante kaya! Nakakainis, tapos para akong tanga kanina kung tratuhin ako!”

“Ha?! Really?  Baka naman naga-assume ka lang? Tanga? Ikaw? Ang talino mo kaya. Bakit mo naman nasabing arrogante?”

Tama. Ang talino ko kaya. Puhunan ko ‘yan. “Eh paano ba naman bessy! Pi…”

My eyes unconsciously turns towards the door, parang may nasesense akong presence…

            “nagtatawa…”

Oh gosh. There he is.