Crystal Mist

Chapter 4: Screwed

Chevelle POV

Akala ko ay magiging mahirap ang pag-resign ko sa Alcontar University Medical Centre dahil biglaan pero hindi naman pala. Halos walang complaints galing sa admin dahil may papasok naman pala silang fresh graduates galing sa university na konektado sa ospital.

Although I would miss my patients and co-workers, I know that this is just the best thing to do.

Nakangiti ako palabas ng ospital. Although you have left me really good memories, I hope this would be the last time we'll see each other, AMC...

Habang nasa jeep, na-alerto ako bigla sa text na bigla kong natanggap.

Brighton Airport:
Ms. Marin, I'm sorry to inform you this late but there are no more slots available for flight attendants. We will recruit again next year. However, please proceed with the same interview time if you wish to still work with us. We have slots in administration-related roles that we want to be filled. Thank you.

Figures, huh.

Kahit anong trabaho pa'yan, tatanggapin ko. I never really thought of myself as a flight attendant anyway. I don't know... I feel like I never really had a choice to choose my own path.

I've already lost the desire to want something for my own sake. I always do it for them! For the other people who don't really love me as much as I love them.

I wonder. Would I ever get it back, hmm?

Ni hindi ko namalayan na nandito na pala ako sa Brighton Airport. Ito lang ang airport sa buong probinsya ng Alcontar pero first-class ito at isang popular din na airline.

Buti nalang at dito ang rinecommend ni Pam. I feel like they pay higher here. Actually, I should've quitted being a nurse sooner. Ang baba ng sweldo namin kahit sobrang pagod... or maybe I'm just being biased since I never wanted to be one in the first place.

Eto nanaman, natulala nanaman ulit ako...

"No. 42, Ms. Chevelle Marin. Please go inside the interview room." sabi ng isang babaeng nasa labas lang mismo ng kwarto na iyon.

Buti nalang talaga at pumunta ako dito ng maaga. Ang dami ng pumunta na nag-apply ng trabaho dito at kung na-late pa siguro ako ng isang minuto, malamang ay nasa 100's na yung number ko. Baka ni hindi na ako tawagin sa loob.

Dapat, sa mga job interviews, kinakabahan ka diba? Pero dahil sa mga nangyari sa mga nagdaang araw, wala na talaga akong nararamdaman. Kaba, takot, galit... kahit ano, wala.

I'm as numb and as apathetic as a robot. Ni wala akong paki sa mundo o kung anong ginagawa ko.

The only force that's keeping me going is I'm still in this boring province, too fucking close to them. Kapag malayo na ako sakanila, kapag nasisigurado ko na hindi ko na sila makikita kailaanman... siguro, mapapanatag ako kaysa ngayon.

It isn't easy to get out here though. Especially if you're poor.

That's why... I need this job. I need to own this. I need to use up this numbness of mine to its full potential to fool all these people around me.

"Good morning. I am Chevelle Marin, a Registered Nurse. I finished my course in Alcontar University as Cum Laude and went to work at Alcontar Medical Centre afterwards." I smiled at the people in front of me.

To be quite honest, I'm not even staring at them precisely. I'm just merely glancing but I'm not going to let it show to them.

"So, Ms. Marin, can you tell us exactly why you want to work at our company?" one of the judges said.

Dahil may direktang tanong, I guess I can't keep up with my technique right now. I stared intently to the one who just asked the question and...

What the heck!?

This is the guy who found me at the hospital's rooftop the other day!

And he's smirking... he's clearly mocking me!

I twitched a bit and quickly realized how mortified my expression is. Mas lalo ako naging conscious nang hindi pa ako makasagot at nagsimulang tumingin sa akin ang ibang judges.

Just when I thought I wasn't going to have a hard time finding a job... I'm ruined!! I'm definitely screwed!

What the hell is he doing here in the first place!?