Grave of Dead Dreams (COMPLETED)

37. Failing

Ryoc’s POV

When I get back to work, I was immediately called by my Boss. Actually, I really don't care if he's going to scold me or fire me, either way. It's much better. I don't see the purpose of working hard if there's no one to work hard for.

"Mr. Cristobal, sit down."

Naupo ako sa upuan sa harapan niya. Tahimik lang si Boss na naninigarilyo sa harapan ko. Ang usok galing d'on ay bumabalot sa buong kuwarto na medyo tumatakip sa mukha niya. Para kaming nasa loob ng vape shop.

He's a 55 year old man with a young complexion. Sobrang bata pa tignan ni Boss. He looked like Leonardo DiCaprio in Filipino version.

"Look, I know you've been failing on fulfilling your duties. Alam kong distracted ka and whatsoever, but as a compassionate boss I am giving you a last chance."

Tinitigan ko lang si Boss. Humithit siya sa sigarilyo niya bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"I'm going to give you the task on holding some sort of outreach for our sponsored charities. I know medyo off siya sa tinapos mo pero this is the last and only thing I can think of."

"Charities?"

"Yeah. Charities for cancer patients, especially kids."

Sumandal ako sa upuan.
"Boss, if you want me to resign, fire me, go. I'm not going to be mad."

Napakunot ang noo ni Boss.
"Why? Wala ka bang pangarap or something? You know, it's very hard to find work nowadays."

Napayuko ako.
"Kasi 'yung pangarap ko Boss umalis na."

Natawa si Boss. I was puzzled. Did I said something funny?

"Boss, as far as I can remember I didn't said anything funny."

"I was once at that point of my life too, kid." he said.

He placed his cigarette on the ash tray and leaned forward to face me.

"You know why I built this company?"

I shook my head.

He stood up. Tumingin siya sa malayo habang nasa likuran ang kanyang mga kamay.

"You know, back in my college days, I fell in love with a girl. She's beautiful and smart. But sad to say, she fell in love with my best friend."

He smiled.
"All the times I thought we'll end up with each other became nonsense to me. You know, that's my best friend! It'll be so f*cked up if I'll try to steal my best friend's girl."

He glanced at me.
"You know the story of The Great Gatsby?"

I remembered the story was all about a poor guy who worked hard to be rich just to meet and impress his ex-lover. In the end he died because of the recklessness of his love.

"I became determined myself like Joe Gatz in the story. Because I want to impress her when we see each other again, just in case she changes her mind and realizes that she loves me too and not my best friend."

"That's... I don't know. F*cked up?"

Boss chuckled.

"You know, sometimes fate tries to swing us from our feet, trying to make us give up on our dreams. Look at me, I'm a fifty-five-year-old man but I never had a wife. What did I do? I still kept on dreaming of the same girl I met when I was in College.Not as a broke boy, but a now successful man. "

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat.

" You know, it's okay to get distracted. It's okay to get lonely. But kid, plant this on your mind, never, ever let those distractions sway you. Pangarap mo siya? Then try to do your best to be successful. Try to be a man any other girl would dream of. Para kapag nagkita kayo ulit, maybe it'll change her mind this time. "

" Pa'no po kung hindi nagbago ang isip niya? "

Tinawanan lang ako ni Boss. Bumalik siya sa upuan niya at prenteng umupo doon. Itinaas niya ang kanyang mga paa sa kanyang desk.

" Atleast you're successful. That's plan B. To impress and change her mind is plan A. Plan B only means that move on. Now kid, go get your butt out of my office and start working with the task I gave you, pronto."

Lumabas ako ng opisina ni Boss na hindi ko masabi kung na-inspire na o kung ano.

But one thing that I agree with him, is that continually improve yourself.

Para kapag nagkita kayo ulit, maybe I can change her mind.