SINGLE

Part 1

GERALD

Being able to live on my own is one great achievement na maipagmamayabang ko. I've been through a lot of ups and downs and through it all, sarili ko lang din ang naging sandalan ko. I've been trough a lot of struggles, yung typical na maririning mo nung nag aaral ka pa. So now that I have work to sustain my life, I'm making sure na the rest is mag eenjoy nalang ako while working.

I have not mentioned, I really meant that I am alone. After my parents knew about my sexual preference, pinalayas na nila ako since college. I lived by my own. I studied while doing several jobs. Those were literally ups and downs I had which I can say are definitely paid off. And that's why am really proud that I survived all, alone. Kaya sanay na rin naman na ako ng mag isa.

Stable job, savings, investments plus my friends, Akala ko okay na yung ganto eh. Yung plantsado mo na yung future mo; iinom ka kung kelan mo gusto kasama yung mga barkada mo, kahit gabi gabi pa. Pero akala ko lang pala. Until one day na relize ko na ako nalang pala mag isa pagkatapos ng lahat ng iyon. Yung pakatapos nyo mag lasing kasama mga kaibigan mo, mag isa kang uuwi, magbubukas ng bahay, aasikasuhin yung sarili mo kahit gusto mo na sanang matulog nalng. kaso, oo nga pala, nag-iisa lang ako.

Fuck it. Para kasi sakin parepareho sila. Manloloko. So dumating sa point na hook ups nalang, walang feelings attached. Aayain ka ng sex, only you would know the next day iniwan ka nalng. Di manlang nagpasalamat sa sarap na binigay mo. Akala mo commodity ka, pagpipilian. Pag ayaw sayo, di wag. Pag gusto, sige sex. Then repeat the same day. Nakakasawa rin pala. Kaya after nung last relationship ko, I decided just to be alone.

Kasi after lahat ng mga nangyari, i find peace in solace. No one to hurt you, no problems, no one to think about but myself. After all, ako lang naman din mag isa. So I have to be strong. That no one should hurt me, again. There I developed yung pagiging matigas.

For the past weeks, more of bahay-work lang ang usual routine ko. If I have a chance to, I also go to gym. I still see to it that I still look fit and gorgeous. I own quite spacious condo unit sa isang high-rise building sa BGC. I opted to stay in a condo unit than owning a house since wala rin naman akong ibang kasama. Well, technically meron naman minsan. Hookups. Looking at it, you'd know na iisa lang ang nakatira rito. Might even say boring. But for me it's perfect. Enough for everything that I need. Sala, bed, restroom, kitchen, dining, and even a working area.

There are random guys na nagpaparamdam paminsan minsan. Yung gusto daw na magseryoso. Pero di naman sila nakakatagal dahil sa ugali ko. Lahat ng hookups? I just give them ramdom names instead of my real name; random made information for myself; a fake facebook account in case someone asks for any. Those sort of things.

"Mr. Gerald Villanueva, Head, Accounting Department"

Ito talaga ang gustong gusto kong tinitingnan twing darating ako ng umaga sa office. Ang sarap talaga sa feeling ng worth it lahat ng pagod mo. Pero syempre alam ko naman ang pinaggalingan ko at hindi naman ako makakarating dito without my subordinates. Not too obvious cuz I'm way too professional pag nasa office pero alam nila yun. Seldom you would see me smiling unless ang mga kausap ko are considered friends, otherwise colleages with higher positions.

Due to certain circumstances, my assistant had to resign. Mary has actually been a good employee and during the course ay naging friend ko na rin siya since sya rin naman ang lagi kong kasa-kasama. I tried looking for options to keep her pero ayaw nya. ayaw nya ring sabihin ang rason pero problema daw sa pamilya that she had to surrender her work. I had no choice but to ask my secretary to post for an opening for the said position.

For the following week I had to insert interviews on my daily schedules until makapag finalize kami kung sino na ilalagay sa position. The first day was a bit tiring since we had a couple of meetings plus the said interviews. mga ilang applicants rin yung na interview ko pero parang wala akong isasama sa kanlila for the next interview. Lumipas pa ang ilang araw at meron naman na kaming ilang kandidato para sa final interview. Pero hindi ko inexpect yung sa last group of applicants. Last applicant for the final interview: Earl San Antonio. Sounds familiar.