UNBREAKABLE: Carmen Cortez

CHAPTER 5

NAKASALAMPAK ang katawan ni Elizabeth sa kanyang higaan habang malalim ang kanyang iniisip. Nagfla-flashback sa kanyang isipan ang maiyag na pagtatalik niya sa isang mortal na kaaway ng kanyang pamilya.

'Did I just let him fuck me?' tulalang sabi niya na ang kanyang mga mata ay nakatulala sa kisame. Ramdam na ramdam pa niya ang mga sensasyong dumadaloy sa buong katawan niya nung gabing hinahaplos ng binata ang mga maseselang parte ng pagkababae niya.

What a rough evening.

Twelve hours left before her job interview starts. Napahilamos ang dalaga sa mukha gamit ang mga palad niya at tumayo siya mula sa kanyang higaan. Dumiretso siya sa banyo na paika-ika ang lakad. Kumuha siya ng LOreal Superior Preference Hair Color sa bathroom cabinet na malapit sa bathtub at sinimulan niya nang gawin ang tamang mixture ng components to have a best results. Changing her hair color from Red INTO AN Ash Gray is not bad, isn't it?

After two hours of dying her hair, she is not yet satisfied of the outcome. Ginupitan niya ang kanyang mahabang buhok hanggang sa umabot ito sa kanyang balikat.

She looked at the mirror to see her reflection and said "I guess I am so damn prepared."

ARAW NA NG WALK-IN-INTERVIEW sa Celeron II Agency. She is wearing a collar necklace: Meg NYC, vintage silk shirt: Grey Era NYC, Pants: Model's Own. Last but not the least, she put on her brownish contact lenses to hide her reddish colored eyes. "I'm all set."

She grabbed her Gucci purse and the short white folder which comprises all her personal information and appropriate qualification certificates that are compulsory. Elizabeth also loves photography for the reason that this is one of her desires. That is why she is pretty self-assured with herself and with her own competences.

Driving her own Buick Cascada on the way to the Celeron II Agency where a couple of miles away from her village. "Damn it!" Napamura ang dalaga dahil sa traffic. She is already five minutes late, and she HATES being late.

To make herself unruffled, kumuha siya ng water bottle na nakalagay sa shotgun seat, binuksan niya iyon at inubos ang laman na tubig sa pag-inom.

When she arrived at the Celeron II Agency, she parked her car in forward-facing of the building though the Agency has their own parking lot at the opposite side of the building. Elizabeth checks the time, "Seriously? 45 minutes late?"

Linapitan niya ang Italian guard sa entrance ng building at tinanong niya iyon, "Mi scusi, signore. Sono qui per una passeggiata-in-intervista. Quale piano e stanza?"

(Translation: Excuse me sir. I'm here for a walk-in-interview. What floor and room?)

Nagulat ang Italian guard ng makita ang kanyang frightening aura, at bigla naman itong ngumiti para hindi mahalata na kinakabahan ito kay Elizabeth. Tinuruan niya ang dalaga ng direksyon kung saan ba dapat siya tumungo. "Buongiorno signora. The walk-in-interview is at the 9th floor, room 915."

"Okay..." sabay tingin sa name tag ng Italian guard, "Joe". She did not even expressed any thanks to him.

Pumasok siya sa may elevator na malapit sa lobby ng ground floor. Isa at kalahating minuto ang nakalipas ay nakaabot na rin siya sa 9th floor.

Pagkalabas niya ng elevator, sinalubong siya ng mahabang pila. Halong mga babae at lalaki ang pumipila para sa walk-in-interview. An hour and a half have passed, last three persons nalang and it's her turn already. Elizabeth doesn't feel any tension, she is full of confidence with herself. Napansin niya na paranf giniginaw ang babae na sinusundan niya sa pila kaya kinausap niyo ito.