Prologue
The pitter-patter of feet scuffle to different directions while the rain vehemently batters the cemented ground and competes against the noise of the cars’ beeps. Every swoosh of the wind, adds chilliness to the surroundings. The long sleeves and hem of my thick coat that muffles my body are soaked and so does my trembling hand that’s firmly gripping the handle of my umbrella.
My heartbeat is racing with my feet as I sprint, the fastest I could ever do, towards a massive building that’s boastfully erected in the center of Taguig’s business district. I huff and puff and with a few more thrusting of my legs, I finally reach the lobby of the building. But in an instant, my heart lurches when my eyes angle to the direction where the elevators are. People are snaking their way in them. Feeling anxious, I glance at my wristwatch and it says 7:56 in the evening.
'Come on. Four minutes left.’
While my patience is being challenged, I fold my umbrella close then take off my coat and dangle it on my arm. I slip my hand inside my salmon leathered shoulder bag, take out a handkerchief with my name embroidered on it then wipe the beads of water that are smothered on my face. My hand gropes for my compressed powder in my coat’s pocket then I examine my reflection on its mirror before running my fingers through my long dark hair and fixing the yellow fabric headband which seals my bangs away from my forehead.
'Gosh! I don’t have time to put make up on. I can’t believe that this is happening to me!'
My lips pucker while the heel of my shoe relentlessly tapping the granite floor, producing a ticking sound like the huge wall clock at the center of the information desk. As much as I want to ignore it, its position and size always grab my attention, it says 7:58. Two more minutes before my tears would fall down. I shut my eyelids close and say a little prayer in my head and when I open my eyes, shock hits me in the face. People start leaving the line and take the stairs instead so when an elevator’s doors open, I swiftly run and hop inside it and squeeze my slender figure against other people’s body. When the doors close, my tight shoulders loosen a bit as my lips let out an inaudible sigh. I jerk when a finger pokes my cheek so I lift my chin to catch a better glimpse of the person in front of me. I gasp when my gaze meets the deep set blue eyes of my team lead, Adam Reyes.
“TL Adam, you’re…late too?" I ask hesitantly. My heart is pounding faster and more aggressively than ever as his warm breath nudges my face.
“Nope,” he answers, smiling. “We had a meeting and I’m about to return to the production floor.”
I bob my head then lower my chin when I realize that both of us are about to lose three thousand pesos if I don’t make it on time. The moment the elevator doors slide open at the 17th floor, my legs waste no time and sprint again towards the locker area. I frantically insert my key that’s hanging on my lanyard in my padlock, take out my headphone, throw my bag and wet umbrella inside then secure my locker properly before heading towards the glass double door at the end of the hall. I shakenly place my index finger in the biometric device that’s affixed on the wall and when a click tickles my ear, I push the door open and hurriedly occupy a station nearest to the entrance. The first thing that I look at is the time on the avaya, it’s exactly 8 PM. A slight joy overshadows my anxiety when I attach my headphone on the phone’s cradle and put it on my head then dial my agent number. In a split second, tooot!
'I made it, thank God!'
“Thank you for calling PhilBanko, this is Atarah, how may I help you today?”
