Recuerdo De Amor Island 1: Into My Heart - Completed

Chapter 2

LIANNA

It was been month and half when I finish my master’s degree. Tambay lang ako ngayon kasi walang kompanya na tatanggap sa'kin dahil matalino daw ako. Kidding!

Actually, plenty of companies called and wanted me to be part of them but I decline. I don’t know why but something tells me to wait. Well... my dream work is in Recuerdo De Amor Island. Who wouldn't... that island is a paradise from nature to magnificent horses, to handsome men.

'Buti na lang sa isip mo lang 'yan nasasabi dahil lagot ka talaga kay kuya mo pag narinig ka n'on.' Kita mo ang isip ko na 'to tinakot ako. Sabagay totoo naman eh. Ang over protective ng kuya ko... super. I sigh, but I love him though.

As I said RdA island is my dream place to work. Bago pa man ito naging moderno ngayon. I fall in love at the virgin RdA island when I saw it in the art exhibit of the young painter Levi Blade Alonzo. It was his winning piece… the Recuerdo de Amor Island painting. Where the beautiful Rancho Velasquez could only be found in the middle of the island. Being in that art exhibit was a privileged. I can’t believe when our school gave me the ticket of the art gallery, for being an excellent student. Which I'm thankful until now because I got an opportunity to see the best painting of RdA island and begun to dream on going there someday.

The old RdA island was captivating kaya hindi ko masisisi ang anak ng may-ari at mga kaibigan n'ya kung nangarap silang pagandahin pa lalo ang isla. Now that it became modernized, it was so magnificent but unreachable. Simula ng naging tourist vacation ito, I push myself to study hard so I could be part of the people working on the island. Kahit doon lang masasabi kong I reach my dream.

Again… hindi ako tambay ha. Paalala lang po, I got 3 jobs online. Ika nga nila... stay at home but earn money. Na s'yang gusto ng kuya ko na sa bahay lang ako. While waiting for opportunity in RdA island. Ito naman ang hindi alam ni kuya.

I'm busy reviewing my report when my phone ring.

Bessy Calling…

Bakit kaya?

"Ehem… this is Belle office. How can I help you?" Nakangiti ako ng malapad dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Bessssyy!" Oh s**t! Ang sakit sa tenga. Inilayo ko na agad phone.

"KYAAAAAAA!!" I cringe sa tinis ng boses nya.

"You can’t believe what I'm about to tell you...."

Meet my bestfriend. Gregoria Anne Velasco but she preferred to called Riaanne "Ri-yan" ang panghi daw kasi ng Gregoria. I grin. We are best of friends since elementary kaya alam na namin ang likaw ng bituka ng isa’t-isa. She's already working at Angela Garden Hotel na pag-aari ng Gonzalez Empire as Pastry Chef on hotel's restaurant.

"Grabe ka talaga makasigaw bessy, ilang beses na ba akong pumunta sa doctor dahil nabibingi na ako sa kasisigaw mo sa'kin sa phone." Asar ko sa kanya.

"Heh! Maniwala ako sayo pero sa'kin dapat ka maniwala dahil KYAAA!" Ayan na naman sya.

Dali-dali kong inilagay sa loudspeaker at hininaan ang volume, para kung sumigaw sya hindi mabulabog si mama at nanay Menda sa baba. Akalain nila n'on may sunog sa kwarto ko.

"Anu ba kasi 'yon bessy puro ka sigaw at pabitin eh."

"Bessy this is it." She said excitedly.

"Kuya Greg called me... his boss was looking for Operation Manager in Recuerdo de Amor Hotel & Resort"

"WAAH! Talaga bessy? " Napatayo ako dahil doon at napatalon sa tuwa… this is it. Kaya pala excited sya ibalita sa'kin dahil dream job ko pala ang sasabihin n'ya.

Napa-Happy Dance tuloy ako. Compose of awkward, terrible shaking hips and hands in the air. Oh 'di ba ang galing kong sumayaw?

"Kaya tinawagan kita agad ng matapos sabihin sa'kin ni kuya eh. He knows you're looking for a job 'di ba? Kaya ito na 'yon bessy." Buti na lang kuya Greg is working in Gonzales Empire as personal assistant ng Ruthless CEO, na isa sa founder ng bagong isla. Malalaman namin ang mga updates doon.

"Thank you bessy for telling me. I'm really gonna hug kuya Greg for this. Oh god! Now agad, I'll email my resume at G.E." Ang saya saya ko.

"Goodluck bessy ha. Sana matanggap ka. Kyaaaa! Makapunta na ako nito sa RdA island." Excited much talaga ang babaitang 'to ni hindi pa nga ako nakapag-apply eh.

I giggled. "Bessy apply muna ako ha? Lukaret ka! Ang advance mo mag-isip."

"I'm sure bessy ikaw ang mapipili nila. Your credentials say it all even you don’t have an experience yet." She always knew the right words to say.

"Kaya love na love kita bessy eh. You always boast my self-esteem. But thank you. Hope they will agree with you too bessy."

"I bet they will bess. Love you too bessy. Basta balitaan mo ako ha. Bye bessy work pa me."

"Bye bessy." I turned-off my phone after that. Napatulala lang ako, thinking I'm almost one step forward for my dream.

"I heard it right anak? A-apply ka sa RdA island." Nagulat ako ng magsalita si mama. Nakatayo ito sa pintuan.

"Mama naman. Nang gugulat ka eh." I pouted. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko tuloy. "Opo Ma. May nabakante doon kaya I will send my resume to them."

Lumapit ito sa'kin at hinawakan ako sa balikat. "Kanina pa ako dito. Ang ingay n'yo kaya ni Riaanne. Mabuti naman matutupad na ang pangarap mo but I'm still worried 'nak baka hindi ka payagan ng kapatid mo."

I hug her waist. "I know Ma. I'll face kuya's wrath when it happens Ma. I really want to work there, you know that right?"

Hinalikan n'ya ako sa noo. "I know baby and I'm going to support your decision, always. I'll be at your side if your kuya disagree with your plan."

"Thank you Mama. I love you so much." Deep inside I'm worried too once my brother find out my plan. Ayaw pa naman n'on na mapalayo ako sa kanila.

"I love you too baby. Continue your work, bababa na ako. I'll call you when lunch is ready." She kiss me in my head. Kumalas na rin ako ng yakap sa kanya.

When she left the room I send my resume and continue my work online.

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I'm eating my meryenda sa kusina when I heard the telephone ring in the living room. My mom answer it for sure, nandoon kasi s'ya kasama si nanay Menda nanunuod ng paborito nilang palabas sa hapon.

Mama Allianna stop working 2 years ago because my brother won’t let her work anymore. Kaya n'ya na raw kami buhayin.

"Belle!!!!" Tawag sa'kin ni Mama.

"It’s for you." I immediately stand up on my chair and go to the living room. When I got there, my mom was smiling. I hope my assumption was right.

"T-this is Lianna Belle Alarcon speaking." Nautal kong sabi.

"Good afternoon Ms. Alarcon. I'm Jean from Gonzalez Empire HR department. I just want to inform you, that you are one of the applicants that invited for an interview on Thursday 10 am. That's all Ms. Alarcon."

"Thank you for informing me Ms. Jean. I'll be there."

"Ok Ma'am. Bye."

"Bye" Binalingan ko si Mama at nanay Menda tsaka ngumiti ng mapalad. "I'm invited for an interview on Thursday Ma, Nanay."

"That’s good anak." Sayang tugon nila.

"Thanks Ma, Nanay." This is it. I can’t wait for Thursday.

Days pass. Thursday came. Maaga pa lang gumayak na ako dahil sigurado marami kaming nakapila ngayon. I feel relieve dahil wala pa si kuya sa bahay. Walang interrogation process akong madaanan bago lumabas at siguradong hindi papayag 'yon.

Quarter to 10 in the morning when I reach the Gonzalez Empire building. It has 50 floors I guess. Ang ganda ng infrastructure ng building even more in the inside, I feel like I'm in a luxurious hotel. The receptionist immediately give me the floor number of HR department. Pagdating ko doon nag-uumpisa na ang interview. I waited almost an hour before they call my name. Pagpasok ko sa opisina nabungaran ko agad si Kuya Greg. So he'll interview me too. And the 40 plus woman, I think she's the HR head.

"Good morning Ma’am, Sir." I greeted them with smile.

"Good morning too, Ms. Alarcon. I'm Mrs. Crus, I'll be the one to conduct the interview while Mr. Velasco here supervise and help me to select the 5 applicants for final interview tomorrow, by the CEO himself. So good luck." I just nod and smile.

"Shall we start?"

"Yes ma'am."

She immediately ask questions. She even tried to intimidate me but I remain calm and confident in every answers I gave. I have no experience but my knowledge was enough to be in that job. I studied their expressions. They have this wide smile every time I satisfied them with my answer. I’m mentally grinning.

Hinalukay ko pa sa treasure chest ko ang mga sagot na 'yan. I really wanted this job. But seriously, yesterday I really meditated and let my mind relaxed and alow all what I studied for years entered. Always prepare in battle... ika nga. And I'd been meditating for years.

"Thank you for your time Ms. Alarcon." Mrs. Crus send me a pleasant smile. "We don’t need to call you kasi ngayon pa lang sasabihin ko na... you're the first in 5 applicants for final interview. You are impressive. I'm sure Mr. Velasco agrees with me." Binalingan nito si kuya Greg.

He smile at me and nod. "She's right, Ms. Alarcon. Congratulations and see you tomorrow."

Palihim n'ya akong kinindatan. I suppress my giggle. Gusto kong mapatalon sa tuwa but I keep my cool.

"Thank you Ma’am, Sir." We shake hands at lumabas na ako. Marami pa rin ang nakapila pero bahala sila basta ako nagha-happy dance sa isip ko. I wanted to call my bessy ngunit ang alam ko nasa trabaho pa ito, kaya I just send her a message. I want to share the good news.

Sumakay agad ako sa taxi at umuwi. I'm sure my mom and nanay Menda will be happy too. Cross finger sana wala pa doon si kuya or else....

"Maaaaa...kyaaaaa!!!" Agad kong sigaw pagdating sa living room. Humahangos galing sa kusina ang dalawa palapit sakin.

"What happen anak?" With her worried voice, Mama asked.

"Ma! Nanay Menda! Natanggap po ako. Kyaaaa!" Sabay yakap sa dalawa. Pasimple kong hinanap ang sign ni kuya pero wala s'ya. Ayos!

If you are curious about my papa. He passed away when I'm 15. Cardiac arrest at his work abroad. Kaya my brother became my father figure.

"I'm happy for you anak. So kailan ka magsisimula." Napanguso ako sa sinabi nya. Paano may isa pa pala ako na interview with no other than, the-so-called Ruthless beast CEO of Gonzalez Empire

"Naku wala pa Ma. May final interview pa pala ako bukas at ang CEO mismo ang gagawa n'on." Madrama kong sagot.

"Kaya mo 'yan anak. Nagawa mong maipasa ito, alam ko magawa mo rin bukas. Just believe in yourself… ok?" Tugon naman ni Nanay Menda.

"Thanks Nanay. I'll do my best."

"Dahil d'yanan we prepare your favorite foods 'di ba Ate Menda." Masayang aniya ni Mama.

"Tama ang Mama mo 'nak kaya hali na kayo sa dining room nakahanda na ang mga pagkain doon."

Meet Nanay Menda. She's been with us since I'm a baby. Malayong kamag anak ni papa at katuwang ni Mama sa pag-alaga sa'min hanggang ngayon. Masaya naming pinagsaluhan ang pagkain habang nagkukwentuhan.

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Bessy calling....

I lower the volume and accept the call then put it on a speaker. Girl scout na ako kaysa mabingi na naman ako sa tili ng babaitang 'to.

"Olla bessy!"

"CONGRATSSS BESSY!" See... grabe makasigaw buti sa kwarto na ako ngayon.

"Thanks bessy but I still have a final interview tomorrow."

"I heard that too. Kuya Greg told me you did well back there. He wants to talk to you but he can’t dahil sa dami pa na applicants after sayo. Ikaw ang the best para sa kanya." Natuwa ako sa aking narinig.

"Ganoon ba. So formal nga ni kuya Greg kanina eh pero totoo hindi kami nagkaroon ng time na mag usap. Sabagay baka anu sabihin ng iba. And he even called me Ms. Alarcon bessy." She laugh. I join her.

"Masanay ka na Ms. Alarcon ganyan naman talaga sa business world 'di ba?"

"Mang-asar ka pa. Sa iba siguro okay lang." Ingos ko.

"Basta bessy break a leg tomorrow ha. I'm sure ikaw ang mahire n'yan."

"Thanks bessy. Galingan ko talaga. Dream job ko na 'to bessy eh."

"Ganyan nga bessy. Ok! Beauty rest ka na d'yan para mapansin ang beauty mo ni kuya Christian. Good luck! Love you. Bye."

Tsk! Kita mo ang babae na 'to hindi pa nga ako nakasagot pinatay na agad. And who the heck is her kuya Christian?