CHAPTER 02
1116 Words
"Woah... Are you sure you're a man?" namamanghang tanong ng babae na katabi ni Dahlia. Kagaya niya ay nag-apply rin ito dito sa company ni Cornelius Vaughn Alger. Pagod na binalingan ng tingin ni Dahlia ang babae at peke na ngumiti. Dahil sa kaniyang ginawa ay mas lalong nag ningning ang mga mata nito.
"Kiyah! Kung hindi ko lang nakita resume mo, baka aakalain kong babae ka. Ang ganda– este ang guwapo mo naman Mister Dastan!" Grabe na pagpipigil ang ginawa ni Dahlia sa sarili para hindi umirap at sagutin ang maingay na babae na nasa kaniyang tabi. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito napunta dito sa kaniyang kinauupuan at paano nakita ng babae ang kaniyang resume pero wala na siyang pakialam doon.
Ang gusto lang niya ay ang matapos na itong interview at makauwi na. Ito na ang panghuling interview at pagkatapos no'n ay uuwi na kaagad siya. Wala na siyang lakas na natitira pa, samahan pa nitong maingay na babae na hindi niya alam kung ano ang pangalan, mas lalo siyang nawalan ng lakas.
Everything happened so fast that she just find herself in this situation. Tatlong araw na ang lumipas mula noong nakalaya siya mula sa pagkakakulong sa basement. Sa totoo lang ay hindi pa siya nakaka-recover at gusto pang magpahinga para mabawi ang mga nawalang lakas. Pero paano niya magagawa 'yon kung pagkalabas pa lang niya ay may pinapagawa na naman ang ina?
Ah, she's so sick of this.
"By the way, I haven't introduce myself right? I'm Lethania, just like you, I'm also applying but to another position." Kahit na wala naman talaga siyang plano na magpakilala sa babae na nasa kaniyang tabi ay napilitan na lang siya. She's thinking that maybe if they introduce themselves to each other, she'll finally shut up. Well, that's what she thought.
"Wow, I can't believe we're the same age. I mean, you look young and pretty for a man. Wait, are you even a man?" Lethania asked in both curiosity and amazement. Dahlia sighed again for the nth time. Kung normal na tao lang siguro siya ay baka kanina pa siya nairita dito sa babae. But since her patience is longer than the highest statue of earth, she can endure this for how long.
"Yes I am. You've been repeating that question all over again."
Hindi man niya sinasadya na maging tunog masungit pero wala siyang magagawa. Kahit na naman sino ay maiinis kung sila ay nasa kaniyang sitwasyon ngayon. Imbes na ma-offend si Lethania ay humagikgik lang ito.
"Sorry, ang ganda mo naman kasi eh. Mas maganda ka pa sa akin kahit na lalaki ka. Share beauty tips naman." At tumawa ito nang malakas. Napailing-iling na lang si Dahlia at hindi na pinansin ang babae. Lethania seems like a bubbly person. With her bobbed cut hair and big eyes, it's no wonder she's an extrovert.
Kung ano-ano lang ang sinasabi ni Lethania tungkol sa kaniya at wala siyang choice kung hindi ang makinig. Hanggang sa oras na para magkahiwalay silang dalawa. Lethania is a friendly person and treats her as if she's a woman despite knowing her resume.
Sinundan niya ng tingin ang babae na papalayo na. Katatapos lang ng interview nilang dalawa at uuwi na sila. Kahit na medyo na b-bother siya sa pagiging hyper ng babae ay hindi niya pa rin maiwasan makaramdam ng comfort.
Dahlia let out a sigh and immediately went to her car. She started the engine and immediately drove her car away.
Kinabukasan ay nagising si Dahlia dahil malakas na tunog ng kaniyang cell phone. Inaantok na inabot niya iyon at walang tingin-tingin na sinagot.
"Hello..." she mumbled, still dazed.
"Hello, is this Mister Dastan Ferrer?" Parang may bumuhos na malamig na tubig sa kaniyang katawan dahil doon. Dali-daling napabangon si Dahlia mula sa pagkakahiga at mahinang tumikhim.
"Yes, it's me," she replied in her usual deep tone so she can be mistaken as a man. Hindi niya namalayan na nasagot na pala niya ang kausap na may malamyos na boses.
"I'm Ellena from Alger Corporation, I just want to tell you you've been hired as the President's secretary. Congratulations."
It's been an hour already since the woman who called her announced that she has been hired. Imbes na maging masaya, she felt burdened instead. Ang bilis, kahapon pa nga lang siya nag apply at natanggap na agad siya. Mukhang nakialam na naman ang kaniyang ina. Knowing her mother, she definitely pulled some strings in order for her to get hired.
She should be happy since it's not a hassle anymore. Pero hindi niya pa rin mapigilang na mag-alala. Her soon to be boss will be no other than Cornelius Vaughn Alger. An influential and powerful CEO in Asia. Aside from being exceptional in that field, Cornelius Vaughn is also known for his extraordinary talents.
He can sing, play any instruments, dance, act, be a model and many more. Cornelius Vaughn might be the perfect guy she knows. Not to mention his top tier face. But despite all of that, Cornelius Vaughn's personality is the worst. She even heard a rumor of him being a womanizer. Wala itong sinasanto. May edad man na babae, dalaga o maging lalaki pagdating sa bagay na iyon. She doesn't know if it's true since they're just rumors.
To think she will be the secretary of such a person. She doesn't know whether it's a privilege or not.
Two days later, Dahlia found herself again in this familiar building. But unlike before, she's not applying anymore. She's now a worker here.
"The president is waiting for you." Napasinghap si Dahlia at nilakasan ang kaniyang loob. Mahinang bumukas ang malaki at may kabigatan na pinto at kaagad na sumalubong sa kaniya ang isang malawak at eleganting silid. The exterior design were matte black. The room is screaming elegance and aristocratic vibe.
In the middle of the room, there was a table and a person sitting on his throne like a king. His strong facial features and his eyes made her feel overwhelmed. Dahlia gulped. The aristocratic presence around this man is even stronger than those she had met in the past.
"Your name is Dastan, am I right?"
The way his emotionless tone ate the name she had been called to was nerve wrecking. Dahlia stopped herself from trembling because of the overwhelming pressure from his gaze and stood confidently.
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet the president who founded the legend–" She was stopped when Cornelius' laughed echoed throughout the quite room. Although he was laughing, it was empty and a bit cold.
Dahlia clenched her fist.
This bastard is disrespectful. She hasn't even finished saying her words yet!
- Writer
