The Tyrant Billionaire's Sunshine

Ch 01

Sunshine

DAYS have passed so fast and I'm still here sulking inside my apartment. I told my landlady that I'll use my deposit for this month. Naintindihan naman niya ako pero kailangan ko daw umalis agad pagka-consume ko sa deposit ko. Nagbawas na ako ng usage sa kuryente para naman kaunti lang din ang maiiwan ko na bayarin. Wala pa akong malilipatan at nahihiya pa rin akong magsabi sa pamilya ko.

I have friends but I don't want to bother them right now. Kung mas nangangailangan ako nga, lalo na sila dahil pare-pareho lang naman kaming naapektuhan nitong pesteng virus na 'to. Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko na kanina pa tunog ng tunog. Daisy is calling but I have no courage to answer it. Siya ang best friend ko na una kong sinabihan tungkol sa pagkaka-laid off ko sa trabaho.

Nang manawa na sa katatawag si Daisy, binalik ko na uli ang atensyon ko sa TV. Gano'n lang ginagawa ko sa loob ng tatlong araw na lumipas. I'm still in my PJ's, my hair is messy and I haven't washed it too. Tamad-tamad na talaga ako at parang mas masakit pa iyon kaysa sa break up na naranasan ko. Ugh! Wala na akong trabaho, olats pa sa pag-ibig.

Nakakaawa na talaga ang kalagayan ko ngayon. A continious banging on my door halted my thoughts. Kunot noo kong tinigil ang pinapanood ko saka tumayo. Kung sino 'man itong nang-iistorbo sa pag-e-emote ko, dapat importante ang pakay niya kung hindi, mata lang niya ang walang latay.

"Iw, what happened to you?" Iyon agad ang bungad na tanong ni Daisy sa akin pagkabukas ko ng pintuan. Tinakpan pa niya ang ilong na akala mo naman nangangamoy na ako. Naligo ako! Sadyang hindi ko lang sinama ang buhok ko. Niluwagan ko iyon para makapasok siya sa loob. "Really? Sunshine Althea Santos, natanggal ka lang sa trabaho nagkaka-ganito ka na? Daig mo pa ang iniwan ng lalaki, ah!"

Losing a job is like breaking up with a long time boyfriend or maybe calling an engagement off. Gano'n talaga ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Iyon na yata ang pinakamalalang kabiguang naranasan ko bukod pa sa paulit-ulit akong niloloko ng mga kalahi ni Adan.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ko sa kanya saka pinanood siyang hawiin ang mga kalat ko at ilagay iyon sa trash bin na hindi ko namalayang hawak na pala niya.

"Are you going to stay here sulking in the corner?"

"Sinubukan kong mag-apply pero lahat ng tawagan ko hindi muna sila natanggap ngayon bagong empleyado,"

"Sulking here won't feed your family just so you know," Tumayo siya saka inabot sa akin ang trash bin. "I found a job for you, Sun. Mag-ayos ka na at may interview ka mamayang 3pm dito sa address na 'to. Para naman sa tirahan, aapunin na kita at kapag nakabawi ka na, share na tayo sa gastusin."

Nagliwanag ang mga mata ko bigla. Tama ba lahat ng nadinig ko? I have an interview plus Daisy will adopt me. Is this the greatest plan of God for me? Pinilit pa ako ni Daisy na kumilos isang beses pa bago ako tuluyang bumalik sa realidad.

Niyakap ko siya pero saglit lang dahil may kaartehan talaga itong best friend ko kahit na kailan. I quickly cleaned my apartment then prepare myself for my upcoming interview. Hindi na na-discuss ni Daisy kung anong klase kumpanya ang Acceron. Executive assistant ang position na bakante doon at may alam naman daw ako sa gano'n kaya confident siyang maipapasa ko ang interview. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung madinig kung magkano ang sahod na kayang ibigay ng kumpanya sa akin.

Doon palang alam kong buhay na buhay na ang pamilya ko Quezon. Secured na ang pag-aaral ng mga kapatid pati na maintenance ng parents ko. I have to impress the human resource manager then the boss so I can score the position. This is it pansit! Kayang kaya mo 'to, Sun!

I CHECK the address written on the paper which Daisy gave to me. Nasa harap na ako ng Acceron at hindi ko maiwasang mamangha dahil ganda ng mismong building. Dalawang kanto lamang ang layo noon sa Nimbi kaya naman hindi na ako nahirapan pa na hanapin iyon. But this is my first time hearing this company. I tried searching on the internet and read some articles about it.

Acceron is a leading advertising agency that started in Thailand. Nag-branch out ito sa Pilipinas noong January at ngayon nga ay fully operational na matapos ang halos apat na buwang lockdown sa Luzon. Mukhang hindi naman iyon napektuhan ng pandemic dahil hiring pa din hanggang ngayon.

I heaved a deep breath before walking towards the entrance. From there, a guard made me sign a form where I put my name, age, body temperature and disclosed some details for their future contact tracing. Gano'n na ang sinasabi nilang 'new normal'. I stepped on a foot bath, disinfected my hand, and entered a body disinfection machine. Hindi na din pinaalis sa akin ang suot kong face mask at face shield habang naglalakad ako papasok ng Acceron. Everyone is also wearing their own as part of the company's safety protocols. When I reached the reception table, the employee there re-directed me immediately to the fifth floor of the Human Resource Department.

"Good afternoon," I calmly greeted the girl in formal attire, whom I saw when the elevator door opened.

"Ms. Santos, right?" tanong ng babae sa akin.

State of the art facilities sa Acceron at malayong malayo sa Nimbi na simpleng advertising company lamang. Para nga lang iyong bahay habang itong Acceron, opisinang-opisina ang ambiance pagpasok palang sa entrance. All employees are in their formal attires that's why I made the right choice on wearing a black long sleeves paired in a plaid pencil cut skirt and white stiletto high heels. Tumango ako bilang sagot tanong niya.

"I'm Alexa Natividad, Human Resource Manager." Pakilala niya sa akin saka inaya akong pumasok.

May apat na cubicle sa floor na iyon kaya masasabing may social distancing talaga sila. Each cubicle can be compared to my apartment room. Gano'n siya kalaki at hindi uso ang pintuan na kagaya sa mga napapanood ko sa pelikula. I removed my face shield and mask after settling down in front of Miss Alexa. I fixed my hair and gently pat the sweat on my forehead. Mainit kasi ngayon kahit magpapasko na at ang hirap huminga kapag naka-mask at shield.

"Miss Martinez, our recruitment officer from Workforce Solutions, recommended you for the executive assistant position. I'm a bit impressed by your credentials, Miss Santos," ngumiti ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

Lahat naman ng in-apply-an ko bago sa Nimbi, gano'n ang panimula kaya alam ko na ang ending nito at hindi ko gusto iyon. But at least I tried. I see how Miss Alexa eye me from head to foot. Para bang sinusukat niya ang kung hanggang kailan ako tatagal sa kumpanya nila na pakiramdam ko naman ay magdadala lang sa akin sa waiting list.

"With your impressing credentials, why do you think I should hire you? It stated there that you don't have any experience in being an administrative assistant yet," sumeryoso ang mukha niya bigla na para bang any time ay handa na niya akong sakmalin.

"It's not on the paper, but I worked as the assistant to the Director of my previous job before getting transferred in the project planning and activation department. I did all of his biddings, both personal and company-related. I might not be trained in the field, but I can assure you that I am capable enough to meet all of your expectations. I have already gotten used to demanding jobs and clients, and working overtime and holidays will never be an issue. I know this is a cliché, but I badly need this job to support my family needs," Sunshine smiled at Miss Alexa. "I'm confident enough with my skills, but I still want to learn from you. I believe that I must be willing to learn to expand my wings in life, not be stagnant. I'll also be flexible for whatever the company demands me to do."

Ngumiti si Miss Alexa matapos kong masabi ang pang-Ms. Universe candidate kong sagot. Kabado 'man ay nagawa ko pa ding i-deliver iyon ng naayos at hindi nabubulol gaya nung dati. That smile of her somehow put a relief on my mind, and heart.

"Have you experienced working with angry clients or bosses? How do you treat them when they started to go outraged?"

Jesus Christ! I handled more than irate clients or boss and I'm still alive and kicking. Idagdag pa yung bipolar na ugali ng asawa ng dati kong boss at bossy attitude ni Ella. Masasabi ko na lahat na yata ng klase ng tao nakasalamuha ko na.

"Yes, I do, and to handle them, first I observe them to make sure that I'm dealing with an angry client or boss. Second, I identify their motivations. Understanding them is more important than ignoring their style in managing the company. I worked professionally enough to the point that I didn't let it affect me. I practiced to be one step ahead and do set boundaries. I believe in saying, good fences make good neighbors,"

"That is impressive, Miss Santos. I don't even know what to say," muli akong ngumiti sa kanya. "One last question, Miss Santos, may boyfriend ka na ba?"

Eh? Pati ba iyon kailangan ko i-disclose? Paano kung meron nga? Bawal ba iyon sa Acceron? I cleared my throat before answering her question.

"No, I don't have, ma'am,"

"That's why working overtime and holidays will never be an issue. Anyways, if you get hired, which is already apparent now, your job as the CEO's executive assistant will be... Uhm... how can I say this one? Kulang yung salitang demanding para ilarawan pero consider to work with the king of hell,"

King of hell? Lucifer? My new boss will be as cruel as that guy with scythe, horns and wearing a cape? Dapat na ba akong mag-dasal? Siguro dahil mukhang tanggap na yata ako?

"I actually expected those overtime and holiday works through the amount of salary that Miss Martinez told that you're willing to give." Umayos ako ng upo saka seryosong tumingin sa kanya. "Uhm, am I hired already?" tanong ko.

"Yes, you are, Miss Santos. I can see that you're much capable of the position. I'll send you the contract after this interview. I want you to read it carefully. Then come back on Monday to sign it and to meet your new boss personally." Tumayo si Miss Alexa saka naglahad ng kamay sa harap ko. "Welcome to Acceron, and I do hope that this is for the long run, Miss Santos."

Tinanggap ko iyon saka tumango at ngumiti kay Miss Alexa. This is it! May trabaho na ako ulit at sigurado na akong hindi magugutom ang pamilya ko!