My Suspicious Boss

Chapter 01

COURTNEY ATHENA's Point Of View

"Seriously, Athena? 92?"

Napa-irap ako sa kawalan matapos marinig ang pagrereklamo ni Mommy. I don't understand why she doesn't get me at all! She graduated with a degree, without Latin honors! And she expects me to flourish all the way when she couldn't herself?

Ever since I started grade school, all I ever received from Mom were complaints. Like, why do I only get a 95 and not a hundred? Is that even possible? She also constantly compares me to her nieces, who are already in college! Just how much more will you torture me, Ma? As if putting me through Kumon wasn't bad enough! I recently just turned seventeen, and she expects me to be a lawyer at the age of 20, just because I accelerated three grades in elementary. And she bribed the school for it.

Ihinampas niya sa lamesa ang printed grades ko bago kumamot sa ulo. "What about Gabby? Nataasan ka niya?" pagalit na tanong niya.

I sighed. "No, ma. She also struggled in Physics," sagot ko bago bumulong ng "lahat naman kami."

Padabog siyang tumayo mula sa swivel chair. I know she's mad, but this isn't her one hundred percent. There's a long way to go. Jesus Christ. "'E ano, Athena? Do you want to drop out? Should I kick you out of the house?!"

At this point, all her shouts just made me feel numb. Nothing more. No more pain, no more talkbacks. I just did not care anymore. Gano'n ako kasanay sa manic modes niya.

"You know what? I'll cut out your budget," she threatens. Tumango lang ako, dahil alam kong pag sumagot ako ay madadagdagan lang ang galit niya. But, deep inside, hell! Not my money! How will I buy cigarettes at this point?

"Umalis ka! I don't want to see your face, Athena," aniya habang nakaturo sa pinto papalabas ng office.

I did as she ordered not to add more fuel to the burning fire. Paglabas ko pa lang ng pinto, bumungad na sa 'kin si Manang na may dalang plato ng mansanas. "Tina, mag almusal ka muna bago umalis," maamong alok niya.

"I'm okay," I said, attempting to rush out of the house.

Hinila niya ako bago pa ako makahakbang palayo. "Hindi naman pwedeng hindi ka kakain! Hindi rin pwedeng sigaw ang almusal mo. Kumain ka muna, at ititimpla kita ng gatas."

I smiled. "Alright."

Kinuha ko ang hawak niyang plato saka pumunta ng kusina. I prefer eating in the kitchen instead of the long dining table. Because I feel less lonely here. The dining table had ten seats yet only one was occupied each time. No matter how long the time has past since we last ate together as a family, I can never get used to it. Kaya sa breakfast counter lang ako kumakain. And, this way I can talk to Manang, our maid over food.

Manang looked after me ever since I was three. She witnessed how badly I was abused by my neglect Mom, and had been treating me as her own daughter from then on.

I hurriedly bit on the apples as she made my milk after I realized it was already seven thirty, and my classes starts at 8! Nagmadali rin akong inumin ang gatas bago ako tumakbo papalabas ng bahay. And there, It struck me how I am in a much more stressful scenario than I thought!

My mom confiscated my car keys the other day when she saw I got a 37 out of 40 during my prelims exam. Now, I have no choice but to run! The only good thing was the campus was just around three kilometers away and I am used to running. I arrived breathless, showering in sweat. And, hah! May fifteen minutes pa 'ko!

The campus seemed a lot busier today kahit na kakatapos lang ng preliminaries. Normally, students would just be walking around the grounds and gardens, but right now, they're all packed in the hallway near my classroom.

Hmm? Wala namang presentations ngayon. Frequently, only a few of us attend lectures, but it seems like a lot wants to come in.

Nagtataka akong naglalakad papalapit, at unti-unti ko nang naririnig ang ingay ng mga nagkakaguluhang studyante sa hallway ng classroom ko. Napansin ko rin na marami sa kanila ay hindi ko naman kaklase! Some were wearing the college uniforms as well! I am in 12th grade! Bakit naman interesado sa klase namin 'tong mga college?

Kunot-noo akong lumapit, saka tinapik ang balikat ng kaklase kong nakikipag-siksikan para makadaan. Galit pa siyang lumingon sa 'kin bago ako kausapin.

"What's going on, Ev?" I asked, almost covering my ears from the loud chaos.

She shakes her head at me. "I don't know! Hindi ako makapasok!" sagot niya.

Oh god, these people are annoying! Isa isa akong naniko ng mga nakaharang sa daan. Mukhang nagpupumilit pa silang makapasok ng classroom namin kahit na bawal! Iba't-ibang sigaw at pagalit na aray ang naririnig ko bawat gilid habang pinagsisiksikan ko ang sariling makadaan sa kaguluhan.

If I were to guess, there are about fifty people in this hall! "Ugh, let me through!" I was beginning to lose my patience.

I heard some of them murmuring to each other about a celebrity being inside the classroom. What kind of bullshit! A lot of celebrities study at this university and it has never been a big deal. What are these people doing?

Noong marating ko ang entrance ng classroom, naitulak ako papasok ng kaguluhan. Huh? The room is empty.

I looked back at the windows and saw the crowd peeking at me, shouting things I could not understand.

"You're almost late." rinig kong boses mula sa harapan.

Napatingin ako roon saka simulang naghiyawan ang mga tao sa labas. There was a guy sitting on top of the professor's table, looking straight at me with his dead eyes.

"Sino ka?" kunot-noo kong tanong matapos mapansing hindi man lang siya naka uniform at ID. He was wearing a black graphic tee and some worn out jeans.

He stands up to walk towards me, sleeking his hair back with his finger as if we were in an action movie. "Courtney?" he asks.

"Athena," mariing sabi ko. No one calls me Courtney here. And should never be mentioned by a stranger.

Ngumiti siya sa 'kin. Ngiting nakakairita.

"I've been wanting to talk to you, but I heard you were always busy," he starts. "But are you too busy to talk to me?"

Oh my god, ew. I remain silent with my brows almost merging together, hoping he could take a hint.

"It's too crowded here. Meet me in the parking lot, nine tonight?" pagyayaya niya.

Lalo pang lumakas ang mga sigaw mula sa labas habang lahat sila'y nakatingin sa 'min. Some of them were questioning our relationship, and some were screaming how handsome he looks. Handsome saan?

I badly want to hit him with a: "Sorry, do I know you" moment but I must retain my sweet girl image to get my car keys back from Mom. This is so difficult!

"Alright," I replied, even though it was madly against my will.

He smiles again before reaching out to my hair on the side of my face. What the hell is he doing?! Lalong napalala ang kaguluhan sa labas ng hawakan niya ang buhok ko. "May dumi," he whispers.

I immediately tucked my hair to the back of my ears, removing his hand near mine. "See you later, then," malambing na sabi niya bago maglakad papalabas, saka nagtilian ang mga babaeng nagaabang.

Sumabay sa pag-alis niya ang karamihan, habang ang iba naman ay dali-daling pumasok at lumapit sa 'kin.

"What the hell, Athena! You know Aiden?"

"You're so slick, this isn't fair!"

A lot of side comments were tingling in both my ears, until my best friend, Gabrielle entered the room with full curiosity traced on her face. Oh, hell.