Yesterdays Lies

Chapter 1

"Ms. G handa na po ang mga aplikante" Estella handed me a bunch of resumes. Sa kapal nito ay paniguradong aabutin ako ng tatlong oras sa pag interview para sa kukunin kong papalit sa posisyon ni Estella.

Isa lang naman ang kailangan ko pero ang daming interesado para sa posisyon ng secretary ko. Estella resigned dahil daw nawawalan na siya ng oras para sa pamilya niya and I understand her naman and so I gave her two months to train sa kukunin kong papalit sa kanya ngayong araw.

But before starting the interviews ay inisa isa ko munang nireview ang bawat resume sa ibabaw ng lamesa ko.

And one of them really hooked my full attention. She doesn't have any experience yet in any field.

But heyy, she graduated in Business management three months ago. She's a fresh graduate in Isabela State University as c*m Laude? The university isn't pretty much familiar to me but the fact that she's smart I think she's the one I am looking for.

Binaba ko ang resume na hawak ko at inihiwalay. Pinagsamasama ko ang mga iba pang resumes at pinindot ang intercom na kumukonekta sa office ni Estella.

"Estella tell everyone that I already chose one of them. I don't want to waste their precious time. Tell Ms. Gabrielle Ortega to come to my office right now." I commanded.

"copy Ms. G" she responded immediately.

I am this kind of a person na hindi mahilig magsayang ng oras. And I do care about others time and efforts. Kaya mas maayos nalang na hindi na gawin pa ang interview dahil para saan pa kung mayroon na akong napili sa kanilang lahat.

Yes Ms. Gabrielle Ortega has no experience but among them all she's the only one who graduated in Business related so I believe she's fit to be my secretary.

Someone knocked on my door three times.

"Come in" I responded. Looking straight to the close door waiting for Estella to open the door.

"Ms. Gabrielle is here now Ms. G" she said smiling genuinely at the person next to her. I nodded my head and tell her to let the woman come inside my office.

And there, a very much simple yet beautiful young lady appears in my eyes. Damn she's more beautiful in person. For some reason my heart pounded and seems like everything in my sight became blury except her na sobrang linaw sa paningin ko. She's a real goddess...damn.

Napipi ako ng ilang segundo at sa bawat mahinhing galaw niya ay nakasunod ang mga mata ko. I cannot hear anything but the loud beating of my heart.

Estella clears her throat reason for me to get back into my senses. Napailing na lamang ako sa nangyari. I closed my eyes as I tried dismissing the sudden strange feeling arise inside me the moment I laid my eyes on her.

"Please sit down" I told her and she follows immediately. She's wearing a black slacks and a plain white long sleeves. She's so simple but attractive.....what the hell. I seemed to forget the reason why she's here in front of me right now. I felt clouded with admiration about her beauty. This is strange. I cleared my throat and heaved out a sigh.

Focus George. Focus. Paalala ko sa sarili ko. Pinagsalikop ko ang mga kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa at tinignan siya ng diretso sa mga mata. Trying to stay professional and calm.

"So Ms. Gabrielle Ortega, I reviewed your credentials and I am quiet impress with you by the way. But before anything else I wanna ask you If you are aware about the job you are trying to take over here in my company.?" I asked looking straight to her eyes and I was impress the way she meet mine. She was smiling but nervousness written all over her beautiful face.

My eyes moved down to her hands above her legs. I could see her hands trembling.

"Yes ma'am I do fully aware about the job and I may have no much experience yet but I can assure you that I will give my best if you would just give me the chance to be part of your team. I am dedicated person kaya nasisiguro ko po sa inyo na hindi niyo po pagsisisihan kung sakali pong mahire ako" she confidently said. Tumango tango ako and feeling satisfied sa naging sagot niya sa tanong ko. Kung ang iba ay nagbabase lamang sa experience at pinag aralan well I am far different from them. Lahat ng empleyado ko rito ay mga fresh graduates when I hired them. I love giving chances to those freshly graduates na willing matuto at hardworking. And that's the reason why I chose her. Smiling at her, I stood up and extended my hand on her na kinagulat niya.

"congratulations Ms. Ortega, welcome to my team"

Her eyes widened. She looked stunned. But she stood up and gladly accepted my hand with her teary eyes.

"Thank you ma'am..Thank you so much po" she brought my hand from her grip onto her forehead. I can say that she wasn't aware on what she was doing because of too much joy enveloping her at this very moment. And I just let her and savor the moment.

I threw my gaze at Estella who was smiling widely at the scene she was witnessing inside my office.

"Estella please brief her and tour around. Ikaw na muna bahala sa kanya coz I have a sudden meeting with my brother in 10 minutes." I commanded and she nodded her head immediately as she said "yes Ms. G as response to me.

"Let's go Ms. Ortega. I will tour you around first habang binibrief kita sa magiging trabaho mo" narinig kong sabi niya sabay akay narin sa bago kong sekretarya. Muli pa akong nilingon ni Gabrielle at nagpasalamat bago tuloyang nilisan ang opisina ko nang may malawak na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

My brother called me just a while ago asking me to meet him at the coffee shop near my building. Sa tagal na panahon na hindi kami nagkita ay aminado akong I am longing for having him by my side for the past five years since I left the mansion.

"So how is my successful beautiful sister?" My older brother Brandon opened his arms for me. We haven't seen each other since I left the mansion.

Tears streaming down my face as I run towards my brother. I hugged him tightly as I let my tears stream down to his broad shoulders freely.

"Woahhhh I miss you damn much too bunso" he chuckles and started planting soft kisses above my head. Nagtuloy tuloy ang pagbuhos ng luha ko but I don't care no more.

Niyakap ako ng mahigpit ni kuya na para bang binabawi ang limang taong hindi naming pagkikita. I could feel his longing through his tight embrace and nonstop kisses above my head.

"I miss you so much kuya" I cried on his arms. I cried like how I used to cry on him whenever I got bullied in school back then.

"I know bunso and I am sorry na ngayon lang ako nakauwi. Lolo really did everything para lang hindi kita mapuntahan. I am so sorry I wasn't there when you needed me the most my little pumpkin" he kissed my temple and I cried even harder.

Nanatili kaming magkayakap ni kuya ng ilang minuto. Like we were savoring the moment. Imagine the five years of not seeing each other. Kuya Brandon is my only sibling and I knew he loved me morethan anything. He was my protector. My knight and shining armor in my own fantasy world. I am his favorite and so I am.

"I am so proud of you. You have built your own empire in just five years without getting help from anyone." he said smiling sweetly at me.

Nakaupo na kami at nakaorder na nang paborito naming kape. He was caressing my hand with so much gentleness.

"Thank you kuya. I am happy that you finally came back from states. I have been missing you. Nakakatampo lang kasi never mo ako tinawagan ni hindi ka man lang nagpaalam noong umaalis ka" I said pouting my lips, acting like a kid na nagtatampo saa kanyang nakakatandang kapatid and he just smile apologetically at me.

"I tried bunso but you changed your number. And I was too busy with our business there kaya ang plano kong pagbisita sayo ay laging nauudlot. Babawi ako ngayong nakauwi na ako. I promise you that hmm?" dumukwang si kuya upang patakan ako ng marahan na halik sa noo na nagpalawak ng ngiti ko.

Nagkwentohan kami sa mga naging ganap namin sa buhay sa loob ng limang taon. And he never fails saying how proud he is for I had been through a lot over those years. And we ended that meeting with a tight embrace. He even promised me to pay me a visit at my office tomorrow na lalong nagpaganda ng buong araw ko.