LOVE MISSIONARIES [Midnight Curse Series 1]

Goddess Zira and DNC

002:

WALKING with a cold face, Zira sashayed her way into the company lobby with graceful and prim movements, although she looked like a cruel lady boss.

Kahit naman ganoon siya umakto ay never naman siyang nagmataas o nang-mata ng kapwa. Alam naman niya kasi kung ano ang lugar niya at kaya niyang ilugar ang sarili, kahit pa gaano kaimportante ang posisyon niya. So not because her bearing was cold and all mighty, like she was acting like she’s above others, looking down on others, hindi ibig sabihin noon ay ganoon na nga talaga siya. It was just her natural behavior when it comes to work.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning, Miss Evangelista!”

“Good morning, Goddess Zira!”

Fortunately, everyone in the company knows her and her nature. So despite her cold façade and her higher aura, everyone still greeted Zira enthusiastically every time they see her. And that raining of morning greetings always happened everytime Zira would go to work in the morning. Dahil sa bawat taong makasasalubong niya, kilala man niya o hindi, kilala man siya o hindi, ay awtomatikong mapapabati sa kanya.

Let’s just say that, with her beauty, despite the coldness emitting from her, anyone who would encounter or meet Zira in the way would automatically greet her. Na para bang hindi nila magawang ikilos ang sarili nilang bibig at kusang bubuka ang mga iyon para magsalita. In short, Zira’s face had an enchanting effect on anyone, a very enchanting beauty that anyone would be enchanted to see more about that beauty.

Kaya naman kahit tango lang ang sagot ni Zira sa mga ito ay wala man lang nagreklamo, mapa-babae man o lalaki ay ayos lang sa kanila. Na parang ang malingon lang ng maiitim at nangingislap na mga matang ‘yon ay sapat na para mabusog ang mga mata nila.

Hindi naman kasi si Zira ang nag-iisang maganda sa loob ng kompanya. Sa totoo lang, isa lang si Zira sa mga tinaguriang ‘goddess’ sa kompanya, meaning, hindi lang siya ang may titulong iyon. She wasn’t deemed as the most prettiest among them all. Pero marahil dahil sa kakaibang hangin na dala-dala ni Zira sa katawan, na kapag nalanghap kahit wala namang amoy, ay magiging intoxicated ka. And that became her different trait among them that brought her a unique title.

Kumpara sa ibang ‘goddess’ na tinagurian sa kanilang kompanya, Zira’s beauty was a type that only a feast on the human eyes. In short, hanggang tingin ka lang. You can’t have her, or you can’t own her as she was for everyone. At iyon ang naging dahilan kung bakit tinawag siyang ‘The Cold Goddess’. It was the coldness she emits in her that made her unreachable like stars. Because of her cold demeanor and her cold grace, like she’s someone high and almighty, a feeling that only gods and goddesses have.

Buti na lang at hindi lang siya ang may titulo bilang goddess, dahil kung hindi ay baka matagal na siyang nag-resign. Baka nga unang tawag pa lang sa kanya bilang goddess ay hindi na siya magtatagal pa at magre-resign nang walang panghihinayang. Fortunately, the company she was currently working with is also a company that people called as the place where gods and goddesses flock together.

This company is called Dark Night Corporation, or DNC for short, which is a company that produces beauty and cosmetic products. Sabihin na nating hindi bagay ang ginagawang produkto sa pangalan ng kompanya, but Dark Night Corporation is not only renowned in the country, but it was known all around the world. After all, it was the most effective and the most legit company that made and sold beauty products. And because of that, it would also be natural that most of the workers in the company can be classified as beautiful, to make the products more reliable.

Hindi nga lang sigurado si Zira kung ganoon din ba sa ibang branch ng kompanya at sa mismong main branch. Hindi kasi main ang kompanyang pinagtatrabahuhan ni Zira, kahit pa nga ito lang ang nag-iisang branch sa buong Maynila. As far as Zira knows, hindi naman mga local na taga-Maynila ang may-ari ng DNC. Dahil sa lumalaking pangalan ng kompanya ay nagsimula silang magtayo ng mga branch sa ilang parte ng Pilipinas at ang pinakatanyag nga maliban sa main company na nasa Siquijor ay ang main branch sa Manila, na siyang lugar kung nasaan si Zira ngayon.

“Goddess Zira, palagi ka na lang talagang maaga kung pumasok,” nakangiting bati sa kanya ng elevator lady.

That voice called Zira back to her senses. The elevator lady was assigned to the special elevator made for the shareholders, investors, and company guests who were visiting the company or the boss. At iyon na rin ang elevator na ginagamit ni Zira bilang isa sa secretary ng boss sa tuwing papasok sa work.

Imbes naman na sumagot at bumati pabalik si Zira ay naglakad na muna siya papasok sa elevator na tanging siya at ang elevator lady lang ang laman. Fortunately, the elevator lady was used to this cold encounter with Zira, so she didn’t take it to her heart. And like usual, ibinalik na lang nito ang tingin sa elevator buttons and do her job. Without asking anything, she presses the closing button of the elevator before pressing the special green button.

“It’s always better to be early, than be late,” mayamaya ay wika ni Zira nang makitang nakasara na ang elevator door.

Noong una ay hindi naintindihan ng elevator lady ang ibig sabihin ni Zira at nagtatakang nakatingin lang sa kanya. But after a few seconds, the elevator lady finally understand what Zira means, and with a sweet smile, the elevator lady looked at Zira as she nodded her head in agreement.

“That’s always the best attitude when working, kaya naman maaga rin ako laging pumasok! It was what I really admire about you, Miss Zira,” ngiting-ngiting saad nito habang ibinalik ang tingin sa harap, ngunit mabilis na napatingin ulit ito kay Zira nang may maalala. “S’yempre, Goddess Zira, pangalawa lang iyon sa ganda mo na mas pinakahinahangaan ko sa ‘yo!” mabilis na dagdag ng elevator lady while looking so earnest at Zira.

“Thank you,” seryoso na sagot lang ni Zira.

Seeing the unfazed reaction of Zira, despite the fact that she was highly praised, the elevator lady couldn’t help but just shook her head slightly. She realized that, it was already a natural reaction for Zira. Afterall, sa gandang taglay ni Zira na mukhang mula pagkabata ay tinataglay na niya, ang mga ganoong uri ng papuri ay talagang natural na lang sa kanya.

With a sound of a ting! The elevator finally reaches the floor where Zira needs to go. The elevator slowly opened, and before Zira stepped outside, she looked at the elevator lady and then slightly nodded her head as her silent gratitude for the elevator thing. And without waiting for the elevator to completely open, Zira walked out of the elevator.

Matunog namang napangiti lang ang naiwang elevator lady bago naiiling na pinindot ang buton para isara ang pinto ng elevator. “It was my job as the elevator lady, pero palagi pa rin talagang tahimik na magpasalamat si Miss Zira sa akin. She’s really the cold outside but a warm goddess inside, like they all talk about.” Then the elevator lady sighed as the elevator door finally closed.

Unfortunately, the elevator lady wasn’t heard by Zira, as she steadily walk towards her office table, planning to left her things first before going to the small pantry to prepare the snack and coffee of the boss when he came. Pero hindi pa man nakahahakbang nang malayo ay napahinto si Zira habang bahagyang gulat na nakatingin kay Secretary Chavez, na nakatayo sa sariling cubicle katabi ng table ni Zira.

“Good morning, Goddess Zira,” nakangiting bati ng thirty-two-year-old na personal secretary ng boss, pagkakita nito sa kanya.

Mabuti na lang at bago pa man makita ng sekretarya ang pagkakagulat niya ay agad niyang naibalik sa stone cold niyang mukha ang kanyang ekspresyon. Nakatangong nagpatuloy na lang si Zira sa paglalakad papunta sa sariling cubicle.

“Good morning too, Secretary Chavez,” magalang na bati rin sa wakas ni Zira habang marahang inilalagay ang mga gamit sa lamesa. Looking back at the older secretary, Zira couldn’t help but asked, “You’re early, Secretary Chavez, seems like Mr. Grey is also early today?”

Marahan namang napatango si Secretary Chavez, “Hmm. Mr. Grey is actually loaded for today and so do us. Make sure that you had eaten first or you won’t be having a time later,” may pagbibiro sa tonong paalala pa ni Secretary Chavez kay Zira.

“I did. Please instruct me anything I could help of, Secretary Chavez,” seryosong sagot ni Zira na nagpatawa lang kay Secretary Chavez.

“Don’t worry, Miss Evangelista. You will soon get your job after Mr. Grey finishes his breakfast. For now, let’s just relax because for sure, we won’t have the time later.”

Hindi naman na sumagot pa si Zira at tumango na lang sa sinabi ni Secretary Chavez. She knew that if it was told by Secretary Chavez, it would be really the case. Kaya naman gaya ng sabi ay sinulit ni Zira ang mga natitirang libreng oras habang nakapikit at nagpapahinga sa mesa.

Zira Evangelista was the assistant secretary of the big boss. While Secretary Chavez was the personal assistant secretary who would always stay beside the boss. Mula kasi sa Secretariat Department ay na-promote si Zira bilang assistant, kung saan siya ang naka-assign na maiwan sa opisina para sumagot ng tawag o mag-welcome sa mga guest na biglang bibisita kapag wala ang boss sa kompanya. And she was more than one year working in this position.

Pero mag-aapat na taon nang nagtatrabaho si Zira sa kompanya. Mula noong mag-intern siya noong kolehiyo ay sa kompanya na siya na-assign. Sakto namang bagong tayo pa lang noon ng branch sa Manila kaya naman kahit intern lang ay bilang secretary na agad ang ini-assign sa kanya. Kumpare kasi ng kanyang ama na nagtatrabaho sa Managerial position ang nagpasok sa kanya. And after graduating, she was immediately scouted back by the head of the Secretariat Department. Hindi na talaga siya pinakawalan pa ng kompanya mula noon. She work for more or less than two years in the secretariat department before she was promoted to her current position.

At alam niya kung bakit hindi na siya pinakawalan ng kompanya, maliban kasi sa galing niya sa trabahong ginagawa ay talaga namang kailangan ang ganda niya para sa imahe ng kompanya. Not because she’s the only beauty or the prettiest, but because of the unique type of her beauty.

Kailangan kasi ng kompanya iyong klase ng ganda na hindi mo nanaising angkinin. Halos lahat kasi sa mga tinaguriang goddess, katulad ni Zira, kung hindi nakatali na ay may mga boyfriend naman o kaya habulin ng mga manliligaw. While Zira, the kind of beauty Zira has, is also attracting and enchanting. Iyong gandang ‘showcase-able’. Hahangaan mo pero hindi mo aangkinin, sa halip ay ipangangalandakan mo.

Because of that, everytime her boss needed to attend a business banquet, he would always bring Zira along with him, with or mostly, without Secretary Chavez. And it was supposed to be a proud thing for Zira, to have almost become the company's face. Unfortunately, Zira isn’t like that type of lady. Instead, she felt pressured and uncomfortable. Buti na lang at ganoon lang siya ituring sa loob ng company branch, dahil kung maging sa main at ibang branch din ay baka napa-resign na talaga siya sa hiya.

She might be thankful for the appreciation of her boss and her officemates, pero pakiramdam niya kasi ay mas’yado na iyong OA. Kulang na lang ay palitan na ng mukha niya ang mga mukha ng models sa bawat posters, magazines, ads, billboards, at maging sa commercials ng bawat produkto. That is not an exaggeration.

“Miss Evangelista?”

Zira has pulled away from her stupor as she looked at Secretary Chavez, who was calling her. Seeing her slightly dazed expression, Secretary Chavez shook her head slightly while smiling at Zira. Nahihiyang napatayo tuloy si Zira habang seryosong nakatingin kay Secretary Chavez.

“Mr. Grey called just a few seconds ago. I thought you fell asleep so I answered it for you,” panimula ni Secretary Chavez habang inaayos ang ilang gamit.

“Oh, I am deeply sorry, Secretary Chavez, I didn’t mean to fell asleep,” nakayukong paumanhin naman ni Zira.

“Nah, it’s okay, Miss Evangelista. It’s just Mr. Grey reminding us to prepare because we will be assisting him on his first meeting for this morning,” mahinahon namang sagot ni Secretary Chavez.

Mabilis na kumilos si Zira at nagsimulang mag-ayos. She didn't take long to prepare because she wasn't used to putting cosmetic products aside from some foundation and lipstick on her face. After her face, Zira also took the things she needed to bring with her that would be required for the meeting after looking at the boss's schedule.

After that, Zira got out from her cubicle and walked towards Secretary Chavez, standing in wait at the side of the boss's office door.

“It’s Mr. Shao of the Shao Enterprise for this meeting right, Secretary Chavez?” tanong pa ni Zira habang hawak-hawak ang mga files na kailangan para sa meeting.

“Yes, he is. And I know you already finished the manual files from the managerial, right?” seryosong tanong naman ni Secretary Chavez.

“Yes, here. One copy for the boss, one for Mr. Shao, and one for me for the takedown notes of the meeting later,” seryoso rin namang sagot ni Zira, slightly showing the three folders in her hand.

Hindi naman na sumagot pa si Secretary Chavez at tumango na lang. They both stood there, waiting for the boss to came out. Buti na lang at hindi naman sila mas’yadong pinaghintay pa nang matagal dahil bumukas na rin sa wakas ang pinto ng opisina ng boss.

“Let’s go.”

to be continue...