The Rule Breaker Boss [BXB]

3 - Bulong

MILD MATURE SCENES AHEAD

-ASH-

Nandito na ako ngayon sa loob mismo ng office ng boss.

Now's actually my turn para ma-interview. And, according to the previous interviewee, masungit daw ang mga tao rito. Daw.

Sa totoo lang, kanina pa ako hindi mapakali. Sobrang awkward ng paligid. Alam nyo kung bakit?

Shet.

Nakita ko kasi 'yung nakasabay ko sa elevator kaninang gwapo. 'Yung dalawang beses kong naapakan 'yung sapatos.

At ngayon nga, nandito siya mismo sa harapan ko, nakaupo sa kanyang swivel chair, at mayroong name tag. He's one of the selection commitees, at magi-interview sa akin.

And yes, he is the chief executive of this company.

Kaya malamang pa sa malamang, lagot ako nito. Paniguradong lagapak na naman ako.

Napapikit ako sa isip ko. Ilang beses kong hiniling na sana hindi na maulit dito ang nangyari noon sa mga kumpanyang inapplyan ko. Please. Kailangang-kailangan ko na ng trabaho.

Napabalik ako sa huwisyo nang biglang magsalita ang babaeng isa sa mga nasa harapan ko. Si Ms. Aly.

"What's your major?" Tanong niya.

I tried to smile confidently. " I graduated Bachelor's degree in Computer Science po, and I can prove you my skills in software developing and system programming." Nakangiti kong sabi.

Actually nakalagay na naman sa CV ko 'yun. Hindi siguro nila nakita. Ano ba 'yan.

"I know." Sabi niya.

Wow. So bakit mo pa tinanong 'te?

Char.

"Do you have good communication skills?" Sunod na tanong nito.

Again, I smiled. "Yes. I understand what you are saying and I can clearly state out my answers and points according to your logical questions, so I could say that I have good communication skills." Sagot ko naman sa kaniya.

Ngumiti si Ms. Aly. Points.

"Ok, next question. Are you a hardworking person?" Tanong niya muli.

I nodded, "Yes, I am a very much hardworking person. I stick to what I am doing and I always make sure to finish what I have started. Kagaya na lamang po sa pagcocode. Hindi po ako tumitigil hanggang sa hindi ko naso-solve ang machine problem na itinask sa akin. And I think that's because I'm already inlove with programming." Sagot ko.

Ms. Aly smiled. Then she asked me again a question for the nth time.

"Are you punctual?"

Tumango ako. "Y-yes."

"Are you obedient?" She asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"Ok." Sabi nito. "Uhm, last question. May I ask... why don't you have a middle initial? Or middle name?" Tanong niya muli.

Bigla akong natigilan. Hindi ako kaagad nakapagsalita.

Sasabihin ko ba? Medyo mahabang istorya para ikuwento.

And if I did...

I sigh.

Magsasalita na sana ako nang muling magsalita si Ms. Aly.

"Anyways, nevermind. I think that's confidential. That's fine." Sabi niya, at wala na 'yong kasunod na tanong. Ngumiti na lang ako.

Tumingin uli ako sa kanya, at napansin kong tumingin din siya sa boss. Doon sa lalaking naapak-apakan ko 'yung sapatos.

Doon sa CEO.

Napatungo ako. Literal na awkwardness at hiya ang nararamdaman ko. Feeling ko, kahit gaano kaganda ang isagot ko, hindi ako matatanggap. Sa attitude ba naman na ipinakita ko kanina.

---

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay naapakan ko na naman ang sapatos niya. This time, 'yung kanan naman.

"Ay, sorry ulet. Haha," sabi ko, then I laughed awkwardly.

---

Napapikit ako. Shet, naalala ko na naman. Nakakainis!

Edi sorry naman. Hindi naman ako aware na siya pala ang boss dito eh. Huhu.

Pero hindi ko na dapat 'to iniisip. Kailangan kong maging confident. Hindi dapat ako nagpapaapekto. Dapat parang walang nangyari. Tama. Tama.

I heaved a sigh, at ibinalik ko na ang tingin ko sa kanila. I gave them a confident smile.

Nakita ko pang nagtinginan si Ms. Aly pati 'yung boss.

Then later on, I saw the boss nodded, at ibinalik na rin ni miss sa akin ang tingin niya.

Dito ako biglang nakaramdam ng kaba.

"Congratulations, Mr. Montecer. You're hired--" Sabi nito.

My eyes widened, "T-talaga po? Thank you po, thank you po talaga!"

Tatayo na sana ako para makipagshake-hands nang dugtungan na nya ang kanyang sinabi.

"--as a secretary." She added.

Natigilan ako. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

A-ano? Ano raw?

"P-po? S-s-secretary?" I asked in confusion.

Miss nodded, "Yes. I'm sorry for the sudden qualification, but Mr. Xavier Florentino Joaquin urgently need his secretary for now since we won't be able to resched a hiring for applicants. And besides, Mr. Joaquin wants someone new. Someone new as you." Sabi pa niya, na siyang ikinagulat ko.

New as me? Ako? Magiging secretary ako nung boss because he wants someone new as...me?

I mean, what the actual...?

"But I-I long wanted to be a developer, Ms. and Mr. And I don't have any knowledge being a secretary. I'm not experienced in that kind of job," sabi ko sa kanila.

Ay, totoo bes. I mean, naging secretary ako sa mga organization sa school pero iba kasi 'yung magiging secretary ka ng isang boss. Alam ko 'yung trabaho, oo. Nakapanood na ako ng ilang kdrama na tungkol sa boss at secretary. Pero, anong gagawin ko? Take note take note ganern? Pasunod-sunod kay boss? Shet na malupet.

Mas gusto ko pang magcode kesa mag-asikaso ng schedule.

"You don't worry have about that, Mr. Montecer. Mr. Xavier doesn't usually hire a very intelligent secretary. He will let you know what you're going to do. Trust him, he's a good boss. Again, congratulations." Sabi pa ni Ms. Aly.

Nagsitayuan ang iba pang nasa loob at nagulat ako nang bigla nila akong palakpakan.

What the hell is happening?

Napatingin naman ako sa boss. Nakaupo pa rin ito sa kanyang swivel chair, and he's directly looking at me.

"And that's for today, you may talk to Mr. Xavier now. We'll resume the interview for the rest of the applicants in my office on the ground floor. Thank you," sabi ni miss at lumabas na siya kasama 'yung ibang selection commitee.

At, oo. Ako at ang boss na lang ang natira dito sa loob ng opisina. This office is quite huge, and yeah, sobrang awkward ng nararamdaman ko sa ngayon. Bahagyang nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko. I don't know.

Pumikit ako at huminga ng malalim. At saka ako nagsalita.

"S-sir, kung about po 'to doon sa naapakan kong--"

"I urgently need a secretary, that's the only case. Nothing else." Biglang sabi naman niya.

Maya-maya ay nagulat ako nang unti-unti siyang tumayo. He was looking at me intently with his dark and intimidating eyes. Those were the darkest yet perfect eyes that I have ever seen, well, probably.

Unti-unti siyang naglakad papalapit sa akin.

"You stepping on my shoes earlier has nothing to do with this, don't worry. I have read your curriculum vitae and saw you got the most reason for me to choose you as my secretary. Sawa na kasi ako sa babae. Gusto ko maiba naman," Sabi niya, at inilibot niya ang kanyang tingin sa paligid.

Napatungo ako.

"But sir, I-I want to be a developer. A programmer. Gusto ko pong makalikha ng software, o kahit anong games or what. But secretary..."

"I know that you applied for a specific job. But don't worry, if you got to perform well as my secretary, I will further let you work on the field you want. Pero sa ngayon, sa akin ka muna. Kailangan kita. Huwag kang maalala, mataas ang sahod mo." Sabi niya, then he somehow...winked at me?

He has a very handsome voice, a pointed nose. Playful and catchy smile, chinky eyes, and bossy aura. And it makes me feel unsurprisingly awkward.

"You don't have to have experience para i-qualify kita. I chose you personally. Basta sumunod ka lang sa mga sasabihin ko sa'yo. Did you get it?"

"S-sir,"

"Correction -- boss." He said.

"Pero boss--"

"I will double your rate." Sabi niya, na siyang nagpatigil sa akin.

Saglit akong napatingin sa kawalan, then suddenly, I looked directly at him in the eyes.

"T-talaga po? Sige po, pumapayag na ako. Ano po bang ginagawa ng isang secretary?" I suddenly asked him.

Kahit ako ay nagulat sa naging response ko.

What the hell did I just said?

Napansin ko namang natigilan siya sa sinabi ko, at saglit ding napatingin sa akin. With his serious eyes. And then suddenly, he chuckled.

"Ok, final. It's you." Sabi niya.

"P-po," I asked.

"Wala. Nevermind. Anyway," he just said.

Bumuntong-hininga siya at nagsimulang ikutin ang opisina.

"Being my secretary you just have to follow my orders. As simple as that," sabi niya, then he looked straight into my eyes.

I simply nodded. Wala na akong akong nagawa kundi makinig sa kanya. Naging praktikal na ako. Doble rate, eh.

Hindi ko naman siguro ikakamatay ang trabahong ito, 'di ba?

"Secondly you'll just basically answer calls, take notes, appoint my schedule as always as everyday. You'll also type, prepare, and collate reports pero huwag kang mag-alala. In your first three weeks tutulungan kita until you can do it all on your own. Wala kasing ibang magi-intern sa'yo kundi ako. Right after Natasha's resignation she immediately left. But that's fine though. She knows how rule breaker of a boss I am. She might threat you instead of training you," sabi niya at ngumiti siya.

Rule breaker?

"Po? Uhm, b-bakit po siya umalis kaagad?"

He looked at me meaningfully.

Ok. What's with that look?

"'Cause she doesn't have a choice. Naka-s*x na niya ako and for me that's it. Kapag nag-stay pa siya sa akin wala na siyang mapapala. Iyon lang naman kailangan nya sa akin. Ang katawan ko." Sabi niya.

Natigilan naman ako.

Sex?

Parang sobrang common lang base sa paraan ng pagkakasabi nya ah? And...

"Forget that. Let's proceed to your job. Thirdly, you should always be on time." Sabi niya.

Tumingin lang ako saglit sa kanya, at saka ako tumango.

"Fourth, you have to be always by my side." Sabi nya. I just nodded.

"Fifth, unlike my ex-secretaries who always just tend to stay in their cubicle even before I enter my office, you have to meet me in the main entrance of the company. Magkasama tayong aakyat, papasok at lalabas ng elevator, at papasok sa ating cubicle." Sabi niya.

Tumango lang uli ako.

At oo, nakakangalay tumango.

"I will provide whatever you need, don't worry. If you need a laptop or a brand new phone, I will give you that." Sabi niya.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin.

"So. Before I properly introduce myself, you go first." Utos niya.

Napaayos naman ako bigla ng tayo. Saglit akong pumikit at nagbilang ng tatlo sa isip. After that, I heaved a small sigh at ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"I am Ashrill Montecer, but you can call me just Ash--"

"Ok, just Ash. That's enough." Sabi niya kaya napatigil na rin ako sa pagsasalita.

'Yun na 'yon? Ok.

"I am, as you have already heard earlier, Xavier Florentino Joaquin, the chief executive officer of this company. I'm gonna tell you a few things about myself so you'll know me better." Sabi niya.

Sumandal siya sa kanyang table, at inihalukipkip niya ang kanyang dalawang braso. Then he stared at me.

'Yung totoo, ang gwapo niya sa suot niyang suit.

Napailing naman ako. For goodness' sake, Ash. Nandito ka para magtrabaho.

"First of all, mapagbigay akong tao. If you want something you can just tell me. I will give you that in a span of seconds." Sabi niya.

I shyly nodded.

"Second, I always order my secretary to help me wear my americana and fix my tie as well. That's pretty common though." Sabi niya.

Tumango ako. Napanood ko sa ibang kdrama na ganun nga ang ginagawa ng mga secretary.

"Third, I won't mind if you would touch my crotch from time to time." Sabi niya, na literal kong ikinagulat.

Bigla akong napatingin sa kanya, my eyes wide open. Dahan-dahan naman siyang naglakad papalapit sa akin at nagulat ako nang hawakan niya ang kaliwa kong kamay.

At mas lalo akong nagulat nang idako niya ang kamay ko sa kanyang harapan.

"S-sir?!" I exclaimed, at agad kong binawi ang kamay ko.

But instead, he again took my hand then he placed it on his groin.

"Have I told you earlier that I always tend to break rules? That's just one of the few things that I am known for," sabi niya.

Tangina.

Narinig ko nga iyon kanina. He mentioned that his ex-secretary knows how rule-breaker of a boss he is. But, really?

In a way na...ganito?

Sinubukan kong tanggalin ang kamay ko sa kanyang harapan, ngunit masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya rito.

"Five seconds. Five," sabi niya, at tinanggal na niya ang pagkakahawak sa aking kamay.

Bigla naman akong na-mental block sa biglaan niyang pagbibilang. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. My mind is being pre-occupied by so many things.

"Four,"

Ano? Anong gagawin ko? Bakit siya nagbibilang? Bakit may countdown? Mamamatay na ba ako?

"Three, two, one. Good boy," sabi niya, na siyang ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay napatingin siya sa kamay kong hanggang ngayon ay nakahawak pa rin sa kanyang harapan.

At saka ko lamang nagpagtanto kung anong nangyari.

I slowly and absentmindedly took my hand off his crotch.

T-that's... W-what... A-anong ginawa ko...?

Napapikit ako ng mariin.

What the hell did I just do?!

"I knew it, you're gay." sabi niya.

I gently opened my eyes, and I caught him smiling at me.

Sa hindi ko rin malamang kadahilanan ay bigla na lang akong nahiya. Nakaramdam din ako ng hindi ko maipaliwanag na sakit kahit na walang kahit na anong tono ng pagkadismaya sa boses niya.

Sa lahat ng pinakaayokong marinig sa ibang tao, ay ang sabihin nilang bakla ako. Ewan ko ba. Even though I know that's no euphemism. Even though I know that's not an insult. May kumikirot pa rin sa puso ko. Stereotype?

Kasi alam kong totoo?

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I'm really sorry. I don't think I will fit in as your secretary. I don't think I am enough," sabi ko at napatungo ako.

"H-Hey, I doesn't mean to offend you. I'm totally fine with whatever or whoever you are. You're gay and that's fine. There's no problem with that." Sabi nya.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad.

Alam ko, sir. But I really think I am not enough. Hindi naman sa minamaliit ko ang sarili ko. It's just that, I know na may iba pang taong dapat na nasa kinatatayuan ko. Hindi dapat ako ang narito. Dapat 'yung may mas alam.

"Kung nasaktan man kita, then I'm sorry." Mahina niyang sabi, na naging dahilan upang muli kong iangat ang tingin sa ko kanya.

I saw his eyes in mere guilt.

"But still, I won't change my mind." Sabi niya.

He leaned closer to me, and I was in a different kind of shock when he suddenly pet my ass using his hand.

Literal na napa 'ay puta' ako sa isip ko.

"S-sir, anong ginagawa nyo?" I asked him.

He smiled, habang patuloy niyang hinihimas ang pwetan ko.

"Huwag mo ako masyadong alalahanin. Hindi naman ako masamang tao. I'm just this sexually active," sabi niya then he paused for a moment, "but I'm not gonna do any harm on you, trust me. Just think of this as the very least explanation of how rule breaker of a boss I am." Sabi niya.

Hindi ako makagalaw. Hindi ako makakilos.

Gusto ko nang sumagot, manlaban, umalis na rito, magsumbong sa awtoridad ngunit tila napako ang mga paa ko sa kinatatayuan ko.

He leaned closer to me, at saka siya bumulong.

"Whenever you feel like you wanna complain to the authority, I am the authority."

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