May 15, 2023, 10:50 pm Venice Grand Mall

"Are you sure you can do it?"

A woman in her forties asked me. Her voice was stern, challenging me to see if I could do it.

"You will be under probation for 3 months. You will be paid 1,000 per hour and it will change up to 5,000 per hour if you succeed. I trust my instinct that you could do this job, I can see in your profile that you are experienced despite your young age and your educational background"

Kinuha ko ang baso ng juice at dinala sa aking bibig, kahit hindi naman ako nauuhaw ay iniinom ko ang juice para takpan ang ngiting sumibol sa aking bibig. The flattery of words coming from this woman makes my heart swell because it is rare from her.

Kara Samaniego is an epitome of elegant and fierce successful woman in her field. I grew up reading her biography in Metro Magazine. She was a successful chef that owns chains of restaurants in the whole country. She even got a gig to cook for the President and Queen Elizabeth of England when she visited the country.

That's how successful she is.

And I want to be like her. If the gods are on my favor.

"I can see that you were raised by nuns in the orphanage. It'll be easier for you to call or much better if you stay in my son's house–"

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya kaya nagsalita agad ako.

"I'm sorry, in your son's house?" I butted. She was taken aback because of my sudden question.

I admit it was rude.

"Is there any problem with that?" she asked critically.

Kinabahan naman ako bigla dahil sa tanong niya. Baka bigla niya akong paalisin dito at ibigay sa iba ang offer niya.

Hell no! This is my chance and my dream. I'm claiming it now.

"Nothing" ngumiti ako sa kanya. "I just thought that I'd be cooking for you but I'm good"

Natigilan siya sandali dahil sa sinabi ko. She was about to say something but she shook her head.

"As I was saying, you will be cooking for my son from breakfast to dinner including snacks and everything as long as you feed him. I'm talking about healthy food with good protein and nutrients. You need to take care of his food. I will be giving you the guidelines and handouts of the food you need to prepare for him." She handed me the paper pero binawi kaagad.

The look she gives me sends shivers to my spine. She is dead serious.

"Guard this with your life or else you'll regret it" her tone laced with threat.

Napalunok naman ako sa kaba bago ko kinuha ang folder.

Tumayo na siya kaysa ganun din ang ginawa ko. She offered me her hand and I took it nervously.

"I look forward to working with you, Ms Summers" she smiled professionally.

"Me too, madame" I mimicked her smile wishing that I'd be like her someday in the future.

And I hope I can do my work successfully.

—--

The first day came and I was stirring the pan furiously.

"Mr. Samaniego sent the food back and said it was awful. Wag na lang daw siyang gawan ng breakfast." hindi malaman ni Lena kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya. Lumapit ito sa akin at bumulong "He said the food is awful. Galit po nagdadabog" ulit niya pa

Nakatingin ako sa bintana kung saan kita ang skyscraper at mga nagtataasang mga building sa buong Makati.

Potangina! Kanina pa ako alas kwatro dito para lutuan siya ng breakfast. Mag a alas dyes na ayaw niya parin. Pang tatlong dish ko na tong bigay sa kanya.

Wala man lang warning na ganito pala ang anak niya. Spoiled brat at maarte.

Ang dami\-dami pa namang mga bata na nagugutom sa mundo

He looks like a rebellious teenager to a full grown man.

When I realized that I'm starting to fall down into the rabbit hole, I took a deep breath. Falling into a never ending question won't help me at all especially in this kind of situation.

Ngumiti ako kay Lena at kinuha ang bowl na naglalaman ng pagkain.

"Sige Lena, salamat. Ako na ang bahala dito"

Umalis siya at pumunta sa laundry para bigyang pansin ang mga damit ng amo. I have to admit, this is not the first time my food was rejected but damn it still hurts.

But I know that this is just a challenge. The harder the challenge, the better the results. Sometimes I have to go through experiences like this to learn something and strengthen my abilities of how I handle this kind of situation.

Instead of sulking, I took it as a challenge to do better and deal with it professionally. I prepared the goods that I needed to make lunch for him. I will personally send this in his office to make sure that he will eat this.

I went to the fridge and looked for something that I could use to make a meal. 11 in the morning came and I ended up preparing chicken pesto wrap. I neatly placed it in the cool container and put it inside of the insulated bag.

Nagpaalam ako sa mga tao sa penthouse na ihahatid ko ang lunch sa office. They gave me goodluck hoping that it would go well. Nasa bukana na ang kotse na sasakyan ko papuntang office. It was intended for us to move freely in case the Boss wants us to do some errands.

It has an appointed driver but since I know how to drive, ako nalang ang nag drive. I used to drive forklifts before para matustusan ko ang pag\-aaral ko nung high school. From then on, I explored driving four wheels or any type of vehicle.

I wanted to know everything so that I could be versatile to my work. If I know more,then it means more money. Life was so tough back then, it shaped me for who I am today.

Kailangan ko nang pera noon kaya doble kayod ako noon. Wala kasing sumusuporta sa akin. I moved out from the orphanage when I reached 16. it's not like they kicked me out. Nakapag desisyon ko lang na umalis sa bahay ampunan and start to chase my dreams right away.

I was ambitious back then, maybe reading the life of Ms. Karamia Santos at page 13 in the Metro Magazine drove me to do such a thing. Folks may say that it was the craziest thing I ever did but I don't care as long as I get through it with my perseverance and passion.

If I'd got the chance to do it all again, I would.

I would never trade the lesson I learned for comfort.

Comfort may be good but for me, it's not on my options. It's an unpopular opinion but yeah.

The drive only took me 20 minutes since wala naman traffic at medyo easy access and daan dito. It maybe one of the perks for being so wealthy na kahit ang access ng daan ay masyadong maganda. Hindi kana mahihirapan.

Di tulad sa ibang bahagi ng lugar na kailangan mo pang makipag karera sa kapwa mo pasahero para makaupo sa jeep o di kaya maghintay sa mainit at masikip pag naabutan ka ng traffic. Iyan ang routine ko sa araw\-araw pag papasok at pauwi.

I lived outside this silver gated community,that's why.

Pero okay lang sanayan nalang siguro.

Ipinakita ko sa guard and ID pass ko para makapasok. He looked at me suspiciously kaya pilit nalang akong ngumiti para hindi mukhang kahina\-hinala kahit hindi naman talaga. It's just my mind messing with me.

I pushed my fingers onto the button in the elevator and waited. Bumukas iyon ng dalawang beses. Unang pumasok ang dalawang magagandang babae. Balingkinitan ang kanilang katawan at maayos pagkakalagay ng mga kolorete.

I sometimes wish I could be like them. Maybe life is easier for them, being pretty gives you privilege. And that's a fact.

Not that I sounded bitter, I'm just stating a fact.

I never got to experience that growing up. I would say that my beauty is not appreciated by many. I used to have anxiety growing up about how do I look to other people, especially to the boys I got a crush on.

But when I think about it, I don't have the time to enjoy my puberty as I was busy making ends meet. I have made my peace with that

The two beautiful ladies were chatting about being stressed at work.

"Teh! Warla na naman si Papa mo"

"Kaya nga ante ko, baka kulang lang yon sa lambing. Ma kiss ko nga mamaya"

"Sige, try mo teh. Baka e kiss mo rin ang work mo goodbye. Wala ka nang pang eyelash extension mo,sige ka" pananakot ng isa.

Nagatawanan lang ang dalawa. My brows knitted when I was wrong for their impression. I thought people who work in offices behave differently. I felt a sense of connection when they started to talk like someone in my neighborhood.

Another floor came in and bumukas ang elevator. Doon lang natigil ang dalawa sa paghaharutan. They greeted the man who came inside with utmost respect. Nakipagharutan pa sila sa lalaki. It was evident that the man has a higher chair in the company given by the respect and the formalities they said.

Nang makalabas na ang dalawa, kami nalang ng lalaki ang naiwan. Tahimik lang ako sa gilid at nagpapanggap na hindi naii-intimidate sa lalaking kasama ko sa elevator.

I tried to remain invisible so that I won't have to interact with him. Baka magkalat pa ako.

"Hi? You're new here?" He smiled at me.

"Uhm hindi po, hindi po ako nagtatrabaho dito" I replied with a smile also.

He scanned my face and looked at the ID I am wearing.

"Oh I see. Have a pleasant day" he saluted at me and went outside of the elevator the moment it opened. Ngiti na lang ang binigay ko sa kanya.

He seemed nice and well mannered compared to the other alta I met before. Hindi siya tarantado tulad ng iba. I guess I'm learning new things.

Tumunog na ang elevator at bumukas na. The whole floor was silent and almost barren?

Halos walang mga tao at puro mga conference room na nahahati lamang sa glass wall. Wala ding mga tao doon. I don't know which room ako pupunta.

I saw a lady wearing tight skirts and blouses organizing at her table. Lumapit ako sa kanya and I politely asked where the office was.

"Ahh pumasok ka nalang ma'am. Ilagay mo nalang ang mesa niya po" mukhang mabait ang babae,I assumed it it's his secretary.

The sweat and wrinkles in her face is solid evidence that she's been stressing out lately.

"Okay, thank you"

Pumasok na ako at maingat kong tinapak ang aking mga paa sa carpet ng office. The room screams for dominance and money that only a person who was born with a golden spoon in the mouth.

Walang tao kaya medyo nabawasan ang kaba ko. Nagpunta ako sa pantry side at kinuha ang mga plato na paglalagyan ko ng pagkain. I would like to leave the lunch back at his table like a fourth grader pero parang. It's illegal to put it like that. Kaya nangi-alam na ako sa mga plato.

Nasa gilid lamang ito and I'm taking my time to plate the food according to my liking. I was humming "My Girl" when I heard something from my back.

"Who the fuck are you?" he snapped na nagpakaba sa akin.

Lumingon ako at sa unang kita ko palang sa kanya and with that tone. I know that he's an asshole.

"Ahm- I'm here to give you your lunch. I am your personal chef and your mother hired me–"

"Cut the shit off. Take your shit and get out of here" pagalit niyang sabi.

"Aalis po ako pagkatapos ko dito po" alma ko sa kanya. My insides are panicing and I wanted to throw up.

"I said get out!" he snapped at me and I was left speechless at natuod sa kinatatayuan ko.

Nang dahil sa hindi ako gumalaw, yamot siyang lumapit sa kinatatayuan ko at kinuha ang plato. Napasinghap nalang ako sa sumunod na nangyari. He lifted the plate and poured all of the food I prepared for hours in the bin.

"Now, get out!"

I was walking outside his office with a tear threatened to pour in my eyes. The secretary looked at me apologetically.

I've never been humiliated in my life before and it hurts more than anything.

I'm starting to doubt if I can do this.

----

Umuwi akong luhaan, literally. I've never been humiliated in my life. Kahit na sa mga panahong nanglilimos nalang ako sa daan para may makain.

How can he be so ruthless? Nagtatrabaho lang yong tao.

But when I think of it, he's Kaden Flynn Samaniego for god's sake. Being an asshole is an option for him. Siya lang naman ang isa sa mga biggest contributor sa buong bansa. He was born with a golden spoon in his mouth and was raised in this silver gated community, of course he's an asshole.

I was in freshman year when I first saw him on the Campus, back when I was still studying in La Salle. When I was still a scholar of a Governor. Before everything turns upside down.

Napahinga nalang ako nang malalim dahil sa naalala. As much as I want to forget everything, I can't help it. Those flashbacks still lingers at the back of my mind.

Kaden Flynn Samaniego was the second son of Caramia Samaniego and Arturo Samaniego. A politician and a businesswoman. He was raised by the most perfect couple but it turns out their son is the biggest jerk of all.

I want to scream at his face and punch him in the gut. Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko ngayon at gusto kong manakit. Natigil lang ang masamang plano ko nang makita ko ang sarili sa repleksyon sa oven.

Magulo ang buhok at malalim ang mga mata. I looked like someone who uses coke for god's sake.

Inayos ko ang sarili at nagsimula nang mag prepare sa lulutuin ko sa hapunan. Kahit emosyonal hindi pwede na panghinaan ako ng loob. I don't have time for that.

Being emotional and complaining is a luxury to me who's trying to make ends meet everyday. I don't have that kind of option, those are not for me.

I was preparing my steak when my phone rang. Agad kong sinagot ang tawag habang naghihiwa ako ng rekados. Ako nalang mag\-isa sa penthouse kaya okay lang.

"Hello teh, uuwi ka ba mamaya?"

"Oo bakit?"

"Pwede ikaw nalang magsabi kay Mark na nasa probinsya pa ako?"

"Oh bakit hindi mo tawagan?"

"Please sige na teh, parang awa mo na"

Nag-away na naman siguro ang dalawang iyon.

"Oh sige na, may trabaho pa ako" I said dismissively.

Jenna was my roommate, pareho kaming skolar pero naundlot din dahil mas inuna niya ang boypren niya na palagi niyang kaaway araw-araw.

She's working in a club and she offers extra service to the VIP people. Mas mayaman na nga siya ngayon pero ayaw niyang lumipat. Nauubos kasi pera niya kay Mark na walang ibang ginawa kundi huthutan siya ng pera.

I've never been in love pero hindi ko naman siguro hahayaan na umabot sa ganong punto.

Ang tanga ko naman siguro.

Night came and my food is ready in the table pero halos mas aalas dyes na hindi pa rin siya umuwi. Gusto ko na sanang umuwi but the contract clearly said na kailangan kong maibigay ang pagkain sa kanya, kainin niya man o hindi.

But the problem is that he's still not here.

Ano ba namang taong yun. Ang yaman na niya para mag overtime.

Dahil siguro sa pagod ay hindi ko maiwasan ang ipikit ang mga mata. Nakatulog ako sa dining table habang nasa gilid ko ang pagkain na inihanda ko para sa kanya.

Nang magising dahil sa narinig na ingay doon ko nakita ang plato na pinagkainan. Wala na ang steak at mashed potatoes pero naiwan ang asparagus na kasabay nito.

I don't know but instead of feeling happy because he finally ate the food I prepared, I felt relieved because I have something to look forward to tomorrow. 

Meaning I won't be jobless for the next few days.

Hinugasan ko ang plato at baso bago ko sila isinauli sa cabinet. Pinatay ko ang mga main lights dahil alam ko nasa kwarto na niya ang may- ari ng bahay nato. Kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko at umuwi na rin para makapag pahinga.

_______

Enjoy reading, mwuh 💋