"I'm too young to be this stressed."

I SIGHED heavily as I open the door in my manager's office. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan kong makaranas ng ganito sa trabaho when in fact, I always do my best.

"Sit down." She ordered me as soon as I entered her office.

I sat on the chair in front of her long table.

"We almost lost a millions, and that's because of your recklessness!"

Expected ko na ang pagsigaw niya sa akin but I can't let her blame me for what happened.

"It's not my fault na tatanga tanga ang ibinigay niyong partner ko sa project na 'to." Taas noo kong sabi. "And it's not my recklessness, excuse me. I've been working here for almost four years so kailan pa ako naging reckless pagdating sa trabaho? Blame my partner which happened to be your niece."

She's trying to save her niece. Fuck her.

"W-What did you say? Stop saying non sense!"

"Look, Mrs. Mercado. I've been in this company for years. Kailan ako nagkamali sa trabaho? Kailan ako hindi naging maingat sa mga items natin? Tell me."

Not because she is the manager, she can blame me anytime she wants.

"You have no idea how mad our CEO was! Of course, I am the manager so ako ang tumatanggap ng galit niya sa bagay na ikaw ang gumawa!"

I'm trying my best not to disrespect her but she's too much. Hindi niya alam ang stress na naranasan ko dahil sa pamangkin niya!

"It's your job to train your people and it's you who choose your people." I seriously said. "Hindi iyong makakapasok lang sa company dahil may backer. Kahit walang alam sa field na 'to, go agad, kasi nga may kakilala. Huwag ako, Mrs. Mercado!"

Umiinit talaga ang dugo ko. Does she think she can treat me like this? As if naman, ipapamana sa akin ang company na 'to, so why should I act like I'm a perfect and most respectful employee?

"Watch your words, Miss Gerson!"

I rolled my eyes. "So bakit ako lang ang ipinatawag mo dito para bungangaan? Where is that dumb Rochelle? Your niece to be exact! I'm enough with you, Mrs. Mercado! I quit!"

"I told you to watch your words, Miss Gerson! Nagmamalaki ka na? Hindi porket isa ka sa top employee sa company na 'to, you can act like this. You can quit anytime you want dahil alam mong hindi ka bibitawan ng kompanya!"

Bakit parang kasalanan ko? Is it my fault na okay lahat ng trabaho ko kaya ayaw akong bitawan ng company na 'to?

I took a deep breath. "I'm quitting so stop shouting at me and stop acting like you're a great boss!"

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin niya. I stormed out of the room. Dali dali akong lumabas ng building na 'yon. Sumakay ako sa kotse ko saka nagmaneho.

"Sino ba siya? Arghhh! She's just a manager! She don't even do actual work! Ang kapal! Grabe! Kung hindi ba naman tatanga tanga ang pamangkin niya, walang aberyang mangyayari! Ipapa-HR ko siya!"

I let out of sigh. Damn, gigil na gigil talaga ako. Ramdam ko 'yung devilish side ko. I fucking hate her! Sa loob ng four years, madalas niyang angkinin ang achievements na nagagawa ko for the company, e wala naman siyang ginagawa kundi manood ng tiktok videos sa table niya! Bwisit siya!

Saglit kong itinigil ang kotse ko nang may madaanan akong bar. It's the famous bar in the city. Madalas ro'n ang mga kaibigan ko, and sometimes doon kami nakikipag-meet sa clients sa field.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka nag-U turn. I parked my car in the parking area saka bumaba.

I need alcohol. Gusto kong ilabas ang galit at inis ko. I want to get wasted.

"Fuck that manager!"

I entered the bar. It's seven in the evening. Maaga pa pero marami nang tao. I looked for a vacant table pero mukhang puno. Dumiretso ako sa bar counter. I sat on the stool and the bartender greeted me.

"Good evening, Miss. What do yo want for a drink tonight?"

"Sex." I answered.

Nanlaki ang nga mata ng bartender. He looks shocked.

"I mean, sex on the beach." Ulit ko.

He looks disappointed. So he wants me huh. Hindi ba pwedeng magkamali? Magkulang sa words and all? Nobody's perfect, anyway!

I sipped my drink while browsing my phone. Five missed calls from that bruhildang boss ko. As if naman mapapabalik niya ako. I walked out already, duh!

One message triggered my "oh-so-mabait-na-self"

From: Rochelle
Gorl, sorry talaga! Bago lang kasi ako sa field na to saka diko naman kasalanan siguro diba? Dapat kasi ni-guide mo ako saka diba dapat i-train mo din ako kasi nga bago ako? Kaya kung napagalitan ka man ni Mrs. Mercado, wala ka naman magagawa e. Let's respect her kasi sya ang manager natin. Next time galingan nalang natin. Saka wag mo na sya sagutin ng pabalang kasi parang bastos e. Okay?

The nerve of this boobita.

To: Rochelle
Mama mo

I rolled my eyes as I sent her my reply. Daming sinasabi and what?! Parang ako pa ang sinisisi. Kasalanan ko bang boba siya? My God, I hate drugs.

"This can't do. Give me beer." Sabi ko sa bartender.

Mabilis naman siyang kumilos saka inilahad ang baso ng beer sa harap ko.

Tinungga ko agad iyon. Halos manlaki ang mga mata ko nang matabig iyon ng kung sino at diretsong napabuhos sa damit ko.

"Fucker!" Sambit ko.

"Miss sorry, lasing 'tong pinsan ko. Magkano ka ba?"

Uminit ang dugo ko sa tanong na iyon. "Fuck you."

"Joke lang naman, miss! Hindi na mabiro. Sorry talaga. Kailangan ko nang iuwi 'tong pinsan kong na-broken. Kinasal na kasi sa isa naming pinsan ang first love niya. Can I get you calling card. I will call you and compensate you."

I rolled my eyes. "First, I don't care and last, no thanks!"

Nag-walk out ako saka sila nilampasan. Wala akong oras sa mga tulad nila. Lalo na ngayong sira amg araw ko.

I'm in my twenties pero grabe na iyong stress na nararanasan ko because of that damn work! Kung pwede lang mamili ng manager, matagal ko nang nagawa e.

Magharap nalang kami sa HR bukas.

Akala nila masisindak nila ako? No. I know my rights at alam ko kung kailan ako tatahimik at ipaglalaban ang sarili ko.

Fuck them.

♧◇♡♤

IT'S early in the morning when I saw her face. Gusto ko agad siyang sabunutan. Hindi ko pa siya nasasapak pero ang blush on niya, daig pa ang nasapak sa pula.

"Easy. Ang aga aga nanlilisik ang mga mata mo."

I looked at Harlene and rolled my eyes. "Siya ba naman ang makita mo, hindi masisira ang araw mo?"

Tumawa siya. "Wala kang laban diyan. Pamangkin e."

"As if naman matatakot ako sa kanila."

"That's the spirit! Ikaw na talaga, Cassidy!"

Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo nang dumating si Mrs. Mercado. Binati siya ng lahat maliban sa akin. Galit ako, bakit ba! I won't greet her dahil first of all, hindi ako plastik at mapagpanggap.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang mapansin sa harap ng table ko si Rochelle.

I arched my left eyebrow. "What?"

"Tawag tayo ni Mrs. Mercado." She said.

I stood up. "Just call her Tita. Stop acting like she's not your backer to get in."

Nilampasan ko siya at nauna akong pumasok aa manager's office.

"Miss Gerson, our CEO wants you to deliver one of our fine quality ruby."

"That's too expensive to put me up to this transaction with this booba." I'm referring to Rochelle, her niece.

"Miss Gerson!" Tumaas ang tono ng pananalita ni Mrs. Mercado.

This is my work. Messenger sa madaling salita. Mamamahaling bato at jewelries ang field ng trabaho ko and we deliver it directly to the client because of the big amount na nakalatag sa isang jewelry pa lamang. And besides, halos lahat ng client namin ay high class. We never display our items in a boutique like other jewelry shops because we only sell fine jewelries na nasa five hundred thousand pataas ang presyo.

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Then I won't do this transaction. We're talking about more than billions here, well we never know how many carats of ruby will be in this transaction. Like what I said last night, I've been in this field for years and I trust myself more than anyone. I can do that alone. I can't trust someone like her!"

"You're bragging about how many years you are in this field but you still can't do your work while training new co-worker? You're competent, right? Then show us that you can do this work with a newbie!"

Gosh! Kumukulo na ang dugo ko sa inis. Paano ba naman, sa sobrang careless ng pamangkin niya, we almost lost the item that cost two million pesos nang dahil sa kanya!

Like hello gorl, hindi tig bebente lang ang hawak mong item.

Isa pa, our clients only wants us to deliver it personally sa mga hotel, club or restaurant of their choice so you really need to be extra careful.

"Do it yourself, then!" Sigaw ko.

Hindi makapaniwala si Mrs. Mercado sa sinabi ko. Kung sa tingin niya ay igagalang ko siya dahil manager siya, nagkakamali siya! I will respect her kung ka-respe-respeto siya. But she's too much!

"Good morning, Mr. Figueroa."

Napatungo ako saka bumati sa CEO ng company. He's here and whenever he's here, I know I'll be dead.

"Mrs. Gerson, calm down." Mr. Figueroa said.

He's my father's bestfriend. Kinupkop niya ako nang mamatay ang magulang ko sa plane crash nang pabalik sila rito sa Pilipinas mula sa Europe.

I was seventeen that time. Wala akong kapatid. I never met my relatives dahil lahat sila ay nasa abroad na. In short, I am all alone and only this old man took care of me and gave me my needs.

But... no one knows about it. Ayokong isipin nila na backer ko ang mismong CEO ng company. I did my best to do my work without using his connection dahil ayokong balang araw, isumbat nila sa akin ang connection ko sa CEO kapag may naa-achieve ako a company. I'm doing all the hardwork for myself. Gusto kong may mapatunayan.

"Sorry, Mr. Figueroa." I said.

"You're one of the top employee of FF Jewelry. You always do your job perfectly and this time, regardless if you're with a newbie, you can still do your job."

This is what I hate about. Kapag si Mr. Figueroa na mismo ang personal na nag-uutos ng dapat gawin. Lahat ng inis at galit ko sa manager namin ay nawawala. Kinakain ko lahat ng sinasabi ko because I can't let this old man get disappointed with me.

He is kind enough to take the responsibility of taking care of me, my studies, my needs and everything. How can I turn him down? Damn this life.

Kaya mahirap din talagang magkaroon ng utang na loob.

"You can do this transaction, right, Miss Gerson?"

I heaved a sigh. As if I have a choice? "Yes, Mr. CEO."

"Good. The client wants the transaction to be taken place at Hongstar Hotel. Mrs. Mercado will give you all the details regarding the room number, special request and everything about the transaction."

Tumango lamang ako. He stood up and smiled at me.

"Since I convinced you, I have to go."

Pumunta lqng talaga siya rito para kumbinsihin ako. He's aware na palaban ako lalo na sa trabaho. Nang makalabas si Mr. Figueroa ay nakahinga ako ng malalim.

"Ang tapang tapang mo kanina pero kapag CEO na ang kaharap mo, para kang anghel umasta."

I rolled my eyes at Mrs. Mercado. "Of course, mas kagalang galang siya kesa sa 'yo. You're our manager so please,next time act like one? Choose your words wisely. A respectable manager will never speak like that."

I walked out of her office. Ni hindi ko tinapunan ng tingin si Rochelle. Just thinking about working with her gave me a headache.

Then who will be our client? Fucker talaga, kung pwede lang na magkasakit 'tong Rochelle na 'to bukas or ma-traffic or whatsoever para hindi ko siya makasama, gosh!

I feel like going at the bar again kahit tirik na tirik pa ang araw. Argh!

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A/N: Thank you guys for always waiting for my updates. So here's rhe third installment of Casanova's Club. Sana suportahan niyo rin siya tulad ni Arion and Lucio. Anyways, Arion's ending will be posted next week.

IG: @pinkyjewell
TWITTER: @pinkyjhewelii

xoxo
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