Chapter 11
Fired

"You ready?" tanong sa akin ni Selena nang maihinto ko ang sasakyan sa basement kung saan ang parking lot ng Stewart Highfields.

I didn't go to work for a month left that I have without informing my bosses about my absence and just went AWOL. Today marks the last day of my temporary contract here in Stewart Highfields that's why I'm going back just to get my things. And I'm sure that the HR would want to talk to me about the termination of my contract in person.

I can't wait to leave the company with a smile of my face, expressing relief!

I spent almost the whole month at my flat, hiding myself. Paminsan-minsa'y bumabiyahe ako sa mga kalapit na provinces kapag nabuburyo ako sa aking condo. Ayoko namang pumunta sa mga bar or kahit anong club dahil baka makita ko lang doon si Brendt.

I know that I should be professional about everything. Alam kong hindi dapat ako naging pabaya sa trabaho ko dahil sa personal affairs ko sa aking boss. It will affect my career, but I just can't erase or shrug the thought of meeting or seeing the man who wrecked my whole life.

While taking the elevator here at the basement, I feel like I'm going down to hell, instead of going up to the office.

"Kumalma ka nga, Xy." sabi naman sa akin ni Selena at bahagyang tinampal ang aking braso.

"Okay! Okay!" sabi ko nalang at saka huminga ng malalim habang pinapakiramdaman ang pag-akyat ng elevator.

Hindi nagdire-diretso paakyat sa palapag ng opisina ang elevator at tumunog ito, hudyat ng paghinto.

The door of the elevator automatically opened and I saw a familiar face from our department. She looked somehow shocked when she saw me, but she immediately smiled and greeted me before going inside the lift.

"Papasok ka na ulit?" she asked me.

Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagtaas baba ng kaniyang tingin sa aking suot. I'm not wearing my usual office attire but instead, I'm wearing an outfit that's fit for a woman who's going to run her own company which is Saavedra Inc.

I shook my head and smiled at her. "I'm just here to pack my things. Hindi na ako magt-trabaho dito."

Sumimangot siya sa kaniyang narinig. "Bakit?" malungkot na tanong nito. "Natanggal ka ba ni Sir?"

"Nope." I answered. "It's the end of my temporary contract today. I believe that I won't be granted an exclusive contract from this company because of my absences."

Tumango-tango naman siya. "Malabo ngang i-offer nila sa'yo ang exclusive contract lalo na kung isang buwan ka rin halos nawala." sabi niya. "Akala ko nga, isa ka sa mga tinanggal ni Sir sa trabaho. Noong hindi ka kasi pumapasok ay nagsimula nang magtanggal si Sir. Akala nga namin ay mga bago ang tinatanggal niya pero pati si Dr. Martinez tinanggal niya. Nakakapagtaka dahil matalik na magkaibigan silang dalawa."

"Tinanggal ni Bre—Sir si Kiel?" hindi makapaniwalang pagtatanong ko.

Why would he fire Kiel? Was it... because of me?

Tumango siya ulit. "Yup." sagot niya. "Sayang nga si Dr. Martinez, malaki na rin ang natulong niya at pati ng pamilya niya dito sa kompanya tapos tinanggal pa siya."

Hindi na ako nakasagot at nakapagtanong pa tungkol sa mganangyari dahil tumunog na ang elevator at agad siyang lumabas pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng pintuan.

Lutang ako habang naglalakad at tinahak ang daan patungo sa office ng HR.

"Xy, please stop yourself from being distracted. Mamaya na natin pag-usapan ang mga narinig mo sa colleague mo." sabi naman ni Selena sa akin.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako saka tumango sa kaniya bago hinarap ang pintuan papasok sa office ng HR.

I knocked three times before opening the door with a smile and greeted the HR.

"Good morning, Ma'am." pagbati ko sa kaniya.

She looked shocked as she smiled. "You're Xylia Saavedra, right?." she asked me.

I nodded at her before sitting on the visitor's chair, in front of her table.

Pinanood ko naman siyang abala sa paghahanap ng kung ano sa drawer ng kaniyang table. Nang makuha niya na ang isang long brown envelope ay agad niya iyong nilapag sa aking harapan.

"Ano po 'yan?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"It's your new contract. It's an exclusive contract already since you already finished the probationary period." she explained to me.

"I'm still qualified to be offered an exclusive contract?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko habang litong tinitignan ang brown envelope sa aking harapan na hindi ko man lang ginagalaw.

"Of course, you are." sabi naman nito na mukhang nag-aalangan pa. "What makes you think that you're not qualified anymore? Wala ka namang ginawang mali."

Nag-angat naman ako ng tingin sa kaniya, punong-puno ng pagtataka. I don't know if she's doing her job well in keeping tracks with my attendance and performance in this company, same goes with the other employees on probationary period.

"I was absent for a whole month without any leave, Ma'am." sabi ko. "There should be a mistake."

"Oh! About your absences..." she trailed and looked for another file on her table's drawer.

May inilabas naman siyang clear folder. She scanned the words written on the paper inside the clear folder before giving it to me.

Kinuha ko naman ito at mabilisang binasa ang mga salitang nakasaad doon.

"Mr. Brendt Stewart, the CEO himself, notified us about your absences." she started. "It was stated there that it was because of personal reasons but you made sure to inform him about those reasons."

Paulit-ulit kong binasa ang nakalagay sa formal letter na hawak-hawak ko ngayon.

Ano ba ang gusto niyang mangyari? Why did he cover up my absences?

"I didn't know that you're close with the CEO... matagal mo na ba siyang kakilala?" tanong naman niya sa akin.

"Hindi po..." sabi ko nalang at saka ibinaba ang letter na ginawa ni Brendt.

"So, here's a pen. You can already sign the contract but make sure to read the terms first." sabi niya at nilapag ang fountain pen sa aking harapan.

Tinitigan ko ang envelope, folder at ballpen na nakalatag sa aking harapan. Hindi ako makapaniwala na itong mga bagay lang na 'to ang maaaring magpahaba ng paghihirap ko.

"Uhm... Xylia?" pagtatawag ng HR sa aking atensyon.

"I won't sign the contract." I said full of conviction and at the same time, I heard the door opened.

"You won't sign the contract?"

Just hearing his deep voice that I haven't heard for a month made my knees turned into a jelly. Kung hindi siguro ako nakaupo ay maaaring mawala ako sa balanse.

I suddenly regret killing my time doing unnecessary things while I'm waiting for this day to arrive. I should've spent my time forgetting this bizarre feelings that I'm feeling for him.

But this isn't the time to show that I'm still into him. I need to show him that I am not what he thinks I am.

And so, I gathered all the courage I have just to look at him. I turned around and smiled.

"Yes, Sir. I won't." I formally said.

"And why is that?"

His eyes pierced at me and I can't help but to gulped down my nervousness. I'm trying to look very tough but his intense stare can make me weak.

"I have a valid reason, Sir." I tried to think of an excuse.

"And what is that valid reason, Miss Saavedra?" tanong niya ulit at ngayo'y tumaas na ang kaniyang kilay.

I won't tell you that you're one of the reasons why, but I'm going to tell you the other one.

"I'll be handling our company, Sir." I stated with a smile. "Thanks for giving me a chance to work here as a training before handling my Dad's company. It was a pleasure to experience working here."

I can't depict Brendt's expression while looking at me. Parang tinatantiya niya ako sa kaniyang binibigay na tingin.

Nilingon ko namang muli ang HR at saka tumango sa kaniya bago ngumiti.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I'll be going to pack up my things." paalam ko rito at tinanguan niya naman ako.

Muli kong binalikan ng tingin si Brendt na ngayo'y sa lapag na nakatingin.

"Nice working with you, Sir. Thank you again." pagpapaalam ko kay Brendt bago naglakad patungo sa pintuan ng opisina upang makalabas na.

"Xylia." he called me by my name and I halted.

"Yes, Sir?" I said, formality is still present in my voice.

Hangga't hindi ako nakakalabas sa kompanyang ito ay boss ko parin siya at dapat pa ring ginagalang.

Tinignan ko siya na ngayo'y nakatingin na sa aking gawinat nakakunot ang kaniyang noo bago bumuntong hininga at saka umiling.

"Nothing." he said. "Just... take care." nag-aalangan niyang sabi bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

I just smiled at him and nodded. "Kayo din, Sir. Take care." sabi ko nalang at mabilis na lumabas sa office kung saang nakita kong kausap ni Selena si Kiel na may dalang box.

I thought he's already fired... Siguro'y ngayon niya lang kinuha ang kaniyang mga gamit.

"Alam mo, mahal na mahal ko ang bestfriend ko." rinig kong sabi ni Selena nang palapit na ako sa kanilang dalawa. "You better be serious about her kundi ay seryoso rin akong gigilitan kita ng leeg." bakas na bakas mo ang pagbabantang tono ni Selena.

I can't believe that she's talking to Kiel. I didn't even introduce her and Deia to Kiel, but she's already here, voicing out threats.

"You don't have to threaten me." sabi naman ni Kiel. "I'm not planning to play with her and if you think I will, that thought will not last." he confidently said.

Tumikhim ako at parehas silang napatingin sa akin. Umaliwalas kaagad ang mukha ni Kiel nang makita ako at nginunguso naman ni Selena sa akin si Kiel.

"It looks like you already know my best friend?" mapanutyang tanong ko.

"Not that much..." sabi naman ni Kiel at ngumisi. "You going to work again? Where have you been?"

Umiling naman ako. "I will just pack my things and leave."

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata sa narinig. "Brendt also fired you?" di makapaniwalang tanong niya. "Kaka-start mo palang. I can talk to Brendt if you want." dagdag nito.

"No need." I shook my head. "They offered me an exclusive contract to be a permanent employee but I refused. I'm going to work at my Dad's company kaya..." nagkibit-balikat ako bago tinapunan muli ng tingin ang kaniyang hawak na box. "Brendt fired you?" nakakunot-noo kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Uh... yeah." he answered and chuckled, like being fired means nothing to him. "He fired me because of my Dad's order. Planning to work at our hospital though. Ayos na rin 'to. Still a good experience."

"May hospital kayo?" tanong ko.

He nodded. "La Vista Medical Center." simpleng sabi nito.

It is one of the exclusive hospital here in the Philippines that's certainly accredited and endorsed by the Department of Health.

"Why did you work here then?" I curiously asked him.

"Same goes as you... why did you work here if you have your family's own company that you should manage?" pagbabalik niya sa akin ng tanong.

"I have personal issues and it also serves as a training." sabi ko nalang dahil ayoko nang idetalye pa sa kaniya ang lahat.

"Then that's also my reasons." he said. " It serves as a training and because of personal issues."

Napakunot naman ang aking noo dahil ginaya niya lang talaga ang sagot ko.

"Mas mawawalan ako ng time na manggamot at puro pagpapatakbo lang ng hospital namin ang mangyayari sa akin. At least while I'm working here, I was able to voluteer on medical missions and such." he explained his reasons. "Kaya nga ako nagdoctor para manggamot hindi para magpatakbo lang ng hospital. I'm not into business you see. But that's what my father wants me to do."

"Well, I know you can do both." I tried to encourage him.

Ngumiti naman siya sa akin at kasabay ng pagtunog ng phone ko na agad kong tiningnan.

It was a message from...

Selena?

Nilingon ko naman si Selena na ngayo'y nakatingin na lamang sa kawalan at pakunwari'y walang ginagawa.

From: Selena

Xy, mind if we go to your office now and pack your things? Puputok na ata ang panubigan ko sa sobrang pagtayo. Baka nakakalimutan mong may kasama kang buntis na mas sensitive pa sa makahiya. Masiyado kang nag-enjoy makipagkwentuhan. May bukas pa!

I can't help but to chuckle at her message before raising my gaze to Kiel who's curiously looking at me right now.

"Sige, Kiel. Una na kami ni Selena." paalam ko dito saka hinawakan sa braso ni Selena na umambang aalis na.

"Hatid ko na kayo." he insisted at agad akong umiling.

"Dala ko ang sasakyan ko at liligpitin ko pa ang gamit ko kaya mauna ka na. I can manage to bring us home safe." sabi ko at saka kumaway sa kaniya. "Sige na, just text me when you need someone to talk to." sabi nalang dahil hinatak na ako ni Selena papaalis.