My Boss is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

14: Vren

That Mirathea Custodio is a real pain. Imagine calling me a freak. A fucking freak.

I couldn't believe I hired her. I couldn't believe I wasted time to go to her place, to tell her she's the new accounting department head of my company, even if I am damn tired from a day's work.

Talk about ungratefulness!

Dahil iritado ako ngayon, binusinahan ko nang pagkahaba-haba ang kotse na nasa harap ko. Ayoko pa naman sa lahat, mala-pagong ang bagal ng sasakyang sinusundan ko.

It was then that a brilliant idea hit me — to be executed next Monday.

****

Sabi ko na nga ba at ipinaglihi sa negativity ang babaeng ito. Tatanga-tanga sa pagtawid, palasigaw, mahilig mambansag ng kung anu-ano... at ngayon naman, nalaman kong napakabagal niya pala!

May nag-e-exist palang ganitong tao?

Kasalukuyan akong nasa labas ng apartment niya, hinihintay na lumabas siya, para maisabay ko siya sa biyahe papasok ng Medialink.

But no, this isn't me being sweet to her. Shudder. This is all part of an evil plan.

It's seven in the morning and I arrived here about an hour ago. An hour ago. Pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya lumalabas — and it's starting to irritate the hell out of me. I admit, I could be impatient at times.

Dahil nangangalay na ako sa kakatayo ay bahagya akong sumandal sa gilid ng aking kotse. With a slight frown, I scanned the length of her neighborhood.

The place has a homey ambiance. Her compound is composed of five doors of apartment, all painted in the lightest shade of cream, except for the roof, painted taupe. The front yard is teeming with flowering plants.

Dahil hindi ko na kaya pang maghintay ng kahit isa pang minuto, tinungo ko na ang pintuan niya para sana katukin ito nang bayolente — makaganti man lang sa kung paano niya katukin ang bintana ng kotse ko noong unang beses kaming magkita.

Just as my fist was about to hit her wooden door, it suddenly opened, and out came the most irritating creature I've ever known.

Aba, mukhang tao yata ngayon si Miss Loudmouth.

She was wearing a simple pink and black dress — her attire the right mix of formality and daintiness. She matched it with a pink wedge, kaya medyo nag-increase ang height niya. Her long hair was down, and I can smell her perfume — a fruity-floral scent.

I shot a quick glance at her face, and saw that she's wearing minimal makeup, just enough to enhance her facial features without overdoing it. And I must admit, her eyes are the best I've ever seen.

Halata naman ang gulat niya nang mapagbuksan niya ako.

"Ikaw na naman? Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Good morning to you, too, Ms. Custodio," I answered her with a smirk. "Bakit ngayon ka lang lumabas? Just a friendly reminder — I don't tolerate tardiness at Medialink."

"Maaga pa, ah!" sagot niya naman sa akin. "Teka, ano bang ginagawa mo rito?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hindi ba obvious? Susunduin kita."

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata niya. "T-talaga? Susunduin mo ako? Bakit? Undecided pa nga ako kung pupunta ba ako ngayon sa Medialink o hindi."

"What the — undecided? Ako na nga itong nagpakabanal na nag-hire sa'yo, despite our unpleasant encounter last time, tapos malalaman ko ngayong undecided ka pala kung tatanggapin mo ang trabahong alok ko?"

"Tingnan mo, ayan ka na naman! Paano ako hindi magiging undecided? Look at you — I'm sure anybody will have doubts if their future boss is this monstrous!"

Did I hear it right? Monstrous daw ako?

"Alam mo, sumusobra ka na, Ms. Custodio," I told her in a reprimanding tone. "When will you stop calling me names?"

"Ikaw rin naman, ah! You called me a loudmouth!" she countered.

"Because it's true! You're always talking! Hindi ka ba tinuruang maging prim and proper?"

She looked taken aback. Then, bowing her head, she said, "Magko-commute na lang ako."

"Don't be stupid," I told her in a calmer tone. "Let's go, Ms. Custodio. We don't want you to be late for your first day of work, do we?"