Getting His Attention (Completed)

Chapter 44

GHA Chapter 44

"Miss Jillian?" A staff knocked on my office, then slightly opened the door and warily peeked to check on me.

Staffs can freely enter my office. But I made an order that everyone should knock thrice before going inside.

"Miss Jillian," tawag ulit ni Aylin.

My eyes were fixated on my laptop. Nang makuha kong lingunin ang tumawag, doon pa lang umangat ang mga daliri ko na halos nakadikit na sa keyboard at ngayon pa lang nakapagpahinga.

"Is there a problem outside?"

"Wala po." Nahihiya siyang umiling. "Napansin lang po kasi namin na hindi pa po kayo lumalabas magmula nang pumasok kayo. Baka po nagugutom na kayo at may gustong ipabili?"

"No. Not much," tipid kong sagot at ngumiti.

Food can wait; not my work.

I have my plate full right now. Kung noon, nakukuha ko pang tumunganga at umiglip kahit anumang oras ko gustuhin, hindi na ngayon.

I usually kill time, but now it feels like I'm competing with it to finish everything that needs to be done and meet all the deadlines.

After I graduated and gained a degree in Business Administration... instead of working, I actually became jobless.

It took me quite a long time just to figure out what to do next. Para akong tambay na pinapalipas lamang ang oras at hinahanap pa ang sarili.

I was just existing and surviving each day. And I think, it's okay. We all need that certain time to recharge, fix, and heal from the things that break and drain us.

Then one day, I just pulled myself out of darkness; bravely fought so many silent battles and wiped my own tears.

I woke up as a different person—a more mature version of myself.

I mustered enough courage to face my Dad and ask for forgiveness, not for everything I voiced out, but for the tragic events I caused. I took personal responsibility and redeemed myself. Kailangan ko rin talaga bumawi para tumulong sa nalulugi na naming negosyo.

Our family reached the lowest limit of our bank accounts. Malaki ang naging bayarin sa hospital at isama pa ang mga gamot. Halos kalahating taon ang recovery period ni Mommy bago tuluyang gumaling.

Saving both Mommy and our business was quite challenging for Dad. Sumabay pa ako noon nang ma-confine rin. So even though there was a high wall between us, he somehow considered my help. Kahit hindi niya sabihin, tingin ko inasahan niya rin ako lalo na't graduated na ako habang si Xian ay nag-aaral pa.

After months of doing nothing, I finally started doing almost everything just to save our business and afford the cost of living.

Kailangan ko magkaroon ng ambag matapos maging pabigat ng ilang taon.

When I decided to function again, since then, I have devoted my time running our family business—the Universal Mart.

Naka-base ako rito sa Manila branch, dito sa Binondo. This is our second branch. And last year, nagkaroon ng pangatlo. Magmula nang mabukas iyon sa Pasay, ako na mismo ang nag-handle. While my brother, sa Areniego, ang main branch.

Recently, may inaasikaso sila ni Daddy. Iyon na ang magiging pinaka malaki naming business. I bet once it was done, I would have another task and an unending backlog.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. I have nothing in my life besides work. It seems like I've become obsessed with it... Wala na rin naman akong ibang pagkakaabalahan.