Alpha, Bet Kita

ABK: One

ALPHA

The first letter of the greek alphabet
Denoting the dominant animal or human in a particular group
Denoting a person who has a dominant role or position within a particular sphere

Kahit pagbalik-baliktarin mo pa ang definition ng alpha sa lahat ng kopya ng dictionary sa mundo, isa lang ang kakalabasan. Power.

Nandoon sya sa itaas ng hierarchy lagi, the boss, ang rurok ng lahat ng kapangyarihan ng mga muggles. Kaya kapag sinabihan kang alpha female or alpha male, ikaw na ang final boss. Ikaw yung hindi tumitiklop, ikaw yung final say, ikaw yung pinakamahirap harapin. Ibig sabihin, ikaw na ang bida bida in a very intimidating way.

Ganyan si Raven, the ultimate icon for alpha females. Kahit mga celebrities tinitingala siya, kung balak niya nga lang tumakbo sa pagka-presidente ng Pilipinas baka manalo siya. Ganoon ang impluwensiya niya sa masa. Although she is as savage as anyone with power can be at intimidating ang presence niya, hindi mapigilan ng mga tao maattract sa pagiging cool niya kahit na maikli ang temper niya at nakakahiwa talaga ng damdamin kapag sinabihan ka niya. She came from very humble beginnings but her mum made her the woman she is today. Strong, independent woman din si Ms. Laforteza since she raised her daughter alone with no help from anyone. Siya ang pambansang simbolo ng katatagan ng mga nanay sa Pilipinas kaya medyo malaki din ang fanbase niya.

"This interview is pointless. Who accepted this appointment in the first place?" Raven sounds exasperated. "All the questions were already asked during my previous interviews. Paulit ulit na lang, wala na bang bago? People already know this stuff." Dugtong niya pa sabay baba ng interview questions na naka-print sa papel.

"Rave, this is a different magazine cover." Explanation ng decade-long niyang assistant and loyal friend na si Helen. Alam niya ang ugali ni Raven at hindi na siya tinatablan ng mga snarky comments nito dahil nasanay na siya. Stubborn and ambitious si Raven pero nakikita niya din kung gaano ito kabait despite her aloofness and cold persona.

"Who told you to book it anyway?" Tumayo si Raven from the velvet stool and shoo-ed away all the staff and the crew from the magazine.

"This is a good publicity bago mo i-release yung new set of your ready made clothes." Malumanay pa din si Helen.

"Me? Kailangan pa ng publicity? I don't think so." Raven tightened the ties of her robe then picked up her mobile phone from the coffee table. She snapped a picture of one of her silk blouses then typed away without even bothering to look at the staff rounded outside her room.

Ilang segundo pa ay tumunog ang notification ring ng phone ni Helen and ng buong staff ng magazine. Raven already posted one of her creations on social media and the public went gaga about it. A few minutes later pumasok yung PA ni Raven at mukhang ngarag na ngarag.

"Ma'am office phones are going crazy for pre-orders. Should we start taking in reservations?" Tanong nung PA.

Tumingin si Raven kay Helen at nag-smirk. "Told you, I don't need magazine shite." Tumayo siya with authority oozing from every pore in her body. "Tell them we will take reservations next week. 100 blouses lang kaya natin i-reproduce kaya pakisabi first come, first serve basis just like before." Sabi ni Raven sa PA niya at nagmadali naman itong umalis para ikalat sa ibang workers ang info. Pinuntahan naman ni Raven yung staff na nakatingin pa din sa mga phones nila.