Miss Yara Sofia

Episode 1 - 10 years later

"There must be a mixed up... Have you read my resume and what experiences do I have? I applied to be a BOOK EDITOR. For the love of.... Why am I being assigned to your Teen Magazine???? I don't have... ano ba... baka nagkamali ng file. I'm Yara Sofia Dela Calzada. Take a good look please."

"Ms. dela Calzada I do understand that you are a bit anxious of the position we assigned you but the orders are from the higher ups. I'm sure you'll be able to do well and exceed our expectations."

I cant believe this.. Why oh why am being assigned to a department that I know full well is very toxic... why oh why am I being punished? LOLLIPOP? Kita ba sa hitsura ko na bagay ako dito. Ano ang macocontribute ko dito. I hate anything rose colored, pretty and whatever that will take advantage of  the weakness of young girls for cuteness and boys. I need help myself...

"If you will please follow me so I can introduce you to your Department and the editor-in-chief".

This is not happening but what choice do I have? I just resigned from being an junior editor of my dad's publication company to avoid being judged by people. Heard it once before during a coffee break... this good for nothing jelly employees back stabbing me saying that I only got the position and the best selling authors because of favoritism and because I'm the major stock holder's daughter. I am respected because of my father and not because of what I can do.  Unfair di ba?  I do exert the same amount of effort as they do... perhaps more. I am not dependent on my dad's coat tails. Yara you are doing this to prove them wrong.. and besides you've already moved out of your unit in Cebu and now you are in Manila to start anew. Kaya mo 'to. Im sure it's a challenge but you will survive.

"Im sure you will love your new colleagues and I am sure they will fall with you too" she said cajolingly "Ms. dela Calzada welcome to Lollipop!"

We went to the 10th floor of Mountain Top Publishing and I was ushered to an all white corridor Very minimalistic and decor. NO FUSS. so far I like it.

Gasp! Ano to???  THERE'S NOTHING SWEET AND GIRLY HERE. Ang office ay parang obituary section ng newspaper. Lahat ng tao mukhang zombie at ano yun??? Ano yung amoy na yun? parang may nabubulok kung saan? Madilim at bad vibes. I cant even identify sa office which is which and what is what.

"Ok have a nice Day..." at dali daling kumaripas si mader.

I get it. Karma to... digital talaga... What-did-I-do-in-my-past-life-to-deserve-this??? Gracious, I just can't.

"Miss dela Calzada"

I just heard someone call put my name but i don't know where it's coming from. The office is dimm and there stacks of paper everywhere. amoy yosi pa. Hindi ba bawal sa Quezon City to smoke in an enclosed space???

"Miss dela Calzada!!!!

"Yes Sir"

I just suddenly realized that someone's trying to get my attention. He's approaching me. A silhouette of a guy... Naka man-bun pero hinde siya mukhang hindi naliligo. Mabango pa rin tignan kahit mukhang 3 araw na sya sa office because of work. May eyebags, naka salamin na wide framed D&G that rested well on his matangos na ilong and high cheek bones. Obvious pa rin ang haba ng pilik mata ng almond-shaped eyes nya. Dahil nga sa madilim hindi ko siya masyadong mamukhaan. All I know is nakakatakot ang very authoritatve niyang voice.

"Noob... Please follow me to the lounge.

"Noob???"

"Yes that's your name from now on until such time that you've proven yourself worthy. NOOOOB!" yung huling word at syllable dahan dahan niyang binigkas para bang nangaasar.

I pretended not hear it. Stick and stones. I just went and followed him simply because I can't stay in that office one more minute, otherwise I feel like be infected by something. I can't stay in this place. I will resign. I will resign. I will give it a month until perhaps a new offer comes. Hindi lang naman ito ang Publication Company sa Pilipinas let alone sa Manila. I'm sure with my credentials may headhunter na kukuha sakin. oh please...

We sat across Ms. Gonzales, who was just about to present the story board of the monthly graphic novel that is part of this magazine."

"Miss Josie, thank you for meeting me even before the given dealine. I am quite impressed with your story board this one is perfect, this one is ok.. but this one frame here... may mali. The angle is all wrong. Nahalikan ka na ba Josie???"

"Ahhh.. of course" nerbyos na sagot ni Josie sa isang tanong na may merit a ground for to file sexuality harassment.

"Oo naman... pero siyempre you can't see you don't actually see how it looks like."  Defensive nyang kabig

"You have a point... well it's either wala kayong salamin sa  bahay or hindi ka pa nagkakaboyfriend.

Nakita ko sa mukha ni Ms. Gonzales ang pagkapahiya. At this point I needed to say something. Wala namang mawawala sa akin if I will give this Bastard a piece of my mind.

Bigla akong napatayo to express  my disgust and was about about to spot harsh words to my new boss when he suddenly stood up too. He suddenly turned to me at biglang hinawakan ng parehong kamay ang mukha ko at sabay halik sa akin.

My body froze and me yes grew wide. For  a while I didnt know if that was really happening. When I came back to my senses I pushed him back. Mga 5 seconds din yun. Ang banal at nag moment muna ako bago nakareact.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat the HELL!"

Bigla ko na lang nasabi. I was just standing stil and motinless. napasandal na lang akong bigla sa wall dahil muntik na rin akong mawalan ng balance.

"Hope you saw what I just did. Now draw." Sabay dekwatro at sundin ng yosi. Parang walang nagyari. Ang lola mo namang si Ms. Gonzales walang nagawa at nag drawing na lang.

Kita ko rin mata ni Miss Gonzales ang kapwa pagka shock, tarantalent at embrassment.

"I need to see them first thing tomorrow." Yun na lang ang narinig habang tumakbo ako papuntang washroom.