Behind the Spotlight (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 13: The Neighbor

Pero hindi pumapasok sa isip ko ang mga binabasa ko bagkus ang lalaking kapit bahay ko ang nanggugulo nito.

Iba kasi ang dating niya kanina. Ang awra niya. I have to know him. I have to know him.

*****

Ugh! Napahawak na lang ako sa noo dahil sa sobrang kainisan. Anong oras na nga ako nakaalis sa condo, traffic pa. I’m so late to work!

This day won’t be even better. It just started and it sucks.

But again, I was once together with my celebrity neighbor on the elevator. I should have close the elevator’s doors so that I won’t be with him again. And the way he stares at me, it looks like he is examining my face even if I didn’t see him directly but I can see it on the door’s reflection.

At mukhang gusto niyang ipakita na bakit hindi ko siya pinapansin dahil artista siya? Please. Celebrities like him are fame-minded. Gusto nila napapansin sila lagi, pinagkakaguluhan  para alam ng lahat sikat sila. Wala silang ibang iniintindi kundi kung papano sila kikita ng pera at kung papano pa sila sisikat.

After half an hour, I finally reached our office’s building. When I entered the office, my mad supervisor confront me.

“Mr. Davis you’re late again!” Bungad nito sa akin.

“I’m sorry, sir. Hindi na po mauulit.” Nakayukong sabi ko dito.

“Hindi na po mauulit, hindi na po mauulit! Lagi na lang!” Pagalit na sabi nito habang pinagtitinginan na kami ng iba pa naming kaopisina.

“Sige na, pumunta ka na sa table mo.” At pumunta na ko sa table ko.

In-on ko na ang computer  at nagsimula na ng aking trabaho.

I work as a call center agent for part time every summer. I came from a very rich family but I don’t know what convince me to work. I guess I want myself to earn my own money not coming from my family. Iba pa rin daw kasi kapag sariling sikap ang perang kinikita mo.

My family lives in the States and I am the only one staying here in the country. They want to bring me with them but I refuse because I want to be independent. And since I graduated from high school, I’m all alone. And now I’m on my third year on college this school year, I proved that even at my age, I can be a responsible independent individual. Hindi ako umaasa sa iba but my parents are paying for my rent and sending me my allowances which is kinda good as I don’t need to work harder. Hehe.

I have few friends, mga apat lang? Because I seldom friendly to people who’ll befriend me just because of my looks or my life style or whatever. I want a friend who will always be there whenever I need them.

I only had three friends during my high school days and one in college. And here in the office? None. I don’t know why. Every summer I work to a call center to ease my boredom at home. And every summer I change company because I just want to.

“Thank you mam and I hope you had a great call…” Binaba ko na ang tawag ng aking caller at tinanggal na ang head phones sa aking tenga.

Umayos ako ng upo at nag-inat ng leeg.

“Jacob.” Nilingon ko ang katabi ko na tumawag sakin.

“Sabay na tayo maglunch?” Pagpapacute nitong babae sa akin. Ganyan sila sa akin lagi tuwing tatawagin ako. Irritating and I don’t find it cute.