Nine Days With Jude [CLAVERIA #1]

DAY 2

Sumakay ako sa kotse ko and drove away.

While driving I remembered what I just did kanina. Napakabastos ng ginawa ko, ng pakikitungo ko sa kanya pero masisisi ba niya ko? She's the reason bakit ganito ako katigas ngayon.

I stepped on the accelerator real hard hoping that the speed of this car will help me escape from all the feelings I am feeling right now. Galit na galit ako sa kanya. Galit na galit ako sa sarili ko. Galit na galit ako sa mundo!

I hit the steering wheel repeatedly.

Bakit ako?

BAKIT KAILANGANG AKO?!

Nagulat ako nang may biglang tumawid kaya bigla akong prumeno. Sobrang lakas ng impact na feeling ko ay naalog ang ulo ko.

I immediately hopped off the car to check if may nasaktan ba ko. I saw a mother protecting her son. Bata pa ang anak niya, parang Kinder pa lang and he's wearing a school uniform. 'Yung nanay naman hindi ko alam if matanda na or nalosyang na lang talaga.

"Are you two okay?" tanong ko nang hindi lumalapit sa kanila. I remained the distance between us.

"Okay lang po. Pasensya na po, Ma'am," sagot nung nanay bago sila mabilis na umalis.

Pinagmasdan ko sila habang papalayo sila sa'kin. I almost hit them with my car but they ended up apologizing. Ha! This world is filled with hypocrites.

NAGMAMADALI akong pumunta sa The Galaxy—company kung saan ako nagwo-work as fashion director and project manager. I immediately went inside the meeting room for I have to meet a client.

The client is a famous celebrity and she's planning to choose The Galaxy para mag-design ng gowns niya for her upcoming debut. Though it's not official since marami ring ibang nago-offer sa kanya. It's important for me na makausap siya because if ma-convince namin siya further, the coverage and article about her debut will be the centrefold of our 15th Anniversary special magazine. That will attract more clients and customers, may exposure pa siya. It's a win-win situation.

I was so ready to meet her pero nagulat ako dahil pagdating ko ng meeting room ay ibang aura ang sumalubong sa'kin. My team is slouching on their seats and it seems that they are all feeling sorry.

"What happened?" The moment I speak, bigla na silang umayos ng upo. They are too preoccupied na hindi na nila namalayan ang pagpasok ko. Umupo ako adjacent to their seats. "Where's Ms. Javier?"

Nagtinginan muna sila at wala ni isang makapagsalita sa kanila kaya lumapit na sa'kin ang Secretary. "Ma'am, nanggaling na po dito si Ms. Javier kaya lang wala pa kayo. So we asked if it's okay if she can wait for a lit bit longer para—"

"You what? Tinanong niyo if pwedeng maghintay siya? Of course it's not okay! Hindi niyo ba kayang makipag-negotiate sa kanya nang wala ako?!"

"That's what we did, Ma'am. Nang sabihin po ng manager niya na may photoshoot pa siya after this, kinausap na po namin siya. We told her about our plans and nagpakita rin kami ng sample designs from previous clients."

"And?"

"Ms. Javier declined po."

My lips curled in disdain. Tinignan ko sila isa-isa pero lahat sila ay umiiwas ng tingin sa'kin. "Alam niyo ba kung gaano kalaki ang pinakawalan niyo?! Ms. Javier is the most popular and in demand teenager celebrity of today's generation!"

"Sorry, Ma'am," the team leader said.

"Sorry sorry! May magagawa ba 'yang sorry niyo?! Our designs were good, our plans were also good! So saan kayo nagkulang? Sa convincing powers? Sa accommodation? If hindi niyo kayang maging sincere sa ginagawa niyo, eh 'di sana nakipagplastikan muna kayo! I know somewhat, I have a fault in here because I'm 20 minutes late. Pero sana! Inayos niyo pa rin ang trabaho niyo kahit wala ako! I am so disappointed!"