Behind the Barriers

Beginning

Beginning

Gustong-gusto ko ang tunog ng heels ko sa marble na sahig papunta sa opisina ng kuya ko. I noticed how the employees avoided my eye contact. Napangisi ako.

Ganyan nga. Matakot kayo. I should be feared.

"Good morning, Ms. Euresah."

Hindi ko pinansin 'yung babaeng bumati. I remained walking proudly with my head held high. Nakarinig ako ng bulungan.

I flipped my hair as I went past some group of girls. They were all looking at me. I noticed a girl who frowned.

Hate me all you want. I don't care.

Napangiti ako nang konti lalo na at yumuko ang mga nagtatrabaho sa mga cubicle na dinadaanan ko. They were all scared.

And I like it.

Very much.

"Si Kuya?" I asked the secretary outside the office.

"M-May kausap po, ma'am. Ayaw daw niyang magpapasok muna – Ma'am!"

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan at binuksan ang double door. Napangisi ako nang nagbuntong-hininga ang secretary.

I went inside Kuya Sebastian's office with the sound of my heels echoing the whole place. Nahinto ako sa tapat ng mesa niya.

He frowned. May katawagan siya. Well, for others, Kuya Seb is really intimidating. Lalo na kapag nakasuot ng suit and tie. But for me, he's just... ordinary.

"Hello, my dear brother," bati ko at pinag-krus ang braso sa harapan niya sabay taas ng kilay.

He sighed and focused on his phone. "I will call you later. Bye."

Ibinaba niya na ang cellphone at inihagis sa kanyang mamahaling mesa. He stared right at my eyes.

"Pinatawag mo raw ako?" tanong ko.

"Ysah, have some respect. Did my secretary told you that I'm busy?"

"Well, hindi ka naman busy."

"I was calling someone important."

"But you are not that busy."

Huminga siya nang malalim, pinipigilan ang kanyang inis. Umupo si Kuya sa swivel chair at nagbukas ng folder.

"I'm here to give you a task."

Nawala ang ngiti ko. "A task... you mean utos? Uutusan mo ako?"

"Yes."

"Kuya, I am busy. I have no time for your utos."

"Euresah," he called when I was about to walk away.

I stopped and stomped my foot. Naglakad ako papalapit sa mesa niya nang nakasimangot.

"Busy nga ako, eh."

"You are not that busy," ganti niya.

Sumimangot ako. He smirked. I sharply exhaled and fixed my straight bangs.

"Ano ba 'yan? May ipapabili ka ba?" I groaned. "Oh my gosh. You can utos other people. I'm not your assistant. And I am already 27 years old. You can't boss me around."

"I can boss you around because I am your older brother and your literal boss because you work under me."

Hindi na talaga nawala ang simangot ko. Ugh! I really hate whenever he uses that card on me!

"Ano ba kasi 'yang utos mo?" I said and looked at my perfect black-colored nails that was applied to me last night.

"You know about the Rizal project, 'di ba?"