THE MOMENT the door of the condominium opened and Atlantis' manager walked in, the aura felt more intense. Napatayo kaagad si Winna at sinalubong ang manager.
"Manager Ree..." bati nito. Agad siyang nilingon ng manager at napasinghap ito sa gulat.
"Winna! Nandito ka pala! Omygod! Hindi sinabi ni Roi na dadalaw ka," sabi ng kanilang manager bago sinulyapan ang binata. "Anyway, what's the matter? Bench called me and told me to come here."
Jhanelle couldn't stay put. Nilukob ng kaba ang buong katawan niya lalo nang maupo ang manager ng Atlantis. Winna's sharp eyes turned to her before it went to the manager.
"Manager Ree, my sister and I decided to pay our little brother and his group a visit. Kararating lang namin kanina ni Brylie but then, someone had the audacity to disrespect us. Tinawag kaming desperada at malandi," diretsong sabi ni Winna na nakatingin kay Jhanelle na namumutla na.
Manager Ree's forehead creased. "What do you mean, Winna?"
Brylie sighed. "Ang ibig pong sabihin ng ate ko ay may problema kami sa assistant ng kapatid namin. Bigla po kasi siyang dumating tapos, inaway kami. Tinawag kaming desperada at malandi dahil daw nandito kami sa loob ng condo ng Atlantis," walang pag-aalinlangang sumbong ni Bry.
Ang matalim na mata ng manager ng grupo ay tumuon kay Jhanelle. She flinched with the sharp gaze piercing at her.
"Miss Jhanelle, totoo ba?" malamig na tanong ni Manager Ree. Jhanelle runs her tongue on her dried lips due to nervousness. She quickly shook her head.
"H-hindi po totoo 'yon!"
Winna scoffs. "Oh, come on!"
"Hindi! Wala po akong sinabing gano'n! M-manager Ree, maniwala ka! Wala po!" patuloy ang pagtanggi ni Jhanelle sa maling ginawa.
Napasimangot si Ruiz at bumulong kay Jayzee na katabi niya.
"Ang sama ko para sabihin ito pero, ang kapal ng mukha niya. Akala ko mabait, hindi pala," bulong niya. Sumang-ayon ang katabi niya.
"Miss Jhanelle, tatanungin ulit kita. Totoo ba?" Manager Ree's voice became more serious and cold. Napapikit na lang si Roi at sumandal sa upuan.
"Hindi po! Wala po ak—"
"Bullshit." Bench's cold voice cuts her off. Ibinagsak nito ang cellphone sa mesa kaya napatingin ang lahat doon. "I recorded the whole happenings. Watch and hear it, Manager Ree," sabi nito at tinuon ang malamig at seryosong mata kay Jhanelle.
"Miss, we don't tolerate immature behaviors here. We're very friendly with our staffs and vice versa. Your attitude is not acceptable. You just disrespected someone, not just someone but, Roi's sisters and even Roi as your boss."
Jhanelle was almost crying while looking for help. Inilipat niya ang tingin kay Roi at humingi ng tulong pero, hindi siya pinansin ng binata.
Manager Ree hissed when she finished listening to the recording. Ibinalik niya kay Bench ang phone at hinarap ang babae.
"Miss Jhanelle, I'll be honest with you. The management received complaints about your attitude. Tinatarayan mo daw ang mga katrabaho mo at may isang beses na nadulas si Angel sa hagdanan pero, imbis na tulungan mo ay sinabihan mo pang lampa..."
Deiv instantly reacted. "What the hell? You said that to her?!" Ruiz held his hand to calm him down.
"I don't want to say this but, I think, we've made the wrong decision of accepting you to work here. Hindi sapat na kay Roi ka lang mabait dahil lang siya ang ina-assist mo. Nagtatrabaho ang mga empleyado dito nang walang binabastos o iniinsulto pero, ikaw, nambastos ka at nang-insulto kahit bago ka pa lang. You think that attitude will be tolerated here?"
Jhanelle cried and sobbed. "I'm sorry! Gusto ko lang naman na makasama si Roi kasi fan na fan niya ako! Kaya gusto kong magtrabaho sa kaniya! Umeepal lang 'yong iba kasi ang daming bawal kaya tinatarayan ko sila!"
"You're a fan of Roi but, does that make you superior, Miss? To the point that you'll insult people?" Manager Ree spatted.
Roi shook his head in defeat. He really made the wrong choice. He appreciates it when someone became his fan but, this one? It went too far. It went overboard and he can't be happy with that.
"Now, I've watched and listened to the recording Bench gave me and it's enough to believe what they are saying about you. I'm sorry but, you are fired, Miss Jhanelle."
Nagtatakbo palabas si Jhanelle habang umiiyak at naiwan sila doon. Napailing na lang dahil sa nangyari.
"Kuys, wala ka na namang P.A," Ruiz broke the silence. Nagkatinginan sila at sumang-ayon sa bunso.
Manager Ree glance at Roi. "Sorry, Roi. Mukhang kailangan ulit nating maghanap ng bagong P.A mo. Don't worry, I'll make sure that it's a right and decent one," sabi nito bago tumayo at nagpaalam na sa kanila.
Bench stood up. "Pahinga na kayo lahat..." Lumingon ito sa kapatid ni Roi. "Winna, Bry, dito na rin kayo magpahinga. The guestroom is open for the two of you," sabi nito.
Winna sighs and nodded. "Thanks, Bench."
Lahat sila ay tumayo na at tumungo sa kani-kanilang tulugan. Inihatid muna ni Roi ang dalawang kapatid sa guestroom.
"Goodnight, Ate Winna. Goodnight, Ate Bry." Yumakap si Roi sa dalawang kapatid at humalik sa pisngi nito.
"Goodnight, bro. Magpahinga ka na. Bukas na tayo mag-usap, hmm?" Winna said. Roi nodded and smiled at his sister.
"Matulog ka na, Roi," sabi naman ni Brylie.
Nang makapasok ang mga kapatid niya sa guestroom, dumiretso na rin siya sa kwarto niya. Sinara niya ang pinto at dumiretso sa mini fridge na nasa tabi lang ng kama niya. Kumuha siya ng lata ng coke doon at naupo sa may upuan niya kaharap ang computer niya.
He opened his PC and decided to check on the applicant's form again. Hindi pa naman siya inaantok kaya magtitingin muna ulit siya ng mga potential P.A.
He'll also make sure to pick the right one and as he scrolls, he stopped when he saw a recent answer. He couldn't believe his eyes. He almost spit on his coke because of the shock.
Assist him, that's what an assistant do.
A smile formed in his lips when he saw the name. Parang nawala kaagad ang sakit ng ulo niya dahil sa nangyari kanina. Tinitigan niya ang pangalan sa screen niya. Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi niya.
I think, I already found the right one. My right one.
ESTÁ A LER
Boundless
Romance[SOON TO BE PUBLISHED] Everyone deserves a second chance however, are you willing to give one to the person who already wounded you? To the one who abandoned you? Roi Niccolo Kingston had aspirations of being a singer, and Ezra Marie Crisanto did no...
