FEROX FOREVER 1: Nothing Sinful ✓

Kabanata 05

Abby

"I don't understand," I started, my head shaking in disbelief. "Akala ko may vacancy kayo. I've seen your job ads and postings online. What do you mean na hindi na kayo tumatanggap ng aplikante?"

"Sorry, Miss Solis, pero ubos na po yung slots namin. Sa ibang outlet ka na lang maghanap, baka may bakante pa sila," paliwanag naman ng manager ng café na pinag-aaplayan ko.

I sighed. Ayaw ko nang patagalin yung usapan kung mauuwi lang naman din pala 'to sa wala. "It's fine. Thank you po." I collected my requirements from the table and filed them again into my binder. Tumayo ako mula sa booth at agad nilisan yung shop.

Lalong uminit ang ulo ko dahil sa tirik ng araw sa labas ng café at napamura ako sa isip ko. Pumara ako ng jeep at dahan-dahang umakyat papasok at nakisiksik sa loob.

Uuwi yata ako ng walang magandang balita.

It hadn't been my first time hunting for a job and getting rejected in the process. But the only difference from then and now, was that my nephew's life was hanging on thin thread and his treatments were dependent on us.

I had been a technical support at Accenture for one year before I'd decided to resign and focus on my studies. Scholar lang ako sa Cypress University kaya noong naramdaman kong parang mas inaagaw na ng trabaho yung oras ko, I'd quit. My previous work experience should've had at least given me an advantage, at least. Well, I was left shocked that every BPO company I'd applied to yesterday had also rejected my application.

It wasn't like I'd failed the interviews and assessments. Hindi lang talaga ako nakakaabot sa final screening nila. After every initial interview, they'd inform me that they were no accounts available as of the moment. Which was weird by itself. Anong klaseng BPO yung nag-a-advertise na hiring sila sa Facebook then wala pa pala silang account at client?

Ayaw ko naman maging floater, so sinubukan kong mag-apply sa mga fastfood chain.

Walang tumawag ni isa sa kanila.

Small businesses like cafés were my only last resort, and just like what my last attempt earlier, they'd told me the same exact same thing that they had no vacancies left.

Nang makababa ako ng jeep at naglakad pauwi, nasa isip-isip ko pa rin kung paano ako makakatulong kay Kuya Colbrin. Shawn was already on his third chemo this Monday, and my brother's funds were already spread thin. Ate Tara had already given what she could offer to help but Shawn's treatment costs were still way too high. Homicide detective si Tara pero may ka-live-in partner na kase siya at nakabukod na rin sila ni Landon kaya hindi rin sapat yung perang 'binibigay niyang tulong kay Kuya.

Ako na lang yung walang ambag. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay wala akong silbi.

I halted on my steps when it suddenly dawned on me that there was only one thing I hadn't tried. A one thing that I'd been dreading to reconsider.

Hindi ko naman tinanggihan yung alok ni Veric pero hindi ko rin 'to talaga gustong tanggapin. Kaya nga nag-apply ako ng iba pang trabaho kahit na labis yung sweldong makukuha ko kung pinirmahan ko yung kontrata. His job offer had been enticing. It could basically solve all of my problems.

Thirty-thousand pesos a week. Sobrang napakalaking tulong na yun sa pagpapagamot kay Shawn.

The only problem was Veric himself.

He made my skin crawl, like I was on the edge of a cliff and the only reason I wasn't falling to my death was he had a hand wrapped around my neck, keeping me still and grounded.

And I didn't like it. I wasn't a fan of the feeling. I fucking hated it. It made me want to scrape off the uneasiness and burn my body down just to get rid of it.