My Ideal Guy (Cambridge Academy Series 2)

Chapter 11: Mall

Kyla's.

According to Jake, I can't work in kitchen due to the reason that I don't know how to cook. Baka makagulo lang ako doon. Bawal rin ako maging barista dahil mga eksperto lang ang pwede doon. 

I can't be a waitress too dahil baka mahulog lang daw ang mga pagkain sa tray dahil hindi ako marunong mag-balance. I can't work in the counter too dahil hindi raw ako friendly sa customers lalo na kapag magtatanong about sa menu, eh hindi ko pa naman daw kabisado ang mga sineserve nila dito.

I only breathed deeply. And the last thing she "insulted" about me was…

"You can't be a guard too. Baka imbes na i-welcome at ngitian mo ang mga customers eh irapan mo lang." 

I only gritted my teeth in annoyance. I want to complain. I want to protest but I couldn't say anything! It was stated in the terms and conditions that I can't complain to my boss. If he asks me to work for something, I should do it. Ayaw pala ni Jake sa maarte. 

Napayuko na lamang ako habang bumibilis ang aking paghinga. 

"So, I have no choice but to make you as a general cleaner. Your work is simple. You just need to sweep and mop the floor. Clean the customer's table and sanitize it. Don't worry, someone will help you." 

"And who is that someone?" 

"Makikilala mo rin siya. For now, rest for a while and come back here after your suspension. So, that would be by next week, right?" 

I only nodded.

"Okay. Text me your sizes para maipagawa ko agad ang uniform mo." 

He asked me for my phone number so I gave it to him. No use of protesting anymore, I need to be used to this kind of conversation with him. I needed to remind myself that he's not my past that I want to forget. I needed to remind myself that he's now my boss… malayo na ang agwat namin. 

Estudyante ako at boss ko siya. Our nine years age gap is really not a joke. Kailangan ko ng pigilan kung anuman 'tong nararamdaman ko sa kaniya… before it could even turn into love.

Inuwi ako ni Aleign at kwinento ko naman sa kaniya ang pinag-usapan namin ni Jake sa biyahe. She also told me that she'll visit the café regularly para kahit papaano ay may makakasama ako sa loob. Pero kapag days daw ng training niya ay hindi niya ko masasamahan which is fine with me. 

I already appreciate her concern about me. When her car parked near our house, I unbuckled my seatbelt and placed a soft kiss on her right cheek. 

"Thank you for the ride, Aleign. See you next week. I won't try to escape anymore. I'll just accept my three-days suspension," malungkot kong banggit. 

"Okay. Just call or message me if you need anything." 

I nodded. "I will. Take care," lumabas na ko at kumaway sa kaniya bago sinara ang pinto ng kotse. 

Naglalakad na ko palapit sa gate ng bahay at sinisilip kung nandoon ba ang mga guards o kumakain na sila ng dinner. Well, it's 6PM already, iyan ang oras ng hapunan nila kaya ganitong oras ko din plinano umuwi. 

While I was peeking inside, someone dragged me from the gate and before I could even make a sound, my mouth was already covered with a hand. 

"Ssh, where have you been, Kylalaine?" mariin ang boses ni Mommy pero pabulong.

Nilingon ko siya galing sa likod ko. Why are we hiding at the back of our pine tree? 

"Mom?" I asked unbelievably.

Napahawak siya sa noo niya, halatang problemado. "Kakain na tayo ng dinner. Kakauwi lang namin ng Papa mo. Pinapatawag ka niya sa kwarto para kumain na. I only told him that you don't want to join us in the table pero ang totoo niyan ay hindi kita nakita sa kwarto mo. I panicked, Kyla!" she hissed.