Find Your Way

Chapter Five

Althea's POV

"Tsong! Ano nasaan ka na? Nandito na yung client natin! Saan ka na naman ba kasi nagpunta kagabi?" Batchi said sounding pissed. I can already imagine her wrath inside my brain. Hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-hello, nakasigaw na kaagad sakin.

"Pasensya na, Batch. Tinanghali ako ng gising. Nawala sa loob ko pero malapit naman na ko." I was already driving as fast as I could dahil nakakahiya sa client at lalong-lalo na kay Batchi. This is suppose to be my first day but I messed up.

It was never my intention to be late on my appointment today. It's just that my body is still adjusting. Sa loob ba naman kasi ng tatlong taon, halos tanghaling tapat na akong gumigising dahil sa kalasingan. Hindi na din ako nag-abala na magset ng alarm since confident akong magigising ako ng maaga but I failed bigtime.

Mabuti na lang at naalimpungatan ako dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagtawag sakin ni Batchi. Agad-agad akong nagshower at nagbihis dahil pagcheck ko sa oras ay 8:30 na and my appointment is at 9:00.

"Naman, Tsong! Kala ko naman nagbago ka na."

"Uy, grabe ka naman. Sorry talaga. Nahirapan ako magising kasi nasanay na 'tong katawan ko na maghapon tulog. Pasensya na talaga, Batch." I said with my utmost sincerity kahit na medyo na-offend ako sa sinabi niya. But who am I to react? It was clearly my fault.

I heard her sigh on the other line. "Oh sige na, Tsong. Ako na muna ang mag-entertain dito kay Ms. Pearl. Mabuti na lang mabait siya at mukha namang hindi mainipin. Mag-ingat ka na lang sa pag-drive. Bye!"

"I will and thank you, tsong! Yaan mo, babawi ako sa'yo."

"Sus. Wala ng bawian, tsong ah! Touch move na yan." I can't help but chuckle on what she said.

"Oo akong bahala. O sige na, malapit na ko. I'll be there in 5 minutes. Bye, Batch!" Then I pressed the end button. I can already see the building where my shop is located.

Oh how I missed going to my office. The last time I was here, I think almost two years ago. That's when I decided to attend my appointment with one of my clients nang nakainom at wala pang tulog. Ang gago ko no? Mabuti na lang nakita kaagad ako nila Batchi kaya napigil nila kong pumasok.

I was trying so hard to move on then but I was getting worse everday instead of getting better. Sa sobrang pa-tough or pa-strong ako noon, ayun, kabaliktaran ang nangyari.

Now that I thought of everything I did before, I can't help but to shook my head and laugh at my own self. Am I that stupid enough para gawin yun? Para i-risk ang negosyo na pinaghirapan ko? Parang bigla akong nahiya sa sarili ko kapag naalala ko ang pinagagagawa ko noon.

Pero kahit na ganoon, I still chose to stand up. Natagalan nga lang but still, here I am, picking up the pieces and returning each on its perfect place. Pinangako ko sa sarili ko na hindi na yun mauulit. Once is enough. Okay na yung minsan ka ng magkamali, at least natuto ka.

I didn't notice I was already here on the 4th floor when I heard the bell of the elevator. Pakiramdam ko para akong isang bagong empleyado na first time magtatrabaho dahil sa nerbyos. Well, you can't blame me. I'm a complete mess and fucked up for the past three years and I think it's just normal to feel some jitters.

I checked my watch and saw that it's already 9:20. Fuck, I'm twenty minutes late.

Way to go, Althea. So much for moving on, huh?

I took a deep breath and pushed the door lightly. "Hi! Good morning!" I greeted and beamed at them as soon as I enter my office. I walked straight to them as I looked at each one of them.