She's Dating The Teacher

Chapter 29: Help Wanted

Hindi sanay mapahiya si Kelsey.
Hindi pa nangyayari sa kanya na meron siyang binili na hindi niya kayang bayaran.
Hindi naging issue ang pera sa buhay niya.
Until that night sa gasolinahan na kailangang tawagan niya si Ate Sara to help with her predicament.

"Your dad froze your account?"
Nasa secret garden sila ni Flo habang gumagawa ng assignment.
"He did. You should have seen me that night sa gasoline station. I was pale as a ghost."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I have to find a job."
"Did you ever have to work in your life?"
"Hindi." Nahihiyang sagot ni Kelsey.
"Anong alam mong gawin?"
"Aside from volleyball?"
"Yes."
"I know how to cook."
"Good!" Ngumiti si Flo.
"Akala ko, you're one of those clichéd rich girls who doesn't know how to do anything."
"Eh ikaw? May alam ka bang gawin?"
"I know how to make my bed." Proud na sagot ni Flo.
"That's it?"
"Yeah. We have help at home. They get paid to do it."
"Eh mas malala ka pala sa akin eh."
"Blame my parents. They taught me learned helplessness."
"Do you know a place where I can work?"
Tinapik-tapik ni Flo ang baba niya habang nag-iisip.
"Why don't you try Student Services? Di ba may mga job placements sila?"
"I already did that but they have no vacancy at the moment."
"Di ba marunong ka magluto?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Try mo kaya sa fastfood na malapit dito sa school. I think a saw an ad. Nagha-hire sila."
"Ano naman ang gagawin ko dun?"
"Pwede kang magwork sa kitchen. They give trainings and they have flexible work hours lalo na sa mga students."
"How do you know all this?"
"I read the poster kapag kumakain ako dun mag-isa."
"Do you think I can apply online?"
"Let's see." Tinype ni Flo sa search bar ang pangalan ng fastfood.
Pagkapindot niya ng enter ay agad na hinanap niya ang career options for Mary's Burgers.
Sakto naman na naghahanap sila ng isang grill person.
Pinindot ni Flo ang To Apply option at inabot kay Kelsey ang Mac Air para sagutan ang mga boxes.
"Wait. Do I even have time for work?"
"You have to find the time for work."

Tama si Flo. Naisip ni Kelsey.
Wala naman siyang choice eh.
Kahit ayaw niyang magtrabaho, saan naman siya kukuha ng allowance at panggasolina.
Agad na sinagutan niya ang application form at mabilis na pinindot ang red submit button.

Kinabukasan, may natanggap siyang tawag for an interview.
Sinabi niya sa babaeng hiring manager kung anong oras siya pwede.
That same day, after ng volleyball practice, dumiretso siya sa Mary's Burgers.
Apat na tao lang ang nasa dining area at lahat sila estudyante ng MUV.
Minsan na silang kumain ni Flo dito pero iba ang pakiramdam ni Kelsey ngayon dahil she's not just a customer but a potential employee.
Brown and orange ang interior ng restaurant.
Sa tantiya niya, forty people can fit in the dining area.
May mahabang table at anim na stool sa tapat ng glass windows facing the parking lot.
Sa dingding ay nakadikit ang decal posters ng malalaking burgers, fries at fried chicken.
Nakadama ng gutom si Kelsey ng makita ang pictures ng pagkain.
The last time she ate was around three o' clock bago siya pumunta sa practice.

"Kelsey?" Lumapit sa kanya ang isang maliit na babae.
Nakaponytail ang buhok niya and she had big eyes and a warm smile.
Yung tipo ng tao na mapapalagay agad ang loob mo kahit ngayon mo lang siya nakilala.
She wore black pants and black shirt.
Nakaembroider ang pangalang Marys' Burgers in orange thread sa left corner ng polo shirt.
"Hi. I'm Reggie." Inabot ng babae ang kamay niya.
"Hello. I'm Kelsey." Nakipagkamay siya.
"You're so tall."
"I've always been tall." Sabi niya.
"Why don't we take a seat?"
Lumapit sa corner table si Reggie at una siyang pinaupo.
Hindi nakapaghanda si Kelsey for the interview kaya naman kabado siya.
Bukod sa binasa niya lang ang profile ng company sa website, hindi na niya alam kung ano pa ang itatanong sa kanya dahil pag-uwi niya last night, nakatulog siya dahil sa pagod.
Habang kausap niya si Reggie, she decided to do the best thing she does—smile.
Alam niya na she was at a disadvantage dahil she has no experience.
Karamihan ng sagot niya was related to school and volleyball.
Nang tinanong siya ni Reggie when was the last time she had to lead a team, ang ginamit niyang sagot was ang pagiging captain ng Archangels.
Nang tinanong siya kung ano ang ginawa nila para maging champions, sinabi niya ang grueling hours of practice at ang pagrereview nila ng dati niyang coach after every game.
"Losing is the hardest part because no one wants to be in that position. But I see it as an opportunity to be better."
Napangiti si Reggie sa sagot niya.
When asked kung bakit siya naga-apply, sinabi niya na her circumstance had changed.
"Instead of feeling sorry about it, I decided to be proactive. I needed money so I have to work to get it."
Tumango lang si Reggie.
When it came for her to ask about any work experience, sinabi ni Kelsey na this will be the first time.
"You can train me. I have the discipline and the willingness to learn a new skill." Prangkang sagot niya.
Napatingin siya sa relo.
It had been twenty minutes since the interview started at lalo siyang kinabahan.
Is it a good sign kung matagal ang interview?
Or is bad dahil ang daming tanong sa kanya?
Bahala na. Bulong niya sa sarili.

Pagkatapos ipaliwanag ni Reggie ang job requirements which is a minimum of four hours work at least five days a week for students, sinabi din nito sa kanya ang tungkol sa attendance policies.
"If you don't show up for work at least three days a week, you will be given notice of your absence. It can really get busy here and we need our staff to be present so we can provide excellent service to our customers." Paliwanag niya.
Tumango lang si Kelsey dahil she was already exhausted.
Pinasalamatan siya ni Reggie for her interest at tumayo na ito.
Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Kelsey.
Hinintay niyang sabihin ni Reggie na tatawagan siya nito for the result pero nagulat siya ng sabihin na hired na siya.
"Really?" Bulalas niya.
"Yes. Congratulations." Kinamayan siya ulit ni Reggie.
"Wow! This is great." Uminit ang pakiramdam niya.
This is the first time she applied and got accepted.
"May free time ka ba bukas to get your uniform and to attend a short orientation?"
"Yes I do." Excited na sagot niya.
"What time?"
"One o' clock."
"Perfect. Katatapos lang ng lunch hour nun. Come by and look for Angie. She will give you your uniform. She will also orient you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Nagpaalam na si Kelsey at hindi niya namalayan how she got to the parking lot dahil parang lumulutang siya sa tuwa.
Pagpasok sa kotse, the first thing she did was to dial Rachel's number.
It was almost eight in the evening at alam niya na gising pa ito.
"Hello?" Sumagot si Rachel after one ring.
"Hey, Babe." Nakangiting sagot niya.
"I have great news."
"What happened?"
"I got a job."