Chapter 4: Distracted
Raymart cannot count the times he dropped his pen while signing the documents on his table. The fight that Alma and he had in the last few days keeps flashing back on his mind.
“Am I wrong? Should I remove that rule?”
Raymart stops talking when he realizes that he is talking to hisself alone. He ruffled his hair and frustratedly leaned on the swivel chair that he was sitting at. Raymart also tried to relax his
senses by closing his eyes, but the situation just became worse! Because the face of his former secretary keeps showing up!
It’s too late. Raymart just found himself memorizing the address of his former secretary from her resumé which is still inside the drawer of his table. When Raymart finally kept the address in his mind, he immediately stood up and pats his black three-piece suit to remove the dirt on it.
“Cancel all my appointments. I have to do something.” Raymart commanded to his secretary
“Noted, sir.”
#
Raymart drove his car all the way down to the location of the said address. And when he arrived at the house, he was puzzled. Raymart knocked a lot of times already, but there is still no person who opens the door.
“Number 34, Santiago street. Hmm…it is not wrong.”
Raymart knocked again. But still, no one answered. Because of that, he had no other choice but to ask a person inside the neighboring house.
“Oh, sir! Too late. The renter of that house has left already.”
“When did she leave?”
“Just yesterday, sir.”
“Oh…okay, thank you.”
Raymart blew some air as his shoulders sagged as he gazed at the small house. He wishes to apologize to Alma, but it appears that he has missed his chance because she has already left. Raymart returned to his office because he didn't know where to look for her.
#
“Oh, sir. I thought you have something to do?” the secretary asked with a knotted forehead.
“I’m done with it.” he just reasoned it out.
Although the truth is, Raymart did not accomplish any of his tasks that day.
“Is that so? You have a dinner meeting with Dr. Donato Buenviaje at KKB restaurant later on at seven in the evening.”
“Okay, I’ll go.” Raymart replied calmly.
His secretary was about to leave when he called him again. “Can you also announce that I will remove rule number 3 from my company?”
His secretary nodded and went back to his work. While Raymart enters his own office.
Raymart opened the drawer at his table and got the resumè of his former secretary out of it. He starred in it, especially the smile of Alma on her 2x2 provided picture.
“Why do you make me feel guilty? Why do I need to change my rules just for you? Right, you are just a woman and my former employee. That’s the only thing that connects us and nothing else.”
His eyes narrowed and harshly threw back the resumé inside the drawer. Raymart signed like a crazy man saying, ‘stay there paper!’ before leaning on his swivel chair.
#
It’s been 12 days since Alma became unemployed. Even if she wants to enjoy the feeling of not thinking about anything related to work, her savings says otherwise. That’s why, Alma informed her parents that she would go to the nearest computer shop in their area to make a resumé. She did not buy a laptop before though her salary was high and it was also because, a laptop is provided by her former boss when she was his secretary.
Alma cannot help but to regret leaving her previous job when she thinks about the perks that she received before. But in an instant, that regret turns into anger when her former boss comes into view of her imagination while wearing formal attire with his serious face.
“Kuya (older brother/man), 1 hour in PC 5.” Alma said to the owner of the computer shop.
It doesn’t take much time to make a resumé, but, Alma still chooses to rent a PC for an hour because she wants to chitchat with Cindy through video calls. In their house, the call will always disconnects due to poor signal and she doesn’t have enough money to have a wi-fi.
“How are you there, mars (friendly feminine endearment short for ‘mare’)?” she asked to her best friend.
Alma just finished making her resumé and it has also a physical copy, printed by the computer shop owner. That’s why she can finally talk to Cindy.
Cindy swallowed first a spoonful of rice and adobo before answering Alma’s question. “My schedule is hectic, mamsh (friendly feminine endearment).”
“I see. It looks like I disturb your lunch break too.”
“Crazy! Of course not. I’m glad that you called because there is no one I can talk to.”
“Really? Why? Is Ann not there?” Alma asked Cindy curiously.
Ann and Cindy used to be close together at the hotel where they work. She is Cindy’s cousin who also went with Cindy to Manila to find a living.
“She was transferred to another branch.”
“Then make some friends. You are friendly anyways.”
“That’s what I’ve been doing recently. It’s just that, I have no time for other business because I am busy at work. Oh, I need to end the call right now. I can hear the voice of my manager.”
“Okay, bye! Take care.”
“You too. I hope you already have a boyfriend when you get back here!”
“Shut up!”
Alma ended the call and paid the computer shop’s owner.
Alma becomes irritated when Cindy mentions her being in a romantic relationship with someone. Because she saw the face of her former boss named Raymart in her mind. And out of all the men living on earth, Raymart is the one Alma hates the most. Who wouldn't be annoyed by that?
“Ate (older sister/woman), you left your change!” the owner of the computer shop said just enough to caught her attention.
Alma palmed her forehead, and ran, going back to the computer shop.