**ROSEANA**
"What time did you leave earlier?" I asked Macy as I served her our early dinner. Early dinner because it was only four in the afternoon when we were already eating dinner.
She had just arrived from her job at a big mall. She is a saleslady. I also just found out that she resigned from the coffee shop where we used to work. She said she was afraid that those who were looking for me might recognize her and be the reason for my destruction.
"Hmm, eight, I think." She shrugs. We shared the sinigang I prepared. "I didn't wake you up. I know you were tired last night," she added. Her eyes closed in satisfaction as she devoured the dish I prepared.
I calculated her sleep in my head. We got home at three o'clock this morning. She probably woke up at seven a.m. to get ready. That just means she slept for only four hours.
"Don't worry, Roseana. My body is used to this." She was smiling as she said that; she didn't even seem tired. I never heard her complain even once.
I sometimes envy Macy. She is a very happy person. If you look at her, you will not think that she is struggling or that she is carrying a problem. She is like a ball of sunshine, shining through the darkest times.
I shook my head at her. I hid the display of worry in my worry and pity for her. I know she doesn't want me to feel sorry for her. That is the least I want her to feel. I don't want her to feel that she is pitiful. I remember what one of my teachers in Peace Studies said to me. He told me that he hated those who pity themselves, or he hated to hear someone pitying themselves. Pitying oneself means that you are accepting the misfortune that happened to you. It was like you were giving up, letting that inconvenience or misfortune in your life govern your whole existence. And I think he is right. In this cruel world, we will inevitably encounter failure and disappointment. But that doesn't mean that we should give up. Just like Macy's, we just have to keep going. Keep it running until we make it. Rest if you are tired, then continue after.
That's life, right?
"I'm not worried about you. I am just worried that your wealth might be too much because of your many jobs." I teased her. “Well, on the other hand, that's more favorable to me. You can just provide for me since you will have a lot of money."
"What if I kick your ass out of my house now?" she asked, going along with my nonsense.
"I'm just kidding. Don't take it seriously." I quickly retracted what I said. She just laughed at me.
After that, we didn't talk anymore. We quickly finished our food. We are also in a hurry because rush hour might catch us and cause us to be late for my and Macy's work.
I'm already wearing my waitress uniform. I plopped down on the couch in the living room while I waited for Macy to finish getting dressed. I am just blankly staring at the wall, trying to entertain myself.
"Macy, we're going to be late!" I shouted after a few minutes of waiting. She's been dressing up for a while, and so far, she hasn't gone out.
"Shut up, Roseana!" she shouted back at me. "Ricardo won't scold us if we're late!"
I just shook my head at her answer. She is really brave when it comes to our boss. Maybe she won't be scolded, but me, yes. I was just a newbie, and then on my second day, I was late right away.
I stand up from my careful sitting on the couch. I was so careful not to tangle my clothes that I even passed through the iron.
Instead of waiting for her in the living room, I decided to go to her bedroom. I'll check to see what's taking her so long. I caught up with her, who was ready. She is wearing our uniform, and her hair is well done. Her siren eyes are also tinged with light eye shadow, as are her lips and cheeks.
She glanced at me quickly when she heard the noise my shoes made with every step. “Give me a minute. I'll just answer this," she answered. She turned her gaze back to her cell phone and typed again.
"You can just do that in the car," I said, referring to her answering the messages on her phone. “It was only my second day at that job. I don't want to be late." My patience is running out. I called her earlier so we could leave, only to find her busy on her phone.
"Okay, fine. What a short patience, girl. Do you have your period?" she grinned. I just rolled my eyes at her and walked out of the apartment first. I heard her walk after me.
We are already inside the taxi, but the attention is still focused on whoever they are talking to on the cell phone. I wiggled my nose.
Good for her. I haven't tried to open my cell phone since I read Damon's angry message.
I get nervous every time I touch it. I feel that when I open it, Damon will come out from the screen of the phone and strangle me. I can imagine his pitch-black eyes darkening even more as he stares coldly at me. Just thinking about it is already giving me goosebumps.
My attention went back to Macy when I heard her take a deep breath. It's like the size of her problem.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Can I just not come to work tomorrow, Roseana?" I was surprised by what she suddenly said.
"Why?" I ask. What she said piqued my interest. Macy is not someone who will be absent from work just because she doesn't feel like working. She works as much as possible; that's why hearing her say that awakened my curiosity.
She looked at me. "The CEO of the mall where I am working will visit tomorrow," she said as if that’s a big problem she cannot solve. Her lips protruded in annoyance.
"So?"
"He has not often done that! I haven't even seen him go around there," she said. "Now, he decided to inspect that mall. Previously, he did not interfere with his malls because he was focused on the bigger businesses of his company."
"Isn't that great? Your boss probably just wants to check his employees.” I have this urge to defend whoever her boss is. It's as if they have the same amount of fear and anger towards that person even though they haven't met him yet. They already judged him without knowing his intention of inspecting the mall they were working with. What if he just wanted to ensure that his employees are doing their jobs and are paid well?
Macy snorted. "He has been firing employees who piss him off for four days straight now. One wrong move and he will immediately fire you. He also humiliates them, shouting and cursing them like they are lowly slaves for him," Macy said, annoyed.
I was suddenly silent. I didn't think there was such a type of employer. Isn't it against the law? I am not familiar with the law protecting the workers, but his firing his employees and embarrassing them in front of people is surely against the labor law, right?
"Your boss has a bad attitude," I blurted out.
I know that I have no right to judge the person just based on the details Macy told me, but I just cannot help it.
“Exactly! The badness of his behavior got worse when his girlfriend left him."
I was intrigued by what Macy said.
"His girlfriend left him?" I ask. I have to admit that he has completely captured my attention. I'm bored with my life, and hearing gossip from Macy energized my whole system.
"Yeah. Rumors are circulating that our grumpy CEO has a girlfriend. Someone saw him with a woman while buying groceries.”
I'm just seriously listening to the gossip that Macy is saying. Why does it seem like there is an image forming in my mind after hearing what she said?
"And then?" I eagerly asked.
Macy looked at me straight in the eyes. She made me wait for a few minutes before she continued her story.
"They saw the face of the woman."