Chapter 1 Monica Azucena

Chapter 1

She was sweaty and out of breath as she leaned against the bathroom wall that she was currently cleaning.

While hearing the constant complaints and muttering of her co-worker Sena.

"Nakakaloka napakayaman ng hotel na ito at five star pa kung tutuusin pero hindi man lang tayo puwede gumamit ng aircon habang naglilinis."

She looked at her friend and just shook her head while smiling.

"Hindi ka pa ba nasanay? Tatlong taon na tayo sa trabaho na ito bes." Pag-aalo niya sa matalik na kaibigan para kahit papaano ay maibsan ang pagrereklamo nito.

Sena has been her best friend since college. The two are constantly best friends because they became colleagues in Hotel and Restaurant Management course in their University.

Matalino, mabait, simpleng babae, masaya kasama at higit sa lahat ay maganda si Sena. Sa katunayan marami ang nagkakagusto rito noong pumapasok pa sila sa University. Ngunit isa man sa mga nagpapalipad hangin dito ay hindi nito pinapansin. Sa kadahilanang seryoso at tutok silang dalawa sa pag-aaral.

"Kaya nga bes tatlong taon na tayo dito pero wala man lang pagbabagong nagaganap. Sana naman kahit kaunting awa ay makaramdam naman ang supervisor natin aircon lang ipinagdadamot pa." She said while rolling her eyes. Monica barely shrugged and maintained what she was doing while her best friend kept complaining.

We have been working as a Room attendant at the RICAFORT HOTEL for Three years now. The most prominent and luxurious hotel in the whole country. Every part of the Philippines could see the said hotel because of it’s large number of branches.

Karamihan sa mga guests dito ay mga sikat na artista at mga kilalang personalidad ng bansa at kahit pa mga politiko ay madalas dito magkaroon ng mga special events.

Sa katunayan wala sila reklamo sa mismong hotel dahil mataas ang salary nila at maraming benefits.

Ngunit minsan ay hindi maiwasan na sa tulad nila ay may mga bagay na hindi patas ang pamamalakad.

Katulad na lang ngayon na dahilan ng pagmamaktol ng kaibigan at katrabaho niya na si Sena dahil silang mga room attendant ay hindi maaaring gumamit ng aircon habang naglilinis sa bawat kuwarto.

"Kung hindi lang talaga dahil kay sir Jack siguro matagal na ako umalis dito at humanap ng ibang tabaho." Napalingon naman siya kay Sena at hindi na nagulat na makitang kumikinang ang mga mata nito at halatang kinikilig. Kapag si Sir Jack ang topic naghuhugis puso ang mga mata ng kaibigan.

"Dead na dead ka talaga sa boss natin bes, ang sungit sungit naman niyon eh. Ni hindi nga man lang yata iyon ngumingiti. Saan ang gwapo doon?" She contradicts her daydream. Sena turned to her and frowned. Sena seems impossible to buy what she was saying and Monica laughs every time whenever she contradicts her because Sena doesn’t know how to come back.

"Kj ka talagang babae ka kaya hindi ka pa nagkakajowa hanggang ngayon eh." Sabay irap pa nito. "Grabe ang gwapo gwapo ni sir Jack at ang bango bango pa." Monica just chuckled and shook her head because of what Sena was saying.

"Hindi ka naman pinapansin ng boss natin pero kinikilig ka na." Kontra niya ulit sa kaibigan habang naghuhugas ng mga kamay sa bathroom sink. Sa wakas tapos na ang huling kuwarto na dapat nilang linisan. "Tapos na ako Sena puwede na tayong mag-out."

Their work was very tiring but it was definitely worth it. They are having fun and learn a lot while they are working. Aside from the monthly salary that will surely make you being a hard-worker.

They really need this job for their families. So even though it was very exhausting they must be endured everything.

Sabagay, lahat naman ng trabaho ay nakakapagod. Kumbaga walang trabahong madali.

Nasa labas na sila ng kuwarto at bitbit ang mga gamit pang-linis nang masalubong nila sa hallway ang Head Supervisor. As usual naka-angat ang mga kilay at masungit na nakatingin sa kanila. Parang palaging galit at magbubuga ng apoy anumang oras.

“Are all the rooms you have to clean was done?” He asked them rudely. They nodded in response and the he continued walking.

"Nakakabwisit talaga iyon, ang sarap sabunutan feeling pogi mukha naman siyang avatar." Sena murmured, Monica just laughed and continued walking towards their locker room.

~~~

"PAANO bes kita-kits na lang tayo bukas ah, Ingat bye." Maarteng saad ng kaibigan habang kumakaway na naglalakad. Natawa na lang siya at kumaway pabalik dito.

Monica continued walking in the area of Jeepneys. Her out from her work was eight o’clock in the evening. It was a bit early and lots of people were still walking along the road and several cars passing by.

May mangilan-ngilan na taong nagmamadali rin sa pag-uwi sa kani-kanilang pamamahay upang magpahinga. Ganito palagi ang routine ng mga taong abala sa buhay. Gigising sa umaga para pumasok sa trabaho at sa gabi ay uuwi ng bahay at sasalubong ang pamilya. Ganito rin ang takbo ng buhay niya sa loob ng tatlong taon.

Monica was slowly walking on the sidewalk, but all of a sudden the red light signal turned and the cars stopped.

She turned her attention to a sleek black car stopped in front of her. The glass of a car was not heavy tinted. Therefore, she immediately recognized the person who was driving. It’s Sir Jack. The President. Maybe he came from somewhere important conference and he was now going back to the main office.

Mr. Joaquin Ricafort but also known as "Jack". Her friend was right. Sena was not mistaken in what she said before, our boss is literally most handsome. He has a messy dark brown color of hair. A beautiful and sleepy deep blue-green eyes. Thick eyebrows, pointed nose, smooth and fair skin. Broad and wide shoulders and a sexy red lips. Specifically perfect.

Napakatangkad din nito sa pangkaraniwang taas ng mga Pinoy. Palibhasa ay may dugo ng banyaga. Iilang beses niya na rin ito nakakasalubong sa hallway at aaminin niya isa rin siya sa mga empleyadang humahanga sa boss nila. Well, who wouldn't be? No woman would not like him. Sir Jack was like a living Greek God.

Ngunit kung siya ang tatanungin hindi niya tipo ang mga ganitong klaseng lalake tulad ng boss nila. Masyadong tahimik si sir Jack, hindi rin ngumingiti. Napakaseryoso ng aura mas madalas ay snob pa ito. Boring at walang thrill kumbaga.

She was startled when sir Jack unexpectedly glanced in her direction and their eyes met suddenly her chest throbbed for no apparent reason and she felt the world stop spinning right that moment.

Pakiramdam ni Monica ay huminto ang mga gumagalaw sa paligid, mga tao at mga sasakyan at kahit ang mga dumadaan mismo sa kanyang harapan ay huminto ng mga oras na iyon.

But sir Jack was the first one to let go of their gazed and then he continued driving. She gasped! She didn’t notice that the stop light signal was gone. And at this moment, she noticed that she was still holding her breath.

What was that? What happened to her? Ah. Maybe she’s just really tired.

Yeah, she was just tired. She shook her head and mentally chuckled.