Himalang nagising bago ang kanyang alarm clock si Amanda.

Ngingiti-ngiti niyang tiningnan ang cellphone at in-off ang alarm clock niya.

Agad siyang naligo at nag-ayos. Feel nyang magpakababaeng babae ngayon kaya naman kinuha nya ang kanyang black and white na "semi-floral" slash "semi-formal" dress nya.

Black ang overall na kulay nito at white naman ang nakakorteng bulaklak sa bottom part.

Naisipan nyang baunin nalang ang flats nya at magsandals nalang papasok para hindi sya mahirapan makipaghabulan sa jeepneys at elevator papasok at pauwi.

Suot ang skintone nyang sandals, nag-apply ng lipstick si Amanda at napangiti sa sarili sa salamin.

"Hay, Amanda Catalin, why so pretty?" natatawang sambit nya sa sarili harap ang salamin.

Ang kanyang natural na wavy na buhok ay inayos nya pa at naglagay ng hairclip sa kanang bahagi.

"Mukha naman akong highschool dito." Amanda frowned and removed the clip.

Sinuklay nya ito ulet at hinayaang nakalugay ang mahabang buhok.

Kuntentong kinuha ang kanyang shoulder bag at siniguradong may payong, powerbank, cellphone, charger, flash drive at wallet na laman ang bag nya bago bumaba kung nasaan ang mga magulang niya.

Gaya ng dating gawi, sabay-sabay silang nag-almusal bago tumungo aa opisina si Amanda.

Wala pang alas-otso ay nasa table na sya at isa-isang tiningnan ang iskedyul nya sa planner na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

May dalawang aplikante pala syang paeexamin ngayon para sa vacancy nila sa Research and Development Department.

Ang isa ay nakaschedule ng alas nuwebe ng umaga at alas dos ng hapon naman ang isa.

Yumuko sya sa drawer nya at hinanda na ang testing materials para sa unang aplikante sa araw na yon.

Busy sya sa pag-eencode ng test results sa kanyang desktop ng may naglagay ng paborito nyang mocha frappe mula sa Starbucks na sinamahan pa ng note.

Napaangat ng tingin si Amanda sa kamay ng lalaking naglagay sa table nya.

"Coffee?" Her officemate, Jericho Gregory, asked smiling.

"Oh, wow. Thank you." Amanda said gratefully and sipped on the frappe.
"You shouldn't have. But thanks." She smiled politely and maintained the eye contact still confused with the gesture.

"So, are you free later, tonight?" Jericho asked and raised a knowing eyebrow at her.

Amanda almost spat out her frappe in surprise.

"Oh, sorry, Echo." Amanda quickly apologized. "I'm expected to be home for dinner so I don't think I can make it."

"And, I am taking her home later." a deep voice boomed behind Jericho and they both turned around to look at the man.

It was Mr. Park.

Sabay na napatayo sa upuan ang mga nasa loob ng departamento nila maging si Echo upang batiin ang boss nila.

"Good morning, too. Back to work, guys." Mr. Park grinned and emphasized the work to Echo's face. "You can take your seat, Miss Amanda."

Amanda did so. She continued to sip on her frappe and fixed her eyes on the desktop.

"Be seeing you later." Mr. Park's whispered in her ear and Amanda could feel his warm breath on her neck. She refrained to shiver as it sends goosebumps in her spine.

Amanda waited for Mr. Park to head on to their boss's place for a talk before she blew out an intense breath.

"What the hell was that?" Amanda started to freak out inside.

Stressed out with what was going on, kumuha si Amanda mula sa bag nya ng brownies at sinabayan ito ng frappe na kanina nya pa iniinom.

Sweets have always been her comfort food ever since she was growing up. Pag may iniisip, nastress, nalulungkot and even kahit natutuwa sya, sweets has always been her safe haven.

Kaya ngayong tensyonado sya sa mga ganap sa buhay nya lately, she made sure she has enough chocolates and sweets stocked up on her mini-refrigerator inside her bedroom.

Thankfully, her day flew by fast.
She was able to survive to another manic Monday.

And finally, it's time to go home.

Apparently, before she could even step out of the company, a young man in his twenties called her up from the main door and let an umbrella cover her up and was being dragged to a car.

Amanda sighed and realized that it was her boss's car.

"Good day, Mr. Park." Amanda smiled politely but did not go inside the car. Huminto lamang sya sa bintana ng sasakyan sa likod ng driver.

"Get in here, Amanda. And it's Park. It's beyond office hours." Mr. Park said as-a-matter-of-fact.

Mr. Park patted the seat beside him gesturing Amanda to come inside.

Amanda blew the strand of hair in front of her face impatiently.

"With all due respect, Sir. I am tired and I just need to go home." Amanda couldn't help but retort in annoyance.

"That is what we are doing exactly. If. you. could. just. get. in. here. and we will be home in a matter of hours." Mr. Park emphasized each word to her as if talking to a three year old child.

Amanda was about to answer back but thankfully, she was interrupted by a phone call.

She realized it was her phone ringing inside her bag. She fished it out and answered immediately.

"Hello?" Amanda asked and looked into Mr. Park's eye from the outside of his car as she talked over the phone.

"Baklaaa! Asan ka?" Her friend's shrill voice boomed from her phone.

"Uy! Andito pa ako sa opisina. Kaw, where you at?" Amanda exclaimed excitedly ignoring Mr. Park's stare.

"On our way to you! I need some chikaaaa! Dala ko auto ko, I can see you from here." Jess, a.k.a. Jessica, said describing where she is. "May nakikita akong magarang tsekot sa harapan mo."

"Great! Nakikita na kita!" Amanda grinned triumphantly. Binelatan pa niya si Mr. Park bago umalis sa harapan nito.

"Amandaaaa!" Mr. Park bellowed from the car as Amanda walked past him.

Nagwave pa si Amanda ng pumasok sya sa passenger seat ng sasakyan nj Jess, saktong bumaba naman si Mr. Park sa kanyang sasakyan.

"Bilis beks!" Amanda ordered as she locked the car door and put on her seatbelt. "Ilayo mo ako sa lugar na ito!"

Jessica laughed and honked at her boss's car before turning to the main road.