SNUB BOUNDARIES
“Why pursue changing the world if you can’t even change yourself?” I asked.
“If the world will change, I will cope with those changes and be someone else.” Rain answered.
That part of the conversation still echoed in my mind. I cannot get over it. I cannot believe how the Magna Cum Laude of Ateneo de Manila University Batch 2008 of Bachelor of Science major in Advertising Management can reason out things like that to me, the Magna Cum Laude of the one of the most prestigious schools in the country, De La Salle University – Manila for the same course, and look at me as if I am such a sore loser. I really can’t believe why Ateneo give that title to that arrogant and stunning man who only likes flirting with our other officemates and passing his errands to his secretary. I really can’t believe that he is my partner for our ad project about rapid change in the society. I really cannot believe it! I don’t know what God’s plans are but I really despised His plan me having an office next to him and being his partner for the rest of the year. I don’t know if this is karma about what I did when I was in college, bullying one of my block mates, but this is too much! Why on earth am I near him again? I swore to myself that I will never go near him for he caused me too much pain.
As I retreated to my office because I know that I will not win that conversation, I remembered the past, our past that broke my young heart. I used to call that bigheaded guy “Rain” because he calls me “Sunshine”. I blush whenever he calls me that because I had a huge crush on him. He has a rigid muscular body, short brown hair, piercing brown eyes, manly eyebrows and eyelashes, pointed nose, heart-shaped pinkish lips, soft hands and stands 5’8”. He looks like Brad Pitt, only that he has brown eyes. He is very charismatic. I always imagine him to be my husband because I believe that he is soul mate. I know that we are perfect for each other. I have short bob black hair, dark brown eyes, soft thin lips, slim body, pointed nose, soft hands, and stands 5’5”. He always tells me that I am sweet and unique because of my view in life. He knows that my dream of becoming the best advertising manager in the country is because I want to change the Filipinos.
His looks and personality make many of the girls and gays in our neighborhood want to take advantage of him. Instead of flirting with them when he is playing basketball or walking around the park with me, he just smiles and them and says that he will talk to them after his game. We are neighbors in Forbes Quezon City and I always like going to their house and play with his dog, Krein. We are classmates from pre-school to high school and I love sitting next to him in the school bus. He is my superhero until he did that nasty prank on me when we were in the ninth grade. It was our recess time and I had to go to the library because I had to do my homework for Literacy. When it was already time, I went back to our room and put my notebook on my desk. When I opened my bag, I saw a slimy snake crawling on my things. I freaked out, yelled “SNAKE” and disturbed the whole class. My numeracy teacher got so mad at me for the commotion and asked me to go to the discipline’s office and tell him what I did. As I walked my way to the door, that mean Rain tripped me that made me fell flat on the floor. I stood up, raised my face then walked in the corridor. I told myself that I will not cry because I am a brave girl. As soon as I entered the discipline’s office, I explained to the officer in charge that there was a snake in my bag. He asked me where did I get and I answered that I don’t know. He did not believe me and he sent me to the detention. I was so humiliated and furious about that especially when one of my good friends told me that he was the one who put that snake inside my bag. Rain put a snake inside my bag! He knows how much I despise snakes! I cried and cried to my mom because I thought that he is my superhero but I was wrong. He was the villain in my life. He is the antagonist that made my life miserable.
After what happened, I told my parents that I want to go to a different college because I want to have a better life without him. I want to forget my feelings for him and all the pain that he had caused me. My parents disagree at first but because I threatened them that I will not go to school, they allowed me to study at DLSU. I had a happy college life. No bullies. No pranksters. No mean and rude neighbor. No Kevin Brian Hernandez in sight. But sometimes, I feel that something is missing and I cannot tell what it is.
After graduation, I immediately look for a job. I do not want to rely on my family’s connections because I want to experience being independent. I believe that to be able to learn something, I have to experience it. All my life, I have been sheltered by my parents so I want to face the corporate world all by myself. I crave for freedom. I want to exercise my self-sufficiency and share all the things that I learned so I can help my fellow Filipinos to improve their lifestyle. Furthermore, I do not want to be one of the jobless Filipinos who keep on blaming the government for less job openings and poor economical status in the society. They are pathetic. How on earth will they have jobs if all they do the whole day is lie around and watch noontime shows and hoping that they will be able to join the contests and won some prize money? I hate to say this but some Filipinos are really lazy. We are born skilled workers. We are competent people but indolence hinders them to do things, look for jobs and use our skills to be successful in life. If only all the Filipinos are industrious, Philippines will be richer than Hong Kong or even Japan. Filipinos are very competent. I am very proud to say that because I am a very competent person. I always want to be on top because I believe that I deserve that. I have good grades since pre-school. My parents have high expectations from their only daughter so I always do my best. At first, I was not used to it but my mommy always tells me that it will lead me to a grander life.
At a young age, I know what my dream is-- to be the best among the best advertising manager in the country. I love commercials more than television programs. They stimulate my mind to analyze if the products are worth the price and useful. I want to make an ad that will make the Filipinos change themselves before changing the world. That’s why I decided to apply to Advertise and Rise Corporation. It is the most prestigious advertising company in the country. It has produced many great advertisements and commercials that really clicked. It made all the products very saleable and the models/endorsers famous which made all the producers, businessman and even politicians ask the company to make them an advertisement. I am very determined to get a job from that company and be its boss in the future. After a lot of interviews and screenings, I got a job. I was really surprised and excited for my first day in my first job.
On my first day, I dressed like a yuppie. Of course, I want to impress my officemates. I went straight ahead to my floor and look for Mr. H or Mr. Hernandez. At first, I thought of Rain, but I immediately erased it in my mind because as far as I can remember, his family migrated to New Zealand for good because of financial problems. I imagined Mr. H as an old man who wears a hearing aid and uses a cane to support his legs. I giggled as I enter his office. It is an elegant office. It is like what you see in a fashion magazine for houses. Its interior is very unique but one can easily notice that it is the main office because of the products that are carefully displayed on the right side of the office. Before I say “Awesome”, I immediately compose myself and greet Mr. H who is facing the huge window.
“Captivated by my office and you lost your tongue?” said Mr. H while facing the huge window.
I blushed. But I immediately composed myself and answer “No sir. Good Morning Mr. H”
“Good Morning. Sit down”, he answered without turning his back. “What is your name?” he asked after a long pause
“I am Alejandra Arineya P. Mercado”
“Your name is too long.”
“You can call me Ayie.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m turning 20”
“Where did you graduate?”
“De La Salle University-Manila”
“Ahh. The rival of my school”
“He is from the blue side” I said to myself
“Why are you here?”
“I am here because I want to show the world my creativity and uniqueness in encouraging people to change lives”
“Are you a militant?”
“No sir. I have just vision in life that I must promote self-change because of my observations in the current situation in this country”
“Oh, are you Mother Earth?”
“Again, Sir?”
“Nothing. I said, you’re still pretty my lovely sunshine”
I froze. Did he really call me Sunshine? Is my boss the guy from my past? “Kevin Brian Hernandez??”
“Bingo!” he answered as he turns his back. His smile is still enchanting.
“Why on earth are you here?” I retorted.
“Why on earth am I here? It is simply because I am your boss, sweetie. Welcome to Advertise and Rise, your only way to good fortune. Aren’t you happy that we’re together again?”
“Happy? Are you kidding me? Come on. Give me a break. Don’t start with me. I had enough of your foolishness. Where is the real Mr. H?”
“Well, he is right in front of you.”
“Oh my goodness.”
“Why? Let me make it up to you.”
“Make up? I will never forget what you did to me. You messed my last year in high school”
“I know. I am really sorry. If you only knew what is the real reason behind it.”
“Let’s stop this nonsense conversation.”
“But Sunshine.”
“What do you want me to do Mr. H?”
“Sunshine, please”
“My name is Ayie, sir.”
“Oh. Alright then. Go to the Marketing Department and get the new products”
“Okay sir. But where is the Marketing Department?”
“I don’t know. I did not eat it”
“Thank you Sir”
After leaving the office, I immediately went to the ladies’ room and shout my heart out. I thought that I will be away from him from the rest of my life since we studied college at different schools and his family migrated to New Zealand. But look how destiny works! We are on the same company. He’s my boss and I am his employee. Oh no. God save me.
“Why pursue changing the world if you can’t even change yourself?” I asked.
“If the world will change, I will cope with those changes and be someone else.” Rain answered.
That part of the conversation still echoed in my mind. I cannot get over it. I cannot believe how the Magna Cum Laude of Ateneo de Manila University Batch 2008 of Bachelor of Science major in Advertising Management can reason out things like that to me, the Magna Cum Laude of the one of the most prestigious schools in the country, De La Salle University – Manila for the same course, and look at me as if I am such a sore loser. I really can’t believe why Ateneo give that title to that arrogant and stunning man who only likes flirting with our other officemates and passing his errands to his secretary. I really can’t believe that he is my partner for our ad project about rapid change in the society. I really cannot believe it! I don’t know what God’s plans are but I really despised His plan me having an office next to him and being his partner for the rest of the year. I don’t know if this is karma about what I did when I was in college, bullying one of my block mates, but this is too much! Why on earth am I near him again? I swore to myself that I will never go near him for he caused me too much pain.
As I retreated to my office because I know that I will not win that conversation, I remembered the past, our past that broke my young heart. I used to call that bigheaded guy “Rain” because he calls me “Sunshine”. I blush whenever he calls me that because I had a huge crush on him. He has a rigid muscular body, short brown hair, piercing brown eyes, manly eyebrows and eyelashes, pointed nose, heart-shaped pinkish lips, soft hands and stands 5’8”. He looks like Brad Pitt, only that he has brown eyes. He is very charismatic. I always imagine him to be my husband because I believe that he is soul mate. I know that we are perfect for each other. I have short bob black hair, dark brown eyes, soft thin lips, slim body, pointed nose, soft hands, and stands 5’5”. He always tells me that I am sweet and unique because of my view in life. He knows that my dream of becoming the best advertising manager in the country is because I want to change the Filipinos.
His looks and personality make many of the girls and gays in our neighborhood want to take advantage of him. Instead of flirting with them when he is playing basketball or walking around the park with me, he just smiles and them and says that he will talk to them after his game. We are neighbors in Forbes Quezon City and I always like going to their house and play with his dog, Krein. We are classmates from pre-school to high school and I love sitting next to him in the school bus. He is my superhero until he did that nasty prank on me when we were in the ninth grade. It was our recess time and I had to go to the library because I had to do my homework for Literacy. When it was already time, I went back to our room and put my notebook on my desk. When I opened my bag, I saw a slimy snake crawling on my things. I freaked out, yelled “SNAKE” and disturbed the whole class. My numeracy teacher got so mad at me for the commotion and asked me to go to the discipline’s office and tell him what I did. As I walked my way to the door, that mean Rain tripped me that made me fell flat on the floor. I stood up, raised my face then walked in the corridor. I told myself that I will not cry because I am a brave girl. As soon as I entered the discipline’s office, I explained to the officer in charge that there was a snake in my bag. He asked me where did I get and I answered that I don’t know. He did not believe me and he sent me to the detention. I was so humiliated and furious about that especially when one of my good friends told me that he was the one who put that snake inside my bag. Rain put a snake inside my bag! He knows how much I despise snakes! I cried and cried to my mom because I thought that he is my superhero but I was wrong. He was the villain in my life. He is the antagonist that made my life miserable.
After what happened, I told my parents that I want to go to a different college because I want to have a better life without him. I want to forget my feelings for him and all the pain that he had caused me. My parents disagree at first but because I threatened them that I will not go to school, they allowed me to study at DLSU. I had a happy college life. No bullies. No pranksters. No mean and rude neighbor. No Kevin Brian Hernandez in sight. But sometimes, I feel that something is missing and I cannot tell what it is.
After graduation, I immediately look for a job. I do not want to rely on my family’s connections because I want to experience being independent. I believe that to be able to learn something, I have to experience it. All my life, I have been sheltered by my parents so I want to face the corporate world all by myself. I crave for freedom. I want to exercise my self-sufficiency and share all the things that I learned so I can help my fellow Filipinos to improve their lifestyle. Furthermore, I do not want to be one of the jobless Filipinos who keep on blaming the government for less job openings and poor economical status in the society. They are pathetic. How on earth will they have jobs if all they do the whole day is lie around and watch noontime shows and hoping that they will be able to join the contests and won some prize money? I hate to say this but some Filipinos are really lazy. We are born skilled workers. We are competent people but indolence hinders them to do things, look for jobs and use our skills to be successful in life. If only all the Filipinos are industrious, Philippines will be richer than Hong Kong or even Japan. Filipinos are very competent. I am very proud to say that because I am a very competent person. I always want to be on top because I believe that I deserve that. I have good grades since pre-school. My parents have high expectations from their only daughter so I always do my best. At first, I was not used to it but my mommy always tells me that it will lead me to a grander life.
At a young age, I know what my dream is-- to be the best among the best advertising manager in the country. I love commercials more than television programs. They stimulate my mind to analyze if the products are worth the price and useful. I want to make an ad that will make the Filipinos change themselves before changing the world. That’s why I decided to apply to Advertise and Rise Corporation. It is the most prestigious advertising company in the country. It has produced many great advertisements and commercials that really clicked. It made all the products very saleable and the models/endorsers famous which made all the producers, businessman and even politicians ask the company to make them an advertisement. I am very determined to get a job from that company and be its boss in the future. After a lot of interviews and screenings, I got a job. I was really surprised and excited for my first day in my first job.
On my first day, I dressed like a yuppie. Of course, I want to impress my officemates. I went straight ahead to my floor and look for Mr. H or Mr. Hernandez. At first, I thought of Rain, but I immediately erased it in my mind because as far as I can remember, his family migrated to New Zealand for good because of financial problems. I imagined Mr. H as an old man who wears a hearing aid and uses a cane to support his legs. I giggled as I enter his office. It is an elegant office. It is like what you see in a fashion magazine for houses. Its interior is very unique but one can easily notice that it is the main office because of the products that are carefully displayed on the right side of the office. Before I say “Awesome”, I immediately compose myself and greet Mr. H who is facing the huge window.
“Captivated by my office and you lost your tongue?” said Mr. H while facing the huge window.
I blushed. But I immediately composed myself and answer “No sir. Good Morning Mr. H”
“Good Morning. Sit down”, he answered without turning his back. “What is your name?” he asked after a long pause
“I am Alejandra Arineya P. Mercado”
“Your name is too long.”
“You can call me Ayie.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m turning 20”
“Where did you graduate?”
“De La Salle University-Manila”
“Ahh. The rival of my school”
“He is from the blue side” I said to myself
“Why are you here?”
“I am here because I want to show the world my creativity and uniqueness in encouraging people to change lives”
“Are you a militant?”
“No sir. I have just vision in life that I must promote self-change because of my observations in the current situation in this country”
“Oh, are you Mother Earth?”
“Again, Sir?”
“Nothing. I said, you’re still pretty my lovely sunshine”
I froze. Did he really call me Sunshine? Is my boss the guy from my past? “Kevin Brian Hernandez??”
“Bingo!” he answered as he turns his back. His smile is still enchanting.
“Why on earth are you here?” I retorted.
“Why on earth am I here? It is simply because I am your boss, sweetie. Welcome to Advertise and Rise, your only way to good fortune. Aren’t you happy that we’re together again?”
“Happy? Are you kidding me? Come on. Give me a break. Don’t start with me. I had enough of your foolishness. Where is the real Mr. H?”
“Well, he is right in front of you.”
“Oh my goodness.”
“Why? Let me make it up to you.”
“Make up? I will never forget what you did to me. You messed my last year in high school”
“I know. I am really sorry. If you only knew what is the real reason behind it.”
“Let’s stop this nonsense conversation.”
“But Sunshine.”
“What do you want me to do Mr. H?”
“Sunshine, please”
“My name is Ayie, sir.”
“Oh. Alright then. Go to the Marketing Department and get the new products”
“Okay sir. But where is the Marketing Department?”
“I don’t know. I did not eat it”
“Thank you Sir”
After leaving the office, I immediately went to the ladies’ room and shout my heart out. I thought that I will be away from him from the rest of my life since we studied college at different schools and his family migrated to New Zealand. But look how destiny works! We are on the same company. He’s my boss and I am his employee. Oh no. God save me.
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