Not for the first time Jane had ever felt her life more miserable and devastated. After the tragic death of her mother, suffering from last stage stomach cancer two years ago had hit their family really hard. Living with a mother having a terminal dinsease, had left her in complete failure and desolation for two years.
In fact they were very poor that they could not afford her mother's medications to relieve the pain her mother had been feeling ever since, leaving no choice but to helplessly cry in pain while looking at her mother coughing a mouthful of blood in the middle of the night.
No words comforts her .No one gives her a warm embrace. And even no one understands how she feels. But what can she do?
By these unbearable sufferings, Jane felt she was the most unlucky person in the world.
She was penniles; her father left them; and she had brother who needs her to support his studies. And now that her mother had left the world , that would put them in the cold corner, both living very poor and being called orphans.
Despite the struggles in her life, Jane was very adamant to give up. She had managed to balance her life between part time jobs and her studies, working her tail off.
With her intelligence, she had managed to support her brother's studies by tutoring a bunch of students from various rich families in Manila.
Indeed, she had really surpassed the challenges that came along her way.
After graduating college with Bachelor Degree of Secondary Education -Major in English from one of the best university in Manila, Jane took the courage to take the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers and passed it with no doubts.
What have shocked her the most, not because she underestimated her capabilities, she topped the exam with the highest rating in the country.
Not just that, she had also made a historic title of the first teacher who topped the exam with the rating of 98%, which in fact this historic title had come to the conclusion that she was born a genius.
After earning those achievements, Jane had become cunning and ambitious. If she wanted to work with school ,why would choose to work with a petty offer? That does not prove her work after all!
After so many sufferings she had, she had learned to dream big this time, hoping that this opportunity would help her get closer to her once-and-for-all dream-----to work with the famous international school in the Philippines.
But her dream, she didn't expect would come sooner than she had expected. She got a call three hours ago asking for an appointment.
It was an appointment that was agreed in a short conversation. Jane just answered the call that popped up on her phone screen and heard a female voice asking for a meet-up at exactly 5 pm at Cochie's Cafe. When she heard the name of the school, she immediately agreed to it and then ended the call.
For Jane ,who was very excited for the appointment, hurriedly went to the meeting place two hours before the meeting time; she wanted to prepare herself looking nice and professional.
And now during the appointment, she would calmly listen to the voice of the woman who was trying to convince her to work with their school.
"Ms. Nicholas, how about you work with our school? We will make sure to give you the benefits and incentives that will satisfy your position. I can guarantee that." She said in a soft voice.
She wore sunglasses and a formal attire that gave an aura of a secretary. She was very articulate in her words. Based from her looks, she must be in her thirties. Jane could even tell that the way of her talking sounded professional and promising.
Jane was in a deep thought for a short moment, that she waited for a few seconds to get to serious expression and landed a smile on her, trying the hide the trace of the absent-minded on her face.
Jabe cleared her throat, lowered her head and began maintaining a good posture in her new suit.
"A-hemm, excuse me. What's your name again?" She asked faintly , a sour look of embarrassment was visible on her face.
The secretary just gave a slight smile ,and replied," I am Glenda De Leon. I am a secretary from Grandeur Family Group."
"Ms. Glenda, I don't have a problem with the benefits nor incentives.The problem is..." ."A-hem, the problem is...is the..."
Jane was hesitant to complete her sentence. She paused for a moment and cleared her throat again.
She wanted some adjustments in the contract but seemed to be she was afraid to utter words, thinking that it would misunderstand her and be put in an awkward situation. But whenever she was about to say her thoughts but can't bring it up frankly.
Meanwhile, across the table, she could see the secretary widening her eyes ,waiting to complete her sentence.
Seeing Jane hesitant to spill the words, she interrupted and explained smilingly,
"If you have something to point out in the contract we could have just adjust it under your conditions."
As soon as the secretary said the thing that she wants to say, Jane just gave a faint smile, feeling guilty being caught. She didn't expect the secretary would read her mind in a few seconds.
"If we could see that your conditions are feasible, why adjusted to the benefits of both parties, so please speak your conditions comfortably."
Jane was relieved by her words. She came back to a serious expression and stated her concern on the contract confidently,
"Alright, it stipulated in the contract that the monthly salary is $5,000 I think it was smaller than the other school had offered for me."
For Jane opinion, the school was too good for her in all aspect and in fact, it was her biggest dream to work with them, but she was slightly disappointed that the salary was smaller compared to the other schools.
If they could at least make a bit of adjustments, she would be probably glad to accept it with no strings attached. But for Jane, in this matter, she needed it to work it out.
Once again, the secretary smiled slightly and nodded her head. Her facial expression was unreadable.
She let Jane continue talking.
"How about raising my monthly salary a little bit higher so that i would be satisfied," she negotiated as she wore her self-assured expression.
"The school earns a lot of money than teacher does;Hence we are just your employee after all. With my skills, Grandeur International School will earn a lot more and that's a thing will happen for sure."She bragged incessantly.
Secret cunning words made the secretary to contemplate for a few seconds,and immediately changed the color of her expression. She seemed to be flexible in urgent situation.
Secretary De Leon just gently clasped her hands above the table and leaned forward.
"If that's your concern, I think we could work for that. But I am afraid we will need two days to work it out."
Jane was clearly listening to her in the opposite table while folding her arms.
"We just need it to inform it to the school regarding with your condition. If school agrees with it, we will call you as soon as possible. And probably you can immediately go to work the next day after signing the contract ."
The last sentence had rung her mind.she was lit up by the sudden arrangement of the work.
Work the next day after signing the contract?
Jane could not control the excitement in her eyes.
Thinking about earning a lot of money, She couldn't hardly believe it-----her problems would come to an end.
But one piece of question appeared to her mind out of the blue; what if the school will not agree to her little favor, that would waste her time achieve her once-for-all opportunity to work with the famous international school in the country, thinking this appointment was her last resort.
Looking back from her past, remembering the effort and hardwork she had spent for half of her life, she would try to calm herself down and behaved naturally as if she was pointing out something important for assurance.
Jane put her thoughts away. Her face turned serious as she asked the secretary,just in case, there was a possible disapproval.
"What if the school doesn't agree with my little condition, could i still stick to previous contract when the latter is rejected?" She asked earnestly, her face was full of worries.
Secretary De Leon replied smilingly to her as if she had already known she would ask her a question. The tone of her voice had brought Jane to comfort.
"Of course Ms. Nicholas, with your credentials I don't think the school will not allow it. Besides, our chairman likes you. He clearly says that you have natural talent in your profession. Let us say you have made a great impression on him and that is his business instinct."
Despite the embarrassment on her face, because she was flattered by her captivating words; she just nodded her head in satisfaction.
"Well, i don't have objections with it." At last, her worries had faded away.
Jane didn't raise questions. Her ultimate goal of working with the famous international school in the country was still dangling in her head.
A hundred percent probability of getting the job was enough for her to breathe in relief and in an unexplained comfort.
She felt as if the rock that had been in her heart all her life, had been lifted off her chest by this promising opportunity. However, there must have been a mixed of emotion of happiness, anxiety and feeling of not believing of what was going on at the moment.
On the other hand, while the conversation was consuming too much time, Secretary De Leon remembered that she had a lot of work left in her job at the company.
Jane had forgotten that the Grandeur International School was owned by the Grand Family of Davis.
Davis family,on the other hand, had managed successful businesses in the country and in Southeastern countries which include hotels, malls, hospitals, schools and real estate businesses-becoming one of the largest conglomerate in the country. By these achievements, their family name has become notable in the business world.
Before Secretary De Leon told Jane she had something to do in the company, she got to her feet and offered a handshake. Shen then left a good-bye to her with glad expression and scurried off with the company car.
Still sitting down near the glass panel, Jane fixed her eyes on the moving car until its shadow was beyond her reach. She then looked at her wristwatch and noticed that it was already half past seven.
Remembered, she could tell how tough the Secretary's was, as she knew how Secretary De Leon hurriedly left the cafe in haste.
She must have been exhausted .She thought.
In a few seconds later, she was startled by the sound of her phone ringing, that she instinctively tapped her right hand at the left side of her chest. She took her cellphone from her bag and saw it was her brother calling.
She answered the call,stood up and walked out of the cafe in quick steps.
Her brother's name was Chad Nicholas and he was a medical student on his third year.
Like Jane, he had managed to study medicine thanks to the scholarship he got from the university. Since studying medicine was a profession which needs a lot of concentration, he didn't have time to work part-time jobs.
Jane could understand the situation,so she offered her helping hand to her brother by paying his school expenses, which was not covered by the scholarship.
In the opposite line, a deep voice of a young man resonating with his tone seemed to be full of worries.
"Where are you now, Miss Nicholas?" Asked the young man in the opposite line.
Chad called his sister 'Miss Nicholas' instead of her name when he wanted to tease her. Jane got used to it since her brother always teased her by this name before, after he learned that his sister had been dreaming to become a teacher.
Just then, Jane just heaved a sigh before she replied,
"I am at the pedestrian crossing near Cochie's Cafe. Don't bother fetching me up. I will be home later."
Knowing Jane could predict what he was about to say, he immediately diverted the question and asked with another question instead,
"Alright. Alright. I got it.By the way, how's the appointment? Is everything good so far?"he inquired.
"Well, I think it's going well. I did a bit of adjustment in the contract so I need at least two days to reach their decision ." She replied with her eyes sparkling with positive anticipation.
Chad was very glad for her sister's happiness since he had known how much her sister dreamed to work with this school. For all these years of struggles, even he couldn't help her with many aspects, he just wanted her to give his all support for her own happiness. Although he felt guilty for the sacrifices his sister had given for her, he wasn't scared to show his affection towards her as her younger brother.
And now, that she was almost close to her dream, Chad could not conceal his admiration to her sister's determination to fight to the end.
"Whoah, the school must be good. They personally contacted you and even arranged an appointment for you.They must be treating you like a business partner, huh?" Chad teased her sister.
Jane just smiled as she heard her brother speaking, cleared her throat before she bragged,
"Of course, they should treat me very well since they knew i am gem. There were so many schools who wanted to work with me but i rejected them right on the spot." She giggled as she flattered herself.
"Alright,there you are again, with your arrogance. Can you stop it?hahaha!" He responded jokingly and then cleared his throat again.
Instead of returning words, Jane just smiled widely. But as soon as she was about to respond to him, she was interrupted by Shad's second attempt,
"Are you sure you don't want me to fetch you up?"
"I said don't bother. You can rest assured. No more room for your third time.okay. Go and cook your dinner .I'll be there soon."
Jane ended the call after she finished her sentence. She understood why her brother was so overprotective for her but she didn't want to bother him since she knew his brother was on his third year in the medical field.
Talking about dinner, a sudden sound of grumble was heard from her stomach. Jane remembered that she had eaten little when she was at Cochie's Cafe since she was too focused on contract conditions.
She murmured under her breath that she has to go home after she saw the time from her wristwatch.
Meanwhile, why she was walking a few steps to grab a taxi cab when she was disturbed by the shout behind her back. Jane could tell it was a voice of a man.
She instinctively turned around to know who it was, but to her surprise, she was approached by a man who was staggering towards her.The man abruptly clumped his right hand on one of her shoulder to control his balance. Jane could smell the alcohol wafting around.
Flabbergasted, she then pushed him away from her,with a sour face of disinclination.
*Slap*
