Chapter 14: Chapter 12: Surprise Interview
It was a cool, crisp morning, the first day of December, and I was finally enjoying a break from school with my friends. The city's park was alive with the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Families strolled along, couples huddled close, and groups of friends laughed and shared stories. I was sitting on a bench, relaxing after a long, tiring semester. The only thing weighing on my mind was the news I had just received—face-to-face classes weren't happening for the second semester. Instead, we'd be stuck online until the next academic year. I had been preparing myself for in-person learning, and now, it felt like I had all this extra time I didn't know what to do with.
My friends and I had gathered here to unwind. Amara was sitting nearby, talking to Violy about a new series they'd both started, while Fiora and Selma were laughing over a meme on their phones. Anes and I exchanged looks, both of us silently grateful for the break.
Still, even as I tried to enjoy the day, part of me couldn't stop thinking about my future. With classes staying online, I needed something else to focus on. That's why I'd submitted an application to a BPO company last night. A lot of people had been talking about how flexible BPO work was, and I figured it'd be a good way to earn money while keeping up with school. But I hadn't expected anything to happen so soon.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, an unknown number flashing across it. I felt a slight flutter of nerves as I answered the call. "Hello?"
"Good morning! This is Claire from Allied Services BPO. I'm calling regarding your application for a customer service representative role. Is this a good time for a quick interview?"
My heart skipped a beat. I had just submitted my application last night, and now they were already calling me for an interview? I stood up from the bench, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety rise up in my chest.
"Uh, sure, yeah! I can do it now," I replied, walking away from the group to find a quieter spot.
I leaned against a tree, trying to calm my nerves. As Claire began asking me basic questions, my mind flashed back to the night before. I had been sitting at my desk, my laptop open in front of me. The application process had been more intense than I expected. I had to complete an online assessment with sections that tested situational judgment, typing speed, and even logical reasoning.
The worst part? My internet connection was unstable that night. I remember groaning every time the page would freeze or fail to load. "Ugh, seriously?" I muttered, refreshing the browser for what felt like the hundredth time. My patience was running thin, and with each passing minute, I felt the pressure building. I could practically hear the clock ticking in the background as I rushed to finish the assessment.
At one point, I had slammed my hand on the desk in frustration. "Come on! I don't have time for this!" I had yelled out in frustration, watching as the page finally loaded after minutes of waiting.
Despite all the interruptions, I somehow managed to submit the assessment before the deadline. I remembered sitting back in my chair, feeling mentally drained but relieved that I had at least finished. Now, fast forward to the present, and here I was, standing in the park, taking an interview call without knowing how I did on that assessment.
Claire's voice brought me back to the present. "Let's start with some basic questions about your experience and why you're interested in this role."
I cleared my throat and tried to focus. "Sure," I said, confident but cautious. I drew from my experiences during school events and volunteering, explaining how I'd worked with people and dealt with challenges in various settings.
She asked me situational questions about how I'd handle difficult customers, how I'd prioritize tasks, and what I'd do in a high-pressure environment. Each answer came out naturally. It was almost like I'd rehearsed for this moment. But there was still this nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Why hadn't they mentioned the assessment? Usually, that came first, right? Why was I doing an interview before I even got the results? It didn't add up.
After answering another question about handling an upset customer, I finally decided to address it. "Um, I just wanted to ask—I completed an assessment last night, but I haven't received any feedback about it yet. Is that part of the process, or...?"
There was a brief pause on the other end. "Yes, typically we review assessments before conducting interviews, but we've had some delays recently due to the high volume of applications. It's possible you'll receive your assessment results later today or tomorrow."
So, I might have done the assessment for nothing? I tried to push that thought away as she continued. "For now, we're proceeding with interviews based on other factors from your application."
"Other factors?" I thought to myself. What exactly were they looking at in my application if not the assessment? I didn't ask, though. Instead, I pushed through and focused on the rest of the interview.
The questions kept coming, and I kept answering. Honestly, as the interview progressed, I felt more and more confident. I had prepared for this, after all, and I knew how to navigate these scenarios.
"Great, Ethan. That wraps up my questions. We'll be in touch within the next few days regarding your application. Do you have any questions for me?"
I hesitated for a moment, thinking about all the uncertainties swirling in my head. But I decided to leave it for now. "No, I'm good. Thanks again for the opportunity."
As the call ended, I lowered the phone and let out a deep sigh. I turned to look at my friends, who had noticed me pacing around on the phone.
"Interview?" Anes asked, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
"Yeah," I said, walking back to the group. "They called me out of nowhere. Didn't even get the assessment results yet."
Amara shook her head, half-laughing. "Typical BPO. Sometimes their processes are all over the place."
"I guess. But still," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "It felt weird. They were interviewing me without even telling me if I passed the test. What if I didn't pass?"
Fiora shrugged. "Maybe you're just so good they skipped that part."
I laughed, but I was still stuck on it. Something about the whole process felt off, but maybe they really were just that busy.
"You probably nailed it, dude. Stop overthinking," Violy said with a grin.
I smiled back, trying to relax. Maybe they were right. I had done my best, and that's all I could do for now.
I shoved the phone back into my pocket, pushing away the doubts for the moment. My friends were right. It was time to enjoy the day, let go of the stress, and hope for the best.
The sun was starting to set as we wrapped up our day at the park. My mind was still buzzing from the interview earlier, but I tried to keep it tucked away for now. I didn't want to overthink it, not while we were all together. Fiora, Kaori, Selma, and I had decided to head home together, and like always, I wanted to make sure they were safe and comfortable on the commute.
"Okay, tara na," I said, signaling to the group that it was time to go. We stood up from the park bench, gathering our things. Selma fixed her bag, while Fiora brushed off some dirt from her shoes. Kaori stretched her arms, looking up at the sky with a relaxed sigh.
"Kailangan ko na talagang umuwi. My mom's been messaging me non-stop," Fiora chuckled, waving her phone in front of us.
"Sana hindi traffic," Kaori added with a groan.
"Good luck na lang," Selma teased as we walked toward the jeepney stop. "Parang rush hour na."
The street was already starting to fill with people on their way home. As we approached the line of jeepneys, I instinctively checked out the situation, my eyes scanning the seats. I wanted to make sure the girls would be comfortable, especially since public transportation could be unpredictable at this time of day. You never really know who you're going to sit next to, and I'd seen too many horror stories of bad encounters.
"Here, eto na lang tayo," I said, pointing to a jeepney that had some free space. It wasn't too packed, but there were a few people inside already. I held onto the metal bar above the entrance and let Fiora, Kaori, and Selma hop in first.
"Salamat, Ethan," Fiora said with a grin as she climbed in.
Kaori and Selma followed her inside, and I slid in last, making sure they were seated comfortably. The jeepney started to fill up as more people climbed on. I couldn't help but glance around, keeping an eye on the people seated nearby. The last thing I wanted was for my friends to feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
We sat close together, our bags resting on our laps as the jeepney started to move. The engine rumbled, and the breeze from the open windows was a welcome relief from the lingering warmth of the day.
"Wala bang joke diyan, Selma?" Kaori teased, nudging her side lightly. Selma was known for cracking jokes at the most random times.
"Wait lang, wait lang," Selma replied with a mischievous grin. "Alam niyo ba yung jeep joke na luma pero classic pa rin?"
We all turned our attention to her as she cleared her throat dramatically.
"Okay, eto na: Sabi ng jeepney driver sa pasahero, 'Miss, bayad po.' Tapos sabi ng pasahero, 'Miss ka diyan, nagbabayad na nga!'"
We all burst into laughter, even though the joke was simple. There was something about the lightheartedness of the moment that just made it funnier than it should have been.
"Selma, talaga?" Fiora said, shaking her head but smiling nonetheless.
"Old but gold," I added, chuckling as the jeepney took a sharp turn, causing us to shift a little in our seats.
As we continued the ride, the conversation naturally flowed from one topic to another. Kaori started teasing me about the interview, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
"So, Ethan, feeling confident ka na ba sa interview mo?" she asked with a playful smirk.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I guess. I mean, I answered everything as best as I could, but honestly, I'm still stuck on why they called me for an interview before I even got the assessment results."
Fiora chimed in, "Siguro talagang magaling ka lang, Ethan. Na-impress na sila agad."
"Hala, huwag niyo nga ako lokohin," I laughed, shaking my head. "We'll see what happens, pero hindi ako magpapaasa. I don't want to overthink it."
The jeepney slowed down a bit as it hit a traffic jam, and we all sat back, settling into a more comfortable position. The evening rush was starting, and I could feel the busyness of the city outside the windows. Horns blared from nearby cars, and the sounds of street vendors calling out their products filled the air.
"Grabe, antok na ako," Fiora said, leaning her head back slightly.
"Same," Selma added, stretching her arms out in front of her. "Sobrang fun 'yung day natin, pero nakakapagod din."
Kaori smiled at us. "Well, at least we got to chill out before we go back to the grind, di ba?"
I nodded in agreement. It felt good to just take a moment and relax, even though my mind kept drifting back to the phone interview earlier. Still, being with my friends helped me stay grounded.
"Maghanda kayo, baka ako yung next BPO agent niyo," I joked, breaking the quiet moment.
"Oo, ikaw na ang magsusurvive sa lahat ng irate customers," Kaori teased. "Kailangan talaga matibay ang sikmura mo doon."
The jeepney rolled on, the city passing by in a blur of lights and motion. As we neared our stop, I couldn't help but glance around one last time, just making sure everything was okay. The other passengers seemed fine—most of them were just lost in their own thoughts, scrolling through their phones or staring out the window.
Finally, the jeepney pulled up to our stop, and we all shuffled out. I helped Fiora and Selma down first, making sure they were steady as they hopped off. The street was crowded, but not overwhelming.
"Alright, guys, sabay na tayo," I said, leading the way down the sidewalk. The city was buzzing with life, but there was a certain peacefulness to it as well, especially with the cool December breeze.
We walked together for a while, still chatting and laughing about the day. It felt good to be with them, just enjoying the simple things, like a jeepney ride home after a long day of fun.
"Magpaalam na ako," Fiora finally said as we reached a corner where we usually part ways. "Thanks for today, guys. Super saya."
"Of course! Next time ulit," Selma replied, waving her hand as she started heading in the opposite direction.
"Take care, ha," I said, giving them both a nod as Kaori and I continued on our way together. She lived a little closer to me, so we often ended up walking the last few blocks side by side.
As we walked in comfortable silence, I let out a deep breath. It had been a full day—one that started with a surprising phone call and ended with the satisfaction of knowing I'd done everything I could. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the outcome, both for the BPO interview and the upcoming changes with school.
But for now, I was content to just let the day fade away, enjoying the company of my friends and the quiet streets of the city. I didn't know what the future held, but I was ready to face whatever came next.
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