Decided to give the girl a chance. She sounded polite over the phone which she actually is in all fairness. So, we scheduled for a delivery the next day.
Jen and Joana came the next day. While the three of us were talking, I noticed how Joana wouldn’t look at me while answering my questions. Her eyes were wandering. She kept on folding a paper, the contract we both signed. I was bothered, I asked her point blank why she can’t look at me while talking and why she keeps on folding the paper. She said, “wala po”. I asked, “nahihiya ka lang ba o kinakabahan kaya ka ganyan?” She said, “hindi po.” So, I told Jen, who was right infront of us, “Jen, bakit siya ganyan? Parang nagdadalawang isisp na yata akong iwanan mo siya.” Jen instructed Joana to look at me when answering and to keep the paper in her pocket. Sumunod naman but I was bothered, still, and told Jen about it to which she said, “Ganyan din po yan nung una sa agency, akala nga naming may ano…(smiling) pero okay naman po. Naninibago lang po siguro.” I then said, “Wala ka na bang iba?” Jen said, “Ngayon po wala pero bukas po may dadating, yung 5 po na sinabi ko from the province.” I said, :sure nab a this time?” to which she replied, “Sure na po. Tita kop o yung kukuha”. At the end, I said, “Okay, I will try her. Just in case na hindi ko magustuhan, I’ll get a replacement ha sa mga dadating bukas.” This was my biggest mistake.
That night, I was ofcourse observing her. I was eavesdropping at the conversation they were having at the back. Noel, our driver, was asking Joana what province she was from. Joana, wasn’t answering. My yaya and labandera asked, no answer still. Naku, ayan kinabahan na ako. Tried calling Valle Verde Pro, line was busy. Up until I was about to sleep, I was dialing their number. Busy.
The next morning as soon as I woke up, Sophia’s yaya said, “Mam, parang may …. yang si Joana.” Kagabi po tumatawa at kumakanta mag-isa.” “Nakakatakot.” Instantly, I called Jen, told her of the incident and my observation. I said, I didn’t want to judge because it could be that the girl is just misunderstood but even if she’s sane, I still want a replacement because I’m not comfortable with her. I was confident that they have a replacement because of the 5 recruits Jen had been telling me from the beginning. But before we go into that here’s how my conversation with Jen went…
Me: Jen, I want her replaced nalang. Sabin g maid ko she was singing ang laughing all at once last night on her own.
Jen: Sabi ko na nga ba eh. Dito palng napansin ko na yan. Mam, I’m sorry po. Nahihiya po ako sa inyo.
Me: Alam niyo na palang ganito ito tapos ibinigay niyo pa sa kin. Anong klase naming agency kayo?
Jen: Sorry Mam, sinunod ko lang po kase sabi ng Boss ko.
Me: Sino ba ang boos mo? Kausapin ko.
The Boss was Ria. The owner’s daughter. Told her about the situation and she said, she didn’t know anything at all. She said she didn’t notice anything. I told her I need a replacement asap since I’m not comfortable having Joana in my house. She said they’ll get back to me asap. They will call me as soon as someone is available. I believed them again.
A day and a half passed, no call from them. I was pissed and called them to say that I’ll just get a refund. They said, I’m only entitled to a 75% refund, I said I don’t care. Okay lang as long as they get Joana out of my house asap. Jen said, she’ll tell ria about it and she’ll call me. She did call but only to tell me they have a replacement for Joana already. Hmmm… they can call me naman pala when they want to. So, okay, the replacement this time has a referral. Called the previous employer and okay naman the infos I got. Called Valle Verde pro again and talked to the applicant, Glenda. Apparently, Glenda’s asking price was way higher than Joana’s salary. Result is, I didn’t get her. Told jen wasn’t willing to pay that price so I’m decided on just really getting a refund. She passed the phone to Ria, and I clearly said, “Ria, I’ll just get a refund.” She said “okay.” We agreed that someone will come over to the house the next morning to pick up Joana and give me my refund.
Later that evening, I had a missed call on my cellphone. It was from them (valle verde pro) so I called them. Jen said, the applicant, Glenda agreed to the price I was supposed to give Joanna. But I was decided, I wasn’t going to get her already. Period. Jen passed the phone to Ria and she said, “Mam, okay na daw po siya sa price niyo basta sabi lang niya sana naman daw kapag nakita niyo na maayos ang gawa niya taasan niyo na.” I was pissed. It pissed me that they talk someone into accepting an offer just so I won’t end up getting a refund. Yun ang dating sa kin. At unahan pa ba ko sa increase?!? So, I firmly said, “No, I’m just getting a refund. I don’t like forcing someone to work for me for a certain price that she clearly is not happy about.” Ria was speechless for a moment but finally said “Okay.” Eto na, before putting the phone down, I clearly asked her when they are giving me my refund and pick up Joana coz I want her out immediately. She clearly said, “Tomorrow morning Mam’ to which I replied, “Call me if they are on the way already. Sura yan ha. First thing in the morning tomorrow.” She said, “yes.”
Finally. Or so I thought.
This morning, it was 9am and I didn’t get a call from them yet. I called, looked for Ria. Jen said ria was in the bathroom and they will call me immediately as soon as she comes out. I asked her if someone was on the way already. She blurted, “usap muna daw po kayo ni Ria.” I said, “What?!?!?!?!?!? Ano naman pag-usapan namin? We talked last night already.” Jen exclaimed, “di ko alam. Basta usap muna daw kayo.” So, no point arguing with someone who has no authority over the matter. I gave up. I told her I’ll be wating for their call and she said they will. I believed again! An hour passed, no call. I called and looked for Ria, asked her what’s wrong and why are they not calling me as they promised. She said the check is not ready yet and the owner is not around to sign it. I said, “you didn’t say a thing about a check last night. You should have atleast told me about it and have the decency to call me today and inform me. You’re keeping me waiting for nothing. This time I was really pissed coz as I said, they promised to call me as soon as this girl gets out of the bathroom! She started talking back sarcastically, saying “anong magagawa ko di pa tapos ang cheke… “ But that is not even my point! My point is, they should have told me about it. They shouldn’t have promised to pick up Joana and give me my refund on days they were’nt really meaning to do it. They should have called me each time they said they would. And after all this, this girl Ria pa ang nagmamasungit?!?! She went on saying, “kaya walang nakakatagal sa inyo kase ganyan kayo wag kayo mag-alala makukuha niyo refund niyo, to which I blurted “ang kapal ng mukha mo to say that. You don’t know me. The refund is just secondary.” Her last statement was ako daw ang makapal ang mukha and then she hung up. O diba? The nerve!
I called again, fuming mad of course. A different girl answered this time. A certain Beng, who I hope is sane enough to keep her word. I was fuming mad telling her of what had transpired between Jen, Ria and me. She couldn’t believe what I was saying. I told her, why would I make up stories naman for petes sake! She scolded Jen right there and then (ewan ko lang if totoo!) and she said my concerns were valid. She said, she is the accountant and if only she knew about what was going on, it wouldn’t have reached this far daw. Oh well! She told me she understands where I’m coming from and blah blah…. I don’t know if she’s sincere though because I’ve been badly burnt believing their lies. So until today, Joana is still with us. They promised to pick her up tomorrow and give me my refund. We’ll see.
You see, my point is, call me when you say you will. Inform me. Tell the truth. Don’t make promises you are not intending to keep. Business is business but naman! Think of other’s welfare din. Wag naman puro pera. It’s just irritating that when I haven’t paid for the office fee yet, they were so prompt in calling me and returning my calls. Now that I’m all for my refund, they can’t even give me a single damn call. That is all I wanted. If they called me and said that they wouldn’t be able to pick Joana up pa and give my refund until —, okay lang may magagawa pa ba ako? At least I know. At least I was informed.
I have nothing against Joana. I’m just not comfortable with her around the house. We find her creepy but we are not in any way showing it to her. We treat her well here. We just don’t kid her. She’s not into joking around. That, we can surely tell.
Hope we push through as WE agreed not get pregnant unless we get to visit the land-down-under 
Good thing, Sophia’s old yaya, Yaya Lyn, who is coming back this April is around–within our area and could be asked for help anytime. She has been babysitting Sophia for two days now. 
