continuation...

It was an ordinary Monday morning; everybody’s quite busy [I thought] from the last week’s backlog. Minutes later my co-staffs in the department started laughing and seem to be genuinely amused at something. I was about to ask what’s going on when one of them asked me if I had been reading my emails. Thinking that its just another funny, forwarded one, I immediately refreshed my mailbox.

Subject: Marlon’s new picture

This is bad, I thought. And was I shocked to see what my new picture was? It’s not actually me, but a picture of a naked girl [tits exposed!] with my face instead of hers. The email was sent by one of the staffs to almost everybody, which seems to be very busy with work that he still got time to do this.

I tried hard not to cry but I was really fuming mad! I gather all the self-control I could muster. Talk about a way to start your week! For the spirit of [foul] fun, I replied all, “I hope it did not take you EIGHT OFFICE HOURS to finish this.” The message, I thought, is quite clear, that I did not find the whole stunt funny.

I don’t know if they cannot comprehend what I meant, or they’re just plain morons because the following day, same thing happened. Only this time, with Pam Anderson’s body [wearing her red Baywatch suit] but not her face but mine.

I immediately talked to my boss about this and complained what these primitives just did. I nearly cried again, but thankfully I managed to suppress those tears. The least I could do is to be a crybaby and look indignant to their eyes.

I was never the same since. I became more aloof and irritated at them. I loathed them. What’s worse is that I felt that they were not given the right amount of punishment I expected the company would do. I cannot even count as a verbal reprimand the way they have been told that they had offended someone by doing these things. They continued on but this time with the other staffs and themselves as the subjects. It is as if they’re making a statement that I lack self-humor and I’m just overreacting.

Amidst the humiliation and discrimination, I started thinking of ways to redeem myself. The first thing that I thought was revenge. Good thing a better resolve crossed my mind that is to persistently look for a better, more professional, decent company. I had enough.

My persistence paid of. A better company offered me a job in two week’s time. I can’t wait to transfer that I agreed to report one week after the interview. The 30-day turn over period of my [soon to be ex] company became the least of my priority. I agreed to their compromise, to report once a week or after office hours to turn over and train my replacement. After all, that's the least I could do and I'm still 'professional', even though they don't deserve such. I’m really in for something bigger and better – professionally and financially.

Before the effectivity of my resignation, I had a chance to talk to the CEO. He asked me what made me quit and move in to another company. I told him that I felt that I don’t belong in the company. When he asked me why, the moment of truth had come. That’s the cue I’m waiting. I narrated to him the incidents that transpired over the month before my resignation. After which, I told him that:

“Never in my life had I felt that humiliated and discriminated. I’m proud of who and what I am. I know that I’m gay but I’m really proud of it, though sometimes I’m not very vocal about it. What’s worse is that only these people, THESE PEOPLE, has the audacity to do such things to me. when come to think of it, they’re not even a fart’s worth compared to what I know and what I had accomplished. We are both CPAs, I know you know what I feel.”

He was quite taken aback by my outpour. I know I sounded arrogant and full of myself that moment. So what? I am resigned though not technically. And besides, I’m just honestly saying what I feel. My real intention talking to him is just to let him know of these incidents. I already served my purpose. I’ve said my piece and I’m vindicated.

To you my former officemates, if you chanced upon reading this, I have a message for all of you.

To the few friends I left behind: Thanks for sticking with me all throughout, I did not intended you to be my wastebaskets during those hurtful times. Your listening ears have always been my comfort zone, and for that I’m forever grateful.

To all those who had made my life harder than it should: For all its worth, I have already forgiven you, but certainly, I won’t forget what you did either. Thanks for helping me see the overreacting, sensitive, arrogant, know-it-all Marlon. But more importantly, I thank you for making realize that there are still [too bad!] those who are WORSE than me.