She is the Man

Anika's POV

It was 4:30 P.M. The weather is fine outside as I look at the window. I am sitting in my swivel chair near the open window while looking for the proposal paper. I forgot where did I put that paper yesterday, and now I'm struggling to find where it is. Everyone is excited about the raffle name, but I am not interested in the challenge because it's too exhausted so much for me, even though this is my idea. I've searched all over the drawer and cabinet but the paper is not there. I stood up when I noticed a brown folder on my bookshelves. I grabbed it and opened it immediately. I relieved as I read the contents of the folder. I sat down and focus my attention on the proposal paper, I study which part is the wrong detail he is talking about. What I mean for him, is none other than the Mister Aiden Kyle Alcantara the President, everyone loved him because of his projects especially the online romantic game application where everybody can use it as past time. He is an arrogant, strict, tough and good looking guy, his brown eyes always made me smile every time I looked at him. I will admit that those kinds of things relieve my stress, but sometimes I was annoying in him because he is so childish when dealing with the other employees. Moving on to being Mr. Alcantara's childish, I don't think so if he is single or what? I'm not gossiping him to know him well, so I don't care even if he have girlfriend or what and that's all I know because I'm only been two months here in my job. Also he is the son of the former CEO, Mr. Kardo Alcantara. His father was super cool when it comes to big projects, and I admire him so that I work here because of his works.

"Anika the raffle name is about to start. Aren't you going?" Jayden ask and smile at me.

"Not interested Jayden, just inform me who is the unlucky girl."I replied while still concentrating on the proposal paper.

"Okay fine, I don't want to miss it. Lina wait for me!" Jayden and Lina was my senior schoolmate, they are two years older than me. They treat me as their younger sister so I'm happy to have them in to this company. They ran down the hallway into the conference room. I was left alone in the office and keep reading the whole paper of the proposal. This is the most important proposal for everyone, especially for me because this is one of my goal. After my Mom died, I was bullied by my classmates. They call me Alonika, short for 'Alone Anika' and I was hurt because they treat me like a dumb ass and idiot. All I want is love from my mother and from my classmates, also respect for me as I have never been through what happened, because the hardships are on. The pain and heartache was still fresh, but it's really hard to deal with judgmental and bully people. I want to show the world that love is not just about for two people where everybody believed on, instead about how you show to respect others and show how to express your love for your family, friends, and other people around you who are always their supporting you whatever it takes. I can't blame them for being so cruel to me, because I couldn't hold their peace, I didn't even choose to die my mother so I accepted all their pains and judgments. I just wept when I remembered all that, so I immediately wiped my tears from my cheek and continued reading.

By the way, my name is Ranika Flyn Roberts 22 years old, but you can call me Anika for short, a newly hired secretary here in Love or What? Corp. I completed the Business and Administration course, I am not like the other students before who got a high score to every exam instead a high achievements to every extra curricular which is the performance task or my skill and talent. So I receive most trophy and cash prize. I have one sister, Riana Fae is her name and my father, name Fred. As I said earlier my mom died, she died in a car accident when I was in the grade school, her car fell off the cliff. And that time, I was 7 years old while Riana, Ana for short was 9 months old. Dad was the only one who worked hard to raised me and Ana for about 13 years, but now we both work for Ana and I am the one who take care of Ana while Dad is not around. Ana is now in the middle school , she is humble like Mom, good girl like me and very smart sister like Dad, and I'm proud because she's doing great in school, but she's always asking me about Mom. And I always reminding her that our Mom are happy now in heaven. And I don't want her to experience what I've experienced before, so I stand as her mother.

"Anika, aren't you coming?" I glanced at the office door and saw Mr. Alcantara. His suit is complementary to the color of the door while leaning against the door as his arms crossed.

I noticed again his brown eyes that were staring in my direction, the reason why I couldn't keep up with what I was reading. He has a good looking but too childish, speaking of being childish. On my first day at work, I humiliated him in front of his dad. I did not mean it because I didn't know that he was the CEO's son. Then it's his fault, not mine.

"Sir sorry but I need to finish this one, and I need to revise some statement," I answered and returned my attention to the paper I was holding

"It's fine, enjoy being alone." He smirked and walk away into the hallway. I remembered that word again, but I just ask myself 'what is the meaning of that smirked?' But I ignore it and took a deep breath then continued reading.

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After a while, I hear some noise coming from the hallway. They entered one by one and glanced in my direction, I notice that they are all looking at me. Oh no, no way please not my name. I chanted in my mind while looking at them.

"We will announce the name by tomorrow, so everybody you can go home now." I was upset about what President Alcantara said.

"Anika, don't you want to go home?" I looked at Lina then pack my things. I was about to leave the office when Jayden catches my attention, he's murmuring something but I don't understand it well.

"Girl, don't be afraid if I tell you who is the unlucky you said."

"Jayden, tell me by tomorrow and for sure that person is very lucky girl."

"Wait, I thought you said that person is unlucky girl?"

"Yes, I said it before but now she is lucky."

"Why?" He ask.

"Because she got a new assignments everyday and exhausted schedule."

"Are you kidding?" He slap my right arm.

"Hey! What do you think?"

"You know what, just go home and good luck for tomorrow."

He smile and we both leave the office, Lina left with her boyfriend. And speaking of boyfriend, Kyrus is here. My boyfriend since college, waving his hands with his pretty smile. I was not his classmates before but he is always there for me, he showed the love I never expected I would find.

We've been in this relationship for five years, and he'll be mine forever. He is wearing a black shirt and skinny jeans while holding my helmet.

"So Anika, don't be late tomorrow. And Kyrus take care of my best friend." Kyrus just smile at Jayden, yes Jayden is my best friend since grade school.

"Bye Anika," Jayden said and I wave my hands after he get in his car. Kyrus put on my helmet as I stare at his eyes.

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"How's my Anika?" He ask me, as he put on his helmet too.

"Well, the proposal is still on going. Wait where is Ana?" I ask him.

"Ana was in her teacher's house. And she said she'll be late in home." My eyes widened at what he had said.

"What? Kyrus, I already told you to not allow her without my permission."

"Anika, she's 15 and she is fine there, okay? And she's not the 7 years old anymore, that you always wanted to be in your side."

"Kyrus, I'm just worried and you can't get rid of me worrying about her."

"Honey look at me." He held me by my hand.

"She's fine there okay? She is with her teacher and she's gonna be fine, don't worry I have contact with the teacher." Kyrus hugged me then, and I deeply sighed in his arms.

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The next morning, everyone are all busy. except the three ladies in front of my desk. They are just talking about the proposal, and I already revised some detail in the proposal. I added and removed some procedure of the project, and for sure Mr. Alcantara will now going to approve this proposal. I study so hard to this proposal last night, while waiting for Ana. And I research for some feedback from different individual all over the world about love. And now I added their thoughts about how to be love, I put some efforts in this new revised proposal.

"Anika Mr. Alcantara wants to talk to you." Jayden smiled at me when I stood up and walked through Mr. Alcantara's office. He murmured again but this time I understood it well. He said good luck.

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I still shocked what Mr. Alcantara said a while ago, I can't even imagine the 20 minutes standing in front of him while adopting what he said.

"Anika, I know you are the lucky one." Jayden hugged me and Lina still in processing her mind about the news, I still can't talk.

Flashback

"Ms. Roberts, me and the board of directors talked about the proposal of your team yesterday. And we decided not to do the raffle name, so there was no raffle name that happened yesterday, but we chose one person to do the challenge. All the staff and your fellow employee voted this unlucky girl you said, and 90% is the majority. So this unlucky girl is you, Ms. Roberts." My eyes widened and he smirked like what he did yesterday.

"But sir." He cut me off.

"No but Ms. Roberts, your name was already in the enrolled student list in University."

"Sir!" And again.

"Next day you can process your uniform and luggage."

"But sir."

"And by tomorrow you don't need to come here. Just enjoy your one day vacation before you enter the University. By the way here is your schedule and your dorm key, lucky you because you have your own dorm there." I still standing in front of him while my mind was still processing all what he had said.

"Ms. Roberts are you still there?!" Mr. Alcantara clapped his hands in front of my face and I'm back into the present, and he smirked again.

"I have something to do, go back to work chop chop chop!" He clapped his both hands again.

End of flashback

"So the unlucky girl is none other than Ranika Flyn Roberts." Lina slowly clap her hand through me.

"But Jayden, Lina I don't like this. What I mean I am not interested for this challenge."

"Hahaha not interested, but it's connected to our project right? And this is your idea also."

"Yes." I replied immediately.

"Then why you don't want to do it?"

"Because." I stop and think about what to answer.

"See, you don't even know the answer." I stared at Jayden and Lina.

"Anika listen, can I ask you a question?" I nod as Jayden ask.

"Who is our leader in our team?"

"Me." I answered

"Who is the secretary?"

"Me also."

"Who is in charge for the detailed paper?"

"Me."

"And lastly, who didn't go at conference room yesterday?"

"Me." I answered with wrinkled forehead.

"So?" Jayden gave me a question look.

"So?" I repeated.

"In short..." Jayden stop and look at Lina.

"In short you are the perfect one for this challenge." Lina continued what Jayden wanted to say.

"But why?" I frown at them.

"Because Mr. Alcantara wants to make you suffer." Lina said. And I pout my lips.

"Oh yes Anika"

"Please I don't want to do it." I beg the two but they just ignore me.

"Just do this challenge Anika, it can make this proposal into project, you want this and we all want this too Anika." Lina said, and it made me think.

"Don't worry, your boyfriend was there." Jayden uttered.

"Yeah right. He is the basketball coach while you are the new student." Lina annoyed me, and I frown at her.

"Will you please help me to overthink why Mr. Alcantara and the board of director chose me to do this challenge." I convince both of them but they all act like they wanted me to do this challenge.

"Anika don't overthink that thing, and we already told you why the tough guy who you humiliated in front of his father chose you to do this challenge." Jayden is right, Mr. Alacantara would do that even more because I humiliated him in front of his father, but it's not my fault anymore that he shouldn't blame me. I look at both them.

"I didn't mean it okay, and how many times do I have to tell you that I didn't mean it?" I was bit annoyed with my question.

"Okay okay, we're sorry." My eyes widen, when Lina said that.

"For what?" I ask the two but they just stared at me.

"Wait, did the two of you?" I look sharply at the two but they snob me and go back to their table.

"Hey Jayden and Lina! Did the two of you nominated me?" I look at Jayden first but he ignored me.

"Lina?" She smile at me and focus on her monitor. I sighed deeply then turn around and go back to my table, they both looking at each other while murmuring something. instead of going back in my table I went to the restroom. I wash my hands with running water in the faucet. After that I look at the mirror glass. I still can't get it, how can I disguise as a man into the University where my boyfriend works as a coach. I just told him about the proposal but not about this challenge, because it may cause some issues between our relationships, only here in Love or What? Corp. and Ana knows this challenge.

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"Anika, Kyrus called me. He said that he can't make it to go here." Ana says while watching television in the living room.

"Ana."

"Yes Anika."

"Remember the challenge?" I sit beside her and hold the little pillow.

"Yes, wait you said that they already raffle the name. Tell me who is the unlucky girl you said?"

"Ana, what if I am the one who chose to do the challenge?" I ask her and turn her attention at me.

"Wait I thought there is a raffle name?"

"Yes, but what if they chose me to do that? Is that fine with you?"

"Of course Anika, I am your number one supporter then daddy is the second one." Her eyes get smaller every time she smile.

"Are you sure? But I will not going to see you for about 4 months."

"Anika, I'm fine and I'm 15 now. All the advice you always posted in my room, in the refrigerator, in the dining table, in my door and especially in the mirror glass hahaha, all those are enough to learn. Then I might see you everyday because you are in the same school as mine. Wait don't example yourself, just tell me that you are the unlucky girl you always says." I hugged my sister but she pulled me away.

"I'm not baby anymore Anika." She pouted her lips and change the channel of the television. Kyrus was right, Ana is already grown up. Before I always hugged her without complaints, but now I just hugged her and she's already complaining at me. So this is the feeling when you take care a baby and now she's adult.

"Can I sleep to your room?" She glance at me and returned her attention in the television.

"You don't need to ask my permission, just sleep there whenever you want, okay?" She smile at me when I said that.

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"Don't you have work today?" I glanced at Ana's whereabouts, she's sitting on the sofa while the three books were as thick as the encyclopedia beside her. I just breathed a sigh of relief as I mixed my seasoned pineapple juice. As Mr. Alcantara said, I no longer came into the office but spent a day with my sister. I also can't see Kyrus today because the Blazers have practice for the upcoming intramurals.

"Anika do you think Kyrus will recognize you when you look like a man?" I didn't turn to Ana when she ask a questions, instead focusing on what I was cooking.

"I'm home!" Ana and I looked out the door when we heard a familiar voice outside the house.

"Dad!" As soon as Ana hugged dad, I just smile at the two of them.

"Anika, don't you have a work today?" I just raise my eyebrows while looking at the two and back to the kitchen.

After I cooked, we immediately eat our breakfast. Then Ana wash the dishes, while Dad was resting in his room and I was still packing up my things. I stop while packing up my things when I figure out that I don't have too much men's clothes, I only have unisex formal attire, two jersey shirt and jacket. If it wasn't for the proposal, I would never do it. But since I was the one who proposed the project and wanted the approval of Mr. Alcantara, I could do nothing but to do the challenge. Once the project approved, I will have nothing to do but update it while making Mr. Alcantara's coffee. This challenge is for Ana and for Dad and it's just four months so I can bear it.

"You don't seem to have any clothes to pack?" Looking at the door of my room, Ana stood up while smiling as you thought there were other ways to fix my little dress problem.

"Come on Anika, I can handle this." She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of the room.

"Hey Ana, where are we going?" I asked her but we just took a taxi. While she was just smiling and I didn't understand my sister at all.

Five minutes later we got off the taxi. A store stood in front of me, but I can't able to see inside because of the clothes on the outside. And most of the clothes on display are purely masculine.

"I can help you here." She pulled me into the store.

"Good morning ma'am. May I help you?" A saleslady greeted us.

"Do you have polo shirts?" Ana asked the saleslady.

"There you go, just follow me ma'am." We followed the saleslady, she just smiling as she pointed to the clothes we were looking for.

"Who's going to wear this ma'am?" Saleslady asked, but Ana and I didn't answer instead of getting a single piece on each type of clothes.

"Is that for you?" I was surprised when saleslady asked me. I did nothing but to nod.

"Try this, it's up to you if you want or not." I smiled at her and obeyed what she had said.

After a minute, I walked out of the fitting room wearing a dress that saleslady had given me.

"Wow you really can be a man. Hahaha , it fitted you and you're so beautiful."

"Ana." I raised my eyes over Ana but she just smiled.

"She's right, it fitted you ." Saleslady said and I was a little surprised at the fact that she was with my sister.

"Sorry, sometimes I don't even know why my sister always act like that." The saleslady just laughed softly.

"All right, we'll buy it." Ana said and smiled at me to paid for the clothes we bought.

"Thank you ma'am, come back next time." Saleslady smiled at us and walked out of that store.

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When we got home, Ana immediately helped me pack my things.

"So tomorrow, let's just meet at school."

"Ana thank you." I hugged her after we packed the clothes.

"What are you doing? No Anika I must thank you for all you've done, then of course I'll help you I'm your sister and remember that I'm your number one supporter. I'll take care of daddy." I held her hand and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'm going to finish my research paper, just meet me tomorrow. Okay?"

"Thanks Ana!" She's about to leave my room when I shout.

"Love you sister, good luck!" She shouted too.

I just smiled at my little sister. Then return my attention to my pre-arranged luggage. I sit down on the edge of my bed and looked at my cellphone, I received a message from Mr. Alcantara, he said that the beginning of class will be next week, but tomorrow is the opening for college students. I immediately replied and ask him some question. He was humble and responsive into my question. It's just amazing because that guy doesn't look like this when I face him. Maybe he is sleepy that's why he's very humble to his every reply. I said to myself.

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"Hey kyrus." I said on the cellphone when Kyrus picked up my call.

"Hey Honey, you were called. Any problem with your job?" Kyrus asked in the other line.

"Nothing Hon, I just missing you. By the way how's your practice coach?" I change the topic and ask him about their training.

"It's pretty fine, then by tomorrow is the opening for college students." He look so excited and I can't help but to smile for him.

"You look so excited hu?"I jokingly ask him.

"Of course Anika, my class will increase again and for sure out of 10 section I will hold 5 of them." His voice was so excited on the phone that I still smiled as he spoke.

"Good to you." As I give a greet over the phone.

""Yes thank you, I'm going to be busy again. And I won't see you again for about four months, for sure the whole day will be hectic, especially the head coach chose me to handle the play in the next match."

"Congrats." I just smile while talking to Kyrus on the cellphone, I can't help myself but just smiling even though I don't want to do this challenge, made by Mr. Alcantara.

FLASHBACK (Presenting the proposal)

"We cannot do this project without a survey, right?" I looked at Mr. Alcantara as he asked me that.

"Yes sir, but we are also making way to get survey." I answer immediately. Because his eyes were fixed on me, so I couldn't think well.

"Ms. Roberts, I just want to remind you and your team, Cupid.com gave four months to complete the project they wanted from Love or What? Corp employee. And they want to get everyone's attention, meaning thousands of people am I right?" I was just looking at Mr. Alcantara while thinking what I am going to react.

"Ye- yes sir." I stuttering.

"Where do you think you can reach thousands of people in just four months?" He raised his eyebrow at me that moment. I look at Jayden at Lina, but they were just looking back at me.

"Sir we have another way to collect surveys from thousands of people." Jayden said. Goodness that Jayden also answered, I thought I was the only one who will answer all the question and answer of Mr. Alcantara, I whisper into my mind.

"Ms. Roberts, survey with thoughts of other people. Cupid.com suggested to at least 50 people survey with thoughts and opinion for their daily life plus your team need to use your project at least for one couple. What is the project name? By the way." He ask, then drink the water beside him but still looking at me. Why does he look at me like this? I was more nervous and couldn't think better the way he looked at me, I asked my self.

''EveryLove sir." I answer.

"Sir, we can survey to crowded place. Like church, plaza, malls and even school." Lina answer. I smiled at Lina for what she said.

"Okay, to make this proposal end and to start the project. You're right Lina, in a crowded place but maybe it would be nice if I had something to do to facilitate your project." We nod at him then I see he smirk at me.

"A challenge that one of your team is going to do, it's as simple as I know you can do it, so it's a good idea for your project." His smirk still on his face, and I can't help but to stare at him.

"It's simple, one of your team will enter to a University then disguise as a man."

"Meaning sir, it's for the girls?" Jayden ask.

"Definitely Jayden. That's all, by the way don't worry we will do a raffle name next week. So girls be ready, dismiss." He got up and left immediately, but before that he smirk again at me. I was annoyed by him, he was just stressing me. What was the problem with this guy? I already said that I didn't mean to embarrass him in front of his dad. Haist so annoying.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Anika still there?"

"Sorry hon, what it is again?"

"I said thank you, hey are you okay?" He ask through cellphone.

"I'm fine Kyrus."

"Okay, don't stress your self with that proposal okay? And I know you can do it, whatever it takes remember?"

"Yeah right, thank you Kyrus." I smile while talking at him through cellphone.

"So I'll call you tomorrow, I need to go to sleep and wake up early in the morning for our morning routine. Bye Anika, I love you."

"I love ..." I cut off when he immediately turned off the call.

I just sigh as I lowered my cellphone, I just lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.

I had to leave early in the morning for tomorrow because daddy would see me, it was hard to escape from him, because he always ask many thing before he allow me or Ana.

I lay down my body in to bed and set the alarm before 7 am in the morning, but I couldn't sleep because I had a hard time figuring out what could happen tomorrow on my first day, even though the start of class is next week. I closed my eyes but within a few minutes my mind was still awake. So I just got up and sit down at my study table. I turned on the colored white study light lamp on the right side of the table, I get a pencil and a piece of paper. I was wondering what I could draw that would make me sleep. A little later, I slowly draw something in a piece of paper. I could not stop myself from continuing to draw, it is about 20 minutes until the end. When I look at the drawing. A woman facing the cloud while standing on a mountain, the clouds were visible but if someones look into it the visualization will form into many things into the clouds. The color of the lead of the pencil collide with the texture of the paper, it's a little bit an abstract and also masterpiece of mine. All my masterpiece art we're not like this, this one is unique maybe because I am carried away by my stress but it's fine, it's pretty different somehow and I like it. Even though I finished the drawing I still not sleepy, I just turn off the study light lamp and went back to bed, noticing that I had a notification on my cellphone so I open it. I just smile when I see the notification, memory from InstaPhoto where I won first place in artwork 5 years ago. Maybe if I continued my arts education my name in the art industry would include Jane Brown, Archie Bethoveen and De 'Vielle Mabasa. Popular artists from that time until today. I wanted to be like them, but because I loved my sister more, I chose to help her study. Maybe one day when Ana is done with her study, I'll take care of her and give her a all my priority. I scrolled down the screen of my cellphone and another memory 5 years ago, I won the school as a Master of Arts, I was also given the award where I met Kyrus, he was the recipient of my award.

The representative was absent, so Kyrus was the one who went up to give me the award.

I just breathed a sigh of relief as I looked at the pictures on my cellphone. Until I fall asleep.

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