It's so ironic that I started the day with a big smile on my face and ended it with the most bitter frown I ever had in my whole life.

As I read the e-mail from my Phoenix counterpart, my heart leapt in joy since she acknowledged my work that I sent her the night before. It is very seldom in my life that someone praises me like that. That already boosted me up as I worked through the day.

I was hopefully waiting for the lunchtime to be over since it would be the time to get our salary increase letters. I asked my seatmate to go with me downstairs and we both got our salary letters. However, to my dismay, I found out that my salary for the entire fiscal year will remain unchanged! OUCH, that really hurted me. After all the pains and pressures and sleepless nights I was deprived of the opportunity to be appreciated with all the work I've done for the past year. :( I just smiled at my teammates and pretended that I am semi-contented with the amount of my salary increase.

But as I was to go out of the office, I approached my manager and asked her what happened to my salary increase. She explained it to me and that really made me upset. For once again, just like last year, I was cheated by my assessor. It's another sort of powertripping and maliscious misjudgment. Why should I always be a victim of that? Ever since in elementary school I had been always cheated by people claiming to be experts in evaluating me. I just can't stand the hypocrisy of putting someone up over me and dumping so many boo-boos in my part. As my manager enumerated to me the not so few improvement points as enlisted by my assessor, I just could't help but smirk at her. Although I still managed to keep my composure and I was able to end the conversation with her with a smile.

With what happened to me that day, I firmly made my decision not to stay in the firm longer as my contract elapses 7 months from now. I'll just be counting the days!

To those people who always underestimate me... Good job! But I'm still not impressed.