Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 5: Battles within

EXACTLY A MONTH after my first day, it seemed like everything was going according to my plan, except for that one pest labeled as our principal investigator in the market research unit and also my immediate supervisor, Koa.

"Kumusta namang boss yung nasa unit niyo?" Tita Ressa, the secretary at the marketing department, showed curiosity towards my work. Bata pa lang ako ay nagtatrabaho na siya para kay Dad kaya naman palagay ang loob kong makakwentuhan siya. Sa totoo lang, natuwa nga ako nang makita siya at magkamustahan kami.

I hummed, indicating uncertainty. "Medyo mahangin lang sa office kapag pumapasok siya." I chuckled. "Hindi ko gusto ang hilatsa ng mukha," dagdag ko pa.

"Naku. Balita ko naman ay gwapo ang batang 'yon?" she opposed me, "Syempre, boss mo pa rin 'yon, dapat kahit sinong makakasalamuha mo rito ay pakikisamahan mo pero may limitasyon ang pakikipag-kapwa tao sa kanila. Basta sabay ka lang pero huwag kang papaapi o papasakop," and gave me a lecture.

I couldn't object on what Tita Ressa. She had a point, except noong sinabi niyang gwapo ang ex-boyfriend ko. Well, I just smiled at them before asking permission to leave. It was after lunch, puro routing ang ginawa ko. Sa trabaho na ito lumalabas ang pagiging time conscious ko lalo. Most of the higher ups were only available in the morning. Kaya tuwing umaga ako nag-iikot at sa hapon ko ginagawa ang mga trabahong nasa office lang ako, either pag-organize ng files o paggawa ng letters na kailangan para sa annual market research na ginagawa ng opisina.

That's why I needed to befriend almost everyone that I will encounter. May mga oras na may prejudice talaga ang mga tao depende sa first impression nila sa 'yo. Kaya naman hangga't maaari ay tinatantsa ko ang ugali ng mga taong pipirma sa mga papeles namin. It may be a cause of delay if papers were not signed on time.

My heels stopped clicking when I had a sight of my Dad and Koa as I sashayed my way back to the office. Medyo malayo dahil halos kalalabas ko lang ng elevator, kaya naman hindi nila ako napapansin.

I tried looking intently at how they talked to each other and noticed that they seemed casual. Nagtatawanan pa sila habang malayang nagkukwentuhan. My brows creased when a question suddenly popped out from my mind.

Paano kaya nakapasok si Koa sa company namin? Out of all businesses na kailangan ng commerce graduate student, bakit dito?

Hindi ako nakahanap agad ng sagot hanggang sa bigla na lang silang nawala sa hallway. They turned left, where market research unit team was residing. Agad din naman akong naglakad para sumunod na rin at may gagawin pa ako.

When I entered the room, I noticed that they were all looking for me. Bigla silang natahimik lahat hanggang sa tumikhim si Koa para kunin ang atensyon ni Dad na mukhang may ina-announce sa opisina.

"As I was saying, market research was given a new project. Since J&J hardware offers home decorations, we want to include some showrooms and renovate the whole third floor of our store. We have new sets of furniture and we want to launch it creatively. Your team will receive a MOA that has a duration of three months. Everything you would probably ask would be included in the term of reference. Alright?" After Sir Philip explained, everyone agreed and showed gratitude for being here as he personally deliver the message to us. Probably because of his closeness to Koa.

Akala ko ay aalis na si Dad pero bigla ulit siyang humarap sa amin matapos ang ilang hakbang palayo. He raised his right hand. "By the way, Sembrano," he called my ex-boyfriend's surname. "You need a partner to lead this project. Hindi pwedeng ikaw lang. So, who would it be?"

Lumingon-lingon pa siya sa aming lahat kaya naman pakiramdam ko ay ito na ang oportunidad na hinahanap ko nang magtama ang tingin namin ni Dad. My mind immediately went to survival mode so I raised my hand.