Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 6: Mad ocular

RUNNING ERRANDS would probably the only contribution I had in this project instead of leading with the principal investigator of this team. This had been happening to me while the market research associates and analyst were carrying a burden of dealing with the technicalities of planning for the presentation. Aside from that, pumalpak na rin kami at nakikita 'yon ng buong marketing department. I was even ashamed to enter our house and face my Dad. Ano na lang ang sasabihin niyo kapag nalaman niyang ngayon palang ay pumapalpak na ako?

For the passed few days, specifically fourteen working days, I knew for sure that this team were pouring tremendous effort for this particular market research assignment from the chief executive officer. Catherine had been doing great on her job even though her seniors were not able to guide her at the moment. Nola, Florence, and Yno succeeded in producing sample surveys so we had meetings already about it. It was as well subject to run through the Jocson's pilot testing system. So far, it was going smoothly. Pati ang mga listahan ng showrooms na kailangan naming puntahan, naka-ready na rin. However, we could not move to the next step. . .

Hindi kasi na-approve ang petty cash ng budget department. I didn't know why Koa even pushed me to make a proposal for that. He even blamed me for writing poor documents to support our claim of needing it. Suck the must have money! Pwede namang maglabas na lang ng pondo for that, kesyo sinasabi niyang huwag daw dapat kami maglapag!

But, of course, I insisted. Kaysa mangarag kami, ako na lang ang nagprisinta na umako ng pera. Yet for that, he scolded me! Siya na lang daw kung ganoon! I just. . . I just didn't get him! Magulo rin talaga ang utak ng isang 'yon. Ever since, he really had this attitude of being either too hesitant or hideous. Honestly, I didn't like this part of him, I was even offended at the moment. Gusto ko lang namang makatulong sa team!

"Isang linggo na palang wala si Ms. Nola." Nang lingunin ko ang biglang nagsalitang si Catherine, nakatunganga ito habang nakasimangot.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa Jocson Resto at katatapos lang kumain. Naisipan naming magpahinga muna rito saglit. Besides, the moment we stepped into the office, we zoned in to work in no time. Kami lang ngayong tatlo ang magkakasama dahil nga wala si Nola at mukhang wala rin sa mood si Florence na makisama sa amin.

I tilted my head as I put down my phone on the table. "Baka may inaasikaso lang yung tao. Nag-file naman ng leave," I reasoned out. Although at the back of my head, a week or so was too much. Nataon pa talagang may ginagawa kaming project. At pinayagan ito ni Koa, hindi ba siya nag-iisip? Hindi man lang ba siya nakaramdam sa mga maiiwan? He didn't have a good sense of leadership, I guess. Psh!

"Parang ang ngarag natin," Catherine commented. She even put her chin on the table as she slammed her arms to rest on it as well. Mukha siyang pagod na pagod sa itsura niya. Siya lang din kasi ang sumasagot ng inquiries na para sa opisina namin. And truth to be told, nakaka-drain kumausap ng iba't ibang tao.

"Yeah," I just replied out of nowhere. Then she faced me and that became a trigger for me to vent a little bit. "Tapos yung boss mo pa, ang hirap pakisamahan," I said with full of underlying comments.

Catherine heaved a sigh. "Palibhasa ex-boyfriend mo, Ms. Athena," she teased me.

My eyes rolled with a smirk on my face. "Nope. Hindi ko talaga gusto ang takbo ng project natin kaya sana ay mag-contemplate din siya sa mga decisions niya. It really shows bad leadership." My voice tried to show conviction as I explained about my opinion objectively. "Although. . ." I took a pause. "Pumalpak din naman ako." And with shaky voice, I was hesitant to admit that in front of them but I needed to, out of professionalism, at para hindi nila isiping may galit ako kay Koa para ibunton sa kanya ang lahat.

Catherine bobbed her head as if she agreed immediately.

But Yno didn't. He fixed his glasses then put down his hands on the table as he willingly faced me. A smile crept on his lips, then he spoke, "Parehas naman. . . Sa tingin ko, lahat tayo ay may lapses na ambag sa project. Sadyang halata lang yung inyo ni Sir Koa. Aligaga rin siya talaga kaya agree ako sa sinabi mo." He said that without emotions, I would say.