One Shot...That's All He Got

Chapter 19 - One Shot...That's All He Got

Andrew's birthday falls on a sunday and since not all in EGC's employees are working on a Saturday, Joanna decided to have the simple celebration with the employees on a Friday so everyone can join in. At lunch break halos lahat ng employees ay nag tipon-tipon sa function hall, malaki ang hall na ito dahil ino-occupy nito ang buong 10th floor at kaya nitong e cater ang lahat ng employees ng EGC.

Andrew doesn't know about this, though alam niya na taon-taon may mga ganitong celebration sila for the employees sa tuwing birthday nila ni Joanna at Mon.

When everyone was gathered at the hall, tatawagan na sana ni Joanna si Andrew para kunwari sasabihin na may gusto siyang ipakita nito sa function hall pero tumatawag ang binata kay Brianna. When she felt the phone vibrating in her hand, tiningnan niya kung sino ang tumatawag at nang makita kung sino ipinakita niya ito kay Joanna so she can see Andrew's name in the screen.

"He's looking for you, for sure. Tell him to come here, sabihin mo you need to talk to him in here."

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" tanong ni Andrew sa kabilang linya

"Nasa function hall ako, pwedi ka ba pumunta dito?Kailangan natin mag-usap." kalmang sabi ni Brianna

"Are you alright? What are you doing in there?" he worriedly asks

"Relax, ok lang ako. Punta ka muna dito sandali."

"I'll be there in a minute" sagot nito at alam ni Brianna na nasa elevator na ito kasi para na itong nasa cave nang magsalita

"Nasa elevator na po siya" Brianna informs Joanna.

"Alright everyone, he's coming down. Get ready." Instruct ni Joanna

Magkatabing naka tayo sina Brianna, Joanna at Mon paharap sa elevator at nasa likuran naman nila sina Donald, Jeff, Kent, Vanessa at Mr Morris at ang mga employees.

Once Andrew stepped out from the elevator, everyone shouted "Happy Birthday!" and few of them popped confetties at the same time.

Nagulat si Andrew dahil may binabasa siyang email sa cellphone niya kaya nang bumukas ang elevator ay hindi niya nakita na puno ng tao ang function hall. Ang buong akala niya, tanging si Brianna lang ang naghihintay sa kanya dito.

"Thank you, guys.." nakangiting pasalamat ng binata. Lumapit si Joanna sa kanya and give him a hug, kinamayan naman siya ni Mon. When his eyes lands on Brianna "What, no hug for me?" tanong niya sa dalaga with an amused smile nang hindi ito lumapit sa kanya. Everyone chuckles at nag blush si Brianna.

Nilapitan siya ng dalaga at niyakap "Advance happy birthday." bati nito

"You had me worried for a second, you know? I thought something happened.."Andrew whispers in Brianna's ear "Thank you everyone..I know we've been doing this yearly but still you guys never fail to surprise me every damn year..Dig in.."

Sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang salo-salo ay lumapit kay Andrew ang mga heads ng iba-t ibang department para ibigay dito ang mga bit-bit na regalo. Nag ambag-ambag ang mga staffs ng each department at bumili ng mga napag kasunduang I regalo para sa kanya.

"You guys should't have bothered" Andrew said to them

"Simpleng paraan ng pasasalamat lang po namin 'to sa inyo sir" sagot ng HR head "dahil napakabuti nyo po sa amin na mga employees nyo"

"You all worked hard for me so there's no reason to not give you all what you deserved..Well, thank you for all of that..."

The simple celebration lasted for two hours at pagkatapos ay nagsibalikan na sila sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. But that celebration was not Brianna's surprise for Andrew for his birthday. Sinabi niya kay Joanna when they talked na gusto niyang bigyan ng surprise birthday party si Andrew at gusto niyang magpatulong na kontakin ang ibang kakilala ni Andrew dahil ang kilala lang naman niya ay ang close friends nito na sina Rob, John at Vince. Ang plano niya ay mag book ng isang maliit na bar for a private party.