The F- Buddies

4. The Project

"Hi," he greeted with a smile . . . and oozing with confidence na talo pa ang boss. Aba! Hindi ko siya gusto.

"What's this?" I asked, showing him the project Boss Armie gave.

"A folder," proud niyang sagot habang nakatingin nang deretso sa 'kin. "Visual test ba 'to?"

Can I slap this guy?

"'Wag kang pilosopo. Tinatanong ko kung ano 'to at para saan 'to?"

Tumango naman siya. "Oo nga. That's a folder and that's used to keep files. Assessment ba 'to kung may common sense ako o wala?"

Ibinalibag ko sa kanya ang hawak ko. Iniinis talaga ako ng baguhang 'to, ha. Napakatino kausap!

"You're fired."

Nagulat siya pero I didn't see any violent reaction. He checked what was inside the folder and made an 'I get it' nod.

"This is our upcoming project. It's a collaborative novel and isa ako sa writer nito." He fixed the folder on my table and smiled back at me. "You can't fire me."

"You're under my team. I can fire you."

"Karen hired me."

"You're under my team."

"You're not my boss."

"You . . . are . . . under . . . my . . . fucking . . . team."

He confidently smiled at me and said, "Sorry, babe. I know this is the first time I met you, but you are not my boss."

Matigas ka, ha.

I stood up and went out of my cubicle. I proceeded straight to Boss Ayen's office para magreklamo.

"Fire him," pambungad na pambungad ko kay Boss. I know, nagtse-check siya ng kung anuman sa desktop niya, pero mas mahalaga ang ipinunta ko. "That Vincent guy is a headache. I don't need any additional guy on my team."

I saw her sigh and shake her head. "Niz, he's a client. And we need him. Now."

"A what?" Itinuro ko ang labas ng office niya. "Akala ko ba, editor? Bakit ngayon, client na?"

Sumandal lang si Boss sa upuan niya at tiningnan ako na parang ang daming nangyari sa office noong wala ako, at parang kasalanan ko pang wala akong alam.

"You're not answering our emails. The schedules were adjusted. Hindi mo naaasikaso nang maayos ang team mo. Hindi mo nae-execute nang maayos ang duties mo dahil hindi ka naman dumadaan dito sa office nang sobrang dalas. Pinagbigyan ka na namin na mag-home-based ka. Okay, sige, we respect your decision, but we need Vincent. Hindi namin puwedeng iasa lahat sa 'yo, Niz. Hinihingi na rin ni Mae yung contract mo."

Bumalik na siya sa ginagawa niya. So, what now? Ibig sabihin, final na 'yon?

"Boss, baka puwedeng—?"

"Whether you like it or not, he'll work here. If you don't want to see him, go home na lang, Niz. You have your options."

Fuck that.

So, wala na pala 'kong authority sa sarili kong team. Bakit? Dahil hindi ako palaging present dito sa office? As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing my job well. Wala akong karapatang mag-decide?

"Then what's with the collaborative project?" I said, annoyed with the idea.

"We're still looking for another writer," sagot ni Boss na patuloy sa pagta-type. "Si Vincent pa lang kasi ang writer n'on. Kailangan niya ng ka-collab. I'm checking the audition for that, wanna take a look?"

"Bakit hindi ko 'to alam, Boss?"

"You ask yourself, Niz." Doon lang niya ako tiningnan. "Bakit hindi mo alam? Lagi kaming nag-a-update sa 'yo. What about you? Ina-update mo ba kami?"

Hindi ko nagustuhan ang tono ng huling sinabi ni Boss. At bago pa magkasumbatan, umalis na agad ako sa opisina niya.

Oo na, ako na ang iresponsable. Akala naman nila, napakadali lang mag-manage ng time.

I chose not to commit with this company kahit na passion ko 'to para may time ako for Justin. But that asshole didn't know what I gave up for him. At tine-take for granted lang niya ang lahat ng isinuko ko para sa kanya.

Tiningnan ko lang nang masama ang Vincent na 'yon. Nakasandal lang sa glass wall ng cubicle ko, at kung makatingin, nag-aabang yata ng sagot na mapapa-yes siya.

Bahala siya sa buhay niya, manigas siya.

I took all my things para makaalis na. Wala na 'kong authority rito, so bahala na sila. Natapos ko na ang book review ko para sa website namin, bahala na rin sila.

"Hey, babe. What's the verdict?" he said, grinning.

"Go fuck yourself."

At kahit ayoko pang kausapin si Justin, nag-text pa rin ako sa kanya ng "Nasa Sun Mall ako. Sunduin mo 'ko. Now."

♥♥♥