War in Katipunan

Simula

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the writer's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business, establishments and events are purely fictional.

Note: I used the name of some universities such as ADMU, DLSU, UST, UP, FEU, NU etc., and some names of UAAP athletes. But the events in this story is not affiliated with the said universities. This is purely fictional.

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SIMULA.

Damn.

MABILIS AKONG naglakad papunta sa elevator na maghahatid saakin sa office ng president. Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako pinatawag. Bigla akong kinabahan nang nasa loob na ako ng elevator papunta sa top floor ng kompanyang pinagta-trabahuhan ko.

I am the head of engineering department on the real estate I'm working. Kahit na limang taon palang akong graduate ng college ay mabilis akong na-promote sa posisyon ko ngayon. Maybe because I was here when the company is at its lowest. Bagong tayo palang ang kompanyang ito noong nag-apply ako. At kahit kakapasa ko lang sa board exam noon ay tinanggap agad nila ako. And now, I'm the head of the engineering department.

Nang makapasok ako sa pinto ng opisina ng president ng kompanya ay tumambad saakin ang sekretarya niya na nakaupo sa table nito.

"Good morning Ms. Padilla. Mr. De Leon is waiting for you inside." Nakangiting bungad saakin ni Grace, ang sekretarya ng presidente. Kahit na kinakabahan ay nagawa ko pang ngumiti at bumati sakaniya. Iginaya niya ako sa isa pang pinto kung saan naroon ang main office ng president and CEO ng kompanya. Nagpasalamat muna ako kay Grace bago ako pumasok.

"Good moring, Mr. De Leon." Bati ko nang tuluyan na akong makapasok. Naglakad ako ako papunta sa harap ng table niya. Mr. Conrad De Leon is a great engineer and a business man in his mid-fifties. At his age, he's still rocking on that corporate suit. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't have a crush on him or something. He's married and a father of two already! That would be err...

"Good morning, Spica. Please take a seat." Nakangiting bati niya saakin. I immediately sat on the visitor's chair. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kanina pa ako kinakabahan. I mean, I already met the CEO many times already. We met and talk on meeting and such. Kahit noong nasa college pa 'ko. So I don't really understand kung bakit ako kinakabahan.

Mr. de Leon has always been friendly towards his employees kaya hindi masyadong nakaka-intimidate. Kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit kanina pa nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko. Is he going to fire me or something? Oh God...

"I'm sorry to call you this early, Spica. I just want to personally discuss to you your next project." He smiled apologetically. Para bang nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang banggitin niya ang salitan next project at discuss. Akala ko kung ano na! I was nervous for nothing! Ngumiti muna ako bago ako sumagot.

"Okay lang po, sir. Besides, it's already office hours." He just nodded. May nilapag siyang itim na folder sa harap ko. Ito na ata yung details para sa sunod kong project. He told me to open it and I was right. It was the details for my next project. Binasa ko kung anong klaseng project ba ang iha-handle ko. Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko sa nabasa ko. A hospital!

"So as you can see, Spica, this is a very big project for us. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na kukuha tayo ng ganito kalaking project. It was a construction for the renovation of the hospital. You know that our company is not accepting this kind of projects. But the offer is big and I have thought that it's time to take big projects like this. Besides, marami na tayong magagaling na architects at engineers. And I want you and your team to personally handle this project." Tuloy-tuloy na sabi ni Mr. De Leon.