Chapter 15
Sa tinagal-tagal naming hindi nagkita 'yan talaga ang unang tinanong niya sa akin? Walang ka kwenta-kwenta. Ni hindi niya man lang tinanong, kung kamusta ako nitong mga nakaraang taon?
Napaawang ang bibig ko nang magsync-in saakin ang ibig niyang sabihin, mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi nito dahil sa reaksyon ko.
Nang makabawi ako ay inayos ko ang tindig ko, at pinagkrus ang mga braso. Just to look like I'm sort of annoyed.
"Hindi ko alam saang parte ka ng mundo napadpad nitong mga nakaraang taon, pero kung ang tinutukoy mo ay si Cian, matagal na akong walang gusto sa kanya. That was like what? Six years ago?" I said like my confidence was in hundred percent, bahagya pa akong lumapit sa kanya.
Umayos ito ng tayo, ngunit hindi niya inalis ang mga kamay sa bulsa, he just swifted his position so that he can look and focus on me.
"Really? You didn't know he won't come?" He sounded like he was accusing me. I rolled my eyes.
"I didn't. To be honest I just heard about this dinner kaninang umaga. I just agreed to come, I didn't asked where or who will be here." saad ko sa mukha niya, nakasalubong ang mga kilay nito at parang hindi nagustuhan ang sagot ko.
"Is that why you are dressed up tonight? Because you don't care who will come?" he eyed me from head to toe, then he went back to my face, down to my red lips.
I don't know what kind of feeling it is, but I shivered a little when he did that. Nawala agad ang ngisi ko.
"Saang bundok ka ba nagtago ng ilang taon? Ganito na ako manamit ngayon. I am not a teenager anymore, I will wear what I want." pabalang kong sagot.
Hindi siya sumagot ng ilang segundo kaya dahil doon ay para kaming naglalaban ng tingin habang napaka tahimik, my heart is pounding like crazy, that I need to catch my every breath.
Because of anger.
He sighed, mukhang nakabawi na. "Then you must be happy instead, Cian is getting divorced."
Kung kanina nakokontrol ko pa ang dugo ko, ngayon parang nag akyatan na lahat ng dugo sa ulo ko, kulang na lang ay uusok ito.
Parang naputol na pati pagpapasensya ko sa kanya, kung pwede lang ay hinampas ko na siya ng dala kong bag kung hindi ko lang naisip na kagagaling niya sa coma.
I gathered all my strength bago nagsalita.
"Uulit-ulitin ko ba? Hindi ko na gusto si Cian! The last time I heard about him was when he got married, ni hindi ko nga alam kung kailan at saan iyon naganap dahil hindi naman ako pumunta! And the last time I saw him was when your family migrated abroad when you were unconscious!" tumaas na ng tuluyan ang boses ko.
Wala akong pakialam kung mabingi siya sa sobrang lapit namin, mabuti nga iyon para dama niya yung inis ko sa kanya.
Bakit niya ako pinagbabaraan ng kung ano-ano? Naiintindihan ko naman na ang huli niyang balita saakin patay na patay ako sa kuya niya, pero highschool pa kami noon!
Ngunit umusok na ng tuluyan ang ulo ko nang bigla siyang ngumiti, it was brief that it didn't last for a second. But I saw it, the side of his lips raised.
Nagtiim bagang ito at bahagyang yumuko.
Pinagtatawanan niya ba ako? Anong nakakatawa sa sinasabi ko? Hindi siya naniniwala?
Lalong humigpit ang hawak ko sa strap ng bag ko, isang maling galaw mo pa Caden ihahampas ko na talaga to sa'yo. There's really something about him, that I hate, I can't explain what is it. Akala ko dahil ilang taon na ang nakalipas ay nawala na iyon, pero ngayon na nasa harap ko na siya ulit. I might be mistaken, at parang lumala pa nga.
He looked at me again then licked his lips.
"Okay, calm down." unlike earlier, mahinahon na pag sabi niya nito.
Lalo akong nasspeechless sa kanya, hindi ko siya mabasa, alam kong matagal na siyang ganito pero mas malala na siyang mang-asar ng tao ngayon.
Kalma? E malapit na kitang ma-run house!
Imbis na sumunod mas lalo akong lumapit sa kanya, our face are few inches away from each other. That it caught him off guard, nawala ang mapaglarong ngiti nito sa labi.
I whispered in his ears.
"Looks like you're having fun? Of me? But let me remind you again Mr. CEO, hindi na tayo highschoolers I don't like you making fun of me whenever you want. If you still want to blackmail me then go, wala na akong pakialam." I furiously stared at his eyes, not even blinking. I turned around and walked away.
I smirked arrogantly as I walked away from him.
"Dad!" sigaw ko at malakas na binuksan ang pinto ng study room nito. Humampas ang hamba noon sa pader dahil sa lakas ng tulak ko.
Kagigising ko lang, that I'm still wearing my oversized white t-shirt and lousy pajama, ni hindi pa ako nagsusuklay. Dala-dala ang ipad ko ay galit ko itong inabot sa kanya.
He looked so shocked, hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pag intrude to bigla sa study room o dahil sa itsura ko. Kinuha naman niya ito at binasa ang nakalagay doon.
"What's wrong?" nagtataka nitong tanong habang nag-iscroll sa ipad, kumunot ang noo nito.
"All of the companies I applied to rejected me! As in lahat! It is okay to me to be honest, kung hindi lang napaka suspicious! Why am I rejected by all the companies I applied to but got accepted in J Prime?!" diretsa kong saad.
Im furious! In many reasons. I know they pulled some strings to get me there, ano binlocked nila ako sa ibang mga company?
Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Dad dahil sa sinabi ko, parang hindi niya ako naiintindihan.
Nilapag nito ang ipad sa mesa pagkatapos niyang basahin lahat ng email saakin
Itinukod nito ang mga siko sa armrest ng swivel chair niya at pinagkrus ang mga daliri.
"If you are thinking that I, or your Mom, purposely asked those companies to reject you so you can go to J Prime nagkakamali ka Yara, hindi namin gawa ito." mahinahon niyang sagot, my suspicions are growing but some part of me believes what he said, he looked so sincere.
"Then how did this happened? Imposible naman na coincidence lang ito? Hindi rin naman ito gagawin nila Tita Anica, wala naman silang mapapala sa baguhang katulad ko. At para gumawa sila ng paraan para makapasok ako ng J Prime?!"
Hinilot nito ang sintido niya. "Then maybe it's a coincidence?"
I raised my eyebrow. Does that make sense?
"Out of all the companies I applied to, they are obviously smaller than J Prime, mataas ang standard sa J Prime. I don't even expect na makapasok doon, but these companies can reject me and J Prime does not?"
"But you said hindi naman ito gagawin ng Tita Anica mo? or Tito Wancho mo? I didn't do it, even your Mom, so do you have other options to believe in?" natigilan ako sa sagot ni Daddy.
Mas may point siya, pero nakakapagtaka talaga. Is this really a coincidence? Something feels wrong pero hindi ko mapinpoint.
"Instead of stressing yourself, you should be grateful that you got accepted aren't you? When is your first day?" tanong ni Daddy, bigla akong napasinghap, muntik na mawala sa isip ko!
"Gosh! Buti pinaalala mo Dad. I need to prepare na, thank you, bye!" kinuha ko na ang ipad sa mesa nito at tumakbo na palabas. I heard him chuckled because of me, sa sobrang gulat ko nawala na sa isip ko na ngayon rin pala ako pinapapunta!
I ignored it earlier kasi akala ko kagagawan lang 'to nila Daddy, and I don't have to attend if ever aamin sila. But I got convinced by Dad somehow, pero hindi pa rin ako tuluyang naniniwala. I'll just show up because of professionalism, at sino rin namang matinong tao ang magsasayang ng opportunity sa J Prime.
Mabilis na akong naligo at nag ayos, I put on a light make up and bunned my hair para mukha malinis. I wore a black slack, hindi naman ito fitted at white long sleeves polo na itinuck-in ko. I chose a three-inch black heels for formality.
Ishinoot ko nalang lahat ng gamit ko sa itim na handbag at lumabas na. Papadrive nalang ako kay Manong dahil mahahassle pa ako ngayon kung ako pa ang magdadrive.
"Tara na po." saad ko kay Manong nang maka-sakay na ng sasakyan.
Hindi na ako nagsuot o nagdala ng coat, I've known J Prime even since I was a kid, dahil lagi ako doon. I've seen the employees wear comfortable clothes, dahil production company iyon. They prioritized comfortability than being formal, since most of the task are field works. Maliban na lang kung mataas ang posisyon mo, like the directors they really wear suits.
Hinawakan ko ang kamay ko nanginginig, mas kinakabahan ako ngayon kesa sa mga past interviews I've had. Maybe because this is already a real work? Or dahil clueless pa ako sa mga gagawin ko roon? O baka dahil sa J Prime ako magtatrabaho?
Hindi ko alam halo-halo na ang nararamdaman ko, my stomach in churning, but most of all, I actually feel excited. I am finally stepping on my dream.
"Dito nalang po." saad ko kay Manong nang makarating na kami sa harap ng building.
"Goodluck ma'am, Yara!"
"Thank you po."
Isinara ko na ang pinto at nagsimula nang maglakad, inilibot ko at tingin sa paligid. Hindi ko mapigilan mamangha, the building is so tall that it blocks a part of the sun light pero hindi lahat, enough to brighten the whole place.
When I was a kid J Prime looked like an elite and fancy company to me, but now that I'll be working here I realized how big and competent it is. All of the productions, like movies, series, even albums are all successful not just in the Philippines but also abroad.
Nakaka pressure, I know I've studied this field so hard, and I know a lot of things but still, everyone in here is all capable.
Pumasok na ako sa malaking automated door nito, just like the outside the interiors are so minimalist yet fancy. Wala kang makikitang kalat o alikabok manlang, idagdag mo pa kung gaano ito kamodern, this is one of the most modern designed company I've seen here in Philippines.
Naglakad na ako papunta sa elevator, some of the employees sa front desk ay ngumiti saakin, they know me kasi napupunta naman ako dito at alam nilang Monterio ako.
I smiled back, sakto namang bumukas na ang elevator kaya sumabay na ako sa ibang aakyat rin. Ang orientation ko ay sa 14th floor, I pushed the buttons. Habang nag aantay ay mas lalong lumalakas ang tibok ng puso ko.
Nang makarating ako sa tamang floor ay bumukas na ang pinto, kaya mo 'to Yara andito na kana eh.
Naglakad na ako palabas ng elevator, sumalubong sa akin ang malaking office space. May mga cubicles but mostly mga tables na maraming paper works ang naroon.
Nililibot ko ang aking mata nang may lumapit na saakin.
"Miss Monterio?" she walked towards me smilling,
She's beautiful and I think she is in her early thirties.
"Yes po." I answered and smiled back.
"Follow me, Miss Monterio." inilahad nito ang kamay upang sumunod ako sa kanya.
Pumasok kami sa isang meeting room, may kinuha ito folder. "Upo ka." ulat nito kinuha ang isang swivel chair para makaupo ako.
"Thank you."
She run through the files at tahimik na nagbabasa. I think files ko iyon.
"You are in the production team, right?" tanong nito habang may isinulat sa laman ng folder.
I nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Bumuntong hininga ito at inilapag ang folder sa malaking mesa, tumigil ito at parang nag iisip. Kumunot ang noo ko, is there something wrong?
"Usually Miss Monterio, ang production team ay nasa department ko, which is the 13th and 14th floor." umpisa nito,
"But the hiring of applicants for production didn't come from us." mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko, huh? What does she mean?
"We suddenly changed one of the directors and he is currently working on a big project. They called it the 'Elite project', I've heard kumpleto na ang team nila when they hired you. So basically idinaan lang sa amin ang process but you belong to the 'Elite project'." paliwanag ito, I am in the middle of confusion and shock.
Una, may iba pang production team and inembento lang ng bagong director? At kasama ako sa 'Elite project' which I think is a very important project, at natanggap ako kahit wala pa akong experience?
I still have a lot of questions in my head, weird things have been happening simula kaninang umaga.
"I know it's a little bit confusing, but you get my point naman right?"
"Yes ma'am,"
"Just call me Miss Gomez."
"Yes, Miss Gomez, but I am curious about something. Is the 'Elite project' temporary?"
Tumango ito. "Yes, I am not sure but I think 6 months to 1 year ang project. I think that's pretty fast but the director is competitive so be it. But don't worry, after this project, babalik ka sa team ko which you originally belonged to." I was satisfied by her answer.
At least ngayon medyo naliliwanagan na ako.
"If we're good then ihahatid na kita sa team mo." tumayo na kaming dalawa at lumabas na.
Siya na ang bukas ng elevator para saamin, she looks welcoming and approachable.
"The Elite Team is on 35th floor." saad nito nang makapasok kami, tumango naman ako.
She pushed the 35th floor.
"I think, sampu lang ang member ng team niyo including the director. Siya ang mag-aassigned what work he will be giving you."
Sampu lang?! Although temporary lang naman ang project na'to, kakayanin ba na sampu lang ang magtatrabaho?
The more I think of it, the more I conclude things, is the director nuts?! At bakit pumayag ang ibang board of directors sa ganitong set-up?
"It's a little bit weird but I'll do my best." natawa ito sa komento ko.
"The director is weirder, but genius." she confidently said, hmmm maybe that's why he was allowed to pull off this project?
Nginitian ko nalang ito sa sinabi,
Bumukas na ang elevator, and my jaw dropped sa sumalubong saakin. Unlike the previous floor I've been, the interior here is very different, even the atmosphere. The glass windows are ceiling to bottom, it's a big space and several tables are at the center, may mga sofa sa gilid and on the other side meron pa itong sarili pantry. It is a very open and modern design for an office, parang para sa mga higher ups ang floor na ito. Do I deserve to work in this environment? Kung sa ganito pala ako magtatrabaho ay kahit hindi na akong aalis rito.
May mga ilang employees ang busy sa ginagawa nila ngunit nang makita nila kami ay huminto ang mga ito at lumapit.
"Miss Gomez." bati ng mga ito.
"Goodmorning, this is Miss Monterio ang kukumpleto sa team niyo." pakilala nito saakin.
"Nice to meet you." I said then offered my hand, they smiled at me.
"I am Mark." pakilala niya at tinanggap ang kamay ko.
"Gaven." sunod noong isa.
"Mira!" she excitedly shakes my hands.
I smile at them. "I am Ayara Monterio."
"Ang ganda mo!" sinaway ng mga ito si Mira, natawa na lang kami sa kanya, she looks so friendly.
"Wag mong kulitin Mira, first day niya. Haharap pa yan kay Sir." saad ni Mark.
"Speaking off, you need to meet the director. That's his office." turo ni Miss Gomez sa nag iisang pinto at office sa floor na ito, the glass walls are darkly frosted kaya hindi nakikita ang loob.
"Copy, Miss Gomez."
"Good luck Miss Monterio, I'll go na rin." paalam nito.
We waved her goodbye, nang makaalis ito at bumaling na ako sa nasabing office ng director.
I don't know, nagdie down naman na ang kaba ko kanina, but knowing na makakaharap ko agad ay isang director sa first day, that is already a big leap for me.
But I still need to do it, bahala na.
"Punta kana kay Sir, goodluck Yara!" pag checheer up ni Gaven.
"Thank you."
Naglakad na ako patungo sa office nito, bawat hakbang ko pabilis ng pabilis ang tibok ng puso ko, kinatok ko muna ito then I grabbed the door handle at unti-unti itong binuksan.
Naglalaban ang kaba ko at pagpapalakas ko sa loob, I need to look cool and collected kung ayaw kong panget ang first impression nito saakin.
I let out a deep sigh before entering, sinara ko na ang pinto and tried to fake a big smile. Ngunit hindi ito natuloy nang makita ko ang nasa loob.
Wait, I expected someone older. But this man is quite young and he is tall. He is wearing a white long sleeves, black slacks and a black leather shoes. Nakatalikod ito sa akin while looking at the overview of the city, but the build of his body is very obvious.
My jaw dropped, this is the director?!
"G-Good morning Sir." my throat ran dry.
Finally he decided to turn around, but when I saw his face all of my expectations, nervousness and anticipation disappeared instantly. Pwede ko ba bawiin iyong sinabi ko, na hindi ko na gugustuhing umalis rito? Our eyes met and the familiar feeling hit me.
"Finally meeting you, Miss Monterio. Welcome to my team."