Chapter 05 - Secondment Role
Two months.
Akalain niyo 'yun? Pagkatapos kong pahiyain ang sarili ko sa harapan ng Senior Vice President ng Birchwood Industries ay hindi na kami nagkita ulit? Dalawang buwan nang hindi nagku-krus ang landas namin ni Sir Trein. Mabuti naman at may isa siyang salita. Naintindihan niya na rin siguro ang ibig kong sabihin - na hindi lahat ng babae ay kaya niyang pasunurin kahit gaano pa siya ka-flashy.
Two months.
Talagang pinagtaguan ko siya. I made it appoint na hinding-hindi magku-krus ang landas naming dalawa kundi patay talaga ako.
To be honest, may Plan B ako kung sakaling mabulilyaso ang pagtatago ko - 'yun ay pagsa-submit ng resignation letter. If all else fails, di pa rin ako pwedeng mabokya sa trabaho. I have bills to pay and I have a family somewhere in the province to feed. Gaya ng sabi ko noon kay Nana, I can't afford to lose my dream company and my dream job pero kaya kong itaya yun para lang maging Trein Ryu-free ang life ko.
I work as a part-time line artist/coloring assistants to some webtoon artists from Korea and the US. I'm getting paid per my rate and per panel. Mahirap kasi I need to do what is expected of me but whenever I see the results of what I do, it satisfies me. Finance ang major ko habang nasa University pero kasali ako sa Arts Club kasi may passion ako sa drawing, painting, illustration at digital arts. I could've entered Fine Arts as a major but my parents are totally against that idea. Being a gullible daughter, pumayag ako sa desisyon nila. And then, the rest is history.
Kung mag-resign man ako, magdo-double time ako sa pagpa-part time at mag-a-accept ng commission projects, let alone do a webtoon myself to be published.
I was busy reviewing some loan prospects when my officemate, Arienne, sat on the empty chair beside me.
"Busy ka?" she asked.
Without looking at her, I nodded. "'Di ba halata?" I glanced at her and made a force grin.
"I thought so. Tawag ka ni Sir Zeke sa meeting room."
Bigla akong natigilan sa pagbabasa. "Ha? Bakit daw?"
She shrugged, "I don't know. May escalation ka yata?" my aura darkened kaya nag-peace sign kaagad siya. "Joke lang! Ito naman hindi na mabiro. C'mon, tayo ka na dyan. Baka importante kaya pinatawag ka sa secluded area."
Tumango lang ako tapos bumalik na siya sa upuan niya. Inayos ko muna ang mga files ko pati ini-lock ang laptop ko bago ako pumunta sa meeting room na sinabi ni Arienne. Habang naglalakad, inisip ko kung mayroon ba akong misinterpreted financial data records o may complaints ako galing sa mga prospective clients. As far as I know, wala naman.
Mabilis namang kausap si Sir Zeke, ang supervisor namin. He'll talk to you if you made a mess or you did your job quite well.
Kumatok ako sa pinto saka binuksan ito. Nakita ko agad si Sir Zeke na nakaupo sa swivel chair habang nakatuon sa laptop niya na nakapatong sa mesa. Sa tapat niya ay nakita ko si Secretary Kim.
Teka, Secretary Kim? Ni Sir Trein?
Shit, ano na naman 'to?! I smell something very, very fishy.
"Hello, Sir." bati ko sa supervisor ko. Nag-alangan pa akong batiin si Secretary Kim dahil napahiya na ako sa harapan niya dati dahil akala ko talaga ay siya yung potential fiance noon ni Nana! "H-hi, Secretary Kim."
Matipid na ngiti lang ang sinagot niya sa akin. He pointed at the chair near Sir Zeke, "Please sit down, Miss Shin."
"Sir, ano pong kasalanan ko?" bungad ko sabay yuko. Ewan ko ba, ang advance kong mag-isip! Mas mabuti nang ganito kesa pa umasa pa ako sa wala 'di ba?
Narinig kong natawa si Sir Zeke kaya napaangat ang aking ulo at tinignan siya. Si Secretary Kim naman ay ngumisi lang ng matipid.
Sir Zeke waved his hands, "Anong kasalanang pinagsasabi mo dyan? Did you do something to disappoint our clients? As far as I know, there's none. So relax there, okay?"
Napa-exhale tuloy ako ng OA with matching pag-slouch pa sa swivel chair. "Mabuti naman kung ganun, Sir." umupo din agad ako ng maayos.
"Miss Yuri, you don't need to worry at this point. Based on the data and your performance that Zeke presented me earlier, I could say that you're doing your job well as a Credit Analyst." sabi ni Secretary Kim.
Feeling ko tuloy ay inakyat akong bigla sa langit tulad ni Mama Mary! I haven't heard such a compliment like that for quite some time. Yung kilig ko abot hanggang Jupiter! Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang ngumiti na abot hanggang tenga.
"T-Thank you." I tucked my hair at the back of my ear. Ang landi lang.
"I won't go round in circles, we need you in our team for a secondment role for the next three months. Medyo sobra ang FTE ng team ni Zeke. Based on the current planning that your department has, they can temporarily let go of one staff to be transferred as a support staff to a different team. Your supervisor recommended you for this role so I don't see any reason as to why we won't accept you."
Nakatitig lang ako kay Secretary Kim habang dina-digest ang sinasabi niya. Sa totoo lang, ang gwapo niya rin. Though mas cute lang ng kaunti si Sir Trein ha. Ang soft-spoken niya pero mukhang dignified, mukhang squishy bb boi pero parang ibabalibag ka naman sa kama. Yung ganung tipo? I wonder if he's dating someone else.
Duh, erase that thoughts now, Yuri! Mamaya mo na pagpantasyahan si Piper Kim!
Pero seriously, I'm gonna be placed in a different department for a secondment role?
"Ganoon po ba? Kailan po ang start ko?" I asked.
"Tomorrow is the most feasible time. But I can ask Zeke for you to be excused the whole day for quick orientation about your role and some basic reminders." he replied.
"Yuri, I don't see any reason for you to decline this offer." singit naman ni Sir Zeke.
Tumango lang ako sa sinabi niya. I clenched my fists. "Yes, Secretary Kim. I'll gladly accept this role. Thank you for considering me." bumaling ako sa supervisor ko. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it."
"Uhm, Secretary, may question ako."
He slightly nodded, "Go ahead, please."
"Which department will I be placed in?"
With gleaming eyes and a bright smile he answered, "To the office of the Senior Vice President of Strategic and Finance."
Halos malaglag ako sa kinauupuan ko nang marinig ko ng maliwanag ang sinabi ni Secretary Kim. Shet ha, nagga-gaguhan ba kami?!
"Kay S-Sir Trein?" ulit ko.
Tumango naman siya ng maayos na parang nang-aasar pa lalo, "Yes, at Mr Trein Ryu's office."
--
"Nana! Wala nang Plan B, Plan B! Magpapasa na agad ako ng immediate resignation letter!" sabi ko sa kanya sa cellphone habang nasa harapan ako ng printer at hinihintay na matapos ang pagpi-print ng ginawa akong resignation letter pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin nina Sir Zeke at Secretary Kim.
Wala na akong pakialam kung dito ako sa office mismo nagpi-print nito dahil wala na akong choice. I just wanna move out.
"Ha?!" she reacted on a high-pitched tone. "Anong pinagsasabi mo e kakasabi mo lang not too long ago na hindi mo afford na mawalan ng trabaho ngayon. Why the sudden change of mind? Have you seen Trein?"
Umiling ako at tinitigan ang freshly printed resignation letter sa aking kamay. "Nope, I've seen his secretary. I am about to be transferred to his department for a secondment role for the next three months. I knew it! May plano talaga siya to mess with me!" nanggigigil kong sabi. Muntik ko na ngang malukot ang papel pero pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko dahil ayoko nang magprint uli.
"Sus, OA mo. Three months lang pala e. Deadmahin mo na lang siya." she commented.
Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Is she my best friend or what? Does she want me to be burned alive? To be devoured by a predator?--okay, ang OA ko na sa part na 'to.
"Hindi ko kaya! Wala na akong mukhang ihaharap sa kanya. He finally found out about me. Then what happens next? He's going to make fun of me? Pahihirapan niya ako? Itutulak sa rooftop ng building? Ipapalapa sa leon? Ano?" I'm dead worried about myself, ni hindi ko na nga maintindihan kung bakit puro nonsense na itong mga sinasabi ko sa kanya.
"Anong itutulak? Ipapalapa? What the hell, Shin Yuri? Just hold your horse down, alright? Buti nga may secondment role ka at hindi ka na-terminate dahil sa pinaggagawa mo sa kanya." she retorted.
I made a plain face, "Ay wow, sino kayang nag-pain sa akin para makipagmeet sa kanya?"
Tumikhim siya, "Well, you should be thankful to me. And besides, ano naman kung nalaman niya kung sino ka talaga? Will it change a thing or two? Look at what he did, he made a way just for him to be close to you. Talagang interesado siya sa'yo, girl, you made an impression to him. Little he did know na dyan ka lang pala niya makikita sa Birchwood." yung tono ng pananalita ni Nana ay kilig na kilig pa siya at proud din at the same time. Nakakaburyong!
"Ah basta, magre-resign na ako." wala sa loob na sabi ko.
"Wag na wag mong gagawin 'yan." banta niya sa akin.
"And why would I not?"
"Basta! Stay where you are and let fate do the job." hagikgik naman niya.
"Fate mo mukha mo."
Bumalik ako sa desk ko at ipinatong ang ulo sa mesa. I messed up my hair hanggang sa magmukhang bruha na ako.
"Shin Yuri, believe in yourself. Just stick to your principle. You can't afford to lose that job 'di ba? Then stay." biglang sumeryoso na ang tono ni Nana. Just what happened to this girl?
"I still have my part-time job." my shoulders dropped.
"Stay."
I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sa'yo. Oo na! Wag ka lang makulit."
"Yes!" Then she laughed like a crazy bitch. Ang sarap sabunutan.
Ang ending, ini-shred ko rin ang na-print kong resignation letter. Bahala na, this is for my own growth as well. All I just need to do is to contain my interactions with him - dahil alam kong di naman iyon maiiwasan - and do my job properly.
Pumunta ako sa 32nd floor bilang doon ang opisina ni Sir Trein at ng staff niya. I saw two staff - a guy around my age and a lady that would pass as my auntie. Binati ko sila at lumapit sa kanila. They knew what's going on so they started to discuss some protocols, orienting me about my upcoming secondment role and what's to be expected of me. More likely, I'm going to be an admin staff with more responsibility and criticality.
"If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask as out. By the way I'm Lorraine. Just call me 'Mommy Lorraine', let's drop the formalities."
Ngumiti ako pabalik. "Thank you po, Mommy Lorraine. Ako po si Yuri."
Naglahad naman ng kamay sa akin yung lalaking staff, "Dane here. Nice meeting you. Thanks for helping us out."
Tinanggap ko naman ang kamay niya. "Don't mention it, salamat din sa pag-orient sa akin. Yuri here."
Tinuro nila ang magiging desk ko. I almost shouted for joy when I found out that it's the farthest from Sir Trein's office. Meaning, less interactions! I will adjust the monitor in front of me para hindi kami magkatamaan ng tingin. Salamat naman at may awa rin palang binigay sa akin ang Universe!
"Piper's with our boss now for a meeting. Don't worry about doing the job right away, Yuri, you can familiarize things over first." sabi ni Mommy Lorraine.
Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang maramdaman ko na magiging safe naman ako sa department na 'to. Professional at easy-to-get along naman sila kaya siguro di ko na rin mapapansin ang tatlong buwan na lilipas.
Malinis na ang desk ko kaya inayos ko na lang ito katulad ng set-up ng desk ko sa 28th floor. Medyo nakakapanibago dahil comfort zone ko na 'yun but at least babalik pa rin naman ako.
When the clock strikes at 6pm, mabilis pa sa 6:01 na nakapag-out sina Dane at Mommy Lorraine.
"Hey, Yuri, we're observing work-life balance here. Kapag pumatak ng eksaktong alas-sais, dapat naka-out ka na at naka-lock na 'yang PC mo. We only do overtime if needed and it's rarely. Let's go." aya ni Dane sa akin.
Halos di naman ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya samantalang sa department namin ay patagalan pa kami sa pag-o-OT. I glanced at Mommy Lorraine for validation and what I got is an agreeable nod.
"Sige, mauna na kayo. Bababa pa ako sa 28th floor para kunin 'yung ibang gamit na naiwan ko. Ingat kayo and salamat!" I waved goodbye to them until nawala na sila sa paningin ko.
I timed-out then locked my PC. I tucked the chair in the desk then I went to the lobby. Like I said, bababa muna ako sa 28th floor tapos aakyat uli dito sa 32nd floor para mag-ayos tapos uuwi na rin ako. Mas mabuti nang ngayon na ako mag-aligaga sa mga gamit ko imbis na bukas.
When the elevator opened, pumasok agad ako at pinindot ang 28th floor.
"Fancy seeing you around, Ms Yuri Shin. How's the orientation?"
Halos maestatwa ako sa pamilyar na boses na aking narinig. When I looked around, I saw Sir Trein behind me. At kung minamalas nga naman, dalawa na naman kaming nandito sa lift. Gaano ba kakaunti ang empleyado dito at walang sumasakay ng elevator? Lahat ba sila ay gumagamit ng stairs?!
How will I act in front of him?
A. Mag-ala-femme fatale bitch without the pink hair
B. Mag-resign ng harapan
C. Maglasing-lasingan
D. Magka-amnesia bigla
"S-Sir, good evening po!" I greeted him. Ngumiti pa ako ng pilit from ear to ear. Huh. What a crappy greeting. Ang plastic ko yata.
"Good evening, Miss Shin." he slightly smiled.
Aba, siya yata itong nagka-amnesia!
"Uhm, ano po, okay naman po. Naintindihan ko naman po ang instructions nina Miss Lorraine at Dane." mukhang tangang sabi ko. Ah, basta, I can't even imagine what kind of face he sees at me now. "He he he he." and what's with that awkward laugh.
"Very good. I'll expect you to be productive while you're with the team. I know you can do it." sabi niya.
Tumigil ang elevator sa 31st floor at bumukas ang pinto nito. In a split second, napuno agad ang lift dahil sa mga nakasakay. Ending, napunta ako sa dulo ng elevator at napasandal pa ang likod ko sa dibdib ni Sir Trein kasi umatras-atras pa ako. Why do I keep on messing up one after another?
"Sorry, Sir-" I was almost taken aback paglingon ko sa kanya because our faces were too close to each other dahil siksikan!
I saw that little smile on his lips. "That's alright."
Hindi na ako gumalaw pa hanggang sa pumatak na ng 28th floor ang lift. I thought that ride would take a year.
"Bye sir, have a good evening po." sabi ko as a courtesy pero hindi na ako lumingon pa ulit sa kanya dahil mas awkward lalo.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Miss Yuri Shin." then he emphasized my name.
For sure alam na alam niya na kung sino ako, wala na 'tong duda.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag paglabas ko ng elevator. Sa sobrang relief, napaupo ako ng dahan-dahan sa tile floor ng lobby. I tapped my forehead.
Tomorrow's gonna be a long day.