"So as Mr. Choi said to me, you Ms. Montenegro will be his representative for this business."
Hindi ko na napigilang itaas ang kilay ko sa nangyayari ngayon. Una, nakakagulat na isang 24 years old bachelor ang nagpapatakbo nitong multimillion company na ito. Pangalawa, bakit walang sinasabi sakin si Mgr. Kim tungkol dito. Dati naman every time na may mga project ako bini-brief niya ako pero ngayon halos i-zipper na niya ang bibig niya dahil wala siyang sinasabi. At pangatlo, okay lang naman kahit hindi ako na-brief at kahit nga 1 year old lang ang CEO nitong C&G, pero yung si Raven Cannavarro ang kakaharapin ko? Diyan tayo magkaka-gulo. Tsaka ano itong ako ang representative ni Mr. Choi dito? Oo, alam kong favorite ako ni Mr. Choi, aware naman ako dun pero yung gagawin akong proxy niya? Aba matinde!
"Ano namang kinalaman ng field of work ko sa pagiging representative ni Mr. Choi? Singer/dancer/composer/solo artist po ako ng EC entertainment. And I believe that being a representative is out of my job Sir." Nag-smirk lang siya. Aba talagang nang-iinis ata ito eh!
"If that's your concern Miss. Your employer sent me this resume of yours. And it says na nakatapos ka ng Business Administration major in Economics same as mine. At sabi pa ni Mr. Choi you were once take over his company when his family is out of Korea so may experience ka na on this field."
Napasulyap ako sa mga katabi kanina pa. They are lost on their own worlds. Para silang namaligno na nakatingin at akala mo'y nakikinig at naiintindihan ang pinag-uusapan namin dito pero alam kong kanina pa nila pinagnanasahan itong uwak na ito.
"Excuse me but can I talk to my manager first?" Litong-lito na kasi ako at hindi nakakatulong yung ginagawa ng dalawang koreanang halos tumulo na ang laway sa tabi ko.
Sinenyasan ko si Mgr. Kim na lumabas saglit.
"Acel--"
"Stop. Manager what's the meaning of this? I am expecting that I am here because of those TV guestings, mall shows, small concerts, et cetera. But why this? It's out of my field." Reklamo ko.
"Acel no. Actually it is the right field based on your degree taken. You are qualified as a representative of Mr. Choi and he believes in you so he gave this to you." Mahinahon niyang paliwanag.
"But why me? He has money. He can go here by himself. He don't need me here. I'm an artist, and I'm not into business. I love composing songs, not working in an office."
"Acel, Mr. Choi can't go here. EC has a problem now and he needs to be there. That's also the reason why he wanted Vince to go back. And since you are here already, and you're the only one who can effortlessly speak tagalog to them, he give this to you."
Huminga ako ng malalim.
"So how about my shows in Korea and in Japan next months?" May concert din kasi ako sa Tokyo next month at may album launching sa Seoul the other day.
"He already cancelled it since Japan has a crisis nowadays."
Saglit kaming natahimik.
"I don't have any choice, do I?" Dahan-dahan siyang umiling.
***
Matapos namin mag-usap ni Manager Kim ay bumalik na kami sa office ni Raven.
"Oh they're back!" Natawang sabi ni Jiji. Mukhang nagkakasiyahan itong tatlong ito ah?
"So?" Tanong ni Raven sakin.
"Fine. I'll do it. But please be reminded that I still have other business aside from being Mr. Choi's representative."
"I am already aware of that Miss Montenegro."
"Good."
"So is this a deal?" Tumayo siya at inilahad ang kanang kamay sakin. Wala na akong magawa kundi ang tumayo at tanggapin yun.
