"Magna Cum Laude Gonzales, Marie Congratulations," lahat kami ay nagpalakpakan ng tawagin ang kaklase naming si Marie, hindi ko maiwasang malungkot dahil ito ang unang beses na grumaduate ako ng walang kahit anong award at ito na rin ang huli.
Habang pumapalakpak ako nagvibrate ang phone ko sa bulsa ng toga ko kaya kinuha at tinignan ko kung sino ang nagtext.
From Beb,
Hey smile Bed, your grades, and awards don't define how great you are. Smile now it's ok I'm proud of you.
Nilingon ko si Gun sa likuran matapos kong mabasa ang text niya, kumaway siya at ngumiti ng pagkalawak-lawak, nag make face pa siya para lang mapangiti ako kaya hindi ko maiwasang tumawa ng mahina at ngitian siya.
Again, he types something on his phone and I received a text from him again,
From Beb,
That's my girl, I love you a hundred times, muah muah chup chup...
I glance at him for the last time before I look back at the stage and listen to the ceremony.
"Ok Ok.. magsitabi kayo dadaan ang graduate student natin," malakas na sambit ni Gun habang naglalakad kami papasok ng bahay kung saan naghihintay sila Mama, Kuya, Lola Lulu at ang iba pang kaibigan ni Mama.
They all prepare a simple dinner for me, and I can say that this makes me feel better now.
"Congrats anak," Mama handed me a small velvet box as a gift. "I'm so proud of you" and lean on to kiss my forehead. Ngayong nakaupo na kami sa dining area isa-isa na nilang inabot sa akin ang mga regalo niya.
When I open Mama's gift I almost cry, because it's a ring. Sobrang ganda!!! And I know the cost would be a bit expensive so I will treasure this for a lifetime.
"Here It's from Dad and here's mine," Sambit ni Kuya at inabot sa akin ang dalawang malaking box. Nang buksan ko ito halos lahat kami ay nagulat niregaluhan ako ni Papa ng Louis Vuitton na bag. Tapos yong gift naman ni Kuya ay isang Macbook Pro at Ipad.
"That will help you with your work," he said in a bored tone and continued drinking the wine.
"Nako iha ito naman ang galing sa akin," Lola Lulu said and give me a big paper bag na ang laman ay isang woolen handmade bag.
"Wow, Lala sobrang ganda po nito," sambit ko at agad nilagay doon ang macbook ko at Ipad."Mabuti naman at nagustuhan mo iha, hindi kamahalan pero gawa sa pagmamahal" malambing na sambit ni Lala kaya tumayo ako para yakapin siya bago bumalik sa upuan.
"Ako naman, yung gift ko saka ko na ibibigay pagnagstart ka na magtrabaho sa Delavine ok" Gun said and mess up with my hair and kiss my cheeks.
"Your presence is one of the greatest gifts I had in my whole life," I whispered to him, he kissed me once again and we started eating and puno lang ng masasayang kwentuhan.
***
"Hoo kaya mo ito Sienna!" I cheer myself in front of this wide mirror here inside of my room, I'm wearing a cream tank top and covering it with my black coat, and also paired it with a black knee-length pencil cut skirt. I wear nice cream heels that match my top.
I also curl my hair a bit and do simple makeup on my face. I wanna look presentable and nice in my interview.
I heard Gun's car outside so I took a last glance and whispered, "Ganbarou (Goodluck)" I said that to myself.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng aking kwarto ay sakto namang pagpasok ni Gun sa bahay habang nakasuot ng white dresser shirt at black pants. "Wow, is that my girlfriend? Oh no that's my wife," he talks to himself kaya nilapitan ko siya at hinalikan sa pisngi.
"Good morning," I said, hinalikan niya din ako pero sa lips at pagkatapos non ay kinuha ko ang hinanda kong baon para sa kanya at sabay kaming lumabas ng bahay at sumakay sa Ford fusion sedan niya.
"Are you ready Beb?" he asked as he started the engine and drove our way to the Delavine's building. Tumango ako bilang sagot kaya inabot niya ang aking kamay at hinawakan ito habang nagdadrive.
"I'm sure you can do it Beb, Ikaw pa ba," pagpapataas niya ng confident ko, kaya napangiti ako at tumanaw na lang sa bintana para makapagfocus siya sa pagdadrive.
Mga ilang saglit lang ay tumigil na kami sa parking lot ng building, "Mauna na ako baba," Sambit ko na nagpakunot ng kanyang noo.
"Why?" tanong niya habang tinatanggal ang seatbelt ko. "Gusto ko kasing pumasok mag-isa at harapin ang HR ng mag-isa Beb, gusto kong maranasan yung mga nararamdaman ng mga mag isang nag apply.
Agad naman nawala ang pagkakunot ng noo niya at inayos ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa aking mukha, "Ok I understand and I support you to whatever you like, good luck" he cupped my face and kissed me.
I close my eyes and accept his kisses before we stop and I open the door, smile at him, and wave before I go out and walk my way to the lobby.
"Hi Minami, Sienna I'm here for the interview," I said when the front desk lady approached me. She smiles and dials someone on her telephone. "Yes, Ma'am she's here, yes Miss Minami," I bet she's talking to the HR department.
Nangibaba niya na ito hinarap niya ako ng may ngiti pa rin sa labi at tinuro ang daan papuntang HR office. "That room over there, Ma'am," she said and pointed at the glass door. I nodded at her before I walked towards the door she said and knocked at it.
"Come in," renege kong boses mula sa loob, kaya dahan-dahan ko itong binuksan at ngumiti sa babaeng nasa loob.
"Good morning Ma'am," pagbati ko sa pag upo ko sa harapan ng table nito. "Papers please" she said, kinuha ko agad ang papers ko at inabot sa kanya.
Kaya mo ito Sienna...
She scanned it for a minute before she looked at me and sigh, "You are not qualified for this job, but don't worry we will call you if we have another position to offer," my lips parted through what she said and that didn't sink into my mind that fast.
Hindi pa ako nagtatagal ng limang minuto dito sa loob hindi na agad ako tanggap. "You can go now Miss Minami," she said and set aside my paper and focus on her PC.
At dahil gulat at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari nakatulala akong tumayo at nagbow sa kanya bago ako lumabas ng opisina niya at wala sa sariling naglakad.
Pakiramdam ko may kung anong bara sa aking lalamunan dahil sa nangyari at hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang nangyari.
Pero isa lang ang malinaw sa akin, hindi ako qualified...
Palabas na ako ng kumpanya ng tinawag ako ng front desk lady, "Miss Minami panapabalik po kayo sa HR office." she said and pull me inside, at pabalik sa HR office.
Pagbukas nito may kausap pa sa telepono yong HR, "Yes Sir, I understand, Ok Sir, bye," at binaba niya na ito, tinignan niya ako ng seryoso bago pinaupo muli sa upuan na inupuan ko kanina.
"You're hired," she said.
What?! "P-po?"
"I said you're hired, you will start on Monday since it's Friday today," she said.
Ano? Akala ko ba hindi ako qualified? "Diba po hindi ako qualified?" sambit ko.
"Don't ask anymore ok, your hired and that's it," sambit nito at tumayo at pumasok sa parang restroom dito sa loob.
Naguguluhan pa rin ako, totoo ba ito? Pasok ako?! May trabaho na ako!!!
I look at may papar where my name is printed there, hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti ng maimagine ang propesyon na ilalagay sa unahan ng aking pangalan.
"Head Marketing Manager Ashiena Minami," I whisper.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Partnership (Law of Attraction Series # 4)
Romance"The strongest team can always come to an end but the purest partnership won't come to an end but will face a lot of challenges together." As Sienna writes her own flow of life with the almost perfect man, her boyfriend. But they end up being challe...
