All Is Not Lost

Chapter 18

Three

"Will you be okay?" Santi asked for the eleventh time. I've been counting because I was already expecting it.

Nangingiti akong tumango sa kaniya at hinayaan siyang yakapin ako pagilid. First day ko na kasi ngayon sa trabaho.

Daddy talked to me about the company and just like with Mommy, no explanation for why they couldn't attend my graduation. Okay lang. Hindi ko na rin siya pinaghanapan pa. I just listened quietly when he explained that I should work under him for our company.

Walang ibang magmamana ng kumpanya bukod sa akin. That is what he is trying to say during those two hours of talking to me in his office. Kahit na siya naman ang nakikiusap sa akin, hindi niya maitago ang pagkabigo na pinili ni Kuya ang larangan ng medisina kaysa pagnenegosyo.

Hinatid ako ni Santi sa office. Susunduin na lang din niya ako mamayang hapon 'pag tapos na ako sa trabaho. We've been talking about moving together because it'll be a hassle for him to drop me home before he goes home. He insisted that it's not a hassle but he also likes the idea of us, living together.

My first day in the office was okay. Assistant ako ng secretary ni Daddy para malaman ko kung ano ang mga ginagawa niya bilang CEO. His secretary was very cool with having an assistant. She gave me a tour of the whole office, introduced me to everyone in every department, and gave me tips on how to manage my time.

Sa ngayong nagsisimula pa lang ako, ang pinaka-unang bagay na kailangan kong matutunan ang tamang paghawak sa oras ko. I need to master this first.

The first few months went well. Noong ikawalo at sumunod pang mga buwan, nagsimula na akong maging sobrang busy. Parami nang parami ang gawain ko kahit na assistant lang ako ng secretary ni Daddy.

Linn would often assign me to do the minutes for every meeting, so they'll be guaranteed that I'm paying attention. Kasama rin ako sa on-site inspection at miminsang naa-assign sa factories para mag-check ng kung ano.

"Uh... Kalli, puwede bang ikaw ang magtimpla ng kape ng Daddy mo at ng buong board? May hinihingi kasi siyang files bigla. Kailangan na raw mamaya sa meeting," Linn asked me.

I looked at my table full of paperwork that are due tonight. Minamadali ko kasi kakabigay niya lang kaninang umaga. I looked at her again and she smiled.

"Pausap na ha? Thanks!" she expressed her gratitude and went to her table. Narinig kong nagbungisngisan ang mga empleyadong nakarinig sa sinabi ni Linn at kalaunan ay lumapit sa table niya.

I sighed and went to the kitchenette to prepare coffee. Sa kalagitnaan ng paghahanda ko ng kape ay may pumasok na mga empleyado.

"Lalong pinapahirapan ni Linn kasi nga akala mo kung sino dahil lang anak ng CEO."

"Ganoon ba? E 'di ba, cancelled naman 'yung meeting mamaya?"

I looked in the direction of the door. Nakaka-dalawang hakbang na sila sa loob nang mapansin na may tao pala. They looked like they've seen a ghost when they saw me there. Natutop pa noong isa ang bibig sa sobrang gulat.

I stopped making coffee and returned the unused mugs to where they are kept. I got some tissue to dry my hands and went outside to continue my work.

I don't know why, but I'm hyped to do my work more when I'm pissed. Kaya siguro natapos ko lahat ng pagawa ni Linn nang walang imik sa narinig. I went to her desk with the documents and placed it on her table without a word.

Maaga akong nag-out dahil maaga rin naman akong natapos sa trabaho. I texted Santi that I'm going home early and I already booked a grab to get home. Maaga pa kasi kaya hindi niya pa ako masusundo. O kung makakaalis man siya sa office nila para ihatid ako pauwi, hindi agad-agad dahil late na ako nagsabi.