"Good morning"
Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro akong napatayo nang marinig ang malalim na boses na nagmula sa aking likuran.
I slowly turned around and saw a tall hunk guy sternly looking at me.
"Good morning din po Mister Smith"
I already know his name, I mean who wouldn't? Isa kang hibang kung hindi mo kilala ang chief executive officer ng kumpanyang papasukan mo.
"So...you're the new assistant?" tanong niya
Ay Sir mag-aapply pa lang ho ako.
"Applying for that position Mister Smith" pagtatama ko
"Just call me Sir, Mister is too formal. I feel like an old guy when I hear that"
"Okay po Sir"
"Sir George" he said
"Okay po Sir George"
Looks like he's strict boss but nice too.
He slowly walked inside the office and opened the envelope he has been holding the whole time.
I know it's my resume. Ako lang naman ata ang nagpasa ng blue colored na envelope sa company nila. Although alam kong marami silang applicant lagi, sa laki ba naman ng company nito.
"Czarina A. Lopez, 20 years old, graduate of bachelor of science in fisheries" he said
Pilit akong ngumiti nang sabihin niya iyon. Ganito ba talaga ang pakiramdam kapag mag-aapply ka sa malalaking kumpanya? Nakakapanghina ng tuhod, ang seryoso pa ng pagkakasabi ni Mister Smith.
"Fresh graduate I see. I'm curious bakit executive assistant ang napili mo. You could do field works" he said
"Sir-"
"Mas malaki ang salary ng mga nag fifield Miss Lopez. I am expecting that you're a graduate of any business related course"
Napayuko ako knowing that he has a point. Alam ko naman na medyo malayo ang position na gusto ko sa course na tinapos ko. I'm just hoping maybe I can gain experience in managing.
"Sir kasi po-"
"I do not want to waste our time here Miss Lopez, I want to ask you few questions before you leave my office" putol niya sakin
Mukhang marereject ako agad sa unang interview.
"I am up for any questions Sir" sagot ko na lang
He suddenly gave me a small smile before nodding.
"Well then I will start, you're currently living in Sta. Rosa Laguna. One hour away from here or two if traffic, kaya mo bang mag commute araw-araw?"
"Sir I am planning on moving here in Los Baños if matanggap ako-"
"Good, next question then. Mahaba ba ang pasensya mo?"
Napakainformal naman nito mag interview, hindi pa nga ako tapos sumagot.
"Yes Sir-"
"You have to be honest with me Miss Lopez" putol niya na naman sakin
"Opo mahaba ang pasensya ko" tipid kong sagot
"Have you read the information given in our post sa Indeed?"
"Yes Sir"
"Really?" he asked
Tinitest ba ako nito kung nagsasabi ako ng totoo?
"Permanent and full time executive assistant, 35, 000 - 40, 000 monthly salary-"
He started laughing which made me stop talking.
Nang-aasar ba tong magiging boss ko or what? Tsk, para namang tatanggapin niya ako agad, right Czarina? Fresh grad ka pa naman, and this position is not for the weak.
"Fine Miss Lopez you know the terms, one last question"
I fixed my position when he became serious again. Nakakakaba na naman yung tingin ni Sir.
--------------------------------------
Ibinaba ko ang bag sa side table at mabilis na humiga sa kama ko.
"Seryoso ba to? Wala pang three months may...may trabaho na ako? Akala ko marereject na ako dahil sa job position na yun"
Niyakap ko ang aking unan at tumitig sa kisame.
"For a moment he sounded unsure dahil sa course ko, ang labo pala minsan ng mga negosyante"
Parang ang bilis naman niya akong tanggapin. Hmm sabagay, urgent hiring kasi sila.
Totoo kaya yung sinabi niya kanina tungkol sa magiging boss ko.
Akala ko siya talaga ang magiging boss ko, but Sir Smith clarified something to me. He's the CEO of the company but my position as an executive assistant is for the Chief Operating Officer.
Kinabahan naman ako ulit ng maalala ang pag-uusap namin kanina.
(Flashback)
"Her name is Louise Irene Smith, the new COO of our company. Marami ng newly hired executive assistant na dumaan sa kanya. But guess what? Kung hindi niya tinatanggal, mismong assistant na ang hindi pumapasok sa trabaho" he said
"Absent without leave Sir?" pagkaklaro ko
"Yes, AWOL. This has been going for about a month. Walang tumatagal kay Louise" he said
"Bakit po?"
He sighed and tapped his desk. Mukhang problemado tong si Sir sa itsura niya ngayon.
"She's really...hmm a hard-working lady. She wants everything to be smooth and perfect as much as possible. She's strict when it comes to schedules. May high expectation sa lahat ng hawak niyang tauhan, which a lot of employees fail to reach"
So in short, a terror COO?
"She hates when her assistant is too slow in all aspects. Through actions, decision making, communication- what else?" he added
"Wow"
Yun na lang ang nasabi ko. Mukhang kailangan ng extra effort pagdating sa COO na yun.
"Anyway, I am just being honest and clear here Miss Lopez. If you are capable of handling her then it's a win-win situation right?" he suddenly said
I suddenly noticed how he looks at me. There's a glimpse of worry and desperation in his eyes. Para bang ilang beses na siyang napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon.
Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na sobrang big deal pala ng position na ito. The CEO himself interviewed me, sobrang nakakagulat na ganito sa company nila. Commonly may assigned person pagdating sa interviews.
Ah naalala ko na, yung HR Department ang bahala sa job seekers na kagaya ko.
My bet is ngayon lang ito nangyari dahil sa sobrang hirap hanapan ng assistant yung COO nila.
"Mister Smith, I am a fresh graduate just like you said. I want to gain experience and knowledge while doing my job. If the company is going to give me that, sino ako para tumanggi?" I said
He chuckled and let out a deep sigh.
Sign of relief I guess.
"Congratulations Miss Lopez, we have a deal. You're hired" he said
I smiled and shook hands with him.
(End of Flashback)
"Good luck Czarina, kayanin mo ang terror ng COO na yun"
Unti-unti kong pinikit ang aking mata at hinayaang makapagpahinga ang sarili.
