Agad akong umalis nang matapos kong gawin ang kape ni ma'am.
"Of all people na pwede kong makausap yung director pa talaga?" tanong ko
I am currently on my way back to ma'am Smith's office. I already have her plain black coffee. I hope this will make her like me.
"Sabi nga ni ma'am Ruiz, I need to give her some time" I said to myself
Narating ko na ang opisina, kumatok muna ako bago pumasok.
I saw her typing something in her laptop, ni hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin nito.
I slowly place the cup of coffee on her table. And at last, she looked at me and the cup of coffee.
"Took you so long to make a cup of it" she said
"Sorry ma'am" tipid kong sagot
Hindi naman sa nangapa akong gamitin yung coffee maker, sadyang maikli lang talaga ang pasensya niya tsk.
"Drink the macchiato, I don't want it" she said
Hindi na ako nagsalita pa, kinuha ko ito mula sa table niya.
"Still warm?" she asks
Hindi pa nga ako nakakahigop ma'am, pano ko malalaman?
"Y-Yes ma'am" sagot ko na lang
"Good, the company provided you a laptop, Ipad and a personal computer. I will be in charge of your training for this week miss Lopez"
"Noted ma'am"
She sips her coffee before standing up, umupo siya sa tapat ko. I am sitting on her couch kaya siguro lumipat ito para makapag-usap kami ng maayos.
"So your working hours is from 7 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. I want you to remember that. Don't worry if you have a lot of tasks to do you can do overtime"
"And I am with you the whole day so no point of rigging your working hours" she added
Muntik na akong masamid sa sinabi niya. Anong akala niya sakin?
"Ma'am can I ask you a question?"
"Yes you may"
Nangangalahati na yung coffee niya, grabe hindi ba sobrang tapang ng black coffee?
"What about holidays and leave of absence? Sir George did not mention it last time-"
"Well we're not contractual here right? Of course you have those benefits miss Lopez, I forgot fresh grad ka pala. Other companies does not give additional benefits for their employees, regardless if they're permanent or contractual but this is SAC dear. Ibahin mo kami" sagot nito
Napatango ako sa sinabi niya. Ang ganda talaga ng offer ng company nila. Walang tapon.
"Ma'am so what will be my next task?"
She rolled her eyes and gave me the empty cup.
"Put it in the sink and get your things in the HR Department, find the coordinator and tell her you're the new assistant" she said
"Okay po"
Lumabas ako muli ng opisina, mabilis ko namang nahanap yung office ng HR Department, sa laki ba naman ng sign ages dito.
"Good morning po, ako po yung bagong assistant ni ma'am-"
Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko.
"Miss Lopez right? We still need to set-up the PC in your office, baka mamaya mo pa magamit. But your laptop and Ipad are here"
Lahat ata ng tao sa kumpanyang ito ay mahilig mang sapaw. Hindi man lang ako pinatapos sa pagsasalita.
"I'm Grace by the way, the coordinator" she added
"Hello po ma'am Grace, pwede ko po bang makuha muna yung laptop at Ipad? Pinapabalik po kasi ako agad ni ma'am" nahihiya kong sabi
"Of course, just give me a minute"
Umalis ito sa kinatatayuan at pumasok sa isang silid. Ginala ko ang aking mata sa opisina nila. Malaki ito kumpara sa office ng CEO at COO. Baka kasi maraming applicants ang pumupunta araw-araw.
"Here are your things miss Lopez"
Agad akong napatingin kay ma'am Grace na may bitbit na dalawang bag.
"Thank you po ma'am"
"Good luck, sana magtagal ka"
Ibinigay niya sakin ang mga bag at inalalayan akong buksan ang pintuan ng opisina nila.
"Grabe naman yung wish ni ma'am nakakatakot" sabi ko sa sarili
Pumasok ako sa elevator at pinindot ang 11th floor. Habang nag-iintay biglang nag vibrate ang phone ko.
Chineck ko ang mga ito at nakita ko ang isang unknown number.
Unknown Number: Don't tell me you're still chit-chatting with the coordinator Lopez? I want you to be here asap!
Si ma'am ba to? Hala san niya nakuha yung number ko? Ay shit, maikli nga pala pasensya ng boss ko.
Pagkabukas ng elevator agad akong lumabas at tumakbo. Ayokong mapagalitan, nakakatakot eh.
"Ma'am andito na po-"
"This is your table Lopez, you will not sit on the couch or on any chair here unless I say so. You have your own swivel chair, get ready and set your things up"
Agad akong kumilos, nakakaloka naman tong si ma'am napakaseryoso na naman. Wala atang araw na hindi siya ganto, pano na ako?
Nang matapos, tiningnan ko siya. Halatang kanina pa ako pinapanuod. Nakaupo ba naman sa couch na parang nanonood ng tv.
"Ma'am"
"Sit on your chair, I'll start the orientation"
I did what she said. She slowly went to me and pulled a chair. She sat beside me and pointed the Ipad.
"This will serve as a planner, laptop on the other hand is for presentations and emails and your personal computer is for files. Your phone, ah I forgot to ask them. I'll buy you an extra, for business calls and messages" she said
"M-Ma'am"
Nakaka overwhelm lahat ng pinagsasabi niya. Naiintindihan ko naman lahat pero teka lang kailangan ko huminga!
"Yes? Wait, you look pale"
Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang lumapit siya sakin lalo. She held my right hand and touched my forehead.
"No fever but your hand is cold, should I turn off the aircon for few minutes?"
Hala! Nakakagulat naman tong si ma'am, kanina lang parang mang-aaway na.
"I'm o-okay ma'am medyo na overwhelm lang siguro ako sa tasks ko"
"You sure?"
"Yes po, can we continue the orientation?"
She let go of my hand and opened the laptop. Akala ko MacBook, mukha kasing mahilig sa apple ang SAC eh. Pati nga relo ni ma'am apple rin.
"Create a new account here, lahat ng emails ko ikaw lang ang hahawak" sabi nito
The orientation lasted for three hours. Yes three frickin hours ang naconsume ni ma'am! Ayaw nga paawat eh, kahit lunch time na sige pa rin siya sa pagtuturo sakin.
"Let's eat Lopez, I'm hungry na" she suddenly said
Sa wakas nakaramdam din siya ng gutom.
