CAITLIN
"Congrats team!" Kev took his shot glass and raised it for a toast.
"At syempre sa ating pinaka mahusay na Architect Cait! You did it again! Hands down na talaga kami sayo!" I rolled my eyes at them and started to drink my shot.
They party and drink like there's no tomorrow. Ako naman, nakikitawa lang sakanila.
We're celebrating the company's biggest deal this year. At syempre, I am the one who got it. I mean, my design.
I am part of the Architecture staff of Noora-Viray Construction.
My family owns it.
That's why I am the head Architecture.
Being on top is not that easy, even we own the firm, I started from scratch. Ganun kami pinalaki ng magulang namin.
They want us to value what we have and the family achieve. My mom and Dad are both from a well off family.
Kung tutuusin, mabubuhay kaming apat na magkakapatid kahit hindi magtrabaho. Pero hindi ganon.
Mom always taught us to value money. Kaya lahat kami, lumaking kuripot at hindi magastos.
I took my last shot and grab my purse. Kumaway lang ako sakanila, hindi pinansin ang tawag at protesta sa akin. Pinikit ko ang aking mata pagkasakay ko sa sasakyan.
Pilit inaalis ang hilong unti unti kong nararamdaman. Hindi ako madaling malasing, pero may tama pa rin ng alak sa akin. That's why I rarely drink alcohol, I may still know what I am doing, but it's making me dizzy.
I started the engine of my car and drove it. It's just past nine in the evening. Iniisip ko kung sa condo ba ako uuwi o sa bahay namin.
Malulungkot lang kasi ako pag sa condo, pero pag sa bahay naman, sermon ang aabutin ko kay Mommy.
Mabilis kong inapakan ang break ng kotse para huminto iyon. Napangiwi ako ng makita kong nasa gitna na ako ng pedestrian lane.
Meaning, I beat the red lights. Agad kong itinabi ang sasakyan ko ng senyasan ako ng traffic enforcer.
"Good evening po, Ma'am lisensya po?"
"Ahm.. Sir, baka po pwedeng makiusap naman. It was just mid of the pedestrian lane naman po. I didn't pass through naman" Pakiusap ko, habang kinakapa ang lisensya ko.
"Beating the red lights pa rin po mam. Teka nga po" Lumayo ako ng bahagya para hindi nya ako maamoy! Damn it!
"Mam nakainom pa ho ata kayo. Driving with the influence of alcohol po yan"
"I'm not drunk naman po. I just got a shot from a company's celebration, sir. Pero hindi naman po ako lasing" Paliwanag ko.
"Naku Mam, labag parin po sa batas. Pakilabas nalang po ng lisensya"
"Suarez, anong problema dyan?" Napangisi ang sumingit na pulis nang makita ako. "Architect, kamusta?"
"Sir, kilala mo?" sabat nung sumita sa akin.
"Tss.. Not good, lalo nakita kita. Can you please just give my ticket, Mr. Officer" Baling ko sa unang sumita sa akin.
"Ang grumpy naman Architect. Ako na dito, Suarez"
"Sige po boss" I rolled my eyes and give my license to him.
"Alam mo Gomez, tiketan mo na lang ako. You're wasting my time"
"Magagalit si Capt. nito Architect" Natatawang sabi pa ng gago na to.
"Naku driving in the influence of alcohol? Lasing ka ba Architect?" Kunot noong tanong nya.
