my Endless Blue

∞ Track #1: Lucky One

It was already afternoon, at malapit nang mag-3PM. Kanina pa ako nakatitig sa monitor ng aking work computer. I removed my eyeglasses because of the added stress to my eyes. Currently on to the last two slides of the presentation I was working on. Kailangan ko na lang talaga ay matapos 'yung insights summary at recommendations slides so I could send to the account manager, itong monthly report ng aming client.

And yet here I was, just staring at the desktop screen as if I was in a trance. Hindi ko na nga alam kung ilang minuto o oras na ba akong tulala while trying to finish this report.

"Uy Baks, okay ka lang? Pansin ko kanina mo pa tinititigan yang screen mo?" Concerned question nung babaeng nakapwesto sa isang workstation 'di kalayuan sa akin. Siya si Jessica, account manager ng client nitong report na tinatapos ko. Marami pa kaming ibang accounts na hinahandle together kaya madalas kaming magka-work sa projects.

"Oo naman Madam! Okay lang me! Mejj overwhelmed lang since alam mo na, end of month. Daming reports na need nating tapusin.", palusot ko na lang para 'di na siya mag-usisa pa.

"Okay, sabi mo yan ah! Just tell me if you need help or anything." ngumiti siya nang bahagya.

Nagtaas-taas na lang ako ng kilay at nag-smile while giving thumbs up bago muling ibinaling ang atensiyon sa presentation na kailangan kong tapusin. I wore my eyeglasses again, trying to concentrate and finish the task at hand.

Half-truth naman 'yung palusot ko kay Jess kasi overwhelmed talaga ako — Pero hindi dahil sa monthly reports na need naming tapusin. It's about something that happened a week ago. Actually, this had been keeping me awake at night the past few days. Buong akala ko okay na 'ko because yesterday felt like I was back to normal. Was I tho? Not sure anymore. But suddenly, I felt all over the place again. Hindi ako mapakali sa 'di malamang dahilan. If only I could totally forget what happened last week, things wouldn't be so difficult right now.

We were in Baguio for a two-day launch event our company organized for a client. Hindi talaga ako required na sumama since more on events and pr yung project. No budget din kasi sila for social media activations. Kung hindi lang talaga ako sinuhulan ng boss namin na bibigyan niya ko ng free passes sa next concert ng Cloud 9 (my ult group uwu) para tumulong sa event, I wouldn't have agreed to help the team. Oh the things I do for mah bois. He-he.

Now, I badly regret that I joined them and went to Baguio last week. Jokes on me.

FLASHBACK

Today was a rest day. We could do whatever we wanted as per our boss. Reward niya daw for our hard work during the two-day event. So, we'd stay one more day here in Baguio then leave by tomorrow afternoon, Saturday.

Kakatapos lang naming mag-brunch nang nagpaalam akong hihiwalay muna ako sa aking workmates. Pupunta kasi silang Minesview Park and I decided not to join them.

Gusto ko muna kasing mapag-isa. You see, I value my alone time. My solitude is imperative to me. And considering how hectic work was the past two days, like dealing with the press people as well as the event participants, I needed to recharge my social battery. Sobra akong na-drain sa dami ng taong pumunta sa event. Aware naman sila sa office about this side of me, kaya okay lang sa kanila when I opted not to join them.

I wanted to walk around so I decided to head to Burnham Park, which was the nearest tourist spot from our hotel. Walking distance lang naman talaga siya since nasa Harrison Road lang 'yung hotel namin.

I strolled alongside Igorot Garden hanggang sa narating ko 'yung Dancing Fountain. I stayed there for a while, just appreciating the peaceful ambiance of the place. Only a few people were there. Most likely because it's a workday and also, it's still the off-peak season of Baguio.