At Last, Him

Chapter 2: Never in My Wildest Dreams

The energy was infectious, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the celebration. Then, suddenly, the emcee's voice broke through the noise, announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a toast! Please welcome Architect Carlo Mariano to say a few words!"

The crowd's applause grew louder as Ar. Carlo, our boss and mentor, stepped up to the microphone. I felt a flutter of anticipation in my chest, the kind that always came when he spoke. He had a way of commanding attention, his charisma filling the room.

"Happy One Year of Service to all our Junior Architects in Eco Arc Design!" aniya, ang boses niya ay puno ng sigla. Nakita ko ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha habang tinitingnan ang mga Junior Architect na nakapaligid sa kanya. My heart swelled with gratitude for being part of such an amazing team. This past year had been a whirlwind of challenges and triumphs, and I was grateful for every moment.

Nang makita kong tumingin siya sa akin, parang nakaramdam ako ng isang halo-halong saya at kaba. Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nakatayo sa likod ng mga nagawa namin. Si Ar. Carlo ay may malasakit sa amin at talagang pinahalagahan ang mga pagsisikap namin.

"Gusto kong pasalamatan lahat ng Junior Architects natin. Shan, Pam, Jazhmin, Christine, Neil, Joshua, Christian, and Vinze," patuloy niya, ang tono niya ay puno ng paggalang at pagpapahalaga. "You are the reason why we were able to overcome the challenges of the past year. In every project you worked on, in every idea you shared, each of these has been significant. It is not easy to be a Junior Architect in a company full of ambition and high standards, but you have shown your dedication and talent."

His words felt like a dagger to my heart. It was as if each sentence wrapped around me with gratitude and inspiration. Along with the other Junior Architects, I felt a great sense of pride.

"My wish for you guys," he said, "is to continue your hard work and creativity. New challenges will come, pero alam kong kayang-kaya ninyo 'yan. Don't be afraid to dream, and always remain open to opportunities. The future is in your hands, and I am proud to be part of your journey."

The applause once again reached his words. The smiles on each of our faces seemed to express unity and hope. His message felt like it infused us with new energy, and behind all of it, I could feel the mix of fear and excitement swirling in my heart. In those moments, I knew that all the hard work was paying off, and every challenge was taking us to a higher level.

But suddenly, my attention returned to Ar. Carlo as he addressed everyone, "Now, I want to highlight someone who truly shone in our journey." My heart raced as he looked around. "Let's call Shannon Gueia Vergara Pertierra!"

My breath caught in my throat. The room erupted into applause, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. All eyes were on me, and in that moment, I felt both proud and vulnerable. I had poured my heart and soul into my work, but recognition was something I had never taken lightly.

Nagsimula akong tumayo, at parang nag-umpisa ang mga binti kong manginig. I made my way to the front, heart pounding as I climbed onto the stage. It felt surreal to be in the spotlight, the glow of the lights making me acutely aware of every gaze directed my way. I could hear the supportive cheers of my colleagues, their smiles encouraging me.

Architect Carlo continued, "Shan has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance. Her commitment to our projects and her ability to lead her team has been commendable. We couldn't have asked for a better Job Captain!"

His words washed over me like a warm wave. It was moments like this that made the late nights and stressful deadlines worth it. I glanced around the room, catching sight of my colleagues beaming with pride.