BEHIND THE CROWD

PROLOGUE

I was on my way to the office and for heaven's sake may nagbanggaan pa mismo sa kalsada which caused commotion. I was literally late for my work at wala nang dapat sisihin kung hindi ang kaibigan kong yon.

Sahara ruined my peaceful night in my condo, pumunta lang para mag-inom dahil broken-hearted na naman sa kung sino mang boyfriend niya.

I'm not a saint but I don't have a stoned heart either kaya pinapasok ko siya not knowing na iiyak-iyak lang siya sa akin at ang masama pa ay pinilit niya pa akong uminom.

And this was the product of what happened last night. I wake up late, I have a headache, and I felt really dizzy.

Kung pwede lang hindi ako pumasok ngayong araw, but I have a very important meeting for today.

Darating yung kliyente for a new building project, importante ang project na iyon sa kumpanya kaya kailangan ko talagang pumunta. We have a meeting para sa plano ng bahay maging yung bagong enhinyero na kinuha ni Dad ay darating and being the next in line slash head architect ay napakahalaga ng papel ko dito. Hindi ako pwedeng malate.

I frustratedly sighed accepting the fact that I am already half an hour late. "This is fucking frustrating!" inis kong pinatakbo ang sasakyan ko papuntang trabaho nang matapos ang pangyayari sa kalsada.

Nakarating ako sa opisina matapos ang halos isang oras sa kalsada. Tumambad sa akin ang aming kumpanya, a huge name NICHOLSON were printed at the top of the welcome hall.

Seeing this as one of the still leading architectural firm in the country makes me proud about the sacrifices of my younger self. This company changes but it is for the better.

I was welcomed by my secretary when I entered the building. Kita ko kung paano siyang natataranta, kita ko sa mukha niya ang kaba.

"Good morning Ma'am!" bati niya na tinanguan ko lang habang patuloy na nagmamadali. "Everyone were waiting for you at the conference hall, they were accompanied by your Dad for the mean time." Maingat na saad niya habang sumasakay kami sa elevator.

"Naroon na ang lahat?" tanong ko.

"Yes po, kayo nalang po ang hinihintay" napailing ako sa sagot niya.

"Are our clients mad?" dagdag na tanong ko na hindi man kita sa mukha kong walang bahid na emosyon ay frustrated ako.

Natigilan siya ng kaunti bago hindi siyuradong napailing, "But they were close to being mad earlier but your Dad came and I think it lessen by now." Maingat niyang sagot.

Napabuntong-hininga ako sa sagot niya and I impatienly waited for the elevator to open, nakakahiya sa mga naghihintay. Nang bumukas ito ay kaagad akong lumabas at tinungo ang conference hall.

When I opened the door, everyone's gaze are at me. Narito na nga ang lahat from our engineers and architects. Nginisian pa ako ng isa na parang nang-aasar, inirapan ko ito. Baliw na Sarmiento....

"I'm sorry, I'm late" Pinanatili ko ang seryosong mukha habang nakatingin sa kliyente namin na katabi ni Dad.

They are from a well-known business firm, kailangan nilang magbranch-out para sa isa nilang market dito sa Manila. They were originally from Australia but may dugong pinoy. Here is their CEO itself.

"Ahh, don't worry iha napasarap rin ang kwentuhan namin dito" tumawa pa muna ito bago sulyapan ang aking ama. "And Leandro already explained, no worries"