Exclusively Yours, Levi

62 Levi I Rex

Isang mainit na Rex Dantes ang nadatnan ni Savannah pagkapasok niya. Basta na lang siya naupo sa nandoong couch at pinapanood nito habang may kausap ito sa telepono sa galit na boses. Napabuntong-hininga ang lalaki nang matapos ito sa pakikipag-usap.

"Good morning boss pogi." masigla niyang bati dito. "Umagang-umaga ang init ng ulo natin."

"Why are you here?" matigas na sabi sa kanya nito. Binalewala nito ang matamis niyang pagbati.

"Boss naman. Di ba sesermunan mo pa ako. Narito ako ngayon para makinig sa inyo."

He glared at her and gave her a disbelieving look. He took a seat in his executive chair and massaged his forehead. Ano naman kaya ang gumugulo sa isip nito?

"So, anong problema boss?" muli niyang tanong dito.

Rex uttered some sighs again. "It was the owner of Craze Magazine."

Craze Magazine is the popular publisher of fashion magazines at iba pang mga babasahin. Naging patok ang kumpanyang iyon dahil sa mga magagandang articles na pinapublish ng mga ito. Maging ang mga modelo ay hindi basta-basta. It penetrated the younger market kaya palaging sold out ang mga magazines ng mga ito.

"What about that Craze?"kunot-noo niyang tanong. Anong kinalaman ng boss niya doon. Hindi naman nila line ang fashion.

"Are you aware of our new segment?" sa halip ay tanong ni Rex.

"New segment. I am not aware I guess."

"We have started our new line about fashion."

"What?!" malakas na naibulalas niya. Fashion? Bakit pati sa linyang iyon ay gustong pasukin ng kanyang boss? May munting ideyang namumuo sa kanyang utak. "So, you started a new line that is about fashion? And Craze Magazine did not like it kaya mainit ang ulo mo ngayon?"

"No." mabilis na saway nito sa kanyang sinabi. "Hindi lang basta resistance ang ginawa nila. They are planning to release a magazine which features the whole Prairie. They sent me a copy and threaten me to turn down our new venture. Kung hindi ay irerelease nila iyon sa public."

Mas lalo siyang nagulat. Anong connect ng Prairie sa Craze edition issues? "Why would they do that? Hindi naman yata in line sa fashion iyon."

"It is Savannah." galit pa rin ito.

"Paano nangyari iyon? Ano bang nakalagay sa edition na iyon?"

"They made a concept of something like a 'fashion in the media'. They made it possible and their articles are really in line with fashion."

"Ganun naman pala. Eh, bakit ang init ng ulo mo boss? Hindi ba dapat ay magsaya tayo dahil mas lalong sisikat ang kompanya?"

"You are mistaken! That magazine issue criticizes us in many things na tinatawag na mahirap lunukin. In that way, our new line will be rejected by the public at mababawasan ang appeal natin sa publiko."

"I am speechless. Paano ba tayo nakriticize?"

"I don't know. They released some fashion standards regarding our industry and compared them to Prairie. Believe it or not, they made sure to it that this company failed to achieve their so-called 'Fashion in the media'.

Then, she realized something. Of course, Rex is not mad because of the threat. Mabilis lang naman nitong masolusyunan ang bagay na iyon. Rather, her Boss Pogi is mad because somebody has been testing him. He is mad because the owner of Craze is more clever than him. Like her, Rex does not want to be defeated. Pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakikita niyang mag-gi-give way na ito para sa Craze. That clever owner of Craze is making him to surrender without the fight being started.

"Are you mad because of the threat or are you mad because you finally met your match?" pakantiyaw niyang wika sa boss niya.

He gave her a deadly glare. "Baka nakakalimutan mong may atraso ka pa sa akin."

"How can I forget that? Di ba pumasok ako para magbayad?"

"Ok, you will be suspended for a month starting today." he declared mercilessly.

Nagulat siya at mabilis na mapatayo. "Don't do that! Ayoko!"

"My decision is final!"

"Please naman Boss Pogi. Gawin ko ang lahat ng ipapagawa mo huwag mo lang akong isuspende. Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa isang buwan? Hindi ko kayang mahiwalay sa aking camera. Alam mo iyon di ba?"

"Gawin mo lahat ng ipapagawa ko?" he asked with a big doubt covering his face. "Come on Savannah, hindi mo magagawa iyon. Iyon nga ang dahilan kung bakit kita sinususpende. You are very hardheaded. Malinaw sa ating usapan bago ka pumunta sa Cebu na kailangan mong bumalik pag pinatawag kita. But you did not, you insisted on staying there. Paano pag may nangyari sa iyong masama sa aftershock ng lindol?"

"But I was able to take great shots right?"

"Yeah, but I will not risk your safety for money and popularity. Matagal na kitang pinagsasabihan."

"Nag-iingat naman ako ah at walang nangyari sa akin. Kaya nga ako nandito at kinakausap ka."

"Yeah right! Kaya ka nga nandito at nakikiargumento sa akin. My decision is still final. You have to take the one month off. Magbakasyon ka, you can always bring your camera with you and take some shots on nature."

"No!"

"If you insist on going back to work, go and visit the celebrity section tomorrow. Nangangailangan sila ng photographer doon."

"What?! No way! Ano namang mapapala ko sa pagsunod-sunod sa mga celibrity na mga iyan? I prefer more hardcore missions."

"Well, it is up to you kung anong gusto mo. Be suspended or go and work with our other line. I prefer if you will take a one month off. You need a vacation Savannah."

She was speechless. Wala na yata siyang magagawa. Once Rex has spoken nobody can contradict him anymore. Maybe she will start deciding kung ano ang kanyang gagawin. At tama ito, mas magandang magbakasyon na lang uli siya.