Kaela's POV
"Hi Nikka!"
"Oh Janine. Akala ko ba nasa site ka ngayon?"
"Ha? Hindi. Aatend din kasi ako ng meeting tapos sabay na lang kami ni Jacob papunta dun."
"Ah, okay. Sige Janine, CR muna ako."
Pagpunta ko sa CR. Huminga ako ng malalim. T'wing malapit sya sa asawa ko, hindi ko mapigilang hindi mairita. Oo, nagseselos ako. Paano ba'y parang lalo nyang ipinapakita ang interes nya kay Jake.
Madalas na nga naming pagtalunang mag-asawa ang late night calls nya o kaya ang mga text messages nya na parang highschool na nakikipagtext sa 1st boyfriend nya. Lagi rin syang nakikisabay kay Jake papunta sa site. Nanjan yung nasa lobby na sya in the morning o kaya'y napunta dito sa unit mismo namin kasi sasabay na sya. Nalalate na rin ang asawa ko ng uwi dahil nagpapahatid pa sya kahit out of the way naman.
Ilang buwan na ako nagtitimpi sa kanya. Kundi ako buntis, nako talaga! At dahil sa pagseselos ko, madalas na kaming magtalo ni Jake. Nakakainis talaga ang babaeng iyon!
"Ui buntis. Bakit andito ka? Magsismula na ang meeting ah."
"Naiimbyerna ako sa Architect mo Carleen! Sumasama ang pakiramdam ko kapag makita kahit anino lang nya!"
"Hui, ano ka ba naman. Wag ka magpakastress! Baka pumangit si Jacobo the second."
"Naku ha! Hindi! Ayaw ko."
"Kaya nga, wag ka paapekto dun. Ako na bahala, binabantayan ko naman sila ni Kuya. Wag ka magalala ako mismo ang sasapak kay Kuya kapag may ginawa syang masama"
"Haiii Carleen. "
"Halika na. Meeting na."
Sa meeting, si Janine pala ang magpepresent ng bago nyang designs ng mga bahay. Para sa 2nd phase ng relocation site. I look into the budget! Jusko! Ang mahal! Hindi pwede, mauubos lahat ng budget ng foundation kung dito lahat mapupunta.
"That's all for my proposal, I'll now entertain questions."
"Ms. Architect, I think your designs went overboard. Seems that they aren't relocation sites."
"Ma'am Nikka, excuse me but I design them accordingly."
"Engr. Velasco, I need your reaction. Page 7, I.1.2 Materials and Equipments, do you think these materials are feasible? Do you have anything in mind, like buying locally of this materials or changing it to something cost friendly."
"Ma'am Nikka, I am so sure we can, materials listed here like asbestos for roofing. We could always resort to aluminum or alloy." Engr. Velasco
"Excuse me but my designs don't need sub- materials." Janine shrieked
"Ms. Architect, may I remind you that we are building a relocation site. The main goal here is to build a comfortable, safe home for everyone. And aesthetics is the least of our concern." Sabi ko
"My design focus mainly on the long run! The metal roofing will just have atleast 15 years life span. Then what happens next?" Giit ni Janine
"Architect Janine, we know that 15 years is enough already for the grantees. They should be the one working for it when the time comes." Carleen
"And those would cost really a lot. An ordinary laborer can't install what you want, we need to hire high payed professionals for that." Engr. Ramon the owner/ head of the contractors
"Ms. Architect, we get your point. But the problem is, we have certain budget. Surely, we would want your suggestions to happen but it isn't feasible. Hindi lang ito ang project ng foundation!" Sabi ko
"You'll never get my point cause you ain't a professional with this knowledge!" Jusko, nagpapaka personal na sya.
Jake looked at me and seems he's trying to calm me.
"That's why I ask Engr. Velasco whom I believe knows what are you trying to say." sabi ko
"Huh! If you change any of my proposal then I quit!!" Janine shouted at us
At dahil naiinis na ako, tumayo ako at sumagot na sa kanya. This is the first time na may nakaaway ako sa project. The projects under my supervision always have a good review. Kaya nga madalas akong magpacelebrate. Ilan ngang award ang nareceive ko at ng foundation for the whole year I am here.
"Then be my guest. I don't need a leisure residential park on the project, I need to build relocation home for the unfortunate. Hundreds of it. I'm sure the team wouldn't mind having another architect who'll line his vision with the foundation"
"Why are you being personal? Why are you being like this? Just because you are Jacob's wife??"
"Janine!" Sigaw ni Jake
Ano bang problema ng babaeng ito??
"Excuse me Ms. Architect? I am the co-chairman of the project. The EVP of the foundation, I have the say to accept or reject your proposal. And today, I reject it."
"What??" sabi nya
Akala nya ata hindi ko sya papatulan. Hindi ko na nga sya hinarap sa obvious na pagfiflirt nya sa asawa ko dahil professional ako magtrabaho pero ito? hindi ko na palalampasin pa ito.
"You present again next week. If you won't I can find your replacement. Ladies and Gentlemen, this meeting is now adjourned." Sabi ko at nagsimula ng magsitayuan ang team
"Jacob!"
"I'm sorry Janine. I'm merely a staff in a project. Please keep in mind that she's still the boss here."
Tumalikod na kami. Dahil natension ako kanina, dumirecho ako sa office ko at sumama naman sa akin si Jake para alalayan ako.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." I smiled at him as he handed me a bottle of water.
"Look at your son. Natutuwa atang magcircus sa tyan ko." turo ko kay Jake habang active na active gumagalaw ang baby namin sa tyan ko
Haii, dahil sa pag galaw ng baby sa tyan ko, nalimutan ko na ang stress ko. Si Jake naman tuwang tuwa.
Jake decided not to go to the site anymore. Pumunta na lang sya sa SGC sa floor sa taas to check on Singapore Office.
Naiwan naman ni Jake ang phone nya sa akin at dahil nagtatanggal ako ng inis nilaro ko na lang ang phone nya. Madami kasi itong games hindi kagaya ng phone ko. Walang laman kundi pictures. I called to his office at nagpaalam na maglalaro sa phone nya. Syempre pumayag sya. Wala naman syang choice eh.
Andun na ako sa mataas na level ng may nangistorbo. Sunod sunod na pumasok ang mga na texts. At lahat galing kay Janine.
From: Arch. Janine Silvero
Msg: Why did you let your wife humiliate me? I thought I'm important to you?
From: Arch. Janine Silvero
Msg: You did not come to the site! How are we going to talk?!
From: Arch. Janine Silvero
Msg: You're unbelievable Jacob. I thought you love me. What do I need to do? Tell me!
Naginit na ang ulo ko at pumunta sa opisina ni Jake. Ibinato ko sa kanya ang cellphone nya at nagdecide na umuwi na lang.
