We were called by EIC, and kapag sinabi kong we, it means ako, si Ate Raian at si Devil, ay Ian pala sorry! Nasa conference room kami ngayon at inaantay si EIC. Magkatabi kami ni ate Raian at nasa harap naman namin si Ian na nakapikit. Di ko sure kung tulog siya o nakapikit lang siya at ayaw niya akong makita. Haha nahahawa na ko kay Kuya ko.
Biglang bumukas yung pinto na siya namang ikinagulat namin kaya napa-ayos kami bigla ng upo. "She's at the building, she'll be here in 5 minutes. Nag-aayos lang ng gamit," EIC's secretary said, siya pala yung dumating, whew akala ko si EIC na.
"Ate Raian, do you have any idea why we're here? I've submitted my stories before deadline naman eh diba?" pabulong kong sabi kay ate Raian.
"Nukaba, doesn't mean all the time pag pinatawag tayo ay may ginawa tayong mali baka may sasabihin lang na importante," sagot niya.
"Eh bat sa conference room pa?"
"Eh kasi... " hindi pa nga tapos si ate Raian magsalita, may sinabi bigla ang mokong.
"Scared?" pagsingit niya.
Binato ko lang siya ng masamang titig. Aba't leche flan ka talaga! Di ka naman kinakausap sabat ka ng sabat diyan. Bwesit.
After 5 minutes nga ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok na si EIC. Naka white and silk long sleeves polo ito na naka two buttons down, black slacks at black pump shoes.
Umupo siya at nilapag ang iPad niya sa table at tsaka inayos to at pinatayo. Sinenyasan naman niya ang secretary niya at bumulong, umalis naman ito after siyang bulungan ni EIC.
"Good morning," she said in a cold tone.
Dahil nga sa lamig ng tono ng boses niya tanging ngiti lang ang naging response namin, except Ian.
"So alam ko kanina niyo pa gustong malaman kung bakit ko kayo pinatawag right?" tingin niya sa aming tatlo at nakataas ang kaniyang kanang kilay. Nagpatuloy pa ito sa pagsasalita. "I was at Guam last week. Hamper New York was there as well," he looked at Ian. "We had a little conversation, at napag-usapan namin ang mga talents ng Hamper Philippines. They are planning to held an International Seminar for Authors across the nation and the newbies also. The first leg will be held in Asia, because according to their survey, maraming authors sa Asia that has a big potential. And here's the thing, they want us to participate. They need speakers from us, actually 2 speakers. So I decided to pick Alie and Ian," before siya makapagpatuloy ng salita,
"Me?" sabay naming sabi ni Ian at nagkatinginan pa kami.
Tinitigan lang kami ni EIC, "Bakit, may iba pa bang Alie at Ian dito?" ani EIC. Boom lagot! "Moving forward," at napabuntong hininga kaming lahat, while ako napalunok din ako, medyo napahiya ako dun, pero masaya ako kasi pati si Ian nadamay. Haha ang sama ko no?
"The seminar will be held in Japan," JAPAN? REALLY AS IN J-A-P-A-N? "3 days kayo dun, the first day will be given to you so you can lurk around Japan, the second day is allotted for the seminar and third and last day will be the meet and greet with Hamper Authors...and that," tinuro niya ako with her ballpen, "includes you. Aware ka naman siguro na dahil sayo Hamper Philippines was finally noticed by the main publishing house, right?" she said.
Lalo pa akong napalunok sa sinabi ni EIC. So parang kasalanan ko pa ganon? Ay hindi pala, hero nga pala ang tingin nila sakin, kaya hanggang ngayon ay inis na inis pa din ako sa lintik na kalasingan ko nung mga panahong naisend ko yung poems ko.
"And you Ian, since you worked there before at isa ka sa binibida nila as copyeditor, they agreed na isa ka sa ipapadala sa Japan," sambit niya at hindi pa din naibaba ang nakataas niyang kilay habang nakahawak sa iPad niya. Bago pa man siya nakapagsalita ay pumasok na si Marie na secretary ni EIC na may dalang coffe and pizza for us.
BINABASA MO ANG
Hey Mister, It's a Love Letter!
RomansaA simple and carefree girl named Alie who started writing poems, compiled it and discovered by a publisher that lead her to her fame, because of an unrequited love. Because her name and her book made history, what would happen if the guy finds out t...
