The Man I Chose To Let Go (Under Editing)

Chapter 2: Fail

November 2021

"Ms. Amanda! Buti nandiyan ka." Nagulat siya sa salubong ng isang intern, "Ang init po kasi ng ulo ni Sir. Hindi po namin maintindihan kung bakit..."

"Ano daw nangyari?"

"Kasi po may mass resignation po na nangyari, Ma'am. Nagulat na lang po kami na nagsnap po si Sir."

Mass resignation? Sino naman ang gagawa niyon. Napatigil siya nang makita na marami na ang nagsisipag ligpit ng gamit at nilalagay iyon sa box.

What's happening in here?

"Hey, Vicks." Lapit niya sa kaibigan, "What's happening?"

Huminga nang malalalim si Vicky, "They accepted the offer of Likha. Ayon, nagsisipaglipatan. Tapos na rin kasi ang contract kaya walang magawa si Sir kundi hayaan."

"But, why it is so sudden?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Mukhang planado kamo." Tumayo na ito at agad na binitbit ang ilang papers na hinihingi daw ni Fred at inutos na ibigay sa HR.

Gosh. Kung kailan naman siya nagplaplano na magresign, next week na dapat niya iyon ibibigay pero biglang ganito?

Akala pa man din niya maayos na niyang maiiwan ang lahat. Hindi pa pala.

Amanda did she think she needs to do. If there is a mass resignation, it means they should hire. Kaya naman nakipagcoordinate siya sa HR at agad na nireview ang ilang application na dumating.

At hindi rin iyon marami.

She needs solution.

Agad niyang napansin sina Vicky at iba pang interns na abala sa iniwan na trabaho ng iba. Kung tutuusin, hindi halatadong nahihirapan ang mga ito dahil alam nila ang ginagawa.

Wait. Why not promote them instead? Kabisado ng mga ito ang pasikot-sikot.

Agad siyang tumayo at dumiretso sa opisina nito,"Fred!" Nabigla siyang makitang kausap nito si Camilla. "Oh, sorry. Balik na lang ako--"

"No, Aims. Come in, I need to talk with you as well." Ani Fred at umupo na ito sa swivel chair, "You must have known what happened, right?"

"Yes, and I have a proposal to make that's why I'm here." She said but Camilla spoke as well. Nagpasya siya na paunahin na lamang ito sa pagsasalita.

For starters, Fred offered her a job here in Sining. Hindi lang basta pangpalipas oras kundi mismo trabaho.

Ever since Camilla rediscover her gift in arts. Fred arranged a class she can attend with, malaking bonus na siya lang ang studyante dahil online class naman ngayon.

"Fred, I don't think I can do this. I'm not a teacher nor a degree holder in arts." Camilla said, "How can I teach them? Baka mapahiya ka sa akin, Fred."

Amanda saw Fred's expression. Malambing talaga ito kay Camilla, kaya naman hindi maikaila na may gusto ito sa huli.

Paano niya nasabi? She has worked with him before he flew to Sydney. Ayaw ni Fred sa instant decision without even trying.

"You can do it, Cams. You're a natural, and Reina said it will be good activity for you. Why not just try?" Reina is her psychologist. Minsang pinares ng Lola nito kay Fred.

Camilla sighed. Hindi makatanggi. Ang arte ng dalawang 'to, hindi pa magdate. Tutal pareho naman silang pabebe.

Bago pa masangkot sa aksidente si Camilla, alam nilang apprentice ito ni Josephine. For some reason, Fred's mother has really an eye in arts. She must be impressed with Camilla so she mentored her in Cebu.

Wala na silang nakuha pang impormasyon bukod pa doon. Umalis din si Camilla pagkatapos makumbinsi ni Fred.

Bumalik na ito sa totoong expresyon. He looked so tired and fed up, "Promote those who stayed, Fred." She suggested, "They know the job, para ang irereplace mo na lang ay yung startin position and interns. We have a lot of candidate for that."

Fred liked the idea or he was too stressed to overthink so that's what happened. Vicky was promoted as the student affairs coordinator while the interns was given a spot per department.

It was such a long day yet a productive one. Sa ibang araw na lang nila ulit paguusapan.

"Aims," Tawag sa kanya ni Fred. They found themselves in the pantry, looking for something to drink.

Ginabi na naman sila. Nakatawag na siya sa kanila para iparating na mahuhuli sila. Pinaalalahan lang na huwag sana magpaabot ng curfew.

But, they needed to settle one more thing. They just need a short break.

Kape lang naman ang mayroon doon. Kaya pinagtimpla niya ito at ang sarili ng kape.

"Hmm?"

"Why do you think they chose to transfer in Likha?" He asked. Nang iaabot na niya ang kape ay halos nakatingala na ito sa kisame sa kakaisip, "It is because of me?"

Umiling siya kaagad, "It's not about you, Fred." She said, "They left because they think it was the best for them."

Fred has a tendency to self-blame. Nasobrahan sa accountability na minsan kahit hindi na niya macontrol ay pakiramdam nito may nagawa siyang mali.

"And Sining wasn't the best for them?" He sighed and sipped on his coffee, "Wow, thanks for this..."

Sandaling napangiti si Amanda. She felt proud dahil gusto ni Fred ang timpla niya. Isang beses na nagday off siya at si Vicky ang nagtimpla ay nagtext pa ito sa kanya para sabihin na pangit ng lasa ng kape na timpla ni Vicky.

So, she has made the exact measurements para alam ng iba kung papaano gagawin next time. Coffee makes Fred relaxed.

"Fred, listen to me." Agad nitong tinuon ang atensyon sa kanya, "What's happening in Sining isn't something that just happened. Matagal na rin marahil gusto ng ilan na umalis, when Ms.Jo just died, they took it as an opportunity."

Tumango ito, pilit inuunawa ang sinabi niya.

"What if I'll fail?" He voiced out his true feelings.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Then we'll fail together." sagot niya rito kaagad, "We stand with you, so we stand by you."

He smiled, yung ngiti na madalang. Yung ngiti na sa kanya pa lang nito binibigay, "Thank you, Amanda." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya, "What will I do without you?"

Jusko. Bolahan na!

"Ewan ko sa 'yo!" Damn you, Fred!