Housemates

CHAPTER 39

ARA 

Today is an important day for me, kailangan kong makuha 'yung approval ng isang malaking investor. It will be a gain for us and it's a chance for me to prove to my team na hindi sila nagkamali sa akin in appointing me as their CEO, antagal kong pinaghandaan 'to, and I do think I'm ready for this.

While waiting, I have my secretary with me. She's been saying me lots of encouraging words, her name's Dennise, she's nice. "I believe in you Ma'am Ara. alam kong makukuha niyo 'yung investor na 'yun. You prepared a lot for it, inaral at pinagpuyatan niyo 'yun. It won't go to waste."

Nang ready na ang lahat, pumasok na ako sa conference room at laking gulat ko ng nakita ko si Arra beside Mr. Choi. Anong ginagawa niya dito?

Hindi ako nag-padala at nag-focus pa rin ako sa presentation ko. Sinimulan ko, and I started it with full confidence, I trust my work at I worked hard on this at isa pang factor do'n is I got my full team's support.

I am introducing them a sportswear, my presentation today has a purpose of getting a partnership with them. Mr.Choi would be a really great help to us if they'd invest in our company, we'd been really on our lowest the past year, kailangan kong makuha 'to.

Nang kalagitnaan ng presentation ko, nilabas na ng team ang mga products and everyone seemed so impressed. I can feel it already.

"And that would be the end of the presentation I hope this would lead to a partnership of SG sportswear and yours." Everyone applauded and I'm looking at my team and they were all cheering for me, at alam kong pinipigil lang nila.

"That was really great Ms. Galang, I never thought you'd really come up with that idea, I knew you'd never disappoint when I asked you for this" –Mr. Choi

Napangiti naman ako but, Arra suddenly interrupted. "Really? To me it seems vague. Parang hindi fit para dito sa setting sa Pilipinas. I mean, think of it. I never said, it wasn't great. Your presentation indeed deserved an applause Ms. Galang but, to me it feels lacking. Siguro mas pwede 'yan kung nasa abroad?—well maybe, hindi pa ata nakakapag-cope up si Ms. Galang dito, she's been here only for weeks, mas nasanay ata siya sa Netherlands" she smirked. "biro lang."

Everyone in the room suddenly went silent, miski ako hindi ko alam halos ang susunod na gagawin at sasabihin ko. Ano bang ginagawa ni Arra dito.

Napatingin naman ako kay Mr.Choi, ang main investor at pansin kong naging hesitant siya. "Well, you have a point Ms. San Agustin, I haven't thought of it, pansin ko nga sa mga styles at garments na na-introduce regarding the sportswear. Hmm, na-overlook ko lang siguro dahil Ms. Galang was so great in presenting." Sabi nito.

Sobrang nanghina ako at muntikan na akong mag-blackout, nakatingin na sa akin ang buong team at kailangan kong makuha ang approval ngayon. "But, Mr. Choi those garments were designed and already tested to fi—"

I was shocked that he didn't let me finish at all "I'll think of it Ms. Galang, I'll review everything. I'd still hold on to this deal because it seems good for me but, I guess this won't be happening right now."

The session ended and I feel like I let everyone down. The whole team's telling me it's okay and it's still upon consideration pero alam kong ang takbo ng sistemang ganito, maliit na tyansa na lang na makuha pa namin ang partnership na 'yon.

Lumabas ako ng conference, hindi ko napigilan 'yung sarili ko at hinabol ko si Arra. Nang makalapit ako sa kanya hinarang ko agad siya.

"Oh, Ara. you did well today, I'm sorry you didn't get it now pero malay mo you will." She said.

"Why are you doing this? Why do you kept on interfering? Ano bang ginawa ko sa'yo? Don't you know how important this is for me?" I told her. I'm so desperate, pakiramdam ko lahat ng pinagpaguran ko napunta lang sa wala dahil sa mga sinabi niya.

"M-me? B-bakit ako? Hindi naman ako ang gumawa ng final decision. I just pointed out what I saw was lacking. I just, you know, did my job. And we're one of the shareholders of Mr.Choi's company, kung hindi mo nalalaman, so it's my responsibility too to check everything. If you're disappointed, hindi ko na kasalanan. Better luck next time." At umalis na siya.

Wala akong nagawa, I felt defeated. I walked back to my office full of shame. I told my secretary to tell everyone to get back to work at ayoko muna ng may iistorbo sa akin ngayon.

Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman 'to and the first person that came to my mind was John. He was my safe place, for the last two years he's the person I relied to, he became my comfort. I did not hesitate to search him up on social media to check him, to see updates, thinking, that maybe it would made me feel better.

I did find his profile account; it's great to see he's happy.

  Seems like, he had someone already, looking at all the photos posted and reading all its captions. It's only been weeks since I left, pero siguro gano'n nga talaga. Life's full of surprises, mabilis ang takbo ng mundo.

I closed the app and checked on my phone, I suddenly don't know what to do, hindi ako mapakali, I'm panicking, I wanted to call my secretary but, I can even open my mouth to say her name...I feel like I'm catching up my breath.

Napakapit ako sa dibdib ko and then I tried my best to scream for my secretary's name "De—Dennise!"

It took a while for her para marinig at mapuntahan ako, I found myself lying on the floor. Denise went straight up to me "Ma'am, ma'am Ar—" everything went black.