CHASING CARS (JIBEA)

5 - TRYING

JIA POV

We are here in a private room kung saan meron lang table good for four persons. And the room is just beside Ms. De Leons' office.

It is different from the room we used the first time I came to the their company. And it is more of a personal room than of a conference room.

BEA: "Coffee?"

Biglang wika niya at nakatingin sa akin.

JIA: "No thanks."

I respond politely pero I break the eye contact.

BEA: "Anything to eat?"

JIA: "I'm fine. I have already eaten."

BEA: "Ok."

Umupo na siya sa chair katabi ko. Pwede naman siya umupo sa tapat, pero sa tabi ko talaga umupo.

BEA: "Let's go down to business then. What you've got there?"

Diretsahan niyang wika, kaya naman ay kinuha ko na yung laptop para ipakita sa kanya ang mga nagawa kong proposal para sa proyekto.

I presented to her the proposal and she was just listening. I am already expecting that she would say something to dampen my proposed design.

Pinaghandaan ko na na lalaitin nkya ang mga gawa ko at hahanapan niya ng butas para ipamukha na panget ang gawa ko.

But I was surprised she didn't say a word. She was silently listening. She even takes a closer look on each detailed design of the car and trying to assess it.

I was thinking, she was just trying to find something to criticize in my work. But her reaction makes me wonder what's running through her mind.

BEA: "That was it?!"

I nodded in response, but my mind is still suspiscious of what's going on. It seems like, I was talking to a different person. Pero alam ko may pasabog siyang gagawin sa huli eh.

BEA: "Well, not bad."

JIA: "What do you mean?"

May pagtataka kong wika sa kanya. Still amazed with her demeanor.

BEA: "Why?"

Medyo salubong ang kilay na wika niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

JIA: "I was the first one who ask a question. So don't answer me with another question."

BEA: "I don't know what you are trying to point at, that is why I ask you why! Why did you say, 'what do you mean?"

Naguguluhan niyang wika at kunot na ang noo. Siya pa ang naguluhan eh ako nga itong naguguluhan sa kanya.

JIA: "Because you said, not bad! What do you mean by not bad?"

I was almost getting frustrated. Kasi ang gulo niya kausap eh. (siya ba talaga magulo kausap or magulo lang talaga ang isip mo?!)

BEA: "I am referring to your proposal of course! What are you thinking about what I mean?"

JIA: "Nothing never mind. Can we just go to your proposal?"

Biglang bago ko na lang sa usapan. Para kasing ang labo nang pinag-uusapan namin. And mukhang di rin kami magkakaintindihan.

BEA: "Sure."

Kaya siya naman ang nagbukas ng laptop niya at binuksan. She started presenting her proposals.

And hearing from her now, no wonder why they have such a big name in the business. She really have new and great ideas.