My Crazy Rich "Tibo"

Scene 5 - Step up

Makalipas ang maraming buwan...

"Shane, can you come to the office? I need to speak with you." tanung ni Allan.

"Yes Sir, right away Sir." sagot ni Shane.

Nag-aalalang hinawakan ni Gianna ang kaliwang kamay ni Shane.

Pinisil ni Shane ang kamay ni Gianna at pangiting sinabi na, "H'wag kang mag-alala, baka magpapatulong lang si Sir."

Habang naglalakad si Shane papunta sa opisina ni Allan napansin ni Rey na hindi napawi pag-aalala sa mukha ni Gianna.

"H'wag kang mag-alala Gianna, good news ang rason kung bakit gustong makausap ni Sir Allan si Shane. Magtiwala ka sa 'kin nakangiting lalabas ng opisina 'yang si Shane." sabi ni Rey.

Bagamat patuloy na nag-aalala, tumango at ngumiti ang dalaga.

Kumatok si Shane sa nakabukas na pinto ng opisina ni Allan.

"Shane, come in. Have a seat." wika ni Allan.

"Thank you Sir." sagot ni Shane.

"Now Shane, the reason I wanted to talk to you is because you have been with us for a while. In fact, you have been Junior Supervisor for a while now too and you're also our best trainer. Now you may or may not be aware of this but Kuya Rey will be retiring very soon. Kuya Rey and a lot of your colleagues have strongly recommended you so I would really like to give you the opportunity to step into his position as Senior Site Supervisor, working closely with me. Now of course, should you choose to accept it, the position will not be officially yours until Kuya Rey retires, but you would be seconded to the position while you are training with him and you will get all the incentives and privileges effective immediately. So what do you think?" paliwanag ni Allan.

"Wow, Sir. I don't know what to say. This is a huge opportunity for me and I would be more than honoured to accept the position." sagot ni Shane.

"Great. So it is settled then, I will get the paperwork sorted out immediately. We will announce this, at the meeting this afternoon. I am really proud of you Shane and I am looking forward to working closer with you." wika ni Allan habang inaabot ang kamay niya para makipagkamay kay Shane

"Thank you Sir. You will not be disappointed Sir." sagot ni Shane

Bago lumabas ng opisina si Shane.

"One more thing Shane, you and Gianna." wika ni Allan

Napalunok at biglang kinabahan si Shane.

"I have seen the undeniable chemistry between you two. Normally, I am against romantic relationships in the workplace but I have seen you both act professionally so I have no issues with that. I am also aware that you are dropping her off on most nights after work and I do understand that with your new position your schedules will not be as in sync, however, I see great potential in that girl, and I would like you to develop and train her into becoming a Junior Supervisor as part of the succession plan. Of course, this will just be between us for the time being, and I will officially offer her the position once you have stepped into yours. What do you think?" pagpapatuloy ni Allan.

"Yes Sir, or course Sir. I can do that Sir." sagot ni Shane.

"Good. I'll see you all at the staff room in 5 minutes." wika ni Allan

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Gianna ng makita niyang masayang lumabas ng opisina si Shane.

"Ok ka lang?" tanung ni Gianna

"Oo, h'wag kang mag-alala ayos lang ang lahat. Pinapapunta na tayo ni Sir sa staff room para sa meeting." sagot ni Shane.

Nagtipon-tipon ang lahat sa staff room habang pansamantalang sinara ng maaga ang shop.

"Thank you everyone for being here, now I have got a few announcements to make but I will try to make it quick. Rey can you come up here please." simula ni Allan

Marahan na lumapit si Rey kay Allan.

"First off, it is with great sadness that I announce that Kuya Rey had already expressed his desire to retire within the next few months. Kuya Rey had been with us for a very long time, and I am pretty sure all of you will agree that he has been one of the best Senior Site Supervisors to run this place. Let's give him a round of applause. Kuya Rey thank you so much for your service, and we wish you well. We will definitely hold a big farewell on your last day but until then I would like all of us to cherish and make more great memories with our Kuya Rey while he is still with us." wika ni Allan.

"Thank you so much, Sir Allan. Thank you everyone. But we still have a few months together and I am confident that I am leaving you all in very safe hands." sagot ni Rey.

"Yes, yes indeed. Now with that said, it is with my deepest pleasure that I announce that Shane, would you stand up buddy, has accepted the position as Kuya Rey's immediate successor. He will be seconded to Senior Site Supervisor effectively immediately and will assume his official title after Kuya Rey steps down. Please give a hand to our youngest upcoming Senior Site Supervisor. Now I know congratulations are in place and we have the rest of the afternoon off so why don't we all go on, let loose and celebrate. Enjoy!" wika ni Allan.

Agad na niyakap at kinamayan ng lahat sina Rey at Shane.

"I am so proud of you, son. I can't be happier that I am leaving all of this to you." wika ni Rey pagkatapos yakapin ang anak-anakan.

"Thank you Kuya. Salamat po sa pagrerekomenda sa 'kin." sagot ni Shane

"You deserve it, son. O siya papakawalan na muna kita at mukhang may naghihintay sa 'yo dun sa kabilang sulok." wika ni Rey habang tinutukoy ang kinakatayuan ni Gianna.

Unti-unting nilapitan ni Shane si Gianna.

"I am so proud of you." wika ni Gianna habang marahan na ginusot ang buhok ni Shane.

"At talagang buhok ko ang tinira mo?" pabirong sinabi ni Shane.

"E bakit, anu ba dapat?" tukso ni Gianna.

Hindi kumibo si Shane at nakangiting tumalikod ng pabiro.

"Hoy, biro lang." sabay hawak sa kanang kamay ni Shane. "Halika nga dito." Hinatak at niyakap ng mahigpit ni Gianna si Shane. "You deserve it." bulong ng dalaga.

Hinigpitan ni Shane ang pagyakap kay Gianna at inilaylay ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ng dalaga.