Playful Melodies Book 2: Precious Miracles

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Pressure

Nilapit ko sa ilong ko at inamoy ang bulaklak na nakita sa aking lamesa. Huminga ako ng malalim at binaba ang mga kulay pula at pink na mga rosas sa coffee table, hindi na kailangan tignan ang maliit na card para malaman kung kanino iyon galing. Bago ako makaupo sa swivel chair ay tumunog ang intercom at agad-agad ko itong minapula para sagutin.

“Lydia…” sabi ko sa aking sekretarya.

“Nakalimutan ko pong banggitin ang tungkol sa mga bulaklak na pinadala ni-”

“Yes, yes, nakita ko na,” sabay pasada ko ng tingin sa mga bulaklak.

“Sige po, Pres- I mean, Macy pala.”

Ngumuso ako at napailing na lamang. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya sanay na tawagin ako sa una kong pangalan. I’d rather let them call me that than ‘President’. It’s just so weird lalo na dahil mas bata ako sa kanila.

“Okay, thank you Lydia.” The intercom beeped.

Naupo na ako sa swivel chair at binuksan ang aking macbook. Biglaan ang pagbukas ng pintuan at kung hindi ako sanay ay mapapatalon ako sa gulat.

“Macy, you’re here na! Why are you not answering my calls?”

I groaned. “Mali ata ang habilin ko kay Lydia na hayaan ka na lang bigla-biglang pumapasok dito sa opisina ko, Heather.”

She frowned.

“Whatever! Itapon mo na iyang phone mo, I don’t think you’re even using it.” She glared like a little girl.

Tumingin ako sa monitor ng mac, I sighed. “What do you want, Heather? Let me guess, nag-away nanaman kayo ni Christopher at gusto mong kumuha ng isang pang kwarto?”

She looked at me and I felt that she was offended. “No. Hindi kaya!”

Humalakhak ako. “If this is about your usual request, I already told you, I’m very busy, Heather. Hindi ako pwedeng umalis ng Iligan. It’s peak season. Rooms are fully booked at ngayon lang nasabi na-”

She sighed exaggeratedly. “It’s summer vacation! Huwag mong sabihing buong summer ay magtatrabaho ka? Ayaw mo bang mag-bakasyon? Doon tayo sa resort niyo ngayon. I already made reservations.”

I made a face and looked at my friend. One of the reasons why I will ignore her calls ay dahil alam ko na ang sasabihin niya. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with my friends, it’s just that my job is not letting me rest in times like these. Kapag hindi peak season ay nakakasama naman ako. Kapag bakasyon, natural ay marami ang taong dumarating, which means I should keep an eye on everything as a President.

“Macy, I know that you have always been a killjoy pero simula noong…” then, she stopped, hindi na tinuloy ang sinabi. She sighed exasperatingly. “Can you just let your manager handle the matters here in your hotel? Tell them to call you na lang kapag may emergency.”

“Let my manager do all the work at ako magpapakasaya doon?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Ano naman ngayon? You deserve a break, Macy! You’ve been working non-stop. And you know what, in my one week stay here in Iligan City, so far nakakausap lang kita dito sa opisina mo. Even on lunch breaks, magpapadala ka na lang dito ng pagkain, or Felix will get you your food, because apparently you don’t want to eat outside. Tell me, kailan ka huling nakakita ng puno? Ng mga ulap? Nasisinagan ka pa ba ng araw? Naririnig mo pa ang mga huni mga ibon?”

Ngumuso ako at halos matawa. “I just saw a tree a while ago when I looked outside-”

“That’s not my point!” Parang gusto na akong sabunutan ni Heather. I laughed. “And are you not really interested in attending your company’s board meeting? I heard next Friday na iyon, ah.”