The F- Buddies

15. Award

Ilang beses lang akong nagtagal sa office nang lampas sa five ng hapon. Kapag may packaging of books lang at kailangan naming mag-overtime for shipment along with logistics para sa last quality assurance. Umuuwi agad ako kapag alam kong kaya kong gawin sa bahay ang trabaho ko.

Kinausap ko nitong umaga si Boss Ayen na makakapagpasa ako ng entry pero walang definite time. Hindi tuloy niya ako inimik buong maghapon. Not sure if gusto lang niyang makapag-focus ako sa entry ko o para hindi siya madulas sa verdict.

Back to square one sila today dahil walang pumasa sa mga nabasa ko kahapon, and even GT knew why. Para ngang mas nauna pa siyang mag-reject before me. It was quiet on the whole floor, and some of our employees were obligated to judge GT's audition entries.

It was already six in the evening. Nagta-transform na naman ang office namin because of the sunset. IG-worthy and breathtaking. Most of our employees sa DCE were photographers and may background sa arts and arki. Halos lahat nga kami, may background sa arts and crafts. Sa side ko naman, most of our wall decors na handmade and woven—especially, the dream catchers—ako ang gumawa. Ito ang dream office ni Boss Ayen: yung office na hindi namin mafe-feel na nagtatrabaho kami. Less pressure. Hindi toxic environment.

Maganda rito sa office kung may ka-date ka. Magko-coffee lang kayo. Kaunting usap about life. Kaso talagang walang mabubuong love team dito sa office kasi parang pamilya na ang turing namin sa isa't isa. And as usual, I am the family's black sheep.

"Niz." It was Boss Ayen looking at me like it was already done—whatever it was. "Wala nang humabol magpasa nitong 4 p.m. Nabasa na namin ang lahat ng entry. Sampu lang naman 'yon."

Tumango ako. "Okay."

Nagbuntonghininga siya. "I know I don't have the right to force you to write again, Niz, but I'm disappointed that we haven't received any files from you."

That moment, I thought, 'I know, Boss. Sorry, ayokong mag-expect ka sa 'kin nang malaki, or maging biased ka sa ibang entries dahil lang kilala mo 'ko.'

"Niz, ikaw pa rin ang pahahawakin ko nitong project. Please, don't make me beg."

I sighed. "Okay, Boss."

"Go to the conference room. Nakapili na si GT."

Kinakabahan ako. Wala kasi akong idea. Pero, feeling ko, parang hindi naman ako kinakabahan. O baka imagination ko lang ang kaba kasi ang totoo, nae-excite ako sa result.

I wasn't, and never will be, a fan of entering writing contests. This would be the first time that I've joined one since 2013. Back when I used the name Althea Doe—the pen name for my first published novel, a.k.a. my life regret.

It was somehow disappointing na ang dream ko before ang haunting nightmare ko ngayon. Disappointing and sad. Ayoko na sanang gamitin ang pen name na 'yon ever, pero kasi . . . iba ang impression nila kay Eunice Riodova. And Eunice was never the writer in me, si Althea Doe naman talaga.

Hindi gaanong malawak ang conference room. Sinlaki lang din ng bedroom area ko para magkasya ang isang table for ten people at isang projector. There I saw GT in his unusual aura. It was the first time I saw him act like he was going to talk professionally. Seryoso ang mukha niya habang nakatingin sa laptop at mukhang may binabasa siya roon. Walang dress code sa office kaya isa rin siya sa mga T-shirt guy magmula nang makita ko siya. And it was kinda unfair na kahit mukhang pinaghahatak ang klase ng tela ng T-shirt niya, mukha pa rin siyang endorser ng apparel sa loose gray shirt at hindi siya mukhang napadaan lang mula sa pagtambay sa kung saan. He looked so freaking good, I cannot.

Umupo ako sa first seat sa right side ng kabisera kung saan nakaupo si Boss Ayen. Kaharap ko si GT.

"Let's begin," panimula ni Boss. "May three months ang writers for this project to finish the drafts. Another month for editing, layout, and printing before release and distribution. But I want it to be done as early as February next year. Carmela and I will manage the production. Eunice and GT will handle the writing and editorial process. Marissa's team will handle the promotion, release, and media coverage."

Sila pa rin pala ni Boss Armie ang magma-manage sa kabuoan. Sinulyapan ko si GT, busy pa rin sa laptop niya. Nakikinig ba 'to?

"We are currently sending the result of the audition." Itinuro ni Boss Ayen si GT. Kaya pala busy.

"Nakapili na si GT ng audition entry. Aside from him, eight out of ten judges ang pumili sa entry based on the given criteria. I'm sure you know about that, Niz."

"Yeah."

"We chose the work of Althea Doe, and we're going to send her the complete details of this project ASAP."

Bigla akong napangiti pagkarinig na pagkarinig ko sa pangalang 'yon.

"You look happy, Niz," bati pa ni Boss Ayen.

"Althea Doe?"

"Yes." Tumango pa siya. "Though, like what I had mentioned to GT earlier, she sounds familiar talaga. Parang narinig ko na ang name niya before."

"I knew Althea Doe, by the way," GT said, still focused on his laptop. "She won an award last 2013 sa Literary Salon Writing Competition wherein isa ako sa judges, and published her first book entitled Last Paragon. I read her piece and she deserved the recognition. I'm not into fantasy, really, but she made it easy for me to imagine. Actually, I'm a huge fan. Kaya nga pagkakita ko sa name niya, I told myself, we had a winner." Pero sinulyapan pa rin ako ni GT. "Unless, may magpapasang mas magaling sa kanya na inaasahan naming lahat." Ibinalik na naman niya ang tingin sa laptop. "Which, unfortunately, didn't make it kasi mas inuna pa niyang mag-stalk ng kung sino-sino sa FB buong maghapon at hindi man lang nagpasa kahit isang letra sa email."

I glanced at Boss Ayen, at nagulat ako kasi nakanganga lang siya habang nakatingin kay GT. Parang gulat na gulat pa siya sa narinig.

"I'm done sending the results," sabi ni GT. Tiningnan niya kami para manghingi ng sagot.

Nakangiti lang ako. Nagulat talaga si Boss Ayen.

"What?"

Hinampas ni Boss Ayen ang table sabay tingin sa akin. "I hate you, Eunice!"

Kahit naman sinabi ni Boss na hate niya ako, ang lapad-lapad pa rin ng ngiti niya.

"Kaya pala—damn!"

"What's happening?" nalilito pang tanong ni GT sa amin ni Boss. Gusto ko na lang tawanan ang itsura niya kasi hindi siya maka-relate.

Sobrang lalim na pagbuga ng hininga ang ginawa ni Boss Ayen habang nakangiti. Bihira ko lang makita ang ngiti niyang parang nanalo sa Miss Universe e.

"Gregory Troye," pagtawag ni Boss Ayen kay GT sabay lahad ng palad sa 'kin.

"Yes?"

"Meet Althea Doe."

And that, my friend, made my day.

♥♥♥