Chasing Rainbows

ROYGBV 002

Nagmamadaling sumakay ako ng elevator bago mabilis na pinindot ang 11th button. It's already 8 o'clock in the morning pero kahit na maaga pa ay kailangan ko pa magprepare dahil may bisita daw na dadating sa kumpanya.

I'm currently working as an advertising and promotions manager in an international company. I started working here as a graphic designer but since umalis yung A&P manager before, the bosses decided to promote me since I have a good background in both multimedia arts and marketing management.

Kaninang umaga, one of the heads informed me na today daw dadating ang client namin na bigtime. Usually 8:30 pa ko pumapasok at kahit na may bigating client kami ay hindi naman ako ganito kakumahog dahil magaling naman ang team ko. Even with a short notice they can still do a great job.

I took a deep breath as I get out of the lift. Pagkabasa ko sa text na pinadala sa akin ay may kakaibang kaba ang bumalot sa kaloob looban ko. I dont know but I feel like something is gonna happen today at sobrang nabobother ako don.

I went straight to my office and as expected, ako pa lang ang nandito. I put my bag in front of my table atsaka sumalampak sa swivel chair.

Now what do I do?

Napahilot ako sa sentido atsaka nag-isip. My workplace is clean, wala namang dapat ayusin dahil lagi ko tong iniiwang malinis. The designing team will also arrive by 8:30 kaya wala pa akong makausap. I stared at the door and mentally slapped myself.

Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas at nagpasya na lang akong kunin ang wallet ko atsaka pumunta sa isang coffee shop sa tapat ng office. Kakamadali ay nakalimutan ko na ding magbreakfast kanina. I stormed out of my office and headed straight to starbucks. I need a cold coffee. Kahit wala pa kong ginagawa ay pinagpapawisan na ko nang malamig kaya hindi makakatulong ang mainit na inumin sa lagay ko ngayon.

I immediately ordered one vanilla sweet cream cold brew. Nagtungo ako sa isang table sa isang sulok at doon nagmukmok habang nagsscroll sa timeline ko.

As usual, I saw my college colleagues flexing their jobs and the places they already went to. Some are already in Europe, while the others are now residing in America. Yung mga nandito naman sa Pilipinas, kung hindi pinapadala ng company sa iba't ibang parte ng Pinas, ang gagara ng suot at mga alahas.

Napailing iling na lang ako.

Soon enough I know magkakaroon na kami ng reunion. Ilang beses na din iyong sumagi sa isip ko pero hanggang ngayon, pinagiisipan ko pa kung dapat ba kong pumunta kung sakaling imbitahin nila ako o irereject ko nalang ang offer kasi alam ko namang magiging plastikan lang ang event na yon.

You see, I am not that successful compared to my blockmates. I was in a science section in high school while I graduated with honors sa kursong marketing management. But unlike others who pursued the corporate world, I settled in a music company.

Nagsimula ako sa mababang posisyon at kahit na maliit ang sahod ko ay tinanggap ko iyon. All my life I wasn't sure with what I wanted except for one thing— a person, rather. Pero matagal ko na din namang tinanggap na di pwede kaya hinayaan ko na siya.

Before, hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gusto ko kunin. I was the middle kid in our family and I grew with such loving parents and siblings. However, I know na my dad was expecting a lot from me. My kuya was an achiever, at dahil nageexcel ako sa school noon I know that my dad wants me to be just like my brother. Reigan was so smart so I did my best para mapantayan siya and it wasn't easy.

Maintaining a high grade almost took my whole time to the point na kahit sa bahay, nagaaral ako. Although walang competition between me and my siblings, I just know to myself na I have a responsibility to work harder.