The Dreamers

IX

"Hey, cutie. Tapos ka na diyan?"

Punyeta. 

Napatingin ako kay Eds na nakatayo sa gilid ko. Nang-aasar ba 'to?

He scrunched his eyebrows at me. "Ba't ba ang sungit mo sis? Ganda ka?" He grabbed the PIF layout na nakapatong sa table ko. I sighed.

"Napapagod na ang utak ko, sissy. Bumalik na naman yung revision mula kay Mayor. Ang daming comment. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ba kailangan ko ilagay sa proposal na to." 

Inuntog ko ang ulo ko sa mesa. "Yung durog ko na utak na lang kaya ilagay ko dito?"

"Patingin nga!" Eds grabbed the documents I was holding. 

Wala naman siyang ibang makikita dun maliban sa mga comments ni Javi. Pinagti-tripan yata ako ng loko. Pang-pitong revision na to, pero paisa-isa lang ang mga comments niya. Minsan ipapatawag pa ko para sa simpleng tanong. 

Napapaisip nga ako kung nabagok ba siya recently kaya nawala yung talino niya eh.

"Oh, ang cute nga nito eh!" Eds remarked. I raised my head and looked at him. 

Cute na naman. "Pwede ba, stop using that word!" I say, annoyed.

Aimee laughed, clearly aware of what I meant. I glare at her, but nakatalikod siya sa amin. Nakikichismis lang pala.

"Alam mo kung hindi lang kita sissymae, baka pinakain na kita sa mga troll." Sabay sabunot sakin ni Eds. Gaganti pa sana ako nang biglang pumasok si Pau sa area, humahangos.

"Guys, bad news. Our main celebrity for the opening, si Arlene Smith, backed out!"

>>>>>>>>

We are all huddled in one of the conference rooms. Status update kay Mayor Javi for the PIF launch.

Eds was done presenting when Jess asked an update on the public figures attending the events. We all shared a look and Pau had to break the bad news to them. Natahimik kami saglit nang bigla kong maisip.

"Why not Margarette Garcia?" I ask.

Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Eds and Pau. I looked at Jess and both Rom and him was looking at Javi. He was looking at me so I continued.

"I mean, she's an up-and-coming celebrity. I heard her grandmother used to live here in SV and she used to spend her summers here when she was a child. With her connections and exposure, plus her background in SV, hindi ba swak siya for the event?"

Eds and Pau and the rest of the team nodded and started to give additional inputs.

"My cousin is part of her team, I can contact her within the day." Pau excitedly says.

"I think there's no problem contacting her, we have plenty of that." Jess knowingly says. "Javi! What do you think?"

Rom was stifling a smile. Javi sighed and looked at me. "Let's go with it."

>>>>>>>>

"Naku, Ma'am, nandito pa po pala kayo." Tatay Ronald, our floor's maintenance guy, said pagkabukas niya ng pinto sa CoS office.

I smiled at him. "Patapos na, Tay Ronald." 

Tumayo ako at nag-inat. Alas-dyis na pala. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Super lapit na kasi ng PIF launch, three days from now. May mga details na kailangan pa i-polish.