I'm so late, I'm fucking late! Kumaripas ako ng takbo paakyat ng hagdan dahil puno ang elevator. Hingal na hingal akong pumasok sa office!
Our internship supervisor, Architect Medina, stared to me blankly. She's clearly pissed.
"I'm sorry, Architect---"
"Sit in your cubicle. Save your reasons for further tardiness, Valbuena."
Yumuko ako, nahihiya, lahat ay napatingin sa akin kahit ang iilang architect doon. It's my second week here now, dahan dahan akong umupo sa cubicle para huminga.
Inabutan pa ako ni Dean ng tissue dahil pawis na pawis ako.
Tuloy tuloy naman ang pag gawa ko sa computer, hindi na ako nag lunch break at dinalhan nalang nila ako ng cupcake at kape.
Siguro past two p.m ko na ipinasa kay Architect Medina ang file. Pinatawag niya rin ako sa cubicle niya sa dulo kaya naman abot langit ang kaba ko.
She's eyeing my work, every sentence has criticism. I can almost hear everyone gossiping behind my back dahil ilang beses niya akong sinigawan.
"You lack creativity, Valbuena!"
"I'm sorry, I'll fix it po---" Pero ang totoo, hindi ko alam kung saan ang pinopoint niyang mali. Everything is a spot-on!
She glared to me and pointed a finger on the screen. Ang gusto niya ay palitan ko ang iba doon dahil mas angkop daw.
"Do it faster this time, Valbuena! Late ka kasi!"
"Opo, Architect."
Bumalik ako sa cubicle ko at pinipigilan ang pagmumura. I have so much to do at kahit konting usapan between other interns, pinupuna ni Maam.
"Be thankful at wala si Sir Ongpaugco ngayon! He hates it when an intern is late!"
"Architect, may tanong po ako." Taas kamay na sabi ni Juris. "Ano pong dapat naming itawag kay Sir Ongpauco? Engineer po ba or Doctor?"
"Hay naku, Juris!" Inis na sabi ni Architect. Palagi din niya iyang pinapagalitan, palagi daw kasing lutang. But she's good in architectural design, she's from UP.
"Hindi pa doktor si Engineer, Juris! He's still taking his masters dahil kaka pasa lang niya ng board exam! Now, any questions? Baka itanong niyo kung may asawa na si Engineer?" Sarcastic niyang tingin sa aming lahat.
Actually, tinatanong ko din iyon sa isipan ko.
"Well, fiance! For three years! And sooner or later she'll be here to overlook your designs and performace because she's an Architect."
Bumigat naman ang kalooban ko, that means he's engage for three years na? And they're still not planning for a wedding? Ano bang iniintay ni Seth?
And she's an architect, respected and honorable in this field. Magiging supervisor pa daw namin. Badtrip naman.
Sumandal ako sa balikat ni Karlos at pumikit. He's busy watching a series in Netflix and we're currently here in my condo. Mama and Esther are both in the hospital for weekly check up.
"Are you planning to tell Vaughn na si Seth ang boss mo?"
"Well, hindi naman siya ang boss na boss dahil sa engineering department siya. But yes, he owns the company." Bulong ko, inaantok.
In between internships and modeling, tulog ang ginagawa ko bilang escape. I really need time to sleep, it's my insomnia that's keeping me awake most nights.
Minsan ay hindi na rin tumatalab ang kape. Baka immune na ako, I really need my old sleeping routine.
"Napaka seloso naman kasi ng boyfriend mo. Minsan wala na sa lugar." Sambit niya and changed the series into a movie.
BINABASA MO ANG
SAUDADE: A Warrior In Every Inch
RandomSeñorita. No, that's not a title, pangalan ko iyon. It was just an ordinary day, I woke up and went to my graduation and delivered my valedictory speech. But coming down the stage was the biggest plot twist in my life. I am not just an ordinary girl...
