Next to You (COMPLETED)

5 - Team Leader

Since bukas pa ang first day ko sa new office, I decided to familiarize myself on my new environment. I also researched how I can get to the office from the condo and I plan to commute there today. Wala lang, para bukas di na ako mahihirapan pa, lalo at dun na dederetso si Tonie.

Hindi ako masyado nakatulog kagabi, probably since namamahay pa ako. This morning, I organized my things sa room ko. I am also planning to buy some personal stuff mamaya sa mall malapit sa condo. Just a few things like shampoo and body wash. Meron namang available dito, but I just have my own prefer brand.

I did not have any issue on finding my way sa office. This one is rather small than the building sa city. Probably because main branch yun at mas kaunti ang employees dito. I took a mental note of the direction para hindi ako maligaw bukas. As Tonie said, di naman kalayuan ang condo sa office. A good 30 minutes mararating ko na yung lugar. Tonie has a car and he drives everyday to work, but hindi rin naman ako pwedeng sumabay sa kanya palagi. He works on the same office pero system analyst sya at magkaiba kami ng team. Possible din na magkaiba kami ng working schedule.

After strolling around the area complex for a good while, I then commuted back to the condo. I went to the mall just walking distance from our residence and decided to just dine out. After having my dinner, I then bought some toiletries and spent some time window shopping. After that, I went home and had a group call with Mary and Eve.

My two bestfriends don't have any idea why me and Mark broke up. Actually, no one knows the reason. I just can't tell anyone dahil nahihiya ako. Alam kong wala akong kasalanan because the truth was hidden from me but still, I just can't and I don't want others to know.

Akala ko noon, pinakamasakit na yung nangyari sa ex boyfriend ko before Mark. The one who cheated on me, but I realized mas doble ang naging sakit this time. Was I too inlove to have not notice the red flags? Was I too engrossed with the idea that Mark will be the one, my end game? Bakit hindi ko naramdaman na may mali?

All of these are the reasons as to why I also decided to be just by my own. That maybe love and relationship isn't really for me. Maybe I was pushing myself too much on something that wasn't really meant for me.

I prepared and decided to go early sa office today. Also, Tonie called and he said may importante daw kaming dapat pag-usapan. He was not able to tell the details at mas maganda daw na magkita nalang kami. But based on how our call went, tungkol yun sa naghatid sa akin. Di gaano malinaw kasi chappy yung line, but I think he was asking sino ang naghatid sa akin from the airport. Ang weird lang ng tanong nya kasi alam naman nya na boyfriend nya ang sumundo sa akin noon.

I arrived 1 hour early sa office and I first met my new team lead. This was not our first meeting though, since she interviewed me before via skype nga lang. She then introduced me to my new team mates. They are already aware that I came from the Manila branch and naging maayos naman ang first half ng shift. Wala namang masyadong need na major adjustments on my part at wala ding masyadong kailangang aralin since isang system lang naman ang ginagamit ng lahat ng branches. Kat, one of my teammates, toured me around the office so I would be familiar of the place. Importante yun sa work namin dahil lahat ng departments ay hinahandle namin. This way, if may issue on a particular department, I know where I need to go.

As technical support, we are basically responsible for fixing any computer issue ng lahat ng employee, both software and hardware. In our line of work, may time na sobrang busy, may time naman na magaan ang workload. Although every day, merong mga tumatawag to report issues and it's our duty to resolve them immediately.

It's lunchtime and Tonie advised me na magkita daw kami sa pantry para makapag-usap. Sumabay sya sa lunch ko since mas flexible ang time nya. Pwede sya magbreak anytime as long as di sya mag ooverbreak. I arrived first in the pantry and get myself some foods. I did not order for Tonie as I am not sure what he wants to eat. After 15 minutes, I already notice my cousin entering the vicinity. Malayo-layo pa siya sa akin pero nag-umpisa na syang magtanong about sa nangyari sa airport. Naguguluhan ako actually kasi wala naman dapat ikwento. Sinundo ako ng boyfriend nya, di ba nila napag-usapan yun?

"Gaga, sino naghatid sa'yo sa condo?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa tanong nya. Anong klaseng tanong yun. Diba boyfriend nya? Habang nakatingin ako sa kanya, Napansin ko din na may mga bumabati sa kanya nung nakalapit na siya sa akin. Nakatayo pa rin sya sa harap ko at kinausap nya din saglit yung mga ka-team nya ata kasi di pa din ako sumasagot.

"Ano na? Sino naghatid sayo? Di ka raw nakita nung boyfriend ko sa airport at alas singko na nung umalis sya doon kasi di ka naman daw nya nakita."

"Huh, paanong di nya ako nakita eh hinatid nya ako sa condo mo. Nilibre ko pa nga ng kape at pastries yun bago sya umalis eh." Tumawa muna ako bago ako nagpatuloy. "Lasing ka ba? Or baka nakainom ka ng tubig dagat. Ano ba yang pinagsasabi mo?"

Bago pa sya makasagot ay napansin ko yung boyfriend nya na pumasok din ng pantry. He was walking to our direction with a tumbler in hand, probably to refill water. Wow! Same office din pala sila ni Tonie. Baka dito sila nagkakilala.

I did not let my cousin talk and pointed my finger at Colton. Since tahimik sa lugar, dinig ng lahat ng tao sa pantry, which mostly ay kateam ni Tonie, ang sinabi ko.

"Siya yung naghatid sa akin. Yung boyfriend mong si Colton." I said while pointing at him.

Halos lahat ng tao sa area ay napatingin sa direction ni Colton. Napatigil din si Colton sa paglalakad. Si Tonie naman ay parang natigilan at sinilip kung sino ang tinuturo ko. After a few seconds, he looked back at my direction tapos pinanlakihan ako ng mata. I also heard him muttering a soft curse.

"Hindi siya ang boyfriend ko. Team leader ko sya, gaga!"

Okay?? WHAT THE HELL?!