Love In Progress

Chapter 3

Single

Kinabukasan, nasa elevator palang ako naririnig ko na ang pinaguusapan ng lahat ay si Flint Hernandez.

"Ang swerte ng strategic, marketing at IT. Makakasama nila sa project!"

"Rinig ko sobrang gwapo daw? Sana makita natin siya!"

He is kind of the talk of the town, lalo na sa young employees ng company, kasi naman he really does have the looks and to know his social status, blows everyone's mind.

As said yesterday, the interns and new hires will be working closely with each other and will be reporting  to their respective supervisors. Today will be our first meeting to discuss the initial needs of the project, distribution of tasks and to get to know each other.

Pagkapsok namin sa conference room nandoon na ang IT team at si Flint Hernandez. Maiingay na silang nagkwekwentuhan at nang pumasok kami ay ni-welcome kami.

"Upo kayo! Anywhere you're comfortable with. Sabi pala the whole morning is for us youngsters to discuss. Mamayang hapon pa daw darating yung mga supervisors. We can get to know more about each other while waiting for the marketing team." Sabi ng isang lalaking nakasalamin sa IT team.

Magkakatabi kaming naupo. Nagulat ako nang biglang lumipat si Flint Hernandez sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. Agad akong siniko ni Ellie.

"Hi guys. You're from the strategic department right? From what school kayo?" tanong ni Flint.

"Hi!" sagot ni John. "I'm John, this is my girlfriend Ellie, we study at UNA. This is our friend Mish."

"Ohh UNA nice! I have high school friends who study there din." Bumaling ang tingin niya sakin "How about you? You're Mischa Lee right? I remember you from the company shuttle and elevator."

"Yes. Sa Le Grand ako." I said then smiled awkwardly. Why is that he being friendly is making me uncomfortable?

"Ohh wow! Magkatapat lang pala schools natin! Baka nagkita na pala tayo before but we just didn't know each other.

I didn't know how to continue the conversation. Mabuti nalang at dumating ang marketing team. I thought we will start discussing about the project pero nagpatuloy lang ang pagpapakilala.

I don't really feel comfortable sharing my private matters with them however a lot of them are talkative and they just kept asking questions from everyone.

Nalaman ko na regular employees na sina Kuya Mike, David at Patrick ng IT team. May pamilya na si Kuya Mike, siya ang pinakamatanda sa buong team at siya din ang lead programmer. Sina David at Patrick naman ay college friends na sabay pumasok sa company, mga fresh graduates sila at inemphasize nila na they are both single and ready to mingle.

They suggested that everyone spills their relationship status para daw magkaliwanagan kung sino ang mga available at hindi. The 3 girls from marketing team giggled with that.

Sina Scarlet at Tammy ay regular employees at si Jenny ay isang intern ng marketing team. They are all single at panay ang bulungan nila at tingin sa mga boys doon. Probably talking about their crushes.

Suddenly, it's our team's turn, nagkwento ng kaunti sina Ellie at John tungkol sa relationship nila and what's it like studying in UNA.

Now, it's my turn. I told them my basic info. Mischa Sabrina Lee, 20, LGAU, Business Intelligence Program, I like travelling. Pagkatapos ay nagsmile ako pahiwatig na tapos na ako mag introduce.

"Opps.. relationship status?" tanong ni Patrick, hindi pinapalampas ang kahit na sino.

"Uhm.. single but not available?" hindi ko sure na sabi.

"Ha? Bakit naman?"

"May manliligaw? May ka M.U?"

"Did you just came from a break up?"

I was bombarded with questions from David and Patrick but I didn't know how to answer and all of their stares are making me uncomfortable.

Ellie noticed that and answered for me. "Come on guys, it's my friend's decision. Depende na sainyo kung mapapatibok niyo ang puso niya. Now... next please, the last but not the least, the executive intern."

Mabilis na pumunta sa kanya ang attention ng lahat. Everyone is really so curious about the new guy in town.

"Flint Louis Hernandez" he started.

"Wait. So you're really connected to the Hernandez group? The one who owns almost half of Philippines' hotels, restaurants and resorts?" Jenny asked.

"I heard they have subsidiary company in the construction field pati na din a company for agency and tours? Totoo Flint?" dagdag ni David

"Yes connected lang ako, it's not mine, and I'm sure hindi pa naman ganun kadami na half na ng Pilipinas ang hotels namin? And, David, Yes we have also companies in those field. By the way, secret lang natin ha!" he joked and everyone laughed. Everyone knows his social status anyway, it's not a secret anymore.

Nagpatuloy siya. "20, ACU, Business Management. Single and I like.... someone in this room."