THAT SEVEN YEARS AGO: Trent & Amanda (by Adys Alcon)

TWELVE: He's a man of his word

Kinuha ni Amanda ang notepad at inayos ang sarili bago tinungo ang opisina ni Trent. Ayon kay Pearl ay nandoon na daw ang boss nila. Kumatok siya bago pinihit ang busol ng pintuan. Nakita niya si Trent na may kausap sa telepono at nang makita siya ay senenyasan siyang maupo sa oval table na may animang upuan na nasa bandang kanan ng opisina. Sumunod naman siya at maingat na umupo, nakatalikod sa binata.

"Uhmn.. yes..yes..." narinig niyang sabi ng binata. "Send me the details once approved."

Naramdaman niyang tumayo ang binata at naglakad patungo sa mesa. Nagiging matalas ang kanyang pandama at pakiramdam kapag malapit kay Trent. Napangiti siya sa isiping iyon.

"A lovely smile to start a day..." Naupo si Trent sa katapat niyang upuan. Pinaugpong nito ang mga daliri at nakangiting nakatitig sa kanya.

"It's a lovely day to start our meeting, Trent"

He chuckled. "As you wish, darling"

Before, sweetheart, now, darling. What's next? Nadadagdagan ang endearment nito para sa kanya. Hindi man niya aminin ay gusto niya iyon at kinikilig pa ngunit hindi niya bibigyan ng kasiyahan si Trent. Magpapahard-to-get siya.

"Just like what I've said yesterday, this hotel will undergo renovation in two weeks time. I already settled office personnels' temporary reassignment to different premises of CJHMC. You are responsible to dessiminate information to all the staff. When do you plan to hold a meeting?"

She cleared her throat. Napaghandaan na niya kung anu ang gagawin, ilalahad na lamang niya iyon kay Trent. "It will be tomorrow and I'll do it by 2 groups. One group in the morning before nine which means before they start to work. Another is in the evening at half past eight where most of them go home. Staff are to choose which time they wanted. If you agree to this, I'll pass a notice about the meeting and enlist their names."

Tumatangu-tango si Trent na mukhang sumasang-ayon.

"Since they have to come early or leave later than usual because of the meeting, an hour overtime pay should be given. Okay ba iyon?"

"Yes.. yes... do what you think is right. I just don't want miscommunication and if that's one means of keeping them informed then do so, Amanda. At saka oras nila ang kailangan natin kaya bayaran din natin iyon."

Nilagyan niya ng tsek ang inilista niyang sasabihin sa binata dahil inaprubahan nito ang mga iyon.

"About the one week leave with pay, I want to distribute the leave form after the meeting for the accounting department to process it as early as possible. By the time the leave is in effect, the staff will receive their pay."

Natutuwang nakatingin sa kanya si Trent. He looks proud for her. " You amaze me sweetheart. You've worked hard beyond my expectation."

She's proud of herself, too kahit alam niyang madali ang trabahong iyon. Natutuwa siyang may benepisyo pa ring matatanggap ang mga staff nila at hindi sila papabayaan ng CJHMC.

"Thanks. Kahit naman sinu ay maiisip iyon. One last thing, saan ako pansamantalang mamamasukan?" nangangating tanong niya.

"You're coming with me to Tagbiliran"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ni Trent pero hindi niya inaalis ang mga mata dito. Gusto niyang makita kung gaano ito kaseryoso sa sinabi. Okay, he is.

"Trent, kindly assign me anywhere in CJHMC. I can't leave Coby behind." Iyon agad ang sagot niya sa binata. Well, she would've loved to go with him but her son is more important.

"I have thought about that already. Tell your stepmom to look after him, if she can't my mom's going to baby sit him since she's staying here for a month."