The Jerk Coefficient

Prologue

His POV

"Engineer, the finalized design plan of the project in Makati arrived from the architect. Para raw ma-recheck mo 'yung plano mo." She gently placed the blueprint on my desk. "He also sent you the softcopy," malumanay na pagkakasabi ni Maggie.

I massaged the sides of my head and forehead. This continuous lack of sleep has been testing me. I pushed my rolling chair towards my desk.

"Thank you, Maggie." I flipped the cover of the blueprint to examine it. Ito na naman ang pagpupuyatan ko. "Can you also coordinate with Engineer Sebastian and Engineer Arceo? Clemente counts on me. We can't replace them at the last minute in case they change their minds."

"I did, engineer. I'll follow up po sa signing of the contracts. You don't need to worry about it. 'Yung schedule niyo po sa 4 PM ay ang meeting niyo po with Architect Clemente."

"I'll be there." It's essential to talk to the people that you work with when building infrastructures and even houses. Blueprints and softcopies just won't do. Without actual meeting and synchronization, the project's gonna be porous for discrepancies, error, and of course, that compromises safety and unnecessary increase of overall cost. "How about the other project? 'Yung building permit."

"I'll bring the finalized plans here later, engineer, and sign niyo po 'yung kailangan."

"Good." Napakunot ang noo ko sa blueprint na 'to. This too ambitious architect is giving me a very hard time. The cantilevers should be in their A game at this. This whole building screams parametric design.

"And oh, waiting po tayo sa bagong hire na engineer dito. 'Yung magiging trainee niyo po. She'll be assigned to supervise in the construction site." I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you again, Maggie. Ihatid mo siya dito immediately once she arrives."

She didn't need to remind me. Ang tagal kong hinintay ang araw na 'to. I've been preparing for this for months.

"She'll be here after..." She checked her wristwatch. "20 minutes po. I'll go ahead to wait for her at the lobby. Good day, engineer."

"Thank you, Maggie." She exited the office and that's when I started to feel tensed. I haven't seen her for so long. I got even more impatient when I saw her name in the list of board exam passers. I owed somebody a plane ticket and pocket money for out of the country trip just to make this happen.

I tapped and tapped my fingertips for minutes on the table while scanning the blueprint although my mind is not here, until I glimpsed at my table nameplate. I grabbed it and read my name on it to feel a bit of comfort.

Engr. Leo Adrian Yap
Asia Construction Corp.

It was a tough road but I'm here now.

"And his office is this one. Just knock on the door, okay? "Will you need any assistance?" Maggie's voice is approaching.

I stood up and inserted both of my hands in my pockets not knowing what to do with them. Revealing them might show that I'm nervous.

"I'll be fine. Maraming salamat." I see her silhouette on the other side of the frosted glass.

"Okay then, I'll leave."

"Ay wait lang. Strict ba 'yung boss mo? Pang-heads up." She giggled. I missed hearing that one. She probably doesn't know that that glass is not that thick.

"Slight, pero mabait si boss. Just don't forget not to put too much sugar in the coffee when you offer to buy or make him one. When you do that, you'll be fine. He's about your age by the way."

"Sus, pinapalubag mo lang ang loob ko. Sorry ninerbyus ako ha." Still chatty. "First job ko kasi 'to sa engineering company. Nag-feeling self-employed kasi muna ako." I know. You made me wait longer.

"You'll ace this one, engineer. Believe in yourself."

"Okay, ito na. Salamat, Maggie."

"Good luck and I'll see you later."

She stood by the door doing nothing aside from taking deep breaths I guess, until there were two consecutive knocks. The door slowly opened and she entered the office with a bright smile on her face, and her eyes focused on me which made my heart skip a beat.

She dresses smarter and more mature now, but her face... it barely aged. She looks the same as how she looked the last time that she was in front of me when I graduated. Just as beautiful, probably even more. She also looks happier now.

"Good morning, engine—" Her eyes widened. "Shit. Oh god, sorry." She covered her mouth while still examining my face.

"Good morning, Blake."

I told her I'll see her in the field.

**********

Author's note:

This story is already finished, BUT there are gonna be some slight alterations, very slight lang. (It won't change the plot.) I'm planning kasi to have this novel published in hard copy, so I need it to be close to perfection para hindi sayang 'yung igagastos ko.

Magbebenta ba ako? More likely no, because I don't think na may interesadong bumili haha. But I'll have a copy for myself as a remembrance, and 'yung iba ibibigay ko sa mga nag-support sa'kin while I was writing this.

But in the future, who knows? Sa ngayon, masaya na akong natapos kong isulat 'to. Thank you for entertaining my nonsense, char.

Happy reading! 🌸 🌸🌸