He Broke Me First

Chapter 23

"Patingin ng visual mo."

I moved my laptop closer to Jhannus to show him what I did. May presentation kasi kami mamaya. We started working as staff accountants. It felt surreal, us having our own jobs but I can say that I'm now starting to open a new chapter of my life. I'm starting to achieve the other dream of mine. It feels so good.

"Ay iba, paano maging Kiela?" aniya pagkakita sa gawa ko.

Well, I really put a lot of efforts on it! Siyempre, nandoon mamaya 'yong mga senior ko gano'n din si Ma'am Ana, our accounting manager. I need to impress them.

"Inom ka lang ng tubig bago matulog," advised ko sa kanya.

Umirap lang siya at bumalik na sa cubicle niya. I tried calling Joaquin but his phone was busy. Siguro may ginagawa. He's now working in their company.

Habang hindi pa kami tinatawag sa conference room, I practiced my lines and the possible questions that they might ask to me. I don't want to get a bad shot.

"Punta na raw kayo," tawag sa amin ng isang staff.

I sighed deeply and followed her together with my co-workers. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan, medyo lang. This is not my first time presenting in front of them pero ito ang unang beses na kasama ang ibang head ng other departments. I think, nandoon din ang head ng marketing and finance? I don't know.

While I was waiting for my turn, I received a call.

"Hi, how's your presentation? Tapos na? I'm sorry, I couldn't answer your call earlier. I was in a meeting. Don't stutter, please," Joaquin explained and laughed, teasing me.

"It's okay but no, I'm not yet done! But I feel nervous now because of what you just said!" I yelled playfully. He laughed again.

"H'wag kang kabahan, kaya mo 'yan! Fighting!" he motivated me.

Tumingin ako sa pinto ng conference room. Lumabas na si Yelyn, one of my co-managing accountants. Sinenyasan ko siya kung ayos lang ba pero nag thumbs up lang siya bago nag thumbs down. Parang tumaas tuloy ng 0.10 ang kaba ko!

The same staff mouthed us to get ready so I sighed. Kanina naman ayos pa ako, ah? "Babe, I'll go now. Next na ata ako kay Inna."

"Okay, goodluck! Kaya mo 'yan!"

I smiled by myself after hearing his words. Nang lumabas si Inna, pumasok na ako sa loob para ako naman ang mag-present.

I clenched my fists and quietly prayed. Sobrang seryoso naman nila! I connected my laptop on the big projector and did my intro. I acted professional while doing my introduction but deep inside, I wanted to freak out.

"That's all, thank you." I bowed a little when I finally finish my turn.

They clapped their hands and Ma'am Ana even gave me a smile and thumbs up. I bit my lip. Did I do it right? Right! They were nodding!

"Woo!" Nagbuga ako ng hangin pagkalabas sa conference bago pinunasan ang noo ko gamit ang likod ng kamay ko. I was sweating damn really hard! Malamig naman sa room!

Napatingin ako kay Inna at Jhannus na nakatayo at kapwa hawak ang mga dibdib. Tapos na rin sila. I laughed and tapped their shoulders, we're workmates. Hindi nga lang kasama si Zea dahil ang sabi niya, she's still enjoying the light life, acting like a teenager, still. Habang si Yzza naman ay masyadong naging busy sa kompanya nila.

I definitely miss hanging out with the whole gang but we've been so busy with our own things that we would only talk to each other through phone calls, texts and social medias. Maliban nga lang kay Inna at Jhannus dahil lagi ko naman silang kasama.