The Challenge

Amelia

Dumating ang email ng 7:42 a.m. sharp.

> Mandatory attendance: Blackwood Corporation Strategy Review, 9 a.m. — Conference Room 12.

Binasa ko ‘yung email dalawang beses. Akala ko glitch.

Kasi hello—paralegals don’t attend strategy meetings. Lalo na ‘yung kasama mismo si Adrian Blackwood. Usually para lang ‘yon sa mga executives, partners, at sa mga taong may sweldong kayang magbayad ng student loan ko sampung beses over.

Pero ayun — andun nga pangalan ko sa listahan.

Kaya ayun ako, 8:57 a.m., nakatayo sa labas ng conference room.

Nerbyos na nerbyos. Overdressed. At kunwaring confident.

The room was huge — glass walls, skyline view. Kita mo buong city sa baba, parang ibang mundo.

Sinubukan kong huwag ma-starstruck. Kaso ang hirap.

Tapos… pumasok siya.

Si Adrian Blackwood.

Even surrounded by suits and senior partners, siya pa rin ‘yung center ng universe. His presence demanded attention. Parang ‘yung hangin mismo nag-a-adjust pag dumating siya. Sharp. Controlled. Lethal calm.

“Let’s begin.” he said — simple, even tone, pero may authority na parang command.

Umupo ako, tahimik lang, taking notes habang nagsasalita ‘yung mga executives tungkol sa projections at strategies nila. Puro jargon, puro corporate talk na parang impressive pakinggan pero walang laman.

Tahimik lang ako, hanggang may isa sa kanila na nag-present ng expansion plan.

Mali.

‘Yung data nila luma na. Obvious sa report — outdated ‘yung risk assessment, at may bago nang policy sa Europe. Kung ‘yun ang basehan ng expansion nila, lugi agad.

Pero hindi ako dapat magsalita. Hindi ako supposed to be there, let alone talk.

Then Adrian’s voice cut through the discussion.

“Thoughts?”

Tahimik. Walang sumagot. Walang gustong magkamali.

Before I could stop myself, narinig ko sarili kong nagsalita.

“Sir, with respect… mali po ‘yung projections.”

Parang slow motion ‘yung paglingon ng lahat.

Tumingin si Adrian sa akin — mabagal, diretso.

“‘Off,’” he repeated. “Explain.”

Ramdam ko ‘yung kaba sa dibdib ko. Pero tuloy lang ako.

“Sir, the report used data from last quarter. Pero nagbago na ‘yung regulations sa European market two weeks ago. Kung ‘yung old model pa rin gagamitin, bababa ‘yung projected growth ng at least eight percent.”

Huminga ako. “Sir.”

Tahimik. Walang kumurap.

Tapos tumayo si Adrian.

Lumapit siya — bawat hakbang niya parang may timbang. Ramdam ko ‘yung presence niya habang papalapit, hanggang nasa tabi ko na siya.

Amoy ko ‘yung cologne niya — clean, dark, expensive. Nakaka-distract.

“Show me.” sabi niya, calm pero may command.

Napatulala ako. “S-sir?”

“Show me.” ulit niya, this time mas mababa ang boses, mas dangerous.

Nanginginig ‘yung kamay ko habang nilapit ko ‘yung report. “Dito po, sir. ‘Yung trend line based pa sa Q2 data. Pero dahil may bagong tariff adjustment sa Europe, dapat nag-shift na ‘yung projections.”

Tinuro ko ‘yung appendix. “Kung i-update, mag-iiba ‘yung revenue model.”

Tahimik siya habang binabasa. The whole room was dead silent.

Finally, tumingin siya sa akin.

“You’re right.”

Parang tumigil ‘yung puso ko.

Tumuwid siya, tapos humarap sa partner na nag-present.

“How did you miss this?”

Nabubulol na ‘yung lalaki, trying to explain.

“Oversight.” daw.

“Oversight,” ulit ni Adrian. “Not a word I tolerate in my company.”

Tumingin ulit siya sa akin. ‘Yung tingin niya, bahagyang lumambot — konti lang, pero ramdam.

“What’s your name?”

“Amelia Cruz.”

“Cruz,” he repeated slowly, parang tinatandaan. “Noted.”

At bumalik siya sa upuan niya. Calm. Unshaken. Like nothing happened.

Nagpatuloy ang meeting, pero wala na ‘kong naintindihan.

Basa ng pawis ‘yung palad ko, at parang maririnig ko pa rin ‘yung sariling tibok ng puso ko.

After it ended, agad akong nagligpit. Gusto ko lang makalabas nang tahimik.

Pero bago ako makarating sa pinto—

“Ms. Cruz.”

Napahinto ako.

Si Adrian, nakatayo sa may bintana, silhouette niya framed by the skyline.

“Stay for a moment.”

Nag-unahan ang mga tao palabas, halatang gustong makalayo agad.

Pagkasara ng glass door, kaming dalawa na lang natira.

Tahimik. Mabigat ‘yung hangin sa pagitan namin.

Tumingin siya sa akin. “You have a habit of speaking when you shouldn’t.”

“I— I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

“Pero ginawa mo,” sabi niya, matter-of-fact. “And you were right.”

Napatigil ako.

“I value accuracy over obedience,” tuloy niya, dahan-dahang lumalapit. “Most people in that room were too scared to challenge me. Ikaw, hindi.”

“I wasn’t trying to challenge you,” mabilis kong sagot. “Ayoko lang na may mali sa report.”

“That’s exactly why you did.” he said, with the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.

Napalunok ako. “If I crossed a line—”

“You didn’t.”

Cut off niya agad. Calm, but firm.

“But next time you decide to contradict a room full of executives, make sure you’re ready for the consequences.”

“May consequences po ba?” nasabi ko bago ko napigilan.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “You tell me, Ms. Cruz. Kaya mo ba?”

Tumingin ako diretso sa kanya. “Kaya ko.”

Ilang segundo lang, pero parang eternity ‘yung titigan namin. Tense. Electric.

Then he turned back toward the window, voice lower now.

“Good,” he said. “You’ll need that nerve where you’re going.”

Napakunot ako. “Where I’m going?”

Lumingon siya ng bahagya. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

---

Adrian

Courage and intelligence. Rare combo.

Usually, kapag may nagsasalita sa meetings ko, gusto lang nila mapansin.

Or worse — gusto ng approval.

Pero si Amelia Cruz? Hindi ganun.

She spoke up kasi hindi siya mapakali sa maling data.

That kind of honesty — instinct ‘yun, hindi training. At sa mundo ko, instinct is worth more than loyalty.

Habang nagpapaliwanag siya, tahimik lang akong nakatingin.

Kita mo ‘yung takot sa boses niya, pero hindi siya umatras.

‘Yung logic niya? Sharp. Precise. Hindi niya kailangan ng confidence — ‘yung conviction niya, sapat na.

Kaya nung nagpa-stay ako after the meeting, gusto ko lang makita kung paano siya mag-react under pressure.

Most people crumble.

Siya, hindi.

Yes, she was nervous. Pero hindi submissive. May fire sa loob.

Intriguing.

Hindi ako madalas mag-hire ng ganung klase. Actually, I avoid them.

They’re unpredictable. Dangerous.

Pero si Amelia Cruz…

She didn’t belong behind a desk.

She belonged in the fire.

At gusto kong makita kung anong mangyayari kapag tinapon ko siya doon.

---

Amelia

Pagkalabas ko ng conference room, halos matumba na ako sa kaba.

Lahat ng tao nakatingin. Nagbubulungan.

“Anong sinabi ni Blackwood?”

“Buhay pa ba siya?”

Hindi ko rin alam.

Ang alam ko lang — ‘yung lalaking kinatatakutan ng lahat…

tumingin sa’kin hindi bilang problema.

Kundi bilang hamon.

At mukhang handa siyang tanggapin ‘yung laro.