Chapter 3: Challenge

    

     "Oh, sexretary Reyes. What are you doing here? Naligaw ka yata," pabirong tanong ni Andrius. Nadatnan ko siya nakaharap sa kaniyang cellphone habang tatawa-tawa at kinakagat ang hintuturo niya. Ano bang trabaho ng isang 'to at nakaupo lang nang maabutan ko. Baka nag-aantay lang na mismong grasya ang lalapit. Kung sabagay best friend naman siya ng isang engot kaya pinagbibigyan siya. Pero hindi pa rin ito makatuwiran. Nagtatrabaho kami habang siya, sitting here looking stupid?

     I rolled my eyes but he didn't see it. Nakapokus pa rin ang atensyon nito sa cellphone habang bahagyang tumitingin sa akin. "Mr.-whoever-the-hell-he-thinks-he-is ordered me to get the document containing the stakeholders of Garrison company from two years ago until now. Ang sabi niya sa'yo ako magtanong."

     "Stakeholders from when?" gulat nitong tanong. His full attention was now on me. May itsura sana, bingi naman. Hayst.

     "From two years ago kako," ulit ko sa kaniya.

     "What you are saying is weird. Why in the world would he asked for that when mostly, if not all, are fired already. Minsan lang may umabot ng mahabang panahon sa pagtatraba sa kompanyang ito. Yes, they are given big amount of money but once Herrick notices just a tinge of fail of their work, he would no doubt fire them immediately. Although there are some who luckily stayed and that includes me," proud nitong sabi habang itinuturo ang sarili.

     "So, isa ka rin sa mga stakeholders?" mangha kong tanong. I mean, yes, it would be probable but I expected him to be a business partner instead.

     "Yes. I still have to guide you to the stockroom but don't worry, it is just located on the 15th floor." It doesn't sounds like an assurance to me. Ang layo kaya nun knowing na may mga papers pa akong dadalhin. I heave a sigh and followed Mr. Andrius. His tall figure is now in my front pero mas matangkad pa rin si Mr. Garrison compared sa kaniya. I notice a mark on his arm where a small tattoo made a small attempt of erasing if not covering the scar. Sa hinuha ko'y galing ito sa isang sunog dahil sa kulay nito.

     As we reached the elevator, Andrius punched the number 1 and 5. "So, how was your first day as sexretary, Ms... Who are you again?" Napakamot ito sa kaniyang ulo at halatang pilit inaalala ang pangalan ko. May selected amnesia siguro.

     "I'm Lorraine Reyes," sabi ko habang ngumingiti. "And my first day was tiring," I added in a truthful manner. Totoo naman kasi. Ikaw ba naman ang gawing maid ng damuhong iyon. 

     "Allow me to formally introduce myself to you. I'm Andrius Lacrosta, bestfriend of Mr. Herrick Garrison," he said as he extended his hand to me and I shake it. Bakit naging pormal ata ito? Good place to extend formalities (sarcastically speaking). "To be honest, I am surprised that you weren't fired by Herrick. Maybe he was smitten by you." Tumaas-baba ang kilay nito habang ngumingiti ng nakakaloko. The elevator door then opened and we made our way outside. Tama ba ang pagkakarinig ko? He thinks Herrick is smitten by me. Nah, I don't think so. Kung iyon man ang kaso, then I am lucky.

     "Why would he be? Akala ko ba sinabi niyang mukha akong losyang?" sabi ko sa kaniya habang hinahabol siya. He has long legs, the reason for his quick and long strides.  "Could you slow down a bit?" singhal ko rito habang hinahabol ang aking hininga.

     "No, this is like a training. Knowing Herrick, he has all the tactics he would soon use para umalis ka sa kompanya." 

     When we reached the particular room, Andrius switch the lights on. Hindi ko pa man nakita ang buong paligid nang niyakap niya ako. What the hell? Nagpumiglas ako. "Don't try to look if you don't want your innocent eyes to lose its innocence," he whispered through my ear. Arghh, I hate proximities. "YOU TWO, WHO GAVE YOU THE PERMISSION TO DO THAT HERE? Gusto niyo bang makarating ito kay Sir Herrick. God, get a room, people." I was stunned by what I heard. Physical urges. Why do some people don't wait for marriage to consummate their relationship? Nakarinig ako ng dali-daling pagbibihis ng dalawa at pagdaan sa aming gilid. Buti na lang at nakatingin ako sa kaliwa; opposite of the door. 

     I felt Andrius releases me. "I'm sorry about that," pagpapaumanhin niya habang hindi direktang tumitingin sa akin. Among problema nito at parang nahihiya?

     "It's not like a big deal. How did you know I'm not new to those scenes anyway?" tanong ko. "You don't have to answer that," I held back. Must be because of the way I appear to them. 

     He went to the drawer with 'stakeholders' written on it. Ang dami palang naging stakeholders nila; occupied lahat ng drawer. After minutes, Andrius passed me a pile of papers. 

     "Good luck with carrying that," aniya at sumisipol na lumabas ng kwarto. Hindi man lang nag-abalang tulungan ako. 

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     Hinihingal ako habang buhat-buhat ang mga documents. Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok dahil baka matapon pa ang mga ito. After kicking the door, I went to Mr. Garrison's desk. Nakita ko siyang nakakunot ang noo habang tumitingin sa aking direksiyon. He us facing his macbook, his eyeglasses are on. Nevertheless, the glasses did nothing to hide his beauty to others, in fact it adds to it. Magandang nilalang, puso ko'y iyong nabihag. Okay, self. Such a corny mammal.

     "You are supposed to knock. That's the rule," bungad nito sa akin. May ganoon? May dinadala akong libo-libong papel tapos pagdating ko rito kailangang kumatok pa ako bago pumasok? Ibinagsak ko ang mga papel sa kaniyang desk na naging sanhi ng pagkalat ng ilan sa sahig. I also notice him flinched while giving me daggers. I smiled sweetly to him. Bumalik ako sa may pintuan at kinatok iyon. Wala naman siyang sinabing dapat dalhin ko ang mga documents kaya iniwan ko na lang doon. 

     "Sir, can you let me in?" I sarcastically ask. I even smiled as if he could see my expression. May dumaan na mga workers na binibigyan ako ng nagtatanong na mga mata. It's as if they think I'm a psycho because I'm like kneeling at the door. 

     "NO, DON'T COME INSIDE," pabulyaw nitong sabi. Na-i-imagine ko na mukha niya.Napatawa na lang ako ng mahina.

     "But I already knock, Sir. I'm afraid I would be fired." Hindi ko mapigilang tumawa.

     "Go make me a coffee lest you would be fired," huling saad nito bago ako tumakbo papunta sa kwarto ni Andrius. Doon na lang akong magtitimpla ng kape since ayaw ng Herrick na iyon na ready-made coffee ang ibibigay ko. When I reached Andrius' office, napansin ko na wala siya rito. Saan naman kaya nagpunta ang damuhong iyon. Ah, never mind. I could just use his equipment. Para naman ito sa dragon boss, eh kaya oks lang. 

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     "Get yourself ready. We'll be attending a business meeting today," Herrick said in the call. Yep, he called me. I don't know where he got my number, but I don't care. I rubbed sleepiness away from my eyes and yawn while sitting. Ang aga namang tumawag nito. I looked at my phone to see what time it is; 4:00 o'clock. I must be sleeping at this hour knowing I've spent hours yesterday night for making college stuffs.

     "Yes, Sir. I would be there in less than half an hour," inaantok kong sabi sa kaniya. 

     "Make it 15 minutes. You still have to prepare the presentation." God this man. "And dress nicely," pahabol nitong saad bago ibinaba ang tawag. 

     Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos dahil hindi na ako nag-abalang kumain, dali-dali akong pumunta sa Garrison company. Shit, I arrived exactly at 15 at the front of the company. Obviously, I would be late because I still have to go through the elevator and I would be doomed. Pagkabukas pa lang ng elevator ay tumakbo na agad ako sa office ni Herrick. Nakita ko siyang nakaharap sa akin. He is inpatient now. 

     "You're late. That means you have to clean my entire office later. " I could imagine his nose flaring with anger. His jaw is tightened. "Gather all the necessities and don't be slow."

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     "I told you to do your job properly. Ang simple lang ng pinapagawa ko sa iyo yet you didn't manage to make it right. I'm paying you so you must do your job properly." Hinihimas niya ang kaniyang sentido habang ginagamit ang isang kamay sa pagluwag ng kaniyang necktie. 

     Napayuko ang trabahante. I knew he is nervous dahil nanginginig na siya at pinagpapawisan. Halatang pagod ito. "But Sir, I already revised the plan all over again for the nth time. The manager even agreed that it would be good sa darating na New Building and branch of Garrison Company," pagpapaliwanang ng worker na napag-alaman kong Mark Lastimosa ang pangalan. He is working for the company for the past year and is a father to two kids with no mother supporting. Firing him would make their life hard. 

     "If it was okay for that damn manager then for me that's no. We can't export our product to Australia if that goddamn plan would be the basis. Remember, iba ang Pilipinas sa Australia. The climate here is very different from there. That type of cloth would be ignored if the quality does not match the current weather in Australia. Are you even aware of that?" Ibinaling niya ang kaniyang atensyon sa akin. "Give me the papers and the sample cloth," he ordered to which I oblige. Kinuha ko ang mga ito mula sa kaisa-isang wooden table sa office. 

     "Here, Sir." Binigay ko ang mga ito sa kaniya. He examined the papers once again. For a moment, inilipat-lipat niya ang kaniyang paningin sa papers at sample clothing. 

     "What happened to this one? Kanina lang ay iba ang ibinigay mong sample cloth. This one is good but it doesn't match what you wrote in the plan. Revise this and you're good to go." I saw Mark look up to him, his expression thankful. Para siyang nabunutan ng milyong tinik. Nang tumingin siya sa direksiyon ko ay kinindatan ko siya. He mouth a thank you while I mouthed a welcome. As he exited the room, I know he is so happy as much as I am. 

     "You did it." Hindi iyon tanong but I chose to answer him anyway. I am behind him habang hawak-hawak ang totoong tela na dinala ni Mark kanina. Nang magsalita si Herrick ay ibinulsa ko kaagad ang tela kasi baka lumingon ito sa direksiyon ko.

     "Oo. It would be such a waste if you would fire him plus he has kids that he needs to support," saad ko habang ngumingiti. Ito na ang iniisip ko kanina pa lang.

     Lumingon siya sa akin habang tinitignan ako ng masama. I leveled his look. "You shouldn't have done that." Hindi maitago ang inis sa tono nito. Umiigting ang kaniyang panga.

     "And then what? Panooring mawalan sila ng trabaho? Why can't you be considerate? The saying 'might is right' is such a big lie and stupidity," singhal ko rito. I don't get this man. Mark is doing his job well but this guy wants to turn his job to ashes. I mean, yes, mistakes can't be avoided.

     "If that's the case, I must look for his every action. And when he's done something wrong, I'm warning you. I would include you in his fall," banta nito sa akin. Tumalikod ito at nagsimulang lumakad papunta sa pintuan.

     "Okay, copy that," nanghahamon kong sagot. Napigilan siya at unti-unting lumingon sa aking direksyon. Tinignan niya ang aking mukha at nanghahamon din ang kaniyang mga tingin. 

     "I would love to see you try," ang huling sagot niya.