Chapter 2: Dang, that was a loud bang!

CALVIN'S POV

"Yes, Annie. I'll be there in 5 minutes. I want my coffee ready on my table by then. Black." I don't know why I have to remind my assistant every time. It's been 3 months at hindi niya pa rin saulo ang mga dapat naka-ready na bago pa ako dumating. Two more months and I will fire her if she does not improve.

"Nandito na po tayo, sir." Sabi ng driver kong si Vin. "Help me bring my bag to my office. I just need to use the comfort room on the ground floor." Naglalakad kami ni Vin at maghihiwalay na sana when I heard a loud bang along the hallway. Sino ba 'to? Nakadukdok kasi ang mukha sa phone.

She is looking at me like I am a ghost. Nanglalaki ang mga mata niya at nauutal siya. She also dropped her eyeglasses and has not realized it so I gave it to her. I noticed na may bukol siya and pag nahilo 'to mamaya, makakaapekto pa siya sa trabaho so pinadala ko siya kay Vin sa clinic.

Umakyat na ako sa office ko after ko sa comfort room. Binuksan ko ang laptop ko to check my emails and took a sip from my cup of coffee. "Annie! Why is this sweet?! Didn't I say black?" Pinupuno talaga ako nitong si Annie.

"Sorry, sir! Sabay ko po kasing ginawa sa akin. Nagkabaliktad po pala tayo. Hindi ko pa natikman 'yong akin." Pagpapaliwanag niya nang natatakot.

"Take this out of my office and get me a proper coffee. Black, Annie, black." Pagdidiin ko.

"Yes, sir. Sorry po talaga. Hindi na mauulit." Sabi niya.

Ang aga naman ng mga katangahan ng mga tao ngayon. Kanina si Ms. Robles. Ngayon naman, ay hindi, araw-araw si Annie.

Ms. Robles... Hmmm. Nakakatawa na lang ang katangahan niya. Kung bakit kasi nakadukdok ang mukha niya sa phone niya habang naglalakad? Ayan tuloy. Anong department nga iyong papasukan niya dapat? Training and Development. Yes, tama, Training and Development Department nga. Bago ata siya, parang ngayon ko lang siya napansin because, dang, that was a loud bang.

"Here you go, sir." Sabay lapag ni Annie ng coffee sa table ko.

"Annie, you have two months to improve or you are out."

"Opo, sir." Nalungkot niyang sagot.

"Let me hear my schedule for today." Alam ko naman talaga. Gusto ko lang malaman kung alam niya rin dahil nga mali-mali siya.

"9:30 AM, office tour of new employees and introduction to co-workers including the management. 11:30 AM, lunch meeting with Sir Torres, the Head of Training and Development. 4:00 PM, meeting with Diamond Asia. The rest, your schedule is free, sir." Tapos niya.

"Thank you, you may go." Anong oras na ba? 9:15 AM. Nandoon ba sa office tour si Ms. Robles? Iniiling ko ang ulo ko na parang binubura siya sa isip ko.

Sumagot na ako ng mga importanteng emails at calls. At 9:30 AM, kumatok na si Annie. Ito na yata ang mga bagong employees.

"Sir, office tour and meet and greet po ng new employees." Sabi ni Annie.

"Let them in." Pumasok na ang isang HR Associate para ipakita ang opisina ko at ipakilala kami sa isa't isa. Namukhaan ko agad si Ms. Robles pagpasok niya. May onting pasa ang bukol niya at wala siyang salamin dahil nabasag nga.

"This is Mr. Calvin Liam Samaniego, our COO who has contributed a lot to the growth of this company. This is his office but we do not directly come to him if we have documents for his signature. Give them to Ms. Annie, his assistant." Pakilala niya sa akin.

"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the company. I hope you find the work environment nice so far. Do not hesitate to share your ideas to your department heads. They are always welcome. Lastly, I want efficient employees."

"Sir, this is Marie Cabral, the new Accounting Associate. This is Jose Santos, Account Executive. Mark Tamayo, the additional IT Support Engineer. Lastly..."

"Ms. Athena Robles." Nagulat sila na kilala ko si Ms. Robles. Nagulat din ako kung bakit ko ni-cut off ang HR Associate.

Napaangat ng ulo si Ms. Robles sabay tingin sa akin.

"Hello again, sir. Nice to formally meet you." Bati niya. Tulala lang ang iba na nakatingin sa amin.

"How's your head? Can you work without your glasses?"

"My head is fine, sir. Yes, I can naman po. Thank you for asking. I'll have it fixed after work." Aba feeling niya yata chinecheck ko siya. Ayoko lang nang mali-mali sa trabaho. Annie is already a pain in the ass. I do not want another one.

"That's good. Ensure you don't make a mistake because you are working today without it. I asked you just to make sure." Dapat 'yon ang ma-communicate ko. "Sige, Ms. Hermosa, anything else?" Tanong ko sa HR Associate.

"Ah, right. Ms. Robles is our new Training and Development Officer, sir. That would be all."

"Alright, then. Again, nice to meet everyone. See you around." Paalam ko. Last na sanang lalabas si Ms. Robles when I called her. "Ms. Robles, a minute please."

Napahinto siya at muling humarap sa akin. "Yes, sir?"

"Are you sure you are able to drop by the mall to have your glasses fixed?"

"Opo, sir."

"Going later to the mall without your glasses? Anong grado ng mata mo?"

"250 po both with astigmatism."

"Yea, I don't know about that. Just to be sure, do you need a hand? Vin can take you."

"Ay, nako sir! Hindi na po. Abala na po masyado. I can do it by myself. Magpapasundo na lang po ako." Sundo? May boyfriend naman pala siya.

"Okay, then. Tomorrow, I want to see you with glasses on."

"Yes, sir. Thank you. Mauna na po ako." She came out of my office. Why did I even offer? Pakialam ko ba? Kasalanan niya naman 'yon. She was blushing... Baka nahihiya lang. Hindi siya magba-blush sa iyo, Calvin. May boyfriend siya na susundo sa kanya mamaya.

Focus, Calvin. You already have a lot on your plate, dadagdagan mo pa. Are you interested in her? Why? You barely know her and just met her earlier.