Chapter 5 Time to Decide
Excited na nakaupo sa kanyang workstation si Andy. The following week after ibalita sa kanya ni Sam sa pagpili ng digital animation nya as their company’s official entry sa isang contest, nakatanggap sya ng invite from his manager about sa topic na yun. Although napansin nyang nandun ang buong team nila, naisip na lamang nya na that will be the time na ia-announce ang good news. She can’t help but feel giddy kaya naman binalita na rin nya ito sa kaibigan.
“Your time to shine hon!” Sagot nito sa kanyang message.
5 minutes before their scheduled meeting pumunta na sya sa conference room. Pagpasok nakita na rin nya na andun na yung ibang mga kasamahan nila na kasama sa meeting at naghihintay na magsimula ito. Maya maya lamang dumating na ang kanilang manager kasama ang Big Boss nila. Napatihimik ang lahat dahil hindi nila expected na kasama ang big boss sa meeting. They all sat down properly and gave their all attention sa dalawa.
“Good morning everyone” Panimula ng big boss.
“You might be all wondering why I’m here presiding your meeting. Well, as you know, for the first time, we decided to join the Digital Animation Contest. And after several grueling weeks, we have managed to finally finished our entry. So, let’s not wait any longer and watch our official entry.” Pagtatapos nito.
Maya maya lamang pinatay na ang ilaw sa conference room and nagsimula nang ipalabas yung animation film na binabanggit nito. With wide eyes and astonishment, pinanood ni Andy ang sariling gawa. Nagulat na lng sya sa palakpakan ng tao. She was too fixated na di na nya napansin na tapos na pala.
“As you see, we have a solid entry. Inspiring and full of wit. I think we actually have a shot on this.” Masayang nagpalakpakan ulit ang mga nasa loob. Pagkahupa nito at nagpatuloy magsalita ang kanilang big boss.
“And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the brains behind this marvelous piece of art, the creator of this digital film.” Napaupo ng tuwid si Andy in anticipation sa pagtawag sa kanya. “Eric, congratulations on your amazing work. You have proven yourself as an amazing Digital Graphics Manager of our company and this will put our name as a new player in the big league. I couldn’t have been prouder than I am right now'”. Sabay abot dito to congratulate him.
Biglang nablangko si Andy. This is not how she expects things to happen. That is her work. Ilang linggo nya itong pinagpuyatan at pinaghirapan. And they are stealing her work in front of her. She’s starting to feel anger, betrayal and frustration at the same time. She needs explanation. Her hands are balled into fist sa ilalim ng mesa as she glares to her manager na masayang tinanggap ang pagkamay ng kanilang boss. Nakikita nyang gumagalaw ang bibig nito but she’s not hearing whatever her manager is saying dahil sa halu halong emosyon na nararadaman nya.
Pagkatapos ng short speech ng manager ay agad naman nagpaalam ang kanilang big boss adjourning the meeting. Unti unting naglabasan ang mga tao sa conference room hanggang si Andy at Eric na lng ang natira.
“How could you do that?” Hindi napigilang sambulat ni Andy sa manager.
“I don’t know what you mean Andy.” Painosenteng sagot nito.
“That is my work! Akin yun and you’re taking credit from it.” Galit na sagot nya.
“Oh please. Get over yourself. Porke’t maganda ang pagkakagawa aangkinin mo na.” Painsultong sabi nito.
Hindi makapaniwala si Andy sa narinig. She never met someone who blatantly lie without remorse.
“I can’t believe you! Alam mo sa sarili mo na hindi mo gawa yun. Why are you doing this?”
“And who would believe you? You’re just an junior designer with not much experience as I do.” May halong pangungutya nito.
“If you ever do something that will ruin my reputation, I’m warning you Andy, I can destroy you and your career.” Pagbabanta ni Eric sabay labas ng room.
Naiwan namang shock at nanginginig sa galit si Andy. Gusto nyang sumigaw at magwala sa mga narinig. She decided to call Sam.
“Hey there my talented and soon to be famous friend.” Masayang sagot nito.
“Sam.. ” Andy just sobbed upon hearing her friend’s voice.
“Andy? Where are you?” Nag aalalang tanong nito.
“Office.” Maiksing sagot nya habang patuloy sa pag iyak.
“I’m coming. Wait for me.” nagmamadaling tugon ni Sam.
Nang huminahon ng bahagya si Andy ay lumabas na rin sya sa conference room at bumalik sa workstation. Tulala lamang syang nakaupo at nakatingin sa monitor. Buti na lng at lunch break kaya wala ng tao sa paligid nya. Maya maya lamang dumating na ang kaibigan.
“Andy!” Tawag nito sa kanya.
Pagkalingon nya, di na nya napigilang umiyak ulit. Agad naman syang niyakap ng kaibigan. She clings to her like her life depended on it.
“Shhh I’m here… I’m here..” Paulit ulit na sabi ni Sam.
Nang bahagya siyang kumalma, pilit hinuhuli ni Sam tingin nya pero mas pinili nyang yumuko lamang.
“Let’s get out of here. I don’t think nasa kondisyon kang magtrabaho ngayon.” Seryosong sabi nito.
“I can’t go home. Magtataka sina mama pag umuwi ako.” Tahimik na sagot nya.
“Then dun tyo sa bahay muna.” Sabay tyo at kinuha nito ang bag nya.
“Anything you need to bring home other than your bag?”
Umiling lamang sya at tahimik na pinatay ang computer para makaalis na sila. Marahan siyang inalalayan ng kaibigan patayo at habang naglalakad palabas ng office nila.
Tahimik silang nagbyahe papunta sa bahay ng kaibigan. She’s thankful at hindi sya pinipilit nito magsalita. Hinayaan muna sya nitong mag isip at kumalma. Pagdating sa sa bahay ng kaibigan ay agad sya nitong sinenyasang pmasok sa kwarto.
“Here. You can stay and sleep here.” Malumanay na sabi nito.
“I have a couple of meetings this afternoon so I’ll be leaving in a few. Will you be fine here?”
Tumango lamang sya sa pagsagot.
“Don’t leave ok? Text your mom that you’ll be spending the night here. We’re gonna deal with whatever happened. You got me?” Patuloy na tanong nito.
Tango lng din ang sagot nya.
Sam fondly kissed the top of her head at umalis na rin ito.
Andy tiredly settled sa kama ng kaibigan. Ilang beses na rin syang natulog dito kapag ginagabi silang mga lakad or if they’re having weekend time together. Nakaramdam na rin sya ng sakit ng ulo. She decided to take a quick shower and borrowed some pajama set sa kaibigan. Maybe because of too much emotion, she easily fell asleep.
——————————-
“Hey hon. Gising na.” Marahang tapik ni Sam kay Andy. Naalimpungatan naman ito sa ginawa ng kaibigan.
Her eyes flutters until it dawned on Andy na ginigising lang sya ng kaibigan.
“What time is it?” Tanong nya habang pinikit ulit mga mata.
Mahinang tumawa ang kaibigan. “It’s already 8pm hon.”
Napabalikwas naman si Andy sa narinig. “What?” at dali daling hinanap ang kanyang cellphone sa kanyang bag.
“It’s ok. Tinawagan ko na sina tita nung nkita kong natutulog ka pa pag uwi ko. I figured di ka pa nakapagsabi sa knila.” Sam said.
Bumalik naman si Andy sa pagkakahiga at tahimik na tumingin sa kisame. Everything that happened coming back to her. Napansin naman ito agad ng kaibigan.
“Come on get up. Bumili na ko dinner natin.” Pagkasabi ay lumabas na ito ng kwarto.
Maya maya lamang sumunod na rin sya kaibigan para kumain. Naabutan nya itong naghahain. Napansin nyang nakapagpalit na rin ito ng pambahay. Nanlaki ang mata nya sa dami ng pagkain na inaayos ni Sam sa dining table.
“Ang dami naman nyan.” Gulat na sabi sabi nya.
“Well, hindi ko alam kung ano nangyari, so I don’t know what food I should get. Anyway, pwede naman nating initin the next days yung matitira.” Kibit balikat na sagot ni Sam.
Dahil na rin na nakatulog syang walang laman ang tyan, napagana ang kain nya. Amused naman syang pinanood ni Sam. After dinner, Sam told her to just relax at sya na magliligpit ng kinainan nila. Hindi na rin sya nagpumilit at nagbukas na lamang ng tv habang hinihintay ang kaibigan.
Maya maya lang, binaba ni Sam ang mug ng tea sa harap nya at umupo sa tabi nya.
“How are you feeling hon?” Mahinahong tanong nya.
Buntong hininga lng ang naging sagot ni Andy.
“Care to tell me what happened sa office nyo?”
Huminga ng malalim si Andy bago nagsimulang ikwento what happened sa meeting nila and ang confrontation na nangyari sa knila ni Eric. Hindi na naman nyang napigilang maiyak habang nagku-kwento.
————————-
“Good job team for sticking with our schedule.” Pagtatapos ni Ralf sa meeting niya with his team. They’ve been having several late night discussions to plan out their strategy na ilalagay sa proposal. And this the second time they ended up the meeting a little late.
So far they managed to close out their implementation plan including the timeline. Several ideas have been considered and a presentation is set for their sample outline. Pagkatapos magbigay ng konting reminders, Ralf adjourned the meeting and let everyone out for the day hanggang silang dalawa na lng ni Lexie ang naiwan sa office nya.
“How’s the headhunting going?” Bungad ni Ralf kay Lexie after the last of their staff left his office.
“Hmmm I have couple of interviews set this week. At the start candidates are slow to come in. But when word came out that I’m the one hiring, good applicants started coming in impressive pace.” Lexie answered with a smirk.
“Ah… Ladies and gentlemen my humble friend.” Muwestra nito sa kaibigan.
“So anyone caught your attention?” Dagdag na tanong nya.
“Hmmm I have names here that are shortlisted. Most have them have established clients and works already.” Sagot nito.
“But?” Curious na tanong ni Ralf.
Lexie in deep thought, just keep on staring Ralf.
“I just think that we need someone who have some untapped potentials. These candidates are obviously qualified…” Seryosong sagot ng kaibigan.
“You want to go with someone with less experienced but talented one?” Patanong na sabi ni Ralf
“Lexie, I’m not sure if it’s time to take that kind of risk at this point.”
“And that will set us apart Ralf. Look, if this will not work, then we still have the rest of the team and you to take us back on the traditional digital road.” Paliwanag ni Lexie.
“And you believe that we’ll be able to find someone who will fit sa hinahanap mo?”
“I’m sure the right person will come.” She positively said as she set aside the applicants CV on one side of the table.
“We don’t have much time Lexie. If we need to onboard some wiz kid, we need to do it soon. We can’t afford to do last minute work.” Seryosong tugon ni Ralf.
“Alright, you’ll have your wiz kid by end of this week.” She assured him.
0 thoughts on “Hello Again”