Make Him Move On in 50 Days

Chapter 2

“Hello, I’m Xylia Saavedra,” nakangiting pakilala ko sa HR ng Stewart Highfields. “I’m your new employee for the marketing department.”

Hinagod naman ako ng tingin ng HR. Sa palagay ko ay hindi nagkakalayo ang edad naming dalawa. He licked his lips and grinned.

Bahagyang napakunot ang aking noo sa kanyang ginawa pero hindi ko tinanggal ang ngiti sa aking labi. Pasimple akong yumuko para mapaalala sa sarili ko ang suot kong damit. It was corporate attire. I was wearing a nude pencil cut skirt and a white slightly see-through long sleeves. Pero syempre’y nagsuot ako ng manipis na sando instead of  just wearing a bra. Hindi pa naman ganoon kakapal ang mukha ko.

“Oh, yes!” sabi niya at dumiretso sa pagkakaupo. “Mr. Stewart is waiting for you at his office. It’s beside the Head Department, twentieth floor.”

“Waiting for me?” ulit ko sa kanyang sinabi habang nag-umpisa nang gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib.

I came here without feeling any nervousness at all. Inisip kong hindi ko naman siya makikita dahil nasa Marketing Department ako, but then, all of a sudden, I was bound to see him because he was freaking waiting for me. 

How’s that, huh? Such a good day for a first day.

Paano kung makilala o mamukhaan niya ako? Anong sasabihin na lang niya? Na mayroon siyang empleyadong nanglandi sa kanya sa bar? What kind of impression is that? 

Sana ay hindi niya na lang ako maalala at paghihirapan ko na lang ang lahat ng susunod kong galaw.

“Yes,” simpleng sagot nito. “Mr. Stewart likes to meet his new employees kahit saang department pa ‘yan. Except if you’re just a hired maintenance. He wants to be familiar with his employees,” he explained to me.

I disappointedly sighed. I didn’t even know why I was feeling disappointed.

“Uhm... Sige po,” sabi ko naman at tumayo ulit ng maayos saka ngumiti. “I’ll go to his office right away.”

Tumayo naman siya at saka lumapit sa pintuan ng kanyang opisina para pagbuksan ako ng pintuan. “Good luck and hope to see you around.”

Nginitian ko na lamang siya at tumango bago inilabas ang sarili sa kanyang opisina. Sumakay ako ng elevator at pinaakyat iyon sa twentieth floor kung nasaan ang office ni Brendt. Ang kaba sa aking dibdib ay palala nang palala habang nakikita kong nagpapalit ng numero ang elevator bawat paglagpas namin sa mga palapag. 

If my heart was a race car, I bet it was running 200 km/hr at that time. I was beginning to feel very anxious. I didn’t want to have a bad impression.

“Any appointments, ma’am?” bungad sa akin ng kanyang secretary nang makarating ako sa kanyang office.

I slowly nodded, slightly unsure if I really had an appointment with him. “I think so... I’m the new employee for the Marketing Department,” nag-aalangan kong sagot. “I believe that he’s expecting to meet me.”

“Oh! Yes, he’s expecting to meet you!” sabi naman niya at saka pumindot sa intercom. “Sir, the new employee from the Marketing Department is now here,” she informed him.

“Send her in,” simpleng sabi ni Brendt and I couldn’t help but to notice how professional he sounded.

“Yes, Sir,” she said before raising her head to look at me. “Puwede ka nang pumasok.” 

Nakangiting tumango ako sa kanya. “Salamat,” sabi ko bago humarap sa pintuan ng office ni Brendt.

The door was made up of glass pero sa tingin ko’y maririnig naman kung kumatok ako kahit papaano. Ayaw ko namang basta-basta lang ako papasok. Nasaan ang respeto roon, ‘di ba? Kaya naman isang malalim na paghinga ang pinakawalaan ko. Kumatok ako ng tatlong beses sa pintuan bago binuksan upang pumasok.

“Mr. Stewart...” nag-aalangan kong pagtawag sa kanya habang pinapapasok ang aking sarili sa loob ng kanyang opisina.

Unti-unti siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin mula sa kanyang binabasa.

Gaya ng ginawa ng HR kanina ay hinagod niya rin ako ng tingin mula paa hanggang ulo. Seriously! What’s with my attire? Isn’t proper or something? May dress code ba sila rito na hindi ko alam?

Natigil ang kanyang tingin nang umabot siya sa aking mukha. His gaze was too intense but I managed to return his stares. Sobrang lalim at expressive ng kanyang mga mata ngunit wala ka pa ring mababasa. He’s so intimidating. Halos manginig na ang aking tuhod dahil sa simpleng pagtingin niya sa akin.

Bahagya naman akong nakahinga ng maluwag nang sumilay ang kanyang ngisi.

“Ms. Xylia Saavedra,” he recited my name, and I nearly frowned.

He just mispronounced my precious name, named by my mother.

“Sir, no offense but it is Xy-lia. Not, Xaylia. Xy as in “si”. Xylia. Not, “say” as in Xaylia.”  I corrected him. “I hope you don’t mind me correcting the pronunciation of my name. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, thank you for correcting me, Xylia,” he thanked me as he put emphasis on the first syllable of my name.

Napangiti naman ako sa kanyang sinabi. God, Xylia!

“It was a unique name, Xylia. I like it,” he complimented.

I smiled. “Flattered, Sir,” I simply said. “Thank you rin.”

He smiled and read my curriculum vitae. “You’re a BS Business Administration-Marketing graduate from the University of Santo Tomas. You also have a one year course for basic architecture,” sabi niya at napataas ang kanyang kilay. “Why didn’t you continue studying Architecture until you got a degree?”

“Uhm...” Nag-isip ako ng magandang dahilan pero siguro’y mas magandang maging honest na lang. “Drawing is just my hobby. I like numbers, you see. I just tried. Ayaw ko na ring mag-aral ulit. Sino ba’ng may gusto no’n, ‘di ba?”

He suddenly laughed. “Well, that’s understandable. Neither do I want to study again,” he said and clasped both of his hands together as he looked at me straight in the eyes. “Why didn’t you apply as an architect for the company as well?” he asked me. “We could use more hands.”

Here it goes! I thought I already passed the question and answer portion when I was interviewed by the HR before pero meron pa pala. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang ay mas nakakakaba ang mga tanong ng presidente ng kompanya.

“Simply because I didn’t get a degree for Architecture, Sir,” I answered as flawlessly as I could. “I didn’t take it seriously. I was just inspired by a known architect. And then I realized, I have a talent for drawing, pero hanggang doon na lang ‘yon.”

Tumango-tango naman siya at nagkibit-balikat. “Nakakapanghinayang, pero kung ‘yan ang gusto mo...” 

Ibinaba niya naman ang curriculum vitae ko at saka muling nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

“I would like to see some of your works, Ms. Saavedra,” he suddenly said, and my eyes slightly widened. “Maybe we could work something out with your layouts and designs. We’re planning to establish a new subdivision. Hindi naman porkit wala kang degree, hindi na maganda ang mga concepts mo, ‘di ba?”

“I would love to show you, Sir, but I didn’t bring my sketches with me,” I apologetically said, but I was so excited to show him my drawings.

“It’s fine,” he told me. “You can still show it to me tomorrow.”

“Okay then, Sir,” sabi ko. “I’ll bring it tomorrow as you wish.”

“You’ll be the assistant head of the Marketing Department. I hope that you’ll be able to help our company,” he said, professionally. “Your work will start tomorrow officially. Don’t be late.”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes, Sir!”

I was determined to be a punctual employee. Hindi ako dapat malate. I shouldn’t be lazy. I’m in the corporate world now.

“I should go now, Sir. Thank you,” sabi ko at tinalikuran na siya.

I was about to turn the knob when he suddenly spoke again that made me freeze except for the unexpected presence of butterflies roaming around my tummy.

“Text me, Cinderella. I believe that I gave you my number,” he told me.

My eyes widened in surprise. He fcking remembered me!

“Y-Yes, Sir,” nauutal kong sabi at hindi ko na inabala pa ang sarili kong tingnan siya ulit bago lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

He almost gave me a heart attack!

“Ahh!”

Tinakpan ko naman ang aking tenga dahil sa magkasabay na pagtili ni Deia at Selena nang ikwento ko sa kanila ang nangyari sa office.

“Can you two please tone down your voices? Baka marinig kayo ng mga katabi kong unit. Ang ingay ninyong dalawa,” reklamo ko naman sa kanila.

“Gaga! Soundproof ang bawat unit dito,” sabi ni Deia at mas lumapit pa sa akin. “Oh my gosh, Xy! Natatandaan ka pa niya!” kinikilig niyang sabi.

“Iba talaga pag si Xylia na ang gumawa ng galaw. Talagang katanda-tanda,” dagdag pa ni Selena.

Napailing na lang ako at naglaro sa iPad ko ng piano tiles. Mas gusto ko pang makarinig ng tunog nang pagpindot ng piano na hindi mo man lang maintindihan ang kanta na tinutugtog nito sa bawat pagpindot mo kaysa sa mga bunganga nilang dalawa.

“Where’s your phone?” biglang tanong ni Deia sa akin.

I looked at her and I heard that I died in the game. “Why?”

“Duh? We will text your prince charming!” excited niyang sabi at nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa ni Selena.

“Oo nga naman. Iyon na lang naman silbi ng cellphone mo ngayon, e,” dagdag pa ni Selena at isang irap ang natanggap niya galing sa’kin.

Lumingon ako kay Deia. “Ayaw ko,” mariin kong sabi at nagbalik sa paglalaro ng piano tiles.

Napasinghap naman sila ni Selena at padabog niyang binato ang cushion sa akin kaya muli akong natalo sa piano tiles.

“Oh, c’mon, Xy!” pagpilit ni Selena sa akin. “Don’t be such a killjoy.”

“Boss ko siya, okay?” paalala ko naman sa kanila. “He’s the president of the company that I’m working for. Hindi lang siya basta lalaki na lalandiin ko.”

“Ano naman kung boss mo siya?” nakakunot noong sabi ni Deia. “Remember Xy, may pustahan tayo. You have to stick to it.”

Hindi ko naman na ‘yon makakalimutan. Pero kakakilala niya lang sa’kin kanina as his new employee. I should establish a good image first. May kaunting kahihiyan pa naman ako para sa sarili ko.

I may agree to this bet pero gagawin ko iyon ng malinis at walang sabit. Ayaw kong magmadali hangga’t alam kong hindi pa tama. Ayaw ko rin namang agad mawalan ng trabaho kung saka-sakali.

If this deal ends badly, my career will also end badly.

“But seriously, Xy, you should text him.” Si Selena na ngayon ang nagpupumilit. “Text lang naman, e. It wouldn’t hurt.”

“Sinabi ko na sa inyong dalawa, I want to keep things slowly and unnoticeable,” sabi ko na lang at itinabi na ang iPad ko.

Suko na ako. Alam kong hindi ako makakapaglaro ng maayos hangga’t nandito silang dalawa.

“Pero siya naman ang mismong nagsabing itext mo siya, ‘di ba, Cinderella?” mapang-inis pang sabi ni Selena habang binabanggit ang “Cinderella”.

I rolled my eyes at her. “Give me some time, okay?” sabi ko na lang. “Hindi naman pwedeng bigla akong magfeeling close sa kanya kahit na sabihin mong sinabi niyang itext ko siya.”

“Pero Xy, the clock is ticking. You only have forty-nine days left,” paalala sa akin ni Deia.

Believe me, Deia... You don’t have to remind me. I will make my move.