Chapter 8
1306 Words
Coming to work on a Monday with full excitement and inspiration, I joined my equally supercharged and hungry team in a meeting.
We started working with another client that wants to get his furniture retail company get advertised.
Gathering and sharing ideas, creating effective techniques, everybody in the team contributed.
"How about Buzz Marketing?" Someone suggested.
"Matrabaho yan pero with good technique, it will definitely work." Sagot ng Kyle.
I kept tapping my pen on the table but not loud enough to distract the on-going conversation. They all have good ideas about advertising in an unconventional way.
"I believe that Viral Marketing will be more effective. If you can see bilang lang ang mga taong hindi gumagamit ng social media. Through social networking we can reach more people in a small amount of time." I gave them my best judgment.
"True. Tama si ma'am. We just need to be creative and think outside the box." Pag sang-ayon ni Jane.
"I agree. This campaign is tricky. We have a small budget and yet we need to catch and keep the attention of the audience." Dagdag ni George.
Hindi ko maiwasan ang mangiti sa pag sang-ayon ng dalawa. They really has a spark. Maybe I can play cupid to them. My smile got even bigger with the idea.
I set that idea for a moment and focused on the task at hand.
"We'll make it smaller then. Let us pushed the envelope in space-saving ideas by creating an ad banner about their smallest store that features a visual representation of all their merchandise in a particular store. They can choose an item, and click to buy." I said brilliantly.
It is I believe the best idea that would definitely work. After all, Novelty comes from small packages.
"Great idea, Ma'am. We'll put it to work and inform you of the progress." One member from the design team spoke.
The meeting ended after a few hours. Ako nalang at si Jane ang naiwan sa loob ng meeting room.
Nginitian ko siya.
Since that night at the lounge, mas naging komportable ang loob ko sa kanya.
"What happened last Saturday night?" I ask Jane habang nagliligpit ng mga papel.
"Ahhh.. False alarm." Natawa niyang sagot. "Sumakit kasi ang dibdib ni nanay kaya tinawagan ako ni Jenny, kapatid ko, akala niya aatakihin na si nanay. Pagkarating ko nakita kong nagpapahinga na si nanay at heartburn lang daw pala. May history kasi kaya nagpanic din ang kapatid ko."
"I'm glad false alarm lang. Hinatid ka ni George?" Fishing for information.
"Ah, oo." Tipid niyang sagot.
Ayaw niya pa siguro ipalam kung ano man ang mayroon sila ni George. Maybe next time I can push her to talk about him para makagawa ako ng plano.
"Kamusta pala yung guwapong lalaki na kausap mo nun?" pag-iiba niya ng usapan at nakita siyang nakita na parang aso.
Naalala ko nanaman ang gabing iyon at biglang bumilis ang aking puso pero ko pa rin mapigilan ang pag-ngiti.
"I guess he's fine?.." Patanong kong sabi dahil pati ako mismo ay naguguluhan.
It is like we know each other pero hindi pala. We talked and that is all. I tried to get to know him pero wala naman ako nakuha sa kanya.
Maybe, He is not interested in me. Ni hindi nga niya binigay ang pangalan niya.
"You guessed? Fine lang? Who is he anyway?" Bumalik ang isipan ko sa reyalidad ng marinig ang mga tanong ni Jane.
"Yeah, I guess he's fine. Enzo daw."
"Enzo Daw? That's unique and weird name."
Natawa ako because she thought that is his full name. "Just Enzo. Enzo is his name."
"Enzo lang? Walang full name? Saan daw siya nagtatrabaho? Mukha siyang mayaman sa paningin ko. Godddd, he's even wearing a three piece suit with that face and body." She even used her hands to emphasize his body. "Ughh!!!"
My mind went crazy remembering that striking face and well-built body.
I shook my head and shortly close my eyes to bring myself to the present.
"I don't know him." I blurted.
Gulat na gulat ang mukha ni Jane sa sinabi ko.
Sinundan niya ako papasok ng office at umupo siya sa sofa while bombarding me with questions.
"It's true Jane, I really don't know him." I sighed and let my body sag on my swivel chair.
"You just told me that his name is Enzo tapos hindi mo siya kilala? Ano ba talaga?" Nalilito niyang tanong sabay kamot ng ulo.
"I heard his friend called him Enzo so I just assume na yun yung pangalan niya." Malamya kong sagot.
Mason called him Enzo, so it must be his name right? I told him my name pero wala siyang sagot.
I want to know him pero I think the feeling is not mutual.
Nalungkot tuloy ako.
Someone knocked on my door and saw Stephanie, my secretary, pop her head in.
"Yes?"
"Ah Ms. Lopèz, I just want to ask if may kailangan or iuutos pa po kayo?"
I looked at my clock and saw that it was already past 5. Tapos na ang office hours.
"Wala na, Steph. Thank you. You can leave if wala ka nang ginagawa." I smiled at her.
She's really nice and I like her at isa pa she is an effective secretary.
"Ready to leave?" Jane asked me after my secretary closes the door.
"Ah yes, why? Ikaw ba?"
"Hindi pa. Actually, hinihintay tayo ng buong team sa lobby. I forgot to tell you na ngayon yung na-set nilang date para i-celebrate yung success natin sa 'The Soft'. Dinner lang, sa L'Angolo. Sama kana please."
Wala naman ako ibang lakad at gusto ko rin silang maka-bonding kaya sumama na rin ako. Isa pa, ako naman ang nag-suggest na i-celebrate naming lahat iyon. We all deserve a break.
We met the rest of the team at the lobby. Hindi na kailangan ng sasakyan papunta sa L'Angolo dahil it's just around the corner.
Palabas na kami ng lobby nang mahagip ng paningin ko ang pamilyar na likod ng isang lalaki.
Nagpaalam ako saglit sa mga kasama ko at pinuntahan ang lalaki.
"Hi, boss!" I said chirpily.
He turned his body to me.
"Popcorn." James said smirking.
Popcorn? Is he calling me popcorn or is he craving popcorn? Hindi naman ako mukhang popcorn ah. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya.
"Are you going home now? Sabay na tayo pababa ng basement." Alok niya.
"Ah, not yet. Me and my team will eat dinner outside." Itinuro ko ang kinaroroonan ng aking mga kasama. "Um... Do you want to come?" May pag aalinlangan ko pang tanong.
Tumingin siya sa labasan at tinignan ng ilang segundo ang aking mga kasama then turn his head back to look at me.
"As much as I want to, I need to go somewhere. Rain check?"
I smiled and nodded my head. "Sure. See you." I wave at him and starts to walk away.
"Take care, Hope. I'll see you."
L'Angolo della pizza is an Italian restaurant that serves great tasting pizza and pasta. They ordered 4 large pizzas with different toppings and 2 large serving of pasta primavera.
I guess I will have to break my diet tonight and have a cheat day.
Dinner went really well. Puro tawanan at asaran ang nangyari, no one dared to talk about work. Wala na rin naman kami sa trabaho and we should enjoy life outside work.
Sumakit ang tiyan ko at na-exercise ng sobra ang facial muscles ko kakatawa sa mga biruan at kuwentuhan. I'm glad at kasundo ko ang aking mga katrabaho. Boss nila ako at nirerespeto, ganunpaman, natutuwa ako dahil hindi na sila naiilang at kaibigan na ang turing nila sa akin.
I got the job that I want and i enjoy it. I got new friend and start growing my circle. Isa nalang ang kulang.
- Writer
