The Former Mrs. Tan

Billy

I was called for a final interview with a Senior Operations Manager. My Team Supervisor recommended me to be promoted as Team Supervisor almost two years after being hired.

Since the company promotes an open door policy, managers' offices were in cubicles. I entered the cubicle and saw a tall, slim, handsome man about my age. He was typing something on his laptop so I assumed he was busy. I knocked on his cubicle.

"Hi, come in," he said as he heard my knock.

"Good morning," I greeted.

It was already five o'clock in the morning when I was called.

"Have a seat," he said. "You're Irene Tan, right?" 

"Yes, sir," I answered.

"Don't call me Sir. We're in an American company and everyone calls each other by their first name here. Just call me Billy."

I smiled as I felt being welcomed and made myself comfortable on my seat.

"Let me just finish this email, will that be okay?" he asked.

I nodded and gave him a smile. 

After a few minutes, he took a set of stapled sheets of paper from a pile on his right. I saw that it was my resume, evaluation sheets and recommendation from my Team Supervisor. As usual in an interview, the first question would be asking about me.

"I'm Irene Tan, married, with twins in their terrible twos," I started. "My husband also works here as TSR 1."

"Yeah, that name is familiar," Billy said.

The interview went on and Billy asked why I applied for the position.

"Well, I wanted to gain experience," I answered.

I was already processing the things I wanted to say in my mind and I felt like reciting a list of possible answers.

"I want to learn more about the business. I want to challenge myself to go the next level. I may be hypocrite if I say I don't like the title and pay increase that goes with it."

The need for money may have sprung from the fact that my sisters at my age that time were earning more. I was happy when I graduated in college. However, I felt my parents' pessimism because I graduated B.S. Commerce major in Business Administration. They preferred me to take Accountancy or Nursing, or Physical Therapy, or any sciences that will lead me to become a lawyer or doctor like most of them in the clan.

My eldest sister, Angela, graduated B.S. Nursing and is now in the US working in a hospital in New York City. She married an American doctor and they're well off living in the East Coast. She sends money and gifts to us every now and then and they spend vacations around the world.

My other sister, Lisa, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine and her dental practice here in Marcelo was going strong. She, too, married well and travels a lot. So my parents expected me to do the same.

So I took Medical Technology after my high school graduation thinking that if ever I will not push through with my medical course, I can still be a medical technologist and probably would own a clinical laboratory.

However, my first semester was sort of a "disaster". It was my first time to be free from the bondage of the convent school and of my parents. So I took the opportunity to do the things I wanted, which were forbidden to me before --- going out late at night with friends, going to the movies with a guy, having a boyfriend, making out inside the theater, and having s*x. 

And after the semester, when I received low grades in natural sciences, I've realized that I didn't like that major anyway. So I shifted to commerce, hoping to become an accountant someday. However, I failed the qualifying exams to enter major in Accounting.

I knew my parents were disappointed but they let me go on with my commerce course. I looked for a job after graduation because I didn't want to become a burden on my family. Also, I didn't like being told what to do, so I took the first job offer that got my way just so I could have independence.

My interview with Billy went well. He shook my hand and assisted me out to his cubicle, offering me coffee at the cafeteria before taking a conference call with his boss.

After a few days, I received a notification that I passed the final interview and will start my Team Leadership 101 training Monday the next week.

As expected, my pay increased as well as my responsibilities. My parents were happy, too. Things began to look well.

"That's good," my father said. "At least, you're on the right track."

Herbert was proud of me when he heard the news. He was even encouraged by his Team Supervisor to follow suit. But as Herbert had said, he has no intention of getting promoted. Because of that, Herbert could afford to stay at home longer with the twins (which he liked more than being promoted) .

My mother in-law once complained about my lack of time with the twins. On the other hand, my mom would say that I should hire a nanny.

"Mom, we can't afford a nanny," I told her. "My in-laws would not even entertain that idea."

"Then, if that's the case, try to make time with your twins," my mother advised. "Look at your sisters; they have time with their kids. Lisa is now in Hong Kong with her children. How about you? Have you filed passport applications for Brandon and Brian?"