The Man Who Cried

Chapter 7 | Part 2

“I will immediately tell the HR office for this. You do not have to worry about anything. Everything about your promotion is set already,” he assured to me. Is everything really set already? Is the team leader aware of this already? “Today is your last day as an intern and will immediately work as the new marketing team manager tomorrow. We’ll shop for your uniform after the work, I will come with you. Congratulations, Mr. Sonata.”

I smirked, a little. “You do not have to be formal with me, Mr. Sonata. However, thank you for giving me the chance of becoming one of your company’s manager,” I replied to him. It’s funny how I am telling him not to be formal but here I am, also formally talking to him. “I will keep up the good work, sir…”

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“BIHIS NA bihis ka yata ngayong umaga, Mr. Sonata…” Kaagad na napansin ako ng team leader ng marketing team. Hindi na lang ako umimik at patuloy na nag-ayos ng mga gamit na ilalabas ko dito sa opisina na ‘to. Every manager has their own office so I will leave this hell as soon as possible, just after doing a move with the company’s king, my dad. “Sa’n punta natin? Never kang nagpaalam sa ‘kin where ka rarampa, ‘day. Kahit na CEO father mo, you should have told me beforehand… so I know.”

“Why would I bother telling you all my errands?” I asked him. Here we go again with the team leader bothering me and me mannerlessly answering him. “Napapansin ko lang, TL, palaging ako na lang ang napapansin mo… do you, by any chance, have your eyes on me?”

He put on a disgusted face. He looked like he would come pack me and make me his baby boy but it looks like he really is just annoyed by my presence and was not having any affection towards me. It actually brought me relief to know that. “You just annoy me, Mr. Sonata… and your ways. Imagine having to be admitted here just because you are the CEO’s father… I hate that, boy.”

I put on a smile. “Well, hate me more…”

At that exact moment, my dad… the CEO came to the office. Nagsitayuan ang lahat para batiin ang kanilang boss. “I came here to announce something important to this team,” he initiated his talk. “Just last week, the team’s manager resigned and that was a downfall for this team. I know it was hard to work without a manager so I immediately sought for someone deserving…”

Fuck it, he changed the story again. It was not him who found me but it was me who asked him for this position. However, never mind. “Talaga, Mr. Sonata? Sino po?”

“Galing lang rin dito,” sagot niya. I saw the eyes of the older employees in this team sparkle in hopes of having a promotion. Well, how unfortunate of them… “It was Ali Sonata, the newest employee of this team.”

Kita at ramdam ko sa mga mata nila ang gulat sa narinig. “Po?” tanong ng team leader na gulat na gulat sa nangyari. Imagine, kaaway niya lang kanina, manager niya na ngayon. Mukha siyang pinagsukluban ng langit at lupa sa lagay niya ngayon. “But he just entered this company two weeks ago, sir.”

“The time you are working here does not really matter…” The connection is, am I right, dad? “In that span of two weeks, I saw him continuously improving. Something that I could not see with our older employees. Plus, he also graduated with a degree. He surely will manage this team better than all of those former managers. I hope you would respect the decision of the board. That was all, thank you for the time.”

Immediately after seeing my dad leave the team’s office, I also followed him outside, out of command… his command. He guided me through where the office of the manager of the marketing team is. Luckily, the office was mine. Fair enough. Something that equals my achievement when I was still studying the marketing course. “Alright…” I muttered before sitting down on my throne. “You can leave now, Mr. Sonata.”

Kita sa mga secretaries ni dad ang gulat nang sabihin ko ‘yon. Am I being the typical spoiled brat on the series and stories? Or am I just watching too many of it? “This will be your office, Ali.” Himala, hindi siya formal sa ‘kin kapag may kaharap na ibang tao. “If you want something else, just tell me. Basta, ‘wag na ‘wag mong kakalimutan ang deal nating dalawa.” Here he goes again with the deal. He always thinks of the deal. “You have gotten what you want. If the team leader still annoys you, do everything under the scope and limitations of your power. Anyway, he would not treat you poorly, like how he treated you back then. You are somewhat higher than him, though.”

“I already know what will I do, dad. Sabi ko nga, p’wede ka nang umalis,” I told him. He really never lets me get out of all his statements and scolding, even just for a day. “And I make sure to you that I do not forget anything about our deal, if that is what bothers you. Now that we’re all clear, can you please leave already? I still have to do my work.”

He nodded before leaving me behind. Nakabuntot pa rin sa kaniya ang mga secretaries niya na para bang hindi siya mabubuhay nang wala ang mga ‘yon. Sabagay, wala na si mom… who knows he… meh, absurd. I would not want to think that way as well. Kung ano man ang trip niya sa buhay, wala akong pake. I was just his son in the first place, nobody to meddle with all his mess and ideals.

I started setting my table and all my mess inside this office. Kind of small but is still enough for me, as I am the only one residing here. “Parang hindi lang rin naman ‘to inayos ng janitor,” ani ko nang mapansin ang mga alikabok na nasa shelf na mukhang matagal nang hindi na nagagamit when the last manager just resigned last three months. “Hindi man lang pinalinisan.”

The door opened and who greeted me was my former team leader. That one guy who commands me anywhere and anytime. “Hi, sir,” aniya. It still feels weird to hear him say that, though. “Here is the report our boss told me to bring to you. You have to check these daw.”

“I know what I will be doing,” sagot ko sa kaniya habang patuloy na nagtatanggal ng alikabok sa cabinet na gagamitin ko sa office na ‘to. “Just put it on my table and I will do it later, kung ‘yan ang gusto ng boss ninyo. You can leave already, kitam naman na naglilinis ang tao.”

“Before I leave, I wanted to say my apologies for you, sir. I want to say sorry for having myself treating you like that when you were just an intern.” Napalingon ako sa kaniya. He looks like he was not meaning it, though. Nevertheless, as long as he’s saying it then fine. What’s done is done. “I am willing to do anything to make up with all my mistakes, sir. I even am willing to give you my body, if you want.”

My brows furrowed. What made him think that I wanted his body at all? “Just leave,” sagot ko sa kaniya. “I don’t need anything from you, not even your body. Who would want your body, anyway? You’re not… Just leave.”

He left, as I said. Anong klase ng balat ba mayro’n siya para isipin niyang trip kong paglaruan ang katawan niya? Ano, para gawing bulalo? Is he really sane at this moment? Dahil ba sa sinabi ko sa kaniya kanina lang? I was just teasing him and guy thought I was really serious with him.

At last, all the things inside my mini office were all set. Just needs a little setup and some decorations that I will buy later, when I have a time, and we are all set. Now that I already have gotten the job I desired, shall I move onto the reason why I am pushing my dad to give me this job vacancy?

After all, it was just him, that one person, who was the reason behind all of this. I heaved a deep sigh and cleared my mind, afraid of making a mistake while calling this certain someone. When I am all set already, I grabbed my phone and looked for some contacts. When I see that guy’s number saved in my phone with a cute nickname and many heart emojis, I pressed it and called him… waited for him to reply. “Simon…”