The Man Who Cried

Chapter 11 | Part 2

He smiled. “Okay po.”

“The team members might be moody sometimes kasi kadalasan silang naghahabol sa deadline. The team leader was just moody every time so bear with him. Maybe dahil sa stress, kadalasan napupunta sa ‘yo. They are busy typing that they have no time to even print their works themselves and will let you handle the job. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit nag-resign ang last assistant manager ng team but do not be afraid. I think the members, mostly girls, will be good to you.” Tumango siya. “Ibibigay ko sa ‘yo ang manual on how to use the equipment here later pagbalik natin sa office ko.”

We walked through the other facility to check and tell him whatever his job may be. “This is the cafeteria,” ani ko sa kaniya. “Everybody can go here anytime. Sometimes, they get their coffees here but some employees, including the team leader of our team likes their coffee to be taken at the café near the company. Kapag pauwi tayo, ituro ko sa ‘yo kung saan para sakaling mautusan ka man ng team leader kunwari, alam mo kung saan.”

“Yes, noted.”

We walked again throughout the company. I saw him lingering his eyes to the grandiose architecture of one of the offices. “That’s the CEO’s office. Sure ako na alam mo na o kaya nakuwento na sa ‘yo ni Evan ang tungkol sa relasiyon ko sa CEO ng company na ‘to but sakali man na hindi mo alam, I am connected to the CEO. He’s my dad,” I told him. He nodded as we walked through the lane where the maintenance stays. “Here is the maintenance’s office. Nakikita mo naman sa katabi ang CR. They are placed here because some of them mainly cleans the CR. Do not worry about them, if you need help to clean, as long as they’re free or not during their break time, tell them, mababait naman ‘yan sila.” I saw one of the janitors waved his hand to me so I waved back. “That’s Kuya Joel, the head of the maintenance. He’s been with us for almost fifteen years, just 5 years later than the foundation of this company.”

“May mga nakikita ako sa mga teleserye na matapobre pero hindi naman pala lahat,” ani Simon habang nakatingin sa ‘kin. Nanatili na lang na nakatingin nang diretso ang tingin ko. “Mayro’n pa palang mga tulad mo na mayaman pero hindi matapobre.”

“Bakit naman ako mangmamaliit ng ibang tao kung ‘yong yaman na sinasabi ng mga tao na sa ‘kin, e, hindi naman sa ‘kin? Lahat ng nakikita mo dito ay gawa ng dad ko. If they wanted to call someone rich, then it must be dad and not me,” I muttered. Tama naman, e. Wala naman akong naipundar dito kaya hindi ako mayaman, dahil lang sa mayaman ang dad ko. “At saka, I realized I should be gentler to the janitors kasi grabe and hirap at sakripisyo nila para lang malinis ang ganitong kalaking lugar. Imagine the struggle of coming into the company earlier and leaving the company later than ordinary employees to clean and after the work hours. Imbes na dagdagan ko pa ang hirap nila sa pagsusungit ko, I told myself to treat them better.”

“Pero bakit masiyado kang strikto sa team mo?”

“Team natin,” I corrected. “Anyway, all they do is to complain about the deadlines and be stressed about not getting time for themselves and that’s why I kind of despise them. Kung gusto nila ng me-time, e, ‘di sana ‘di sila kumuha ng ganitong trabaho.” He giggled a bit, and I do not know why. “At saka, when I was a trainee, all they do is to command me some weird and unnecessary doings so yeah…”

“Baka naman may grudge ka sa kanila?”

“I applied for the position of manager because our team is too awful having no manager that manages them and just lets them do whatever they wanted to do,” sagot ko sa kaniya. “Although I have another reason why I applied for this position, I can assure that it is not because of the grudge I have for them.”

We walked through the office and enter that place. “Sir, ‘yong manual po, baka makalimutan ninyo,” aniya. Kinuha ko sa drawer ang manual ng facilities at ibinigay ‘yon sa kaniya. Kaagad niya rin tinignan ‘yon at binasa. “Simulan ko na pong basahin ‘to. Kapag may utos ka, sabihin mo lang sa ‘kin.”

“Sige lang.” I opened my laptop and started opening all the files I was proofreading na sinimulan ko kagabi. Kagabi, masiyado akong masipag kaya sinimulan ko na sa bahay pero ngayon, hindi ako maka-focus dahil ang tanging nakikita ko ay si Simon. He was just reading the manual while sitting on the couch while mumbling the words. “Teka pala, Simon. May ibibigay ako sa ‘yo.”

Napatingin siya sa ‘kin. “Po? Ano po?”

Binuksan ko ang drawer ko at nilabas ang isang laptop. “Ito,” ani ko sa kaniya. Binuksan ko ang laptop, tinanggal ang password at binigay sa kaniya. “Since ayaw mo namang bumibili ng bago, heto na lang ang tanggapin mo. Tanggapin mo na lang ‘to. Hindi ko na rin naman nagagamit. Baka magamit mo rin sa pagtatrabaho dito.”

“Sige po,” aniya at kinuha ang laptop at itinabi sa kaniya. “Salamat dito, sir.”

“Sabi ko naman sa ‘yo, ‘di ba, tawagin mo lang akong Ali kapag tayo lang naman ang magkasama. Maging komportable ka lang dahil komportable naman akong tinatawag mo ako sa pangalan ko lang.” Nginitian niya ako. “By the way, ‘yong bag ng laptop and all the accessories are here. I am sure you know the basics of using that. Hindi naman kita papagawin ng reports since trabaho ‘yon ng members but on some cases like photocopying and printing, you may need a laptop so yeah, call it yours already.”

Bumalik ako sa pagtingin sa laptop ko at nagpatuloy sa pagp-proofread ng existing reports na kailangan kong tapusin. While I was working, the door opened and who greeted me was the team leader of my team. “Sir,” aniya at pumasok. Nakita ko pang tinignan niya muna si Simon na nakaupo lang sa couch, naka-unbutton and topmost button ng inner long sleeve niya since nawawalan daw siya ng hangin kanina. Ang sabi ko naman, i-maximize niya na lang ang tie niya pero mas pinili niyang gano’n. Patuloy lang ang pagtingin sa kaniya ni Gary. “I have a question.”

“Yes,” I muttered, gaining his attention from looking at Simon. He is not a picture or a painting anyone can just stare at. “If you have an agenda for coming here, just tell me already. We have a lot of work to do and deadlines to chase so let’s not waste any minute by doing useless things already.”

He bent forward and leaned near me. I never avoided him. Let’s see who’s stronger. “About this agenda on the sticky note you gave me, sir…” he muttered. Why does he feel like clinging and flirting to whoever man he sees? This guy, really. “The deadline was written different as you told us in the office. What’s the real one?”

“That’s just a day in-between, Gary. What difference does it make?” I told him. He just giggled like crazy. What is he really up to? He came here maybe to see Simon or to flirt with me, and not to ask this question. “Anyway, we’ll follow the deadline that I told you in the office. Because you asked, I will follow the earlier one. You can go now and do your job already. Natatambakan ka na ng trabaho at deadlines, panay break time ka pa.”

He went out of the office but before leaving the office, he stared at Simon for a minute. He really is head over heels to Simon? “Hmm,” Simon murmured.

“Yes?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa ‘kin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. “About that guy who entered the office and rallied onto me, that guy named Gary, he’s just… you know, kind of attention-seeker. Pagpasensiyahan mo na lang talaga kung palagi kang tinitignan no’n. Baka type ka lang talaga, pero huwag mo alalahanin, I already told him to never bother you, especially in times of work.”

“Okay lang naman sa ‘kin, sir,” sagot ni Simon sa ‘kin at ngumiti. “Hindi naman na bago sa ‘kin ang titigan ng mga tulad ni Gary, na mga pusong-babae, sir. Palagi akong nakaka-experience ng ganiyan pero hindi ko na lang pinapansin. Titig lang naman ang p’wede nilang gawin sa ‘kin. Hangga’t hindi nila ako nahahawakan o may ginagawang masama sa ‘kin, ayos lang naman po. Hindi mo kailangang humingi ng pasensiya sa ‘kin. At saka, mukhang mabait naman po siya at halos lahat ng nasa loob ng team natin. Baka gusto lang talaga nila makipagkaibigan.”

“Just be aware of him.” Natahimik kami sandali. “Anyway, if this is not so offensive to ask you. Since we are talking about Gary and all about liking someone of the same gender, I’ll ask you, Simon. Is there a possibility for you to fall in love with a guy?”

He was taken aback but still answered. “Sa ngayon kasi, ang iniisip ko ay ang pamilya ko lang muna kaya hindi ko pa naiisip ang mga bagay na tulad niyan.” He really is a selfless guy. He thinks about his family more than he thinks about his own happiness and his commitments. “Pero hindi naman ako against sa kanila. Siguro dahil hindi pa ako nag-iisip ng mga ganiyan kaya hindi ako makapagbigay ng pulidong sagot pero hindi ko naman nil-limit sa babae lang ang p’wede kong magustuhan. Kung may dumating man na lalaki o kahit na anong kasarian, basta mabait. Madali kasi akong mahulog sa mga taong mabait, tulad mo…”