A Wonderful Sight

Chapter 1

The dinner went well. I am so happy to finally see the guy who has my mom's eyes. Wala akong ibang ginawa kundi titignan ang kanyang mga mata. It somehow reminds me how my mom used those eyes to make everything easier. He looked so uncomfortable from my stares but he never says anything. I wonder if he knows that his eyes are my mom’s eyes. Hindi ko alam kung nasabi ba sa kanya ang tungkol doon tho bata pa kami ’nung nangyari ang aksidenteng iyon. I was only nine years old at that time. Nalaman ko na lang na dinonate ni mommy ang kanyang mga mata dahil nasabi ni daddy sa aking mga kuya. I don’t have much interaction with Tanner Aceres and it is fine with me. Their lolo is so unbothered about the news about me and his grandsons, he just laughs it out.

Today is my first sa internship. I am kinda nervous but I know it will pass. I am wearing a pencil skirt topped with H&M blue long sleeves and CLN heels. I decided to bring my car to Aceres Group Inc. for my own convenience. I received texts from my brother and Prince.

From: Prince

Good luck on your first day, fighting!

From: Kuya Maru

If they will not treat you right there, just tell me.

I arrived early at the office. It is still 7:30 am and my work starts at 8:00 am. I showed the guard my internship identification card and asked him where to go. They decided to put me in the Marketing Department. They give us a short briefing about the company. There’s nothing much to do in the office because they told me that they just got approval for the latest project they had. I felt so comfortable with the people in the department because they are friendly. Are they this nice or I am given special treatment because when I came here to apply for my internship I am with Arjo and Prince because their lolo told them to accompany me?

Arjo Aceres is my high school friend. We used to do pageants together since we were freshmen, the reason why we became friends.

He also decided to go to the same university. He is taking up political science. Because I am bored, I tried texting him.

To: Arjo

Hey! Are you free later? Let’s go eat samgyup.

From: Arjo

Sure. I’ll pick you up, 5:30 pm. Just wait for me in the lobby.

To: Arjo

No need. I brought my car. Let’s just meet up at Samgup-yummy! See you.

I was about to send the message when someone talked behind me.

"So, this is how you work, huh? You did not pay respect to your boss because you are busy flirting with someone.”

I was stunned because Tanner is behind me and everyone in the room paying him respect by standing and greeting him. Hindi ko napansin ang pagpasok niya, okay?

“I am really sorry, Sir. Hindi ko po kayo napansin.” I said confidently.

“And you are talking back. You are an intern but you do not respect. What a shame that you are studying in a prestigious university.” He shot back.

“With all due respect Sir, I already apologized and I know that this is my fault for not minding people who are coming inside the office but you don’t have the right to humiliate me in front of my workmates. Is it hard for people like you to accept an apology? Hindi ko naman po sinasadya.” I answered him.

Everyone is staring at me. Nakikita ko sa kanila ang takot dahil sa pagsagot-sagot ko sa boss namin. I just can’t let anyone humiliate me. I always fight back. He has point but I have a point too. I did not answer me but he ordered me to go to his office.

“You want me to accept your apology? Stop flirting during work hours. And make a presentation about this new project.” He ordered me smirking and gave me a folder.

“I will need it first thing in the morning! Prove yourself, Ms. Velasco. Just e-mail it to me. Ask my e-mail to your head. Don’t disappoint me; I know my cousins know you.” He smirked again.

I walked out of his office and start working on the presentation he ordered. It was already 5:30 pm when I finished the presentation. I already sent the presentation when he came to our office.

“Miss Velasco, please print me a copy of the presentation and deliver it to my office in 10 minutes. I need to review that.” Tanner ordered.

I groaned because everyone is packing their things to go home and my out is 5:00 pm and I already rendering my overtime for my first day. What a great one! I am also late with my appointment with Arjo. He is testing me. I swear, I’m gonna kill him. I gave him the copy and asked him if he still needs my service so that I will know if I have to stay in the office or not and he is really testing me because he made me wait for the corrections of the presentation until 6:00 pm. He gave me the paper and ordered me to revise it. Red ballpen pa ang ginamit niya to correct my work, ano siya teacher? Feeler! 7:30 pm na ’nung matapos ako sa ginagawa ko. Sabay na kaming lumabas ng building. He started blabbing things as if nothing happened when we are in the elevator when Arjo called me.

“Hello, Hya! Ano inidian mo na ako? Ganda ka?” bungad niya.

“I am sorry, kakalabas ko lang ng building. At oo maganda ako!” I answered him.

He chuckled on the other line, “Puno na ’tong Samgyup-yummy! Pinaalis na ako sa inupuan ko kasi di pa ako umo-order e ang tagal ko na daw dito. Di yata ako kilala ng mga ’to.”

“Buti nga sayo. Pangit mo kasi. Can we just eat sa McDonalds? I am tired, ang daming pinagawa ng feeling teacher sa office. Red ballpen pa gamit to check presentation!” I laughed not minding Tanner beside me.

He butts in, “Stop flirting over the phone when you are with your boss inside the elevator. Wala ka bang hiya sa katawan?”

“Wala na ako ’nun, Sir,” I answered. “Goodbye, sir. Sana po mahimbing ang tulog mo tsaka masarap ulam mo later. Ciao!” sabi ko sabay labas ng elevator.

I was about to charge my phone sa powerbank when I realize that my call with Arjo is still ongoing, “Hoy ulol, nandyan ka pa pala. Nakalimutan ko na kausap pala kita. Ang pakialamero ng feeling teacher na ’yun.”

He laughed like I am a clown, “Lakas a, I love the fighting spirit. I recorded that anyway, sorry na. I will use that to blackmail kuya Tanner if the time comes. Thanks for that, Hya!” He laughed again.

I was about to start the engine of my car when the feeling teacher knocked, “Miss Velasco, please come to the meeting at 9:00 am tomorrow at your company. Be at the office at exactly 7:30 am so that you can go with me.”

“Okay! Can I go now?” I asked him and he just nodded.

Does he know that I can’t stand breathing the same air with my dad? Oh, he is challenging me.