Shifting Glances

KABANATA 8

Why’s the thought of Regan being the new Head of the Engineering Department bothers me this much?

Nakatingin lang ako sa screen ng desktop ko pero hindi ako makapagtrabaho ng maayos.

What’s the big deal Icely? You shouldn’t be bothered, hindi naman kayo magkakilala talaga. You’re not even on friendly terms! Hindi ba’t galit ka nga sakaniya dahil sa kung anong klaseng tao siya? A person who takes advantage, and an opportunist!

Huminga ako ng malalim at iniling ang ulo ko. Baka masyado lang akong nagulat dahil hindi ko inasahan ni katiting ang pagsulpot ni Regan rito. Of all Engineers out there, why did it have to be him? What a small world!

But to be a Head Engineer at his age or maybe late 20’s, he must be competent enough, or maybe he just pulled some strings because he’s rich?

Umasim ang mukha ko, malamang sa malamang.

“Tsk.”

Dahil sa isipang iyon ay mabuti nalang at naalis na sa isipan ko si Regan. Who cares? Hindi ko naman siya ka office— I gasped.

Omg! We might be sharing an office because of the upcoming big project!

Nakagat ko ang labi ko at nawala nanaman ang pokus ko sa screen ng desktop. Pero natuon din ang atensyon ko nang bumukas ang pintuan ng opisina sa hindi kalayuan at kita ko nga dahil sa glass wall. Pumasok doon si Ms. Pauline. Palaging nakabukas ang pintuan ng opisina ko kaya narinig ko ang pagsasalita nito.

“The meeting will start after lunch, interns will be assisting us, dalawa ang kailangan. Emerald is on her way naman din.” Pagsasalita nito habang naglalakad patungo sa opisina niya.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. If Emerald is there, then I guess my presence isn’t needed? Akala ko kasi ay wala pa ito kaya pumasok na ako ngayon, babalik rin naman pala ito, sana man lang ay nagsabi siya. Tsk.

Akala ko ay wala nang sasabihin pa si Ms. Pauline pero nang dumako ang tingin niya sa opisina ko at akala ko ay lalagpas siya ay bigla siyang tumigil at idinungaw ang ulo sa loob mula sa may pintuan habang nakangiti.

“Hello Dear Icely, of course you’re coming with us.” Malambing ang tono ng pagkakasabi nito bago muling ngumiti saka na kumway at dumiretso na sa sariling opisina.

Habang ako naman ay naiwang nakatingin sa gawi ng pintuan. Just when I thought that I wouldn’t be needed at the conference.

I sighed.

It’s okay Icely, pinaghandaan mo rin naman ito. Wala naman kaibahan at wala din naman bilang si Regan. He doesn’t count, and maybe you’re just bothered because you don’t like the person he is. That’s it.

After a lot of convincing in my head, I’ve finally gathered all my thoughts and totally removed Regan from my mind. Nakapagtrabaho na ako ng maayos at hinanda ko rin ang sarili ko sa gaganaping conference.

On lunch time, I’ve received a text from my friend who will be handling all the arrangements about the mansion. Porcia, my friend, and lawyer.

“Sorry, ngayon lang ako nakapagtext-back, ngayon ko lang kasi nabasa dahil sa hearing kaninang umaga. Meet me tonight or tomorrow para mas malaman ko ang buong detalye.” Anito sa sinend na text message. Tinext ko kasi ito kaninang umaga, at inasahan ko na busy siya.

Alam kong maguguluhan si Porcia kung sakaling sa tawag ko lang ieexplain ang lahat kaya kakailanganin talagang magkita kami. Siguro ay bukas nalang ng gabi dahil may dinner kami ngayon ng mga katrabaho ko.

“It’s okay Porcia. Tomorrow? At Dinner, after office hours, text me where is the most convenient for you.” Sabi ko at sinend na ang reply sakaniya.

Saka ko naman naalala si Miles. Gusto niya ring malaman ang buong detalye kaya siguro mas mabuting sama-sama nalang kami dahil magkakilala din naman silang dalawa. We’re all close, pero mas close ko si Miles dahil si Porcia ay sumusulpot lang siya kapag may time the entire time na nagkakilala kami until now, strict kasi ang parents at masyadong tutok sa pag-aaral na siyang naiitindihan naman namin.

Kaagad naman itong nagreply, “Anywhere will do.”

“Okay, sa bahay nalang namin. Miles will be there too. Is that fine with you, Madam Attorney?” Sabi ko sa mensahe at napangiti.

“Super totally fine! I’ve missed my girlies! My Madam Engineer and Madam Architect! Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow dinner!”

Natuwa ko sa nireply nito kaya nagpaalam na ako. I will be expecting Porcia to be shocked, and she might be intrigued by the fact that we’re avoiding some legal procedures, hindi lang ako at mukhang si Regan rin dahil sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, dahil ako ginagawa ko lang naman ito dahil kay Shiela. Ayaw ko siyang makulong.

**

“Let’s go Icely.” Aya ni Ms. Pauline saakin at dire-diretso naman siya sa paglabas ng opisina. Sumunod na ako sakaniya at sumunod naman ang dalawang intern sa paglabas ko. Ang ingay ng mga takong ni Ms. Pauline pero ang isa pang maingay na takong nakaagaw sa atensyon ko.

Napasulyap ako sa likod at nakita ko si Emerald na naglalakad. Nakasuot pa ito ng black bodycon dress na pintungan ng white na blazer. I almost rolled my eyes, but I chose to fake a smile and look away.

“Hello Icely!” Matinis ang boses na bati nito at nang mapalingon saamin si Ms. Pauline na nauuna saamin ay binagal nito ang paglalakad, binagal ko rin ang paglalakad at nauna na saakin si Emerald para sabayan si Ms. Pauline.

“Hello Emerald.” Walang ganang bati ko sakaniya.

Emerald is the Senior Architect, she’s next to Ms. Pauline, and I really hate her. I think everyone does! She wants everything for her, gusto niya sakaniya lahat, ang atensyon ng lahat, ang papuri ng lahat, lahat-lahat nalang kaya kahit kailan ay hindi kami magkakasundo.

“Ayan nanaman siya, in-game nanaman siya.”

Muntik akong matawa sa bulong ng kasabay kong mga intern sa tabi ko. Sina Kylie at Ronald. Nagsulyapan kami at hindi na umimik habang nakasunod sa likod nina Ms. Pauline at Emerald na nagbatian at nagkwentuhan.

Ms. Pauline doesn’t really care about anyone’s character, if you do your job well, and excels in your talent, she won’t mind whatever the hell you do or how you treat other people, gano’n siyang klase ng tao kaya’t naman nakakatagal siya kay Emerald.

Napailing nalang ako at sinenyasan ang mga intern na nagsesenyasan at nagbubulungan na huwag silang maingay at baka marinig sila ni Emerald at mapagbuntongan sila ng galit.

Minutes later, we entered the conference room, nandito na ang ibang mga head ng bawat department, pinagitnaan namin ni Emerald si Ms. Pauline dahil ayaw kong katabi si Emerald sa mga ganitong meeting. Ang dalawang intern ay nanatiling nakatayo sa likod ni Ms. Pauline at saakin. Other departments are still on their way, pero halos kumpleto na.

I heard the project consists of high-end condominiums, with retails and commercial spaces, a luxury mall, and other added things, and it is a concept of building a ‘city within a city’, and I heard that the project is partnered by the tycoons and corporations, and it will also be planned, develop, and build by more than one design and build companies from local and international.

“Is it true? Engineer Regan is the new head of the Engineering Department?”

Sumulyap ako kay Emerald nang tanungin nito si Ms. Pauline na siyang tumango.

“Magkakilala kayo?” Tanong naman pabalik ni Ms. Pauline at humagikgik lang si Emerald. Napangiwi ako rito.

“I prefer not to disclose, but we know each other. Ano kayang ginagawa niya rito? He’s catch! I didn’t think that Regan will accept such a position in this company when he is capable of more.”

Nakatingin ako kay Emerald habang sinasabi iyon. Judging Emerald talk, maybe she and Regan have some relationship and having to think about it… oh, they suit each other.

Inalis ko na ang tingin kay Emerald at nagbrowse muna sa phone ko. I didn’t know what’s gotten into me, as if naman may profile sa internet si Regan, but I suddenly found myself researching about him. Mukha kasi siyang kilalang tao, idagdag pa na napakayaman nito at afford nitong bumili ng mansyon.

I didn’t expect to read more than just his name, but I was surprised to see his credentials and achievements!

His thesis was chosen by a corporation when he was a graduating engineering student, and he passed and top-notched the licensure examination, and he was sought by many companies after he graduated, after his few years of experience, he was chosen to be a Principal Engineer of S Towers when he was 25 and after it gained a success and fame for its remarkable structure, he contributed to be one of the Engineers of one of the Most Beautiful Airports in the World, and he also Contributed to the building of some of the new infrastructures in Dubai… and he was an Engineer of the Year last year! It was him?!

I palmed my mouth. Pinatay ko na ang cellphone ko, wow! He’s achieved so much at the age of 29?! How is that possible?

Kaya pala ang yaman-yaman niya! Pero bakit siya nandito? He’s capable of much more than being a head of an engineering department! This is one of the rare chances that I’ve agreed with Emerald.

Huminga ako ng malalim. But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like the person he is. He could be swimming with all his achievements, but his character says more about him.

Umupo ako ng maayos nang magsipasukan ang maraming tao. My eyes landed on Regan when I spotted him entering the room along with his colleagues, hindi siya nawala sa paningin ko hanggang sa makaupo ito. Nang makita ko ang presidente at ang chairman ay saka lang ako nagbawi ng tingin.

“Regan!” Emerald said with her hand waving, magkaharapin kasi ang upuan ng mga ito. Hindi ko tiningnan si Regan at nanatili ang atensyon ko sa dulong harapan sa gawi ng chairman at president and CEO.

“Are all department here?” Tanong ng Secretary ng CEO. Pagkatapos makumpirmang present naman ang lahat ay saka na tumahimik at tumayo ang CEO.

“Before we commence the meeting, has everyone met our new Head Engineer?” Tanong ng Presidente. May ibang mga tumawa na tila natutuwa at nagsitanguan sila. Doon kona tiningnan si Regan at nakangiti ito habang saglit na kinaway ang kamay sa mga tao.

“I was surprised to see Engineer Lozano here.” Sabi ng isang matandang director na sinang-ayunan naman ng iba.

“He’s the reason why the Jimenez Land Corporation chose us to be one of the companies who will contribute to the building of this huge project. I begged him to join us, so he did me a favor by coming here. Thank you, Engineer.” Natatawang sabi ng CEO.

Regan was handed a microphone and stood up, “Hello everyone, I’m Engineer Regan Lozano, and about what our President said, he didn’t beg me, he threatened me. I didn’t have a choice.” Natatawang sabi ni Regan na mukhang biro kaya natawa naman ang lahat lalo na nang tumawa rin ang CEO.

“But kidding aside, I also want to contribute to this project, so I joined the PrimeLine Design which the Jimenez Land Corporation’s first choice, and it happened that President Noel is my friend, so we’ve came into an agreement. Thank you for welcoming and accepting me here, I’m looking forward to working with all of you guys.” Regan said and sat again. Pinalakpakan naman ito ng mga tao pero ako ay nanatili lang ang walang ekspresyon kong mukha.

I would be impressed if that incident in Laguna didn’t happen. Nag-umpisang magsalita ang President at iiwas na sana ako ng tingin kay Regan nang bigla itong tumingin saakin. I looked at him disinterested, then I looked away.

Psh. So, what if he’s famous? I still don’t like him.