NEW STORY

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"Hello, I'm Xylia Saavedra." nakangiting pakilala ko sa HR ng Stewart Highfields. "I'm your new employee for the marketing department."

Hinagod naman ako ng tingin ng HR. I believe na hindi nagkakalayo ang edad naming dalawa. He licked his lips and grinned.

Bahagyang napakunot ang aking noo sa kaniyang ginawa pero hindi ko tinanggal ang ngiti sa aking labi. Pasimple akong yumuko para mapaalala sa sarili ko ang suot kong damit.

It's a corporate attire! I'm wearing a nude pencil cut skirt and a white slightly see-through longsleeves. Pero syempre'y nagsuot ako ng manipis na sando instead of wearing just a bra. Hindi pa naman ganon kakapal ang mukha ko.

"Oh yes!" sabi niya at dumiretso sa pagkakaupo. "Mr. Stewart is waiting for you at his office. It's beside the Head Department. Twentieth floor."

"Waiting for me?" ulit ko sa kaniyang sinabi habang nag-umpisa nang gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib.

came here without feeling any nervousness at all. Inisip kong hindi ko naman siya makikita dahil nasa Marketing Department ako pero heto ako... I'm bound to see him because he's fcking waiting for me. How's that, huh? Such a good first day.

Paano kung makilala o mamukhaan niya ako? Anong sasabihin nalang niya? Na mayroon siyang empleyadong nanglandi sa kaniya sa bar?

What kind of impression is that? Sana'y hindi niya nalang ako maalala at paghihirapan ko nalang ang lahat ng susunod kong galaw.

He's waiting for me? Bakit? Kilala niya ba ako? Alam niya bang ako 'yung kumuha ng number niya sa bar at siya ang nakapulot at nagsuot ng sapatos ko sa paa ko?

"Yes." simpleng sagot nito. "Mr. Stewart likes to meet his new employees kahit saang department pa 'yan. Except if you're just a hired maintenance. He wants to be familiar with his employees." he explained to me.

I disappointedly sighed. I don't even know why I'm feeling disappointed.

"Uhm... Sige po." sabi ko naman at tumayo ulit ng maayos saka ngumiti. "I'll go to his office right away."

Tumayo naman siya saka lumapit sa pintuan ng kaniyang opisina para pagbuksan ako ng pintuan.

"Goodluck and hope to see you around." he smiled at me.

Nginitian ko naman siya saka tumango bago inilabas ang sarili sa kaniyang opisina.

Sumakay naman ako ng elevator at pinaakyat ito sa twentieth floor kung nasaan ang office ni Brendt. Mabuti nalang at nasa eighteenth floor ang Marketing Department kaya hindi ko siya masiyadong makikita. Pero kailangan ko nga siyang makita dahil sa pustahan namin ni Deia!

"Any appointments, Ma'am?" bungad sa akin ng kaniyang secretary nang makarating ako sa kaniyang office.

I slowly nodded, slightly unsure if I really have an appointment with him. "I think so... I'm the new employee for the Marketing Department." nag-aalangan kong sagot. "I believe that he's expecting to meet me."

"Oh! Yes, he's expecting to meet you!" sabi naman niya at saka pumindot sa intercom.

"Sir, the new employee for the Marketing Deparment is now here." she informed him.

"Send her in." simpleng sabi ni Brendt and I can't help but to notice how professional he sounded.

"Yes, Sir." she said before raising her head to look at me. "Pwede ka nang pumasok." nakangiting sabi niya sa akin.

Nakangiting tumango naman ako sa kaniya.

"Salamat." sabi ko bago humarap sa pintuan ng office ni Brendt.

The door's made up of glass pero sa tingin ko'y maririnig naman kung kumatok ako kahit papaano. Ayoko namang basta-basta lang ako papasok. Nasaan ang respeto doon diba?

Isang malalim na paghinga ang pinakawalaan ko. Kumatok ako ng tatlong beses sa pintuan bago binuksan ito.

"Mr. Stewart..." nag-aalangan kong pagtawag sa kaniya habang pinapapasok ang aking sarili sa loob ng kaniyang opisina.

Unti-unti siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin mula sa kaniyang binabasa.

Gaya ng ginawa ng HR kanina ay hinagod niya rin ako ng tingin mulo paa hanggang ulo. Seriously! What's with my attire? Isn't proper or something? May dresscode ba sila dito na hindi ko alam?

Natigil ang kaniyang tingin nang umabot siya sa aking mukha. He's gaze is so intense but I managed to return his stares. Sobrang lalim at expressive ng kaniyang mga mata ngunit wala ka pa ring mababasa. He's so intimidating. Halos manging na ang tuhod sa simpleng pagtingin niya sa akin.

Bahagya naman akong nakahinga ng maluwag nang sumilay ang kaniyang ngisi.

"Ms. Xylia Saavedra." he recited and I nearly frowned.

He just mispronounced my precious name, named by my mother.

"Sir, no offense but it's Xy-lia. Not, Xaylia. Xy as in 'si'. Xylia. Not, 'say' as in Xaylia." I corrected him. "Hope you don't mind me correcting that small pronounciation of my name. I didn't mean to offend you."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Well, thank you for correcting me." he just said. "I don't like it either when I don't know how to pronounce my employees names. Thank you, Xylia." he thanked me as he puts emphasis on the first syllable of my name.

Napangiti naman ako sa kaniyang sinabi. God, Xylia!

"It was a unique name, Xylia. I like it." he complimented.

Right now, I just want to thank my mom for giving me that name.

I smiled. "Flattered, Sir." I simply said.

"Thank you rin."

Ngumiti ito as he read my curriculum vitae.

"You're a BS Business Administration-Marketing graduate. Graduated from University of Santo Tomas with an honor. You also have one year course for basic architecture at University of the Philippines." sabi niya at napataas ang kaniyang kilay.

"Why didn't you continue studying Architecture until you got a degree?"

"Uhm..." nag-isip ako ng magandang dahilan pero siguro'y mas magandang maging honest nalang.

"Drawing is just my hobby. I like numbers you see. I just tried. Tsaka ayoko ring mag-aral ulit. Sino bang may gusto non diba?"

Natawa naman siya sa aking sinabi. "Well, that's understandable. Neither do I want to study again."

He clasped both of his hands as he looked at me straight in the eyes. "Why didn't you apply as an architect for the company as well?" he asked me. "We could use more hands."

Here it goes! I thought I already passed the question and answer portion when I was interviewed by the HR before pero meron pa pala.

Ang pinagkaiba nga lang ay mas nakakakaba ang matanong ng presidente ng kompanya.

"Simply because I didn't master architecture.

I didn't even get a degree, Sir." I answered as flawless as I could. "I don't take it seriously. I was just inspired by a girl named Jeanie dela Cruz who's such a fine architect. And then I realized I have a talent for drawing, pero hanggang doon nalang 'yon.

Tumango-tango naman siya.

"Nakakapanghinayang pero kung 'yan ang gusto mo..." he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

Ibinaba niya naman ang curriculum vitae ko tsaka muling nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

"I would like to see some of your works, Ms.

Saavedra." he suddenly said and my eyes slightly widened. "Maybe we could work something out with your layouts and designs. We're planning to establish a new subdivision. Hindi naman porkit wala kang degree, hindi na maganda ang mga ideas mo, diba?"

"I would love to show you, Sir, but I didn't brought my sketches with me." I apologetically said, but I was so excited to show him my drawings.

"It's fine." he told me. "You can still show it to me tomorrow."

"Okay then, Sir." sabi ko. "I'll bring it tomorrow as you wish.

"You'll be the assistance head of the Marketing Department. I hope that you'll be able to help our company." he suddenly said, professionally. "Your work will start tomorrow officially. Don't be late."

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sir!"

I'm determined to be a punctual employee.

Hindi ako dapat malate. I shouldn't be lazy.

Hindi na 'to college or high school na pwedeng malate. I'm in the corporate world now.

"I should go now, Sir. Thank you." sabi ko at tinalikuran na siya.

I was about to turn the knob when he suddenly spoke again that made me froze except for the butterflies roaming around my tummy.

"Text me, Cinderella. I believe that I gave you my number." he told me.

My eyes widened in surprise. He feking remembers me!

Bahagyang napakunot naman ang aking noo sa hiyang nararamdaman.

"Y- Yes, Sir." nauutal kong sabi at hindi ko na inabala pa ang sarili kong tignan siya ulit bago lumabas ng kaniyang opisina. He almost gave me a heart attack!

"Ahh!"

Tinakpan ko naman ang aking tenga dahil sa magkasabay na pagtili ni Deia at Selena nang ikwento ko sa kanila ang nangyari kanina sa office.

"Can you two please tone down your voices? Baka marinig kayo ng mga katabi kong unit. Ang ingay niyong dalawa." reklamo ko naman sa kanilang dalawa.

"Gaga! Soundproof ang bawat unit dito." sabi ni Deia at mas lumapit pa sa akin. "Oh my gosh, Xy! Natatandaan ka pa niya!" kinikilig niyang sabi.

"Iba talaga pag si Xylia na ang magmake ng move. Talagang katanda-tanda." dagdag pa ni Selena.

Napailing nalang ako at naglaro sa iPad kong piano tiles. Mas gusto ko pang makarinig ng tunog ng pagpindot ng piano na hindi mo man lang maintindihan ang kanta na tinutugtog nito sa bawat pagpindot mo kaysa sa mga bunganga nilang dalawa.

"Where's your phone?" biglang tanong ni

Deia sa akin.

I looked at her and I heard that I died in the game.

"Bakit?"

"Duh? We will text your prince charming!" excited niyang sabi at nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa ni Selena.

"Oo nga naman. Yun nalang naman silbi ng cellphone mo ngayon eh." dagdag pa ni Selena at isang rap ang natanggap niya galing sakin.

Lumingon ako kay Deia. "Ayoko." marin kong sabi at nagbalik sa paglalaro ng piano tiles.

Napasinghap naman sila ni Selena at padabog niyang binato ang cushion sa akin kaya muli akong natalo sa piano tiles.

"Oh c'mon, Xy!" pagpilit ni Selena sa akin.

"Don't be such a killioy."

"Boss ko siya, okay?" paalala ko naman sa kanila.

"He's the president of the company that I'm working for. Hindi lang siya basta lalaki na lalandiin ko."

"Ano naman kung boss mo siya?" nakakunot noong sabi ni Deia. "Remember Xy, may pustahan tayo. You have to stick to it." siva naman ang nagpaalala sa akin.

Hindi ko naman 'yon nakakalimutan. Lagi ngang naglalaro sa isipan ko ang pustahan na

'yon pero sympre'y boss ko si Brendt at hindi ko pwedeng basta-basta simulan ang pinapagawa nila sa akin. Kakakilala niya lang sakin kanina as his new employee. I should establish a good image first. May kaonting kahihiyan pa naman ako sa sarili ko.

I may agree to this bet pero gagawin ko ito ng malinis at walang sabit. Ayokong magmadali hangga't alam kong hindi pa tama. Ayoko rin namang agad mawalan ng trabaho kung saka-sakali. If this deal ends badly, my career will also end.

"But seriously, Xy, you should text him." si Selena na ngayon ang nagpupumilit. "Text lang naman eh. It wouldn't hurt."

"Sinabi ko na sa inyong dalawa... I want to keep things slowly and unnoticeable. " sabi ko nalang at tinabi na ang iPad ko.

Suko na ako. Alam kong hindi ako makakapaglaro ng maayos hangga't nandito silang dalawa.

"Pero siya naman ang mismong nagsabing itext mo siya diba, Cinderella?" mapang-inis pang sabi ni Selena habang binabanggit ang 'Cinderella'

I rolled my eyes at her. "Give me some time, okay?" sabi ko nalang. "Hindi naman pwedeng bigla akong magfeeling close sa kaniya kahit na sabihin mong sinabi niyang itext ko siva."

"Pero Xy, the clock is ticking. You only have forty-nine days left." paalala sa akin ni Deia.

Believe me, Deia... I will make my move.