The Calm in the Chaos (Trazo Real Series #3)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

I have learned self-love ever since I got my heart broken, but there are still things that I don't like about myself – for example, jinxing myself.

Rafael's welcome cake really made my day on my first day as an apprentice. The day went really well, too. Jayda oriented us in the morning, made us do some paperwork in the afternoon, and then briefed us about tomorrow's agenda because apparently, our team leader and also one of the senior architects of Trazo Real will be joining us at work tomorrow.

And today is the day.

"Apprentice!?", tila bolang tumalbog mula sa katawan ko ang puso ko sa pagdagundong ng boses ni Architect Malana pagdating niya sa opisina.

Kararating pa lang niya at hindi pa naman start ng working hours. Thirty minutes pa bago mag 8 am kaya sigurado akong hindi pa ako late. Mabuti na lang at nauna akong dumating sa kanya by 10 minutes dahil baka napagalitan ako.

Jayda briefed us already yesterday. Maaga raw talagang pumapasok si Architect Malana kaya rin hindi namin naabutan kahapon noong first day namin ni Leina. He went to Cebu for one of his projects at um-attend pa ng meeting sa hapon kasama ang iba pang architects ng Trazo Real at Deltrazo Holdings sa headquarters ng Deltrazo Holdings.

"I asked for an Architect I and an interior designer from the firm. Ang sabi sa akin, hahanapan daw ako ng available na interior designer! At wala na raw available na Architect I to help with this project kaya kahit third-year, second-year o first-year intern na lang, sige, kukunin ko", randam ko ang panggagalaiti ni Architect at tila walang humihinga sa aming lahat sa loob ng opisina.

Pierson warned me that it will be tough working with Architect Malana. I didn't know that it was this tough! Umpisa pa lang, nanginginig na ang tuhod ko sa takot sa kanya. Even Leina looks pale, probably because of fear too.

Sina Jayda at Miko naman, mukhang sanay na sa sermon mula kay Architect pero bakas pa rin ang takot sa mga mukha nila.

"Bakit ako bibigyan ng apprentice sa architecture at intern sa interior design?! Niloloko ba ninyo ako?!", his voice thundered as he searched for answers from Jayda and Miko.

"A-architect, wala na raw po talaga kasing available na interior designer at intern architect na pwede sumama sa team kaya under internship for interior design and apprenticeship for architecture ang binigay ng HR", Jayda bravely spoke up.

"But this is not just some project, James! This is a high-end subdivision project funded by the Deltrazos themselves! Bakit bibigyan ako ng mga kolehiyo?!"

Hindi na nakasagot pa si Jayda. Wala ulit nagsalita. Naghari ang katahimikan sa buong opisina hanggang sa naglakad si Architect Malana palabas. We waited for a few seconds before we all finally sighed. Napasandal ako sa dingding at si Leina naman ay napahawak sa kanyang mga tuhod. Miko just crossed his arms and Jayda was feeling her heart.

"Hindi ganyan ka-imbyerna 'yang si Architect Malana, promise. Strikto at perfectionist pero hindi ganyang levels. Kaloka!", si Jayda na nagpunas pa ng pawis na namuo sa kanyang noo.

"He's being overly sensitive because of his promotion. If he fucks up with any of his current projects, his promotion might get jeopardized. Nasampolan pa tuloy kayong dalawa", si Miko naman ang nagsalita.

"Saan kaya siya nagpunta? Paaalisin niya ba kami sa team ni Adi?"

"Iyan ang hindi natin sure pero mag-pray talaga tayo kay Papa Jesus na hindi kayo alisin dahil kung maging successful naman itong mga ganap ni Architect Malana, super makikinabang din kayong dalawa rito. Tsaka marami kang matututunan kay Architect. Bibilis kang mag-isip ganoon kasi ayaw niyan ng mabagal ang kokote, naku! Buti nga nagtagal kami ni Miko rito."