"Thank you for the bread, Ms. Kate!" pasasalamat ng mga workmates ko nang lumabas ako sa office para pumunta kay manager for the meeting.
Nakangiting tumango na lamang ako sakanila at pumasok na sa elevator. Napapikit naman ako nang mabilis na humabol sina Bella at Carla sa elevator at ngumiti saakin na para bang nang-aasar.
Heto nanaman sila, bakit ko ba natitiis yung mga ganitong kakulit na mga katrabaho?
"Good morning, ma'am." bati ko kay manager nang makapasok na kami sa conference room.
Naupo kami at hinihintay lang ang mga sasabihin ni manager. She just opened the screen on the front and my eyes widened when something flash on it.
Oh? Today's his first day.
"What you see on the screen is the today's first flag raising ceremony of President Marcos in Malacañang."
"We all know that the President's first week or months is on public eyes as they focused on it, watching his moves or what he doing."
"So, the covering of his press conference and agendas was really an important one. We must always be the reliable and trusted source of all the important about the new administration and president."
Tahimik naman akong nakikinig habang pinapanood ang flag raising na nagaganap ngayon sa screen.
"As for our Chairman, Ms. Raleigh Kate Benson you're the one who will handle it with your team - Bella Garcia, Carla Santos, and with our production staff. I am confident that you all not disappoint us. Do your best with this coverage, no matter we have a different political views."
Sina Bella at Carla yung kasama ko? Baka naman wala kaming magawa doon at asarin lang nila ako.
"Ma'am is this final?" tanong ko.
Tumango naman siya at sumagot, "Yes, Ms. Kate. We trust you!"
"Pwede naman pong iba nalang yung mag-cover kay President Marcos and kay Madam Leni nalang po yung focus coverage ko."
"W-What? Ano naman yung icocover mo kay Madam Leni? Hindi na siya yung VP. Isa pa, the President moves is an more important to cover for us, as the media."
"Sa NGO niya ma'am, yung mga lakad niya or kay VP Duterte nalang?" pagpupumilit ko. Naririnig ko naman na natatawa na ang mga kasama ko pero wala akong pakielam. Ayokong icover yung presidente na yon. Isa pa, uwing-uwi na ako sa New York.
"Kate, that's the final decision. Please, you're the only one that we know who can lead the coverage successfully. Your experience sa pakikipag-usap sa mga matataas na politiko is your advantages to all of us." malumanay na paliwanag saakin ni manager.
Hindi naman na ako nagsalita pa at naibaba ko na lamang ang paningin ko.
"Ma'am mukhang ayaw kaming ka-team ni Kate eh!" parang batang sumbong nina Bella kay manager.
Napatingin naman ako sakanila at napataas ng kilay. "Ha? What are you guys talking about? Kahit palagi niyo kong inaasar, you two are my favorite workmates." sagot ko sakanila.
Napatili naman sila at niyakap ako. "Really?! We love you teh! Let's do this!" masayang sambit ni Carla. Ewan ko sa mga to, abnormal ah. Mga baliw lang sila pero tunay na kaibigan yung dalawang ito.
"I know, your team will be great. So... you will take it, okay?" ani manager. May magagawa pa ba ako?
Tumango naman kami sakanya. "Yes, I will now take it. Pero gaano po katagal yung covergae namin, ma'am?
"Ah, just four months with your team... then, we will make a transition with other team na bubuuin ko para naman hindi hassle. So, palitan lang kayo if possible."
"Babalik na po ba ako non sa New York after my 4 months coverage?" tanong ko kay manager.
"We don't have any announcement about your coming back to New York but for what I see... maybe Chairman will grant you the signal to come back there." sagot ni manager na para bang nagpabuhay sa sistema ko. Yes. This is the only want I want to hear. My coming back to New York.
Four months is just a glimpse...
Mabilis lang yon at makakauwi na ako. God. I can't wait!
"Okay, ma'am. Thank you." I said happily.
"But I have an surprise for you na lalong magpapasaya sayo." our manager said to me. Napahinto naman ako at masayang napatingin sakanya.
"After you finish your coverage, even it's just four months or whatever it is. You will be back on New York with a promotion. You will be promote to a high position, they will grant it as your feet touch the headquarter." Hindi naman ako makapaniwala sa sinabi ni manager. Nagpalakpalan lang ang mga kasamahan ko at yumakap saakin.
The promotion that I been waiting for 2 years, the reason why I worked hard and doing my best in all my coverage. Four months from now and I will finally receive it.
"O-Oh? I can't wait to finish this, ma'am." masayang sagot ko kay manager.
"We are so proud of you. Hindi pa man nagsisimula yung coverage niyo, proud na ako sa inyong lahat. And it's my pleasure to work with you, you're the one and only Raleigh Kate Benson who is the pride of CNN New York."
Para naman lumambot ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi ni manager. That's so overwhelming words. My heart is crying in so much joy.
"Yes! It's really our pleasure to work with you, Ms. Kate."
"We learned a lot from you."
"You never get tired to us even though it's so hard to adjust in a new workplace with new workmates."
"You're truly a gem of CNN."
Sambit naman ng mga workmates ko saakin. Gosh, they're making me cry. It's just a beginning of a new coverage but it feels like a farewell to them.
"Bago pa tayo mag-iyakan. Team, I would like to let you know that tomorrow will be the start of the coverage. As the President's will start his first cabinet meeting and after that, his first press briefing." anunsyo ni manager. Napatango na lamang kami sakanya.
After the meeting, I just meet my team and discuss the everything to them including the details, set-up, plans, and important pointers for tomorrow's first day of coverage for President Marcos.
YOU ARE READING
The Parallel Us
FanfictionThe lines that stay the same distance apart and never cross are called parallels. The things that we see, especially for us - the people. We never think of it, but we can be like a parallel. Raleigh Kate Benson is a critic, and Ferdinand "Bongbong"...
