Freedom and the Beast

Three

Chapter 3

I BECAME BUSY after Nemmie's lunch treat. Iyong ilang oras lang na hindi ko pag-check sa emails ko, napuno na agad iyon ng mga requests and demanding tasks coming from our manager. Maghapon kong ginawa ang mga iyon at nalipasan na nga rin ako ng gutom nang mapansin kong alas onse na ng gabi nang matapos ko ang last email content.

I groaned while stretching my arms up in the air. I suddenly felt my whole body's cramps. I just wanted to lay on my bed instead of eating my dinner.

I took first a quick shower and changed into my nighties before deciding what to do next. In the end, mas nanaig ang kagustuhan kong matulog kaysa kumain. Marami naman akong kinain kaninang lunch kaya hindi pa ako nagugutom.

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. My work at ASDG doesn't start before eight, but I always woke up at six to do my yoga or to have Ponyo go to walk at the residential park below. I started preparing at seven. Maliligo ako pagkatapos ay magbibihis bago kumain. Papakainin ko rin ng breakfast si Ponyo bago ko siya ihatid sa dog school.

My baby was a well trained dog and doesn't know how to attack, unless provoked. Marami na rin akong natanggap na reklamo galing sa ilang dog owners sa dog school na pinapasukan ni Ponyo dahil alarming daw ang breed niya. They often judge Rottweilers as dangerous type of dog breeds, but they didn't know how sweet they were specially when shower with TLC while growing.

I challenged them to always keep an eye on my baby for three days. At kapag may nakita silang hindi magandang ugali ng alaga ko, sinabi kong aalis ako. But three days after, and they were all fond of Ponyo. I guess that made the fur parents shut up.

"I'll see you later, baby." I kissed Ponyo's head before standing.

After ko ihatid si Ponyo sa dog school ay dumeretso na ako sa ASDG. I timed in and went to our floor after. Binati ko ang ilan sa mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho hanggang sa makarating ako sa cubicle ko.

Kalalapag ko pa lang ng Prada bag ko sa table ko nang lapitan ako ni Jules, isa sa mga co-workers ko. Knowing her, marami siyang dalang tsismis sa umaga. And I was willing to hear all of it to start my day feeling energized.

"Freeda! Nabalitaan mo na ba?" bungad niya habang nakadungaw sa cubicle ko.

"Hindi pa. Mababalitaan ko pa lang." I smiled sheepishly at her.

Natawa siya. "Heto na nga. Narinig ko kay Sir Erwin kanina. We're going to work on a new project daw."

"Oh? Anong project 'yon?"

"Hindi ko pa alam. Pero ang balita, may ka-collab daw tayong company. Malaking project yata iyon. Tapos tayong team ang gusto niyang mag-handle ng marketing with the clients."

My lips slightly parted. A collaboration with another construction company? That's new.

Some companies had tried offering a collaborative project with ASDG in the past three years that I was working here, but none seemed to caught the president's interest. But I guess since bago na ang head ng kumpanya, iba na din ang magiging approach namin in handling the business.

"May meeting daw tayo before lunch," dagdag ni Jules.

I was feeling a bit excited while waiting for the meeting. Ito ang unang beses na magkakaroon ng collaboration ang ASDG sa ibang kumpanya. And knowing how unreachable ASDG in the construction and design industry, siguradong mabusisi rin nilang pinili ang magiging partners namin para sa project.

The level of my excitement was reduced when I got a notice about the meeting being moved on Wednesday. I still have to wait for two more days bago malaman kung anong kumpanya ang makakasama namin para sa bagong project.