Perfect Timing

[10] Overtime

Kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw laging may dahilan.

I finally proved to myself the truth to that adage as Oplan Iwas became a success! A week passed. Then two. And all of a sudden, it's finally been a month since Rich's birthday celebration and I managed to totally avoid him when we're at home.

It was actually fairly easy come to think of it. I'm very much familiar with the routine of the guys living in the same apartment as I am. So I just make sure not to be around the living room or the kitchen during the time when he's up and about.

It would have been perfect except for the fact that he was suddenly assigned to be the Test Coordinator for the pilot project I was working on.

You see, I'm a software developer - I write code. He's a Test Coordinator - he plans and coordinates all the testing to be done on the software I write. What this would mean is that we would need to have frequent meetings at work to discuss the progress of what each of us are working on.

I'm a professional, I'm a professional, I'm a...

"Ano ba yan, Sam! Para namang nananadya talaga! Of all the projects na ma-a-assign sya, sa project ko pa," I vented out my frustration as we ate lunch at the canteen.

Sam stared at me with a smirk on her face. "O, bakit?" I asked.

"E kasi naman bru, affected na affected ka! Ako nga naka-move on na sa inis ko sa kanya, ikaw umuusok pa rin ang ilong. Matawag nga si Ben para i-drawing ka ngayon. Wait ka lang. Ben?!?" she was already standing up when I yanked on her arm and pulled her down.

"Ano ka ba?!?" I whispered urgently as I blushed furiously. Darn these cheeks!

"Grabe ka naman, sakit nun ah!" Sam pouted as she rubbed her arm.

"Ikaw kasi, pagsigawan daw ba pangalan ni Ben! Ay sige, bahala kayong dalawa dyan." It was then Sam's turn to pull me down.

"O, quits na tayo! Fine, I won't call Ben anymore," she said as she rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Pero ikaw, gurl, get a grip! It's a project. You're both needed there. And besides, nandun yung Team Lead at Project Manager. He can't go directly sayo unless kailangan ng overtime at kayong dalawa ang na-assign for the evening," Sam assured me.

And what do you know? 2 weeks after that talk with Sam, who would be needed to render overtime - no other than Rich and I! Propeta ka ba, Sam?!?

Sam passed by my cubicle before leaving the office on that day. "Bru, wag nang ma-pride ha? Sabay na kayong umuwi kasi delikado if ikaw lang mag-isa."

"Okay fine, mas matipid din pag sabay kami sa taxi pauwi," I grudgingly agreed.

"Oh, and one more thing..."

"Ano yun? Pasuspense ka naman!"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!!!" And the witch ran out of my cubicle before I could do more than throwing a cushion at her

"Gaga!" I shouted after her.

The first few hours were quiet as I focused on fixing the bugs that were blocking our release. I was so focused on my code that I didn't notice someone was in my cubicle until a hand touched my shoulder.

"Ay anak ng kabayo!" I shouted in surprise. Looking up, I saw Rich who smiled at me. "Um, ikaw pala Rich. Pasensya na, hindi pa rin fixed yung issue kaya di pa ako makapag-build ng bagong release. Alam ko naghihintay na yung--"

"Uy, kalma lang!" He cut me off with a laugh. "Di ako nagche-check sa status ng release. Tatanungin lang kita kung gusto mong mag-dinner muna kasi matatagalan pa tayo dito. My treat."

Uy, may bumabawi. My stomach growled at that moment when dinner was mentioned.

"Okay lang sana pero kailangan ko muna tapusin yung bug fixes or else bukas na tayo makakauwi nito. Or baka di na tayo makauwi kasi aabutan na tayo ng next working day sa opisina," I answered with a grimace.

"Mabilisan lang, promise. Please?" He flashed me a bedimpled smile and struck a begging pose to convince me. I laughed in spite of the fact that I was trying so hard not to. Dyos mio na dimples kasi yan!

"Sorry talaga, Rich. Susunod na lang ako sa canteen pag natapos ako agad. Promise yan."

"Okay. Sige, una na muna ako. May call pa kami sa US maya-maya para mag-report ng status. Huwag papagutom, baka pagalitan ako ni Sam," and he left with a wave.

Ah, sinabihan pala ni Sam. Kaya naman pala. When Sam's in beast mode, better pray you're not the reason for her mood or else you'll really get it.

I focused back on my work and lost myself in searching for the last elusive bug. Suddenly, I found what could be a missing uninitialized variable. Sorry for the geek speak, but in layman's terms, a variable is a container of values. In this case, the container is empty when in fact, something should have been in it before it was passed on to someone else.

Could this be the key to success? I made the changes required, hit the "build" button and ran the code while my fingers were crossed in one hand. And... "Yessss!!!" I shouted as the bug was finally fixed!

"Huh? Anong nangyari?" Rich asked as he rushed into my cubicle.

"Fixed na yung issue! Makakauwi tayo before midnight! Woohoo!" I exclaimed as I hugged Rich in a sudden burst of exuberance. I hugged him tight for a few seconds before I realized who I was hugging.

Quickly letting go, I moved back and mumbled an apology. "Ah, sorry Rich, natuwa lang talaga ako. Pasensya na, naipit pa kita hehe."

"Ok lang, Dei. Natutuwa din ako kasi makakapagtest na kami after mo ma-release yung build sa amin. Then after 2 hours if walang issue, makakauwi na tayo!" Rich answered with a smile. "Ay, eto nga pala, for you."

He handed me a takeout bag from the canteen. "Ano ito?" I asked as I peeked into the bag.

"Grilled cheese sandwich saka banana. Napansin ko kasi mahilig ka sa cheese sandwich kaya binilhan na lang kita nyan para di ka malipasan ng gutom. Tapos yung saging para may dessert ka," he added sheepishly.

"Salamat ha! Pero sana wag na yung dessert kasi baka tumaba ako lalo." Shoot, did I say that? Hay Dei, para kang nagpaparinig.

Rich lost his smile as I said that. "Dei, kung sa palagay mo na may nasabi akong demeaning tungkol sayo, sabihin mo na lang sa akin. Ilang beses mo nang binabanggit yan sa akin e."

Staring straight into his eyes, I answered with a serious tone. "I think you know what I mean. Isipin mo what happened on the night of your birthday."
I paused for a bit, took a deep breath then smiled before continuing. "I-build ko na muna yung ite-test nyo para makauwi na tayo agad. Thank you nga pala dito sa food ha, kainin ko after ko mag-release ng build."

He looked as if he wanted to say something else but just nodded then moved back to his cubicle instead. I breathed a sigh of relief but felt a little bit nervous.

Mamaya, wala na akong kawala sa pagpapaliwanag nito habang nasa taxi kami pauwi. Good luck to me!