Breaking the Rocks (Provincia de Marina Series #1)

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

Breaking the Rocks

I fixed the hard hat that was placed on my head as I entered the vicinity of the project site. The hitting noises of hard objects and the tools didn't go unnoticed as I walk silently towards the boxed office of the site engineer.

May iilang trabahanteng bumati sa akin. I gave them a nod before I proceeded on knocking on the door.

"Good morning, Engineer." The site engineer, Jared, greeted me.

"Good morning. Si Architect Custodio, nandito rin ba?" I asked him as I entered their office. It's a console box that was converted in an office. Kapag pumasok sa loob, plain lang naman ang makikita at tanging office desk lang at iilang papeles.

"Dumaan pa raw siya sa office," Jared's forehead knotted. "Hindi ba kayo nagkita roon?"

"Hindi. May kinuha lang naman ako sa office at may dinaanan lang saglit. I went here afterwards," I explained.

Tumango na lang si Jared. Meanwhile, I went to my desk and placed my things. Dito muna ako buong araw para tingnan ang progress ng project. It's always better for a project engineer to be here on site rather than in the office. Mas gusto ko ngang may nakikitang nagta-trabaho kaysa naman patingin-tingin lang ako sa bintana ng office at maghihintay ng milagro.

After arranging my things, I went on with checking the project design and its details. I am always like this even on my previous projects. I have to check them over and over again to prevent charging in a lot of resources and wasting the company's budget. Kung sa construction lang din naman, we have competitive contractors that can do the job well. We also have the suppliers of materials that give us a good quality of raw materials for the job. Pero nakasasalay pa rin naman lahat sa plano at kapag hindi naaayon ang lahat, wala rin naman ang galing ng trabahante o ganda ng materials.

"Mukhang uulan mamaya," Architect Custodio said as we walk around wearing our hard hats.

"It's no doubt since it's still rainy season. If this goes bad, the construction will take a little longer than usual," I said and stopped to look at the workers separating the hollow blocks and transferring it to the other side.

I looked up and saw the cloudy sky. I can trace the gray areas. Mukhang mamaya pa babagsak ang ulan. I never saw the news today so I am not sure if it's going to be a heavy rain or just the normal rainfall. Siguradong babagsak mamayang tanghali o hapon. By that time, mag-la-lie low muna ang team.

I assisted on some manual machines. Kapag nasa site ako, kalimitan mas gusto ko talagang tumulong kahit hindi naman sobrang kailangan. I was more on project management, making sure that everything is on deadline and the budgets are aligned. Kailangan pa rin naman ang presensya ko sa site kapag kinakailangan.

Today, I want to be here because it's the first week.

"Engineer Versales! Lunch?" Tawag sa akin ni Architect Custodio nang palabas na sila ng office.

"Ah, kayo na lang. I'll be driving off somewhere," I replied and got my bag that was placed on the office chair.

Sumaludo sa akin si Architect Custodio at nauna na sila ni Jared. Kinuha ko naman ang cellphone ko at tinawag si Exodus. After three consecutive rings, he was finally able to answer my call.

"Ba't ang tagal mong sumagot?" inis kong bungad sa kaniya nang palabas na ako ng office. I closed the door, waiting for his reply.

"I'm in the middle of talking to my secretary, Honey."

"What?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "Akala ko ba susunduin mo ako?"

"I got caught up in a meeting."

I groaned. "Peste ka!"