Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 06

06
Texts

"Good morning, Papa," pagbati ko nang makarating sa hapag. He was reading a newspaper when I got here. Medyo natagalan ako sa pag-aayos ng sarili dahil hindi ako naka-set ng alarm kagabi. Today's Saturday and my father has set an appointment for me to visit the company.

Although we do this casually, the fact that I would be visiting the Engineering firm that I'll be managing in the future is still overwhelming for me. Hindi man sabihin ni Papa, alam kong paraan niya ito upang ipakita sa akin kung gaano kalaki ang responsibilidad na hahawakan ko sa mga susunod na taon.

"Good morning," he replied, "Did you sleep late?"

Umiling ako. "No, I just forgot to set an alarm."

"Good. Don't stay up too late, Natalia. Make sure you have enough sleep," he remarked before putting down his newspaper.

My heart felt like it was caressed by a warm hand. It feels nice hearing that Papa cares. Palihim akong ngumiti at tumango bago magsimulang kumain. After the breakfast, agad kaming hinatid ng driver sa kompanya. It's just a 10-minute drive from our house and it's in downtown. We've been running the firm for years now and it's only getting better each year because Papa's really working hard for it.

Nang makarating sa firm, agad kaming sinalubong at binati ng staff.

"Good morning, Sir," Papa's secretary greeted him. Lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin at nakitaan ko ng pagkagalak ang kaniyang mga mata. "Good morning, Ms. Natalia. You've grown more beautifully than the last time you went here!"

She's been working for our family for years simula pa nang dalaga siya hanggang magkaroon na rin ng pamilya. She's been loyal to us and I'm quite thankful that our firm has an employee like her.

"Good morning po," may ngiti kong sagot. Iginaya niya kami sa loob ng opisina ni Papa at nagpaalam din para ipagpatuloy ang trabaho.

"I received a lot of projects proposals this month," sabi niya nang makaupo siya sa kaniyang swivel chair. Papa isn't lying because I can really see the huge pile of papers and folders on top of his table. "I want you to review these proposals and choose projects you think that are deserving to be accepted."

Ngumuso ako. "That's it, Papa? Then if I did, we're just going to accept them that easily?"

"After reviewing them, you'll defend to me why do they deserve the opportunity."

Namilog naman ang aking mata. That means I have to review these papers extensively! "Papa, this is too advance for my thesis defense!"

Natawa naman siya sabay abot sa akin ng mga papel. "We need to filter them right now. In that way, we could easily pick up the outstanding ones to be approved. I trust your judgement on this, Natalia."

Lumabas na rin ako ng kaniyang opisina pagkatapos kunin lahat ng papel. I went into this little room which turns into my temporary office whenever I visit the firm. Nang maayos ang lahat, I started reading the proposals. Most of them are affiliated with business. Putting up establishments in the center city, location targets, and many more. There are also proposals that are inclined with the firm's system.

I got soaked up in reading too much that I didn't notice it was already lunch time. Pinulot ko ang cellphone na na sa lamesa at kunot noo kong binuksan ito. There was one message and it was from Octavian. Hindi ko na ito napansin kanina dahil sa sobrang busy ko.

Octavian:
Saan ka?

Natalia:
Firm.