Sometimes, we're too conscious of others that we forgot to be conscious for ourselves.
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3
Clara and I parted ways hours ago, but her words were still lingering in my head. Her words are like puzzle pieces to me that I can't seem to solve. It wasn't like the type of puzzle game that you can jumble the clues to get the answer. It's a puzzle that you'll create from scratch.
I was preoccupied the whole time I was driving on my way back to my office.
Again, I tried to not to think of Clara's words by preoccupying myself with the load of work I have at my desk. But then, I was interrupted with a loud knock.
"Come in." I said. Lou slowly opened the door and entered. "What's the matter?" I asked.
"Ma'am Lea's secretary passed by earlier, Ma'am Lea told me, if you can spare her some time and meet her in her office. Ma'am Lea has something to discuss. " Lou.
"Contact her office and tell her I'll be there around..." I paused a bit and looked for my wristwatch. "... 2:30." Lou nodded and just reminded me of another deadline I had to follow this week, before she finally left.
Lea de Guzman is also a friend of mine. She's two-years older than me and Clara but we're both good friends with her.
Even though Lea is my friend, I still have to face her with a presentable look. So I got ready before leaving the office and going straight to Lea's office.
Her office is located upstairs, four floors after the floor level, where my office is located. When I got to the front of her office, Leah's secretary approached me.
"You may come in, Miss Alice." I just nodded at her and knocked twice before entering Lea's office.
When I entered, I could smell the pizza she was eating.
"Oh hey! Have a seat. Pizza?" she said, offering a box of pizza to me. Yes, a box of pizza.
"I'm full, I just ate with Clara." I said, ignoring the fact that she has three boxes of pizza in front of her.
"Unfair! You should've invited me." She said while trying to look sad. Which isn't visible, as she looks happy because of her three boxes of pizza. "Anyway, I have a proposal for you." She started. She sat up and dropped the pizza on a white plate on top of her desk. She first took wet wipes and wiped her hand before taking a black folder and handing it to me.
"What is this?" I asked without trying to peak what's inside the folder. Maybe I'm still not allowed to open it and she just handed it over. We'll never know. Sometimes Leah was just playful.
"It's a business proposal from a possible investor and client in New York." She answered my question.
"What's in it for me?" I bluntly asked. Somehow, disregarding her as our boss.
"I want you to accompany me with this project." She said. She leaned back in her swivel chair and wore black glasses.
"What would be my job here? I am a PR consultant, not a business consultant." I said, trying to make sense.
"Well, I'll be consulting with you a lot to make my words clearer. I mean, we need to build relationships with them, not just business things, but a possible lifetime investor." She said, trying to explain my job in the new business.
"Just a question, bakit ako? Bakit hindi si Cortez, he knows a lot when it comes to investors relations." I mean, Cortez knew a lot better than I did. I'm more of internal details of projects and campaigns.
"Well, we don't want to take it na parang we are aiming for a possible business investor. That would be off for the client." She said making sense of the possible things.
"Can I think about it? Hindi ako nagrereklamo pero you know that I have a lot of loads on my plate right now." I said, trying to explain my availability. One thing that I really like about the company, it does not give you too much work. I mean we do have loads of work but just enough not to compromise other projects.
Marco Cortez is also a Senior PR Consultant. However, he's much older than me as he's, I think four years older than me.
"I can work on that. If you have decided to join me, I'll be distributing some of your loads to Cortez and Reyes." Well that would work on me. But it's not satisfying when I don't finish a job. I feel like my work is lacking.
"When do you need my answer?" I asked
"A.S.A.P" she said trying to spell out asap
"Give me a date, I have a lot of things to consider."
"This coming week, Monday." She said while removing her eyeglass and reaching out for the pizza.
I still have three days to decide.
"I'll inform you immediately. By the way, I might take a half-day tomorrow." She stopped biting the pizza halfways through when I said that.
"Half-day? That's a first. You should take an absence.!" She said, trying to support whatever my reason is.
"Half-day!" I firmly said.
"Pety! Workaholic. What's with you and your asking for a leave?" She asked curiously before she took a sip on her orange juice.
"I might go on a blind date."
She almost spit out the orange juice she was drinking out of shock but because there was a lot of paper on her desk she forced herself to swallow it so she choked.
"What the hell are you doing?"
I couldn't help but laugh at her.
"Did I fucking heard you fucking right?" I just shook my head because until now she was still shocked. I just nodded to calm her down "FUCK!!" she exclaimed.
I was actually hesitant to say it to Lea as I was being wary around her. Although, I know Lea would support me to do this.
Lea is the older sister of Henri.
"Who are you meeting?" she asked with so much excitement
"It's a blind date. How would I know? Ask Chesca or Clara." I stood up when I said that. "If you don't have anything to discuss regarding your business venture abroad then I'll leave." I said and would have turned away
"Hey! Hey! What are you gonna wear? I'll have half-day tomorrow too. I should see you dressing up! Oh my god! Do you want me to help you to look for a dress? Make up artist? How about your hair? What do you need?" She asked nonstop. Why is she excited more than I do?
"Calm down! You're even more excited than I do! I haven't agreed yet to the date. I said I might. If I happen to see a white bird, I might go." I said trying to pull a joke.
Lea was about to speak when suddenly there was a knock on her office and Cortez entered with a cage and a white bird inside.
"WHAT THE FUCK?" I almost scream. But restrained myself because my boss was still Lea and we were at work.
"OMYGOSH!!!" Lea said while laughing "Is that my order?" Lea was still laughing but calmer now as she approached Cortez. So I immediately looked at Lea who was defensive and smiled at me as if to say that she didn't know.
"Yes. I am a senior consultant but why am I bringing this freaking bird here in your office?" Cortez is obviously annoyed
I can't still believe na may puting ibon ngayon. I was just joking about the bird, but what are the odds of seeing this.
"Why are you carrying a bird?" I asked Cortez trying to calm my fucking self.
"Lea is looking for a bird, to give as a gift to her father." Cortez still frowned as he explained. So I looked at Lea.
Lea laughed defensively while raising both hands leveled to her chest.
"Why? What's with white birds?" confused question Cortez. But Leah and I ignored him
"I'll be marking you absent tomorrow." Lea.
"It's up to you!" I said nothing and just left Lea's office and went back to my office.
Before finally entering the office, I first told Lou that I was only half-day tomorrow, even she was also surprised.
When I entered my office I went straight to the swivel chair and handed over the cellphone.
To: Clara
When's the blind date?
A minute or so after sending the message, I immediately received a call from Clara, screaming.
I immediately missed the cellphone in my ear because of the strength of her scream.
"You're done?" I have no desire to ask. She still continued to scream.
[So what made you decide to go on a blind date? Aber!] she suddenly asked seriously
"Well, I asked for a sign." I confessed. There's no oint on lying.
[Wow! I can't believe you're still doing that? Are you still in high school?] She asked me with a laugh. I could hear it shaking on the other line.
"Oh go ahead, not anymore." I said
[You're not kidding.] I heard her say. So I just laughed.
"Tell Chesca, I'm only available tomorrow. If it's not tomorrow, maybe not really. I have a lot of work to do!" complaining that I said as if they were still at fault.
[Yes. Yes. I'll inform Ches. Omy! I'm so happy. You better tell us what would happen ha!] she was obviously even more excited
After Clara told me what I should and shouldn't do, I turned off the call and put away my belongings.
Lou was surprised again because I came home early. She is not used to me coming home early, because I often work overtime. "You can go home now!" I announced. His face lit up.
When I ordered everything I had to leave to Lou, I left as well..
I'm not really going home.
I have to see someone before I go on that blind date.
I have to see Henri.