𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 (Completed)

Chapter 15 - Neighbor

"Savannah Fischer?"

"That's me!" Sagot ko. Pumasok na ako kaagad.

It was the day of my interview with the Creative Department Manager. I was trying to stay calm. The scale of their headquarters was already enough to intimidate me. Pagpasok ko palang ng building, ang malaking logo ng kumpanya kaagad ang bumungad sa akin.

I wore a dirty white suit for the interview. I put my hair down and paired it up with a matte red tint on my lips. Maybe I overdid it, kasi smart casual lang ang suot ng mga tao dito. 

"Good morning," Bati ng manager. He looks like he's in his early 40's, or probably younger. "Savannah, right?" Tanong niya.

"Yeah."

"Crisanto Roxas," Sambit niya sabay lahad ng kanyang kamay. Tinanggap ko ito at nakipagkamayan. Umupo ako sa tabing sopa.

"So you graduated as cum laude from Granity?" Tanong niya.

"Yes I did."

"Marami kaming Granity graduates dito, mostly our junior designers. Kilala mo ba sina Donna...Ruth...Stephen A? Do any of these names sound familiar to you?"

"Ahh, yes. I know Ruth and Stephen."

"That's great! You know, kahit malaki kaming kumpanya, we still want our clusters of teams to be closely-knit. As much as we love to hire qualified strangers from random schools around the country, o kahit sa ibang bansa, mas pina-prioritize parin namin yung may mga kakilala or went to the same schools. That way, it's easier to build a bond, lalo na sa mga Team Leads niyo."

Tumango lang ako. 

"You may think our HR recruiters are biased noh, kasi inuuna nila ang mga graduates from Granity, at sa Eastside Sands din. These are high-end art schools kasi within the city and they have proven their reputation for decades already."

Ahhh, kaya pala ang bilis ng pagprocess nila ng application ko. Rumor has it that this company's hiring process takes at least 3 months, so I was quite surprised na mabilis ang feedback nila sa application ko. Kaya pala.

"But anyways, enough of that," Ipinagpatuloy niya, "I've seen your design portfolio already. I'm quite impressed. I've seen a great potential in you, especially your process of solving design problems. That's mainly what we look for from prospective team members."

"Thank you po." Sabi ko. Hindi parin nawawala ang kaba ko. Mukhang mabait naman 'tong manager na kausap ko pero wala talaga akong masabi. Ibang-iba sa unang interview ko with the HR recruiter.

"So you will be under the Packaging Design Team. Currently, we have nine other graphic designers in this team. So if you get hired, you will be the 10th team member. All ten of you will report to your Team Lead. Tapos all Team Leads will report to me."

"Okay, nakuha ko po."

"Ako ang mag-aassign ng workload every month, 'yung Team Lead naman ang magdi-disseminate ng  work load to each of his or her team members."

Mahaba-haba ang pinag-usapan namin. Hindi siya gaanong nagtatanong, he's mostly just explaining the whole process sa teams and common scenarios sa workplace.

In the end, sinabi niya lang that they will inform me via e-mail kung kailan 'yung assessment exam ko.

Tama nga ang sabi ng manager, they prioritize graduates from Granity. I got the e-mail the very next day. I took the exam that Monday at nakuha ko kaagad ang resuta. I passed. 

Gab, Jake, Angel, celebrate tayo! Libre ko!  I wish I could say that. Pero tinaboy ko sila. I have casual friends, sure. Mostly kapwa models, hairstylists and makeup artists. Pero iba parin sila, iba parin 'yung may matatawagan ka to hang out just to celebrate the simple joys of life.

***

Good day!

Savannah,

I hope you are doing well. We are pleased to inform you that you are on your last step of the hiring process with Hues & Selec Studios. Please visit our recruitment office tomorrow 1PM for the signing of your job offer.

We hope to see you soon and we can't wait for you to be a part of our team.

Signed

Hues & Sec Studios.

Human Resources Department

***

Well that was quick. I got the e-mail for the job offer signing two days after I passed my assessment exam. Ngayon na sure-win na ang trabaho ko sa kumpanyang ito, I am faced with another dilemma⁠—a place to stay.

Two hours ang biyahe ko mula sa dorm kung saan ako nagsi-stay papunta sa kumpanya. I need to move as soon as possible. Wala pa naman akong official starting date so may oras pa akong maghanap ng lilipatan.

Madaming condominiums ang nakapalibot sa kumpanya, but they're all too expensive for my budget. Wala rin namang mid-rise apartments or dormitories na malapit doon. The building is right at the center of the business district so mga high-end lang talaga ang mga katabing establishments.

Fortunately, may natagpuan akong condo just 30-minutes away by bus. The units are selling fast kaya kailangan ko na agad na magdesisyon. I used my savings from my modeling gig to pay the rental deposit and advance payment. It's the most affordable sa lahat ng nahanap ko pero malaki parin ang nabawas sa savings ko. It's a condo unit afterall.

The day I signed and accepted the job offer was also the day na lumipat na ako sa bagong condo unit ko. I wish I could share this little achievement with anyone⁠—kina Dad and Mom; kina Gab, Jake and Angel. I just bought my own condo unit sa perang pinagtrabahuan ko, are you guys proud of me?

Nasa lobby na ako habang nag-aantay sa pagbaba ng elevator. Biglang nagbukas ang pintuan nito. I saw a guy carrying a really stuffed backpack and a camera bag. Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. Parang mas tumangkad siya mula noong huli ko syang nakita, or baka dahil mas naging lean na ang katawan niya ngayon.

Lumabas na siya ng elevator at umalis. Hindi ko narin siya tinignan sa pag-alis niya. Sumakay na ako sa loob ng elevator at pinindot ang floor number ng unit ko. 

Bakit siya nandito?

Pilit kong binubura sa isip ko ang nangyari. Hindi pwede. Maybe he's just visiting someone. Maybe nagbabakasyon lang siya at nagrent ng unit for a short stay. Maybe lumayas na siya sa unit niya kaya and dami niyang dala.

Hindi pwede. We can't be living in the same condo building. We can't be neighbors.