"Nine o'clock, AD, straight to Ayala Hall. No detours!" Bahagya kong nilakasan ang boses ko para marinig ako ng mga taga-Accounting Department. There was an excited buzz in the air as the minutes ticked by. Ilang sandali na lang, magsisimula na ang celebratory program para sa pagbubukas ng Medialink Canada annex. A large number of people was anticipating the event — mediamen, dignitaries, and the company's biggest partners. Word was, we'd all get a live feed of the so-called "unveiling of Medialink's first international auxiliary."

Which meant we might get a glimpse of our boss for the first time after a year.

I re-entered my office to get some of my stuff, bago ako tuluyang pumunta sa Ayala Hall kasabay ng mga kasamahan ko rito sa AD. Dahil mga sampung minuto pa naman bago magsimula ang program, umupo muna ako at namalayan ko na lang na binubuksan ko ang topmost drawer ng office desk ko.

In it was a picture of me smiling my best smile while Sir Vren planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Tulala na naman si Ms. Custodio."

Agad kong itinagong muli ang picture nang marinig ko ang boses ni Alexia, na noon pala'y nakadungaw mula sa pinto ng aking opisina.

"Baka gusto mong lumabas na diyan, Ms. AD Head? The celebratory program is about to start. Mahaba-habang rampa pa 'to papuntang Ayala Hall, so anong ganap at sitting pretty ka pa rin diyan?"

"Ito na nga, tatayo na." Inismiran ko si Baklita, at siyang dungaw naman ni Mavi na noon ay nasa tabi rin pala ng aming best friend. "Hindi mo naman kailangang manggulat, e. Mavz, pakibatukan nga 'yan para sa akin."

Sinunod naman ako ni Mavi nang walang pag-aalinlangan. Isang pagkalakas-lakas na batok ang iginawad niya kay Alexia.

Mangiyak-ngiyak namang dinuro ni Baklita si Mavi. "Namumuro ka na sa akin, Nerd! Baka gusto mong hindi ka na abutan ng kinabukasan? I'm gonna make you palapa to the bulldogs ng kapitbahay namin!"

"Ay wow, natakot naman ako, Alessandro," mapang-asar na sagot ni Mavi. "Baka ikaw ang ipalapa ko diyan sa mga aso! Tutal, mukha ka namang buto-buto."

Tumawa naman ako. Nakakaaliw talagang panoorin ang pagbabangayan ng dalawang 'to.

Alexia was about to retort pero agad ko na silang nilapitan sabay sabi ng, "Tara na, girls. Baka ma-late na tayo sa program. Ayokong mag-grand entrance."

Pinagitnaan ko sila at inakbayan, partly to prevent them from hitting one another, at sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng Accounting Department papunta kay Hannah na paniguradong naiirita na kahihintay sa aming tatlo.

****

"Sana, nagpa-press con na lang tayo. That would have probably saved us time and energy," komento ni Hannah nang tuluyan na kaming makapasok sa Ayala Hall. "Puro naman mga reporters ang nandito, e."

"Press con? What fun would that be?" sagot naman sa kanya ni Alexia. "Tsaka hello, bulag ka ba? Ayan o, ang daming non-media people who came here to party."

"May sinasabi ka, Alessandro Pinpin?" nakapamewang na linya muli ni Hannah.

"Sshh, 'wag nga kayong magbangayan dito. Nakakahiya, ang daming tao," saway sa kanila ni Mavi. "Tara nang maupo bago tayo maubusan ng pwesto."

We took our seats just in time for the emcee to announce the start of the program.

"Welcome to Medialink's celebratory program for the opening of our company's first overseas expansion. To formally begin today's occasion, may I call on Mr. Leimar Alonzo, Medialink Philippines' Officer-in-Charge, to give us his warm welcome."

There was a smattering of applause as Sir Leimar walked towards the stage. Dahil sige pa rin sa pagtsitsismisan sina Alexia at Hannah ay sinenyasan ko sila para manahimik dahil nagsasalita na ang aming OIC.

"Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us in celebrating a very important milestone in the history of Medialink, the country's leading ad company. For years, our company provided state-of-the-art services to our clients and the public as well, a feat that could only be augmented by the opening of our first-ever international annex, Medialink Canada. This, of course, is made possible through our partnership with Arcodas, the global leader in marketing solutions..."

Pilitin ko mang intindihin ang mga pinagsasabi ni Sir Leimar ay sadyang short-lived talaga ang atensyon ko, kaya naman halfway through his speech ay sinimulan ko ang pagbabasa ng horoscope ko sa Internet.

Ilang saglit pa ay bumaba na ng stage ang aming OIC, sabay sa pag-ere ng video ng isang lalaking kamukha ni Hugh Jackman. It must be Mr. Kenvick Bosch, Arcodas' CEO.

"No doubt that it is a privilege for Arcodas to partner with Medialink, the Philippines's top marketing entity..."

Sige lang sa pag-play ang video ni Mr. Bosch. Muli kong ibinalik ang atensyon ko sa binabasa naman ngayon na online gossip article.

"...this will just be the start of the many ventures that Arcodas and Medialink will do together, as the Canada annex is expected to increase Medialink's global influence..."

Sakto sa pagtatapos ng binabasa kong update tungkol sa love life ni Taylor Swift ay siya namang anunsyo muli ng boses ni Sir Leimar, amidst the crowd's polite clapping at the end of Mr. Bosch's message.

"And now, from the respectable CEO of Arcodas, I think it's time for us to hear from the man who made Medialink global. Folks, here's our very own Mr. Vren Andrei Montevilla!"

Dinig ang sabik na bulungan ng mga tao sa loob ng Ayala Hall. Ako naman, agad na tumingala mula sa pagkakatitig ko sa aking cellphone, sakto sa pag-play ng video ni Sir Vren.

"Good morning, my fellow Medialink people," pagsisimula ng aming boss sa kanyang speech. "I know it's been quite a while since you saw my handsome face." Sir Vren grinned widely na para bang ine-expect na niya ang pagtawa ng mga tao sa kahanginan niya. And sure enough, the crowd gave a soft laugh at his remark.

Sa tabi ko naman ay hindi na napigilan ni Baklita ang kanyang sarili. "Oh. My. God! Look at Papa Vren, mga kapatid! Lalo pa siyang naging papable sa Canada!"

Alexia's command wasn't necessary, dahil nang mga sandaling iyon ay walang kakurap- kurap na akong nakatitig sa stage, sa mukha ng mismong taong isang taon ko nang hindi nakikita.

And yes, our friend was absolutely right. If anything, lalong gumwapo si Sir Vren — there was a gleam in his eyes, and though his hair was quite longer than his usual cut and his face was rather stubbly, the image suited him. With his crooked grin, he looked like a downright rebel, which only added to his appeal.

Nang mga oras na 'yon ay parang gusto kong sumigaw ng, "Hoy, Vren Andrei Montevilla, miss na miss na kita! Naririnig mo ba ako, ha? Sabi ko, miss na miss na kita! Bumalik ka na!"

Huminga ako nang malalim para pigilan ang sarili ko dahil mukhang anytime ay maiiyak na ako.

Biting my lip to stop the gnawing pain in my chest, my eyes starting to tear up, I forced myself to continue watching Sir Vren's video.

"...though I was reluctant to leave you all, I had to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of partnering with Arcodas, because no doubt it will lead to our company's betterment..."

"...and I am very grateful that even in my absence, you have continued to maintain Medialink's excellent status. Thank you, Leimar, for leading in my absence..."

The crowd applauded Sir Leimar, who gave us a rather bashful smile.

"...and to all department heads, good job, guys. Without your efforts and leadership, Medialink will not continue to thrive."

Siniko ako ni Alexia pagkarinig niya ng "department heads" habang si Hannah ay pasimple niyang sinabunutan. Naiiyak man ay sinalubong ko ang tingin ni Hannah at nagkasundo kami telephatically na mamaya ay papaslangin na namin si Alexia.

"As we reach a very important milestone for Medialink, I hope that all of you are still more than willing to contribute to our beloved company's success. I look forward to seeing Medialink being hailed as one of the best global companies, and I hope that you are with me in that goal..."

"...it may take some more time before I return, since the Canada annex's operations needs to be stabilized first. But soon, guys, we will be seeing each other again..."

Pagkarinig na pagkarinig ko ng 'some more time before I return,' muli akong nakaramdam ng matinding lungkot. Earlier today, anticipation was rapidly building up inside me, the excitement of hearing that Sir Vren would soon be returning, unbearable. Pero ngayon...

Mas matagal pa pala akong maghihintay sa kanya.

Sana, makaya ko pa.