★ Ken Could Tell ★

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009 6:06 PM / top

Rush day.

I woke up late and dizzy with my head still heavy with dreams. One month na ko dito, a thought popped out. Yea. It has been a grueling month of independence filled with adventure, eating out, wandering, walking, shopping, cleaning, ironing, and doing $#!+ laundry. But hey, I'm not whining. So far I'm good. So far I'm coping. In fact, today, 9th of December (Ooh, 9. I hart number 9! This is my lucky day!), is our department's Christmas party. I should be so excited. I should be all over the situation keeping tabs of the preparation like a pro.

In fact, should be on my way to the office by now, an alarm ticked off.

I'm late! (guess I had mentioned that earlier).

So at 8:18 AM I was arranging my bed leaving my teddy, Pi, tucked safely by the covers. At 8:19 I was struggling to get out of the upper deck, then grabbed a towel before headed to the bathroom.

"What the?!" I blurted out as the door protested against my strength, hitting someone in the process. Inside I found Dan naked.

What is he doing here?!

But then that's not a really big issue considering we're inside the bathroom and he's butt naked, I realized later. He's taking a BATH. A long bath actually (with an average time of 20 to 30 mins., believe me). And that's a bit overboard. You see, either I or Kuya Emman occupies the bathroom first because of our 8:30 sched. So I was surprised to see him there bare (okay, just a bit surprised, I've already seen him wearing only his boxer shorts) and wet. Ohgod. I tried not to look down there, and instead focused on his eyes which were also wide with shock.

Uhmmm..deep slow breaths, I told myself. I'm starting to sweat all over because of the awkwardness of the moment. I mean, what should I do? I'm half an hour late (!) and there's someone on the bathroom and I don't want to take a bath with him inside.

Okay, about the agreement thing I had mentioned earlier - it's not official. Just between Kuya Emman and me. So I couldn't kick Dan out. He was there first. I couldn't blame him if he wanted to take a bath early, it's his freshness that will wear off anyway. And he's my board mate. Not to mention my 'lower deck' mate. And he's a nice kid.

I had to give way.

"S-sorry," I mumbled at last, red faced and embarrassed, and left. "But hurry up, I gotta pee!"

And I'm late.
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When I got to the office Maydee and Anna were distributing the balloons to the boys to puff up. I took part, pumped three medium-sized balloons (all green and whites which I thought A had given me these because I'm a fresh man/newbie but was dead wrong anyway, because it stands up for her school and she said that I could be one of - i forgot the term - them too. Sometimes A is a bit weird) using a 'blower' and blew up one. Anna beat me for producing five big ones straight from her lungs.

By afternoon we transferred these round babies to the Deck which is on 24th floor. We put some candles on the big round table. A glued some lanterns on the walls while I taped long sashes of frivolous decor by the elevator doors. I also helped A set up the disco lights, a globe of prism which rotates 'round and 'round causing the displayed lights to change shapes - rabbits, flowers, swirls and other geometric stuffs. We got it from Anna's bedroom, by the way.

"Ang galing," M commented as the colorful patterns bounced back along the walls and the ceilings.

I also climbed up the ladder to hang the string of balloons on the roof since I'm the only one a) who's wearing slacks, b) a boy, c) fit, c) young and d) less heavy.

After that Sir Rain, Edmund and Maydee went off to pick up some prizes and give-aways. Anna and I took turns puffing up balloons. And a little later A excused herself to check some mails. I was left alone with the staffs and maintenance crew. With nothing to do I turned to my phone, and listened to music.

I fell asleep.

When I woke up, the balloons outside were a disaster. They were either blown away by the wind or popped out due to too much heat. My colleagues hadn't returned yet. Good thing I wasn't caught sleeping! So I got back to pump more balloons. Three more, and another two, and five. .After that I lost count.

The caterers arrived around at five and began setting up. An electrician was putting up Christmas lights on the gardens outside. And a DJ was experimenting with some remixes. Lots of crew came and went. Supplies were being requested. More additional invitations to be sent out.

During the last two years as a student officer, we also threw up parties but I was always too preoccupied to appreciate while we were doing it. Most times, the appreciation comes after the party, during the evaluation, if it was a success or not, what went wrong and what can we do to improve ourselves. I am not bitter, though, not to be on a spectator seat where most could only sit back and relax. When I'm inside the hurricane of events, I tend to get carried away, being too busy for this and that. This time though, as I was facing another reality, I felt the control again, how it was to be a part that makes decisions for the whole, and the impact of these decisions, how insignificant and small, could affect a person's night. I took a step back and watched the scenes unfold.

Maydee was fuzzing over the registration procedures. And poor Edmund, he's still probably on the third floor piled with work. Anna was occupied with puffing a balloon inside another balloon, a little trick which I find super. But maybe the balloons would deflate before all the guests arrived considering it contains mostly of oxygen. Or maybe it would hold up till midnight. Maybe someone would pick up those puffy orbs and give it to his love. Maybe he'll get a kiss. Or a sweet yes. I looked to my left. Sir Rain was busy taking pictures. The sun was waving its last touch of warmth. Outside, the dots of lights were slowly bordering the edges of the skyscrapers one by one. I could see the the shadows and lights dancing. I could hear the bubble of excitement from the voices coming from the main doors. I could feel the cold air seeping into my long-sleeves. Night was slowly sinking in. I could feel the stress, mixed with the excitement for the upcoming events tonight.

So this is how it feels to be in the big world. .

I took big gulps of cold air and set up a huge smile before going to the queue of guests waiting at the registration.

I'm ready. Show me what you got.

Labels: autobot, career, event, jumpy, ken chua, lifestyle, stuffs

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