Yesterday we had yet another company-sponsored event, one held in honor of P&G pension fund retirees. All P&G employees, including those from 6750 and the Cabuyao plant, were invited to celebrate the event in Le Pavillion, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. So at 4pm, we GBS (Petron-based) people were en route to the place in big buses.
Upon registration, we were asked to pick door prizes. There was one for everyone, so I was sure to win something. Keso and I complained to each other how we were always unlucky when it came to raffles, and would probably not win the nice prizes like the bean bags or tummy trimmers or Adidas caps.
When she made a face at someone winning some all-purpose kitchen scissors, I told her “If I know, I’ll get that.” Sure enough, I was right! Keso picked a yoga mat, however. Our other companions, Drew and Yen, got a casserole dish and thermos respectively. We joked that now we could go on a camping trip.
Before entering the place we dropped our raffle stubs into a tambiolo. My batchmate Janis, who is pregnant and couldn’t attend the event, had asked if I could write my name on her ticket because only those present could claim prizes. Pregnant women are lucky, she told me, so if her ticket won, I could claim the prize and give it to her.
Then we grabbed a table near the back. A few minutes later, my friends realized that my crush was sitting in the next table. Despite my warning glances they started talking in loud voices, mentioning my name over and over. Scandalous people!
It’s not as if this is the first time. Ever since I confessed to them at our last company party that I had a crush on {censored},this guy from another department who doesn’t know me, they’ve been teasing me to death about him.
But it wasn’t just my crush they teased me about, but my halter half-backless blouse too. Every time Doms passed by our table, he addressed me as “Miss,” and jokingly introduced himself.
Later on Bebe arrived (she had come in a departmentmate’s car) with her digicam. We called Doms, Tics and Dina, who were seated at another table because they were gonna have a performance, over to our table so we could have a picture taken. Bebe was gonna take the pic. But when my nice crush from the next table saw that, he volunteered to take the pic so we could all be in the pic. No wonder I had such a huge smile in that pic! 🙂
The program soon began. But before dinner, Doms and my crush suddenly materialized beside our table. And they were there to talk to me! Turns out {censored} needed to talk to one of my departmentmates to participate in their performance and good ol’ Doms referred him to me. And so I brought him over to my friend’s table where we both convinced her to pitch in. After all the thanks, he offered to escort me back to my table.
Since we occupied only half of the table, we graciously let some of my departmentmates share it with us. One of those who squeezed in was our pretty boy crush. Keso pinched me when he joined in.
Then she told me, “I know I said how unlucky I am, but now I know how wrong I was! I am lucky!” My sentiments, exactly! This is our lucky night!
Much later it was time for dinner, and by the time we got to the tables there was a long line. We asked {censored}, who was directly in the way, if we could squeeze in, and he let me go ahead and step in front of him in the line. When my other friends asked if they also could, he said no, only me. Hehe. Looks like {censored} here has a sense of humor. We cracked jokes all the way to the food.
After dinner, each group (Cabuyao, 6750, Petron) gave performances. Ours was last to go with their Rejoice stint. Keso was one of the “Rejoice” gals who modelled onstage. We could tell she was nervous, which she shouldn’t be, with her beauty!
Raffle winners were also announced, and whaddya know, I won a juice extractor! Actually, it wasn’t me, but Janis. She was right about pregnant women being lucky!
After the winners were announced, we headed out of there in Doms’ car. Just before we drove away, his departmentmates talked to him and I was able to wave goodbye to {censored}. Everyone kept on saying that this was my night. Doms asked for thanks, because in the beginning {censored} didn’t even know who I was, but now, “Close na kayo, first-name basis na, nagpapaluan pa nga eh!” Haha.
He drove us over to the fort then left to go to his girlfriend. We then headed to Cafe Puccini for some chocolate milkshakes and a serious discussion about Keso’s and Tic’s work woes.
Just then, {censored} passed by with his other departmentmates. What a coincidence! What a night!
The night ended with Tics offering to bring me home in a taxi even after I insisted I could go home alone. He said it wasn’t safe, and I guess our episode with the drunk guy on the overpass earlier convinced us both that he was right.
You see, when he and I crossed the road using the overpass, a drunk guy walking behind us suddenly yelled “Ulol!” at him, prompting him to ask me to hold on to him and make us walk really really fast, which is hard to do on stiletto high heels, by the way.
Tics is such a nice guy. Really. So I got home safe, sound, and insanely happy. Wouldn’t you be, if you were as lucky as me? 🙂