Company Training Day 2025 (Part 2): Pastries, Speeches, and Starfish

If you’re wondering why Gustavo’s at a hotel instead of in bed watching anime, rewind to Part 1—it explains everything (sort of).

Training Day 2025 pressed on. The welcome ceremonies passed in a blur of applause and polite reverence. Jon, flying in from Australia, congratulated the Philippine branch for keeping the Asia-Pacific and North America portfolio in good order. Archie followed, accepting the praise on behalf of the branch. Each speech earned the respectful applause of the crowd.

Gustavo, however, had other priorities. He was knee-deep in an assortment of deluxe pastries rarely available to him.

Pastries Over Protocol

“Gustavo, come on…” Zoey whispered as she walked past, exasperated at his irreverence.

“Hey, just getting my hazard pay,” Gustavo quipped, a grin forming as he held up his croissant.

Zoey rolled her eyes, but with a faint smile. She had bigger things to worry about than Gustavo’s sugar intake.

Company Training Day 2025 (Part 1): Gustavo’s Saturday of Coffee and Chaos

Saturday mornings are usually sacred for Gustavo — a time when his head rests peacefully on his pillow as anime streams on his phone. But on this particular Saturday, instead of pajamas, he was dressed in office attire, standing in line with colleagues for his company’s much-anticipated Training Day 2025.

The venue was no ordinary meeting hall. A lavish hotel function room buzzed with life as employees from every department converged. The Engagement Team cheered loudly, their energy infecting even the most reluctant attendees.

The Arrival of the Big Bosses

The atmosphere shifted as familiar faces from newsletters and email blasts — the company’s top brass — made their way into the lobby.

“Oh my, that’s Boss Archie.”

“Wow! Jon made it all the way from Australia?”

Murmurs of amazement swept the room. Then came Gustavo’s unmistakable voice:

“Well kiss my lips and call me Sally! He’s here! It’s Gaspar! The greatest of us all!”

Gustavo enthusiastically high fives his teammate Gaspar who had just arrived. His antics earned chuckles from his small circle of friends, though most eyes remained glued to the higher-ups.

A Quiet Saturday Morning That Didn’t Last Long

In a quiet suburban neighborhood in Laguna, the sound of birds, children at play, and neighbors at work paints the perfect Saturday morning. But for Gustavo, coffee in hand and cigarette smoke curling in the air, that peace is fragile—easily broken by the sudden buzz of his phone.

A quiet Saturday morning unfolds in the neighborhood. Birds are chirping, chickens are clucking, and kids are playing in the sunlit streets. The golden rays kiss the dampened community, still fresh from last night’s rain.

Inside a well-lit room, Gustavo—a rotund man known for his quirks—clutches his pillow and lets out a calm groan as he stretches his limbs. For once, he wakes without the shrill scream of his alarm clock. The silence is strange but comforting.

When High Hopes Meet Low Bandwidth: Gustavo’s Tuesday Streaming Meltdown

After a draining 9-to-5, there’s nothing sweeter than clocking out and reclaiming your freedom. The Joyful Clock-Out follows Gustavo—your classic overworked office worker—on his chaotic yet hilarious after-work ritual. From dodging supervisors in the elevator to snacking like a king, and finally facing the ultimate anime-night disaster (thanks to a dead Wi-Fi box), this short story captures the comedy, relief, and pure absurdity of escaping corporate life at day’s end.

Joyful office worker leaving the workplace at 5 PM, symbolizing freedom from corporate stress and excitement for after-work relaxation.

The Joyful Clock-Out

Gustavo, the perpetually overworked corporate drone, slams his laptop shut at 5 PM sharp. He scoops up his coffee tumbler, earbuds, and half-eaten protein bar with a grin that would alarm a psychiatrist.  

He vaults toward the elevator, heart pounding with…something thrilling that isn’t paperwork.

Elevator Ambush: Background Noise

Doors slide open, and Ayan, Gustavo's supervisor,  edges beside him, clipboard raised.  

“Pah-per… plan-ting… Sat­ur­day… bus… waiv­er…” her words blur into elevator dings.  

Gustavo’s brain hits mute; he nods so vigorously Ayan beams—convinced he’s on board.

Shoes Off, Slippers On: The Great Escape

In the carpark, Gustavo peels off dress shoes and hurls socks onto the passenger seat.  

Micromanaged and Alone: One Man’s Drive Through Office Life and Traffic

Corporate pressure, endless Manila traffic, and the weight of solitude—Micromanaged and Alone follows Gustavo’s weary drive home after another draining day at the office. This short story captures the frustrations of modern work life, the longing for freedom, and the quiet ache of loneliness in a city that never slows down.

Lonsome view from the driver seat of Gustavo's daily commute after work

Gustavo’s fingers were still stained with printer ink when he slid into the driver’s seat of his aging sedan. The dashboard blinked its usual warnings—low fuel, overdue maintenance—but he barely noticed. His mind was already elsewhere, tangled in the knots of another exhausting day at the office.

The engine hummed as he merged onto the freeway, Manila’s traffic already thick with impatience. He gripped the wheel tighter than necessary, jaw clenched, thoughts spiraling.

“What’s her problem?” he muttered, thinking of his supervisor.