Prolouge

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I was in the middle of unpacking my things because I just moved out from home. I decided to build my own new house, to get away from my mother that has been annoying me to date someone. I'm thirty and I have no plans on marrying or having a child. I am financially stable, mentally stable to have a child but not emotionally stable. Maybe- I was still stuck from the remnants of my seventeen year old self or maybe I was just deeply traumatized.

Ini-isa kong buksan ang mga kahon na dala ko. It has almost been an hour since I start unpacking at nangangalahati palang ako. I built this house, my dream home, our dream home. I found an unfamiliar box, a black box at hindi ko alam kung ano ang laman nito.

Baka nagpa deliver ako ng damit? I thought. Since I was curious kung anu-ano ang laman nito I opened it. Bigla akong kinabahan, like is there something to be nervous about?

Then it hit me, the moment I opened the box nanghina ako ng todo. Umupo ako sa sofa at inilagay sa tabi ko ang box na iyon. This box contains the collection, a collection of the things 'he' gave me. Sinirado ko ito, taped it back, I regret opening it.

Humiga ako sa sofa, rested my arms over my forehead, close my eyes, and took a deep breathe hoping that one day I will heal, at hindi ko na namalayan I slept in the sofa.

I woke up after having a strange dream, so strange that I want to stay there forever, but I have work- crap my work!

After years ngayun lang ako nagising ng 7 am, I have an insomia and I didn't know why I slept so early kagabj and now I woke up so late! My body always wakes up around 3 am to review some documents since malapit na matapos ang contract ko for this client, I have to make sure that the building will finish on time.

Dali-dali akong naligo at nagbihis I wore my khaki square pants and a white polo shirt, accessorized because why not? I don't have time in putting make up because I will be super late in the office. Speaking of office- an intern, Cloud is calling me that's an indication that he's worried because I have never been so late in my entire career. So I put my phone on speaker since I am driving.

"Engineer!!!" It was so loud his tone was agitated

"Yes?, please let this day slide Cloud why are you whining? may nangyari ba sa office?" I asked

"Tumpak ka jan Engineer! Eh Ma'am Ria nandito si Director Gutierez he was bugging me to let him in, may kailangan daw siyang sabihin sainyu!"

Tumaas ang kilay ko, ano nanaman ang kailangan ng matandang to?

"Ano bang sabi niya? He only bugs in my office if he has an urgent matter or business niya kailangan niyang ipagawa sakin. And he would force me to sign up a new contract dahil galing sa isang big shot ang project na ibibigay niya" I hissed. I swear if this is another contract nanaman from a wealthy person, I will immediately decline this one. Hindi naman sa napaka-ungrateful ko, I love my job I love building. One things I hate is to be entangled with wealthy people.

"Ayon na nga ang hindi ko alam Ma'am! Should I let him in na ba? bakanma fire pa ako nito!!" Naiiyak na sabi ni Cloud sakin.

I sighed.

"Just let him, tell him I will be there in five minutes. Give him a cup of super hot water para naman makarma 'yan. Jokes aside give him something to drink, do not speak with him Cloud, I will be the one to talk with him. Got it?"

"Noted Engineer"

I hung up the call, and speed up. Aish that damn annoying old man.

Nagmadali akong pumunta sa office, I even took the stairs because the elevator was full!

Naabutan ko si Cloud sitting in his cubicle, he was pointing that Director was sitting inside my office.

I told him I will personally take care of him. I greeted the Director kahit na labag sa loob. I put my bag over my table and sat in my swivel chair.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy ligoy pa Sanchez, after the contract from the Reigo's, I want you to handle this new client. I am close with his father, and he personally requested you to be a part in the process of building his house. I can't say no."

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya, sabi ko na nga ba at heto nanaman tayu sa personal request ng matandang ito. Naiirita ako but I have to hide at naka matanggal pa ako sa trabaho ko.I looked to him and smiled.

"I am going to accept this project Director, if you will promise me that this will be the last I will accept personal project coming from you. You know how much I hate getting entangled with your big shot connections." I told him "And you said 'he personally requested my presence' does he know me?" I asked

" Okay fine, wala din naman akong laban sa'yo. But I'm warning you if you ever change your mind and withdraw from this project I can't gurantee the safety of your career Engineer Sanchez"

He said, and walked out of my office. Napa hilot ako sa temple ko, wow just wow. How could that annoying old man threaten my career. As if naman I don't have a word noh? But one thing's bugging me is that, he never answered my question. How did this client know me.

Today is the worst. I didn't get the chance to shower dahil nagising nanaman ako ng tanghali. I'm supposed to meet my client today, we are about to discuss the budget of the project, buti nalang at hindi traffic. I was flabbergasted by the meeting place, instead ba naman fancy restaurant just like some of my clients do, dito kami sa cafè magkikita.

His secretary said they reserved a table upstairs. So pumunta ako sa taas and it was just me hindi pa dumadating ang kliyente ko. Sa isang table banda malapit sa wall glass ata ang pina reserve or the whole floor? I don't know kase hindi pa naman ako nag oh-order ng pagkain ay may nakalagay na ng red velvet cookies and hot choco, which are my favorite. I couldn't find a single person on the cafe even sa baba. So I just decided to arrange my things, the documents we are going to discuss for today at ng ma umpisahan na ang proyektong ito.

I was waiting for him, my client of course I never had his name and secretary niya lang ang nakausap the whole time. Kahit na natapos ko ng eh review ito ay binabasa ko ulit para di lang ako tumonganga dito.

I was busy reviewing, when a familiar voice spoke.

I was trembling, hindi ko pa naman nakikita kong sino. I calmed myself and took of my glasses and look up....

I began to feel nervousness all over my body, my heart was beating so fast as if I was running miles away. I tried to remain compose but I was already out of breath. Our eyes meet, and God knows how much I'm dying inside hindi ko alam kung ano ang itsura ko ngayun.

But he looked at me as if I was just a stranger.

And I thought If I were to go back 13 years ago, I would immediately change everything. I was supposed to choose you, but I was selfish and chose something that I didn't even want to do. If I have known that was the last time I can see you, I should have hug you tighter, held you longer, and kiss you. I had my regrets love, but there's no other way I can survive life if I I had not chose my self.

It took about a minute and he broke off the silence and said;

"Have you been well, Engineer?"