1 Chapter I

"Nope, it's not like that."

"Pero, bakit naman ganon ang nangyari?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya, I don't know what to answer so I gave her a smile to answer.

"Kung ayaw mong i-kuwento okay lang sa akin, basta tandaan mo andito lang ako palagi."

She said then smile, I was just literally staring at her. Those smile, those face, and those words I still clearly remember them but now it just turned out into memories.

___

"Clea."

"Hoy, girl okay ka lang?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya noong mapagtanto kong nakatitig ako sa kawalan.

"Oh, yeah. What were we talking again?"

"Ah, about nga doon sa bagong project ng company."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Girl, how can we convince those people? Eh, kahit nga germs nilang mukhang peanut butter halos itapon sa mukha namin para lang di maibenta ang lupain nila."

"Maybe let's find another way, plan it before we take a step."

" Eh, paano nga? Kung kami nga di kinaya ikaw pa kaya."

"It's not actually my fault to be part of this, if it's not because of him."

______

We are on a meeting, he maybe caught me that time for not giving him an extra attention so he gave me this project. Jeez, who would probably listen to him if he just talk too much like a chuckling hen.

"Ms. Choi, you are free to leave the room now."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, at nagtataka ko siyang pinandilatan ng mata. Who is he to say that on the owner's daughter of this company? Ganyan na ba talaga ka kapal ang mukha ng lalaking ito, di porket nag-aral siya sa isang prestigious school ay pwede na niya kaming apak-apakan.

"Why?"

I asked him, but he just answered nothing and offered me his hand leading outside. Nainsulto ako ng konti, he is just an architect of this project para magyabang.

"Tss, why would I do that?"

"I bet, you don't have time to listen in this important agenda."

"What are you trying to say? Eh, halos nga mabingi ako sa kakaputak mo diyan sa gitna, then you're telling me that I am not listening at you? How can you, not possibly to finish this project with almost a year have given up to you?"

"And, you think it is easy as the way you wanted it?"

"Of course, I thought you're a man of everything!"

"Pfft, then why wouldn't we put it this way?"

"Because you think it's easy, why don't you volunteer to be in-charge in this company biggest project?"

I was a bit stuck for a moment, don't know what to say the room was filled into silence until he speak again.

"You can't, tss. So, maybe this is the end-"

"Game."

I shouted out loud so he can hear, harap-harapan ang panghahamak niya like he's totally a jerk.

He laughed and said, "You sure? Well, we made up a great decision right now. That's a great news, the CEO of the company have officially volunteered to be in charge on this biggest success of the company. Guys, meeting adjourned!"

Nagsitayuan na lahat kaya tumayo na rin ako, I don't know if I made a right decision but he's kind'a like hitting my ego which made me do this thing. I was about to step out of the room, when he blocked me.

"Good luck, Ms. Choi."

He told with his freaking creepy face.

_____

Napasabunot nalang ako sa buhok ko.

"Hays, I don't know why I did that."

"Girl, dinadaan mo kasi sa inis. Buti nalang at nasa US ang daddy mo."

"Do you think hindi ito makakarating sa kanya?"

"Iyon lang."

Pareho kaming natahimik dalawa, we are at the coffee shop break time kasi namin.

"Yssa, naalala mo ba si Yohan?"

Di ko alam pero bigla siyang sumagi sa isip ko. But, I think he's the only person na makakatulong sa amin.

"Oo, iyong nanligaw sayo dati na binusted mo."

"What?"

"Haha, joke pero totoo. What's up with him?"

"I've heard it that he's the one who's in charge with this project before, but got fired and replace by Andrei."

"Yup, at magkasama kami noon. Why you miss him?"

"What? No!"

Medyo lumakas ng konti ang boses ko kaya napatingin sa amin ang mga tao.

"What are you talking about? I just want to talk to him, maybe he still have some more important profile about that place."

"You mean, you want him to be part of this? I think it won't happen, beside di ko alam kung saan siya hahanapin ngayon."

"Jeez, why did dad hired this lazy jerk. Architect huh!"

"Oh, chill. Bakit ba mula noong dumating iyang si Sir Andrei dito ay kumukulo ang dugo mo sa kanya?"

She asked, napatitig ako sa kaya at naalala ang una naming pagkikita ng lalaking iyon.

____

"Hey, dude right here man!"

Dining ko mula sa kabilang mesa, ang ingay nila. I was busy sipping my coffee when something hit on my head 'causing me to spill my coffee into my shirt. Syempre mainit pa rin naman ang kape ko, kahit kalahating oras na akong nag-aantay ng ka-business meeting ko.

"Sorry, my bag didn't meant it."

Paghingi nito ng pasensya, nilingon ko siya.

"Sorry? Your bag didn't meant it, wow! That's kind."

"Yeah, thanks. Oh! By the way, you can borrow my jacket. Your t-shirt, you know. A little privacy."

Mas lalong umusok ang tenga ko noong sinabi niya iyon, habang inaabot nito ang jacket niya.

"Nambabastos ka ba ha!?"

Kinuwelyuhan ko siya at hinatak palapit sa akin, kitang-kita ang gulat sa kanyang mata pero napalitan ito ng pagngisi.

"Chill, I was just being gentle here." He told as he point somewhere, on my chest to be exact, kaya mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sabay tulak sa kanya.

"Jeez, pervert jerk." I mouthed, sakto lang para marinig niya, at saka kinuha ko ang bag ko sa mesa at umalis ng restaurant. Dinig ko pa ang mga kasamahan niyang nagtatawanan while teasing him. Di ko na sila pinansin at lumabas nalang.

___

"That is how I meet that jerk!"

"Baka, naman kasi totoong hindi niya sinasadya."

"What? Ako na nga ang na-agrabyado tas kinakampihan mo pa rin ang lalaking iyon."

"Woah, chill sis. Baka lang naman diba, tsaka tapos na ang break natin. Let's go back na."

"Tss, oo na. Para namang di mo kasama ang anak ng chairman."

"Hay, naku. Kahit anak ng chairman napapagalitan, ako pa kaya."

Nagmamadali nitong sabi, kaya napasimangot nalang ako.

"Oh? Anong klaseng mukha 'yan?"

"Wala." Sagot ko, at nauna ng maglakad sa kanya, sumunod naman siya sa akin habang nadaldal pero di ko nalang pinansin at dire-diretso lang naglakad.