JARED REMAINED COMPOSED. The look in his eyes unwavered at his staring match with Miss Jackie. That look that seemed to say its already finished. She's done for for sure.

"I gave print outs of the CCTV footage and screen captures from the desktop to Sir Basil," patuloy nito.

Naguguluhang nilingon ni Miss Jackie si Basil. "You authorized him to see the CCTV footages in this company?"

Hindi ito nasagot ng kausap. Nagmamadaling binuklat ni Basil ang folder na dala nito kanina. Napaghahalataang walang oras kanina ang kapatid para silipin iyon kaya ngayon lang nakita ang mga nabanggit ni Jared. As his eyes scanned the pages, he was instantly absorbed in his own thoughts.

"I managed to retrieve web history records from Lily's browser. Dahil bago lang 'yung post, madali kong nahanap. Nandiyan ang petsa at saktong oras ng log-in at log-out," paliwanag ni Jared. "At dahil naiwang naka-log in ang account ni Lily sa website na iyon, nakakuha rin ako ng history records ng mga activities na ginawa niya sa account na iyon, tulad ng pagpapalit ng pangalan niya."

Basil pulled out a paper and placed it side by side with the other one. Malapit si Lily sa kapatid kaya nakikita niyang ang isang pahina ay print out ng CCTV footage at ang isa naman ay kuhang mga larawan mula sa kanyang desktop, mga screenprints.

Lily's chest pounded with anticipation. This is it. Now that Basil was getting an idea that she was really telling the truth, it's time for her to speak—

All of a sudden, Jared's voice echoed at the back of her mind.

"At dahil naiwang naka-log in ang account ni Lily sa website na iyon, nakakuha rin ako ng history records ng mga activities na ginawa niya sa account na iyon, tulad ng pagpapalit ng pangalan niya."

Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata.

Tiningnan niya 'yong account kong iyon! So does it mean...

Napalunok siya. Tumuwid ng upo para walang makahalata sa pagkabahala niya.

Nakita ba niya?

"Why don't I have a copy of these print outs?" lingon ni Miss Jackie kay Jared. "Isn't this some sort of trespassing me? And for what? Para hindi ko maidepensa ang sarili ko sa mga akusasyon mo?"

"I believe, I already gave you a hint earlier," titig ni Jared sa babae.

Miss Jackie just scoffed. "Ano ang hint sa mga pinagsasasabi mo sa akin sa opisina ko kanina? You are clearly playing dirty with me, Mr. Guillermo. These accusations—"

"Accusations? There's a proof against you, Miss Jackie."

Damn. How could this man stay that firm and unshakeable?

Why was it him who was speaking the whole time?

When it was supposed to be her speaking her truth.

When it was supposed to be her defending herself?

Why is it that this time...

Pigil ni Lily ang mamasa ang mga mata. How she wished she managed to, but she clearly could not.

She just could not believe that someone was finally defending her.

Protecting her.

Believing in her.

"Maybe, you have proofs against me," bahagyang pagtaas ng tono ng babae. "But that doesn't mean your proofs are legitimate! That doesn't mean you interpreted your proofs correctly!"

"But that's what you're trying to tell Miss Marlon earlier. That there's proofs against her, so she should just resign."

Natigagal ang matandang babae sa mga sinabi ni Jared. It was a blow she did not expect and it hit her really hard. For the first time, they gained a genuine reaction from her. Mouth gaping and eyes bulging with perplexion. It was as if she stopped breathing when she froze where she sat and remained motionless.

Her motionlessness spell was broken by Basil's voice.

"I can't believe you can do something like this, Miss Jackie."

She wildly faced his direction. "For all we knew, that could be edited! Fabricated!"

"We can always check Lily's desktop. And the actual CCTV footage at the surveillance room," Jared suggested.

"You're not supposed to be doing these things!" harap ni Miss Jackie sa kanya. "Hindi sakop ng trabaho mo ang makialam ng mga gamit dito at— you're just a psychologist! Your only job in here is to talk to people, counsel—"

"You're forgetting that my case is special. That I am not just assigned to be a psychologist here. I am here to evaluate the employees and be part of an internal administration's investigation regarding a libelous social media post." Jared never lost his cool. "Moreover, I am given permission by Sir Basil to access the desktop and the CCTV footages."

"That's the work of the cop. Of the detective. This is a breach of what you sworn in for as a psychologist. Your license will be revoked, you hear me? At makakasiguro kang hindi makakalagpas itong ginawa mo sa akin!"

Tumaas lang ang sulok ng labi ni Mr. Guillermo. "I'll see you in court then."

Lily found the mentally-tittilating fiasco entertaining to watch. Miss Jackie just could not believe the audacity of this man.

Of her man.

Napunta kay Basil ang tingin nila nang marinig ang pagkolekta nito sa mga print outs. Sinalansan iyon ng kanyang kapatid para ibalik sa sinara nitong folder. Nagpalipat-lipat sa kanila ang pagod nitong mga mata. Yes, even the lines on his face clearly showed how fed up he was of all these shit going on for months.

"Let me think this over. On my own. I'll be back in fifteen minutes," mahigpit nitong paalam. Dala nito ang folder nang iwanan sila sa conference room.

"Oh, no," Lily groaned and stood up to follow Basil.

Huwag naman sanang patagalin pa ito ni Basil. Ano pa ba ang kailangan nito to be on her side? It was already out here in the open! That this wasn't her doing all along! Why was it so hard for her brother to believe her innocence?

Siyang tayo agad ni Miss Jackie. "Don't even think about it," paniningkit ng mga mata nito sa kanya.

Lily could not help herself. "Ano ba ang problema mo sa akin, Miss Jackie? Don't tell me, dahil lang sa hindi tayo nagkakausap ng maayos, you'll stoop yourself this low just to kick me out of here." She could not resist a wide condescending smile. "I've never thought for once that you can be as shallow as this."

Dinampot nito ang mga dalang folder at niyakap iyon. "You think I'm shallow? Tinutulad mo ako sa'yo?" At prenteng tumalikod ito, tinungo ang bukas na pinto.

"Where do you think you're going?" habol ni Lily dito. "Babalik pa rito si Kuya Basil!"

Huminto siya nang tuluyang nakalabas ng conference room ang babae.

Napailing siya bago nilingon si Jared na katabi niya ngayon.

.

.

NASA PASILYO NA SI BASIL NANG MADATNAN NI MISS JACKIE.

"You can't just make decisions without hearing my side first," she blocked his way.

Basil remained firm. His eyes were now cold and suspicious toward the very person he used to trust in this company.

He just could not believe what he saw earlier. Naglalakihang mga ebidensya na kapag pinagtagni-tagni ay malakas na panlaban kay Miss Jackie. Habang naglalakad kanina, pinoproseso pa rin ni Basil sa kanyang isip ang mga napag-usapan.

Paulit-ulit siyang naghalungkat sa sariling isip.

"How could you do this?"

"That's the problem with you, Sir Basil," she spoke and it was creeping him out to see Miss Jackie remain so composed and persistent. "You just quickly jump into conclusions."

"Stop messing with my head, will you?" he snapped. "I am not! I am not jumping into any conclusions because if I do, I won't have this thing investigated."

"If you're not then why are you accusing me this quick? Nang dahil lang sa mga print out na 'yan ng Mr. Guillermo na iyon?"

Maybe, Miss Jackie was right. Nagkamali na siya nang akusahan nang maaga ang kanyang kapatid. He should not make the same mistake again. Gaano nga ba siya kasiguradong totoo ang mga naka-print sa nabasa niyang mga papel.

He returned his eyes on Miss Jackie.

"Please, don't conclude too soon. Hindi mo kasi pinag-iisipan ng mabuti ang mga action mo. This meeting is also an impulsive decision of yours. Madali na sana ang trabaho natin kung hindi ka masyadong nagpapadalos-dalos."

Basil started to question himself again. Mukhang masyado nga siyang nagiging mabilis sa mga bagay-bagay. Nagpaniwala siya agad sa mga sinabi ni Jared. Basta-basta na lang siyang nagpatawag ng meeting para pagbigyan ang request ni Lily na ipaliwanag ang sarili sa kanila...

He has never been this conflicted. Mula noong unang salta niya sa kompanya kasi, sino lang ba ang madaling tawagin noon para kausapin? Para mahingian ng payo? Para mapagtanungan dahil wala siyang kamuwang-muwang sa Variant? Walang iba kundi ang pinakamatagal nang nagtrabaho sa kompanya na si Miss Jackie.

Pero paano na ngayong ang taong hinihingian niya ng payo ay ang inaakusahan ni Mr. Guillermo na nasa likod ng mapanirang social media post?

"You could have made it easier. You're better than this, Sir Basil," patuloy ni Miss Jackie. "You can still make this right."

That's when his eyes narrowed. "Are you putting the blame on me?"

Napasinghap ito ng mahina. "W-What?"

"Parang pinapalabas mong kasalanan ko pa na namomoroblema tayo ng ganito. It was you who put these ideas in my mind in the first place—"

Natigilan siya. Nagdilim ang anyo nang napag tagni-tagni ang lahat tulad ng magkakahiwalay na ebidensyang nakalap ni Jared.

Pagak na natawa si Basil. "I can't believe it. All this time, you've been puppeting me."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ng babae. Sumama ang timpla ng mukha. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're right. I'm the one to blame. I gave so much power on someone without noticing it."

A glint crossed Miss Jackie's eyes— threatened and yet, still austere.

"All just because I'm afraid to make my own decisions all out of my fear to mess things up."

Lily's face flashed at the back of his mind— her big, innocent smiles. Her tears during her hard times. The numerous instances of her messing things up.

She messed things up but in the end, she won because she learned.

Because it was her who made all the decisions.

No one else was influencing her decisions. No one else is dictating her, directly or indirectly, what to do.

She used to be this brave person who isn't afraid of making mistakes, of standing her ground, of relying on her own ability to make decisions. Lily used to be this person who has confidence in herself. Who believed in herself.

Unlike him. Unlike their sister, Daisy, who were so afraid of messing things up they set aside their own growth and freedom and for what? For the perfect image? To avoid conflicts? To make life easier for them?

"And you'll mess things up if you didn't hear me out."

"No—"

"Apparently, I just discovered something about that Mr. Guillermo," pumilit nito. "He's probably being very biased right now, defending Lily because they have an affair."

Gumusot ang mukha ni Basil. "What are you talking about?"

"Imagine, letting Lily get away with the trouble she caused just because she's working with that man."

"Ikaw ang nag-scout at nag-rekomendang i-hire natin si Mr. Guillermo, Miss Jackie."

"Dahil hindi ko pa alam noon na involved sila! Or who knows? Maybe while he's working here, Lily managed to get on his good side."

Walang bahid ng anumang takot o pag-aalinlangan sa mukha ng matandang babae. But that won't convince him. His mind was already racked with this social media post issue. Pati ba naman kung may affair si Lily at Jared kaya biased daw ang lalaki, poproblemahin pa niyang alamin? All he wanted to know now is the truth. Who did that false social media post? Now that his mind was tinged with suspicion at Miss Jackie too, Basil just didn't want to believe anyone anymore.

He wanted to lean on his own understanding this time.

He had made decisions professionally before. But mostly were made after confiding on people like Miss Jackie. Those decisions weren't solely his own, but fruited from suggestions of others who he thought was more knowledgeable than him. All because he didn't want to mess things up.

If he were to originate his own decisions and assessments, Basil always kept them to himself. All because he was too afraid to be proven wrong. That would mess things up for him, and it could be worse by messing things up for others. For Variant.

This time, he should start believing in his own self first. In his own assessments. In his own decisions.

Basil glanced at his wrist-watch. Hindi pa siya nakaka-fifteen minutes pero mabubwisit lang siya kung magtatagal pa rito nang si Miss Jackie lang ang kasama. Lalo na ngayong pati ito, pinagdududahan na niya.

"Let's go back," pihit niya, pabalik na sa conference room.

.

.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT," Lily sighed in emotional exhaustion. "Kung anong bilis ng akusa ni Kuya Basil sa akin siyang tagal naman niyang tanggapin na kagagawan ito lahat ni Miss Jackie." Tapos, nilingon niya ang binata. Her lips slightly quivered. "Isn't it so unfair?"

"You don't know how your brother deals with work. He tries to separate the personal from the professional," nakaabang na tanaw nito sa pinto.

"What do you mean?" yakap ni Lily sa sarili.

Jared remained staring at the door, waiting. "What I mean is, the moment his foot is in this building? He's not your brother anymore. He's already Variant's President and that's it. He'll behave like one, but never like the brother that he had been to you."

"Are you saying na pareho kayo ng mindset ni Kuya Basil?"

"Maybe. Maybe yes. Maybe that's why I easily understood him."

Lily bit the inside of her lower lip and looked away. Nakiabang na rin siya sa pinto.

"The way he treated you in this building is only within this building. He'll never treat you the same outside of this place."

"He already treated me like shit before I even worked here."

"There's a difference between treating you like shit as his sister, and treating you like shit as his employee."

"They don't make any difference to me."

"That's because you put two things into one box. But for Basil, that's not how it works."

Tinitigan niyang muli sa mukha si Jared. "But for you too, that's not how it works."

"All this time, ginusto ba talaga niyang maging presidente ng Variant? Because me, the only reason why I try to separate who I am professionally from who I am personally is an act of avoidance. I don't really like to bring along the stress my work gives me, so I make it a point to separate it from my personal life."

Lily felt a chill from what she heard. "As far as I know, he never really wanted. Ang gusto niya, magtayo ng sarili niyang coffee shop na hindi natuloy dahil... sa akin."

Nakaramdam si Lily ng panghihina. Ng panlalamig. Nahihiyang nag-iwas siya ng tingin mula kay Jared.

"Kuya Basil should really treat me like shit... as a sister. He offered me a chance to discover myself. All I had to do in return of taking over Variant, is to give him the chance to live his dream.

And I didn't do that. All because I had been selfish.

All because I chose to live in with this asshole who turned out to be a cheater."

Paglingon niya, nagtama ang mga mata nila ni Jared. He granted her a soft smile.

Lalo tuloy siyang nakaramdam ng pagkapahiya. She felt so undeserving of him.

"Oliver was right. It makes sense now why he cheated on me. All I ever thought about was myself. Ang sarili kong ikasasaya. I never asked him if he still wants what we are doing, if he's still enjoying my company, if he wants to suggest something that we can do or—"

She was cut off by Jared's gentle chuckle.

"You see, Lily," he stroked her cheek caringly, eyes adoring her, " wala sa sarili nating mga kamay ang pagtupad sa pangarap ng ibang tao. Pwede tayo, tumulong. Pero hindi tayo ang makakakamit ng pangarap ng iba para sa kanila. Nakadepende ang pangarap sa taong mismong nangarap n'on. Sila mismo ang makakatupad niyon para sa sarili nila." He thumbed her cheek fondly. "And if someone loves you, they don't have to wait for you to ask. They'll tell you right away what they want to do to enjoy being with you. It's just so lazy, sitting on their own ideas when they actually had all the chance to say Hey, why don't we try doing something else we might both enjoy?"

Napatitig siya sa mga mata ni Jared. His words squeezed her heart to soften her. It was a softness that shone in her round eyes. He stepped closer, cancelling every possible distance that could make her run away from him.

Dahan-dahang nilapit ni Jared ang mukha sa kanya.

"You don't have to wait, you don't have to ask me, Lily," he smiled softly, murmured so throatily, "I'll always go to you and keep trying and suggesting until both of our needs are met. I'll never run out of ideas on how we can fuck and kiss and make each other happy. It's because..." he held his breath, remembered to withhold telling the truth, but the moment caught up on him. It's too late to stop now. "...I'll never tire of loving you."

They were about to kiss. Lily could feel it. She readied herself, slightly tilted her face to an angle that would ease Jared's lips in finding hers to kiss.

"What did I tell you?" a voice interrupted that made them look at the door.

Nakatayo roon si Miss Jackie.

At si Basil.