As I stepped into our apartment, a rush of excitement flooded through me. I couldn't wait to see Vince, couldn't wait to feel his arms around me, his lips on mine. With a sense of purpose, I quickly changed into something more suitable for our evening together, a simple yet elegant dress that hugged my curves in all the right places.

With one last glance in the mirror, I smoothed down my hair and checked my reflection, making sure everything was just right. Satisfied with my appearance, I headed out the door, eager to see Vince once again.

Kung anu-ano ang pumapasok sa aking isipan habang nasa taxi papunta sa De Salvo Tower. Ilang beses na akong tinatanong ni Vince kung gusto kong sumama doon, o 'di kaya sa ilang Cameron Hotel and Resort na pinangangasiwaan niya rito sa Manila, pero tuwina'y lagi akong tumatanggi. Kaya naman ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakapunta ako sa office niya.

I felt a surge of nervous energy course through me. What if he could see right through me, could sense the desire that burned within me? What if he could tell how much I wanted him, how much I craved his touch?

Dapat bang nababahala pa ako roon? Eh, boyfriend ko naman siya. Dapat nga matuwa na lang siya. At least siya ang gusto ko at hindi ibang tao.

Ibinaba ako ng cab driver sa tapat mismo ng building. Nang pumasok ako sa loob ay kinailangan ko pang maghintay sa waiting area dahil may kausap pa ang tatlong receptionist sa front desk. Sumunod na lamang ako sa sinabi ng guard dahil hindi ko naman gustong ipangalandakan sa mga ito nag girlfriend ako ni Vince. Sa mga nakalipas na buwan ay hindi miminsang nabalandra ang mga larawan namin sa society pages. Vince always made sure we weren't harassed by the media tuwing lumalabas kami, kaya wala ring nakakalapit sa akin na kung sino. But of course, they were curious kung sino ako dahil isang De Salvo si Vince.

I waited for about half an hour, ayos lang naman dahil wala naman akong hinahabol na oras, besides it gave me time to study the surroundings. It fell into the modern category, which wasn't surprising considering its location in the heart of Bonifacio Global City. While I had seen the De Salvo Tower in pictures and on TV, I had never been here in person. The ambiance exuded a posh vibe, from the moment I entered the lobby, everything I saw screamed of wealth and class.

The interior décor was sleek and contemporary, with clean lines and minimalist furnishings adding to the overall sense of sophistication. Lahat ng malingunan mo'y de klase!

Ilang sandali pa ay ako na. I stood before the administrative assistant at the entrance of the De Salvo Tower, sinampal lang naman ako ng katotohanan kung gaano kalayo ang agwat ng antas ng pamumuhay naming dalawa. I knew that gaining access to Vince in his office would be no easy feat, especially without an appointment. Maliban kung tatawagan ko siya at sasabihin na narito ako, na siyang hindi ko gagawin dahil gusto ko nga siyang surpresahin.

"I need to see Vince De Salvo," I declared firmly with a warm smile on my face.

The administrative assistant regarded me with polite professionalism, her expression giving away nothing of her inner thoughts. Para bang gusto nitong matawa, masyado siguro akong mukhang feeling close para hanapin ang boss niya ng ganun ganun na lang.

"Do you have an appointment with Mr. De Salvo?" she inquired politely. Syempre itatanong nito iyon. Kailangan. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, knowing full well that my impromptu visit would not meet the criteria for access to someone as important as Vince-fucking-De Salvo.

"No," I admitted grudgingly, anticipating her next response even before it left her lips.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. You have to have an appointment to see Mr. De Salvo."

Kailangan ko ba talaga ng appointment para makita ang boyfriend ko?

Hindi. Kung sana'y tatawagan ko lang siya para babain ako rito. Ang kaso, ayaw ko nga. Gusto ko siyang masorpresa na bigla na lang ay nasa opisina niya na ako.

Magsasalita sana ako nang may biglang tumawag sa akin mula sa likuran.

"Nicole?"

I saw Kurt standing there as I turned around. His resemblance to Vince was uncanny. For a moment, I felt a jolt of confusion, but I couldn't mistake my boyfriend with anyone else.

"Mr. Vince De Salvo," the receptionist greeted him politely, clearly mistaking him for Vince. "She's actually here for you, sir."

Kurt flashed her a charming smile and nodded in acknowledgment. Hindi man lamang niya ito tinama na hindi naman siya si Vince. "That's right," he said smoothly, his tone casual yet confident. "Nicole is with me. Thank you."

"Of course, Mr. De Salvo," she replied, her voice polite and professional. "Let me know if you need anything else."

Kurt nodded gratefully before turning back to me, his expression unreadable. It struck me then that he hadn't corrected the receptionist's mistake, allowing her to continue thinking he was Vince. But why?

"Why didn't you correct her?" I asked quietly. Sinundan ko lang siya dahil hindi ko naman alam kung saan ako pupunta. Now I felt stupid, ni hindi ko man lang alam kung anong floor ang opisina ni Vince.

Kurt shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not the first time it's happened," he replied casually. "Besides, it's always amusing to see how people react when they mistake me for Vince."

I couldn't help but laugh at his response, shaking my head in amusement. Kurt had always had a mischievous streak, but there was something about his easygoing demeanor that put me at ease.

"Well, you certainly had her fooled,"

As we stepped into the elevator, Kurt glanced at me with a knowing look. "They wouldn't let you in, would they?"

I nodded in response, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "No, they insisted I needed an appointment to see 'Mr. De Salvo,'" I replied, using air quotes to emphasize the title.

Kurt frowned at my response. "Why didn't you just call Vince and have him pick you up at the lobby?"

I let out a sigh, leaning against the mirrored wall of the elevator. "I wanted to surprise him. Hindi niya alam na pupuntahan ko siya," I admitted, my voice tinged with a hint of self-deprecation. "But listening to it now, it sounds rather pathetic."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with wanting to surprise someone you care about," he reassured me.

Hindi ko alam pero parang bigla ko na lang gustong maiyak. Ang bait lang ni Kurt. Kung hindi niya ako nadaanan sa lobby ay malamang nandoon pa rin ako hanggang ngayon.

As the elevator doors slid open, Kurt gestured for me to follow him out into the 21st floor. "Well, let's not keep Vince waiting any longer," he said, his tone cheerful. "I'm sure he'll appreciate the surprise,"

We approached Vince's office, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was intruding on Vince's space, especially since I hadn't informed him of my impromptu visit.

Vince's secretary, a middle-aged blonde with a no-nonsense demeanor, was just about to stand up to greet us when Kurt waved his hand dismissively. "She's with me," he said casually, flashing her a charming smile. "Nicole, Vince's girlfriend."

I blinked in surprise at Kurt's words, my heart skipping a beat at the unexpected declaration. I had never referred to myself as Vince's girlfriend, at least not to anyone. But as I glanced at Kurt's easygoing expression, I realized that he was simply trying to smooth over any potential awkwardness.

The secretary raised an eyebrow inquisitively, but before she could voice any objections, Kurt had already moved past her desk and was leading me towards Vince's office. I followed in his wake.

Kurt knocked on the door, and after a moment, it swung open to reveal Vince sitting behind his desk, engrossed in paperwork. He glanced up at our entrance, his expression one of mild surprise before it morphed into a warm smile at the sight of me.

"Baby," he greeted, rising from his seat and crossing the room to embrace me in a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"

I basked in his embrace. His familiar scent and the strength of his arms around me grounded me in the present moment, dispelling any lingering doubts or anxieties.

Before I could answer Vince's question, Kurt spoke up, offering an explanation on my behalf. "She wanted to surprise you," he interjected smoothly, casting me a knowing glance. "So she didn't call you when they wouldn't let her pass the front desk. I happened to walk in and saved her from any more embarrassment."

"Yeah, Kurt came to my rescue," I added, offering Vince a sheepish smile.

Vince's expression softened as he regarded me, his arm still possessively wrapped around my waist. "Well, I'm glad you're here," he said sincerely, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

As I looked up at Vince, I couldn't help but notice the subtle tension that lingered in the air between him and Kurt. Despite Vince's polite demeanor, there was an underlying coldness in his expression as he regarded Kurt, a silent acknowledgment of their unspoken rivalry.

"Thank you," Vince said, his tone polite but distant. "I appreciate you looking out for her."

Kurt merely nodded in response, his own expression guarded as he met Vince's gaze. "No problem,"

Nilingon ako ni Kurt kaya sandali kaming nagkatinginan, I knew their history at alam kong hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin madali para kay Vince na pakitunguhan ang kakambal. There was too much betrayal and pain that were wedged between them. Siguro'y may panahon na magkaka-ayos rin ang dalawa, ngunit hindi iyon ngayon.

"Take care, Nicole," Kurt smiled at me. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving us alone in Vince's office.

As the door clicked shut behind Kurt, a heavy silence descended upon the room. Hindi ko alam kung paanong babasagin ang katahimikang iyon kaya hihintayin ko na lang na si Vince ang magsalita. I shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the unresolved feelings that lingered between them.

Vince's arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Malambing siyang bumulong bago halikan ang aking pisngi. "Sana tinawagan mo na lang ako. Ako ang dapat gumagawa 'nun. But don't worry, sasabihan ko na sila sa baba para sa susunod ay puwede mo na akong puntahan rito kahit anong oras mo gustuhin."

Napangiti naman akong agad sa kaniyang sinabi. His affectionate embrace provided a sense of comfort and security, and I found myself leaning into him. Masyado na talaga akong nagiging emotional lately, mga simpleng ganito lang ni Vince ay dalang dala na ako.

"I'm sorry, Vince," I murmured softly. "I know we had an agreement na susunduin mo ako sa studio, but I just couldn't wait to see you."

Vince chuckled. "I'm just glad you're here now."

I smiled up at him, my heart swelling with affection for this man who never failed to make me feel loved. "I missed you," kahit hindi naman dapat dahil kaninang umaga naman ay nagkita kami. Ewan ko ba!

Vince's grin widened at my confession, his eyes sparkling with warmth and affection. "I missed you too, baby," he murmured, leaning in to press a tender kiss to my forehead. "May mga tatapusin lang ako sandali, dito ka na maghintay. Tapos mag dinner na tayo. Mag-isip ka na kung anong gusto mong kainin, because you'd been having really weird cravings lately."

True. Kung anu-ano na lang ang mga naiisip kong kainin, mabuti na lang talaga at mahaba ang pasensya sa akin ni Vince. Sinasabayan niya lang madalas kung ano ang trip ko.

Hay, ewan ko ba.