University Series #1: The Rain in España (complete)

University Series #2: Safe Skies, Archer (complete)

University Series #3: Chasing in the Wild 

This story contains spoilers for University Series #1 and #2. 

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This story is not affiliated with UST/ADMU/FEU/DLSU/other universities, UAAP team, UST Growling Tigers, and DLSU's Animo Squad. 

Please be advised that this story contains mature themes and strong language that are not suitable for very young audiences. Read at your own risk.

***

"I don't like this. Come up with another plan." 

Binalik ko ang folder na isang beses ko pa lang binuklat ngunit hindi kaagad nagustuhan ang bumungad na cover page. I sighed and massaged the bridge of my nose.

"Go," I dismissed the head of the marketing team. 

Sumandal ako sa aking swiveling chair at pumikit saglit. Wala pa yatang isang minuto nang may kumatok na muli sa opisina ko at nakita ko ang aking sekretarya, may dalang mga dokumento, at takot na naglalakad papalapit.

"Madam, kailangan daw po ng pirma n'yo," dahan-dahan niyang nilagay sa lamesa ko ang documents. 

Napabuntong-hininga ako ulit at umayos ng upo. My god! The job was stressing me out! Kababalik ko pa lang sa Pilipinas, ito na ang trabahong bumungad sa 'kin! Like what? Wala man lang bang pahinga? Walang welcome back party? Walang anything like that? 

Walang day in the spa? Well, at least I managed to change the color of my nail polish yesterday. Dark red na siya ngayon with white crystals. It looked pretty! Mas okay siya kaysa sa nail polish ko last week. Cream 'yon. I wanted a bold color!

"Have you talked to the owner of Mademoiselle about the limited-edition bag that I want?" I asked while signing the papers. 

"M-madam, they want to personally see you. They don't deliver daw," kinakabahang sagot niya. 

Mas lalong nag-init ang ulo ko. I had been waiting for that bag to arrive! Two weeks na 'kong naghihintay at malalaman ko ngayong hindi pala na-order?! Goodness! I'll die early in this place out of stress! Sa kumpanyang 'to! Sa mga tao sa paligid ko!

"Okay," I calmly said. "Sa tingin ba nila, may oras akopara bumisita? No! They're not even that important! Akala mo naman! Kung ayaw nila, eh di huwag! Their loss, not mine!"

Patuloy lang akong nagrereklamo habang pumipirma. Hindi nagsalita ang sekretarya ko at pilit lang na nakangiti sa 'kin, kunwari'y nakikinig sa mga pinagsasasabi ko. She was probably already getting used to it. 

"E, 'yong in-order kong perfume sa France?" I asked again. 

"Ah, wala pa pong stock, Madam," she said nervously.

"Bakit wala pa?!" Inis na sabi ko sabay bagsak sa gilid ng mga papel na tapos ko nang pirmahan. "I will talk to the owner!" 

Napairap ulit ako at binasa ang iba pang mga dokumento sabay pirma. Kapag hindi ko nagugustuhan ang nakalagay ay tinatabi ko muna at itatanong mamaya. 

"May meeting po pala mamaya, Madam. Dadating ang representatives ng Valeria Group Construction," she reminded me. 

"The what?" Kumunot ang noo ko, walang kaalam-alam kung bakit sila pupunta rito. 

"Ah, bago pa po kayo dumating, mayroon pong project ang company with VGC para sa itatayong bagong resort po," she explained. 

"Where are the files?" My brows furrowed. "Bakit walang nagbibigay sa 'kin ng background information?!" 

"Kukunin ko po!" 

Valeria Group...

Bumalik nga ang secretary ko at binigyan ako ng files. Binasa ko 'yun isa-isa, bilang paghahanda para sa meeting mamaya. My mouth formed an 'o' when I saw their past projects like the buildings, hotels, condominiums, houses, and many more. The designs were impressive, and the construction looked firm and safe. 

My eyes widened when I saw a familiar name on the list. 

"What?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. 

Binasa ko ulit. Binasa ko nang maraming beses para pumasok sa utak ko. Tama ba ang nababasa ko? O namamalik-mata lang ako? 

Engr. Sebastian Vincent Camero

Head civil engineer.

The what?! 

The head of the what?! 

"What the actual fuck of fuck is fucking happening," I whispered to myself, eyes wide. 

Am I going to see him later? Pupunta ba siya sa meeting?! Wait, of course he will! Right? Dapat naroon siya! 

"Oh my god," I exclaimed. 

Nagmadali akong tumayo at binuksan ang maliit kong cabinet so I can find something else to wear. I looked at myself again in the mirror. I was lazy earlier this morning, so I just wore a pencil skirt and a yellow top. 

Goodness! Hindi ako na-inform na makikita ko siya! What should I wear?! 

Kinuha ko ang naka-hanger na maroon off-shoulder jumpsuit at dali-daling pumasok sa C.R. para magpalit ng damit. I had a hard time putting it on kaya haggard na 'ko paglabas. I retouched my makeup and also fixed my hair na naka-soft curls. At least I had time to prepare right?! 

Pumili pa 'ko sa dalawang box kung anong necklace ang susuotin. I went with the simple one with diamonds on it. Pagkatapos, kinuha ko ang makeup kit ko at nag-retouch. 

"Alice!" I called my secretary.

"Madam!" Nagmamadali siyang pumasok.

"Ano'ng mas bagay na lipstick?" Tinaas ko ang dalawang shade ng lipstick para papiliin siya.

"Wow!" she wowed at my 'change of outfit.' "Wala po akong masyadong alam sa lipstick, Ma'am, pero 'yong kaliwa na lang."

"Hmm, no... Mas gusto ko 'yong kanan."

"Uhm... Okay po." 

I gestured for her to return to her desk while putting on my red matte lipstick. I plumped my lips and sprayed my perfume before Alice entered again to remind me about the meeting. 

"Yes, coming!" Nagmamadali kong kinuha ang bag kong hindi pa terno sa suot ko! It was yellow! "My god! No!" 

Nilabas ko ang mga gamit ko at naghanap ng maliit na purse para roon na lang ilagay kaysa naka-red ako at yellow ang bag ko. Wala naman kasi sa plano ko ang magpalit ng damit but... you know.. He was coming! 

"Madam, five minutes na po kayong late." Alice entered my office again. 

Tumango ako habang inaayos ang gamit ko at hindi na napansin ang pagpasok ni Austin, ang Managing Director namin. 

"Elyse," he called. 

"What?! Eto na! Nag-aayos lang ng gamit! Susunod na 'ko!" nagmamadaling sagot ko. 

"Yeah, right." Bumuntong-hininga siya at naglakad na muli palabas ng opisina ko.

I checked my face through the mirror again before getting my purse. Taas-noo akong naglakad sa hallway papunta sa board room. Good thing my office was in the same floor as the board room, kung hindi maha-haggard ang itsura ko at ka-kailanganing mag-retouch ulit. 

When I entered the room, the people inside immediately stood up to pay respect to the CEO, which was me. 

I did not smile. Tuloy-tuloy lang akong naglakad sa pinakaharap kung saan nakapwesto ang upuan ko. Everyone was quiet and some were nervous. No one dared to talk when I entered the room. Nang makaupo, I looked around to see their faces. 

Kumunot ang noo ko nang hindi siya makita. 

"Are we missing someone?" I asked the one in charge of the attendance. 

"Oh, Ma'am, Engineer Camero cancelled 2 hours ago." 

What?! I felt my blood boiling inside! Nainis kaagad ako!

"For what reason?" I tried my best to remain calm. 

"According to his e-mail, nagpatawag daw po ng meeting ang company nila so hindi po siya makakarating. But he sent another engineer from his team, Engineer Lavin, who will replace him just for today."

What the fuck?! 

I changed my outfit, retouched my makeup, changed my bag, fixed my hair for... for this?! Talagang kumulo ang dugo ko! Sinadya niya ba 'to?! I felt ditched!

I smiled sarcastically and played with the pen in my hand. I could almost break the pen in my hand dahil sa inis, but I remembered that it was expensive, so I just placed it on the desk. 

I crossed my arms. "Tell him to come here, or else I will cancel this project." 

"M-Ma'am!" gulat na sabi niya. "That's not possible!" 

"Can someone call Engineer Camero and tell him to attend this important meeting? I believe this was already scheduled prior to his appointment," kalmadong sabi ko.

Agad kinuha ng mga taga-Valeria company ang cellphone nila at nagpaunahang tawagan ang pinakamamahal nilang head. I looked at my nails while waiting. Bagong manicure pa naman ako tapos iinisin niya lang ako! 

"Ma'am, Engineer Camero said he will be late by forty minutes, but he will attend. According to him, 'start the meeting without me' daw po," a woman said. 

I rolled my eyes and gestured for them to start with the agenda. I listened carefully to what was being presented in front, and saved my questions for later para sa engineer itanong. Napangisi ako, iniisip pa lang ang mangyayari mamaya. Saktong-sakto, kakatapos lang ng presenter nang bumukas ang pinto. 

We all looked at Engineer Camero, holding two folders in hand. He was wearing a dark blue button-down dress shirt with three buttons opened paired with a pair of black slacks. He glanced at the projector screen before his gaze turned to me. 

Tumaas ang kilay ko at tiningnan siya pabalik. 

I stated the obvious, "You're late, Engineer Camero." 

Everyone looked at him, but his eyes remained on me. He pursed his lips in annoyance before answering.

"My apologies, Miss Ledezma," he said formally but sarcastically.

The side of my lips rose, gesturing to the next presenter to prepare for his turn. Sevi, or Engineer Camero, who was now seated at the right side of the table, sighed and shook his head while reading the folder in front of him. 

"Miss Ledezma? May I start?" the woman politely asked. 

"Yes, you may." I nodded, not taking off the smirk on my face. 

I wondered if someone from the table knew that Engineer Camero and I were together for five years. 

But not anymore.