2 YEARS LATER

"Moan, it's not like that! Hindi naman lahat ng sinusulat mo'y siyang nangyayari sa totoong buhay." I sipped my mocha frappe as I rolled my eyes. "What's in book is way different to reality."

Nakita ko ang pag-irap nito bago hubarin ang malaking salamin nito bago hilutin ang buto ng ilong nito sa pagitan ng mata. "Look, huwag ka ngang oa diyan Coconut! Nag-tatanong lang ako kung anong nangyari after niyo mag-kita. If he asked you out? Or even asked for your name? Mahirap ba sagutin ang mga katanungan na iyon?"

Muli ko itong pinaikutan ng mga mata. Moana Marie Figueroa is my step sister. My mom married her dad when we're both fourteen. Moan is just a few months older than me kaya hindi naging mahirap na maging magkasundo kami. But when we stepped in college we both had separate lives, I decided to pursue my dreams here in Vegas and Moan shines everywhere like what she have always dreamed of, as a writer.

"Atsaka pwede ba Corrine, wag mong masyadong sinasarado ang isip mo mga bagay bagay. Look at mom, she's already thirty seven when she met dad. But now, you see they're both in love like teenagers. Isn't it sweet?"

"Ewan ko sayo!" Iningusan ko ito. "Kakapaniwala mo sa diyan sa ideal things na iyan, sa who's your first should definitely be your last mo. Hindi mo na napapansin ang mga taong handang maging lahat ng bilang para sayo."

Nakita kong naging mailap ang mga mata nito. Then I saw the tattoo on the side of her neck that I envied the most. The tattoo that simply says para sayo na darating pa lang. Alam ko naman ang rason kung bakit yun ang tattoo na napili nito, pero kasi paulit-ulit ng nasaktan si Moan. And I know someone who could definitely heal her, it's just that she wouldn't let him. And I feel sorry for Deo.

"Moana Mari---"

"May tatapusin pa pala akong manuscript. Skype you later! Bye!" Bago pa ako makatutol ay naputol na nito ang tawag.

Alam ko naman na umiiwas lamang si Moana na mapag-usapan namin ang "para sakanya" na hindi ko nga alam kung darating pa.

Napabuntong hininga ako atsaka inilibot ang paningin saaking paligid. Cameron Hotel and Resort is one of the most wonderful place to visit. Pangarap ko nga na marating ang branch nito sa Pilipinas dahil ayon kay Moan ay mas maganda daw iyon sa kahit anong branch nito. Siguro'y pagka may libre na akong oras, sa ngayon ay dito na muna ako magpapakasawa.

Nangunot ang noo ko nang matanaw si Vince De Salvo sa di kalayuan, he was with a foreigner brunette who's wearing a skimpy bikini habang nakalingkis siya.

Nakalimutan yatang ihayag sa mga article na babaero si Vince De Salvo. Ang alam ko'y ang kakambal nito ang siyang pila pila ang mga kababaihan. But seeing Vince now? Kulang nalang tuklawin niya ang babae sa harap ng napakaraming tao.

"Hey, Coco." Napalingon ako sa tumawag saakin.

I smiled at Fred. Fred is my collegue. We're both architect, aside from that he's a good friend.

"Hi Fred, you're looking good." Hinagod ko ng tingin ang suot nitong sando at board shorts. Fred is a good looking man, he's a Dutch kaya naman lahat na ata ng parte ng katawan nito ay maputi.

Hindi ko alam pero hindi ko talaga nagugustuhan ang mga mapuputi. Ang mas gusto ko ay mga kayumanggi ang balat, mas lalaki tignan. Though I must admit, Fred isn't bad himself.

"Having breakfast alone? How sad is that?" He chuckled and sat on the chair in front of me.

I shrugged and invited him. "Join me if you want."

"I definitely will." He smiled and ordered his meal. Nang makaalis ang waiter ay muli itong nag-salita. "I'm sending my vitae to Mr De Salvo, he's hiring an architect for the new Cameron Hotel and Resort he's planning to build around Grand Rapids Michigan."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi nito. "What?! Why didn't I know that?!"

He shrugged. "Boss Eimerson just told me earlier today."

"I should pass mine too!" I snapped. Hindi ko dapat na palampasin ang pagkakataong maging kabahagi ng pagtatayo ng isang paraiso.

"You really should." He agreed.

Napalingon ako sa gilid at nabigla ako nang tumama ang aking mga mata sa kulay tsokolateng pares ng mata.

Vince De Salvo didn't failed to bring chaos in my system. Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi nito para sa isang ngiti, kung ngiti man iyong matatawag.

"It will be really exciting to be working with you on a project.." Ang sinabing iyon ni Fred ang siyang nagpabaling muli ng aking tingin dito.

He winked at me and smiled happily. That's what I like about Fred, he seems to be so light and happy. Nginitian ko na lamang ito atsaka inilingan.

Matapos ang almusal ay hindi ko na nakita pa si Vince De Salvo, not that I'm watching over him but I just noticed he isn't around.

Umakyat ako sa hotel room na siyang tinutuluyan ko atsaka iniayos ang credentials ko. I'm really eager to get the job. I mean, who wouldn't be? The Cameron Hotel and Resort is such a great project to be part of.

Not to mention the fact that I'll be getting a chance to be with Vince up close from time to time. Dahil ayon kay Fred kanina ay ito ang siyang tututok sa pagtatayo ng panibagong branch ng hotel. Well based on the articles I've read about the De Salvos, ito ang mas na may interes sa hotel na pagaari ng pamilya nito.

His twin brother Kurt, ayon sa nababasa kong mga artikulo ay wala itong ibang iniisip kundi ang sarili nito. He's a renowned race car driver, who'd been link into countless spicies wearing panties. Ang isa naman nitong kapatid na lalaki ay tahimik na buhay sa Pilipinas ang pinagtutuunan ng pansin. While his only sister is the famous international supermodel who'd been in several magazines worldwide.

Yes, my weird infatuation with Vince made me do all the research.

Feeling giddy as I stood in front of the General Manager's office with Fred and the other architect. As per Mr Eimerson, gusto daw ni Mr Vince De Salvo na siya ang siyang mismong pumili ng mga arkitekto na magtatayo ng kaniyang hotel. He's very particular to it, because he wants everything to be perfect and I admire him for that.

Isa-isa na kaming nangonti sa labas ng General Manager's office. Kanina pa ko pinapaupo ni Fred sa waiting area but I decline. Pakiramdam ko kasi hindi naman mababawasan ang kaba ko kung uupo ako.

Besides, I'm not just feeling nervous but also feeling excited. For the first time in history, I'll be meeting Vince De Salvo face to face. Up close and personal. Hindi na gaya ng madalas na sa malayo ko lamang ito matatanaw. Now it's different.

"Ms. Angela Corrine Smith."

A woman's voice snapped my thoughts out. Ngumiti ito saakin at iminuwestra ang pintuan sa harapan ko.

"You may come in ma'am, Mr. De Salvo is waiting for you."

I mindlessly nodded my head and get my feet going. My anxiety doubled its count as I stepped inside the carpeted floor.

I remembered a scenario like this on one book I've read. Fifty Shades of Grey. I wiggled off the thought, I'm not Ana plus I'm not here to interview him but the other way around.

"Good afternoon Mr De Salvo.." I cleared my throat calling his attention into some papers he's reading.

Mula roon ay nag-angat ito ng tingin saakin. I met the sharpest of brown eyes that brought shiver into my spine.

His brows were thick and dark. His nose were arrogantly upturned. Lips were formidable yet enticing.

The thumping of my heart never stopped. Lalo na nang imwestra nito ang kamay sa visitor's chair sa harap ng executive desk nito.

"Take a sit Miss Smith." He mentioned my name in a smooth way.

Mabilis akong tumalima sa sinabi nito at ni hindi nito nagawang iwan ang aking bawat galaw. Muling nagtama ang aming mga mata nang ako'y makaupo. Tila ba namamagneto noon ang aking mga mata na hindi ko magawang mag-iwas ng tingin.

"I've scanned your credentials. All good.." He shrugged and leaned into his swivel chair relaxed without leaving my eyes. "But I need the best."

The insult striked me in the face big time! And that made me forget who he is for a minute. "Excuse me, are you insulting me Mr. De Salvo?"

He gave me a bored look and yawned a bit before averting his gaze into the folder where my name is sitting. "Well, sometimes reality comes off as an insult."

"Well that's unfair!" I snapped. "Why? Is it because I've never been a part of any huge project?! Can't you see, I just graduated a little over two years ago. It must have been a long time for me not to build my own career and just stayed working at a small firm but that doesn't mean I'm not striving!"

Hindi ito umimik at nanatiling nasa folder ang mga mata nito.

"I decided not to apply to any huge firms not because I don't want my career to grow, or because I can't. I'm not a Harvard graduate for nothing. But I choose to stay in Mr Eimerson's firm because there, I feel like I'm home. Like I have family. Like I belong there."

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nahugot ang lakas ng loob ko na sagutin ang isang Vince De Salvo sa paraang nagawa ko, ngunit halos panawan ako ng ulirat nang balingan ako nito ng isang matalim na tingin.

"I wont trust my business to someone who doesn't have a stable name. Miss Angela Corrine Smith.." Naiirita ako oo, pero hindi nakatakas saakin ang paraan ng pagbigkas nito ng aking pangalan. I chewed my bottom lip and tried to focus on what's happening. "I have money, lots of it. I can pay the best architects in the world to do me business. We're building a hotel, to where we'll shelter thousands of people. I don't want a hotel that will collapse in a snap."

"Mr Robert Vince De Salvo.." Mariin kong tawag sa pangalan nito. "Hindi naman porke hindi ka kilala sa larangan ng pagaarkitekto ay hindi ka na magaling." Nakita ko ang iglap na pagdaan ng pagkabigla sa mga mata nito nang magtagalog ako. "You should stop underestimating people. Hindi lahat ng kilala ay magaling."

"Paano ko mapapatunayang magaling ka kagaya ng siyang ipinalalabas mo at na hindi masasayang ang pera ko sayo. Gayon ding walang buhay ang mapapahamak. Sige nga Miss Smith?"

"Hire me, then I'll show you what I got."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because that's the only way for me to prove myself. To show you that I can!"

"Miss, this is business. This isn't a trial and error." He smirked.

"Try me, Mr De Salvo. Just try me." Hamon ko dito.

Matapang na sinalubong ko ang mga mata nito. Kahit pa halos mabiyak na ang dibdib ko sa laganog ng puso ko ay pinanatili ko rito ang aking mga mata.

It took him seconds before he stood up and smirked. Bigla akong kinabahan nang mahina itong tumawa. "You have a very sharp tongue."

"I'm just stating the fact." Matigas ko paring sagot.

"You know what I do to women with sharp tongue?" May kakaibang ngiti na na naglalaro sa mga labi nito.

Lumakad ito papunta sa kinauupuan ko atsaka hinila ang isang visitor chair papunta saaking harapan. He pulled the chair where I'm sitting a bit closer, making my legs settled in between his parted legs.

Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso nang umangat ang kamay nito upang hawiin ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatakip saking mukha. He used his fingers to tilt my chin up, locking our gazes.

"You know?" He asked again, deliberately brushing his thumb into my lower lip.

Mindlessly, I shook my head. Starting to get drown into his chocolate eyes.

"I suck it."

At bago ko pa makuha ang ibig nitong sabihin ay naramdaman ko na ang pagbaba ng labi nito upang sakupin ang aking tikom na bibig sa isang mainit na halik.

Mainit na halik na gumising sa bolta boltaheng sensasyon sa aking katawan.