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"Miss Naia?"

Naia snapped out of her trance nang marinig ang pagtawag ng sekretaryang si Ms. Bartolome. Nasa harap niya ito kipkip ang isang folder sa may dibdib.

Wala siyang gaanong tulog dahil sa mga naganap nang karaang gabi sa knyang bridal shower. Hindi pa rin kasi maalis sa kanyang isipan ang narinig at nasaksihan. Lalo pa ang naging paghalik ni Dos sa kasintahan ng pinsan nito.

Dos and George? Mahal ni George si Dos?

And by the looks of it, mahal din ni Dos si George. Kahit kaunting beses niya pa lang nakakahalubilo so Dos, alam niyang hindi ito ang tipong nagsasabi ng kung anu-ano.

Paano na lang si Jarvis? Masasaktan nanaman ito. He'd be devastated.

"...the projects."

"Huh? Sorry. Ano nga uli 'yon?"

"Here are the files for the San Diego Project and the Escalá Development Project," anito sabay lapag ng mga folder sa kanyang harapan. "Both are from Altiera Limited which is directly under San Agustin Group. Ito pong dalawang projects ang top priority ngayon. But the board thinks it's just a waste of resources."

She flipped through the pages as she listened to her father's secretary. Naiintindihan niya na ngayon kung bakit natatakot ang mga investors sa plano ng kanyang ama. The two projects were really draining the company funds. Mas nagiging liability ang mga ito as time passes. If the project continues not to bear fruits, they would be in millions of debt.

Yes, they can compensate the loss but they would've just wasted money, time and asset kung hindi nila magagawan ng paraan ang proyekto.

They need to innovate the idea of the two. It's too late to cancel the projects so ang tanging magagawa na lang nila ay ayusin na lamang ang nasimulan at gawin itong income generating facilities.

"Please schedule me a meeting with Mr. Altiera as soon as possible," she instructed Ms. Bartolome. "Pakisabi na rin to bring the architects and engineers assigned for this project. At kung maaari, I need the plans for the Escalá complex emailed to me by tonight."

"Yes, Ms. Uychengco," talima nito. "Will that be all?"

"Pakisabi na rin kay Mr. Salvador that I need the year-end reports by Monday. My wedding's on Wednesday kaya dapat bago ako umalis ay maayos na dapat 'yon. I won't be back in the office 'til the next week."

Tumango ito. "Should I send in the papers in need of your signature? I was advised by your fiancé, Mr. Montecillo, na hindi daw muna kayo magpipirma 'til after your wedding."

Nangunot ang noo niya. Si Inno?

"What?" bulalas niya. "Si Inno?"

"Yes, ma'am," sagot nito. "He called this morning and one of our interns were able to get the call. He said you'd be busy with your upcoming wedding so yung mga rush lang po ang pinapasok namin sa office niyo."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Sino kaya sa mga Montecillo ang nagsumbong kay Inno? She had this gut feel na isa sa kambal o si Yvo ang trumaydor sa kanya. Or si Jarvis. River did tell him to tell Inno about speeding up the re-appointment of her father para kumonti ang kanyang trabaho. Marahan siyang napapikit bago muling bumaling sa sekretarya.

"Sino ba ang boss niyo?" hindi niya napigilang pananaray dito. "Di ba ako? So unless I tell you to, don't take orders from anyone aside from me. I have a wedding planner na siyang nagaasikaso ng lahat kaya I'm free to do whatever I want in this office. Maliwanag ba?"

The secretary was momentarily shocked by her sudden outburst pero agad din namang natauhan.

"Y-Yes, Miss Uychengco. I'll bring in the papers right away."

"Thank you."

Muli ay napabuntong-hininga siya. It seems like kailangan nanaman nila mag-usap ni Inno regarding boundaries.

Yes, she's touched na nagwoworry ito sa kanya. But telling her secretary na bawasan ang kanyang trabaho was out of line. May hawak din itong sariling kompanya kaya he of all people should know and understand her situation.

"Hello?" ani ng tinig mula sa kabilang linya. Mukhang nagising ito mula sa pagkakatulog.

She felt small pang of guilt dahil ginising niya ito. But what he did was wrong and she should let him know that. Para hindi na iyon maulit.

"Inno? I'm sorry to wake you up but this is important," aniya.

"May problema ba?" Narinig niya ang pagkaluskos ng kung ano sa kabilang linya. It was as though bumangon ito mula sa pagkakahiga. "Is it about the wedding? I'll be back by Tuesday, Naia. Wala akong balak maging runaway groom dahil ibibitin ako ng patiwarik nina Mama kung magkataon."

"Meron." Napahinga siya ng malalim. "Why did you call my secretary saying to lessen my paperwork? Alam mong importante ang trabaho ko dito sa kompanya, Inno. You shouldn't have done that. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. I assure you I won't faint again."

"Wait, what?" bulalas nito. "Sorry ha, Naia but I don't follow. Tinawagan ang sekretarya mo? And you fainted?"

Nangunot ang noo niya. Bakit parang wala itong alam sa sinasabi niya?

"Naia?"

And then it hit her. Paano nga naman matatawagan ni Inno ang sekretarya niy kung disoras na ng gabi sa kinaroroonan nito. And... he doesn't even have the number to her office. So sino ang tumawa mg posing as Inno?

"Hello, Naia? Andiyan ka pa ba? Mahal ang overseas call ha. Baka nakakalimutan mo," ani ng lalaki.

"Yes, I'm here," sagot niya. Unti-unit na siyang naliliwanagan. "Inno, one question. Did you call my office this morning? Around 10 to 12 midnight?"

"Nope," diretsong sagot nito. "Tulog na ako niyan. Plus, I have no idea what your office number is."

Then sino? Sinong Montecillo ang nag-impersonate kay Inno? Or sino sa mga ito ang walang magawa sa buhay kaya siya ang pinagtitripan ngayon?

"I see," kalmadong sambit niya. "Pasensya na Inno. Apparently just I got things mixed up."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Sorry for disturbing your sleep. Ingat ka na lang diyan." She didn't even let him answer and just dropped the call.

Tumayo siya mula kinauupuan at lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

"Miss Bartolome," tawag niya sa sekretarya. "The man who called... Are you sure na Inno Montecillo ang pangalan niya?"

Tila nagulat ito sa tanong niya. Agad itong bumaling sa isang medyo bata-batang intern sa kanyang opisina.

"Umm..." ani ng bata. "Ang pakilala niya po ma'am is siya daw po si Mr. Montecillo. He said to only forward priority documents po kasi busy kayo sa wedding and he didn't want you exhausting yourself. I assumed he's Mr. Inosencio Montecillo po dahil siya po yung fiancé niyo, ma'am."

Unconsciously ay minasahe niya ang kanyang sentido. Alam niya na kung sino.

"Thank you, Hana," aniya bago huminga ng maluwag. "Next time make sure to get the full name of all callers para sigurado tayo. Aalis lang ako saglit. I'll be back in an hour."

Agad nyang tinungo ang elevator papunta sa lobby at agad na tinungo ang parking area. Kailangan niyang makausap si Mr. Montecillo ng masinsinan.

Habang nagdadrive ay tumipa siya sa kanyang telepono at tinawagan ang taong pwede sa kanya makatulong.

"Yvo," bungad niya in a very calm and friendly manner.

"Ate?" anito na mukhang bagong gising pa lang. Wow. It was almost two in the afternoon. "Napatawag ka po?"

"Nandiyan ba sa mansiyon ang kuya Jarvis mo?"

Yup. Si Jarvis. Who else would go through such lengths just to get his way? Walang iba kundi si Javier Vitus. Ang lalaking hindi marunong umintindi ng katagang 'okay lang ako'.

"Um..." Tila nag-atubili ito sa sunod na sasabihin. "Check ko, ate. Kakagising ko lang din kasi—"

"Ano ba Giovanno?! Natutulog ako!"

Napasinghap siya. Boses 'yon ng pinsan niya ah.

"Uno?!"

"Ah, ano ate. Text na lang kita ha? Ano... may hangover pa kasi ako nung kahapon. Sige. Bye!"

And then he ended the call.

Ano ba ang nangyayari? Paanong nandoon si Uno kina Yvo? Hindi ba't hinatid ito ni Jarvis at Yoon sa condo niya? How did she end up with Yvo?

Pero hindi iyon ang issue niya ngayon. It's a good thing na malapit lang ang bahay ng mga Montecillo from their office kaya't agad siya nakarating sa pamosong subdibisyong kinatitirikan nito.

"Ate Naia?" gulat na sambit ni Seven nang makita siya nito after she rang the doorbell. "What are you—"

"Asan ang kuya Jarvis mo?" bungad niya pagkabukas nito ng pinto.

"Nasa garden dinidiligan yung mga tulips—"

Hindi niya na pinatapos ang lalaki at agad itong nilampasan. She made a beeline straight to the gardens where she found Jarvis with a hose watering some plants.

"Naia? Anong ginagawa—"

Hagad lumanding ang kanyang palad sa pingi nito. Rinig na rinig niya ang pagsinghap ni Seven sa may likuran niya.

She was mad—no, furious. Anong karapatan nito pangunahan siya pagdating sa kanyang trabaho? Wala. She's her own person and no one has the right to make decisions for her. Mula noon kinokontrol siya ng daddy niya, pati ba naman ngayon? Hindi na. Ayaw na niya ng ga'non. Enough is enough.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" hindi niya napigilang mapahiyaw. "I clearly told you I was doing okay. Mahirap bang intindihin 'yon? Or do I have to fucking spell that out for you?"

"I can explain," anito. He was calm and it seems like he knew what she was talking about. "It's not like that."

"Ate Naia huminahon ka po muna," ani naman ni Seven na hindi niya namalayang nasa may tabi niya na pala't pinipigilan siyang sugurin si Jarvis. "Ano pong problema?"

"Problema? He called my office this morning, Seven," sagot niya dito. "At sinabihan niya ang mga empleyado ko na wag ako bigyan ng trabaho. Like, what the actual fuck!?"

Mukhang nagulat ang dalawang lalaki sa kanyang pagmumura. Hindi siya nagmumura pero hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili dahil sa sobrang inis. And for some unknown reason, kasampal-sampal ng mukha ni Jarvis ngayon.

She hit him on the shoulder. Hinayaan lang siya ng lalaki habang nakatingin lang ito sa kanya. She hit him again. And again. And again.

"Napaka-unfair niyo!" bulyaw niya. Naramdaman niya ang pagtulo ng luha sa kanyang mga pisngi. "Kaya ko sabi! Why can't you just trust me? I'm capable! I'm good enough for the company! Binuhos ko ang lahat ng oras ko to be the best! I did everything... I... I..."

Paunti-unting humina ang kanyang mga hampas hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang tumigil. She broke down crying while Jarvis wrapped his arms around her.

Bakit siya umiiyak? Bakit niya hinahayaang yakapin siya nito? Galit siya kay Jarvis eh.

But she just cried. Ramdam niya pa rin ang titig ni Seven habang si Jarvis nama'y maingat na sinusuklay ang kanyang buhok—a way to calm her down.

He still knows how to soothe her when she's sad or emotional tulad ng dati kapag natataong nanonood sila ng mga nakakaiyak na movies. Or kapag stressed siya sa school works niya.

Bakit nga ba siya nagagalit? He was just looking out for her. He cared. Ito na lang nga ang nagmamalasakit sa kanya, sinampal niya pa't sinaktan. What's wrong with her?

"Okay ka na?" mahinahong tanong nito nang humupa ang kanyang iyak. She was clinging on to his shirt while her face was buried on his chest. "Did that make you feel better?"

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. It was so not like her to burst out like that. At dinayo niya pa talaga ang bahay ng mga Montecillo to lash out on Jarvis.

"I'm sorry..." mahina niyang sambit—still hiding her face on his chest. Jarvis gently pushed her to give them enough space to talk.  "I'm sorry for lashing out like that. It's just that I've been really stressed with work and the wedding and... and..."

"It's okay, Naia," ani Jarvis. Iniangat niya ang ulo't nagtama ang kanilang mga mata. Nakangiti ito sa kanya. His dimples showing. "Naiintindihan ko. And I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries. I just thought kung mababawasan ang work load mo eh magkakaoras kang magpahinga. But like you said, I had no right to do that."

"But I hurt—"

"Wala iyon," putol nito. "A few punches won't kill me. The slap did stung pretty badly but it's nothing I can't handle."

Again, he gave her a reassuring smile. Hindi niya nanaman tuloy napigilang mapaluha.

"Pagod na pagod na ako maging perpektong puppet, Jarvis," mahina niyang sambit. "And I hate being controlled. Ayoko na..."

"No one's forcing you to be, Naia," anito. "This might sound cheesy and all pero, you already are. Even without trying, you're already perfect for me."

"You don't understand..." mahina niyang sambit. "Ayoko na. Ayoko na maging perpektong anak na walang ibang ginawa kundi sumunod sa kagustuhan nila. Yung walang choice kundi gawin 'to o gawin 'yan to gain their approval. Nakakapagod. Hindi ko na kaya..."

Naramdaman niya ang kamay nito sa kanyang mga balikat.

"Naia, listen to me. You're already perfect. Flawed or not, you're prefect the way you are. You're smart and kind. Stubborn at times pero that's what makes you, you. Gawin mo ang kung anong magpapasaya sa'yo, hindi yung kasiyahan ng iba. Do what makes you happy."

Napatingin siya dito. Jarvis smiled as he gently wiped her tears and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Do you want me to make you some tea—"

So she kissed him. Ang sabi nito'y 'do what makes you happy. And kissing him does. Masama ba 'yon?

No. Not at all...

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Seven: Umm... Nakalimutan ata nilang andito pa ako... 😅😅 Should I leave?

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