MALALAKI ANG MGA HAKBANG NI STACEY. Nasabayan ni Renante maging ang bigat ng mga iyon hanggang sa makabalik sila sa opisina nito.

Nauna sa loob si Stacey. Nang isara ni Renante ang pinto, roon na niya binuga ang tinitimping iritasyon.

"What. The. Hell?" she spun to face him. Nanlisik ang mga mata niya rito. "You're letting that woman get away with this?"

"Stace," he remained calm. Of course. Renante wasn't Renante if he didn't have dexterous control of his temper. Nakaharap na rin ito sa kanya, pero nanatiling nakatayo malapit sa pinto. "There is nothing to be upset about. Tama naman ang mga sinabi ni Paige."

"But—" she exhaled— hopeful, expectant... something big, "—this is your company!"

"Of course." He took slow, measured strides toward her.

"Kung ganoon, bakit nakikialam pa rito ang Paige na 'yon? Pati ang Kuya mo, ina-update pa ng babaeng 'yon tungkol sa nangyayari rito?"

"It's me, Stace," nakalapit na ito sa kanya. Pero nangibabaw ang pag-aalala ni Stacey kaysa sa kung gaano kainit sa pakiramdam ang pagkakalapit nilang dalawa. Kaysa sa kisig ng binata o sa pagtatalo ng pang-unawa at pagseseryoso sa mga mata nito.

Those pair of dark, tornado eyes. So strong, his stares always carried her away.

But no. No.

Not this time.

"It's me, Stacey," kumpirma ni Renante. "I wanted their assistance, so they gave me some."

"Assistance?" she hissed in disbelief. "What I saw in there is not a form of assistance, but taking control out of your hands and putting it into their own hands!"

She felt his hands on her arms. A cool, sweeping comfort almost got her carried away. Napapikit si Stacey nang makaramdam ng tapik sa dibdib.

It was fear that flicked in there. She instantly remembered her worried.

Binalik niya ang tingin sa mga mata ng binata.

"I am still the one who makes the decisions here in VVatch, Boo," pisil nito sa kanyang baba para ipirmi ang pagtititigan ng kanilang mga mata. "You have nothing to worry about. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin ni Paige, simula ngayon, dito ka na magta-trabaho. Magtutulungan tayo na malagpasan ng VVatch ang kaunting setback na dinadanas niya ngayon. Hmm?"

Hinilig niya ang ulo, iniling paharap sa kanyang kanan.

"I don't know, Renante."

That's not how I operate when I managed the businesses I used to have...

Realization struck her. Stacey felt like a metal, so hard to bend. It hurts when she had to at times when she realizes that she had to be welded toward the right direction.

"Maybe, we just have different management styles. I should respect yours. Sorry for my reaction."

Renante pulled a relieved smile. Bumitaw na ang isang kamay nito sa kanyang baba at bumalik sa pagkakahawak sa isa pa niyang braso.

"It's okay."

"It's just that woman." She hissed and broke away from his hold. Stacey stomped her way to a black solid square visitor chair with a wire mesh backrest. She gave it a pull before sitting on it. "The way that Paige talks. Binibida pa naman siya ni Kylie tapos ang ugali pala—" Buntonghininga na lang ang dinugtong ni Stacey doon. Ayaw na niyang makapagsalita pa ng hindi maganda dahil baka hindi siya matapos sa paglilitanya.

Renante occupied the identical visitor's chair that was right across hers. He pulled it close enough for him to manage to reach her hands and pin them on top of her knees.

Bahagyang nakayuko ang lalaki sa posisyong iyon. Nag-angat ito ng tingin, halos tingalain siya.

She felt his thumbs massaging her knuckles, then the back of her hand. Meanwhile, the rest of his fingers tucked within her palm. His strokes moved back and forth.

"Ganoon lang talaga magsalita si Paige. It was as if she doesn't feel anything or whatsoever," mahinahon nitong paliwanag. "But trust me, she's just doing what she thinks is best for the company. We're just not seeing eye-to-eye with this decision of adding you to the company."

Napaingos na lang siya. Iniwas ang tingin sa lalaki.

"She did not even bother to know your side. Nakakontra na agad siya sa pagparito ko," pagtuwid ni Stacey ng upo, nagbitaw ang kanilang mga kamay. "It's still so unacceptable for me." Binalik niya ang tingin sa nobyo. "That woman is talking down on you!"

Renante shrugged. "Now, don't take it personally."

Iniwas niya ulit ang tingin.

Me? Taking it personally?

"But you're the goddamn boss!" she blurted, facing him with renewed power. "You're technically her boss!"

"Please, get over what happened, Stace. It's just today. Later on, pwedeng mag-iba ang tingin ni Paige sa set-up na ito." Nagpipigil si Stacey mapamura. Renante, as usual, was trying to rationalize things. Sometimes, it's a good thing. Sometimes, it's just sugarcoating things. "Tandaan mo, si Paige ang makakasama mo sa trabaho."

Fuck. Oo nga pala. How unfortunate.

Nung una, hindi nag-alala si Stacey nang malamang makakatrabaho si Paige. She's Renante's girlfriend, Paige is Ronnie's girlfriend. They were supposed to relate to each other somehow. It was already a given that both of them will care for the welfare of VVatch, out of the love they have for their boyfriends and for what their boyfriends care about.

Hindi niya tuloy maintindihan kung bakit distraction ang tingin sa kanya ni Paige. Shouldn't Paige make her feel more welcome?

Stacey took in a deep breath.

"Alright. You go talk to her. Para kapag pumunta na ako sa department namin, wala na akong marinig pang reklamo sa babaeng iyon."

Alanganin ang ngiti ni Renante. Tumayo ito at humalik sa tuktok ng kanyang ulo bago siya iniwang nag-iisa sa opisina nito.

.

.

TIME WAS TICKING INSIDE THE OFFICE. If silence, ticking clocks, and enclosed places makes you anxious, then you won't last long in VVatch's Design Department.

Especially if you're easily intimidated with ice cold, stone hard women like Paige.

Seeing Paige as that kind of person, Stacey was already feeling like walking on eggshells. Unsteady.

She's a roaring flame, the girl on fire, and Paige is the snow queen. How can they work together?

For the sake of VVatch and Renante, Stacey had to figure it out.

Nasa kabila ng mahabang mesa si Page. Sa dulo niyon. Malayo sa dulong pinuwestuhan ni Stacey.

Nang makausap ni Renante ng maayos si Paige, wala na nga siyang narinig na reklamo mula sa babae. Hindi lang iyon. Mismong boses nito, hindi na rin narinig ni Stacey dahil wala silang imikan.

Paige resumed drawing on her sketchbook. Siya naman ay inatupag ang naka-fastener na mga papel kung saan makikita ang original designs na gagawin sana sa mga relo kung available nga lang stainless steel na sobrang delayed ang shipping kaya hapit sila sa oras.

Habang iniisa-isa niya ang mga initial designs, aminado si Stacey sa sarili na maganda ang mga gawa ni Paige. Karamihan sa mga nakita niyang disenyo ay manipis na stainless steel ang kailangan. It promised extra profit, matitipid kasi ng manipis na output ang supply ng stainless steel. It also promised comfort and ease-of-movement on the customer's part, kasi kung manipis ang bakal, magaan sa pulso ang relo.

Mas nagandahan siya sa mga disenyo para sa women's watch. One of the watch models is composed of the slimmest wristband she ever saw in a stainless steel-based intricate design. The band twisted in a snake-like fashion with each end circling the face of the clock in opposing directions. It revealed two faces of silver snakes, holding a rose bloom in their mouths. The rose would be made of rubies.

Stacey cocked her head to the side. Sa unang tingin, awtomatikong rejected ang disenyo dahil parang hindi ito tutugma sa pinalit na raw materials panggawa ng wristband. Pero nanghihinayang siya sa disenyo.

Gusto niyang magawan ng paraan man lang na ma-translate ng maayos ang disenyong pang-stainless steel sa paghahabi.

Napatingin siya kay Paige nang marinig ang pag-usog ng upuan nito. Paige stood up and set her big brown Hermes Garden Party bag on the table. Sinilid ni Paige sa bag ang mga gamit kasama ang tablet nito nang matakpan ng sleeve niyon.

Once, Paige was done, she walked past her and circled the table to head toward the door.

Sinara agad ni Stacey ang folder at niyakap iyon sa kanyang dibdib ng kaliwang braso. Hawak niya sa kanang kamay ang pink na Soho Phone wallet bag. Mabilis na hinabol niya ang mga hakbang ni Paige hanggang nasabayan ito sa paglakad sa puting-puting pasilyo pagkalabas ng VVatch.

The whole 8th floor of the commercial building was shared by VVatch and a printing company, which explains the different company logo on the glass doors by the entrance right across the doors of VVatch.

Kapwa tumigil sila sa tapat ng elevator. Si Paige ang pumindot ng buton pababa, kaya hinayaan na lang ni Stacey.

As she intently waited for the doors to open, Paige glanced at her. Tumalim ang mga mata ng babae.

"Hindi mo dapat basta-basta nilalabas ang files ng company, Miss Vauergard," malamig nitong saad, mapagmataas ang pagkakatingin ng walang buhay nitong mga mata sa kanya.

She gave Paige a side-glance. "Hindi rin dapat umaalis nang basta-basta ng office ang isang employee nang walang paalam."

Umiling si Paige. Belittling was in that hint of smile on her pale, stoic face. "I am just going to grab some coffee."

"Pwede mo naman ipa-deliver," ismarteng saad niya sabay panakaw na nginisihan ito.

Umismid lang si Paige at binalik ang tingin sa elevator.

"At saan ka naman pupunta dala 'yang folder na 'yan?"

She intentionally avoided to answer the question. "I'm heading to the café too."

Stacey stole a glance. Sinukat niya ang magiging reaksyon ng babae. To her disappointment, Paige didn't seem shocked at all. No amusement lustered in her droopy eyes. Her lips were so tight, unimpressed.

.

.

RENANTE WAS SEATED IN HIS OFFICE. He took a break from monitoring the latest designs. Nakatutok siya sa computer at isa-isang binabasa ang mga article o social media posts na may kinalaman sa latest trends ng mga luxury watches.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pagi-scroll, lumapit siya sa desk at tinukod ang isang siko. Ginawa niyang patungan ng baba ang kamay. He would occasionally stroke or tap his chin with his forefinger as he fall deeper absorbedly into his research.

Nakailang kurap ang liwanag sa screen ng kanyang smartphone, patuloy sa pag-ring bago niya iyon dinampot.

Hindi inalis ni Renante ang tingin sa computer. Tinapat lang niya sa tainga ang smartphone at awtomatikong nasagot ang tawag.

"Hello?"

Hi, Villaluz. Guess who?

His eyes narrowed. He was staring intently at the marketing photo of a luxury watch on Twitter, but at the back of his mind, he was cautious.

He knew the voice of the vermin on the other line.

"Your number is saved in my contacts," mariin niyang saad. "What do you want, Cereza?"

What do I want? Nothing, really. But you might want something from me.

"Get straight to the point. I'm busy." He scrolled down his mouse.

I met up with Artemia. You know her? She's your girlfriend's mother.

Napakurap siya. Napatuwid ng upo.

"What about her?" Pinigilan niyang maglakip ng anumang emosyon sa kanyang boses.

And Renante did it so well. Because what else was he best at but by being very careful?

She wanted an update on her daughter. I told her everything.

Pigil ni Renante ang paghinga. Nasa harapan niya ang monitor pero tumatagos doon ang kanyang tingin.

"And.. ?" he trailed off, urging Guillermo to keep talking.

And what?

Nakuyom niya ang kamay. Mahinang kinatok sa desk ang kamao. He pulled his lips in, then rolled them out.

Kailangan niyang magtimpi.

"And what about it?"

He could imagine that Guillermo Cereza shrugging nonchalantly, wearing a mischievous smirk that stretched from ear to ear.

That kid really enjoyed toying people.

You want to know?

Hindi pa ba ito nakakahalata? Not a single soul could last this long in a phone call with him during work hours if he was not interested to know something!

But why would he satisfy this kid?

"Busy akong tao," mahigpit niyang wika.

Then, be busy. Kausapin mo na lang ako kapag may oras ka na.

Napailing si Renante at diniskonekta ang tawag. Nilapag niya sa mesa ang smartphone at bumalik sa ginagawa.

Hindi siya interesado. Hindi dapat.

Ano ba ang alam ni Guillermo tungkol kay Stacey? O sa mga ganap sa buhay ng kanyang girlfriend? Among anyone else, it was him, Renante Villaluz— Stacey's boyfriend— who knew a whole lot more about her compared to anyone else.

Anuman ang nakwento ni Guillermo kay Artemia, tiyak na alam na niya bago pa man nalaman ni Guillermo mismo.

Pero ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay hindi pa rin nawawala sa isip niya ang phone call.

Ano ang kinuwento ng Cereza na 'yon sa nanay ni Stace? At ano ang inalam ni Artemia tungkol kay Stace?

Tungkol sa amin?

Renante froze in his seat before he straightened once more and groaned.

Is she against our relationship?

May balak ba siyang pigilan kami? O paghiwalayin kami?

Nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay.

As if she could. We're already adults. Sa huli, desisyon pa rin namin ni Stacey ang mananaig.

Tinanaw ni Renante ang cellphone sa mesa.

I bet that vermin wants something in return for the info he's teasing me with... It must be something I have no idea about yet.

Siguradong ganoon na nga. Because, honestly, you cannot belittle that vermin. He has his ways with finding out things.

And secrets of the Manila's finest...

Renante winced. He had more important things to do. Pero sangkot na rito ang relasyon nila ni Stacey. Si Stacey. At ang nanay nito.

Maybe, I'll arrange a meeting with this vermin. Then, I'll try to figure out what he's up to.

Dinampot agad ni Renante ang smartphone para tawagan si Guillermo.