Prolouge

Cj's POV

"Good Morning, Ma" I greeted her with a smile, even tho the headache was kicking in, inside me.

"Anong oras ka ba nakauwi kagabi? Tinext lang ako ni Aj, at pagkatapos no'n hindi ko na alam 'yung nangyare sa inyo" nag aalalang sagot n'ya.

Nasa bar kami kagabi ni Aj, nagkasiyahan lang naman tsaka konting alak. Pero mukhang naparami 'yung inom ko, "sigurado ka na bang papasok ka na ngayon? namumutla ka pa?" bahagya n'ya hinawakan 'yung mukha ko.

"Yes Ma, if I didn't make it today, malamang sa malamang ay matanggal ako sa trabaho ko" I said while buttoning my polo and after that I wore my coat and took a beso with her. "Bye.."

I am the one who's driving my self papunta sa office. Getting a personal driver isn't for me sabi ni Mama. Sobrang unstable kasi ng schedule ko, that's why I am really doing my best, para makuha ko na 'yung promotion na matagal ko nang iniintay... I love playing music on my car's speaker, but my mood suddently changed as I hear our theme song, wayback when we were in high school. "Tsk" I turn it off and finally arrived in my office.

"Engineer! May schedule daw po kayo today? 9am sa may site"

My secretary said, parang mas lalo pang uminit 'yung ulo ko nang salubungin n'ya kagad ako, wala manlang good morning or kahit anong greet. My hands were totally loaded with a lot of checks and stuffs to sign. "Can't you... cancel all of those? Like, I can do it tommorow, I am sure as hell that I can do it tommorow, but not now..." pailing iling kong itinuon ang atensyon ko sa mga papeles na nasa lamesa ko.

"Pero sir... tumawag po kasi si chairman kanina, and sabe mo pa nya-.."

Napatigil s'ya at napapikit ng bahagya nang padabog kong hinampas 'yung table, "how am I supposed to do these if you are insisting for me to go in there?! Wala bang ibang engineer na pwedeng pagbilinan about that project? I mean, ako lang ba 'yung engineer na nandito?!"

"S-sir... sorry po. Pero... project n'yo po kasi 'to eh, ito po 'yung voluntary project n'yo"

The flashback came inside my head and yes. 'Yon nga pala 'yung voluntary project na tinanggap ko because chairman said that after pulling this project off. I will be promoted as one of the chief executive officers here in our company.

"Okay..." I calm myself and wore my coat. "Let's go"

We went inside the car and surprisingly the driver wasn't there. "Anong oras na?" mahina kong saad habang nag-iintay pa'rin. "A-ahh... sir? Gusto n'yo po ako nalang muna 'yung magdrive?"

"Go ahead, 'wag nang kilos pagong!"

While we're inside the car, kitang kita ko na kabado s'ya sa pagddrive. Nakakatakot ba 'kong kasabay? "Klea..." I called her with her name. "Y-yes? Yes sir?" she's totally distracted pero kayang kaya pa rin naman n'yang magdrive even if.

"About what happened last night, tsaka 'yung kanina..."

She slightly laughed, "m-makalat po pala kayo 'pag lasing, joke. hehe"

"Kalimutan mo na 'yon"

"O-okay po"

Nakarating naman kami sa site nang buhay, kahit medyo kumikinig 'yung kamay ng driver ko. I think she likes me... kidding! She nice tho. Hard working, and a smart one, hindi ko nga alam kung pa'no n'ya napapagsabay sabay 'yung pag aasikaso sa pamilya n'ya because she's the one left in their family at nag-iisa rin s'yang babae sa pamilya nila. Reminds me of someone. At tsaka 'yung pag arrange sa walang katapusan at kaayusan kong schedule. She's not the best but she trying to be.

"Remove my coat.." I commanded her and she did it quickly.

Abby's POV

"May pupuntahan ako ngayon eh"

Pagpapaalam ko sa isa sa mga nurse, tapos naman na 'yung duty ko. Sadyang trip lang n'ya makipagchikahan sa'kin sa t'wing uuwi na ko. "D-doc..?" mahinang saad n'ya.

"Hm?" Iooked at her while arranging my things na iuuwi ko sa bahay, or baka hindi na 'ko makauwi, iiwan ko nalang sa sasakyan if ever.

" 'Yung bruise n'yo po na 'yan sa leeg? Sa'n po nanggaling? I-if okay lang naman po na sabihin, but if not... 'Wag na doc.. hehe"

"No, that's fine. Eto ba?" I pointed at my neck and looked at her back. "This one's from a car accident from a few years ago... Yeah"

"Parang cute s'ya tingnan Doc. 'no? Hahaha"

I smiled. "I used to be so much insecure of it, pero ngayon. people find it cute pa kapag nakikita nila hahaha"

She's just smiling the whole time while staring at me.

Umalis na ako ng clinic at nagdrive na. 'Yung agenda ko after duty is to meet with the engineer sa pinapatayo kong bahay. Ilang years na 'kong nasa condo, at gusto ko na rin ng sariling bahay para sa magiging pamilya ko. kung magkakaroon man.

I arrived in there at mukhang kumpleto na sila do'n. Nakakapressure naman, pero meron naman akong excuse, nag-overtime kami sa operating room because of some issues about sa patient.

Cj's POV

"Klea? The floor plan? Binigay na ba ni Architect?"

I asked her para mailatag na namin sa lamesa at mapag-usapan, para kapag dumating na 'yung client. All set na. "Ahhh eto po" nilatag na naming dalawa at dumating na 'yung ibang engineer sa site.

"Is this the design the client approved?"

"Y-yes sir"

"Dy! Tara lang!"

Malakas na tawag n'ya sa'kin. Nasa may kwarto s'ya at nasa sala naman ako ng bahay nila. "Ow?" I answered.

"Diba mag-eengineer ka?" she asked and I smiled at her, "kung papalarin... hahahaha" I pinched her cheek.

"Gan'to 'yung gusto kong bahay dyyyy" she pointed in the paper she's holding.

She showed me her drawing, hindi gano'n kaganda, hindi gano'n kadetalyado pero naiintindihan ko parin. "Ganda ng drawing ah?" pang-aasar ko.

"Hmm... 'di naman kasi ako magaling sa mga gan'yan! Basta! Ikaw nang bahala hano? Ikaw na mag-ayos ng sketch tsaka... ng lahat! HAHAHA" her smile gives me butterflies. Parang nawawala 'yung pagod ko sa t'wing makikita ko 'yon.

"Eto ba talaga 'yung gusto ng asawa ko? Sige... para sa'yo.." I smiled at her, kissed her forehead. At kinandong ko s'ya. "Mahal kita.."

"I love you more.."

"Sir?" tanong ng secretary habang kinakalabit ako. "Y-yes?" lutang na saad ko.

"I-is there something wrong with the design? I can call Architect if then" she offered.

"Oh! Wala... nothing. It's just this design reminds me of something.."

"Something what?"

"Something from my past..."

"Past? O-ok..? Hindi ko na po kayo tatanungin pa ng kung ano ano pa kase and 'yan na daw po 'yung client sa labas. Sunduin ko lang po s'ya sir" pagpapaalam n'ya. At halos lahat sila ay lumabas, ako lang 'yung naiwan do'n sa loob.

Sobrang lakas ng kutob ko... That this project I'm going to pull off is my ex's house. Tandang tanda ko pa nung pinakita n'ya sa'kin 'yung design na gusto n'ya, pati kung ano 'yung magiging pwesto at ayos ng lahat ng mga bagay na ilalagay sa loob mismo ng bahay, alam na alam ko. But all of this, were just about my work, and the promotion I want. Nevermind those pasts and the things that happened between us. Nakamove on na 'ko, and I'm sure that she also did.

I was looking afar when I saw someone walking towards the door, she's wearing a black top and blue pants, but I can't clearly see her face. And as she enters the barracks, I saw her, it's a white rubber shoes. Sinimulan ko s'yang tingnan pataas hanggang sa makarating sa mukha nya. "Good day.. A-am I late?" she said, and her voice started giving me some goosebumps. I didn't expect that my predictions would become true... Yes, it was Abby. My high school first love and now my ex.

Kitang kita ko rin sa mga mata n'ya ang gulat nang magtama na ang tingin naming dalawa but she's acting so professional, kaya't gano'n nalang rin ang ginagawa ko. Nung nagmemeeting na tungkol sa designs and other details about the establishment ay nagtatama ang tingin naming dalawa, dahil sa t'wing magsasalita s'ya ay tumitingin ako, gano'n din naman s'ya.

Ilang minuto lang ang naging pag-uusap naming lahat, when they've decided to close the deal. Syempre, shake hands sa lahat ng nandito sa loob. Gumawi ako sa may dulo, para na rin hindi ganoon ka-awkward sa'ming lahat, at nakalabas na 'yung ibang tao kapag ako na 'yung kakamayan n'ya.

Nang tumapat n s'ya sa'kin ay halos kaming dalawa nalang 'yung natira sa barracks, "thank you" she offered her hand and I held it. "You don't have to. Bayad naman kami sa gagawin naming 'to, tsaka this is a voluntary project para sa promotion... so yeah" I clicked my tongue at nilampasan ko na s'ya, naglakad ako palabas para matingnan na rin 'yung buong site na tatayuan ng bulding. "Sir! Protective gear po!" sigaw ni Klea habang hinahabol ako.

She started wearing it on me, protective helmet lang naman 'yon dahil may mga naghuhukay na ro'n at naglalagay ng mga metal tubes para may matungtungan sila sa pagsisimula ng paggawa. "Where's the client?" I asked then locked the helmet on my own.

"Client..? S-si Doctora po ba?" she asked.

"Y-yeah... doctora..." I slightly smiled. "Bakit sir ayaw n'yo s'yang tawagin with her last name?"

"Well, I don't know what is her last name..."

"Alonzo po... diba?"

I was slightly shocked with it. Akala ko kasal na s'ya at iba na 'yung apelyidong ginagamit n'ya. pero hindi pa pala...

"Okay... so nasan nga s'ya? Si Doctora Alonzo?"

"Ah! Nasa barracks parin sir"

"Hold my coat" I commanded her and I went back in the barracks. I saw Abby in there while busy figuring out how is she going to wear the protective helmet. I lean on the door at humalukipkip habang pinapanuod s'ya.

"Hindi naman kasi ako nainform na kaylangan pa pa pala neto... malay ko ba-" pabulong bulong n'yang saad at napahinto s'ya nang makita n'ya 'kong nakasandal sa may pintuan. "E-engineer! Haha.." she coughed, put the helmet behind her and turn her face into serious one. "K-kanina ka pa d'yan?" she asked.

"M-medyo.." my cold answer. And after that I walked towards her. "Akin na, ako na" I said while trying to get the helmet that she's hiding behind her. "A-alin ba?" nauutal n'yang sagot.

"Helmet, ako na magsusuot"

"Oh ayan" she gave it to me and I started putting it in her head. "Yan.. you're all set"

Naglakad na ulit ako palabas pero napahinto ako nang magsalita s'ya.

"I'm so proud of you" mahinang saad n'ya at sumabay s'ya sa'kin habang palabas kaming dalawa ng barracks.

"Me too... I am so proud of you, and what you've reached now... Abby"

She smiled. At napatingin ako sa kan'ya, gano'n parin 'yung itsura n'ya, walang nagbago. She's still giving me butterflies when she's doing that smile thing.

"Alam mo naman sigurong may trust issues ako 'no?"

"Malala.. hahaha" she joked.

"S-sabi kasi sa'kin ni Klea... 'yung secretary ko?"

"Yup"

"You're still using your last name nung dalaga ka pa?"

"Hoy! Grabe ah? Muka na ba 'kong hindi dalaga ngayon? Grabe!" malakas na saad n'ya. Wala pa'rin talaga s'yang pinagbago, masayahin pa'rin.

"N-no.. I mean..."

"You mean what?"

"Okay, I'll be straight to the point, Ms. or Mrs. ?" I asked without asking myself where to get the audacity to ask those kind of personal questions.

Tumigil s'ya sa paglalakad kaya't gano'n rin ang ginawa ko. Sinimulan n'ya 'kong tingnan habang nakangiti kahit na kitang kita sa mga mata n'yang pagod s'ya galing sa duty n'ya, but she's still beautiful.

"Doctora... Doctora Abbygale Alonzo" she smiled at me and continue from walking...

Habang naglalakad ay kita ko parin sa mukha n'yang nakangiti s'ya, talagang masayang masaya s'ya sa naging buhay n'ya ngayon...

And I swear to God, her smile is the best. It's a treasure...