Note: This is Book 2. Do not flip the pages of this book if you haven't read Book 1, which is Sabotaging My Walkout Queen.
David’s P.O.V.
[January 2016]
“Congratulations again on your promotion, Dave! What can I say? It was well deserved! I lost count of how you’ve always exceeded my expectations. Again, you’ve made me proud! You’ve made us all proud.” Kuya Liam’s smile reached both of his ears, as he shook my hand, and gave me a manly hug.
We were now outside his office and he congratulated me again. On the other hand, I was securing the envelope which contains the promotion document that was given earlier by the HR team. Today was the first Monday of the year at promotion na agad ang sumalubong sa akin.
“Thanks, Sir Liam.” I smiled at him after he gently patted my back. Then, I confidently lifted my chin. Seconds later, I narrowed my eyes as rage fueled me. It clenched my jaws like they were about to break.
Of course, gagawin ko ang lahat para umangat… para wala nang tumapak pa sa pagkatao ko!
I was calling him ‘Sir Liam’ since he had always been the big boss or the CEO here at Evangelista Group of Companies. This was the company where my scholarship had been tied to for five years, so this was where I should apply and hone all my knowledge and skills, right from my OJT days.
As far as I was concerned, I didn’t want the other people to think that because he was my brother-in-law, I would be given a special treatment. I got the promotion because I was the best and the most qualified engineer here—at hindi pa yata ipinapanganak ang taong makakatalo sa’kin.
Fortunately, lahat naman ng tao rito sa EGC ay ka-close ko. Well, puwera na nga lang sa mga babaeng sinaktan ko.
Kuya Liam gave me a five-year full-scholarship grant in college, but I really worked hard to maintain high grades. Iyon ‘yong mga panahong ginawa ko talagang posible ang imposible.
Hindi lang oras, dugo, at pawis ang nilaan ko para lang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo at makamit ang lahat ng bagay na tinatamasa ko ngayon—kung hindi pati na rin ang buhay ko na muntik nang mawala sa akin.
Despite what happened to me during my Student Exchange Program in Germany three years ago, I still managed to finish my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering: Major in Construction Technology and Management degree with Latin honors.
Calm after a storm, I copped the highest award in college. I graduated Summa Cum Laude. I also wanted to earn my Master of Science in Civil Engineering: Major in Structural Engineering, but that should not be the case right now.
To give more emphasis to my college achievements, I was also able to get the Gray Hawk Award and Best in Individual Thesis Award. It was for all engineering fields at the prestigious *Coach University, beating the other nine candidates including Chad.
Some other people would even want to switch places with me because they thought that my life was already perfect. Now, I could say that I had everything in life. Sariling penthouse sa dating *Quego del Mar na ngayon ay modernisadong QDM City na, iba’t ibang motor at sasakyan, savings at insurance? Meron na ako ng lahat ng ‘yan. What more could I ask for?
Almost every single day, I could hear lots of praises. Pero, ang hindi alam ng marami ay muntik nang mawala ang lahat-lahat sa akin nang dahil lang sa isang malaking pagkakamali.
Nagmahal ako ng maling babae.
But that was all before and I guessed I had to move on. I should not dwell in the past anymore. Malayo na kasi ako sa taong sumira sa buhay ko noon, at hindi na ako kailanman babalik sa dating tangang David na handang gawin ang lahat para lang sa babaeng ‘yon.
“By the way, about our New Hotel Project…” Kuya Liam opened his mouth to discuss a new project and while we were on it, I couldn’t help but reminisce.
“What about it, sir?” It was a good thing that my mind could multitask while listening to him.
Looking back, I started working here in EGC on June 2014 as a Probationary Cadet Engineer—in parallel with my five-month review for the board exam. Mahirap pagsabayin, pero kailangan. Halos wala na akong tulog palagi, pero lahat ay gagawin para lang sa minimithing pangarap.
On October 2014, I took the Civil Engineering Board Examination and was blessed to be the first placer! Yes, I was undoubtedly a board topnotcher. The best of the best—the one and only—David Cristoff.
Ngumiti ako nang mapakla. Hindi naman kasi nababayaran ang resulta ng board exam, hindi ba?
Well, sanay na akong pinag-aagawan ng mga babae hanggang sa hindi lang sila ang nag-agawan sa’kin. After the oath taking, I was suddenly contacted by many high-profile companies.
Kuya Liam was considerate enough by letting me be free kahit na scholar niya ako for five long years. He told me that if I would find a better company than the EGC, he would never stop me from leaving. But I didn’t think in the first place and just chose to stay with the EGC.
Then, I got regularized as Surveying Engineer, and just after six months of proving myself, I got promoted to Senior Survey and Field Engineer. With this new position, I got more experience in the field, and that was the main reason why I got a naturally tanned skin from the sun’s heat.
But I never stopped giving my best shot to continuously excel at work. Sabihin mang nakatali ako sa EGC sa loob ng limang taon, mahal ko ang trabaho ko at masaya ako sa ginagawa ko. Pero dahil nga sa may kaluwagan naman ang schedule ko, isang taon din akong naging part-time instructor sa Review Center kung saan ako nag-review noon.
Sharing my personal advices and experiences, other than teaching the best practices, knowledge, and board exam techniques to the aspiring future Civil Engineers, was indeed a damn good feeling. It happened last year, from January to December 2015.
And now, just after one and a half year of overall hardship and work performance in the EGC, I got promoted to Survey and Field Engineering Section Head—whose work was mainly focused on high-cost bridges, buildings, and hotel construction demands, not just in the Philippines but in the whole Asia. Alam kong marami pa akong kakaining bigas bago ako muling mapadpad sa Europa.
In that case, I suddenly remembered Matthew. He had always been persuading me to be a co-owner of his inherited company from his German father in Europe. Way back being a record-holder of the Coach University entrance exam, the CEO gave me a five-year full-scholarship grant.
Pero dahil nga may full-scholarship na ako mula kay Kuya Liam ay binigay ko na lang ang pagkakataong ‘yon sa iba and the recipient was none other than Matthew Ritter. He was a half-German student who appeared to be a rich kid because of his good looks, but he was unfortunately abandoned by his own father when he was two.
He was my seatmate during the exam and he took up a Business Administration course. On our second year, his father finally acknowledged him and he flew to Europe. Until now, we were still communicating with each other through Famebook. However, I wasn’t able to see him during my exchange study in Germany years ago. Pagmamahal na binasura lang kasi ang inatupag ko roon.
Matthew had always been adamant in encouraging me to run the business with him. Sinabi niya sa’king ako lang daw ang maaasahan niya sa mga panahong ito, kahit hindi naman talaga kami naging super close noon.
But would I go again to Europe after all the heartbreak I went through? Probably, no.
_________________________
Here are the places’ counterparts for you to imagine them better:
*Coach University is just a fictional counterpart for University of the Philippines Diliman.
*Quego del Mar is just a fictional place counterpart for Manila.
David’s P.O.V.Just last year, I bought my own penthouse and an all-new silver Maserati Ghibli from my own savings. When Coach University unexpectedly cut our exchange program in Germany, hindi na natuloy ang one-month free European tour package namin.The Coach University paid us instead to compensate for the promise they initially made, and I must admit na mas pabor ‘yon sa’kin. The compensation accumulated to two million pesos, and the first thing I did was to save it. After all, sa pera lang naman umiikot ang mundo. I even learned how to trade stocks para lumago ito.They said that money could never buy happiness. It was true for the others, pero nabili nito ang mga pangangailangan ko at masaya na akong mabili ang mga iyon. Who was I to complain? I would rather cry in a brand-new sports car, than have nothing. Lo and behold, I would be twenty-four this year and I could say that I wa
David’s P.O.V.“Since you’re now the Section Head of the Survey and Field Engineering Department, you will have your own office at the twelfth floor of this building and I’m glad to inform you that it’s now ready. You can get the keys from Trixie.” Kuya Liam was referring to his secretary.“And by the way, I asked her to interview those who are applying to be your secretary, and she ended up with these three applicants,” Kuya Liam continued as he gave me the three long folders with the applicants’ information. “But of course, I will let you do the final interview.”“Thanks, sir. Well, I should thank Ate Trixie too.” I accepted the folders, but I didn’t yet open them. Ate Trixie wouldn’t let me down, so I trusted her. Knowing her, she would pick brainy, beautiful, and sexy ladies for me… and I couldn’t w
David’s P.O.V.“Vanessa?” I asked her again, just in case she didn’t hear me the first time.“Yes, sir.” She paused for a while before she continued, placing her right hand on her chest. “Vanessa Jimenez.” Vanessa smiled at me, then she looked down and away. Para ngang nahihiya pa siyang makipag-usap sa akin, o baka hindi lang siya komportable.At some point, didn’t she recognize me? Well, what a great reunion with my ex-girlfriend here! I’m happy to see her again, really. No sarcasm added.“Have a seat, please.” I motioned her to get closer and occupy either one of the two upholstered accent chairs in front of me. “I’m David—Engr. David Cristoff Rivera.” My lips formed a thin smile, as I wore my eyeglasses again. Of course, I extended my right arm for a handshake.
David’s P.O.V.“Wait, what? You’ve hired your ex-girlfriend as your secretary? Okay ka lang, brad?” Chad asked as soon as I told him about Vanessa. It had been a week since she started working for me, and it looked like my mischievous best friend here would deliberately turn me into a laughing stock.Nandito kami ngayon sa loob ng office ko. Chad just dropped by para lang maki-usyoso! Well, I was only kidding. Malapit lang naman kasi ‘yong office niya rito, so he dropped by for us to talk in person—not just over the phone.Like me, Chad also graduated with Latin Honors. Magna Cum Laude to be exact and aside from that, he copped the seventh place in the board exam. The two of us were both true to that so-called best friend goals. Now, he was also the Section Head of Surveying Process Department at Delacerna Group of Companies or DGC—their very own company.
David’s P.O.V.“Hi, Dave! Sir Liam booked for an afternoon meeting—two o’clock sharp at the Emerald Conference Room,” Vanessa enthusiastically informed me as soon as I got out of my office.Her smile was so wide that it could even reach her ears. I also noticed her dangle earring when she tucked her hair at the back of her right ear. Kanina ay hindi pa naman niya ito suot. She was wearing a cropped-top white sleeveless shirt and a long-pleated maxi black skirt.Pagkatapos niyon ay muli na niyang ibinalik ang atensiyon sa harap ng computer. Ate Trixie provided her a laptop and a second monitor—na ang specs ay higit pa sa kung anong mayroon ang ibang secretary dito.Aaminin kong hindi lang secretary paper works ang pinagagawa ko kay Vanessa, kung hindi pati na rin ang ibang urgent na AutoCAD reports. And I must admit, she didn’t disappoint me e
David’s P.O.V.“It’s okay, but can I ask you a favor? Pwede bang huwag ka nang mailang sa akin? I mean, just think that I’m only your classmate and not your boss. That way, you will be able to talk to me without any uneasiness or hesitation!” I said, then I tasted the mushroom soup. The appetizer was free here too and the best part? It was truly delicious!“Pasensiya ka na, Dave ha? Nakakailang pa rin kasi eh! Hmm… alam kong hindi naging malalim ‘yong pinagsamahan nating dalawa noon. But after seeing you during the interview, parang bigla na lang bumalik ‘yong lahat. I know that everything was already buried in the past, but I couldn’t help and be guilty on what happened to us,” Vanessa confessed and she took a sip of her iced tea. Hindi na siya nagsasalita, pero parang nangungusap pa rin ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin.“Don
David’s P.O.V.Feeling a surge of happiness, I expected Kuya Liam to be followed by a young and voluptuous architect but it didn’t happen. Now, it felt like the perfect ambiance was slowly covering me in a fucking distress. It was as if my soul was flying with too much anticipation earlier, but now, everything in front of me became distorted.Okay, epic fail! But where is she?Ah, baka nag-CR lang.At the last minute, gusto ko pa ring umasa. What was iconic here was the fact that all conference rooms were having an ensuite restrooms, so sana ay dito na lang siya nag-CR. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to give up. Gusto ko pa rin siyang makita.The door of the Emerald Conference Room was already closed and it was crystal clear that this meeting only required the presence of me and Kuya Liam. That was when
David’s P.O.V.“But why? Even though you’re now a Section Head, you’re still one of the best engineers the EGC has! You know that! This one is a very in-demand and high-cost project hotel here in the Philippines, David. This is our top priority, that’s why I have already assigned this to your team!” Kuya Liam narrowed his eyes as he raised his voice, with his forefinger impatiently pointing at the transparent envelope in front of him.Dave, wake up! You were no longer a foolish teenager nor an engineering student who would always chase after her.Kuya Liam must be very disappointed at me, but do I have a choice? Gusto ko lang namang maging totoo sa sarili ko. Ayoko siyang makatrabaho. Ngayon pa lang, I could say that working with her would be an entire disaster!“This is the very first time that you are neglecting a