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. “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. “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. 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. Still dazed about how things went through, I came back to my office and began scanning her profile. It didn’t even cross my mind that the lady architect was none other than her. Napasubo na rin naman ako sa proyektong ito ay lulubusin ko na ang pagkakataon. Before meeting her in person, I should have known some recent details about her. Well, as we always had the famous saying: ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ Damn it! I didn’t see this one coming. How would I have ever expected that she continued her post-graduate studies at Harston University in the US after she graduated at the TU Munich in Germany, when all I did before was just to forget her? I wasn’t even prepared for this and I felt like being slapped with the sudden t