Chapter 1

"Goodmorning, Engr. Ky, have a seat please. Let me finish this call first." Bungad sa akin ng mortal kong kaaway sa loob ng meeting room ng office nya.

Umupo ako sa harapan niya habang naghihintay na matapos siya. After a couple of minutes, he was done talking on the other line.

"How are you, Ky?" tanong nya. Nagtaas ng konti yung kilay ko, him calling me by my name inside the meeting room means this meeting is a personal one. "Wag ka na magpaligoy ligoy pa, Ryu. Anong kinalaman ko sa pa-meeting mo sa akin ngayon tungkol dyan sa magiging kasal mo?"

He pulled out a small box from his pocket, laid it out, and there was a ring with a diamond. "Will you marry me?" si Ryu.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at tinitigan ko siya nang masama. "No! Naku, Ryu! Anong will you marry me, will you marry me ka diyan. Untog kita sa pader eh! Di nga tayo friends tapos mang-aalok ka pa ng kasal. Okay ka lang?!" Pagalit kong sagot.

His lips curved into a smile. "Come on, Ky. I am not yet ready to get married."

"And that's my problem because?" sagot ko.

He removed his tie and sat comfortably across me. He was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt which was folded until his elbows.

"Look Ky, I need your help. Ianna's parents kept on insisting we get married by the end of this year. You can help me. I haven't talked to my parents and yours, as they are still in Dubai for the new project there. Her parents cornered me and insisted that we both need to pick the date of the wedding before Mom and Dad comes back. I kind of told them something that got them furious, though." He explained and a smile curved in his lips when he said the last sentence.

I was staring at him while talking and realized how much his facial features changed. He looked handsome. Oh shit! What the hell am I thinking? No. Never. Not again.

"What the fuck did you tell them, Ryu Dimitri Navalta?!" I said angrily. He chuckled and brushed his hair with his hands. "Alam kong magagalit ka but I kinda told them that we're in love with each other and would want to get married soon."

Tumayo ako at binatukan ko siya ng dala dala kong notebook. "Gago ka ba?! Anong kalokohan na naman ito, Ryu?!" pagalit kong sabi habang nakatayo sa harap niya.

Tumayo siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan at hinawakan ang balikat ko. "Please don't get mad. I guess it was just a slip of the tongue. I haven't thought this through pero at the same time kung anuman ang nasabi ko sa parents ni Ianna, di ko na rin mababawi. You are my only hope."

Nanigas ako habang hawak niya ang dalawa kong balikat. I was staring at his face and kept on thinking kung kalian ba nagbago ang facial features niya. Pati katawan niya, "Has he been working out?" ani ko sa isip ko.

"Earth to Ky?" aniya habang hawak hawak pa rin ang balikat ko. Agad kong inalis ang mga kamay niya. "Wag mo akong kausapin, Ryu." Sagot ko at lumabas ako ng meeting

room ng padabog. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng office nya at dire-diretsong lumabas.

Bumalik ako sa opisina ko at sinarado ko ang pintuan at umupo sa sofang nandoon sa loob.

The nerve of this guy to ask my hand in marriage when he was the one who broke my heart before?! I know. I was once in love with Ryu Dimitri Navalta. Yes, WAS!

Funny how I considered him as my archenemy but still fell in love with him. The irony!

I dialed Nisha's extension, my secretary, and asked her to clear my schedule for the day and to postpone all my meetings. Dinahilan ko na masama ang pakiramdam ko at magha-half day na lang.

I went out of the office and headed home directly. Nagpark ako sa basement at di pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang mga kalokohan na pinagsasabi ni Ryu. I stayed in my car for another 10 minutes nang nakatulala at halo halo ang nasa isip ko.

I decided to get out of my car and headed to the elevator to go to my condo unit. Once I got inside of my house, nilapag ko ang aking bag at dumiretso sa banyo para magshower. Nagbihis ako ng pambahay at pumunta ng kwarto.

Nahiga ako sa kama at nagdesisyong umidlip muna.