Prologue

"Umuulan ba sa labas?"

Padabog kong sinira ang pinto pagkapasok ko sa office ko. Nakaupo sa may dulong couch si Kierra, pinsan ko, habang pinagmamasdan akong basang-basa. Paano, galing ako sa coffee shop at bigla nalang umulan. Nakalimutan kong magdala ng payong. Ang araw kanina, ah! Wala namang nagsabi sa 'king bigla nalang magalit 'yung langit at ako ang minalas.

"Obvious ba?"Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at padabog na nilapag ang basang-basa kong sketch sa table.

Fuck, sayang! Gusto kong maiyak dahil ang tagal ko ring inisketch 'yung mansyon para sa bagong project. Sinubukan ko namang protektahan pero ang lakas talaga ng ulan. Kumuha ako ng towel sa may drawer ko at pinangpunas sa katawan ko.

"Nagpapatawag ng meeting si Tita," Sambit ni Kierra, parang nagpapaliwanag sa akin kung bakit sya nandito ngayon sa office ko. "Tayo lang muna tapos mamaya buong board. Sa office nya daw," dugtong pa nya.

Tumango lang ako at hinubad ang suot kong blazer. Mabuti na lang may suot akong blazer kundi basa na rin pati ang suot kong panloob. Pinunit ko ang drinawing ko dahil basa naman 'yon at wala na 'yong kwenta sa 'kin. Tinapon ko sa basurahan at saka ako naglakad palabas papunta sa office ni Mommy. Sumunod naman sa akin si Kierra.

"Architect Valeria," Bati sa akin ni Daddy at sinenyasan kaming umupo sa may couch, sa tapat nilang dalawa ni Mommy.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pag-uusapan ngayon. Kapag kami lang pamilya ang pinapatawag ay kadalasan masamang balita.

"So..." Panimula ni Mommy. " Our lawyer died," She casually said it like it was not a big deal.

I blinked when I heard it, not really processing what she said. My mom gave me a nervous smile.

"Okay?" Patanong na sabi ni Kierra dahil inaantay ang kasunod. "So?" Naguguluhang tanong nya dahil hindi nya makuha kung ano ba ang nangyayari.

"Our lawyer, Kierra. Lawyer of the company. Head of legal team," I explained to her how valuable that lawyer was. He was the mind of all our negotiations! I mean, admittedly, he was old. Maybe he died of sickness of something related to age.

"We need to hire one." Dad nervously smiled at me. Napatingin kaagad ako sa kanya at kumunot ang noo ko. "We can't appoint someone. Wala pa 'kong nakikitang tatapat kay Atty. Reyes. Nakakalungkot lang na pumanaw sya nang walang pasabi."

"Okay? What will happen to the other members of legal team? Resign? Lahat sila ay under ni Attorney Reyes!" I panicked.

"Shush, they will stay. We'll just find another leader for them. They're not that good in functioning by themselves yet. They need to be pushed." I swear I can hear my Mom's nervousness. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba may mangyayaring masama sa kumpanya o may ongoing na kaso o ano man siya kinakabahan. Wala naman kasi akong alam masyado dito dahil Head lang ako ng Architecture Dept.

"Okay, what's the plan? I can look for the best cooperate lawyers out there," Kierra volunteered.

"Oh, honey, we already did search for best of the best." Mom gave me a side eye look. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. " I think Attorney Kalix Martinez is capable of-"

"No way," I immediately cut her off when I heard his name.

Lahat sila ay tumingin sa akin. Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko para pigilan ang pag-taas ng boses. "There's no way you're hiring that man."

"Luna," Dad tried to calm me down. "Remember what is said? Don't let personal feelings affect from your work. We searched for the best lawyers out there and believe me, almost all of them are not free for us. We can hire the services of Attorney. He's among the best cooperate-"

"Isn't he a trial lawyer?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Kierra. "Oh, right, nag-quit na nga pala sya sa criminal cases," pagbawi nya ng makita ang mga sulyap ko sa kanya.

"I swear to God, Mom, if you're hiring that cheater asshole, I will leave the company," mariing sabi ko.

"Uhh..." My mom cleared her throat. "But he's now on his way."

"Fuck!" Inis na sabi ko and then I stormed out.

Mabilis akong naglakad palabas ng pinto pero mabilis din akong napaatras nang mabunggo ako sa dibdib ng isang lalaki. Irita akong tumingin sa kanya pero napatigil rin nang mapagtanto kung sino ang nabangga ko palabas.

He's wearing a charcoal gray button down dress shirt with a black necktie and a pair of black slacks. Pinagtitinginan sya ng ibang employees, probably attracted by his physical appearance. I could smell his familiar scent which brought back a lot of memories.

Our eyes met but he immediately looked away and acted like he didn't know me.

Like he didn't love me.

Or did he really?

"Excuse me, Miss" Malamig na sabi nya.

Like he didn't hurt me.

"Sorry, you're standing in my way," he said.

Like he didn't fool me.

At all.