12 Years Later

Nakatitig ng tuwid si Yumie sa harap ng mataas na building ng Callejos Technology. Matalim ang tingin at tiim ang mga labi. Kung nakakawasak lang ang mga titig, malamang ay gumuho na ang building na nasa harap niya.

Hinarang ni Rigor ang palad sa mga mata ni Yumie. "Gigibain ng mga titig mo ang buong building. Unang araw mo pa lang, masama na agad ang timpla mo," anito.

"I am just watching how will it crumble down to pieces once I'm done with it," she said as if jokingly but half truth.

It's been 12 years. She stayed put this long and kept quiet not to give a hint na buhay pa ang last Dela Torre. She waited for 12 years to gain back what's hers. And today should be the first day.

"Wag kang maingay baka may makarinig sayo," bulong ni Rigor.

What happened in the last 12 years is she kept her lowest. She went into hiding. Isinantabi ang pangalang Dela Torre and used her mother's maiden name, Arguellez. She bid her time. Waiting for chance to come knocking. Sa totoo lang, wala siyang solid na planong matatawag. All she could do was to hide and wait.

She lived a poor life for the last 12 years. Si Felicia ang tumayong ina niya. Si Rigor bilang kuya. Sa kabila ng kawalan ng yaman niya, hindi siya pinabayaan ng dalawa. Pinag-aral, sinuportahan. The two became her family. In return, she forgot her princess life. Umakto siyang ayon sa kapasidad niya ngayon.

For the last 12 years, wala siyang ginawa kundi ang subaybayan ang mga Callejos. They become richer. Lumawak ang yaman ng mga ito na hindi na lang sa Sejanos ang sakop. Ismael Callejos became the top 3 richest man in the country. And it became her solid reason to curse them even more.

Although Felicia tried hard to give her a normal life, hindi nawala sa isip niya ang pinakamasaklap na araw sa buhay niya. Isinumpa niya sa sarili na hindi siya titigil singilin ang mga nilalang na gumulo ng pamilya niya.

"Eto ang pass mo. I-eendorse kita kay Mrs. Ersao. Ayusin mo ha? Kumalma ka," turan ni Rigor.

They got closer like real siblings. Rigor remained protective of her. 6 taon ang tanda nito sa kaniya. Ito ang tumayong padre de pamilya nila ni Felicia. He worked as a security chief for Callejos Technology. Limang taon na itong naninilbihan roon. It was supposed to be part of their first plan. To infiltrate the enemies kingdom. But, without their resources, all they could do was wait.

After 5 years, nagawa siyang ipasok nito sa kumpanya. She will work as an Executive Assistant of one of the Directors. They don't have the solid plan at this time, yet getting on the enemies ground is a hope. Atleast they have the first step.

"Mrs. Ersao?" tanong ni Yumie na humarap kay Rigor.

"Si Mrs. Ersao ang Admin Director. Siya ang mag-aassign ng position sayo. Mabait naman yun. Pero mahigpit. She wished to be called Mrs. Since she's old and she has this seniority feeling."

Muling hinarap ni Yumie ang building. "It would be my pleasure to meet them," aniya with a mischievous grin.

"Tara na nga. Idadaan na kita sa lobby," aya ni Rigor.

Naglakad na sila ng building. Rigor guided her towards the elevator slightly showing her some of the areas within the vicinity. Inihatid siya nito sa pinakadulong elevator.

"This is the only elevator that sends people to the executive's floor. And since you will be working with the excutives, wala kang ibang dadaanan kundi rito."

"So kung magkalindol or magkasunog, walang emergency exits?" tila half joke, half truth na turan niya.

"Syempre ibang kwento yun. But then, just to let you know, limited lang ang may access sa elevator na 'to and that includes you."

Napatango-tango lang si Yumie. Nang bumukas ang elevator, humakbang na siya papasok. Rigor stayed out.

"You' re not coming?" aniya.

"I told you, limited access. When you get to the top floor, look for Mrs. Ersao. Ask the receptionist, ok?" anito bago tuluyang magsara ang pinto.

May itatanong pa sana si Yumie ngunit wala na siyang nasabi. Napalingon na lang siya sa reflection niya sa wall mirror ng elevator. Bahagyang inayos ang sarili at sinigurong she looks perfect.

She maybe poor now but she still has the rich aura. Tunay na may dugong bughaw. She reached out sa ID pass na nakasukbit sa leeg niya. It reads Yumie Arguellez. Who could've known that she was the lost princess of the Dela Torres. For 12 years, she hide with this name. And she's longing so hard na gamitin na ang tunay niyang pangalan. She have changed so much. She'd grown so much. Nagbago ang personalidad niya. She became fiercer and tougher. Tila nawala ang princessita aura niya matapos ang masaklap na kwento 12 years ago. No one can definitely tell that the old sweet princess like Mayumia Dela Torre was the same as the new Yumie Arguellez. Now, kahit hindi pa niya alam kung pano, alam niyang nalalapit na ang panahong mababawi niya ang lahat ng kinuha sa kaniya.

Napatingala siya. Checking kung nasang floor na siya. Heading to the 40th floor seemed to be taking so long. Nang biglang huminto sa 33rd ang elevator. Bumukas ang elevator but no one seemed to be there. Napakunot noo si Yumie, but waited na magsara ulit ang pinto.

"Hold it!" sigaw ng isang boses ng lalaki mula sa kung saan. Mabilis na pinindot ni Yumie ang open button to hold the door open. She waited. But no one showed. Bahagya siyang lumabas ng elevator still holding the open button, checking where could've been the voice came from. Natanaw ni Yumie ang hallway. 2 pinto ang naroroon ngunit parehong sarado. And no one was there. Dahan-dahang umatras papasok ulit ng elevator si Yumie. It gave her the creeps. Napapikit siya and took a deep breath.

'Kung sino ka man or kung ano ka man, I've experienced worst. Hindi mo ko matatakot.' bulong niya sa sarili. Then binitiwan ang hold button at sunod-sunod na pinindot ang close button. Akmang pasara na ang pinto nang biglang may brasong humarang sa pagsara niyon.

Napatili si Yumie sa pagkagulat. Bahagya pang nanlaki ang mata. Unti-unting bumukas ulit ang pinto. There appears a man. He looked at Yumie fiercely with his deep dark eyes. His thin lips slightly pursed. His thick eyebrows twitched.

"I told you to hold it," he said in a deep authorative voice.

"S-sorry," ani Yumie. The man stepped inside the elevator. Hindi ito tumalikod sa kaniya. She stepped further back sa loob ng elevator. The man stayed looking at her. Namulsa pa ito sa suot na corporate suit. As if mocking her. Yumie felt offended. There was a slight bully aura in his stare. Nagulat man siya nang bigla itong sumulpot but it doesn't mean she's scared. Sinalubong niya ang tingin nito.

The man is maybe an executive in this company for he can use this same elevator. And since hindi ito pumindot ng kung anumang floor, Yumie thought he maybe going the same floor as she was. He may be one of the boss, but it doesn't give her the right na bastusin siya nito. Thus, Yumie slightly nod. Giving him the impression that she's more than just an employee.

"Good morning," Yumie greeted the man.

"Let me guess, you're new," ani ng lalaki.

"Yes," simpleng sagot ni Yumie.

Pinigil ni Yumie ang lalong mainis when the man looked at her from head to toe and back. Then the man gave a smirk.

"So now, they think that I can't fire you because you're pretty?"

Napaangat ang isang kilay ni Yumie.

"Just to let you know, Under my management, I kept people because their smart not because they look good." He stepped forward, moving closer to Yumie. Bahagyang napaatras pang lalo si Yumie nang dumukwang ito sa kaniya. "I don't work with pretty girls, I play with them," anito. The elevator door opened and the man stepped out giving her a teasing smirk.

Yumie was left devastated. "What the heck?!" bulong ni Yumie sa sarili. Nakaramdam siya ng matinding inis sa di nakikilalang lalaki. He seemed confident na ito ang magiging boss niya. "The nerve!"

She stepped out of the elevator. She put herself back in composure. Pansamantalang isinintabi ang encounter sa lalaking kasabay sa elevator. Kung ito man ang magiging boss niya, much better. He'll see that Mayumia Dela Torre isn't just a pretty face. This pretty face can make this building crumble to pieces.

The 40th floor has a wide lobby katulad ng ground floor. Lumapit siya sa receptionist. She tried to give a warm smile pero nasira ng antipatikong lalaki ang mood niya. But then, binati niya ang receptionist.

"Good morning," tawag pansin ni Yumie.

"Ms. Yumie Arguellez?" tawag ng isang may katandaang babae mula sa likod ni Yumie. Napalingon dun si Yumie. The woman exudes a strict aura. Authoritative and bossy. She reminds her of their mayordoma before sa Hacienda Dela Torre, Manang Estell. If it weren't for Felicia baka madalas siyang napapagalitan nito noon.

"H-hi," bigla siya inatake ng kaba. Iniwan siya ng confidence niya when she faced Mrs. Ersao.

"Good that you're here. Follow me," turan ni Mrs. Ersao saka nagpatiuna ito sa paglalakad. She rushed to follow her. "My name is Esmiralde Ersao. But please call me, Mrs. Ersao. I'm the Administration Executive. I'm incharge on whatever goes in and out of this building. At the same time, I also work as the Executive Secretary of the CEO," tuloy-tuloy na pakilala nito. "You are hired as the COO's executive assistant. Therefore, he is your responsibility. As expected, you need to manage his schedules, make sure he met deadlines and---," bigla itong humarap sa kaniya na ikinatigil niya. Muntik pa siyang bumangga dito. "---you have to know his whereabouts."

She's familiar with the tasks. Before she applied to Callejos Industry, she worked part time as admin assistant sa isang law firm. She worked to helped out Felicia and Rigor on their living expense. Kahit pa dating tauhan niya ang dalawa, hindi niya tuluyang inasa ang buhay niya sa dalawa. She worked to survive.

She kind of expect the responsibility nang nakapasok siya sa Callejos Technology. But with her determination, dealing with a bully boss may just be easy peasy. Like she declared earlier, she's been through worst. Nothing can scare her.

"Is everything clear, Yumie?" tanong ni Mrs. Ersao.

"Yes," aniya forcing a big smile.

Mrs. Ersao, smiled. Her strict aura became warm. Tila nagshift ang personality nito. "Am I scaring you?"

"Huh?!" nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie sa kalituhan.

"I'm strict and authoritative. But it's just work. Besides, I know you can do it. You look rightly fitting," ani ng Ginang. "Comm'on I'll show you your office."

Papasok na sila ng isang kwarto nang biglang may isang babaeng humahangos at tila umiiyak. Napalingon dun si Mrs. Ersao. Mabilis nitong hinarang ang babae.

"Mrs. Ersao, sorry. Hindi ko na po kaya. Kahit po hindi ko na kunin ang sweldo ko. I can't stay long," ani ng babae saka mabilis na tumalilis. Napasunod ng tingin si Yumie. Saka ibinalik ang tingin kay Mrs. Ersao. Nakapikit si Mrs. Ersao tila kinakalma ang sarili.

"Mrs. Ersao?" mahinang tapik ni Yumie sa ginang. "Ok lang po ba kayo?"

Malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ng ginang saka dumilat. Tumingin ng tuwid sa kaniya.

"Change of plans, Yumie. You are now the EA of the Vice President, Zeekcarias Callejos, CEO's son."

Napatanga na lang si Yumie.