IT'S BEEN YEARS

AIKKA's POV

I''m on my way to Montero Prime Complex na. Tuesday ngayon and it will be my first day working as the President of our company.

(phone's ringing so I tapped the integrated

screen in my car)

"hi Mahal ko, how are you? kumusta na dyan?"

si Spade pala.

"Oh Spade! I'm fine. How about you? ano nga palang sabi ng doctor?"

"Uh. Everything's okay. He just prescribed to me some medicine that are way more effective than my previous one."

"okay, its good to hear. I told you kasi na you don't need to stress yourself too much" I said.

Then I heard him laugh. I know na he's happy coz I'm concerned with him.

"thanks Mahal ko! uh...by the way, I heard a news na you'll be working in your company na? so how's the feeling?" he asked.

"well, I'm kinda nervous honestly." me.

"kaya mo iyan, ikaw pa. Don't worry, masasanay ka rin" him.

I just smiled. I'm happy na hindi pa rin siya nagbabago until now, he still cares for me despite of what happened in the past. To be honest, ilang beses ko talagang nireject ang panliligaw niya sa akin noon, but he's so determined na kahit ipahiya ko siya sa maraming tao, patuloy pa rin ang panliligaw niya...and hindi ko makakalimutan ang sinabi niya sa aking...

"It doesn't matter how many times you rejected me, but I'm telling you this....I will never get tired on pursuing kasi ikaw ang tanging nilalaman ng puso ko. And if there's something I can tell about love? I'll definitely talk about YOU....."

****

"thank you Spade...so kailan mo pala balak pumunta dito?" me.

"maybe...ahm...next week? kaya always take care of yourself huh, wala ako dyan so hindi kita mababantayan" him.

"don't worry Spade, alagaan mo rin ang sarili mo"

"salamat Aikka, thank you for everything. I'm happy na nakilala kita. I love you!"

Maka-thank you for everything naman siya. Bakit ba siya ganyan magsalita? Feeling ko tuloy na aalis siya.

"are you sure na everything's fine there Spade?" worried na ask ko sa kanya.

"yes, of course! sige...baka nakakaabala pa ako sa iyo, mamaya na lang ulit..bye" then he hanged up the phone.

~•~•~

"Good morning Miss President!" bati ng bawat taong makakasalubong ko inside this building.

I'm just smiling at them as a response.

"hi Miss President! How are you today?! I already prepared everything in your office Miss President, I hope that it will be fine with you" sabi naman ng secretary ko.

When I got inside our office....may mga papers ng nakapatong sa desk ko.

Mukhang masusulit ko talaga ang first day ko working here.

"ah..Miss President, Chairman Montero said na you need to review those papers regarding the feasibility study conducted by the PD Department. It is regarding with the projects introduced to the company by Director Alejandro."

Director Alejandro?

Well.... let's see.....

Sinimulan ko nang basahin ang ibang section ng study regarding the Real Estate Plan sa bandang Visayas and Mindanao Region.

"if there's something you need, you can call me Miss President."

"okay Emily, you may go" I said.

Then patuloy pa rin ako sa aking ginagawa and I spent an hour finding something na hindi ko magugustuhan about sa project.

Pinatawag ko ang aking secretary after nun.

"why Miss President?" her.

"pakibalik ito doon sa PD Department, tell them to change everything" then iniabot ko sa kanya yung mga papers.

"o_okay po Miss President." tapos lumabas na siya bringing those papers.

So I leaned on my chair at pinagmasdan ang glass window nitong company. I can see many buildings outside since nakaangat ang blinds.

Then suddenly, someone knocked and entered into my office .

Well......

Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawa ko.

"any concern?" I said to Nathan.

"ah....well, Miss President, I just wanted to be honest with you, yung about sa feasibility study presented to you, I already reviewed it and even those experts under me_"

"so what you're pointing is I'm not an expert so I don't have the right to reject it?"

Then I looked at him, kulang na lang na sabihin niyang...oo, tama ka.

"well, kahit ano pang sabihin mo...I won't sign it. It may be my first day working here but I'm not stupid. Ayoko lang talaga sa presentation niyo"

He just smirked.

"But_"

"I'm not asking anything Mr. Alejandro kaya kung ano man ang sasabihin mo, I have no time para pakinggan pa iyon. I don't have to explain anymore. You may go." I said.

And dahil doon, he really got disappointed.

"fine. I can understand you Miss President. You're the boss!" then agad na siyang lumabas.

Tss. Buti alam niya.

Kinuha ko na lang ang aking phone to check my social media account. While scrolling, napansin ko bigla ang mukha ni Nathan sa isang sikat na page that I've been following.

Sabi sa article na he was caught dating two popular celebrities...

In the same day?

Shocks! Iba din....

Nairita tuloy ako sa aking nabasa. Bakit ba napakababaero niya? Kahapon lang, he got involved too sa dalawa pang celebrities and now? Shocks!

Because of it, dali ko siyang pinuntahan sa kanyang office without even knocking kaya nahuli ko siyang tinitingnan ang aking pictures sa insta account ko.

"are you stalking me?" agad kong tanong sa kanya.

"s_stalking?haha! hindi ah. I accidentally clicked the mouse button kaya napunta sa account mo"

Bwiset. Those lame excuses.

"shut up...hoy Mr. Alejandro, kung ayaw mong matanggal dito sa company ko, better to fix your name in front of those medias, alam mo bang pwedeng maapektuhan ang company namin because of you? Director ka pa naman dito, you should know the company's rules!"

"wait..wait...are you shouting at me because of that? calm down Miss President, nagpapaniwala ka naman sa mga fake news na iyan" him while smiling.

"fake news your face! I know that your lying Mr. Alejandro, and don't be so overconfident about yourself kasi stupid lang ang mga babaeng nagpapaloko sa iyo!" I'm about to go out from his office when he grabbed my hand and pull me gently kaya nagkalapit ang face namin sa isa't-isa.

dug dug...

dug dug...

dug dug ..

That thing again, I never heard it for years

"then why are you affected this time Miss President?...you look nervous".

Am_ Am I too obvious?

Wait.

Ano bang iniisip ko? I must not be nervous!

Why would I?

"I'm not."

After kong sabihin iyon, he wrapped his hand into me so literally he's hugging me right now.

I'm speechless.

Nanatili kaming ganon for a moment.

Until when somebody entered our room amd saw what's happening.

"hehe...so_...sorry" then he immediately ran outside.

Because of it, agad akong nahimasmasan at naitulak ko papalayo si Nathan.

"what do you think you're doing Mr. Alejandro?! It's harrassment! I can sue you stupid!" me.

Then he just smiled.

"According to RA 7877, sexual harrassment happens when there is a sexual favor made as a condition of hiring or employment or continued employment  of the said individual, or in granting the said individual favorable compensation, terms of conditions, promotions, or privileges..so...? walang harassment doon and alam ko namang wala namang mali sa pagyakap ko sa iyo Miss President"

"anong wala? you hugged me without my permission, anong walang mali doon!"

Kainis siya, ganyan na ba talaga siya kabastos ngayon?!

"ssshhh....fine....." tapos lumapit siya at ginulu-gulo niya ang buhok ko tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa sa akin noon.

Because of it, para akong bumalik saglit sa mga panahong iyon, 6 years ago....

Unti-unti ko na namang naalala ang lahat ng pain na naidulot niya sa akin that time.

Kaya...

"a_are you crying Miss President?" him being worried.

Yes. Umiiyak na naman ako in front of him.

"I_ I'm so sorry Miss President, I don't mean to let you cry for hugging you" then he tried to comfort me.

"hindi...na mauulit" he said sincerely.

Lumabas na lang ako ng office niya.

Ugh. Why I am being so emotional this time?