You Are The One Thing

Chapter Two

The Second Encounter 

WAIT a silly second! She said to herself. This guy looks familiar. Saan nga ba niya ito na encounter before? Iyon ang tumatakbo sa isipan ng dalaga nang —

"You're hired!" He declared and flashed her a mischievous smile, his gaze never left hers as he walked towards her. And she sensed finality in his tone.

Wait, what? Teka lang po! What is happening? Anang isip niya. Tumigil ba sa pag-ikot ang mundo? Mistulang naging estatwa ang mga tao sa loob ng boardroom, and all eyes were fixed on them. At tila bigla yatang tumahimik ang kapaligirian, like she could hear a pen drop in there, but no, all she could hear at the moment was her heartbeat.

Rewind! Ano daw? Heartbeat?! At bakit naman siya magkaka-heartbeat sa bastos na lalaking ito? 

"Naynay, she is hired! I like her!" Ang familiar na boses ng lalaki ang nagpabalik sa kanya sa kasalukuyan. Napakurap siya sa sinabi nito.

His eyes was still fixed on hers with a lazy smile curved on his lips. "Hello, Deren. I found you, finally!" Yumuko ito at inilapit ang mukha sa kanya. His voice deep and slow, it sent a tingling sensation down her spine.

Nag-iinit ang mukha niya. Napaatras tuloy siya. "Wait, what?" Juicekolerd! Ang bango!

"Hhmm! You know each other?" Tanong ni President Castillo na nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

Everyone inside the boardroom was surprised at the turn of events.

Tumuwid ng tayo si Seb sa tabi niya at hinawakan siya sa kamay na laking ikinagulat na naman ng lahat. 

"Yes, we know each other, Naynay. To be precise, we don't just know each other. It's MORE than that. We were gonna get married. Right, honey? But then she left me, two years ago." He let out a sigh. "So that means, we have a lot of catching up to do. So if you'll excuse us, we have a wedding to talk about." He turned to her with that lazy, sexy smile that slowly curved his lips.

Napapitlag siya nang marinig ang mga sinasabi nito. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung gaano kabilis ang mga pangyayari. Kani-kanina lang ay inis na inis siya sa mokong na 'to. Bakit may "sexy" na siyang nalalaman? At trabaho ang ipinunta niya dito. Hindi pag-aasawa! Help! Protesta ng isip niya.

"That's great news!" Biglang umaliwalas ang mukha ng Ginang." This is the best news I got from you, in a long time, Sebastian! Now off you go. When you come back, we will have a wedding to plan." She was laughing heartily — and everyone in the room started laughing with her. 

With one hand on her waist, the other holding hers firmly, he gracefully guided her out the door and lead the way to the elevator. 

The silence was deafening. Neither one of them started to talk. Then she realized that he was still holding on to her, and his arm around her waist  seemed to be stuck there like it belonged there. 

Kalma puso ko. Kalma lang. Nagsi-sirkus na naman yata ang puso niya sa loob ng dibdib niya. And it's been acting strangely with him around, since, an hour ago or so.

"Hhmm, pwede mo na siguro akong bitawan. Hindi ako tatakbo? Promise." She broke the silence.

He gently removed his other hand off of her waist, but the other hand that was holding hers, stayed in place. He turned and looked at her long and hard. His face was looking serious, his eyes deep and he slowly flashed her that megawatts smile, again.

Hallelujah! Lord, bakit nagiging marupok yata ako sa lalaking ito? Bigla yatang uminit sa loob ng elevator. Nag-iinit ang mga pisngi niya na di niya mawari. Napabuga siya ng hangin na di naman nakaligtas sa pandinig ng katabi.