What It Takes To Fall In Love

Prologue

"I am no longer taking clients mom, I have a lot on my plate already." Sabi ko habang naglalakad sa hallway papunta sa office ko with mom following me from behind.

"Just take this one last client Laya, hindi mo pwedeng tanggihan ang client na'to." She said walking faster to keep up with me, a client requested me specifically to be the architect of their house. At pilit na pinapakuha ni mom sa akin ito, madami na akong nakuha for this month, I can't add more clients, or else mamatay na talaga ako sa stress!

"Gaano ba kasi ka importante 'yang client na 'yan? I can decline if I want, mom. Marami pa namang architects sa company na 'to." Mahina kong sabi sabay umupo sa office chair ko with mom standing across my table.

"Here." Sabi niya habang inilatag ang files sa table ko, then she walked away.

I can't help but sigh and look at the unopened files on my table, I looked away before guilt-grabbing the folder. I scanned the paper to check its contents and looked at the client's information to see who it was at bakit importanteng hindi tanggihan ito.

My whole heart dropped, I felt shivers seeing his dad's name on the paper. I had mixed emotions, I did not know what to feel, it has been 5 years but the feeling still haunts me.

I took the paper with me and stormed out of my office, I walked so fast that I could hear my heels clicking on the floor like a horse on a race. Tinitignan ako ng mga empleyado, pumasok ako sa opisina ni mom and she slightly jumped when her door made a loud noise.

"Calm down, Laya!" My mom said with her brows furrowed, she definitely knew what was going on.

"Mom, are you doing this on purpose?" Sabi ko, umiinit na ang ulo ko when I closed the door at hindi tinatanggal ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "You know what happened and you saw everything, stop forcing things to work again!" Sigaw ko, my eyes were already flooding and my knees were feeling weak.

Mom immediately went up to me with her mouth open, she did not know what to do or say. Napaupo ako sa couch ng office niya, my eyes were all blurry from the tears.

"You can't decline dear, Mr. Salvador requested for you." She said so softly to comfort me, wala akong masabi, I just cried my heart out at nakikita kong paiyak na din si mom ngunit pinipigilan niya ito.

"Business partners natin sila, we can't lose them in this company." Dagdag pa niya, I knew that already. Salvador Hospital is indeed important for our business, without them hindi namin alam kung paano tutus-tusan ang medical needs ng mga empleyado namin. We almost lost the company, I cannot risk being in the same situation again lalo na't si kuya ang may hawak ng posisyon.

"What's the problem? Pinag-uusapan kayo sa baba." We both looked at the door when my brother opened it so harshly.

"She was asked to take Mr. Salvador's request." Mom informed.

Umupo si kuya sa tabi ko para patahanin ako, "Laya, that was 5 years ago, I know it's still there but you should be professional. Don't bring your personal issues with your job." Sunod-sunod niyang sabi habang inaayos ang nagulo kong buhok.