Tangled Up With You

Chapter 1

A/N: Welcome to my imagination.

Someday, when you leave me, I bet these memories follow you around

Present

“Crisis averted,” Roxy proudly announced as she entered the room and handed her boss, Tanya, another cup of flat white. “Nakausap ko na yung security team ng TPCC, and all’s set.” She grabbed her tablet and pulled up a copy of her checklist. 

“Nice! Great job, Roxy!” Kenji gave her a fistbump and said, “I’ll call Obet and make sure everyone’s looped in sa HQ.”

She ticked another box on her screen then replied, “Thanks, Kenj. Pakisabi na lang na may staff ng naghihintay sa private entrance. They will be escorting the former VP to the Board Room.” 

He gave her a thumbs up.

Her boss glanced up from her Zoom meeting and commended her, “Great job handling that curveball, Roxy.” 

Their small group worked quietly for the next 15 minutes, with Kenji monitoring updates from their office and Roxy rescheduling meetings for that afternoon. 

She heard Tanya wrap up a client touch base then saw her rise from her seat. “I need to check on the twins. Sabi ni Yaya Moi kanina parang mainit-init na rin si Luna. Baka nahawa na kay Sky,” she said while unhooking her personal phone from the charger.

“Kawawa naman ang mga babies. But don’t worry! We got this, Boss Lady,” Roxy replied reassuringly.

“Alam ko naman ‘yon, and I trust you both. Nakakapagtaka lang talaga itong request ni former VP,” Tanya said while heading for the door. “I’ve worked with the Mariano team before. Let’s just say last-minute meetings are incredibly rare.” 

One of the most loved political figures in the country, Martin Mariano would have won the presidential election by a landslide had he ran for the seat. But after surviving a severe heart attack at age 63, he decided to focus on his health and spend his time with his remaining family - his grandkids.

“This is very cloak-and-dagger,” Tanya added as she pulled the door open. “But it will keep things interesting. Buckle up, team!” 

Roxy swallowed a lump in her throat.

Interesting indeed.

Almost seven years have passed since they met, but she could still feel butterflies in her tummy whenever she thought of him - the former vice president’s grandson. But along with the fluttering wings was an ache lodged so deep inside her, it was impossible to get rid of.

Roxy sighed. The rest of the afternoon’s bound to be busy, so she decided to table the melancholic thoughts for that night, when she’s in her bathtub surrounded by floral-scented bubbles and a glass of her favorite bubbly’s within reach. She pulled up her company email account and focused on clearing her inbox. 

Roxy joined SLT Strategies right after graduation. It was a small company, fairly new too - they just celebrated its third anniversary about a month ago. But SLT’s founder was one of the most sought after political consultants in the last five years, Tanya Cruz.

She met Tanya during her internship back in senior year, and they clicked. Eventually, Tanya put up her own business and offered her a post in their PR team two weeks after she received her diploma.

The rest was history. 

“Earth to Roxy,” Kenji yelled from the other end of the conference table, “Narinig mo ba yung sinabi ko? Or busy ka na sa pagre-reminisce?”

“Reminisce ka dyan. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roxy said with a straight face while closing her LinkedIn search and returning to her inbox.