Maybe This Time

1

MJ Lim sat behind his desk in the Community Builders Co. office, idly tapping his pen against the table, his pale skin glowing under the cool lights. His thick brows furrowed as he skimmed through the latest blueprints sprawled across his desk. His red wolf-cut hair was neatly styled, making him look even more striking in his tailored suit. He was the head engineer of CBC, known for his calculated precision and an eye for detail, but today his mind was wandering. After all, he was about to meet the company's new architect—a woman he hadn't seen in years.

Mikhael Jan Lim, or MJ as everyone called him, wasn't easily rattled. He was charismatic, a bachelor from a wealthy family, and a certified ladies' man. Everywhere he went, people noticed his chinky eyes, pale complexion, and natural charm. He had been on countless dates, all of which ended the same way: him walking away, unsatisfied. But today was different. Today, his nerves buzzed in anticipation.

It had been three years since he last saw her—Maraiah Queen Arceta. Aiahkins, as her friends affectionately called her. She was the new Head Architect at CBC. MJ couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her name on the new hire memo. Aiah had transferred back to Cebu right after college, leaving behind their circle of friends. No one had seen her much since, and now she was back in Manila.

He couldn't forget the college days. Everyone knew MJ had a huge crush on Aiah back then, though he'd never admitted it outright. She was simple yet captivating, with her raven black hair, chinky eyes, and those dimples that showed at the corner of her lips when she smiled. The kind of girl who didn't need to be loud or flashy to grab attention. Unlike her loud and hilarious friends, Aiah was private and timid, often keeping to herself while the others laughed and gossiped.

And now, she was about to walk into his office for the first time in three years.

"Bro, chill ka lang," Cole Vergara said, snapping MJ out of his thoughts. Cole, one of the engineers under MJ's department, was lounging on the couch across from MJ's desk, twirling a pen in his fingers. He had that typical laid-back aura, but since dating Maloi, he had learned how to handle her high energy. "Bakit ka kinakabahan? Eh, crush mo lang naman 'yun dati pa. Baka nga hindi ka na maalala, tol."

"Alam mo, Cole, shut up," MJ retorted, half-joking. He leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. "Matagal na 'yun. We're professionals now, okay?"

Before Cole could respond, the door opened, and in walked JC, another one of the engineers. Tall, muscular, and undeniably nerdy, JC was the type to trip over his own feet while giving a presentation. He carried the same goofball energy as always, his broad grin announcing his arrival.

"Uy, ready na ba kayo? Paparating na daw si Aiah!" JC said, nearly stumbling over the carpet as he excitedly approached them. His girlfriend, Stacey, had been flooding their group chat with updates ever since she heard Aiah would be working with them.

"Baka si Stacey na naman nag-update, no?" MJ chuckled. JC always got his gossip from Stacey, who had a knack for sharing every little detail about their lives. "Ano, ano sinabi ni Staks?"

JC grinned sheepishly. "Eh, sabi niya daw 'yung hair ni Aiah sobrang haba pa rin, tapos maganda pa rin daw talaga. Alam mo naman si Stacey, 'pag sa looks na, very updated."

MJ tried to hide his smile, but his heart did a little flip. He hadn't seen her in so long. He wondered how much had changed—if anything had changed. As if on cue, Gian Apuli walked in, his tall frame towering over the others. Quiet and observant, Gian always had a way of keeping his cool. Unlike the others, he didn't say much, but MJ could tell by his smirk that even Gian found the situation amusing.

"Gian, ikaw din? Akala ko hindi ka mahilig sa tsismis," MJ teased.

Gian shrugged, barely offering a response. "Sheena's excited. Alam mo naman si Sheena—'Bebe, kailangan ko makita kung anong reaction mo pag nakita mo si Aiah,'" he mimicked his girlfriend's voice, which made everyone burst into laughter.

Sheena was the loudest of the girls, and everyone knew she could get Gian to do anything she wanted. They were the perfect pair. Sheena had deep cheek dimples and was clingy, always hanging onto Gian like a koala.

The banter continued until the office doors opened again, this time for real. The room went silent as Aiah stepped in.

She was just as MJ remembered—raven-black hair falling gracefully past her shoulders, those same chinky eyes, and the dimples he used to daydream about. Her simplicity was striking. Aiahkins. The girl who never needed much to stand out. She stood there, looking calm but elegant in her crisp white blouse and beige trousers, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on MJ. The air felt heavier all of a sudden.

"MJ," she greeted with a nod, her voice soft but steady.

"Aiah," MJ replied, trying to keep his cool. He stood up, feeling the eyes of his friends boring into the back of his head. "Welcome to CBC. It's been a while."

Aiah's lips curved into a faint smile, her dimples making a brief appearance. "Yes, it has. It's nice to see you all again."

From the corner, Maloi—who had just arrived with Stacey and Sheena—could barely contain her excitement. With her usual coquette flair, she slid her bayonetta glasses up her nose and whispered loudly, "Uy uy, rekindling the past ha! Grabe si MJ, tahimik lang, pero I remember the kilig!"

Cole, not one to miss an opportunity, laughed and added, "Tama, tama. MJ, di ba dati lagi kang nasa harap ni Aiah sa klase? Para lang makita siya?"

MJ shot him a warning look. "Cole, shut up."

But Aiah laughed—a sound MJ hadn't heard in years. "Still the same group, I see."

The rest of the introductions went by in a blur. Stacey, with her love for pink, was already planning a welcome lunch. "Aiahkins, kailangan mag-catch up tayo, ha! Ang dami nating pag-uusapan. You, me, Shee, and Maloi. Girl time!"

"Can't wait," Aiah replied, though MJ could tell she was still a little overwhelmed.

Sheena, of course, latched onto Aiah's arm like they hadn't been separated for years. "Aiah, sobrang miss ka na namin. Parang college days ulit 'to!"

Gian nodded at Aiah, his usual composed self. "Good to have you back."

JC, true to his clumsy nature, nearly knocked over a pile of papers while shaking Aiah's hand. "Sorry, sorry! But yeah, welcome back!"

Aiah laughed again, the sound of it lingering in MJ's mind. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed hearing her laugh.

As everyone settled into casual conversations, MJ found himself stealing glances at Aiah, who was already catching up with the girls. Despite her years of absence, she fit right back in with their group, though MJ could still sense the distance she kept. She was always private, never sharing more than what was necessary.

Eventually, Aiah caught him staring. She raised a brow. "So, MJ... I heard you're the head engineer now. Big shot ka na pala."

MJ smirked, leaning against his desk. "Just doing my job. What about you? Head Architect, huh? Looks like we're gonna be working closely."

"Looks like it," she replied, her expression unreadable.

And just like that, MJ felt it again—that old, familiar fluttering in his chest. Three years had passed, but some things hadn't changed.

As the day wore on, MJ realized that having Aiah around might be more complicated than he'd anticipated. But one thing was for sure—this was going to be an interesting ride.