Maybe This Time

5

The next week at Community Builders Co. started just like any other, until the unexpected message from their boss, Sir Enriquez, came through Aiah's email. She and MJ had been specifically assigned to handle a high-profile client—none other than Denise Julia, the R&B sensation known for her sultry voice and fierce persona. Denise wanted to build her dream house, and Aiah was to be the lead architect, while MJ would oversee the engineering aspects of the project.

Aiah hadn't thought much of it at first—another client, another project—but there was something about the way MJ's eyes lit up when he saw the name Denise Julia that immediately set off a warning bell in her head.

She glanced at MJ across the office as he stood up to grab his things for the meeting. He was unusually chipper, whistling to himself as he adjusted his coat. Something was off.

"Ano bang kinatutuwa mo dyan?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she gathered her sketches and documents for the meeting.

MJ grinned, that familiar teasing glint in his eyes. "Ah, wala lang, Architect Arceta. Excited lang akong makita si Denise Julia ulit. Matagal na rin kasi."

Aiah blinked, her heart doing an uneasy flip. "Ul–ulit?" She tried to keep her tone casual, but there was a sharpness in her question that even she couldn't mask.

"Yeah," MJ said, slipping his hands into his pockets with that irritatingly carefree attitude. "We... met two years ago. Let's just say, we had a brief history."

The words hit Aiah like a cold splash of water. Brief history? What did that mean? And why did she suddenly feel like her insides were twisting into knots? She forced herself to maintain her composure, but deep inside, a wave of frustration started bubbling up.

"Okay..." Aiah mumbled, gripping her folder a little tighter than necessary. "Let's just get this meeting done."

---

The café they were meeting at was as fancy as it got—a private room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, soft jazz playing in the background, and a waitress on standby for anything they might need. Aiah could already tell this wasn't just a regular client meeting.

Denise Julia arrived fashionably late, of course. She swept into the room in a fitted dress that clung to every curve, her dark sunglasses perched on her head, and a confident smile playing on her lips. She was every bit the star—radiant, poised, and undeniably stunning.

"Hey, MJ," Denise greeted, her voice smooth as velvet. She didn't even glance at Aiah. "Long time no see."

Aiah watched as MJ's entire face lit up. "Denise, it's been too long!" he exclaimed, standing up to greet her with a hug that lasted a little too long for Aiah's liking.

Great, Aiah thought, her irritation already simmering beneath the surface. She plastered on a polite smile as she stood up to introduce herself.

"Hi, Denise," she said, offering her hand. "I'm Aiah Arceta, the architect for your project. It's nice to finally meet you."

Denise took her hand with a smile, though Aiah couldn't help but notice the singer's grip was lukewarm at best. "Yeah, nice to meet you too," she said breezily before turning her full attention back to MJ.

"So, MJ," Denise purred, leaning a little too close to him for Aiah's comfort. "What's been going on with you? Still the same charming guy I remember?"

Aiah felt her stomach churn as MJ grinned back at Denise, clearly enjoying the attention. "Oh, you know me," he said smoothly. "Still keeping busy. Building houses, breaking hearts."