Kabanata 23
I'VE BEEN TO world-class executive meetings, but never in my entire life have I felt this nervous.
Nag-uusap silang tatlo pero ako'y parang kahoy, tuwid lang ang pagkakaupo at 'di na magugulat kung biglang ugatin.
I've moved on, pero hindi ko maikakaila ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. I know I've forgotten about him; ilang taon na rin ang lumipas!
I've never stalked him, kaya masasabi kong naka-move on na ako. But why the hell do I feel giddy when I smell his perfume? Hindi pa rin siya nagpalit ng pabango!
He's wearing a plain white shirt underneath his black coat and pants. I noticed a gold chain necklace around his neck, the pendant partly hidden inside his shirt.
He's matured a bit. Well, he still looks the same, but now he seems more rigid than before. Manlier. Hotter... fuck?
"Yes, si Engineer Flores ang sinasabi ko sa 'yo noon, Vioxx!" Lars said. "I met her in Europe last year during a convention with Cas. Eh, no'ng meeting niya, naiwan akong paikot-ikot sa hotel kaya nakilala ko siya. I was shocked when I found out she's an engineer at Flores pa! Bukod sa mga Miranda at Sandejas, kilala ang mga Flores internationally more than here, am I right?"
Nanatili akong nakatingin kay Vioxx, pero nagulat ako nang bigla siyang bumaling sa akin at nagkatitigan kami. That's when I realized I am shamelessly gawking at him!
"Sera?" Lars called.
"Oh!" Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin at bumaling kay Lars.
"H-Huh?"
"'Di ba?" aniya, sabay ngiti.
"O-Oo." I cleared my throat, mabilis na inabot ang juice sa harapan at uminom.
Napasulyap ako kay Winter na nakangiti. I saw her leaning back on her chair with a menacing smile. She glanced at me, then at the man sitting beside me, a knowing look playing in her eyes.
"Magkakilala kayo?" she suddenly asked.
My heart raced. Lars paused, then glanced at Winter before looking back at us.
"Magkakilala kayo?" she repeated, confused.
Nang mapasulyap muli ako kay Vioxx ay umigting ang panga niya bago binasa ang pang-ibabang labi. Just alone made me feel things... it looked so sensual.
Shit.
Winter's lips twitched as she looked back and forth between us like some tea's boiling and she couldn't wait to have a taste!
"So..."
"No," I said, looking away.
Lars nodded. Nanliit ang mata ni Win, at nang bahagya akong sumulyap kay Vioxx, seryoso siya—pirmi ang labi, matalim ang mga mata.
"Weh?" Win asked.
"Let's proceed to our business," malamig na putol ni Vioxx, sabay ayos ng upo.
"Y-Yeah," I murmured, returning to my laptop, trying to calm my hyperventilating heart.
I cleared my throat, noticing the silent exchange between Lars and Winter, habang ako'y nanatiling seryoso.
The project centered on the renovation of several cabanas and establishments in The Lost Island. According to the management, a number of these establishments had been flagged for violations of the island's strict environmental and structural regulations.
Pinag-aralan na namin 'to at napag-meeting-an na. They wanted every store, cottage, and restaurant to embody eco-friendly principles. At first, I thought my assignment would focus solely on Casa Amara Resorts, kaya namangha ako't isa ako sa mga lead engineers na kasama sa renovation sa mismong isla!
BINABASA MO ANG
Dancing With Fire (TO BE PUBLISHED)
General Fiction[REVISED EDITION, 2026] Lost Island Series #4: Dancing With Fire "A love that risked everything, knowing it might leave ashes behind, yet choosing to burn anyway." Money. For Serafine Veronica Mendez, money is everything. A self-proclaimed rich ki...
