Saving Harper

Kylie

XAVIER'S POV

(more than 6 years ago)

"Hi, are you Architect Arnaiz?" The girl who was waiting at the lobby stood up when I stopped in front of her.

"Sinong Architect Arnaiz?" Medyo natawa ako sa tanong nya. Pito kaming Architect Arnaiz sa firm namin—lolo ko, tatay at nanay ko, tito ko, yung pinsan kong si Peter, ako, at yung ate ko si Tiff.

"Uhhh. Architect Romulo Arnaiz Sr.?" She frowned at the business card she was holding not expecting na there's more than one Architect Arnaiz, then tumingin sya sakin ulit.

"Ahh. Okay the receptionist must have called me kasi wala pa yung lolo ko. May appointment ka ba? Kasi nasa site pa sya. Dadating na yon in a while."

"Yes, my dad sent me kasi he's going to be late din. Saan ako pwedeng maghintay?" She asked me.

"You can wait here if you want or may conference room din sa loob." Tinuro ko yung office namin with my thumb.

"Sige, I'll wait here nalang my dad won't be long din siguro."

"Okay, as you wish. I'm Architect Xavier Arnaiz." I held out my hand. Nagets na nya na hindi lang yung lolo ko yung nag iisang Arnaiz dito.

"Kylie. Kylie Guerrero." She took my hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Guerrero, I'll let my lolo know na nandito ka na." Binigyan ko sya ng ngiti. She's actually pretty and surprisingly taller than what I expected her to be nung nakita ko syang nakaupo sa lobby.

I ended up designing their house with my lolo. I got to know Kylie more kasi sya yung usually pumupunta sa meetings kasi busy yung tatay nya.

"So, architect, can I ask you out to dinner?" She asked me suddenly nung natapos nya akong iikot sa bahay nila habang pina pasukatan ko kasama nung contractor namin. Medyo nagulat ako sa tanong nya. Di ko kasi ineexpect that she saw me that way. Akala ko friendly lang talaga sya.

Di ko alam yung sasabihin ko. Is it a good idea to date clients? "Uhhh, pwede bang balikan kita dyan? Kasi it might be unprofessional to date a client." I admitted. Wala namang point na magsinungaling kung bakit ko pag iisipan. Baka pagalitan pa ko ng nanay ko pag nalaman nya.

"Sure." She shrugged.

Dun ko unang naisip that I might also like her.

"Xavier, you know it's not the best idea to date clients." My mom looked at me sternly when I mentioned yung tanong sakin ni Kylie habang kumakain kami ng hapunan. I was always open sa kanila pag dating sa mga bagay na ganito.

"Tanya, hayaan mo na yung anak mo. I think he can handle it. And baka nakakalimutan mo, we met in our firm. Peter met Eliza sa firm." Si Eliza, fiancée nung pinsan ko. Architect din sa firm namin.

"Tumigil ka dad. I was an architect applying in the firm and Eliza's also an architect there. Magkaiba yon. We're talking about Xavier dating a client." Tinitigan ni mommy si daddy as if challenging him to say otherwise.

My dad smiled sheepishly. "Palaging tama yung nanay mo, Xavier. Kahit na ang kliente talaga natin ay yung tatay ni Kylie." Tinaasan nya ng dalawang kilay si mommy, parang nagpapacute. Feeling ko nag mana ako sa tatay ko. Always the easy go lucky and joking type. Habang si ate Tiff naman kay mommy nagmana.