CHAPTER 02

"What do you want for lunch?" tanong sa akin ni Hunter habang nakasunod ako sa kanya. Palingun-lingon pa ako sa aking opisina dahil iniwan ko roon si Macy na malamang sa malamang ay nagpupuyos na iyon sa galit.

With Hunter's long strides, I kinda struggled to catch up to him. I'm half jogging by his side just to catch up to him.

"I don't know, maybe what's available on the cafeteria..." sagot ko na lang. 

"What if it's haggis or salad?"

I made a face, "Yuck!"

"Is steak fine?" he asked, glancing over my way. 

"It's okay..." I answered, and shrugged, "But I wanted doughnuts..." ngumisi ako at lumapit pa sa kanya, at mapaglarong sinisiko ang kanyang tagiliran.

Pansin ko ang tinginan ng mga empleyado sa amin habang naglalakad kami sa hallway. May iba pang empleyado na binabati siya.

Hindi na ako apektado sa mga tingin nilang iyon. I'm quite aware of the special treatment Hunter gives me. Alam kong unfair iyon para sa iba pero sa tuwing binabanggit ko iyon kay Hunter ay sinasabi lang nito na huwag kong pansinin. 

It wasn't easy to just not mind everything. It took me months to eventually be indifferent to those hush voices and onlookers whispering about me. 

"I'll ask Dulce to buy you doughnuts so let's hurry up 'cause I'm already famished." sabi ni Hunter.

I grinned and hastened my pace. Hunter would ask small favors for himself and return everything to me a hundred times fold.

Nasa tapat na kami nang elevator nang bigla kong maalala ang darating na Gala. With the reputation I have in this company, expecting someone to ask me out is kind of a shot to the moon. 

Impossible.

Physically impossible. 

Even logically impossible. 

"May date ka na sa Gala?" pabulong kong tanong. 

Bumaling siya ng tingin sa akin, "Why'd you ask?"

Nagkibit balikat ako, "Wala lang, wala pa kasi akong date..."

Bumukas ang pinto nang elevator at pumasok siya roon. Tahimik naman akong sumunod papasok at hinihintay ang kanyang sagot sa tanong ko.

"I have to bring Mayana..." he trailed off.

I didn't bother to answer. I should've known better. May girlfriend nga pala siya. Tang ina, what was I thinking.

I bit my lower lip, stopping myself to frown.

Siguro sign na 'to upang mag-move on ako. He's someone I can't have. Someone I shouldn't have wanted in the first place.

"Why do you need a date for the Gala?" Hunter asked, breaking the unsettling silence. 

Pinakatitigan ko lang siya. Walang rason na pumapasok sa utak ko na maaaring maging katwiran ko na sa tingin ko ay lohikal upang maintindihan ni Hunter.

I might come as whiny when I told him my reason.

"You can come alone..." he said.

Nilipat ko ang tingin sa maliit na LED numbers na nagsasabi kung nasaang floor na kami.

"Can a girl doubt a bit, Hunter?" I asked and let out a sigh.

"What do you mean?" bumaling siya sa akin na magkasalubong ang kilay.

I pursed my lips and look his way, "I'm already 23, Hunt, and no one has dared to ask me out..." pinagkrus ko ang braso at muling pinako ang tingin sa harap, "Sometimes, I wondered if I'm that ugly..." I chuckled a bit.

"You're not ugly..."

"Yeah, right..."

"Seriously, Julianne Averee."

"Say that to my love life." I scoffed.

He groaned, "You are gorgeous, why do you think so otherwise?"

Because you don't see me that way?

Gusto kong sabihin iyon. Pero pinigilan ko at minabuti kong hindi na sumagot at nagkibit balikat na lang. 

I was saved by the ping as the elevator stopped and opened its doors at the 5th floor where the cafeteria was at. Nagpatiuna siyang lumabas habang ang tingin ay nasa akin pa rin.

It was so unlike him to console me with praises. Back when we're still at college, he was known as the Ice King. Students calls him that because of his cold treatment towards others. Hunter doesn't seem to mind everything or even anyone for that matter.

We came to know each other by accident. Bonded over common interest. We both became each other's anchor. Since we're both from a broken family.

My parents filed for an annulment when I was just ten, and left me in the care of my grandparents. Wala akong natatanggap na bisita galing sa kanila.

I can only imagine what Hunter has been through. Divorced ang parents niya, na ngayo'y may sari-sariling pamilya na. Ang sabi niya sa akin noon ay kinuha ni Mr. Huntington ang custody sa kanya dahil siya ang first born ng mga Huntington.

Alam kong matayog at makapal ang mga pader na naghihiwalay sa amin ni Hunter. Iyon ang bumuo sa kanya bilang Hunter Grayson Parker Huntington ngayon.

He's cold, hard, and even ruthless. But what others don't know is that he's also kind and compassionate. He's not that mean because I came to know Hunter all these years.

Tahimik ang cafeteria kahit puno ng empleyado, o natahimik lang dahil dumating na si Hunter?

I truly don't care anymore. Sinundan ko si Hunter na hindi binigyan atensyon ang mga bumabating empleyado. Naupo siya sa isang bakanteng upuan malapit sa bintana kung saan madalas kaming umupo. Andoon lang kami at hinihintay na lang ihatid ang pagkain dahil hindi gusto ni Hunter ang maghintay sa pila, ang mga empleyado niya ang kukuha niyon para sa kanya.

Tinapik ko ang kamay niya at nginitian siya, "'Yung doughnuts ko..."

He reached the insides of his coat for his phone. Sigurado na akong tatawagan nito si Dulce. Is she out for lunch? I don't really want to know. Ang alam ko lang ay sigurado akong gagawin ko ang araw niya ngayon. 

"Dulce, fetch me some doughnuts." he bossed and turned down the call immediately. This guy is just plain rude. Napangisi na lang ako.

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin, kaya't agad kong iniwas ang tingin at dumungaw sa labas. Pinanood ko ang mga taong nakikita sa kalsada na nagbababad sa araw upang iwasan ang mabibigat na tingin ni Hunter.

I can feel Hunter eyeing me, his stares grew heavy on me. I made a quick glance his way. Natagpuan kong nakasalumbaba na siya habang nakatitig sa akin. Ano kayang iniisip nitong mokong na 'to?

I can't really tell since his face is blank, void of any emotions. Nothing much had changed about him since college. What's more boggling to me was why he kept me with him...

Hindi ko na nga matandaan paano kami naging magkaibigan. It just sort of happened.

I was startled when he tapped my hand. Gulat na napatingin ako sa kanya. That was new!

"What are you mopping about over there?" he asked me and I shook the impossible idea.

"Didn't you hear me awhile ago?" tanong ko sa kanya, "Wala pa akong date para sa Gala night. Baka hindi na lang ako pumunta." bulong ko, sapat na para marinig ni Hunter.

May mga narinig akong usap-usapan na ako raw ang date ni Hunter sa gaganapin na Gala night kahit may girlfriend 'yung tao. Hindi ko alam bakit nila napag-tsismisan ang bagay na 'yon. Baka magulat silang wala akong date.

"Iyon lang?" sabi nito, nagsalubong ang kilay ko, "Julianne, you can get through the night without a guy. Besides, I'll be there and you have to be there. After the Gala night, we'll be on vacation for a month."

"Hunter Grayson, I didn't know you're this dense but you should know that I'm already 23 and not one guy ever mistaken to court me!" pag-angal ko.

Kumunot ang noo ni Hunter, "Harper likes you..." he trailed, I waited for him to continue.

Nang hindi na niya tinuloy ay sumagot ako, "Harper is younger than I am! Hindi ako papatol sa mas bata sa akin!"

Natigil ang diskusyon namin nang ilapag sa mesa ang usual lunch menu ni Hunter. His usual is a medium-well steak with mash potato, corn kernels and carrot sticks on the side. Pagkaing pang-mayaman! Well, Hunter can afford it anyway. He's rich and capable of eating steak everyday if he wants to.

Pero kung ako ang tatanungin ay nakakasawang kumain nang kumain ng steak. Gusto ko lang naman ay chicken. Mapa-McDonald's man o Jollibee. Steak is for the rich at hindi ako rich! 

"How about Callum?" he's mentioning his half-brother.

"Why? Is the Wolfe family invited to the Gala?" 

He stopped cutting his steak, and wiped his lips with the paper towel, "Fine, why don't you just go with me..." Hunter said and took the glass of wine in between his fingers, swirling the purplish red liquid, "Hindi mo naman kailangan ng boyfriend para lang may date ka sa Gala night na isang gabi sa isang taon lang."

"Are you insane?" histerikal na tanong ko, "What about Mayana?"

"What about her?"

I'd love to, but he's committed to someone else. I'm aware that as the first born to the Huntington family, his father would prefer girls that came from a high status or from the old money tree.

I, Julianne Averee Lustre, graduated Fashion Design and Merchandising from St. Ignatius University without Latin but I'm good with my work (like most of my clients says so). I didn't come from a family of high status, or of old money. I came from an above average family.

It was unexpected that I became friends with Hunter. No one would expect that we're friends. We are the classic prince and commoner type of friends.

"Don't be picky and just be grateful," Hunter said after placing the wine glass down. "Besides we're going to fly to Caribbean that same night, it'll save some gas instead of the idea that I have to pick you up after the Gala." Hunter then eyed me, he's obviously waiting for my very smart reply.

"Fine, you always make me feel dumb." I whispered and took the nicely cutted steak meat to my mouth.

Hunter nodded. "It's not about making you feel dumb, I just talk sense." he said.

Hindi na ako sumagot, at sinimulan ko na lang ang pagkain. Hunter's half-way through his lunch and I'm just about to start. I'm about to cut my steak when Dulce arrived with boxes of a local doughnut shop on hand.

"Sir, your doughnuts." Dulce smilingly said, handing the box to Hunter.

But Hunter shook his head and pointed his fork at me, "That's for Julianne," sabi niya at kinuha ang napkin upang punasan ang gilid ng labi nito na may steak juices. "I don't eat sweets." dagdag niya pa.

Inabot ko ang kahon mula kay Dulce, laman noon ang mga doughnuts na gustung-gusto ko. "Salamat, Dulce." sabi ko sa nakasimangot na ngayong si Dulce bago dali-daling binuksan ang kahon. I took a photo of the beautiful doughnuts with Hunter as the background.

"Salamat sa doughnuts, Hunter!" pasasalamat ko at tumango lang si Hunter bilang sagot and I get it. 

"Eat your steak first before that." 

I smiled as I took a perfect doughnut and took a bite. Hunter just stared at me and shook his head.

Matapos ang lunch ay hinatid ako ni Hunter pabalik sa aking opisina. Ipinatong ko ang mga kahon ng doughnuts sa aking mesa. Tapos ay binalikan ko ang sketch na ginagawa bago niya ako inayang mag-lunch.

Pagkatapos kong malagyan ng gusto kong disenyo ay isinantabi ko na iyon at nagsimula ng panibagong disenyo. Ngayon pa lang kasi ay gumagawa na ako ng disenyo para sa ilalabas kong collection tatlong buwan mula ngayon.

Marami pa akong dapat na tapusin maging ang gown na isusuot ko sa Gala. Bodice pa lang kasi ang natatapos ko roon. Mas nauna kong natapos ang mga accessory at maging ang sapatos kesa ang mismong gown.

Mas minabuti kong gawin ang mga iyon dahil napag-aralan ko naman. At mayroong internet kaya't may reference ako. Hindi ko kasi ma-afford ang mga designer na siguro'y babagay sa okasyon kaya't ako na lang mismo ang gumagawa.

My grandparents has taught me to work for what I want. If I can't buy it, I'm capable to make it. If you have the motivation, you can do everything.

Hunter would wear his usual Armani. Only the finest things for the young master. A tux won't dent his bank account. After all, his family is considered as one of the Philippines' old money family that even dates back to American colonial era.

His mother's family is not so cheap either. The Parker family had chains of apparel stores across United States. I was asking Hunter to let me work in his family's company. Baka maging mas komportable ako roon.

Dahil simula nang mawala ang lolo't lola ko at makatapos ako ng college ay pinabayaan na ako nila Mama at Papa. I'm on my own with no one to turn to. 

My best friend, Nicole, let me live with her along with her tenants in her house. We're all six ladies in one roof with all high security because Nicole can afford the expenses.

I'm running an online business that concerned my love for fashion design. The JL Collections, that makes and sells tops, dresses, accessories, and shoes.

So basically, I'm not relying with Hunter or Nicole's money. I have my own earnings too. Plus I receive salary from Huntington Realty that ranges sixty thousand to a hundred, I'm not sure since it just goes straight to my account every month.

I'm almost done paying the money I owed Nicole. But Hunter on the other hand doesn't like the idea of me paying him. If I'd try to pay him, he'll just use it the money to buy me more raw materials.

By five in the afternoon, a knock on my office door caught me by surprise. I muttered thanks to the Almighty that I was done fixing my make up. Handa na talaga akong umalis at umuwi na.

Nang magsalubong ang tingin namin nang kumatok sa aking opisina, "Oh! Hello there, Harper..." na-wirduhang bati ko.

Ngumisi ito at inilahad ang kamay, "Are you surprised to see me?" he asked, grinning as he walked inside my office.

"Yeah, quite so..." sagot ko at sinusundan siya ng tingin.

"Father had asked me to work so I'm here to see the office and look around..."

"Oh really? I didn't know! Anong tingin mo?" 

"Brother asked the HR for me to be placed in Marketing..." he trailed off, leaning his body on my table, "But it would be so cool working under you." he smirked at me as he emphasized the last words.

Shiver rundown my spine, I feel offended. I was about to snap at him when Hunter entered my office with his oh-so serious face. "Ready to go home?" he asked me, tumango ako at muling ini-hook ang strap sa aking balikat.

"Go home, Harper..." he glared at Harper, "and do tell father that I won't be joining dinner." Hunter signalled me to go. I left them, lumabas na ako ng aking opisina.

Nanginginig ako. I'm rather mad at what Harper had said! It's quite disrespectful. That does count as harassment right? Or whatever...

"You want to eat dinner first?" he asked me after catching after me in front of the elevator. I just nodded. "Don't worry, you won't pay for anything." dagdag niya.

"Yeah, sure." sagot ko na lang.

"Don't worry about Harper, he won't bother you anymore," I just stared at Hunter, "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you..." I don't know about him but my heart raced and butterflies in my stomach fluttered.

"Alam mo ba ang tagalog ng sarcastic?" tanong ko.

"What?" nakakunot na ang noo niya.

"Ang sabi ko, alam mo ba ang tagalog ng sarcastic?" ulit ko.

"I don't,"

"Iyon 'yung madalas sinasabi ni Kuya Kim sa Sunday show niya..."

Lumalim ang kunot ng kanyang noo, "Was that mapanuri?" 

"Ah, Sir," tawag ng isang empleyado sa likod namin, "Ma'am," pagbigay galang niya rin sa akin, "Mapanuya po."

"Huh?" sabay na tanong namin.

"Sarcastic is mapanuya po in Tagalog." he smiled.

Nilingon ko si Hunter, we laughed in chorus! 

Nang maka-recover kami ni Hunter ay nagbukas na ang elevator. Pumasok kami sa elevator but the employee didn't join us inside. Pinindot ko iyong button na pumigil sa pagsarado ng pinto ng lift.

"Come on in, whoever you are." tinapik ko iyong braso ni Hunter.

"Marami salamat po, Ma'am, Sir." he said as he join us in the elevator.

I pressed the button for basement 1 parking and G for the man. Nagpasalamat ulit siya nang makababa na ng lobby ng opisina.

"Mapanuri, huh?" pang-aasar ni Hunter nang makalabas kami ng basement parking. The security handed him his keys.

"Yeah, Hunter, I get it." sumunod ako sa kanya papunta sa kanyang sasakyan.

"I think you need to improve your local vocabulary too, Julianne..."

"HA-HA ang funny! Ikaw rin kaya 'no!" 

"Whatever you say..." he said, smirking.

Nang mamataan niya ang kanyang Lamborghini ay agad niyang pinatunog iyon upang tanggalin ang alarm. He opened the passenger seat for me and made sure that the seatbelt was fastened before he closed the door, and went in the driver's seat. 

"What do you want for tonight?" he asked while maneuvering his car out the parking.

"I don't really know," I said nonchalantly, "Chicken sounds good though..."

"Grilled or Roasted?"

"Fried."

"Popeye's?"

"Sure." I smiled on him.