CHAPTER 3

Aya’s POV

I don’t have anyone I could call my friend. But at that moment, Dani felt close to one. While I was composing myself, retouching my swollen face, biglang may kaluskos akong narinig sa malapit.

“Narinig mo rin ba?” Tanong ko kay Dani.

“Parang may gumalaw sa upper floor.” Bigla akong kinabahan. Paano kung–

“May nakarinig kaya sa atin, Dani?” Pag-aalalang sabi ko. “Walang pwedeng makaalam. I didn’t even know what happened five years ago.”

“Don’t worry. If this arises, wag naman sana, I’ll be with you.” Ani nya sabay hawak sa kamay ko. “Tara na, break time is almost done. Are you okay na?”

I gave her a reassuring smile before we went back to our cubicle.

Pagbalik namin, everyone seemed busy on their own screens–doing reports, answering calls, basically doing their own tasks. Napatulala ako sa aking monitor. For the first time in a long while, he was close. Adrian is just one floor above me.

“Hoy,” pabulong na wika ni Dani. “Okay ka lang ba talaga?” 

Tumango ako. “I just need to act normal, and so do you, okay?”

Time went by like a blur. Ang dami ko ngayong iniisip at dumagdag pa talaga siya. Para akong nabunutan ng sandamakmak na tinik sa dibdib nung nakita kong okay sya. Pero di ko ring maiwasang masaktan habang iniisip na malayo na ang narating niya while I am still stuck where he left me. 

I came to a decision. This building is too big. Magiging madali lang para sa akin ang iwasan sya. Kung sasakay siya ng elevator, I can wait for the next one. If he visits our department, I can excuse myself and go to the restroom. Kung may kailangan siyang papers, Dani can bring it to him. For sure, maiintindihan naman ko ni Dani. And if there is a meeting, I can sit somewhere we would not notice.

For now, I need to survive in this city where I know no one. I can’t afford to resign and find another job. And while I am here, that would be the plan.

It was almost 6 p.m. when we decided to leave. Masyado ng mahaba ang araw na ito and I badly need rest. To make sure na hindi ko sya makikita, napag-isipan ko ang left wing elevator papuntang lobby ang gagamitin ko. 

“Aya, hindi ba dito?” Tinuro ni Marie, isa ko pang workmate sa marketing, ang daan papunta sa right wing elevator na normally naming dinadaanan.

“Ah eh may kailangan lang akong daanan dito sa kabila. See you tomorrow!” Dali-dali akong naglakad papalayo, sa pag-iwas na rin sa maraming tanong ng katrabaho. 

Nakahinga lang ako ng maluwag ng makarating ako sa elevator. Tahimik dito at walang tao. Mas madalas kasi sa right wing ang mas busy since ayun ang mas malapit.

Sandali kong pinanood ang city lights na tanaw mula sa kinakatayuan ko habang hinihintay ang pagbaba ng elevator. 

24…

23…

Ting!

Slowly, I turned around. Tila ba nag slow mo ang pagbukas ng elevator ng mga oras na iyon. My jaw dropped. Kaagad nagtagpo ang aming mga mata. Should I run away from him? But it’s too late. Nakita na niya ako eh. Sumakay na rin ako at pumwesto sa dulo–malayo sa kanya.

The atmosphere was suffocating. Para akong masusuka sa kaba. “Really, Aya? MAy paplano plano ka pa ha.” Bulong ko sa aking sarili.

“You’re Miss Reyes, right?” He was wearing a dark suit, his sleeves slightly rolled up, and his usual serious expression. But his eyes were focused on me. 

“U-Uhm yes, sir.” sagot ko sa kanya habang nakatungo ng bahagya. Hindi ko kinakaya ang titig niya. 

“Do you work in the marketing department?”

“Yes po.”

“Your name again?” Bigla akong napatingin sa kanya.

“Po?” Nauutal na sabi ko habang pinoprocess ang tanong niya. “Ah, Aya po. Aya Reyes.”

There was deafening silence–uncomfortable and dreadful. Parang gusto ko na lang lamunin ng lupa sa mga oras na iyon.

“Aya Reyes.” Tahimik niyang sambit na para bang malalim ang iniisip. 

Nanatili ang katahimikan hanggang sa makarating kami sa lobby. I was about to step out of the elevator when he spoke.

“Have a good night.” 

I forced myself to nod politely. “Good night, Sir.”

I quickly walked toward the glass exit door of the building. My heart was beating fast, I could almost hear it in my ears. I slapped myself gently, weighing whether I was just imagining things.

The moment I stepped out of the building, the cold air hit my face. I immediately walked toward the bus stop across the street. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari. Tila ba nanlalambot ang tuhod ko.

“Calm down.” Bulong ko sa sarili. “It was nothing. He just asked for your name.” It was normal for a CEO, yes. But for a person you planned a lifetime with, I don’t think so. 

Adrian’s POV

I watched as she slowly faded from my view, too stuck on my feet to press the button. Why does her name sound so familiar? I recalled encounters I had in the past that I might have missed.  

Was she a former client? A university acquaintance? But nothing came to mind. And yet the moment I saw her earlier, something felt strange. Something in my chest tightened. Almost like a memory trying to surface. 

I rubbed my temple. A sudden headache started forming. 

“Sir, are you okay?” Napatingin siya sa nagsasalita habang hawak hawak ang ulo. It was Ms. Cruz –her assistant.

“I’m okay,” tipid niyang sagot. 

The elevator opened in the basement where his driver was waiting. He was about to walk his way to his car when he said, “Ms. Cruz.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Send me the employee file of Ms. Reyes.” His assistant blinked in surprise.

“From marketing, Sir?”

“Yes.”

“Right away, Sir.” But something still bothered him. Because the moment he looked into her eyes earlier, he saw something he couldn’t explain. Like she had been waiting, expecting something from him. 

Adrian frowned slightly as he entered the car. The driver immediately closed the door behind him. 

“Home, sir?” the driver asked. 

“Yes.” matipid kong sagot.

The car started moving, merging smoothly into the evening traffic. The city lights reflected against the tinted windows, but I could barely appreciate them. Hindi maiwasang lumipad ng isipan ko.

Aya Reyes. 

Her name keeps on repeating inside my head. Why does it sound so familiar? I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes for a moment. I am trying to recall something—anything—that might explain the strange feeling I get since I have met her. But the harder I  tried to remember, the stronger the headache became. 

Fragments. That was all I could see. Blurry images that didn’t make sense. Flashes of lights na gumugulo sa isipan ko. Rain. A girl standing under a shed. A trembling voice. And eyes filled with tears. 

I suddenly opened my eyes. The image disappeared just as quickly as it came. “What the…” Gulat kong sabi sa sarili.

This is new. Random headaches. Short flashes of unfamiliar memories. 

Sino ka ba talaga, Aya Reyes?