Chapter 4

Matagal na akong nakaupo sa harap ng desk ko, abala sa mga papeles at report na kailangang matapos ngayong araw. Tahimik ang buong opisina. I was completely focused… until a sudden knock on the door broke my concentration.

“Come in,” I said, my deep voice echoing with authority.

The door opened, revealing Darren, my secretary. He walked in with his usual air of respect and professionalism, hawak nito ang tablet at folder.

“What can I help you with, Darren?” kalmadong tanong ko na bahagyang sumandal sa upuan.

“Sir, I just remembered. It’s time for your meeting with the board members,” sabi niya, halos maingat pa rin kahit simpleng paalala lang ‘yon.

“Oh, right.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That slipped my mind. Let’s go.”

Tumango siya agad at sinundan ako palabas ng opisina.

Pagdating namin sa boardroom, lahat ng directors ay naroon na. The moment they saw me enter, they stood up in unison and greeted me respectfully.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Santorre,” they chorused.

I nodded in return and proceeded to my seat sa pinakadulong bahagi ng mahabang mesa na gawa sa dark mahogany wood. The air shifted the moment I sat down. Tahimik ang lahat habang nakatingin sa akin, naghihintay na magsalita ako.

I cleared my throat. “Let’s begin. Fellow board members,” I started, my tone firm yet composed. “I’m pleased to report that our project is still on schedule. However, there are certain details that we need to finalize before we can move forward.”

Nakita ko kung paanong nagkatinginan ang ilan sa kanila, ang iba naman ay umayos ng upo. Anticipation and worry blended on their faces na parang gusto nilang marinig ang good news, pero kabado sa susunod kong sasabihin.

“The current budget proposal,” I continued, “doesn’t fully account for the additional requirements we’ll need. To make sure the project runs smoothly, we’ll need to add another ten percent to the estimated cost.”

May mga nagbubulungan sa loob ng silid. Ang ilan sa mga member ng board ay nagkatinginan nang may pagdududa, habang ang iba naman ay tahimik lang na nakatingin sa akin, iniintindi ang sinabi ko.

Then one man spoke up. “If I may say so, Mr. Santorre,” sabi ni Mr. Dizon, isa sa mga senior members. His tone cautious but laced with challenge. “We were told this proposal was conservative enough. At ngayon, we’re already exceeding it before even starting full implementation. Paano namin malalaman kung wala nang ibang sorpresa na ganito sa mga susunod?”

Tahimik akong tumango, keeping my composure.

“That’s a valid concern, Mr. Dizon. But the additional cost is due to the expansion of the project scope. We’re adjusting to meet new client demands. It’s either we adapt, or risk losing the deal,” I explained.

Naging tahimik ulit. Pero kita kong unti-unting bumababa ang tensyon. Nagpatuloy ang meeting ng ilang oras. May pagtatalo, paglilinaw, at calculation na nangyari sa loob ng boardroom. Until finally, after long deliberation, we reached a unanimous decision. The board approved the adjustment.

When the meeting ended, everyone looked exhausted but satisfied. Nanatili muna akong nakaupo nang ilang sandali, nakasandal habang dahan-dahang huminga. Oo, natapos ang usapan, but at an added cost that still weighed on my mind.

As I left the boardroom, Darren followed close behind. I was already running through my next steps when faint noises caught my attention from the hallway. Mga boses na tila nagtatalo o may mainit na diskusyon.

I frowned. “What’s going on out there?”

“I’ll check, sir,” Darren replied before hurrying off.

Pagbalik ko sa opisina, tinanggal ko ang coat ko at tinanggal ang top button ng polo ko. I was just about to open my laptop when the door burst open. Walang katok, o paalam man lang.

My jaw clenched instantly. “What the hell—”

But the words froze on my lips. Because standing there, her eyes blazing and chest rising with anger, was Solar.

Sandaling nawala ang inis ko at napalitan ng pagkalito.

“Solar?”

She looked stunning even in her fury. Bahagyang nagulo ang buhok nito, her lips pressed into a thin line, and those familiar eyes that once knew how to undo me. Paano niya nalamang nandito ako? Was she the one causing that noise outside?

Napako ang tingin ko sa kanya. Ang galit kong kanina pa nag-aapoy ay biglang nahaluan ng kaba, at ng mga tanong na ayaw ko sanang sagutin.

“Caellune, I brought you lunch,” Solar said softly, her voice barely steady. Hindi man lang siya naglakas-loob na tumingin sa akin habang inilalapag ang plato ng pagkain sa mesa ko, bahagyang nanginginig ang mga kamay.

I stared at her coldly. Sumiklab ang hinala at galit sa dibdib ko na parang apoy sa ilalim ng balat. May jaw tightened. Kilala ko si Solar. Alam kong may itinatago siya.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice low and cutting. My eyes flicked toward the food she brought. “Alam kong hindi ka basta-bastang pupunta dito para lang maghatid ng pagkain.”

Umawang ang mga labi niya, pero walang salitang lumabas. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Umalingawngaw sa paligid ang tunog ng orasan, at bawat segundo ay lalo lang nagpainip sa akin.

Solar fidgeted. Kinakabahang hinawakan niya ang laylayan ng damit habang palihim na tumitingin sa akin. Lalong bumigat ang tensyon sa silid hanggang sa magsalita siya.

“I… I know your secret,” sabi niya sa nanginig na boses.

Saglit na huminto ang paghinga ko. My expression hardened instantly, and my pulse spiked.

“What secret?” I asked darkly, stepping closer, my tone dangerous and cold. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Kumurap si Solar, at saglit na nakita ko ang takot sa mga mata niya. Pagkatapos ay pinilit tumingin ulit sa akin na halatang kabado.

“I’m talking about your ex-girlfriend,” she whispered.

At that instant, a sharp, bitter heat shot through my veins. Ang pagbanggit lang ng pangalan nito ay sapat na para buhayin ang galit ko. And then I knew Solar had entered that locked room.

Sumabog ang galit ko bago pa ako nakapag-isip ng maayos. Dalawang hakbang lamang at nasa harap na ako ni Solar. Agad kong hinawakan ang leeg niya.

“How dare you! Binalaan na kita, Solar. Huwag kang lumapit o pumasok sa silid na 'yon! And yet—” my voice dropped to a menacing growl. “You went back and opened it. How the hell did you get the key?!” I roared, my grip tightening.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa takot. Sinubukan niyang tanggalin ang kamay ko sa leeg niya para makahinga ng maayos, pero lalo ko lamang diniin.

“C-caellune, please…” she choked, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t mean to... I didn’t know it was a secret…”

“Don’t lie to me!” I hissed through clenched teeth, my knuckles whitening. “Alam mo kung anong ginagawa mo! You wanted to dig into my past. At pagkatapos sasabihin mo sa parents mo, right? Huwag mong kalimutan ang dahilan kung bakit nandito ka, Solar. This arrangement exists only because of the deal between your parents and me!”

Her face twisted in pain, her body trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Caellune… s-sorry,” she sobbed, her voice cracking.

Saglit na nanlabo ang aking paningin sa sobrang galit at sa kung ano pang mas madilim na isang bagay na ayokong pangalanan. Galit ako sa kanya dahil nanghimasok siya… but I hated myself more for losing control.

I shoved her away, and she fell to the floor with a cry. Nagtaas baba ang dibdib ko habang nakatayo sa harap niya, at naglalagablab ang galit sa bawat himaymay ng katawan ko.

“Leave,” I ordered, my voice like steel. I pointed to the door without looking at her.

Namumutla ang mukha ni Solar habang nagmamadaling tumayo. Tiningnan niya ako sa huling pagkakataon at saka tumakbo palabas ng opisina.

I stood there, fists clenched, staring at the closed door. My breath came hard and uneven, anger boiling inside me until I couldn’t contain it anymore. Sa galit ko ay nasuntok ko ang pader. The sound echoed through the room, a harsh reminder of everything I couldn’t control.

“How dare she…” I muttered under my breath, chest rising and falling rapidly.

Pero kahit nilalamon ako ng galit, pinagtaksilan ako ng isip ko. Bumalik ang alaala ni Nathalie. Ang mga kasinungalingan niya. Ang pagtataksil niya. And just like that… the wound I thought I had buried tore open all over again.