Chapter 5

“Please. Leave me alone. I politely ask of you.” he almost sounded like he was begging. Takang-taka sa kanya si Aiesha. Parang kanina lang ay maganda yung interaction nilang dalawa, ngunit ngayon ay parang tinataboy na siya na parang may tinatakutan siya.

“A-alright… I apologise to disturb.” nevertheless, Aiesha smiled at him sincerely and just turned her back.

Nang marating niya yung elevator ay saka naman siya ulit na may nakasabay. She looked up to the person who’d entered with her and just as soon as the doors closed, her eyes widened.

It’s the Chairman?

“Bold for you to ask my secretary for coffee and lunch, but not me?” tila naiinis niyang tanong na ikinasara ng kanyang bibig. The hell?! Was he eavesdropping just a second ago?!

Deeply panicking inside, she tried to remain calm and composed. But she didn’t dare to look at him this time.

“I-its you pala, Chairman… I apologise for this morning’s interaction, that I have overstepped my boundaries—I didn’t knew that it was you.” hindi alam ni Aiesha kung paano niya ito haharapin. She was feeling distorted all of a sudden just to his presence alone despite being composed.

“Do you for real not recognize who I am?” the chairman asked, his voice almost bitter, making Aiesha turn to him abruptly. She narrowed her eyes, trying to familiarize the man that was in front of her.

Yes, he was familiar, but she couldn’t tell who it was.

“Y-you’re… familiar, Chairman… I’m sorry, but I only knew a few people here in the Philippines since I came from London-”

“And I’m not one of those people who you knew of?” his eyes darkened at her as he approached her closely. Tila kumabog ng todo ang kanyang dibdib sa kung paano siya nilapitan nito.

She was looking at him suspiciously, but not an ounce of fear was seen across her face. Aiesha knew that if there’s something to occur wrongly, she can just stand up for herself.

“Chairman. I ask of you… to please keep your distance.” she whispered. The Chairman’s eyes narrowed at her, but what he did next made her frozen solid.

“What if I don’t keep my distance—at least not until you remember who I am?” he stepped closer, pressing his hand against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her in place. The Chairman pressed a button, selecting a floor, all while keeping his eyes on her. His gaze remained locked onto hers, laced with dominance, intrigue, and a hint of irritation.

Aiesha’s eyes danced in confusion, her breath hitched with how the distance between them was closing in. It was literally her first day and this is what she was already experiencing!

“Chairman… please keep your distance away from me.” her tone was sounding different. The kind of tone that was already getting impatient. Alam na alam niya isang galaw at maling sabi niya, would lose her position.

At that moment, every thought inside of her was beginning to consume her. Confused, anxious, yet defiant.

If he ever do something to her, she won’t hesitate to fight back, and she’ll just return to London to look for another work. After all, she’s a jewel. Most of her professors in the UK wants her to work for them, so it wouldn’t be much of a loss to her if sh ever gets kicked out of the company.

The man in front of her only smirked, a trace of sarcasm curling on his lips.

“Why are you always so unfair, Aiesha? It’s only been ten years, and yet you’ve forgotten again the person you left without saying a single word.”

Natigilan si Aiesha sa mga sinabi niya. Her eyes widened as something clicked, memories she had buried ten years ago rushing back all at once.

Just then, the elevator doors slid open.

He cast her one last bitter look before stepping out, hands tucked into his pockets, walking away with quiet dominance—as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on her.

N-no….

How…

Nang unti-unting sumira yung pinto, ay muli siyang tinalikuran nito at nagtama ang kanilang mga tingin.

Those eyes…

“I’ll see you later, my Aiesha.” malambing niyang sabi habang marahang kinapa ang magkabilang pisngi niya. At bago pa man siya tuluyang makaalis, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.

The boy whom she left ten years ago…

“You don’t have the wrong idea… I like you.” he confessed casually. Aiesha’s heart then thumped. Her eyes widened and her hands began to shake.

The memories came rushing back like a raging river—harsh, unceasing, and utterly relentless.

“Stole your first kiss? For godsake… if not me, who else do you want to kiss you?” mabigat at nagagalit na pagtanong sa kanya ni Shion. Aiesha remained stoic and upset.

“S-shion…! Ano ba!”

“Sino? Who the fuck do you want to kiss you?!”

Aiesha’s eyes began to water as the doors slowly slid shut, and the last thing she saw began to haunt her.

Shion… those were Shion’s eyes!