Chapter 1: The Interview

Two strangers.

One unforgettable night.

And a secret that changed everything.

Seven years ago, Elise Ramos was heartbroken, drunk, and done with love. After discovering her boyfriend was cheating — the same week her mother fled an abusive marriage — she ran away to Baguio to forget. There, she met him.

Gabriel Navarro, a man with demons of his own, was nursing a shattered heart after the woman he loved chose her career over him. Wasted and bitter, he didn’t care about anything… until a stranger sat next to him, just as lost as he was.

They talked. They drank. They laughed about how love ruins people.

And then… they made a mistake.

One night. No names. No promises.

She left before he woke up.

He forgot everything — or tried to.

Now, seven years later, Elise is a single mother doing everything she can to give her daughter a good life. She applies for a job at a powerful company, desperate to start over.

What she doesn’t know?

The man sitting behind the CEO’s desk… is the same man from that night.

The man who left her pregnant.

Gabriel doesn’t recognize her at first.

But something about her feels hauntingly familiar — and when he starts remembering, the truth threatens to destroy them both.

Will Elise finally tell him the secret she’s been hiding all these years?

Can Gabriel accept a daughter he never knew he had…

Or will the past repeat itself, tearing them apart again?

-------------------------------------------------

Seven years later...

Naglalakad si Elise Ramos sa lobby ng Navarro Holdings na parang may bato sa dibdib.

Polished marble floors. High ceilings. A receptionist who didn’t even look up from her iPad. Everything screamed “I don’t belong here.”

Pero kailangan niya 'to.

Para kay Sofia.

Humigop siya ng hangin, inayos ang blouse na medyo lukot, at kinapkap ang envelope na may resume niya.

“Okay, kaya mo ’to, Elise. Para kay sofie”

Pero bakit parang ayaw kumalma ng dibdib niya?

Tumunog ang elevator.

Ding.

Pagbukas ng pinto, doon niya siya nakita.

Nakatayo. Naka-black suit. Matangkad. Malamig ang aura.

Gabriel Navarro.

The CEO.

At ang lalaking minsan niya lang nakita sa buong buhay niya — pero hindi niya kailanman nakalimutan.

Elise froze.

He looked… exactly the same.

Mas mature. Mas refined. Pero parehong intense ang mga mata.

Parang hindi na-inlove. Parang hindi nasaktan. Parang walang anak.

Anak.

Parang gusto niyang mahulog sa sahig.

“This can’t be happening…”

Napatingin siya sa kanan, kunwari may hinahanap sa bag, habang dumaan si Gabriel sa harap niya.

Pero sa ilang segundo lang na magkalapit sila, nagkatinginan sila.

At may nangyaring kakaiba.

Si Gabriel, na akala niya'y hindi siya kilala — napahinto ito.

His eyes narrowed.

He looked at her like he was trying to remember something.

Something blurred. Something broken.

A flash. A hotel room.

Rain against a window.

A name he never asked.

Pero bago pa man magsalita si Gabriel, tumunog ang telepono niya.

He blinked. Looked away. Walked off.

“Oh my God…”

Elise nearly forgot how to breathe.

—

Flashback - Seven Years Ago, Baguio

"Bullshit ang love," sabi ng lalaking 'di niya kilala habang tinungga ang alak.

"fvck that!," sagot ni Elise, sabay ngiti na may luha sa gilid ng mata.

Dalawa silang lasing.

Dalawa silang wasak.

Dalawa silang hindi naniniwala sa pagmamahal.

At sa gabing 'yon, sa lamig ng Baguio at init ng sakit nila,
may nangyaring hindi na mababawi.

—

Back to Present

“Elise Ramos?” tawag ng receptionist. “You’re next.”

Parang biglang bumigat ang katawan niya.

Pero naglakad siya papunta sa elevator.

Dire--diretso. Dahan-dahan. at miwas sa kaba.

Hindi niya alam kung naaalala siya ni Gabriel.

Pero alam niyang hindi siya basta-basta makakalusot sa lalaki'ng ‘yon.

Hindi habang dala-dala niya ang sikreto ng pitong taon.

Hindi habang may batang nag-aabang sa bahay —
na ang mga mata ay kahawig ng CEO.

------------------------------

Pagkabukas ng pinto ng executive office, pakiramdam ni Elise ay para siyang pumasok sa ibang mundo.

Floor-to-ceiling windows. Mahogany desk. Minimalist but expensive.

At sa likod ng desk, nakaupo ang lalaking pitong taon niyang iniiwasan at hindi niya alam na ang lalaking naka buntis sa kanya ay isang CEO —
Gabriel Navarro.

Nakatingin siya sa mga papeles sa harap niya. Walang emosyon. Walang ngiti.

“Elise Ramos,” he said flatly, without looking up.

Boses pa lang niya, parang sinuntok na siya sa sikmura.

“Yes, po…” she answered, barely above a whisper.

He flipped a page. Scan. Flip. Scan.

Tahimik ang silid maliban sa tunog ng papel na nililipat niya at tibok ng puso ni Elise na parang drumline sa tenga niya.

Nagtagal ng ilang segundo — o minuto ba? Hindi siya sigurado.

Then, finally…

He looked up.

Straight into her eyes.

And for the first time in seven years, their eyes locked.

His were unreadable. Her chest tightened.

Sht. Hindi ako pwede tumingin nang matagal.*

Pero hindi siya makalingon.

Napako siya. Para siyang bata sa harap ng principal — pero may kasamang halo ng kaba, guilt, at 'di maipaliwanag na sakit.

"Miss Ramos…" his voice was deep, slow, almost cautious.

“Yes, sir?”

He stared at her. Mahabang titig. Parang may hinahanap sa mukha niya.

Parang may gustong alalahanin.

Parang... may alam.

She tried to straighten her back and look composed, pero nanginginig na ang mga daliri niya sa lap.

"Do you usually space out during job interviews?"

Biglang malamig ang boses niya.

Oh no.

“I—uh, I’m sorry po. I was just—”

“Because this isn’t a good first impression,” Gabriel said sharply, sitting back. “You’ve been in this room for three minutes and haven’t answered a single question. You’ve just been staring at me.”

Napahiya siya. Namula. Parang gusto niyang lamunin siya ng upuan.

“I apologize, sir. I was just—nervous po. It won’t happen again.”

Gabriel’s jaw clenched. He looked down at her resume again.

“Single mother,”

nakalagay sa personal info.

His brow twitched.

Single mother?

"How long have you been in the industry?" he asked, neutral again.

“Five years po… in small firms. Mostly freelance projects. I took a break din po for... personal reasons.”

Gabriel hummed, still scanning.

He tapped the edge of her resume with one hand. The other rubbed his temple, as if something was bothering him.

And then...

"Have we met before?"

BOOM.

Parang may granadang sumabog sa dibdib ni Elise.

She froze. Eyes wide. Mouth slightly open.

“I-I don’t think so, sir,” she lied.

Gabriel tilted his head, eyes narrowing. Parang 'di siya kumbinsido.

He leaned forward slowly. "You seem… familiar. Your voice."

Elise forced a small smile. "Maybe you’ve interviewed someone with the same name po."

Gabriel didn’t smile back.

“I don’t forget people easily,” he said, almost coldly.

Nanlamig ang batok ni Elise.

---

Flashback Snap – Baguio, 7 years ago

"Do you want to forget everything?"

"Yes."

"Even just for one night?"

"Please."

---

Back to Present

Silence.

Hangin lang mula sa aircon ang maririnig sa room.

Gabriel cleared his throat and finally leaned back.

“You may go. We’ll be in touch,” he said, voice clipped.

Hindi niya alam kung relief ba ‘yon o parusa.

Tumayo si Elise, agad na yumuko.

"Thank you po for your time, Sir Navarro."

As she turned to leave, she could feel his eyes following her.

She didn’t look back.

But he did.