Chapter 4

Dali-dali kong tinanggal ang coat ni Javier mula sa aking mga balikat at inabot ito sa kaniya. My hands were trembling so much that I almost dropped the heavy fabric onto the wet tiles of the balcony.

“Ate Bea is coming,” bulong ko nang may halong pakiusap habang pilit kong iniiwas ang tingin ko sa mga labi niyang kakatanaw ko lang. “Please, Javier. Umayos ka.”

Javier calmly took his coat, smoothly draping it over his arm. There was no trace of panic in his features—only a cool, dark satisfaction. “I’m always composed, Joy. Ikaw lang naman ang natataranta.”

Bago pa ako makasagot, bumukas ang sliding glass door ng lanai. Iniluwa doon si Bea na may hawak na dalawang malalaking payong.

“Nandito lang pala kayo!” usal ni Bea habang lumalapit sa amin. “Joy, bakit ka nagpapaulan? Baka magkasakit ka niyan, lagot ako sa sarili ko. At ikaw naman, Javier, pumasok na kayo sa loob. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin.”

“Papasok na sana kami, Ate,” sagot ni Javier sa isang napakalumanay at innocenteng boses na halos hindi ko mapaniwalaang galing sa lalaking kakahalik lang sa akin ilang segundo ang nakalilipas. “Pinagsabihan ko nga si Joy na pumasok na, stubborn as always.”

Napatitig ako kay Javier sa gulat. Ako pa talaga ang stubborn?!

“Naku, ever since naman stubborn talaga 'yang si Joy,” tawa ni Bea habang inakbayan ako pabalik sa loob ng main living room. “Halika na sa loob, uminom ka ng mainit na tsaa. Ang namumula pa ng mga pisngi at labi mo, Joy. Sobrang lamig na ba sa labas?”

“A-Ah... oo, Bea. Ang lamig kasi ng hangin bigla,” pagsisinungaling ko habang patagong hinawakan ang dibdib ko para pakalmahin ang nagwawalang puso.

Habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa sala, naramdaman ko ang mga mata ni Javier na nakatutok sa likod ko. Looking at him from the corner of my eye, he gave me a slow, imperceptible wink before turning to talk to his brother-in-law.

Kinabukasan sa opisina, wala ako sa sarili ko.

Nakatitig lang ako sa laptop screen ko sa loob ng cubicle ko sa marketing agency kung saan ako nagtatrabaho. I was supposed to finish the campaign proposal for a major client, pero paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa utak ko ang bawat detalye ng kagabi—ang mainit na hawak ng kamay ni Javier sa ilalim ng mesa, ang mabigat niyang titig, at ang lasa ng labi niya sa gitna ng buhos ng ulan.

Ano ba 'tong pinapasok ko? tanong ko sa sarili ko habang sinasabunutan ang sarili kong buhok.

He’s thirty. I’m thirty-five. He’s a billionaire CEO who commands entire boardrooms, and I’m a middle-manager carrying the burden of family expectations and past heartbreak. More than that, he is Bea’s younger brother. If Bea finds out about this, it could destroy our fifteen-year friendship.

Biglang nag-vibrate ang telepono ko sa ibabaw ng mesa.

An unknown number appeared on the screen. Nag-hesitate pa ako bago ito sinagot.

“Hello?”

“Did you eat lunch yet?”

Napatayo ako nang diretso sa swivel chair ko. That deep, velvety voice was instantly recognizable.

“Javier?” gulat kong bulong, glancing around to make sure none of my co-workers were listening. “Paano mo nakuha ang number ko?”

“I own a multi-billion conglomerate, Joy,” regular niyang sagot, setting off a quiet amusement in his tone. “Getting your mobile number took approximately four seconds. Now, answer my question. Did you eat?”

“Hindi pa... busy ako sa office,” medyo naiilang kong sabi. “Javier, nasa trabaho ako. Hindi tayo dapat nag-uusap nang ganito—”

“Look out your office window.”

Napa-kunot ang noo ko. “Ha?”

“Look down at the entrance. Right now.”

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at lumapit sa malaking glass window ng aming office floor sa ikalimang palapag. Looking down at the driveway of the commercial building, a sleek black Maybach was parked right in front of the main lobby.

Nakatayo sa tabi ng kotse si Javier, wearing a sharp navy blue tailored suit, holding his phone to his ear while looking straight up at the building. Even from five floors above, his presence was imposing enough that passersby were stopped in their tracks, staring and whispering.

“Javier! Nababaliw ka na ba?!” hysterical kong bulong sa telepono. “Anong ginagawa mo dyan?! Baka may makakita sa 'yo!”

“ accurate observation. People are seeing me,” kaswal niyang sabi. “And if you don't come down in five minutes, I will walk up to the fifth floor, find your desk, and carry you out myself.”

“You wouldn't dare!”

“Try me, Joy. You know I have the power to buy this entire building before two o'clock today.”

I gasped. The audacity of this man! Pero alam kong hindi siya nagbibiro. Javier was no longer the soft-spoken boy who used to ask for my help with his homework. He was an absolute powerhouse who got whatever he wanted.

“Fine! Baba ako! Huwag ka nang gumalaw dyan!” mabilis kong sabi bago inilagay ang phone sa bag ko at patakbong lumabas ng office suite.

Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa backseat ng kaniyang sasakyan, agad kong isinarado ang p***o at hinarap siya.

“Javier, seriously! Ano ba 'tong ginagawa mo?” naiinis pero kinakabahan kong tanong. “May trabaho ako! Hindi ako pwedeng bigla-bigla na lang umalis para sa kapritso mo!”

Javier didn't reply right away. Instead, he reached out, pulled a soft leather lunchbox from the seat beside him, and placed it gently on my lap.

Nang buksan ko ito, napasinghap ako. Inside were warm, fresh dishes from my absolute favorite high-end Italian restaurant—the one I only ever went to on special occasions.

“You haven't been eating properly lately,” Javier said softly, his voice losing its demanding tone and shifting into pure, gentle concern. “Nabalitaan ko kay Ate Bea na madalas kang magpalipas ng gutom dahil sa stress sa trabaho.”

Napatigil ako. Looking down at the warm food, a lump formed in my throat. For years, I was always the one taking care of everyone else—my demanding family, my unappreciative ex-boyfriend, my demanding bosses. No one ever stopped to ask if I had eaten. No one ever brought me my favorite food just because they were worried about me.

“Javier...” I swallowed hard, feeling an emotion swell up in my chest. “Bakit ka ba nag-aaksaya ng panahon sa akin? Marami kang mas importanteng bagay na dapat asikasuhin.”

Javier leaned over, reaching out to cup my jaw with his hand. His thumb gently smoothed over my lower lip, his gaze dropping to meet mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

“Nothing in my day is more important than you, Joy,” he murmured, his thumb trailing down to my chin. “I don't care about the age gap. I don't care about our status. To the world, I might be a billionaire CEO. But to you... I just want to be the man who gives you the peace and happiness you deserve.”

My eyes searched his, looking for any trace of deceit, but there was none. Just pure, unadulterated dedication.

“Eat your lunch, Joy,” Javier smiled softly, placing a quick, warm kiss on my forehead. “Then I’ll drive you back up. But tonight... you're having dinner with me. No excuses.”