III: The Architect

Tatlong buwan na ang lumipas simula ng nagpunta siya sa isang bar sa BGC. Tatlong buwan simula ng sumama siya sa isang penthouse. Tatlong buwan simula ng sumakay siya sa black sedan palayo sa lalaking hindi man lang niya nalaman ang pangalan. In that time, Chloe Villanueva meticulously build a new life in Manila, a life as clean and orderly as the blueprints she designed. Ang kanyang bagong apartment ay eksaktong kabaliktaran ng penthouse ng gabing iyon. Here, everything is her masterpiece- a product of her intelligent and creative mind. Planned and designed by her own to show minimalism and efficiency, with clean lines and a breathtaking view of the city.

As an architect, she find peace in precision. Madalas, ang kanyang umaga ay nagsisimula sa amoy ng aroma mula isang mug na mainit na kape, with a subtle background playlist of groovy and chill playlist like that of Prep. She'd sit at her drafting table, with a well-worn T-square and a precise black pen as her companions-- as she give life to ideas, making concepts tangible, line by line, brick by brick.

Ito ang mundong kaya niyang kontrolin. Ito ang kanyang rebelyon mula sa gulo ng kahapon, at isang pagkakataon upang magsimula ng panibago at bumangon mula sa pagkakatalo.

But even here, surrounded by the comfort of her design, a single and undying ghost kept breaking through her focus: ang alaala ng lalaking iyon.

The way his hand declares possessiveness of her, the low rumble of his voice, the exuding aura and confidence in his presence. He was a piece of pure chaos in her otherwise perfect design- an unexpected element that she couldn't account for on any blueprints. He was the one flaw in her perfect plan. At kahit magaling siya sa kalkulasyon, hindi makuha ni Chloe ang tamang stratehiya para mahinto na ang pag-iisip niya sa taong iyon.

Ilang oras ang makalipas, si Chloe ay nasa kanyang office, isang tahimik na espasyo that offers a large window with a perfect city skyline. She loves sky views since she was 8. She was a woman in control here. Nasa mesa nito ang blueprints na need niyang i-review para sa kanilang kliyente. It keeps her distracted from everything- from her family, from him. In this confined space of gray and white, every problem had a solution, and every line served a purpose.

Her phone buzzed, at isang pamilyar na message ang kanyang natanggap mula sa kanyang bestfriend, who was still in her old city. Chloe put her pen and eyeglasses down the table as she answered the incoming call from the person whom she trusted aside from her parents.

"Kumusta ka naman, bruha?" sabi ni Aya sa kabilang linya.

"Buhay pako, bes. Do not be disappointed," and laughs filled the air. This is her bestfriend after all. She can talk to her even for a whole day. God knows how much she love this woman.

Nag-usap sila tungkol sa kanya-kanyang buhay-- sa kanyang bagong apartment hanggang sa napunta ito sa one night stand sa BGC. Wala siyang ibang pinagsabihan nito, kundi ito lamang.

"So, spill. Did you have fun on your last night?" Chloe sensed her bestfriend won't let this topic go. She can imagine her flashing a mischievous grin on her.

"Hay, Aya. You are using the wrong word. Fun isn't the word for it."

"What then, Villanueva? Tell me what word would suit in your experience?"

Sandaling nag-isip ang dalaga, at wala siyang maisip na salita para rito. She sighed in resignation.

"White flag has been raised."

"Sus, ayaw mo lang mag-share eh."

"Hindi ah," sabay upo niya ulit sa kanyang couch na naroon sa kanyang office.

"Pero, aminin mo, masarap?"

Chloe suddenly flushed upon the question, remembering that night. She was aware of everything they did. For pete's sake! Mas masarap pa ito sa masarap!

"Bunganga mo, Aya, pakabastos. Holy water ka muna!"

She heard her friend boost laughter on the other line. Aliw na aliw ang gaga sa pagtatanong sa kanya.

"Hindi nga, Chloe?! Masarap ba?"

"Hmmm... oo."

"Shit ka! Bakit di mo agad sakin sinabi edi hinanap natin yang masarap na yan at ng makaulit ka, hindi mo man lang tinanong kung anong pangalan? Napakahina mo naman!"

"Hoy!" mahinang sigaw niya rito. But her smile gives it all. Masarap nga.

"Malaki ba?" muling tanong ng kaibigan niya.

"Aya Perez! Isa pang tanong mo, isusumbong na kita sa jowa mo!" banta niya rito because she remembered every single detail. As in everything.

"Malaki nga, mananakit ka na e." sabay tawa pa ulit nito na tila inaasar si Chloe. She had never seen Chloe, so prim and proper, behave this way. This was all new to her, and she was enjoying it immensely.

"Gaga, mga tanong mo kasi, walang filter. Jusko naman." and she sipped her water from her pink tumbler, her mind replaying the night.

How did he do that? How did she manage to walk after that sleepless night?

The questions flustered her all over again.

Fuck. This is so embarassing.

"Wow, ha? Virgin ka?" Aya's voice was a playful taunt. "Hello?"

"Shut up, Aya."

"Tell me first, bes!"

"No."

Aya is the total paradox of Chloe, a vulgar and liberated in her own way. Kaya nagtataka pa rin si Chloe kung paano niya ito naging bestfriend.

A sharp ping from her desktop interrupted them. She took a quick peek at the screen, and an email popped up.

Chloe hated to end the call, but her work needed her attention.

"Aya, we'll talk again, okay? May kailangan lang akong asikasuhin."

"Okay, bes! Miss you."

"Miss you, too." The call ended.

He was just a distraction, a one night stand. She had to forget him.

With a deep breath. she spared no time and went over the details of the email she received from her boss.

The subject was simple: Villanueva & Co.

Binasa niya ang laman nito, very concise and professional, outlining the details of a new, high-profile project for a major client. Na-excite naman si Chloe sa nabasa niya na that she will working with a high-profile project, it has been ages since the last one.

Her boss's final read, "I've attached his profile for your reference."

The photo icon blinked on the screen. It's just a photo, a simple click is simple. Sinabi niya sa sarili na mabilis ang tibok ng puso niya dahil isa itong malaking project para sa kanila- sa kanya. But as she clicked on the attachment, the image that loaded was anything but simple.

Ang mukha sa larawan ay nakatitig sa kanya, gaya ng gabing iyon. The same dark, intense eyes. The same arrogant perfect smile. At ang pangalan niya na hindi naitanong noong gabing iyon ay nakasulat sa itaas ng larawan: Aiden Ramirez