Part 5

Ang selebrasyon ng team sa isang Korean restaurant ay naging maingay at masaya, pero para kay Celle, parang may sariling mundo ang isip niya. Habang nag-iihaw si Sir Mike ng samgyupsal at nagkwekwentuhan ang iba tungkol sa mga susunod nilang gagawin para sa Alcantara Holding Corp., si Celle ay nakatitig lang sa phone niya, paulit-ulit na binabasa ang text ni Percy.

"Looking forward to your terms. -Percy"

Simple lang ang mensahe pero parang ang bigat. The ball was in her court.

"Hoy," bulong ni Chloe habang nagsasalin ng soju sa baso niya. "Kanina ka pa tulala diyan. Don't tell me you're backing out?"

"Hindi, no," mabilis na sagot ni Celle. "Nag-iisip lang ako. Saan ko naman dadalhin ang isang Percy Trench Montefalco?"

"Madali lang 'yan," sabi ni Chloe sabay lagok.

"Dalhin mo sa isang lugar na masisira ulit ang damit niya. Para may Part 2 ang 'settlement' niyo." She winked.

Napairap si Celle pero napangiti na rin. "Sira! Seryoso kasi. Should I pick a fancy place? Para hindi siya ma-turn off? Or... I don't know."

"Girl, remember your conditions," paalala ni Chloe.

"You choose the place. This is your turf, your rules. Kung dadalhin mo siya sa isang five-star hotel restaurant, para mo na ring sinabi na laro niya pa rin ang nilalaro mo. You need to take him out of his element. I-off-balance mo siya."

Chloe's words made perfect sense. Ang buong 'settlement' na ito ay para maibalik niya ang kontrol sa sitwasyon. This wasn't about impressing him. It was about settling a debt on her own terms.

Biglang may pumasok sa isip niya. Isang lugar na malayo sa mga glass tower ng BGC. Isang lugar na pamilyar, kumportable, at higit sa lahat—totoo.

A mischievous smile finally broke across Celle's face. "I think I know the place."

**************

Later that night, after dropping Chloe off, Celle sat on her bed, staring at her phone. Her heart was pounding. It was just a text message, but it felt like signing a major contract. She took a deep breath and began to type.

To: Unknown Number (Percy)

> "Good evening, Mr. Montefalco. For the settlement, please meet me tomorrow at 7 PM. The place is called 'Lola Cely's Kitchen' in Quezon City. I'll send the pin. Please come in casual attire."

She hesitated on the last sentence. Baka masyadong demanding? But then she remembered his ten-thousand-dollar suit. It was only fair to give him a warning. She hit send before she could change her mind.

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed.

From: Percy

> "Lola Cely's Kitchen. Noted. And it's Percy. See you tomorrow, Celle."

Napahawak si Celle sa dibdib niya. Okay. This was really happening.

**************

The next day felt like the longest day of her life. Hindi siya makapag-focus sa trabaho. Paulit-ulit niyang chineck ang itsura niya sa salamin ng banyo.

"Ano ba, Celle? Settlement lang 'to, hindi first date," saway niya sa sarili.

Pagdating ng 6 PM, dali-dali siyang umuwi para mag-ayos. Naghalungkat siya sa closet niya, at doon niya naramdaman ang hirap ng sitwasyon. Anong isusuot mo sa isang 'hindi-date-pero-dinner-settlement' kasama ang bago mong bilyonaryong kliyente?

She settled on a simple pair of well-fitting jeans, a plain white shirt, and a stylish black blazer. Casual, but still sharp. Hindi mukhang nag-effort, pero hindi rin mukhang losyang. She put on minimal makeup and tied her hair in a neat ponytail.

Pagdating niya sa Lola Cely's Kitchen ng 6:45 PM, naramdaman niya ang kaba. It was a well-loved restaurant, famous for its authentic Filipino comfort food. The place was cozy, with wooden furniture, capiz-shell windows, and the delicious smell of adobo and sinigang hanging in the air. Malayo ito sa mga minimalist, high-end restaurants na siguradong madalas puntahan ni Percy.

She chose a quiet table in the corner. Habang naghihintay, nag-ring ang phone niya. It was Chloe.

"O, ano na? Anong chika? Nandiyan na ba siya?" sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

"Wala pa. At teka lang, paano mo nalaman na ngayon 'to?"

"Duh! You think I wouldn't follow up? So, anong suot mo? Anong suot niya? Picture-an mo pagdating!"

"Chloe, kalma! It's not a date!" Belle insisted, though her racing heart was betraying her. "It's just—"

Her words caught in her throat.

Through the glass window, she saw a sleek, black Audi pull up. A man stepped out from the driver's side. He wasn't wearing a suit. Instead, he had on a simple, dark-colored polo shirt that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, paired with dark trousers. Kahit sa simpleng suot, he still radiated an aura of power and wealth.

He scanned the restaurant's facade, a small, unreadable smile on his face. Then, his eyes found hers through the window.

"Celle? Are you still there? Hello?" Chloe's voice buzzed from the phone.

Celle couldn't answer. Her breath hitched as Percy pushed the restaurant door open. A small bell chimed, announcing his arrival. All the noise in the restaurant seemed to fade away as he walked towards her table, his gaze never leaving hers.

"I gotta go," Celle whispered into the phone and quickly hung up.

He stopped in front of her table, his presence instantly making the small space feel even smaller. He looked around, taking in the homey, slightly chaotic ambiance of the restaurant.

"Lola Cely's Kitchen," he said, his voice a low hum. He looked back at her, a genuinely amused and intrigued glint in his eyes.

"So, this is your turf, Ms. Cruz."