CAHPTER 2

Third Person’s Point of View

Dave Lorian Del Valle knew how to own a room.

Nakatayo siya sa dulo ng mahaba at makintab na mahogany table, sleeves crisp, watch gleaming, smile na perfect at calculated. His voice was smooth as silk—promising stability, growth, vision. Exactly what the investors wanted to hear.

At syempre, naniwala sila. Every nod from the board, bawat impressed sigh ng mga babae, pati approving glance ni Daphne Wilson—ang pinakamatapang na investor ng kumpanya—lahat patunay na Dave played his role perfectly. Golden boy. Untouchable.

Pero the moment his eyes landed on Ayah, nabasag ang maskara niya.

Nasa pinakadulo siya ng mesa, nakaupo nang sobrang stiff, clutching her pen na parang weapon. Nagtagpo sandali ang mga mata nila—sharp, icy, unforgiving—bago niya agad iniiwas ang tingin. Walang init, walang softness. Only that glare. The glare na nagsasabing hindi pa siya pinapatawad. Hindi sa pag-alis niya. Hindi sa pagkawala niya, nang pinaka-kailangan siya ni Ayah.

Dahil noon, she really had needed him—isang sandalan, someone to make the world less heavy, someone to anchor her. Pero wala siya. No calls. No texts. No trace. Parang bula lang na nawala, iniwan lang ang alaala ng tawa, init, at sakit ng paghahanap sa isang taong bigla na lang naglaho.

At ngayon… nandito siya. Standing tall and untouchable, right in front of her.

God help him, that only made him want her more.

Pagkatapos ng meeting, hinanap niya agad si Ayah sa hallway.

“Miss Cruz,” he drawled, his grin smug and infuriating. “Still working hard, huh? Some things never change.”

Sumikip ang mata ni Ayah. “And some things do. Like your name. Or is it Ian today? Or Dave? Or Lorian? Parang kinokolekta mo na lang ‘yan—kasama ng mga babae.”

He chuckled, leaning in, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Don’t tell me you’re still mad, Solene. We had fun, didn’t we?”

Nag-tighten ang panga ni Ayah. “Fun? ‘Yun ba ang tawag mo dun? Ikaw na nga talaga ang pinakamalaking playboy ng bansa… sa suit pa lang.”

Bahagyang nag-twitch ang labi niya ng smirk, kahit pilit niyang tinago. “Oh come on, Ian. You’re too obvious,” she mouthed, eyes catching the faint lipstick mark sa kwelyo ng crisp white long sleeve niya.

Napansin ni Dave ang galaw ng labi niya, at lalo pang lumaki ang smirk niya. “Careful,” he murmured. “Keep talking like that, and people might start thinking you’re… rude, crazy, and jealous.”

Ayah scoffed, tinalikuran siya. “Jealous? Of what? Hindi ko kinaiinggitan ang mga babaeng nagkakamali ng akala—na ang lust ay love.”

Pero ang dibdib niya ang nagtaksil—yung thunder sa pulso niya, yung unti-unting panghihina ng tuhod niya sa bawat titig ni Dave, at yung sakit na ayaw niyang pangalanan. Lahat ng ‘yon, sumisigaw ng katotohanan na  hindi niya kayang aminin.

Lumapit pa si Dave, leaning casually against the wall. Kahit hindi siya tumingin, ramdam niya ang init ng presensya nito. “You’re still so stubborn,” bulong niya, mababa at nakaka-tease.

“And you’re still… infuriating,” balik ni Ayah, crossing her arms. Pero halata ang panginginig ng daliri niya.

Sinubukan niyang lumakad paalis, pero subtle na humarang si Dave, blocking her path. Bumulusok lalo ang tibok ng puso niya, memories crashing back—ng mga panahong kailangan na kailangan niya si Ian, pero wala siya.

“You always think you’re in control,” Dave said softly, halos seryoso.

“And you always think you’re irresistible,” balik ni Ayah, kagat ang labi, pilit nilalabanan ang panghihina ng tuhod niya.

Kahit ayaw niyang aminin, her chest betrayed her—lahat ng tibok, lahat ng thrill, lahat ng longing. 

And Dave noticed. He felt it.

Every insult she hurled, every stolen glance na akala niya hindi niya nakita—lahat iyon ay gasolina. She was fire wrapped in defiance, and he’d burn again and again just to touch her.

He told himself it was only physical. That  whatever they had before was gone.

Nang bigla niyang isara ang pinto ng opisina sa harap niya, Dave leaned against the frame, grinning like a madman.

Dahil deep down, alam niyang isang bagay ang hindi nagbago—Ayah Solene Cruz had never stopped being his greatest temptation.