Chapter 2

002_When Miss CEO meets Mr. Agriculturist

Pagpasok ni Ael Caexie Monteverde sa exam hall, agad siyang sinalubong ng malamig na hangin mula sa aircon at ng mas malamig na katahimikan ng daan-daang estudyanteng naghihintay magsimula ang entrance exam.

Sunod-sunod ang pag-upo ng mga examinees sa kani-kanilang upuan. May mga nagrereview pa ng last minute notes, may tahimik lang na nakapikit, at may halatang kinakabahan na kinakalabit ang ballpen sa mesa.

Ael stayed calm.

She chose a seat near the middle row. Not too front, not too back. Strategic. She placed her bag under her chair, then took out her transparent envelope containing her ID, pencils, eraser, and black pen. Everything was organized. Walang kulang.

“Okay ka lang,” bulong niya sa sarili habang humihinga ng dahan-dahan.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago pumasok ang proctor. Isang middle-aged woman na may dalang stack ng test papers at clip board. Tumikhim ito para makuha ang atensyon ng lahat.

“Good morning, examinees. Please listen carefully to the instructions…”

Tahimik ang buong room. Even the restless ones stopped moving.

Ael focused on every word. She was not just listening, she was calculating her time, her pacing, her strategy. Alam niya na entrance exams are not just about intelligence. It’s about control under pressure.

After the instructions, unti-unting ipinasa ang test questionnaires. The sound of paper being placed on desks filled the room like a countdown.

Ael looked at the cover page.

Business Administration Aptitude Test.

Her heart beat slightly faster, but her face remained composed.

“Start answering now,” the proctor announced.

And just like that, the room exploded into silence filled only with scratching pens and flipping pages.

Ael began.

First few items were easy. Basic math, logic questions, vocabulary. She moved quickly but carefully. Hindi siya nagmamadali, pero hindi rin siya nagpapatagal.

Time matters.

Habang tumatagal, mas nagiging complex ang questions. Abstract reasoning. Situational judgment. Essay portion.

Sa essay part, sandaling huminto si Ael. She read the prompt twice.

“Describe your personal definition of success and how you plan to achieve it despite external expectations.”

Napahinga siya nang mabagal.

This was not just an academic question. It felt personal.

She glanced briefly around the room. Everyone was busy writing. Walang pakialam sa paligid.

Ael lowered her gaze back to the paper.

Then she started writing.

Success is not inherited. It is built.

She paused.

Sa isip niya, alam niyang maraming tao ang mag-aassume ng sagot niya. That she would say success is about continuing their family legacy. About wealth. About power.

But for her, it was different.

She wrote slowly but firmly.

It is the ability to stand on your own without relying on the name you were born with. It is the courage to fail and still continue without hiding behind privilege.

Habang nagsusulat siya, ramdam niya ang bigat ng sariling mundo. Pero hindi siya tumigil.

She finished her essay with a final sentence.

I will succeed by becoming someone I chose to be, not someone they expect me to be.

Pagkatapos noon, mabilis niyang tinapos ang remaining items. Her hand was slightly tired, but her mind was steady.

When the proctor finally said, “Five minutes remaining,” Ael already double-checked her answers twice.

She placed her pen down only when she was satisfied.

“Pass your papers,” the proctor instructed.

Sunod-sunod na tumayo ang mga estudyante. May halatang relieved, may stressed, may blank expression lang.

Ael stayed seated for a few seconds longer.

She looked at her paper one last time before submitting it.

Then she stood up.

Outside the exam hall, the atmosphere felt different. Mas maliwanag, mas maingay, mas buhay. Parang biglang bumalik ang mundo sa normal.

Ael walked slowly toward the hallway.

Her shoulders loosened a bit. Not fully relaxed, but lighter than before.

“Done,” she whispered to herself.

As she stepped out of the building, the sunlight hit her face. She squinted slightly, then adjusted her bag strap.

“Ma’am Xie!”

Napalingon siya.

Si Aling Minda pala, isa sa kasambahay nila, nakatayo sa malapit na waiting area. May hawak itong maliit na lunch bag.

“Pinadala ni Sir Dricxon. Sabi niya huwag ka na raw magutom pagkatapos ng exam,” nakangiting sabi nito.

Napahinto si Ael sandali. Then she walked toward her.

“Hindi naman niya kailangan gawin ‘to,” mahinang sabi niya, pero may halong appreciation.

“Alam mo naman ang daddy mo, Ma’am. Tahimik lang pero maalaga,” sagot ni Aling Minda.

Ael accepted the bag. “Thank you po.”

Paglingon niya sa paligid, napansin niya ulit ang mga estudyanteng lumalabas din ng exam hall. May mga group of friends na nag-uusap, may iba na tahimik lang na naglalakad.

And then, her eyes briefly met someone familiar.

The same stranger from earlier.

Nakatayo ito malapit sa puno, hands in pockets, watching the crowd. This time, mas malinaw na ang itsura niya. He looked calm, almost detached, like he didn’t belong to the chaos around him.

For a second, their eyes met.

Then he looked away first, as if it meant nothing.

Pero sa isip ni Ael, may maliit na tanong na sumingit.

Who is he?

She shook her head slightly, dismissing it.

Not important.

At least, not yet.

She turned away and walked toward the waiting car.

But behind her, the stranger finally moved, slowly walking in the opposite direction.

And without either of them knowing, that brief glance had already started something neither exams nor plans could control.