Nakatayo si Ash sa harap ng glass wall ng kanyang opisina sa NovaSpire habang pinagmamasdan ang lungsod sa ilalim ng lumulubog na araw. Kanina pa niya iniisip ang dinner nila ni Maya.
It wasn’t just a date for him, either. Maya was... different. Hindi siya tulad ng mga babaeng nakilala niya—hindi tulad ni Victoria. Maya didn’t care about his wealth or his title or let’s just say his status in life. Alam niyang ang gusto ni Maya ay ang pagiging totoo niya. And that scared him. “You're distracted,” biglang sabi ni Julian, papasok sa opisina nang hindi kumakatok. May hawak itong isang tablet, pero hindi nakaligtas sa kaibigan niya ang seryosong itsura ni Ash. “I have plans tonight,” sagot ni Ash at tumawa nang mahina habang nakaupo sa kanyang desk. Julian raised an eyebrow. “Plans? Don’t tell me—date? The CEO of NovaSpire is going on a date?” Napailing si Ash pero may ngiti sa kanyang labi. “Don’t make it a big deal, Julian. It’s just dinner.” “Just dinner? Kung ganon, bakit parang mamamatay ka sa kaba?” tanong ni Julian, nakangisi. “Because it’s with someone I actually like,” sagot ni Ash, kasabay ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. “And she doesn’t know who I really am.” Tumahimik si Julian, tinitigan si Ash nang may bahagyang kunot sa noo. “You haven’t told her?” “No. And I’m not planning to. At least, not yet. I want her to know me for me, not for the CEO of this company.” --- Friday Evening. Nakatayo si Maya sa harap ng closet niya. "Ano ba dapat isuot sa casual dinner?" she muttered. Eventually, she settled on a simple, fitted blouse and high-waisted jeans. Natural curls, light makeup. Simple pero presentable. Pagdating sa restaurant, she chose a table near the window, glancing at the city lights habang hinihintay si Ash. Her phone buzzed. 𝗔𝘀𝗵: I’m here. See you soon. Hindi niya mapigilang ngumiti. Ilang minuto pa, nakita niyang pumasok si Ash at agad siyang tumingin sa gawi niya. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero parang bumagal ang oras nang makita niya ito. He looked effortlessly handsome in a simple button-down shirt and jeans. Wala ang pretensyon na minsan niyang nakikita sa mga lalaki sa dating apps. “Hey,” Ash greeted her, his voice warm. “You look great.” “Thanks. You too,” Maya replied, trying to sound casual kahit na kinikilig siya. They ordered drinks, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. Napakadali nitong kausap—walang awkward silences, walang pilit na small talk. “Sabi mo you’re into movies, right?” tanong ni Ash habang umiinom ng wine. Maya nodded. “Yeah, kahit ano—comedy, drama, action. Ikaw?” “I’m more into sci-fi,” he admitted. “Something about exploring possibilities fascinates me.” “Wow, Mr. Deep Thinker,” biro ni Maya. “But okay, I’ll give you that. Sci-fi’s cool.” Natapos ang gabi na parang isang oras lang ang itinagal. It wasn’t the fancy setting or the food—it was how easy it felt to talk to him. --- Habang tumatagal ang gabi, mas naging komportable sila sa isa’t isa. Napuno ang table nila ng tawanan, kwentuhan, at masarap na pagkain. “It’s been a long time since I had this much fun,” sabi ni Maya, halos hindi makatingin kay Ash habang sinasabi ito. “Me too,” sagot ni Ash, tinitingnan siya nang diretso sa mata. “You’re different, Maya. And I mean that in the best way possible.” Biglang natigilan si Maya. Ang mga salitang iyon, bagama’t simpleng pakinggan, ay tumama sa kanya. Totoo kaya ang sinasabi ni Ash? Before she could say anything, dumating ang waiter para dalhin ang bill. Inabot ito ni Ash at mabilis na binayaran. “Next time, ako naman,” biro ni Maya, pilit na binabawi ang seryosong atmosphere. “Next time?” tanong ni Ash, nakangiti. Maya bit her lip, realizing what she’d just said. “I mean, if there’s a next time.” “There will be,” sagot ni Ash. --- The morning after, nagising si Maya na may ngiti sa labi. Naalala niya ang pag-uusap nila ni Ash kagabi. Pero habang iniisip niya iyon, may bahaging nag-aalangan sa kanya. Bakit parang malabo ang sagot niya tungkol sa trabaho? Habang iniisip niya ito, may kumatok sa pinto. Si Ava, dala ang dalawang malaking tasa ng kape. “Spill!” utos nito habang inilapag ang mga tasa sa mesa. Napabuntong-hininga si Maya at umupo. “It was amazing, Ava. Parang... ang gaan lang ng lahat.” “Uh-huh. Crush mo na siya?” tukso ni Ava, sabay higop ng kape. “Crush agad?” Maya raised a brow. “We just had dinner.” “Girl, ikaw pa ba? Your eyes say it all.” Napatawa si Maya. "Fine, maybe I like him a little. Pero hindi pa ito sure." “Pero seryoso, Maya. Ano ang feeling? Totoo ba ‘yung vibes, or am I romanticizing this for you?” Napatingin si Maya sa bintana, iniisip ang bawat detalye ng gabi nila ni Asher. “It felt... real,” sagot niya, halos pabulong. “Pero alam mo naman ako. I don’t trust easily. Alam ko na dapat mag-ingat.” Tumigil si Ava at tumitig kay Maya, tsaka hinawakan ang kamay ng kaibigan. “Maya, you deserve to be happy. Kung totoo man ang nararamdaman mo, then give it a chance. Pero kung may doubt ka, huwag mong balewalain ‘yun. Your gut never lies.” Napangiti si Maya. Isa ‘yun sa mga bagay na mahal niya kay Ava. Palaging nandiyan, palaging may tamang payo. Pero ang tanong, kaya ba niyang sundin ang payo na ‘yon? --- Meanwhile, on Ash’s side, he sat in his sleek office, staring at his laptop. The dinner with Maya replayed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but smile. It had been so long since he felt genuinely connected to someone. But then there was the looming shadow of his father. Reginald Reed was the epitome of pressure—always demanding excellence. “Focus on the company,” his father’s voice echoed in his head. “You don’t have time for distractions.” Pero iba si Maya. She wasn’t a distraction—she was... different. Tumunog ang phone niya, isang message mula kay Julian, ang matalik niyang kaibigan. Julian: So, how was dinner with your mystery girl? Spill. Napailing si Asher. Julian always knew how to poke fun. Ash: It was great. Thanks for asking. Julian: Great? Or life-changing? Ash smirked but didn’t reply. --- Later that day, habang nagmi-meeting si Maya sa office, nag-buzz ang phone niya. May isang message mula kay Ash. 𝗔𝘀𝗵: Hey, want to hang out this weekend? Maybe a walk at the park? Maya felt her heart flutter again. 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Sure, sounds good. What time? --- Saturday afternoon nagkita sila sa isang park. It was surrounded by trees and a cool breeze. Maya wore a casual sundress, and Ash looked effortlessly handsome in a simple shirt and jeans. They walked and talked, laughing about random things. Napansin ni Maya ang pagiging down-to-earth ni Ash—walang yabang. “You never did tell me exactly what you do,” Maya said casually, though curious. Ash hesitated for a moment. “I work in tech. It’s... complicated.” “Hmmm, mysterious,” Maya teased. He chuckled, changing the topic smoothly. Pero hindi iyon nakaligtas kay Maya. --- Pag-uwi ni Maya, binuksan niya ang SoulLink app at nakita ang profile ni Ash. May maliit na bagay na nag-click sa kanya. Ash—software developer, part-time artist. Her gut told her there was more to him than he let on. But for now, she decided to let it slide. Kung may itinatago man siya, malalaman din niya ito in time. And maybe—just maybe—it wouldn’t matter as much as she thought.The following days after that hangout with Ash felt like they existed in a different dimension-one where she could breathe easily, laugh freely, and not worry too much about what came next. Maya found herself looking at her phone more often, expecting to see a message from him, but she reminded herself to stay grounded. She didn’t want to seem like she was waiting for it-baka maging clingy pa dating ko, she thought. But deep down, there was that little flicker of hope, like a tiny flame that refused to go out. It wasn’t just the excitement of getting to know someone new. There was something else, something deeper. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Every time they talked, whether about trivial things like their favorite ice cream flavors or more serious topics about their pasts, she felt... connected. As if she was finally talking to someone who didn’t expect her to be anything other than herself. No pressure. No pretenses. Just her. But even with that, Maya knew she couldn’t l
The following week felt like a rollercoaster of emotions for Maya. She kept herself busy with work, trying to drown out the thoughts that seemed to keep circling back to Ash. He wasn’t just a guy she met on a dating app anymore. No, he was starting to feel like a presence in her life. And that thought make her both excited and terrified at the same time. She couldn’t deny the connection she had with him. The messages, the casual meet-ups, the way he seemed to always know how to make her laugh-Maya had to admit, it felt nice. But it was still too early. She wasn’t about to let herself fall headfirst into something again, not after everything she had been through. But even though she tried to ignore it, Maya couldn’t help but think about Ash-how easy it was to talk to him, how comfortable she felt around him. He wasn’t like Alex. He wasn’t like the others. But then again, how could she really know? Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Ash. 𝗔𝘀𝗵:
Maya was still unsure about everything. The moment she logged into SoulLink, the usual sense of excitement she'd felt before was gone, replaced by a sense of hesitation. She stared at her phone screen, at the familiar message from Ash.Ash: How's your day so far?Maya bit her lip, fingers hovering over the keyboard. They'd texted a bit earlier, but today felt different. Maybe because after the last date, something had shifted. Maya wasn't sure if it was the fact that they spent a day together in person or the lingering feeling of his touch when their hands brushed. She couldn't stop thinking about it.But she wasn't ready to jump into anything yet.Maya: Okay lang. Busy at work. You?It was short, almost dismissive, but it wasn't like she was trying to push him away. She just wasn't sure what she was supposed to say to someone like him. The guy who seemed so... perfect. But was he real? Was he the same person he portrayed himself to be on SoulLink?She sighed, feeling that familiar kn
Maya wasn't sure what she was expecting when she opened her phone that morning. Maybe a message from Ash. Maybe not. But the moment she saw his name light up on the screen, a small flutter spread through her chest. She quickly tapped the notification before she could overthink it.Ash: Good morning, Maya! I hope you're doing okay today. Would love to hear about your plans this weekend if you're free.Maya couldn't help but smile at the message. It was simple. But it felt... different. His words weren't pressured, weren't rushing her into anything. It felt like he really just wanted to get to know her more. No hidden agendas, no expectations. Just a casual, genuine conversation.She sat there for a moment, holding her phone. Was she ready to respond? She glanced at the time-she had a meeting soon. But the idea of texting him back kept tugging at her. There was this unspoken connection between them, one she wasn't ready to label just yet but couldn't ignore.Maya: Good morning, Ash! I'm
The next few days passed in a blur.Maya found herself constantly thinking about Ash, wondering if he was thinking about her too. They hadn't texted much after their meet-up at the café, which, in a way, was comforting. She liked that they didn't feel the need to fill every moment with words, yet their connection was undeniable. She appreciated the calm pace they were setting.Her phone buzzed in her bag, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Ash.Ash: Hey, Maya. I hope you're doing okay. I know we haven't talked much since Saturday, but I've been thinking about you. How's your week going?Maya's heart did a little flip. She didn't know why, but his messages always had that effect on her. He made her feel like she mattered, even if they weren't talking all the time.Maya: Hey, Ash! I'm good, just busy with work, It's been a hectic week. But I'm surviving. How about you?She hit send before she could overthink it. As soon as the message was del
The next few days after the art exhibit felt different. Maya couldn't put her finger on why, but everything about her interactions with Ash seemed more meaningful. She found herself thinking about him more than she ever thought she would, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was just... natural. He wasn't pushing her for anything, wasn't rushing things. He made her feel like she was enough, just as she was.Maya was sitting at her desk one afternoon, typing away at an email, when her phone buzzed on the corner of her desk. She didn't think much of it, but when she saw the name on the screen, her heart skipped a beat.Ash: Hey, Maya. I know you're probably busy, but I was wondering if you're free tonight? I found this really cozy jazz bar, and I thought you might like it. If you're not up for it, no pressure at all. Just thought it could be fun. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, feeling the familiar wave of excitement mixed with hesitation. It wasn't like they hadn't spent t
The following week was a blur of meetings, work deadlines, and constant back-and-forth messages with Ash.Maya found herself looking forward to his texts more than she'd care to admit, but at the same time, she couldn't shake off that lingering feeling of unease. She had known him for a while now, their conversations were easy and comfortable, but there was always something in the back of her mind that kept her from fully letting go.Maya wasn't the type to rush into things, and while she enjoyed the time they spent together-like the jazz bar date or their spontaneous Facetime calls-she couldn't ignore the questions building up in her head. Who was Ash really? What was he hiding? Why had he chosen to hide behind a different name on SoulLink?Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ash.Ash: Hey, Maya. I know you've been super busy, but I was thinking... maybe we could grab dinner tonight? I found this new Italian restaurant I think you'll love.Maya
Maya stared at her phone, the text from Ava still burning in her mind. I found something. I'm not sure what it means, but you need to know. I'm sorry... The message was so vague, it only made her more anxious. She didn't know if she should respond now or wait until after the dinner. But then again, was it even something she could afford to ignore?"Everything okay?" Ash asked, his voice gentle yet laced with concern.Maya blinked and quickly tucked her phone back in her bag, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... work stuff. Nothing to worry about."Ash didn't look convinced. "Are you sure? You seem a little distracted. I thought tonight was about you and me."The way he said it, so soft and sincere, made her heart skip a beat. But the urgency in her gut told her that whatever Ava had discovered couldn't wait. The words "I'm sorry" echoed in her mind, and it felt like the ground was shifting beneath her feet."I'm sorry," Maya muttered, a little too quickly. "I just... I need to check someth
One Year Later Maya adjusted the hem of her elegant yet comfortable white dress as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. It was a simple yet stunning piece—soft, flowing fabric that accentuated her curves without being too extravagant. She never imagined she’d wear something like this again, not after the last time she dared to believe in forever. But this time, everything felt different. This time, it was real. A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. Ava peeked in, her hazel eyes shining with excitement. "Girl, ready ka na ba? Or are you still having your signature ‘Maya overthinking moment’?" Maya let out a soft laugh. "I’m ready." And for the first time in a long time, she truly was. Ava grinned, stepping fully into the room, holding a bouquet of white peonies—Maya’s favorite. "Good. Kasi hindi na makapaghintay si Ash sa labas. Para siyang batang binilhan ng bagong laruan. Halatang kabado pero sobrang excited." Maya’s heart swelled at the thought of him. Ash.
Habang naghahanda si Maya para sa dinner date nila ni Ash, hindi niya mapigilang makaramdam ng konting kaba. Sa bawat galaw niya—pagpili ng damit, pagsusuot ng makeup, at pagkumpuni ng buhok—may halong excitement at nerbyos. Matagal na rin siyang hindi masyadong lumalabas ng ganito. Ngunit si Ash? He was different. Iba ang dating niya—kalmado pero intense, matalino pero humble, at higit sa lahat, totoo. "Ava," tawag ni Maya habang nagsusuot ng simpleng pearl earrings. "Okay na ba ‘to? Hindi naman masyadong formal, ‘di ba?" Naglakad si Ava papunta sa kanya at sinuri siya mula ulo hanggang paa. "Girl, you look hot. Pero ‘yung tanong talaga, ready ka na ba?" Napatingin si Maya sa salamin. Sa isang banda, handa siyang harapin si Ash, handa siyang malaman kung saan talaga patungo ang kanilang relasyon. Pero sa kabilang banda, natatakot pa rin siya. What if hindi pa rin niya kayang pagkatiwalaan ang pag-ibig? "Hindi ko alam," aminado niyang sabi. "Pero malalaman ko mamaya." --
Maagang nagising si Maya kinabukasan, puno ng energy mula sa gabi nila ni Ash. Habang nagtitimpla ng kape, napatingin siya sa cellphone niya, nagbabasakaling may message mula kay Ash. Nang makita niyang may notification, isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi niya. Ash: Good morning, beautiful. Hope you have a great day ahead. Coffee na ba? Hindi napigilan ni Maya ang kilig habang mabilis na nag-reply. Maya: Of course, nauna pa nga yata ako sa’yo. Busy day ahead, pero worth it after last night. You? Agad namang nag-reply si Ash. Ash: Meetings as usual, but I’ll survive. By the way, I booked us dinner for Saturday. It’s a surprise.Napangiti si Maya. Isa na namang bagay na aabangan. ---Samantala, nasa opisina na si Ava, sinusubukang mag-focus sa trabaho. Pero sa totoo lang, nag-e-echo pa rin sa utak niya ang sinabi ni Julian kagabi. “I can’t ignore how I feel anymore.” “Ava, ano ba?” bulong niya sa sarili habang binabasa ang report sa harap niya. “Focus. Work first, emotions la
Sa pagsisimula ng umaga, abala si Maya sa pag-aayos ng kanyang apartment. Hindi niya maikakaila ang excitement na nararamdaman. Sa kabila ng pagiging abala sa trabaho, hindi niya mapigilang maglaan ng oras para sa nalalapit nilang date ni Ash ngayong gabi. “Relax, Maya,” bulong niya sa sarili habang inaayos ang mesa. “It’s just dinner. Nothing too fancy.” Pero sa totoo lang, hindi lang ‘just dinner’ ang tingin niya rito. Lahat ng moments nila ni Ash ay parang espesyal, parang laging may kakaibang magic. ---Sa kabilang banda, si Ash ay nasa NovaSpire, nagtatapos ng ilang importanteng meeting. Bagama’t focus siya sa trabaho, hindi maiwasang magpunta ang isip niya kay Maya. “Sir Ash,” tawag ng assistant niya. “The board wants to finalize the budget proposal for the new SoulLink update.” Napabuntong-hininga siya pero ngumiti. “I’ll look into it tomorrow. Make sure Julian and Ava are looped in for any revisions.” Habang palabas ng opisina, iniisip niya ang sinabi ni Ava tungko
Ang huni ng umaga ang gumising kay Maya. Bumangon siya mula sa kama, pinagmasdan ang sikat ng araw na tumatagos mula sa kurtina. Hindi na niya kailangan ng alarm clock sa mga ganitong araw; sapat na ang liwanag na pumuno sa kwarto niya at ang init na hatid nito sa kanyang puso. Ngunit ngayong araw na ito, may kakaiba siyang nararamdaman—hindi takot, hindi alinlangan, kundi pag-asa. Pag-asa na dala ng mga pagpiling ginawa niya nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Habang naghahanda, nakatanggap siya ng mensahe mula kay Ash. Ash: Good morning. See you later?Maya smiled at the simplicity of his text. Diretso, walang paliguy-ligoy, pero ramdam niya ang sincerity ng bawat salitang kanyang binibitawan. Maya: Good morning. I’ll see you later. Coffee’s on me this time.---Sa kabilang banda, si Ash naman ay nagmamadaling nagbibihis sa kanyang penthouse. Sa kabila ng abalang schedule bilang CEO ng NovaSpire, sinigurado niyang maglaan ng oras para kay Maya. Hindi na siya katulad ng dati—yung Ash
Maya sat quietly on the couch, staring out of the window. The soft, golden light of the late afternoon bathed the room, making the whole place feel warm and cozy. Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari, naramdaman niya na unti-unting bumabalik ang kanyang lakas. May mga sandali pa rin ng pagdududa, pero sa bawat araw na lumilipas, natututo siyang tanggapin ang mga pagkatalo at tagumpay. It wasn’t about perfection anymore—it was about finding peace with herself and the choices she made.It had been a few days since their dinner, and everything seemed to be slowly falling into place. Ash, despite his responsibilities at NovaSpire, had been nothing but present in her life. It was easy to see that he was as invested in their relationship as she was. And for once, Maya felt no hesitation, no fear of abandonment. Hindi na siya natatakot na baka siya'y iwan, hindi na siya natatakot na masaktan. Maybe it was because she finally believed in herself, and because she believed in him."Hey, are you okay?
Habang si Maya at Ash ay patuloy na nagsasama sa kanilang mga bagong hakbang sa buhay, may mga pagkakataon na ang mga simpleng bagay ay nagiging dahilan para magtulungan at magbukas ng mga pinto para sa mas malalim na koneksyon. Sa kabila ng kanilang mga takot, mga tanong, at mga hindi inaasahang sitwasyon, natutunan nilang tanggapin ang bawat isa, pati na rin ang kanilang mga imperpeksiyon.Isang linggo matapos ang kanilang getaway, umuwi sila sa kanilang mga routine. Ash, na balik sa NovaSpire at sa mga makukulit na meetings, at si Maya, na patuloy na abala sa kanyang mga proyekto sa kumpanya. Ngunit kahit abala, natutunan nilang makahanap ng oras para sa isa't isa. Ang isang simpleng dinner date ay naging ang pagkakataon nila upang magbalik-tanaw sa mga nangyari at planuhin ang mga susunod na hakbang."Alam mo, Ash, ang mga simpleng sandali na ito, kaya ko na ngayong tanggapin," sabi ni Maya, habang binabaybay nila ang kalsada patungo sa isang maliit na restaurant na paborito nilan
Ang mga araw ay patuloy na dumadaan at para kay Maya, natututo siyang tanggapin ang lahat ng aspeto ng kanyang buhay. Dati-rati, lagi siyang nagmamadali, laging abala sa mga plano at mga bagay na kailangang tapusin. Pero ngayon, natutunan niyang huminto sandali at maglaan ng oras para sa mga bagay na mahalaga—para kay Ash, para sa kanilang relasyon, at higit sa lahat, para sa kanyang sarili.Isang umaga, habang nag-aayos siya ng mga dokumento sa opisina, nakatanggap siya ng mensahe mula kay Ash. Ang simpleng mensaheng iyon, na nagsasabing "Good morning, Maya," ay nagbigay ng ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Hindi na siya nagmamadali, hindi na siya natatakot. Kasi alam niyang kahit anong mangyari, nandiyan si Ash upang samahan siya.Nakatagilid siya sa mesa, pinagmamasdan ang cellphone habang iniisip ang mga tanong na patuloy na bumabagabag sa kanya. "Paano ba talaga ito magiging?" tanong niya sa sarili. Marami siyang mga pangarap at plano, pero hindi niya kayang ipagpaliban ang mga bagay na na
Ang umaga ng araw na iyon ay puno ng mga pag-aalala. Habang umuupo si Maya sa kanyang desk, hindi maiwasang mag-isip tungkol sa mga susunod na hakbang. Ang trabaho, pamilya, at ang relasyon nila ni Ash ay nagiging mas kumplikado. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, may isang bagay na hindi kayang burahin ni Maya sa kanyang isipan—ang mga tanong tungkol sa hinaharap nila ni Ash.Nagdaang linggo, marami na silang napag-usapan ni Ash, mula sa mga plano para sa kumpanya hanggang sa mga personal nilang pangarap. Pero ang tanong ng "paano kung?" ay patuloy na bumangon sa bawat desisyon na ginagawa nila.Habang hawak ang kanyang cellphone, si Maya ay nag-aalangan kung tatawagan si Ash o hindi. Gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang naiisip nito, kung handa ba silang magtulungan sa mga bagong hamon. Ngunit bago siya nakapag-desisyon, tumunog ang telepono niya. Si Ash. “Good morning, Maya,” sabi ni Ash, ang boses nito ay malambing at maasahan. “Are you okay? I know you’ve got a lot on your plate lately.”M