Chapter 1

"Okay, Lyn… one step at a time,” bulong niya habang abala sa pag-aayos ng mga papeles sa kanyang desk.

It was just another busy Tuesday sa office, and Lynell Gibbs was in full work mode. First job niya ‘to as a corporate secretary sa isang malaking company sa Pasig, and kahit one month pa lang siya dito, feel na feel na niya yung pressure.

She was new, clueless sa marami, pero determined. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali — not just for herself, pero para sa pamilya niya.

Habang nililista niya sa planner ang mga kailangan niyang tapusin today, inisa-isa rin niya ang documents na kailangan i-file.

“Meeting summary… check. Financial reports for signature… check. Memo for distribution… on it,” she whispered, multitasking like a pro.

Medyo okay naman ang office environment. Hindi toxic, hindi rin super chill, sakto lang. And sa loob ng ilang linggo, naka-adjust na rin siya kahit papaano. May mga na-vibe na rin siyang ka-team, especially si Chinky — ang officemate niyang super daldal pero super helpful. She kind of saved Lyn’s first week from total disaster.

Si Mr. Domingo, ang current CEO, ay isang tahimik at respectable na matanda. Hindi istrikto, pero firm. May balitang magre-retire na raw siya soon, pero hanggang ngayon, walang official word kung sino ang ipapalit.

“Wala pa raw update,” bulong ng isang colleague last week. Kaya Lynell didn’t think much of it. Business as usual.

Pero deep inside, may konting unease. Hindi niya ma-explain. Baka dahil sa sobrang pagod.

Isang breadwinner si Lynell. Wala siyang ibang maaasahan kundi ang sarili niya. Simula nang maparalisa ang kanyang ama, natutunan niyang tumayo sa sarili niyang paa. Ang kanyang ina naman ay buong oras na nag-aalaga sa ama niya kaya’t si Lynell ang nagsilbing haligi ng tahanan. Nagtapos siya ng kursong Business Administration noong siya’y bente anyos. Ngayong 23 years old na siya, tuloy-tuloy ang kanyang pagtatrabaho para matustusan ang mga pangangailangan ng pamilya — kahit pa minsan, halos wala nang natitira para sa sarili niya.

She gave up a lot for her family — dreams, rest, time for herself. Pero okay lang. Kasi kung hindi siya kikilos, sino pa?

There were nights na gusto na lang niyang umiyak sa pagod, pero lagi niyang iniisip, “Lalaban. Para kay Papa. Para kay Mama. Para sa sarili ko.”

Mabuti na lang… may Martin.

Her boyfriend, her constant, her safe place.

Si Martin ang naging tulay niya pabalik sa liwanag after her darkest heartbreak. Siya yung friend turned lover, yung tahimik lang na sumalo sa kanya nung feeling niya, never na siyang makakabangon.

Kasi before Martin, there was Shaun.

Shaun Hernandez — her first in everything.

And three years ago, on her 20th birthday, he broke her heart with one line that shattered everything:

“Nagising na lang ako… at narealize kong hindi na kita mahal.”

Ganun lang. No reason, no fight. Just a decision he made one morning.

And she carried that pain for years.

Pero tapos na ‘yon. Or at least, yun ang iniisip niya. Martin helped her heal. Slowly. Steadily. And now, masaya na sila. Wala pang wedding plans, pero solid sila. Enjoy lang muna.

Habang nagpi-print siya ng reports, bigla siyang tinapik ni Chinky sa balikat.

“Lynneeeell!”

“Shocks, Chinks! Na-stress ako sa gulat!”

“Sorry, sorry! Pero girl, may chika ako.”

Lynell raised a brow. “Another office tea? Spill na.”

“Confirmed na daw. May ipapalit na kay Mr. Domingo. Bago na ang CEO soon!”

“Oh wow, finally,” Lynell replied. “Sino daw?”

“Yun nga eh, hindi pa nila dinidisclose. Top secret levels. Pero baka today o this week daw, big announcement na.”

“Grabe. Sana hindi nakakatakot. Ayoko ng micromanage ha.”

“Same. Pero sabi ng HR, super impressive daw yung ipapalit. Galing abroad ata. Basta high-profile.”

Lynell gave a small smile, pero deep inside, may naramdaman siyang biglang lamig. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero parang may kung anong weird energy sa hangin. Parang… may paparating.

“Anyway, let’s just hope for the best,” ani Chinky, sabay lagok sa iced coffee niya.

Tumango si Lynell, pilit na ngumiti.

“Yeah… I’m sure kaya naman natin kahit sino pa ‘yan.”

Biglang nag-vibrate ang phone ni Lynell sa drawer niya. Napatingin siya sa screen — Martin calling.

Nagpaalam muna siya kay Chinky, “Wait lang, Chinks. Saglit lang ‘to,” sabay kuha ng phone at tahimik na lumabas sa hallway para sagutin.

“Hello?” she answered softly, trying not to sound too stressed.

“Hey, babe,” bati ni Martin sa kabilang linya. “Lunch break mo na, right? Kumain ka na?”

Napangiti si Lynell. That familiar voice — kalmado, malambing. It always made her feel a little lighter kahit pagod na pagod na siya.

“Not yet. Super dami ng ginagawa. Pero ayun, pinipilit maging productive,” she said with a small laugh.

“Hmm. Kaya mo ‘yan. Just don’t forget to eat, please? Naalala mo last time, nagka-ulcer ka kakatrabaho?”

“Grabe ka, isang beses lang ‘yun no,” she joked, pero na-touch siya sa concern. “Sige na nga. Promise, I’ll eat.”

“Good. May dala akong food. Gusto mong puntahan kita? Diyan lang naman ako malapit ngayon.”

Napataas kilay ni Lynell. “Talaga? Nasa Ortigas ka?”

“Yep. May inasikaso lang ako. Pero pwede akong dumaan. Para may quick lunch date tayo,” sagot ni Martin, ramdam sa boses nito ang excitement.

“Hmm, tempting,” she teased. “Pero baka di ako makaalis. May mini meeting pa kami later tapos may mga reports pa ‘kong tinatapos.”

“Okay lang. Hatid ko na lang ‘yung food sa baba. I’ll wait sa lobby. Tapos you just come down kapag free ka even for five minutes, okay?”

“Sige… deal. Text mo lang ako pag andiyan ka na.”

“Copy. I’ll see you in a bit, babe. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, Lynell leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a second.

Thank God for Martin.

Sa dami ng iniisip niya — work, family, responsibilities — he was the only part of her life that felt calm and secure. Wala siyang kailangang ipaliwanag, walang pressure. With Martin, she could just… breathe.

Bumalik siya sa desk with a faint smile on her lips.

“Mmm, blooming,” tukso ni Chinky. “Sino ‘yan? Si Martin?”

“Obviously,” Lynell giggled. “Dadating siya. Magdadala ng food.”

“Ay, sana all may jowang food delivery na, supportive pa.”

“Wag ka, parang ikaw lang ang walang jowa sa team,” biro ni Lynell.

“Deserve mo talaga si Martin,” biglang sabi ni Chinky habang naka-simangot na parang naiinggit. “You deserve each other. Sana magkatuluyan kayo.”

Napatawa si Lynell. “Ayy grabe ka naman. Parang kasal na agad ‘yung iniisip mo.”

“Eh kasi naman, ang tagal niyo na, tapos ang bait pa ni kuya mo. Sobrang patient, caring, hindi mo mararamdaman na pressured ka. Rare breed ‘yun, ha.”

“True,” Lynell replied, this time a bit softer, “He’s been through a lot with me. Lalo na nung lowest point ko. He stayed.”

“Yun nga eh! ‘Di ba ang daming lalaki, kapag complicated ka na, umuurong na? Eh si Martin, parang gusto ka pang tulungan buuin kahit wasak na wasak ka na before.”

“Exactly,” she said, her smile turning nostalgic. “May time talaga na akala ko wala nang lalaking mananatili sa ganung version ko. Pero dumating siya… tahimik lang. Dahan-dahan. Hindi niya ko minadali. Hindi rin niya ako pinilit. He just stayed.”

“Ayyy,” kilig ni Chinky. “Love story niyo parang pang N*****x!”

“Hindi pa tapos ang plot, girl. Marami pa ring problema. Pero oo, I’m really thankful for him.”

Biglang tumunog ulit ang phone niya — 1 new message from Martin.

“Nasa lobby na ako. Take your time, babe.”

Lynell bit her lip, trying not to smile too much habang binabasa ang text.

“Uy, andiyan na daw siya,” sabi niya kay Chinky. “Bababa lang ako saglit.”

“Sige, go! Sabihin mo thanks sa future husband mo sa food!”

“Tumigil ka nga,” natatawang sagot ni Lynell habang inaayos ang ID at phone niya. “Baka marinig ka ni universe, seryosohin ka!”

Habang papunta siya sa elevator, she felt a little lighter. Kahit sandali lang — dahil kay Martin — nakalimutan niya yung stress, yung expectations, pati yung faint unease she felt earlier…

But for now, she smiled.

One step at a time.

Pagdating ni Lynell sa kanyang apartment, ramdam na ramdam niya ang bigat ng katawan. It was a long day — puno ng meetings, reports, at deadlines. Tinutok niya na lang ang isip sa trabaho buong araw para hindi mawalan ng focus, pero ngayon, ang katawan niya ang nagsasabi ng pagod. Binaba niya ang bag sa lamesa, kinuha ang shoes at itinapon sa gilid.

“Ang hirap,” she muttered to herself as she collapsed onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. She lay back, staring up at the ceiling for a few moments. Walang ibang tunog sa apartment kundi ang humuhuni na air conditioner at ang tahimik na hangin sa labas.

She reached for her phone on the coffee table and saw that it was buzzing. Martin calling.

Her lips curved into a smile at the sight of his name on the screen. Hindi pa rin siya sanay na ganoon lang kabilis, kahit maliit na bagay lang, na may magpapagaan ng pakiramdam niya. She answered the call, her voice still a bit tired but warm.

“Hey, babe,” she said softly, feeling the comfort of hearing his voice.

“Hey,” Martin responded, his tone calm, like it always was. “How’s your day? Tapos ka na ba sa lahat ng mga reports?”

“Yeah, finally,” Lynell replied, letting out a small laugh. “As in, super pagod na ako. But I’m home na. Pwede na magpahinga.”

“Good,” he said. “You need to rest, babe. Huwag mong hayaan na mag-overtake yung stress sa katawan mo.”

Lynell smiled, closing her eyes for a moment, imagining him smiling on the other side of the phone. “I will. Gusto ko lang matulog ng matagal.”

“So, what’s the plan? Kumain ka na ba ng dinner?” he asked. “Magpa-dewliver ako ng food if you want. Or you just want to rest?”

Lynell hesitated for a second. She really wanted to rest. Pero she also loved how Martin always made time for her. She couldn’t help but smile. “I’d love that, pero I think I’ll pass tonight. Maybe next time, okay? I need to just… breathe.”

“I get it,” he said. “But don’t forget to eat something kahit light lang."

Lynell chuckled softly. “Oo na po."

Martin laughed on the other line. “Okay, but just take care of yourself, okay? You’re doing amazing. I’m really proud of you.”

Lynell’s heart fluttered at his words. She didn’t need to hear this all the time, but there were days when it was exactly what she needed to hear.

“Thanks, babe." she whispered, meaning it more than anything.

They talked a little bit more, checking in on each other’s day, but after a few minutes, Martin ended the call with a gentle “Love you, Lyn. Sleepwell, okay?”

“I love you too,” she whispered back, her heart feeling light.

After hanging up, she stayed sitting on the couch for a while, her mind racing a bit. The silence of the apartment felt louder now. But it wasn’t just the silence. It was the space between her and the past. It always felt like it was still there, lurking just beyond her reach.

Shaun Hernandez.

His name flashed through her mind, as it always did when she was alone. 

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to push the memory away. She couldn’t let herself go back there. She didn’t have the energy to revisit that pain, not now. Hindi na siya yun. Hindi na siya yung Lynell na gutom na sa pag-ibig, na nakabitin sa mga hindi nasabi ni Shaun.

But still, it was there. The ache. The confusion. The what-ifs.

Her mind drifted to Martin again. The steady, quiet love he gave her. Hindi katulad kay Shaun na bigla na lang nag-alis, si Martin, kahit may mga pagkukulang siya, hindi siya nagmamadali. Hindi siya tumalikod. He was always there.

She smiled, her chest lightening a little. Thank you, Martin.

Lynell let out a small breath and stood up, making her way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As she poured it, she couldn’t help but think that, for the first time in a long while, she was exactly where she needed to be. And the past? Well, it was behind her.