Chapter 2

Paglabas ni Lynell ng elevator, agad niyang naramdaman ang lamig ng aircon mula sa main lobby. Kahit sanay na siya sa ganitong atmosphere — polished tiles, neutral tones, maayos na front desk — iba ‘yung vibe ngayon. Mas relaxed. Mas... excited siya.

Lumingon-lingon siya sandali, hinahanap ang pamilyar na mukha sa mga nakatambay sa lounge.

At ayun siya.

Nakatayo si Martin malapit sa isang indoor plant, hawak ang dalawang paper bags ng food, suot ang paborito nitong navy blue polo shirt na medyo hapit sa katawan (thank you sa gym), dark jeans, at puting sneakers na laging malinis — paano, OC siya sa sapatos.

Napangiti si Lynell. Kahit ilang beses na silang nagkikita, may kilig pa rin. Ganito pala talaga kapag minahal ka ng tama.

“Hi!” tawag niya, sabay lakad papunta rito.

Napalingon si Martin, at nang makita siya, ngumiti rin ito ng malaki. 'Yung tipong ngiti na hindi lang sa labi, kundi hanggang mata.

“There’s my girl,” sabi niya habang iniabot ang isang paper bag. “Brought your favorite — grilled chicken wrap at matcha latte.”

“Aww, thank you! You really know me so well,” sabi ni Lynell, sabay kuha ng pagkain.

“Of course,” Martin replied. “I took mental notes since day one.”

Umupo sila sa may bench sa gilid ng lobby, medyo tago para hindi masyado kita ng ibang employees. Alam naman ng officemates ni Lynell na may jowa siya, pero syempre, ayaw niyang magmukhang nagpaka-unprofessional.

“So,” panimula ni Martin habang inaabot ang inumin niya, “Kamusta ka today? Mukhang pagod ka.”

Lynell sighed, resting her head for a second sa shoulder nito. “Super dami ng ginagawa. Parang sunod-sunod ‘yung tasks. Pero okay lang. Ganun talaga.”

Martin gently tilted his head para makita siya. “You know, it’s okay to slow down minsan. Di ka robot.”

She chuckled. “Gusto ko rin naman mag-slow down. Pero... you know how it is. Need to provide. Lalo na sa situation namin.”

Martin nodded, his expression softening. “I know. And I admire you for it. Pero sana kahit papaano, you still take care of yourself.”

Lynell looked at him, eyes warm. “Ikaw ‘yung reason kaya nakakayanan ko, Martin. Seriously. Without you, ewan ko kung nasa ayos pa ‘ko ngayon.”

He smiled, reaching out para ayusin ang isang hibla ng buhok niya na napunta sa pisngi. “I’m just doing what anyone who loves you would do.”

Hindi agad naka-reply si Lynell. Sometimes, the way he said things — simple lang, pero ramdam mong buo at totoo. No need for grand gestures. Just honest, consistent love.

“So, anong balita sayo?” tanong niya to change the topic a bit. “Anong ginawa mo sa Ortigas?”

“May inasikaso lang with a client. Meeting was earlier than expected, so I thought, ‘Hey, why not drop by and see my girl?’”

“Sweet mo,” she said, leaning closer.

“Syempre. You deserve it.”

Nagkatinginan sila sandali. No words. Just the kind of silence na hindi awkward — ‘yung tipong puno ng unspoken comfort. Then, sabay silang napatawa.

“Kumain ka na ba?” tanong ni Lynell habang binubuksan ang food.

“Not yet. I wanted to eat with you.”

“Ay, grabe. Ako talaga priority?”

“Always,” Martin winked.

Habang kumakain sila, nagsimula silang magkwentuhan ng random things — favorite childhood snacks, ‘yung latest office chismis (na binahagi ni Chinky), future travel plans na baka matuloy kapag nakaluwag-luwag na sila financially.

“Alam mo ba, dream ko talaga makapunta ng Kyoto,” Lynell shared habang ngumunguya.

“Talaga? Ako rin! Fall season, right?”

“Yes! Gusto ko ‘yung may mga dahon na nagiging orange. Ang peaceful siguro ng vibe dun.”

“Let’s make it happen,” Martin said, serious ang tono.

Napatingin siya rito. “Like… someday?”

Martin nodded. “Oo, someday. Kapag okay na lahat. Let’s plan for it.”

Lynell didn’t say anything, pero kinurot siya sa puso ng soft promise na ‘yun. Hindi man sila nagpaplanong magpakasal soon, pero somehow, ‘yung mga gantong usapan, parang unti-unting bumubuo ng pangarap nilang dalawa.

After a while, tumingin si Martin sa relo niya. “I have to go din in a bit. May next meeting pa ako sa Makati. Pero I just really wanted to see you today.”

Lynell leaned in and gave him a quick kiss sa cheek. “Thank you. You made my day.”

“No need to thank me. That’s my job,” he said with a smirk. “Your number one fan, remember?”

She laughed, then stood up with him. “Ingat sa biyahe, ha?”

“Text me if you need anything, okay?”

“Will do.”

Naglakad silang dalawa pabalik sa lobby entrance, at bago siya bumalik sa elevator, hinarap siya ni Martin, holding her hand gently.

“Lynell…”

“Hmm?”

“Whatever happens sa office niyo this week — promotions, new boss, changes — just remember this: I got you.”

She blinked, a bit surprised. “Bakit mo naman nasabi ‘yan?”

“Wala lang. May feeling lang ako na... baka may bago na naman kayong adjustments. You’ve been through worse. Kakayanin mo ‘to.”

Lynell nodded slowly, kahit may kutob siyang hindi lang simpleng adjustment ang paparating. But with Martin’s steady eyes on her, she felt stronger.

She gave him one last smile before turning back.

Pagbalik niya sa office, Chinky greeted her with raised eyebrows.

“Oh diba, glowing ka nanaman! Nakakainis!”

Lynell laughed and shook her head. “Nagkape lang kami!”

“Sure ka? Mukha kang kakagaling sa spa. Grabe talaga ‘yang si Martin.”

“Hay naku, swerte lang ako,” she said simply, settling back to her desk.

Chinky slid over sa upuan niya, dala na rin ang sarili niyang lunch at isang bottled water. “Swerte ka talaga, bes. Kung ako ‘yan, ewan ko na lang kung nakakatrabaho pa ‘ko. Mapapamura ako sa kilig buong araw.”

“Grabe ka,” Lynell chuckled, habang binubuksan ang paper bag na dala ni Martin. Amoy pa lang ng grilled chicken wrap, naaliwalas na agad ang pakiramdam niya.

“Ang bango naman niyan,” sabi ni Chinky, sumilip sa laman. “Share mo ha. Kahit isang kagat lang. Para maramdaman ko rin ‘yung love life mo kahit sa lasa lang.”

“Ewan ko sayo,” natatawang sagot ni Lynell pero inabot rin ang kalahati ng wrap. “O ayan, para tumigil ka sa kakabudol.”

Habang kumakain sila, nagsimula na rin silang magkwentuhan.

“O, so anong balita sa floor? Tuloy ba ‘yung team meeting mamaya?” tanong ni Lynell, sinusundan ng higop sa matcha latte niya.

“Tuloy na tuloy. Pero guess what,” sabay tingin ni Chinky sa paligid, then leaned closer with a mischievous look. “May chismis ako.”

“Ano na naman ‘yan?” Lynell raised a brow.

“Apparently… later sa meeting, ipakikilala na ‘yung bagong CEO.”

Napalingon agad si Lynell. “Huh? Akala ko next week pa ang announcement?”

“Yun din ang alam ko! Pero si Sir Leo daw, nagsabi kanina kay Ate Viv na mag-ready daw lahat. May special guest later. Tapos biglang may pa-‘new management direction’ na daw na babanggitin.”

Lynell slowly put down her drink. “So… today talaga?”

“Oo, mamaya. Baka after office hours pa. Kaya sabi ko sayo, ganda-gandahan ka, baka biglang may pa-welcome dinner pa ‘yan!”

“OMG, sana hindi,” Lynell groaned. “Pagod na ‘ko, girl. Ang dami pang pending. Tapos kung biglang magka-pa-event, ewan ko na lang.”

“Pero admit it,” panunukso ni Chinky, “medyo exciting, ‘di ba? Like, new CEO, bagong leadership, bagong direction. Feeling ko parang K-drama ang peg. ‘Yung tipong mysterious na rich guy na biglang darating tapos—”

“Huy!” Lynell cut her off, natawa pero may halong nerbyos. “Wag ka nga. Hindi ko kailangan ng plot twist sa buhay ko ngayon. Okay na ako sa stable.”

Chinky rolled her eyes playfully. “Fine, fine. Pero i-manifest ko pa rin na pogi ‘yung bagong CEO. Para naman may eye candy tayo kahit papaano.”

“Manifest mo ‘yan para sayo. Ako, steady lang. Trabaho, uwi, jowa — ‘yun na ‘yun.”

Nagkatawanan sila, pero sa loob-loob ni Lynell, biglang may bumigat na pakiramdam. She didn't know why, pero ‘yung balita tungkol sa bagong CEO... it made her uneasy.

Maybe it was just nerves. O baka dahil sa instinct niya — the one that rarely failed her.

After a while, natapos na rin ang lunch nila. Bumalik na si Chinky sa desk nito at sinimulan ang afternoon tasks, habang si Lynell ay muling sinilip ang phone niya.

One new message from Martin.

"Made it to Makati. Text me pag-uwi ka later, okay? Love you."

Nag-type siya ng mabilis:

"Will do. Love you too. Thanks sa food, babe. It really helped."

Then, she stared at her screen for a few more seconds before locking it.

Lynell took a deep breath.

She had no idea kung anong darating mamayang hapon. But whatever — whoever — it was…