Athena’s P.O.V.
“Kumusta na kayo ni Cristoff, Athena. Nagkita na ba ulit kayong dalawa?” tanong ni Ate Paula. Ngayong hindi na mapipigilan pa ang muli naming pagkikita ng lalaking naging lahat-lahat sa’kin noon, hindi na rin napigilan ni Ate Paula ang sariling bibig para tanungin ako.
Nandito kami ngayon sa condo unit ko sa ALeour. Dad bought this as a twenty-third birthday present for me two months ago. Tanging helper lang ang nag-aasikaso rito noon until I came here last month. It was different from the other units—tipong pinasadya talaga.
It has five bedrooms—a modern bachelorette’s pad kung maraming libangan ang titira. I mean, you could transform the other rooms depending on your needs or wants.
Then, every single thing from the spacious living room, kitchen, and dining hall were all customized. I really loved the combination of red and
Athena’s P.O.V.“Naku! Kapag nakakita ako ng gwapo mamaya sa meeting room tapos single pa siya, aangkinin ko na lang. I mean—susunggaban ko talaga siya at hindi ko na pakakawalan pa. Ay, baka ma-late na pala kami. Bye na, Ate Paula! Oops… baka dumating pala ‘yong in-order ko sa Shappy, Ate. Ikaw nang bahala ha?” Nadine also kissed Ate Paula before we finally left.We went outside my unit with happiness still reflected on our faces. But I guessed that mine was fake. We were about to take the elevator to go straight to the parking lot, since I would be driving my Honda Mobilio, when a uniformed man with his security earpiece—I guessed that he was only in his mid-twenties—suddenly showed up and introduced himself as our chauffeur for today.“Architect Athena Delgado? I’m Roger Navallo. I am one of the official chauffeurs of EGC and here’s my
Athena’s P.O.V.Mamayamaya rin ay nakarating na kami sa kumpanya ni Kuya Liam. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang akong kinabahan. ‘Yong inis ko kanina kay Roger at Nadine ay napalitan na agad ng hindi maipaliwanag na pangamba sa kung anong magiging kahihinatnan ng muli naming pagkikita.This is it, Athena!There’s no turning back now.It is now or never. Prove to him na hindi lang siya ang nakapag-move on… na hindi lang siya ang nakapag-let go… na hindi siya kawalan sa’yo!Kung kinakailangan mong magsinungaling at sabihin sa kanyang natuloy ang engagement mo kay Tyler, then do it. You could also tell him na marami ka na ring ipinalit sa kanya after all these years!My heart beats freaking even much faster when I stepped out of the elevator at the thirty-second fl
Athena’s P.O.V.It’s really a pleasure to finally meet you, Architect Delgado!To finally meet you, Architect Delgado!Architect Delgado!Tapos na niyang sabihin ‘yon pero paulit-ulit pa ring tumatakbo ang mga katagang ‘yon sa isipan ko. With him calling me as Architect Delgado sounded too distant after all. Hindi lang ‘yon. His face fell into an expression I had never have associated with his features before.Kung wala lang kaming pangit na nakaraan noon, masasabi kong totoo ang mga ngiting ipinapakita niya sa akin ngayon. Pero kailangan kong tanggapin na wala nang ‘kami’ ngayon. Na kailangan ko nang ibaon ang lahat sa limot.For Christ’s sake! Don’t fall for that smile, Athena! It’s absolutely fake.It&
Athena’s P.O.V.“So, what do you have for all of us here, Architect? Aren’t you going to present your 3D blueprint layouts now and explain those to us? The projector is waiting,” Cristoff said in an abhorrent distaste.Is it just me… o naging iba na talaga ‘yong tono ng pananalita niya sa akin?Masakit. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko kakayaning magpanggap na manhid. Ni minsan, hindi ko inakalang magkakaganito kaming dalawa. I wanted to ignore the hell out of him, but I could not. Gusto kong isipin na nagseselos lang siya, pero wala namang dahilan.A thin smile formed on my lips, trying to mock him and hide my real feelings here. I was about to answer him when Kuya Liam interrupted.“Dave, isn’t it too early to discuss those things? This meeting was just supposedly for every one of us to wel
David’s P.O.V.Dave, focus!Athena should be the one walking out, not you!Damn it! I was sure as hell na wala na akong nararamdaman para sa babaeng ‘yon, pero bakit ganito? Bakit ang lakas pa rin ng epekto niya sa buong pagkatao ko?Ang dami ko nang nalagpasang mga pagsubok sa buhay na wala siya sa piling ko. Ang dami ko nang nakamit na tagumpay na hindi ko siya kinailangan sa tabi ko. Ang dami ko nang ipinalit sa kanya sa loob ng tatlong taon!She is nothing to me… and no matter what, she will never be something to me!“She r-really looks like H-Helena. Tapos magka-apelyido pa sila. Is that… the main reason kung bakit gano’n na lang ‘yong naging reaksiyon mo sa meeting kanina? Did you already know her before… as Athena?” Vanessa broke the silence w
Athena’s P.O.V.Whoa! Thank God, it’s Friday!So far, masasabi kong okay naman ‘yong pagtatrabaho ko rito sa EGC. Since the Project Charmed would be starting by February, hindi pa ako gaanong busy ngayon and for the remaining days of January! It looked like I was still in the adjustment period here in the EGC.On the other hand, napapagsabay ko pa ang CD Squared sa trabaho ko rito sa Pilipinas. After finishing the bedroom interior design for the daughter of one Great German Aristocrat, I accepted some new 3D landscape requests coming from France and Switzerland.Hindi naman siya masasabing conflict of interest, because it was one of the items, I made sure included in my EGC contract. Although Dad was a bit hesitant at first dahil baka raw hindi na ako matulog ay wala rin naman siyang nagawa.For the first three days of my stay here, I w
Athena’s P.O.V. It was already thirty minutes passed five in the afternoon when I was done packing my things. I was about to leave my office when Evanna just opened the door and stepped in without even knocking.“Since you don’t have your secretary outside, dumiretso na ako rito sa loob. I hope you don’t mind,” she heedlessly said.Evanna was wearing a navy-blue off-shoulder dress, and it looked like she was ready to party. On the other hand, I was wearing an emerald-green velvet-buckle ruched dress with one long-sleeve on the left. My right shoulder was bare.“Knock at least,” I sneered. I didn’t know why, pero nagulat talaga ako nang bigla na lang bumukas ‘yong pinto ng office ko, dahilan para bigla na ring magbago ‘yong mood ko! It felt like I suddenly ran out of breath kahit hindi naman ako tum
Athena’s P.O.V.My heart lurched in fear as I frowned. I was definitely sure that my car was at its best condition when I came to work this morning. I just bought it last month and there was no way that my Honda Mobilio would malfunction this early!What happened?Trying to suppress the dread that was covering me from head to toe, I tried again… but still, I got the same response. I tried again, and again, and again… pero ayaw talagang mag-start! I vehemently twisted the ignition key, pero wala talaga. Doon ko na hindi napigilan ang lahat ng kaba ko sa katawan.Oh my God, please! This can’t be happening to me! If this is some kind of a joke, then this is not funny. There’s no way I’m going to commute on my way home. Shit!Now, every inch of me was already panicking. My hands were e
Athena’s P.O.V.“Please, Cristoff. Tap your wristband!” I was impatiently tapping my wristband, but I couldn’t do anything to know his exact location… unless he would be the one to tap his.Pakiramdam ko, nauubusan ako ng oras at sa sobra kong pagkalito kung bakit kailangang mangyari ang lahat nang ito ngayon ay wala akong ibang maisip na paraan para makita siya agad. I was about to call Kuya Liam, when I suddenly remembered Denise…“Wow, how cute!” I snapped.The mini robot’s height was only about twelve-inch long. “This one is also for you. But you only have to turn it on once, Ate Athena. Sa oras lang na ikaw naman ‘yong naghahanap kay Kuya at hindi mo siya makita.”“Hmm, what do you mean by that?” I was staring at the
Athena’s P.O.V. It was just a short drive as we only decided to dine in at the ground floor of the Lexington Hotel, located at the east part of Countryside, Alabana. Halos hindi na nga kami nakapag-usap sa loob ng sasakyan. And that was a good thing dahil hindi ko rin naman alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. Not until… “Grabe, Cristoff! Ang dami naman nang in-order mo. Pinapataba mo ba ako?” nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya while still exploring my sight sa iba’t ibang putahe na inilalagay ng waiter sa mesa. I guessed Cristoff ordered via call or online. From the looks of it, I could say that he even reserved the restaurant for the two of us tonight. Masasarap ang lahat nang in-order niya at paniguradong masisira ang diet ko. Like The Mediterranean, the Lexington Restaurant also offers European foods—probably, to get three Michelin stars and have a healthy competition with the former. What I was seeing right now were paella, pierogi, goulash, gyros, and cheese fondue. “Hmmm, sort of!” C
Athena’s P.O.V. Another day had passed at hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mag-overthink. For almost four months, hindi na ako nakakatulog nang maayos sa gabi. Hindi dahil sa masyado akong busy sa EGC at CD Squared, kung hindi dahil sa isang bagay na patuloy lang na gumugulo sa aking isip. Pakiramdam ko, kung makakatulog man ako ay paulit-ulit ko pa ring mapapanaginipan ang nangyari nang mga oras na ‘yon. At paulit-ulit din akong sasampalin ng katotohanang ayaw sa’kin ng nakatatandang kapatid ni Cristoff. As much as I didn’t want to bury myself with what I heard, insecurities were reigning over me. I wanted to win Ate Diane’s favor, but I didn’t know where I would start with… until the plans went into ashes. “I don’t like her for you, Dave. Bakit ba paulit-ulit ka na lang na nahuhumaling sa babaeng ‘yan? High school pa lang, sinaktan ka na niya. No’ng college ka naman, halos
Athena’s P.O.V. It had already been almost four months since my accidental eavesdropping happened, and until now, I still didn’t know how to treat Cristoff right. I was guilty as hell, knowing that I was slowly walking away from him while weaving different sets of alibis. What I said when we were on the fire exit was true—Nadine and I really stayed at our mansion in Quezon City to talk about the reason behind that old letter. She explained to me her reasons and I was informed then, that she had also explained her side to Cristoff. I let that one pass. Siguro, kung ngayon niya ginawa sa’kin ‘yon ay hindi ko ‘yon mapapalagpas. Magagalit talaga ako kay Nadine dahil parang trinaydor niya ako sa kabila ng tiwalang ibinigay ko sa kanya. But then, hindi pa naman niya ako noon kilala at kailangan niya lang talaga ng pera. There was nothing weaker than a person’s mind, most especially in the face of money. Kapag gipit na gipit ka na, gagawin mo talaga ang lahat kahit na ang kumapit pa sa pa
Athena’s P.O.V.“Iniiwasan mo ba ako, Athena?” tila nagdududang tanong sa akin ni Cristoff—isang linggo pagkatapos ng insidenteng iyon.We just bumped into each other when we opened the same fire exit door at the twelfth floor. Paakyat siya at pababa naman ako. Naka-preventive maintenance kasi ang main elevator at malayo naman ‘yong secondary elevator sa office ko.It felt like my chest had swiftly congested by his question. Dahil hindi ko siya kayang tingnan nang diretso, I averted my stares away from Cristoff. Bababa na sana ako para pumunta sa tenth floor nang hawakan niya ang kaliwang braso ko.My mind was cloudy at first, but I chose to pretend like nothing had happened. Tutal, doon naman ako magaling—ang magkunwari.“Huh? Ano bang sinasabi mo diyan? I was just in a rush to see Evanna. At saka, bakit naman kita iiwasan?” pagmamaang-maangan kong tanong sa kanya pabalik. I was smiling at him, just for the two of us to feel that everything was still at ease.Pero sa totoo lang, naii
David’s P.O.V. [Back to the Present] Nagmamadali akong bumalik sa opisina ko, pero wala na akong inabutang Athena na naghihintay sa loob nito. Just when I thought that I would be able to surprise her, I was the one who got surprised at all. And what made me even more surprised was seeing her mini robot still on top of my coffee table. I even knocked on the door of my personal restroom dahil nagbaka-sakali akong nasa loob lang siya nito, pero ni anino niya ay hindi ko nakita nang buksan ko ang pinto nito. It had been a month and I wasn’t yet able to tell her what I had discovered. Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya ang totoo. Alam kong mabibigla siya, kaya hanggang ngayon ay humahanap pa rin ako ng tamang tiyempo. Nagmamadali akong lumabas at napag-alaman kong naka-lock na ang glass door ng opisina niya, which possibly means na umuwi na siya. Kumatok pa ako roon nang ilang beses—making sure na baka nasa loob lang siya, pero wala talaga. These past few days ka
David’s P.O.V. “Take care of Athena, Dave. Angelo and I—we are leaving. We are going back to Germany,” Tyler hissed. “You don’t have to tell me what to do. I’ll always take care of her. But why are you leaving so soon? Is it because of Angelo’s mother?” walang paligoy-ligoy at diretso kong tanong. Hindi naman sumagot si Tyler. Nag-iwas lang ito ng tingin at saka sinuklay paitaas ang buhok. It was none of my business, but I wanted to make him realize some sense. I wasn’t expecting him to listen to me, but for Angelo’s sake… I was hoping. Then, I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t have any right to tell you this or instruct you on what you should do next, but just a piece of advice. Angelo deserves to meet his real mother. Huwag mo naman sanang ipagkait sa kanya kung ano ang totoo.” Tyler remained speechless for a while until he was able to say, “I had to resume work and take care of our business in Germany, Dave. Well, about Angelo’s real mother… she’s dead. That’s why Athena stood up for
David’s P.O.V.But whatever it was, I would not make a big deal out of it. Kung tutuusin ay pabor na pabor ‘yon sa’kin. I knew that Kuya Liam only did it for good. For all the things he did to me, alam kong hindi ako kailanman ipapahamak at pababayaan ng bayaw ko.Kuya Liam was the one who bailed me out of the jail and at that time, he even flew all the way to Europe. He gave me a lawyer who would take care of my case, without me worrying so much about my future. Of all the people, I would trust Kuya Liam even more.Kung ano man ang naging usapan nilang dalawa ni Don Miguel involving Athena and I, the deal was indeed at my advantage if part of the plan was for our paths to cross again in the corporate world. I wished it was, pero hindi ko pa rin napigilang mapalunok.If that was the case, what about the stage
David’s P.O.V. “About Angelo. Whose son is he?” I found myself asking him despite the fact that I didn’t want to begin any conversation with him. If I had a firearm here, I would have threatened him at gunpoint for him to divulge the truth to me. Mahina ang pagkakasabi ko dahil baka magising sila Athena, ngunit binigyang diin ko naman ang bawat salita—habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ng taong naging bahagi ng masalimuot kong nakaraan. Nagtatagis ang aking mga bagang habang kaharap ang isa sa mga taong minsa’y pinagkaitan ako ng kaligayahan. “Enough with all the lies, please!” My voice was still controlled as I snapped at Tyler. Right now, the gushing blood through my whole system was already at boiling point and my nose was indeed flaring in anger. Matigas kong kinuyom ang mga kamao ko. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko ngayon dahil kaunti na lang talaga ay baka bigla ko nang mahawakan at maiangat ang kanyang kuwelyo. His son already spilled the beans, and I believed Angelo with