"Johann," I called my secretary. "What's my schedule for today?"
He immediately opened her notes and looked for it. "You only have a meeting with the stockholders at 9:30am, miss Zamia."
I looked at my wristwatch, it's already 9:08am. I better get ready.
"Maghanda ka ng meryenda sa conference room. I'm going to eat my food there while waiting for them." Utos ko sa kanya. He then nodded and proceeded to the door. Nag-ayos na din ako ng mga gamit. I was about to stand when someone knocked at the door. Surely, that's not my secretary.
"Good morning!"
Funny how the man who ruined me into pieces greeted me with joy.
To think that back when I was in highschool, ako pa ang naghahabol sa kanya. That I can't accept our breakup and kept persuading him. But when the truth slapped me harder, I got no choice but to accept the fact, the reality that he only used me. I've changed and eager to attain the revenge I've longing for so long. Konti nalang, Zamia, at abot-kamay mo na. Don't sway your dreams with someone like him!
"I brought you coffee and donuts. I know you're hungry." Binaba niya sa lamesa ang dala niyang pagkain. As usual, I maintained my emotionless posture.
"I'm sorry Mr. Mercado but I already asked my secretary to get me my food. Much better kung ibigay mo yan sa mga babae mo, they would be glad to eat those." With that, tumayo na ako at akmang aalis na sa silid ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko.
"Zamia, I have no girls other than you. Tell me kung sino ang pinagseselosan mo and I'll fire her. I hate to see you get jealous," he said.
"Wow! Sobrang kapal naman talaga ng pagmumukha mo at nasabi mo pang nagseselos ako! Excuse me Mr. Mercado but wala akong pakealam sa mga babae mo! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to go." Pagalit kong usal sa kanya. Damn it! Pake ba niya kung nagseselos ako! E hindi naman kami! Teka, galit ako sa kanya, diba?
"Okay then, will you marry me?" He asked, for the nth time.
My heart still skipped a beat even after hearing that for how many times. But, as I put into my mindset about my plan, I'll stick to the answer for what's best for me.
I smiled to him. "No."
Good thing he let me go and proceeded to the meeting. And to think na nakaconcentrate pa ako sa lagay na 'yon! My heart is still beating too damn fast! Kainis ka, Kaph!
"You're still fantastic as ever, Ms. Valdez! The sales are good as ever!" Mr. Vasquez said and I mutter my gratitude to him. Ganoon din ang mga ibang stockholders. They congratulated me for a job well done.
"That's because of my team, Mr. Vasquez and to all those who work with the project I have in mind. I couldn't do everything without them, po." I answered politely.
"You're too humble, iha! Well, I better go and contact me if you need help, okay?" He said and I nodded as an answer.
I waited until the stockholders went out of the room to face my team.
"Congratulations to your team, Mr. Romulo. Job well done! You can have an early out today and enjoy the remaining day to celebrate." I said as I gave my black card to them.
"Ma'am, you should join us!" Naia said.
I smiled weakly. Occasion like this is not my thing. I will never forget the humiliation done by my so-called friends, and my fucking ex.
"Thank you but I have something to do." I said and went out of the room.
Nakarating ako sa condominium ng mga dapit hapon. Usually I would rather go home very late because I'd rather finished my work for tomorrow than doing it tomorrow.
"Ate," Panimula ng kapatid ko sa tawag. "When are you going here? I miss you so much! Ditch your work for me please!" He pleaded. Natawa ako sa inaasal ng kapatid ko ngayon.
"Fine. Good thing maaga akong umalis ng opisina. I gave my employees an early out. I'll be there in a few minutes." I uttered and he shouted "Yes!" and ended the call.
But this is not what I expected to see. The devil- I mean, my freaking dad is also here!
"Zamia, please stop whatever you're doing to my company." He pleaded.
Gosh this is exciting! He finally pleaded!
I smiled sarcastically. "Hey, business is business. If one business is a threat, wouldn't it be better if you do something that makes people buy your products? I mean, hindi naman sa sinisiraan ko ang mga produkto mo pero ganoon na nga." I smirked. "You know, I paid them to advertise it in the national television. You did tell me na money rules the world, right? Sinusubukan ko lang kung totoo and guess what? I made them do it with money-" hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin ko ng bigla akong sinampal ni mommy.
"Hindi kita pinalaki na ganyan, Zamia! Oo noong una sinusuportahan pa kita sa galit mo sa ama mo dahil alam ko rin ang sakit na iwan ako ng isa sa minamahal ko pero itong ginagawa mo, hindi na naglalayo ang ugali mo sa kanya! You're making the worst version of your dad! You're not like this!" Singhal ni mommy sa akin.
Mabilis akong nakabawi sa sampal niya kahit na iyon ang unang pagkakataon na sinampal niya ako.
"Mommy, yes you're right! I'm turning more evil that this son of a bitch because he made me like this! Kung hindi dahil sa pinaggagagawa niya, hindi ako magiging ganito! He made this version of mine!" With that, umalis ako sa bahay. Sana pala hindi nalang ako pumunta.
Namumugto ang mata ko pagkalabas ko ng condo kinaumagahan. Surely I will look like hell later but not that I care kung ano man itsura ko.
Days passed by like a blur. I concentrated in my work and good thing Kaph didn't bother me for the past week.
But of course, today is not the day.
"Flowers for my beautiful lady", salubong ni Kaph habang palabas ako sa McLaren, one of the cars that he gave to me.
He's been doing this for 2 years now. And nasanay na rin ako sa presensya niya. Approaching me with white roses, giving me what I asked for, buying what I told him, and such. But none of those matters me. Kinukuha ko lang lahat ng nasa kanya na dapat ay sa akin. But he still has the effect that made me fall in love with him. Malas lang talaga niya at nalaman ko ang plano nilang mag-iina at naiwasan ko iyon.
Oo, Zamia. Mahal mo pa siya pero hindi siya pwede okay? He is your enemy.
But part of my mind tells me otherwise. Baka nagbago na siya kasi he has his own company, baka totoong minahal niya ako at hindi dahil sa plano, and such. But thinking about how gullible I was that I gave him what he asked just because I can afford everything at that time, naiirita ako sa sarili ko. How funny for an 17-year old girl to give a car to surprise her boyfriend just because he said he wanted to have a Lamborghini, surely katangahan 'yon sa part ko.
Humarap ako sa kanya at tinapik ang kamay. "Get that flowers away from me." I coldly said. I continued walking towards the KaPH Building, ang kakabigay niyang building sa akin noong nakaraang buwan. He signed a deal, so his company is mine now.
But Kaferion Philemon Mercado is a naughty one. Doesn't he know when to give up?
"May I remind you who the boss is?" he smiled so fucking sweetly at me.
There.
The way he smiles at me that makes my heart melt the first time I saw him.
Get to your fucking senses, Zamia! He's your enemy!
I have my own company, the ZV Corp., but I already owned his company. You signed the agreement, remember, Kaph?
"Oh. I'm sorry, but I am now the REAL BOSS, isn't it? May I remind you, too, that my time is not free. You gave me your company in exchange for a date for whole fucking week." I fired back at him.
Saglit siyang napahinto. Iyon ang naging hudyat ko para maglakad muli. Hindi na ako magpapaloko pang muli, Kaph.
Hindi ba pera ang tingin mo sa akin sa noon?
Pwes, ikaw din ang magiging pera ko ngayon. At tulay para mapabagsak ang demonyong tatay ko.
"Well then, is there anything that you want today?" hindi ko namalayan na nakasunod muli ito sa akin hanggang sa nakasakay ako ng elevator.
Napaisip ako. My evil Dad also owned a five-star hotel. And there is this hotel na pabagsak na but the place is good, it's just that, hindi lang masyadong napro-promote kaya walang masyadong nakakaalam na mga turista. With proper promotion and renovation, surely it will attract costumers!
"Well, there is this hotel that I really want. Gusto kong bilhin mo. I'll give you the details later." I said, not looking at him.
He smirked. "Consider it sold. Now, will you marry me?"
Huminto muli ako at hinarap siya. I swear, I'm sweating bullets right now!
"This is the 72nd time you asked me that. And this would be the 72nd time that you got rejected. Now, get fucking out of my sight. Kahit ilang beses ka pang magtanong ng ganyan, I will never ever give you the answer you want!" Singhal ko at itinulak siya ng bahagya.
He looked at me with shock and amusement visible on his face. "Woah! I didn't know you're counting how many times you've rejected me! Fine! Just sign this paper then so I can go!" Saad niya habang hawak ang isang papel at kasalukuyang may hinahanap sa bag. Probably a pen.
Lihim akong napatawa. Look how frustrated my Kaph is. Go on, get frustrated, get iritated to me.
Without looking at the paper, I obligingly signed...
Not knowing that it could destroy my fucking life... Or probably not.
"FUCK YOU KAFERION PHILEMON MERCADO! FUCK YOU!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I've looked how happy Kaph is. Huli na nung binasa ko ang papel na pinirmahan ko!
Naisan mo ako Kaph! Or... Siya ang naisahan ko?