Chapter one: Zi Cheng's POV "Mr. Wu, may naghihintay po sa inyo sa labas. She told me, she's an important person so you must face her." Nangunot ang noo ko nang dahil sa sinabi nang assistant ko. I wasn't expecting any person today. "Who must that be?" "She didn't tell her name." "Okay. I'll be there in any moment." Ibinaba ko na ang telepono at tsaka inayos ang coat ko. Naglakad na rin ako palabas at binati ako nang mga empleyado ko. I am not really in a mood to meet someone right now, but that woman is confusing me. He didn't even tell her name. Napatigil ako nang isang pamilyar na postura nang babae ang nakita ko mula sa likod nya. Is she my visitor? Lumingon sya sa akin at hindi nga ako nagkamali. That was really her. She was smiling at me like nothing had happened few years ago. "Zi Cheng, I thought you're gonna dump me." Pang-asar na ngiti nya. "Dump my ***. Why are you here? What do you want? I did waste my precious time facing you." Napangiwi sya nang dahil sa sinabi ko. "Don't be too harsh. Let's go to your office first." Hinila nyang bigla ang braso ko kaya hindi na ako nakapalag. "It's my company for Pete's sake. The heck you drag me without my permission!" Pagmamaktol ko at narinig ko ang mahinang tawa nya. "But you didn't complain right before I dragged you that's why I already had my permission. Right? Mr. CEO?" Bahagya akong napalayo nang ilapit nga ang mukha nya sa akin. "Don't force me to call a police and accused you of harassment." Pagbabanta ko sa kanya. "I'm not even harassing you. You're too much!" Nakarating na kami sa office ko at agad nyang sinara ang pinto nang office ko. Umupo ako sa swivel chair ko at sya naman ay umupo sa harap ko. "So, what exactly do you want?" "Can't I get some coffee first?" "Serve yourself. Don't think of me serving you." Seryosong saad ko habang tutok ang mata ko sa computer ko. "Is this how you treat visitor?" "I'm not treating you as one. So before I drive you away better make your own coffee." Iiling-iling naman syang pumunta sa kusina nang office ko at agad na nagtimpla nang kape nya. Mataman ko pang tinignan ang likod nya. It's been years at wala pa ring nagbabago sa kanya. She's the same woman, I have loved before. Pagkatapos nyang magtimpla ay agad syang bumalik sa harap ko at tinignan ako. "So, why are you here?" This time ay diretso ko na syang hinarap nang hindi naiilang. It's been years kaya wala na sakin at hindi na big deal ang ganitong senaryo. "Still remember Kuan Lin?" Muli na namang kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang pangalang yon. That's something familiar but I can't remember where I heard that name. "What about him?" "He wanted to be your partner so he asked me personally to talk to you." "Wu Qian, a matter like this should be talked between me and him, not you. Malay ko bang kung sinong ponsiyo-pilato yang sinasabi mo." Muli kong binaling ang mata ko sa computer at muling tumipa. "You're right. Sinabi ko na yan sa kanya but he refuses because of his busy schedules." Kamot-batok na saad nya. "Then I won't accept that partnership." "Wait up! I'll try to talk to him once again. Baka pag hindi na sya busy eh makipag-usap na sya sayo personally." Bahagya akong tumango at saglit na tumingin sa kanya. "Any other matter of your sudden show up?" "That's it. I don't have anything to say." "Tsk! You should have just called me. Nag-abala ka pang pumunta para lang sa maliit na bagay na yan." Umupo sya sa sofa at tsaka nag-dekwatro. "I just wanted to see how's the CEO doing in his office. Is that a crime?" Nakangiting saad nya at mataman na nakatingin sa akin. Iniwas ko naman agad ang paningin ko sa mga mata nya. "More than a crime. If you're not going to say anything, you can leave now. I have a lot of things to do too. I can't entertain you." Tumayo ako at tinagtag ang necktie ko tsaka muling bumalik sa pagkakaupo. "I'll entertain myself then." "How can you entertain yourself? Are you going to watch something vulgar again? Binabalaan kita, wag mo nang tangkain kung hindi---" "You're thinking too much. I will entertain myself by sleeping here at your sofa. Go back to your work, don't mind me." Kumportable syang humiga sa sofa ng office ko at ipinikit ang mata nya. She even crossed -her arms and legs. The usual thing she's doing back then. But the thing is, her presence doesn't have any kinds of effects on me anymore. I wonder why. Tumayo ako at kumuha ng maliit na kumot sa drawer ko at ipinatong yon sa kanya agad din akong bumalik sa swivel chair ko at mabilis na tinapos ang gawain ko. It's getting late I need to hurry this. Nang makatapos ako ay lumapit ako kay Wu Qian at mahina kong tinapik ang braso nya para gisingin sya. "Hey wake up. We need to get back home. It's getting dark." Pupungay-pungay ang mata nyang bumangon at mataman akong tinitigan. "Do you always finish your work this late?" Kunot-noong saad nya. "I'm used to it. Come on. I'll drive you home." I used to love her before pero ngayon I totally forgotten about it because of some reason that I don't know yet. As I remember, I got into a car accident and I experienced some kind of temporary amnesia. So, I forgot a little bit of my memory. Sabay kaming lumabas nang office ni Wu Qian at nagdrive na ako papunta sa tinutuluyan nya. " Thank you for tonight Zi Cheng. I'll go ahead, drive safely." Bahagya lang akong ngumiti at tumango at hinintay syang makapasok sa loob nang bahay nya. Agad ko din namang pinaandar ang sasakyan matapos ko syang maihatid nang tingin pabalik sa pent house ko. I was living there alone since I handled our family's company and I'm used to it. My family has gone for almost 12 years I guess. Hindi ko na kase sila pinayagang bumyahe at magpabalikbalik dito sa Shanghai and America because they were way too old. It's not better for them to flight every month, so we decided to make them live in America and I was the one whose gonna visit them if I have time. Nakarating ako sa pent house at nang makarating ako sa elevator ay bigla namang nang ring ang phone ko. "Hello?" ["Is this Zi Cheng by any chance?"] "Speaking. May I know who are you?" ["It's 'Li Kuan Lin', the one who wants a partnership with you. Ms. Zhang Wu Qian told me that you wanted to talk to me personally to talk about that matter."] Why is that name is a bit familiar with me? Did I met him once? How come? ["Still there?"], Bigla akong napakurap nang marealize kong hindi na pala ako nagsasalita. "I'm still here. Are you free tomorrow? Let's meet at my office." ["Okay then. I don't have any meetings or works tomorrow, so I'll be there."], Sa pagsasalita nya ay alam kong nakangiti nya. "I'll hung up now. I need to rest. See you tomorrow." Pinatay ko na ang cellphone ko at agad na inayo ang sarili ko. **************** **************** "Sir, are you expecting visitor today?" Personal nang lumapit sa akin ang assistant ko at agad naman akong tumango. "Yes. Let him in." Tumango sya at agad na lumabas. I did make myself busy habang hinihintay sya. Li Kuan Lin, I heard he is also managing a company. No wonder he wanted to team up with me. *Tok*Tok*Tok* "Mr. Wu, the visitor is here." Hindi na ako sumagot at narinig ko na lang ang mahinang ingit nang pinto nang office ko at niluwa nun ang lalaking sa tingin ko ay nakita ko pero di ko alam kung saan ang kung paano. "You must be Mr. Li Kuan Lin of Li Company?" "Yes. It was me. Nice meeting you Mr. Wu." We even did shake hands at hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko ay may naramdaman akong kakaiba sa pagdampi nang mga palad namin. I can now feel his warm palm and how warm is his stares while looking at me. "Please take a sit." Tinuro ko sa kanya ang upuang nasa harap ng table ko at umupo naman sya. "I bet Wu Qian already told you everything?" "Yes, gusto ko lang na makausap ka nang personal. Alam mo na, nag-iingat lang." "You don't have to worry. I am trustworthy enough. As for the partnership, I planned of staying here for a while then you can stay at mine if you wanted too." "I think that would be a great idea. But may I ask you some questions?" "Of course, take your time Mr. CEO." Hindi ko maialis sa mga mata nya ang tingin ko. Feeling ko talaga, kilala ko na sya for a long time. Is this part of some memory loss? "Why do you suddenly wants to make a partnership with me?" "Do you want a truth or a lie?" Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong nya. What does he mean? "Of course, I only want truth and that's obvious Mr. Li." Naglean-forward sya at inilapit ang mukha nya sa mukha ko na nagpailang sa akin. "As for the truth, I found your company an interesting one and another truth... I want you to remember me." Is this one of the clue that's why he seems familiar to me? "Do I know you before?" Hinawakan nya ang baba ko at mariing hinalikan ang labi ko. "I won't tell you. See for your own." Nakangiti nyang inalayo ang mukha nya at pakiramdam ko ang namumula ako. That was my first kiss but I don't want to complain. In fact, I want more. "I'll tour you. Let's go." Agad akong tumayo at naglakad papunta sa pinto at naramdaman ko naman sumunod sya. Naglakad na kami para ilibot sya sa buong kumpanya and he keeps on gaining attention from my employee. He's much handsome in personal than those pictures on the magazine. "Is that Mr. Li? Oh my gosh he's much handsome in personal." "I wonder if he already had her girlfriend." "I can't breath of their both presence. They were a perfect combination of perfect." Napailing na lang ako at tinignan ko lang sipang bumalik sa mga trabaho nila at agad naman nilang naintindihan yun. "Sorry about that. Gusto lang talaga nilang makita ka." "Nahh, it's okay. I'm used to it but I don't care about that because I'm here for the company and for you." Sandali akong natigil nang dahil sa huling sinabi nya. Is he really a kind of straight-forward person? Ni hindi nya man lang inisip na maiilang ako. Mataman syang nakatitig sa akin buti na lang at nasa meeting room kami at walang tao. "Can you think first before saying something like that." Nagulat ako nang bigla syang pumunta sa harap ko kaya napasandal ako sa dingding nang meeting room. He did captured me using his arms ang leans forward to me. "But I think, I can't think straight when I'm with you. Is it fine?" Napatingin ako sa mapulang labi nya dahilan para makagat ko ang sarili kong labi. How can he be this tempting? I only taste his lips once, but I wanted to do it again. Nagpapalit-palit nang tingin ang mata ko sa mata nya at sa labi nya. How come, he has this kind of effect on me? "Will you mind if I claim this for a while?" Inilagay nya ang dalawang daliri nya sa ibabaw nang labi ko na nagpainit sa katawan ko. He even knows how to tease me. Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita na nagpangiti sa kanya. "I'll take that as a 'Yes'." Naramdaman ko na lang bigla ang mga labi nya sa labi ko and he was French kissing me. But for I don't now reason I started to respond at his kisses. Hinawakan nya ang magkabilang braso ko para idiin ang mga labi nya sa labi ko. Nabalik lang ako sa katinuan nang muntik nya nang ipasok ang kamay nya sa loob ng damit ko. I slightly pushed him away and took a deep breath. "We're on my company. Don't do this kind of thing again." Tuluyan akong lumayo sa kanya at naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod nang tingin nya sa akin. "Let's go back to my office. I'm hungry." Nauna na akong maglakad palabas pero hinila nya ang braso ko. "Wait for me. Baka maligaw ako hindi kita makita." "Stop that cheesy lines will you?" "It's not even cheesy." Nilagpasan nya na ako at pinagmasdan ko ang likod nya. He's much handsome on the back. "Staring is rude Mr. CEO." Agad kong inilingon sa gilid ang mata ko at hindi na sya muling tinignan. Nakarating na kami sa loob nang office ko at umupo na sya sa sofa. Kuan Lin's POV "What do you want for lunch?" Tinignan ko sya at tsaka ngumiti. "Anything is fine. You know, I will eat anything you prepare for me." Napansin ko naman ang pag-iwas nya nang tingin sa akin kaya naman lihim akong natuwa. Maybe, I still have that effect on him. Mukhang hindi naman magiging mahirap para sa akin ang pagbabalik nang ala-ala nya sa akin. And after that, I'll make him mine, cause he's mine and I am his. "I'll just cook something for you. Just wait me here." Naglakad na sya papuntang kusina at hindi na tumingin sakin so, I decided to follow him and watch him from the door. Honestly, he's more masculine than before but if you look at him on his overall, nothing has change except of that he forgotten me, everything about me. I slowly approached him and gave him a back hug na ikigulat nya naman. "Are you really this clingy?" Nababatong saad nya. Kahit hindi nya naman ipahalata, ramdam kong kinakabahan sya. "I am always this clingy, pero sayo lang. You still can't remember me, that's why you don't have any idea, how I am addicted to you." Bulong ko sa tenga nya dahilan para bahagya syang mapalayo. "How can I even make our lunch if you're doing this?" "You've been this cold after you forgotten me. You're not like this before." I said while pouting my lips. "Don't make face infront of me. It's gross!" Tinabig nya naman ang braso kong nakapulupot sa bewang nya dahilan para mapabitaw ako. "Maupo ka na lang dyan. Don't be so naughty kung ayaw mong magutom tayo parehas." "Okay Mr. CEO!" I saluted at him and I did what he said. Pinagmasdan ko lang sya habang nagluluto and I can't help myself to smile. He's perfect! ****************** ****************** "It's done. Let's eat." Nakasunod lang ako nang tingin sa kanya habang maghahain sya. I just thought of something, if he still remember me now, maybe he will be more sweeter than before. I took a deep sigh at tinignan ang niluto nya. "What's with your sigh?" "It's nothing. May naalala lang." Tumango lang sya and we started to eat. Palihim ko syang sinusulyapan at pinagmamasdan ang pagkain nya. "So when are you planning to go back to your own company? Hindi ka ba nag-aalala sa mga empleyado mo?" "They're old enough. Why bother? Baka ma-spoil lang ang mga yon sa kabaitan ko. Ngayon lang ako humiwalay sa kumpanya kaya maiintindihan naman siguro nila yun. And also, it's a rare opportunity to be here with you, alone." Ngumiti pa ako sa kanya at kinindatan sya at napansin ko naman ang pagngiwi nya. "You should stop watching cheesy dramas. A handsome guy like you should not say something like that." Natahimik ako dahil sa sinabi nya at napalitan naman agad mamg ngiti yun. "What did you just say? Nabingi ata ako." Pang-aasar ko sa kanya na ikinaiwas nya naman nang tingin. "I didn't say anything. Finish your food already. I'm done with mine. Help yourself." Mabilis syang umalis sa harap ko dahilan nang mahinang pagtawa ko. He's still not good when it comes to lying. He's the one who's cheesy after all. Agad ko namang tinapos ang pagkain ko at inayos ang mga yon tsaka ako bumalik office nya and I saw him typing something. "You're done?" Hindi nakatinging tanong nya sa akin. "Hmm... I'm already full." Nakasimangot na saad ko. Matapos nyang sabihing gwapo ako, sya pa tong may ganang mailang. He's so unfair. "Take a rest first. I'm just going to finish this." Nagtungo ako sa sofa nya at doon umupo at muli syang pinagmasdan. "Ah... I just remembered someone telling me that 'staring is rude'." Nakangising saad nya at pinagmasdan ako. "Who said that?" Pagmamaang-maangan ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. "I think someone who has a surname 'Li'." Lumakad ako papunta sa harapan nya at doon naupo. "I never heard about him. Tell him staring is not really rude lalo na kung gwapo yung titignan nya." Agad naman sya napaiwas nang tingin nang mangalumbaba ako sa harap nya. I won again! Right. He can't win against me. Even if I kiss him right now, he can't do anything about it, cause he wanted that. "I told you to rest. Who told you to sit infront of me?" "My senses did. You can continue what you're doing. I can stay like this." Hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang pangangalumbaba ko bilang pang-asar sa kanya. For sure, naiilang na talaga sya nang sobra. "But I can't let you stare at me like this while I am doing my stuff. I actually don't know how to handle your stares. I feel like you're removing my clothes the way you look at me." Natawa naman ako dahil sa sinabi nya. Inabot ko ang baba nya at ipinaharap sa akin. "Fine. I won't bother you. Magpapahinga na lang ako sa sofa mo, and you can finish that. Actually, I am willing to wait for you even if you finished tomorrow." I gave him a peck on his lips and left him hanging. Nanlalaki pa rin ang mata nya dahil sa ginawa ko. Mas nagiging magugulatin na ata sya ngayon. Cute. Hahahaha.