DAHIL SA BIGLANG UMUSBONG NG KABA SA KANIYANG DIBDIB, he breathed out - lips forming into a pout. Hindi lang kaba ang nararamdaman niya habang tinatahak niya ang main entrance ng kompanya na kaniyang papasukan. He felt excited too. Habang nakakaramdam ng kaba, hindi niya magawang hindi masabik dahil sa dalawang rason. Una, mahihiwalay na rin siya sa kaniyang kapatid na tanging ginagawa sa kaniya ay maging utusan nito. Ang ikalawa naman ay dahil sa kaniyang puso na tumitibok para sa isang babae na nagtratrabaho mismo sa kompanyang ito.
"Greetings!"
He yelped in shock. Dahil sa naging reaksyon niya, napatalon sa gulat ang babae na nasa kaniyang harapan.
Nang mapagtanto kung sino ang kaharapan niya ay para bang nakalimutan niyang huminga. But, it didn't go unnoticed by the woman in front of him - in which, she put a soft smile to help him relax. Ngunit kabalitaran pala ang mangyayari. Mas lalo lang siyang nagpigil ng paghinga sa nakakatunaw na ngiti ng kaharap.
"I'm Michelle Quazon. I'm the secretary of Mr. Wagner, the CEO," pagpapakilala ni Michelle na pinalitan ang mahinhin na ngiti sa ngiting ginagamit niya tuwing business-related ang pinag-uusapan.
When introducing yourself, it is normal to lend out your hand for a shake like what Michelle was doing now.
Hindi niya alam kung ano ang unang gagawin niya. To be honest, he can't process what's happening right now. Standing in the middle of lounge room ng mismong kompanya. Here he is, standing in front of the woman - he grew to idolize and grew to adore. His mind was going blank and his eyes can't meet hers. He was beyond nervous. Hindi na siya magtataka kung bigla na lang siya mahimatay. But, he won't let that happen. Lalo na't si Michelle ang kaharap niya.
Noticing that he grew more nervous, Michelle give him a smile that tends to comfort someone.
"It's alright to be nervous on your first day. I was the same when it was my first day as a secretary for this company," ani Michelle upang mabawasan man lang ang pressure na nararamdam ng kaharap.
Finally, he put the tiny bit of braveness to stare at Michelle. He suddenly felt guilty when he noticed that her hand was still in lend, waiting for him to shake it. Sumulyap muna siya sa mukha ni Michelle bago naggawad ng isang nahihiyang ngiti na sinabayan ng paghawak niya sa kamay nito.
"I-I'm Isaiah Wyatt Ruiz," pagpapakilala niya.
Michelle can't help, but raise a brow because of amusement. She already knew that Isaiah was related to Venus. In fact, she knew that the two are half-siblings. Pero kahit man alam niya na magkapatid sila sa ama, hindi niya maiwasang i-kompara ang ugali ng dalawa.
As far as Michelle knows about Venus, Venus is a very confident person. She can carry on her own. She's the type of person that will perfectly fit every place she would go. And lastly, she was destined to stand in the spotlight.
Now, looking at Isaiah. She found her younger self in him. Her timid younger self. She inspected his feature; glass-covered eyes that can't look someone straight in the eyes, a hint of red on the tip of his ears, his lips turned into a line, and a polite posture with his hands clasping each other in front.
Para hindi na ma-pressure pa si Isaiah ay ngitian niya na naman ito.
"May I escort you now to the office area?" tanong niya kaya naman agad niyang nakuha ang atensyon ni Isaiah.
Since he felt a lump in his throat, tanging nagawa niya na lamang ay tumango bago sundan si Michelle nang magsimula na itong maglakad patungo sa elevator.
NANG HINDI MAKITA SI MICHELLE, Aiden walked towards the near person - who, coincidently, is Javier, the exclusive editor, and Michelle's best friend.
"Garcia," tawag niya rito.
"What can I do for you, Boss?" Javier asked, straightening his posture before putting stray hair behind his ears.
Aiden glanced at Javier before looking around trying to find a familiar figure.
"Alam mo ba kung nasaan si Michelle?" tanong niya sabay tuluyang ibinigay ang atensyon sa kausap.
Javier tilted his head, slightly. "Didn't you remember, Boss?"
"Remember what?"
Inaayos muli ni Javier ang kaniyang postura. Ngunit kita pa rin sa kaniyang mukha ang pagtataka habang nakatingin kay Aiden na may parehas na ekspresyon katulad niya.
"Today is the day where new employees start their first day," pagsisimula niya. He noticed that the confusion in Aiden's face still hasn't faded yet. "If I remember, clearly. You assigned Michelle to handle it."
Now, that he heard the reason why he can't see Michelle. He remembered that someone - who's very familiar to him was one of the employees that were hired by himself.
"I see. Thank you, Garcia." he nodded.
"Always, Boss."
"It seems you are all complete," ani Michelle nang ma-check ang pangalan ni Isaiah sa clip folder na kaniyang hawak. Isa-isa niyang tinitigan ang limang bagong empleyado ng Wagner Company.
They are obviously much younger than her. Some might even be fresh graduates that are excellent enough to get accepted.
She smiled at them, proud yet still professional.
Matapos muling ipakilala ang kaniyang sarili at ii-explain sa kanila kung ano'ng klaseng kompanya ang Wagner Company to the business industry. She started to announce the positions that will be assigned to them and also the ones that they picked before getting an interview by Michelle, herself.
After flipping through the last page, she looked at it for a bit before looking at Isaiah - who flinched a little by the sudden eye contact.
"And Isaiah Wyatt Ruiz, you will be an assistant secretary under none other than Mr. Wagner, himself," pagtatapos niya sabay sarado ng clip folder. "I know that all of you felt pressure, but I promise...as you work here, you will notice yourselves growing." she smiled, softly. "And I can't wait to see you guys grow as Wagner Company's employee. I wish you all good luck."
After watching Michelle, Isaiah almost thought that he went back on time - the time when he first saw Michelle. He was still in awe of how she handled herself. How she looks so professional from her posture to her speeches. And while in the midst of awe, he was aware of how his heartbeats fasten.
"Ruiz, come with me."
Awtomatikong sinundan ni Isaiah si Michelle nang makita niya itong nagsimula nang maglakad. The other new employees are long gone - probably on their way to their appointed works. But, since Isaiah was hired as an assistant secretary. He will probably stand next to Michelle almost all the time. Hindi siya magsisinungaling kung sasabihin niya na hindi siya nasasabik sa ideyang makakasama niya na rin si Michelle. Ngunit, alam niya pa rin na kailangan niyang mag-focus sa trabaho. And maybe, he can become like Michelle.
Nang ilang metro na lang ang layo nila sa elevator, the door suddenly slides open and someone stepped out - revealing Aiden, who looked quite surprised but is pleased to find the reason why he's inside the elevator in the first place.
Looking at Aiden, Isaiah becomes stiff behind Michelle. Habang si Michelle - na kahit man medyo nagulat nang makita si Aiden, she let out a smile.
"Mr. Wagner," she greeted, still looking Aiden as his eyes pinned at her. "I didn't know you had some business here?"
Aiden gave a quick glance behind Michelle - where Isaiah was standing before bringing it back to Michelle.
"I had. And I'm able to find her, quickly."
Napakurap si Michelle dahil sa pagtataka. She knew that she was the one Aiden referring to, but why would he make an effort to go here, just to find her?
"May I ask why, Boss?" tanong niya, hiding her confusion.
"2:00 pm?"
"You have a meeting with some of the stockholders, Boss," awtomatikong sagot niya.
Aiden nodded. Pleased to know that Michelle is ready as ever.
"What about it, Mr. Wagner?" pagtatanong ni Michelle habang bahagyang itinaas ang isang kilay para ipahiwatig sa kausap ang kaniyang pagtataka. Because last time she check the time - which just a few minutes ago, nasa one pa lang ang oras.
To check the exact time, she looked at her wristwatch.
"It's only 1:30, Boss," she announced, looking up at him in confusion.
"I want the last meeting to early," kibit-balikat na tugon niya bago nagbigay ng maliit na ngiti na sinabayan ng pagtaas ng kaniyang mga kilay - displaying his green-colored eyes in the process.
Medyo nawala ang professionalism sa postura ni Michelle bago pinanliitan ng mga mata si Aiden. She gave Isaiah a glance before looking back at Aiden - who's blinking his eyes, innocently.
Dahil nga walang magawa si Michelle kung hindi ang sumang-ayon, hinarapan niya si Isaiah bago ginawaran ito ng isang ngiti na para bang humihingi ng tawad.
"It seems like our teaching lesson will be moved?"
Awtomatiko namang gulat na napatingin si Isaiah kay Michelle bago mabilis na ikinaway ang mga kamay na sinabayan ng ilang ulit niyang pag-iling.
"I-It's alright!" nauutal na aniya bago sumulyap kay Aiden na nakatitig na pala sa kaniya habang naka-krus ang mga braso nito. Looking at his posture, Isaiah immediately looked at Michelle again. Ginawaran niya ang kaharap ng isang mahinhin ngiti. "It is already an honor that you will be the one who will teach me. It is beyond enough"
Nang marinig ang naging tugon ni Isaiah, Michelle melted.
She smiled at him, softly. "Then, if you excuse us."
Tumingin si Michelle kay Aiden sabay pinindot ang button dahilan para magbukas muli ang elevator, they stepped inside before turning around to face Isaiah. Nang makita ang mukha ni Isaiah, Michelle smiled again - waving a little. At dahil sa naging pagkaway niya, hindi na napigilan ni Isaiah ang pagpula ng kaniyang mga tenga bago nahihiyang kumaway pabalik.
Aiden could only do was move his gaze from Michelle to Isaiah and back to Michelle again. Dahil masyado siyang na-occupied sa kakatitig sa nangyayari sa pagitan nila Michelle at Isaiah, he didn't have a time to hide how his jaw clench as the door slowly closed.