CHAPTER 1

D's POV

There's this old saying "Follow your dreams". And so I did. I am currently working at my dream company, TDOONG Entertainment as an Assistant Manager of  the Marketing Department alongside with my dream girl, who turns out to be my boss.

I like this girl whom I've met since I was in Elementary. She was in an elite kind of school, I am not. I've known her because I was a bystander at her campus whenever my classes ends since my mother was a teacher at that school.  So, in order to be with her I did my best in Highschool to get a scholarship in wherever her school is. It was tough. However during college, she went abroad and never seen her for almost 7 years. Until I heard on the news that she will be the new director of this company.

I easily got in due to my credentials, school background and good grades. Over time, due to my hardwork and determination, I was promoted, in which I obviously accepted since it pays good amount of money and I got to be near her office.

It's not an easy job. Pressure after pressure. But I was inspired everyday because of my beautiful, kind, graceful, and super rich boss. And her name is Mina Myoui, my dream before up until now.

Our work starts at 9am but I clock in at 8am. It was no problem with the guard since we are close. I usually prepared everything before she got here at 8:30am. Like sorting all her papers in which my subordinates will submit to her, and preparing her freshly brewed coffee. She said she prefer it that way rather than ordering outside.

But when I got there, I saw that the lights on her office are on. It was rather unsual, maybe she got a lot of stuff to do.

I started my routine. And after sorting and brewing, I knocked on her office to give her daily coffee. And do my favorite part of this morning routine.

"What!?" I heard from the other side of the wall.

"Sorry to bother you Miss Myoui. I have your coffee"

"Oh, Manager Kim. Please come inside. Thank you" her voice soften.

As I entered, I saw her walking down her mini table, she set up a year before, to have her coffee break. She seems to be in a good mood now, coffee indeed makes everyone's morning a good day. I could see a bunch of papers on her table. Must be a load of work since we are in a mid-year now and it did not go well like we have expected. I have to try harder.

I do not want to disturb her so I turned away after giving her the coffee.

"You are leaving already? How about our small talk? Can you stay for a couple more minutes?" I heard it with a sad tone but maybe it was just me.

I could not say no. So we talked super random things,  such as how my day went and so on while she's just listening while sipping her coffee.

Time do flies. I could hear from the outside my co-workers are starting to clock in one by one.

"Ma'am myoui, it's almost 9am, I'll take my leave now" I bowed down and left.

I sat down next to Sana, one of the staff at the Marketing Department, whom I supervised. She got the best visual next to my loves. She's pretty and funny. She's also down to earth.

"Wow. You're so early unnie. Is the world ending?"


"Why, did I disturb your bebe time with our boss? Hihi"

I hit her arms gently. And part of my routine is teasing Sana before the time or vice versa.

I think if I didn't met Mina, Sana would be my crush. Actually, a lot of girls here at the office are crushable.

Habang nag uusap kami ni Sana tungkol sa isa sa favorite niyang group which is TWICE.

"Alam mo parang tayo yan e, yung SAIDA. Best pairing yan e" at dahil kilala ko nga din sila, we did the SAIDA cheers.

Until we felt na may something sa likod namin. Like so cold and scary.

"It's past 9am, it means working hours and not this crap"

Sana immediately closes YT and says her sorry. Me too, of course.

"Sana, you bring the documents to me by 3pm today" Then Mina walks aways back to her office

"3pm today??? But it was supposedly due tomorrow. What should I do Dahyunnie?" Sana is getting teary and desperate.

"Just do your best, I'll try to talk to her later at lunch"

"Thank you Dahyunnie. I wanted to hug you pero baka before lunch ay ipa-submit na etong report ko. I'll just do that later"

We just got back to our regular day. work. type. konting kwentuhan. Passing of info's. And as an assistant manager, syempre I tried helping each one of them para solid na ang report kapag dumating kay Boss.

Lunch time, and my bibo self brought lunch to my baby loves. So eto, lalapit na sana ako sa office niya pero dumating yung reason #1 ko kung bakit alam kong hanggang pangarap lang si Mina. Si Bambam, ang finacee niya.

Simula nung dumating si Mina uli sa bansa, kasabay ng announcement sa pag take over niya ng company is yung engagement niya sa isa sa pinaka ma-influence na pamilya.

Wala naman akong problema sakanya bukod sa mapapasaknya lang naman yung matagal ko ng inaasam. Mabait siya at gentelman. He also treat us nicely so there in no reason to really hate him.

Only a minute later, we saw Bambam left with a frown on his face at dala niya padin ang paper bag na dala niya nung pumasok. Akala ko it is for Mina, like their lunch pero either di tinanggap or baka di lang talaga para saknaya. probably the 2nd one. who would say no to free food, right?  Mukhang napagtabuyan lang talga siya nung Baby Boss namin. Di ko ba maintindihan if love language na nila yung away at bangayan. Nakakainggit. Pero ok na ako sa pag admire saknya sa malayo, mahalaga is masaya siya.

Lumabas din saglit si Mina sa kanyang office, probably to see if Bambam really left.

She stared at me, maybe thinking of why was I standing near her office. We locked eyes for a moment, habang bumababa ang tingin niya until she noticed yung dala kong pagkain.

"Eating lunch alone?"

"Actually, it's for you. Egg, bread and banana milk. Yung favorite mo" sabay abot nung food

"Do you have plans? Why don't you join me?"

"Hindi na po. Nakakahiya naman"

Baka magpaiwan talaga ako, so I just run away at nagpunta na sa canteen. Umupo ako next to Sana at naglean sakanya habang Sinusubuan niya ako ng food niya.

"Alam mo, kung di ka lang cute, pinirat na kita. Ang galante mo kay Mina pero ang buraot mo saamin" Patampo niyang sinabi pero sinusubuan padin ako.

"How about ilibre nalang kita kapag sumahod na? Gipit lang talaga"

Ayun tamang kulitan at landian. Pero as a friend. We know our bounderies. Parang ate ko na siya at lil sis daw niya ako. Since only child siya, gusto niya talaga daw ng kapatid and she found it in me daw.

She's pating my head but retreated it fast, at napaayos din ako ng upo nung may narinig kaming malakas na pagclose ng door. Grabe naman yun, galit lang? In front of the food talaga?

Nung pagbalik namin, nasa labas si Mina. She said she'll check everyone's work. At nag ikot ikot na nga siya. Huminto siya kay Sana and checked her unfinished report.

"Is this all you've got? You're long way behind Minatozaki."

She left again and without even checking mine. Parang kinakabahan naman ako dito kay Boss. Mukhang may PMS.

"Grabe naman bebeloves mo. Pakalmahin mo nga. Nakakatakot" Sabi ni Sana.

Time past by, it's already 6pm, uwian na. As always, napaka aga mag clock out nung mga kasama ko. Pero ako, I always wait for Mina na makauwi muna bago ako. Her safety is my priority.

Naglalaro lang ako sa phone ko, pero isang oras na ang nakakalipas at di padin siya lumalabas.

Another hour past by, wala padin. I am getting concerned dahil never naman siya nag OT ng ganito. Probably tinatapos niya yung tambak na papers kanina sa room niya. I'll try and help. Kumatok ako pero walang sumasagot. Weird.

I tried twisting her doorknob at di naman sarado

"Sorry for--- Mina!"

Nakita ko siya na nakahandusay sa sahig. Kaya't agad agad ko siyang nilapitan at chineck ang pulse. Ok pa naman siya, pero ramdam ko na mainit siya. Tinapik tapik ko ang pisngi niya upang gisingin. 

"Mina. Ayos ka lang ba? Gusto mo ba ng gamot?"

She's muttering something. Di ko maintindihan. Inalalayan ko siya na lumipat sa sofa niya. Tinanggal ko na din ang blazer ko at kinumot ko sakanya.

"Mina. Bibili lang ako ng gamot" habang her hair gently.

She hold my hand weakly. Ramdam ko ang panghihina niya. She's still muttering something, mahina padin ito pero narinig ko ang salitang 'stay'.

"Mabilis lang ako Mina, promise. I'll be back before you know it" And with that she slowly let go of my hand.

So I ran outside. Pero di ko pala alam kung nasaan ang Mercury Drug Store or any Pharmacy nearby. So tumakbo lang ako while searching sa maps ko kung saan meron. And dahil sa pagmamadali, nadapa pa nga ako. Bakit kung kelan urgent tsaka pa naging tanga.
Binilisan ko ang kilos ko, medyo baskil na nga pero para sa bebeloves ko, keri lang. Di naman ako mabaho pa.

Pag dating ko uli sa room, ganun padin ang posisyon niya. Mukhang wala talaga siyang lakas. Alam kong sinusubukan niya imulat ang mata niya to see me. Gusto ko man kiligin pero bakit naman sa ganito ang sitwasyon namin.

Ni-ready ko yung baso ng tubig at ang gamot niya. Tumabi ako sakanya at tinulungan siya na umupo.

"Drink this, so you'll get better" mabilisan niya lang na ininom at inabot saakin ang baso. Pag lagay ko nito sa gilid ay bigla naman siya nahiga sa lap ko.

She fell asleep na agad, so I did not disturb her. I just her hair again baka mas mapasarap ang tulog niya. Actually, parang ako nga ang inaantok. Hehe.

Pero I just realized na ngayon lang ako nagkachance na makita siya ng ganto kalapit. Like I could count all her moles sa mukha niya. Napakaganda. It fits her perfectly.

Napatigil ako nung may tumawag sa phone ko. Di ko namalayan na nag lean down na pala ako, kaya talagang malapit ang mukha niya. Oh God, I am taking advantage, buti nalang at natauhan ako.

It was my mom who is calling, siguro nag aalala dahil di pa ako nakakauwi and it's already 10pm na pala. I decline her call at nag text na OT lang.

Naglibang nalang ako sa phone ko kung ano ano, either naglalaro or nanunuod ng kdrama. Habang my other hand is still playing with her hair. I need to know na ok siya, bago ako umuwi.

Nagulat nalang ako nung narinig ko siyang nag salita, "Manager Kim, can you drive?"

Tinatanong pa ba yon, "Hindi po ma'am e". Wala nga akong pambili or rent ng kotse, mag drive pa kaya. I heard her grunt.

She grab her phone sa pocket niya and gave it to me. "Call an uber for you and me"

Mukhang masakit padin ang ulo niya. Pag hawak ko ng phone niya, wala man lang wallpaper, yung standard lang. Grabe, when I opened the app, di ko naman alam saan pipindutin dahil wala naman akong ganito. To avoid mistake, nag message nalang ako at missed call sa pwede makatulong saamin.

"How many minutes?" Mina asked.

How do I know, depende if na read niya na yung message. "10 minutes?" Hula ko. Siguro naman magmamadali yon dahil may sakit ang Fiancee niya at balita ko malapit lang siya dito.

It's been 30 minutes na. Pero mukhang di naman nagmamadali ang baby boss ko, so ok lang. Bakit ba wala pa siya? Jusko naman.

"Mukhang wala pa Ma'am, sor-"

"It's ok. I am not in a hurry naman e. Are you?"

"Hindi ma'am." Pabor pa nga saakin kasi I get to be with you for a longer time. Kahit sa totoo, nagsisimula na mag sync in ang mga nangyare ngayon. Simula na ang atake sa puso ko sa kilig.

Someone burst out sa door. Si Bambam. Superhero lang ang peg?

"Mina. Ayos ka lang?" Pag aalala na tanong ni Bambam.

"Bakit andito ka?" Pag susungit naman netong baby boss ko. Grabe talaga. Parang may PMS lagi lalo dito kay Bambam.

"Your staff message me na sunduin ka. May sakit ka daw"

"What? You called him, Kim? I told you to call an uber. Mukha ba siyang uber driver?"

Nako, pati saakin nagagalit na din. Nakahawak na ang kamay niya sa ulo niya, mas sumakit ata. Mukhang ayaw niya mag alala at maistorbo ang jowa niya. Well, dapat lang naman 'to no. Kung ako yan, baka di ka lang mag chat na nakauwi ka na nung 6pm, dinalaw na kita agad.

"Di ko po kasi alam paano gumamit, kaya po siya nalang kinontact ko"

"Nevermind. Tara na. E, paano ka pala uuwi Manager Kim? Sasabay ka ba dito?" Halata saknya na halong inis at concern ang boses niya.

Aba, mukhang ayaw pa niya na maistorbo ko sila. Pero ayos lang, intindi ko naman. Awkward naman talaga.

"Hindi na po, mag tataxi nalang po ako dyan. I'll be safe" The last sentence was for me. Convincing na magiging safe ako kahit late night na.

Sumakay na agad si Mina sa kotse ni Bambam, madaling madali si Madam. Gusto na ata magpahinga. Pero bago pa man sumakay si Bambam ay may inabot ito saakin na papel.

"Salamat ha. If it weren't for you, baka napano na si Mina. Here's my personal number. You can contact me directly anytime, whenever Mina needs help or kahit ikaw. I'll be happy to help"

Nagbusina na si Mina. Aba aba talaga. Possive ang baby boss ko. Di ko naman aagawin yan sayo, baka nga ikaw pa agawin ko sakanya. Sana all nalang talaga BamBam. Alagaan mo yan. Namamatay na ako sa inggit.  Nag paalam na saakin si Bambam at mabilisan na din silang umalis.

Paano kaya ako makakauwi nito? Mukhang wala ng bus or taxi na dumadaan.