Since Jericho was somewhere running errands, I went home alone and prepared for my dinner. If today was any other day before I met him, for sure nasa bar na naman ako to drink. But since I needed to welcome him by tomorrow sa premises ng Lion, I had to be sober.

Dinner time and I was eating my beef teriyaki when I scanned the La Mari's Summer Fashion Design Competition announcement. The latest update was 79 designers and models were already registered and they have five remaining days before they close the registration. That means I still have five more days to convinced Jericho to be my model.

Tatlo ang category na kailangang ipasa sa competition. Isang for summer swimwear, isang for casual wear, at isang formal attire. May model na ako for women's category at never akong hinindian ni Gwynette. I called her last time and she said wherever I needed her, one call away lang siya. Sa male model lang talaga ako nagkakaproblema dahil nagkakaubusan sila ng magaling magdala ng damit.

Jericho could carry himself. His confidence was enough kahit nga pagsuotin ko lang siya ng swimming trunks. Jomari would be nice sana, pero mukhang magiging literal na madugo ang paghaharap namin kung sakali man.

There were so many familiar faces on my iPhone's screen. Wala akong makitang designer na reputable, karamihan sa kanila, sponsors and judges naman. If ever I will join this one, for sure na mabibigla silang lahat since I was in the judge level na at hindi pang-contestant lang.

I know, Ty has a point when he said na malaki ang chance na matalo ako kasi maluluto ang laban. Teritoryo 'to ng mga kaaway ko, and I will compete just to show them how great I am. And that alone could ruin my image if ever I lose this competition. Kakalat at kakalat ang balita na kung sakali mang matalo ako ng mas mababa ang level sa 'kin, mababawasan ang credibility ko as a well-known fashion designer.

But I don't care. I just want to show them and I wanted to feel kung ano ang ginawa nila sa Lion Fashion three months ago.

They went to our event just to flex their fucking couture with an ugly design? Bold of them to assume I will not take my fucking revenge in their own place.

Wala akong pakialam kung matalo ako. Ang gusto ko, maranasan nila ang ginawa nila sa event na highlight ang design ko.

I planned everything later that night. I created prototype sketches. I even asked some of my colleagues regarding the trend this summer sa iba't ibang location outside the Metro and abroad.

I needed to create winning pieces na kahit maluto man ang scores, at least the sponsors will know the difference of what an acceptable design should be like.

♥♥♥

Six-thirty in the morning, I called Jericho for an update kung saan kami magkikita.

"I forgot to tell you, you should have a résumé," I said while wearing my René Caovilla's pearl-embellished black wrap sandals.

"Naka-ready na rin, chill ka lang, Cinnamon." He laughed at the other side of the call. "Nag-breakfast ka na?"

"Sa Sip and Drip ako nagbe-breakfast."

"Oh! Nakakain na 'ko pero sige, bibilhan na lang kita ng almusal mamaya para hindi ka na bababa. Lagi ka pa namang naka-heels."

Wow, that was sweet.

"Wear something formal or casual at least, ha?" sabi ko agad kasi baka mag-T-shirt siya, please. Please, no. Ako mismo ang maghahatak sa kanya sa store namin para bihisan siya kung naka-T-shirt and jeans lang siya.

"Sabi ko, chill ka lang. Nate-tense ka ba kasi ipapakilala mo 'ko sa boyfriend mo?"

I let out a hopeless laugh because of that. Not that I don't want Tyrone to see him in his low-class social degree, pero kasi ayokong gisahin siya ni Ty about something personal.

Ayokong makarinig ng mga tanong na "Anong degree mo sa college?" or "Magkano ang monthly salary mo?" or "May stable job ka ba?" kasi nasa tipo ni Ty ang nagtatanong ng ganoon. Hangga't kaya niyang mamersonal, mamemersonal siya. I was the only one who could scold him right in front of his face every freaking day. Ayokong harap-harapan kaming makita ni Jericho na nagtatalo because my devil horns could grow longer than Lion's building height basta si Tyrone ang kausap.

Umaga pa lang, yung tension sa katawan ko, nag-uumapaw na. I wore a white sleeveless gold-button-detailed blazer dress na exposed na naman ang hita and a golden bracelet watch. As much as possible, I don't want to wear jewelries kasi sumasabit sa apron saka hindi ako comfortable kada kilos ko. I fixed my eyebrows and created a thin line for my eyelines and nude lipstick. Although my cleavage was still showing with this blazer dress, but not as revealing as my yesterday's dress. So I took the opportunity to tie up my hair on a high ponytail like how Ariana Grande would look like.

I drove my way to Lion's building and told Jericho to wait for me at the lobby before 8 para sure na nasa office na si Tyrone.

Pagpasok na pagpasok ko sa company premises, kung hindi lang ako sanay sa air con, malamang na hinihika na 'ko kasi kaunti pa lang ang tao kaya malamig pa ang temperature sa loob.

I looked for Jericho in the lobby. Malawak ang waiting area ng Lion. May four circular sofa na magkakatapat and the rest of the spaces were blank. The walls were decorated with paintings and a huge mosaic of Lion's famous faces for 50 years.

Wala siya sa mga sofa, and after scanning the whole place, my eyes stopped at the man looking at the paintings on the wall.

In an instant, I found myself staring at him, mouth wide opened, and surprised by how he looked.

He was wearing a black dress shirt, paired with a black leather belt, and cream-colored trousers. Even his leather shoes were perfectly shined. His folded sleeves were enough to hide his tattoos yet his chest was partly exposed from his two-button-down top. I glanced at his watch and it was a black leather and gold wristwatch.

I swallowed hard and was torn between calling his attention or watching him from a distance.

Kung hindi ko siya kilala, malamang na mapagkakamalan ko siyang boss or someone na may mataas na position. He looked dashing, professional, hot. Yeah, siya yung masarap damitan pero parang masarap ding hubaran. What the hell?

Iba talaga kapag perfectly toned ang muscles. Kapag nagsusuot ng formal shirt, nagfi-fit talaga sa katawan—and those were the tempting bodies na ang sarap pasadahan ng palad kahit may damit pa.

And he doesn't have a girlfriend right now. With that kind of physique. Because he was poor to afford the girl's wants.

Alright, and I'm not a girl. I can buy whatever I want, whenever I want it.

"Cinn!" he shouted my name. Kumaway agad siya at nag-jog palapit sa 'kin. He stopped in front of me and scanned my body. "Ang ganda mo naman. Yung suot mo, parang blazer lang a. Di ka ba nilalamig dito?"

"Sanay ako sa air con."

"Sigurado?"

I nodded. "Yeah." Ngumiti ako nang matipid saka naglahad ng palad. "Let me see your résumé."

Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napahakbang paatras. "Agad? Akala ko, yung general manager ang mag-i-interview."

"Yes, but I want to check your profile."

"Eh? Mamaya."

"Ngayon na."

Mabilis siyang umiling habang nakanguso. "Mamaya. Baka i-reject mo 'ko dito pa lang e."

Napasimangot agad ako saka nagkrus ng mga braso. "So, hihintayin mong si Tyrone pa ang mag-reject sa 'yo?"

"Mamaya, promise."

"Alam mo, kinakabahan ako sa résumé mo."

"Cinn, ang dami ko nang naging trabaho. Ilang beses na 'kong nakapag-apply sa kung saan-saan. Okay lang yung résumé ko, ano ka ba?"

Inakbayan niya 'ko, and his perfume was so familiar na naaamoy ko lang sa mga lalaking uma-attend ng mga convention with the bosses. He smelled seductively dangerous. That specific smell of men who always went to special events along with a high-end female escort. Yung amoy ng mga lalaking kindatan lang ang kausap nilang babae, the next you'll know, they were already making out in a hotel room.

I hate that fucking smell kasi ganoon ang amoy ni Tyrone. Amoy-babaero.

Tinangay lang niya 'ko papunta sa isa sa mga sofa. Akala ko, uupo kami pero may dinampot lang siya roon, isang vintage leather messenger bag. Sinilip ko kung makikita ko ba ang folder o kahit clearbook para sa résumé niya pero nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang brand ng hawak niya. It was Kangaroo Kingdom, and sobrang rare lang ng namemeke ng luxury brand na 'yon dito sa bansa.

"Saan ka nakahiram ng mga gamit mo ngayon?" tanong ko agad habang akbay-abay niya 'ko papunta sa direksyon ng elevator area.

Natawa siya nang mahina saka napailing. "Masama bang magdamit nang maayos ngayon?"

"No, I'm serious. Hiniram mo ba o sa 'yo talaga?"

"Cinn, itong mga gamit ko, matagal na 'to."

"Yung bag mo, matagal na? It wasn't damaged or looked used."

"Gamit lang 'yan, Cinn."

"That's Kangaroo Kingdom brand."

"Kahit Zoo Kingdom pa 'yan, bag lang 'yan, ano ka ba?"

"Expensive bag, FYI."

"Bag lang. Siguro mas maniniwala ka pa kapag sinabi kong ninakaw ko lang 'to." Bigla niyang hinagod ang kanang braso ko. "Ang lamig mo. Dapat nag-blazer ka nang long sleeves, ano ka ba naman?"

Pinindot niya ang up button ng elevator 3 pagtapat namin sa elevator area na may six functioning lifts.

Ang sama pa rin talaga ng tingin ko sa kanya. Everything in him right now was questionable. If I didn't see his filthy place, I wouldn't question his expensive look today.

Everything, from dress to accessories, he wasn't the Jericho I know. And it was weird for me.

"Naba-bother talaga ako sa 'yo, Echo. Really, nanghiram ka ba ng mga gamit or do you own everything in your body right now?"

Sabay na kaming pumasok sa elevator pagbukas nito.

"Alam mo, itong mga gamit ko, matagal na 'to. Ngayon ko na lang ulit nagamit kasi nga, formal attire dapat ngayon."

I glared at him at the elevator's metal panels. "Nakita ko na ba 'yan sa bahay mo?"

"Malamang, hindi. Saka ba't ko naman ipakikita? Aanhin mo naman?"

My face loosened its annoyance after he said that. That made sense, though. But at least, hindi siya naka-T-shirt and jeans. But still, it bothered me. Kapag pinagtabi sila ni Ty, malamang na hindi ko siya papansinin. Mukha kasi silang magkabaro.

We reach the 20th floor of the building. I was expecting a normal morning when I suddenly stopped on the way after I saw Ty's open window.

Kusang tumaas ang kilay ko matapos makitang may kausap siyang babae—and it wasn't Shiela. Some lady I wasn't familiar with. Wala namang problema kung kausap lang, but they were talking few inches away from each other's face. And based on Tyrone's interior, mukhang nakaupo sa mesa ang babae habang kausap niya.

"Hindi ba sila natatakot na baka nakikita sila mula rito?" tanong agad ni Jericho sa likuran ko.

Inilabas ko agad ang phone ko sa bulsa ng blazer saka ako kumuha ng photo na naka-zoom in sa eksaktong paghalik ni Ty sa pisngi ng babaeng kalantari niya ngayon.

Sana masaya si Shiela na may kahati siya sa atensiyon ng boss slash kaharutan niya.

"Come on, Echo." I was confident walking along this aisle right now. I have someone beside me na puwede kong isangkal sa paparating na masamang araw ko.

Wala pa halos empleyado sa bungad ng opisina ni Ty, ibig sabihin, wala kaming gaanong audience.

I gripped the doorknob and Jericho spoke.

"Hindi ka kakatok?"

Hindi pa niya tapos ang tanong niya, nabuksan ko na ang pinto.

"Morning, Tyrone Chen," my greetings and glanced at the lady who wore a red blouse and a black pencil-cut skirt. Napatalon agad siya sa inuupuan niyang office table at biglang gumilid habang nakayuko.

"G-good morning, Miss Cinn."

"There's no good in this morning, bitch. Get out before I ripped your head off of your body."

"Yes, Miss Cinn. Sorry po." Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang naglalakad siya papunta sa direksyon namin sa may pintuan.

"'Wag kang magso-sorry kung sinasadya mong lumandi. 'Wag kang tanga."

"Sorry po, Miss Cinn."

"Sabi nang—" Sisigaw pa sana ako dahil nag-apologize na naman pero napigilan agad ako. May humapit sa baywang ko padikit sa katawan niya kaya napatingala ako agad.

"Easy ka lang, ma'am. Ang aga-aga, ang init na agad ng ulo." Inilipat ni Jericho ang tingin doon sa babaeng kaharutan ni Tyrone. "Go ahead, miss. Baka maging dragon 'to habang nandito ka pa."

Nahampas ko agad siya sa braso. "Shut up!"

Imbes na mainis, binitiwan lang niya ako at pumihit pakaliwa. Paglingon ko, pinagbuksan pa niya ng pinto yung babaeng kaaway ko bago 'yon isinara.

Puwede bang i-set aside muna niya ang pagiging gentleman niya kapag may ganitong nangyayari? Hindi niya kailangang pagbuksan pa 'yon ng pinto, may kamay 'yon! Nakakalingkis nga sa katawan ni Tyrone, magbukas pa kaya ng pinto? Come on!

"Kalma ka lang, hot ka agad e," sabi pa niya pagbalik. Hinarap na niya si Tyrone habang malawak ang ngiti na parang ang ganda ng araw naming lahat. "Good morning, I'm Jericho Iglesias." Lumapit siya kay Ty para mag-offer ng handshake.

Ang sama naman ng tingin nitong lalaking 'to kay Jericho, as if namang itong kasama ko ang gumagawa ng mali rito sa opisina niya.

"Tyrone Chen, executive branch manager of Lion Fashion. Good to see you."

"Glad to see you too, Mr. Chen."

Nagbitiw rin ang mga kamay nilang dalawa, and kahit nasa malayo ako sa office table, I could feel the tension between them. Ewan ko ba, parang mukhang magbabasag ng vases si Tyrone any time.

"You're Cinnamon's friend?"

"Yes, I am. She asked me to design her office here in Lion."

Tumango-tango lang si Tyrone habang hinahagod ng tingin si Jericho.

I was on the verge of telling him, "You two looked like you belong in the same circle."

"Where did you two meet?" Tyrone asked, and now, he began his personal questions again.

I shifted my eyes to Jericho who raised his chin. "Was that question too personal for an applicant? I forgot where, sad to say."

Tyrone's eyes spoke uncertainty. I started to feel bad about this one. His head up high, crossing his arms and asked Jericho again. "I don't know you."

"And I'm here to introduce myself, how about that?"

Biglang naningkit ang mga mata ni Ty.

Jericho's confidence was oozing I, myself, couldn't bear what was behind that. It felt like there was a dark place beyond his light persona.

"You have your résumé?" Ty asked, which made my breathing stopped for a second.

Sabi ko na kasi kay Jericho, ipakita niya sa 'kin e!

There, he took a black folder inside his messenger bag and handed it to Tyrone.

As much as I wanted to peek at what Ty was seeing, I couldn't since I was too far from his table.

"You're already 31."

"Yes."

"You studied in Saint Benilde?" tanong pa ni Tyrone na nagpalaki ng mata ko.

What the fuck? That was under La Salle! Puwede ko bang hatakin si Jericho palabas ng office ngayon para kuwestiyunin? Alam ba niya kung magkano ang isang sem sa Benilde, ha? That was 210,000 pesos per year. And kahit pa magpa-scholar ka, kailangan mo pa ring makahanap ng sponsorship for the other expenses na magastos din.

Nailipat ang tingin ko sa folder na hawak ni Tyrone. I was expecting a two-page résumé, but Ty was flipping pages more than seven. And he wasn't done yet!

"Are you sure you don't remember where you met Cin?" Tyrone asked again while checking Jericho's portfolio, I guess. It was too many pages he was flipping.

"Does it matter?"

"It does. She's my . . ."

And at that moment, my breathing slowed down and paused for a few seconds.

". . . senior fashion designer."

I let my breath out longer than usual. Ano ba? Bakit ba ganito ang usapan nilang dalawa?

"And your question is too personal for a boss to his employee, Mr. Chen. Don't take my opinion too personal as well. As an applicant, you're crossing professional boundaries. We can talk about this outside or after this short interview. I hope you don't mind me pointing that out. I'm here as an applicant and not as Cinnamon's friend."

Jericho and his talkative mouth. My God. I was thankful na multilingual siya, hindi ako mapapahiya kay Tyrone.

"Alright." Ibinagsak na lang ni Tyrone ang folder sa table niya at nagpamaywang. "She asked for your service kaya hindi na 'ko magrereklamo. Tapusin n'yo 'tong project ASAP. Siguro naman, hindi ganoon katagal mag-redecorate ng maliit na opisina."

"Sure, no problem. I'll be sending my plan to your office after I checked Ms. De Chavez's place. Should we go?"

"Sasama ako sa opisina niya. Sana walang problema sa 'yo."

"You're the boss."

Ibinagsak ni Tyrone ang boss chair niya paloob sa office table saka nag-ayos ng coat.

It was a weird conversation. Probably because I never experienced Ty talking to a man related to me. I was always that person who confront his ladies. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na mas mataas pala ang tensiyon kapag nasa ganitong sitwasyon.

Obviously, I would side to Jericho. Pero nagdududa na rin ako sa taong 'to.

Gusto ko tuloy makita ang résumé niya.

♥♥♥