"BAKIT ba nasa laptop ka na naman?" Migo complains loudly, voice rich with sleep. "Boyfriend mo na ba 'yan, ha? Bwisit."

Jiya twists around in her chair and leans over the backrest with a grin, looking at the clock. "Good morning." Seven o'clock na.

"Good morning mo mukha mo, pumunta ka dito. Kailangan mo pa ng tulog." He slaps the mattress pointedly, burying his face in her pillow.

As much as she wants to, she can't. "I have work tomorrow and I need to finish reading this, baby."

He kicks the mattress childishly and throws a pillow in her face. "I'll kill your fucking boss."

She bites her lip, feeling guilty, and turns back to her page count. Nasa three hundred pa lang siya over four hundred, and she knows Gelo is going to ask her for her thoughts tomorrow and hindi pwedeng wala siyang masabi.

Especially since parang naging cold siya bigla after the weekend. Wednesday na ngayon, and for the past few days, sobrang weird ni Gelo and she worries na baka she stepped over the line by bantering with him no'ng Friday night, no'ng pinilit niyang kumain siya ng dinner with her.

Monday morning kasi, she knocked on his door holding her laptop and greeted, "Good morning! I have your proposal ready, galing ko 'no?"

Gelo didn't spare her a glance and said flatly, "Ipapakita mo sa 'kin sa laptop? Print it and submit it properly."

Nagulat si Jiya and she blinked. Before that naman, Gelo said na sayang sa paper kung pwede naman na sa laptop...pero baka bad day lang kaya ang sungit niya, umagang-umaga. She can understand, so sabi niya, "Okay, got it."

Hindi rin siya tiningnan ni Gelo when she put it down on his desk.

No'ng maglu-lunch na sila ni Claire, he abruptly opened the door to their office and tossed the folder on her desk. "Fix it. I have revisions."

Tapos umalis na siya.

Jiya took it slowly, swallowing thickly. Claire gave her a gentle smile and said, "He's just in a mood. Don't worry about it, let's eat first."

Pero hindi kinaya ni Jiya na mag-stomach ng kahit anong pagkain sa ugali ni Gelo towards her, kaya she shook her head and sat back down. "I'll...finish this and eat later."

Claire insisted na 'wag, pero Jiya was stubborn.

She submitted it again bago matapos ang lunch with an apology for the mistakes, and Gelo didn't glance at her.

She sat back down on her desk, feeling anxious. Masyado siyang nag-feeling close sa boss niya. And it was her fault naman talaga, she became too comfortable with him na naging sobrang unprofessional siya. Which is not something Jiya is. Parang kasing kaibigan niya si Gelo...nakalimutan niya na hindi pala.

In-ask siya ni Migo if they could have dinner together, pero tinambakan siya ng mga bagong manuscripts for this week so she said no. Umuwi siya magte-ten na, siya nag-lock ng office nila, and no'ng nagpaalam siya kay Gelo, he only said, "Okay."

Jiya left the building with her stomach still in knots. Hindi siya masyadong nakatulog.

Tuesday morning, gano'n pa rin ang ugali ni Gelo. Dinalhan siya ng coffee ni Jiya and his schedule for his meetings today. "Sir—"

"Gelo," he corrected flatly, still staring at his screen. "What? May na-miss ka, Ms. Valle?"

"No," Jiya said. Ngayon lang siya kinabahan sa harap ni Gelo sa almost one month na niyang katrabaho 'to. "I just want to apologize for last Friday night and my behavior. It was unprofessional, I'm sorry. I'll be more mindful moving forward."

His fingers stopped typing. And then his shoulders slumped with a heavy sigh. "I don't want you to apologize for that."

She blinked in confusion. So ano nga problema nito? Bakit siya tinatawag ng Ms. Valle?

"I'll see you at the meeting," sabi niya, giving her one glance, and then he turned away ulit.

Hindi na naman sila nakapag-dinner ni Migo, late na naman siyang umuwi.

And then kanina.

He dropped another file sa desk niya kabababa pa lang ng bag niya sa chair. "I need your comments on that by tomorrow."

Jiya's eyes widened as she stared at the word count. "That's...a 90K manuscript."

"May problema, Ms. Valle?" Gelo asked, arching his eyebrow.

Wala pa si Claire sa desk niya. Jiya swallowed thickly, feeling her eyes burn, and said, "No, sir."

"Wala naman pala." And then he left.

Hindi pa nagawa ni Jiya kaninang office hours because on top of the 90K monster, marami pa siyang ibang trabaho. Hindi na siya nag-lunch, and Claire caught her crying in frustration nang nag-hang bigla laptop niya and she almost broke it. Masakit pa ang shoulders and likod niya.

"Jiya, oh my God." She came over, worried, eyebrows scrunched together. "What's wrong?"

Hindi naman siya pwede mag-whine basta-basta kasi mas marami pang ginagawa si Claire and si Gelo kesa sa kanya. Wala siyang karapatan.

She hurriedly wiped the stray tears and forced a smile despite her dry mouth and heavy chest. "Nothing po, just stressed, but I'll be fine. I'll just get some air."

"Have lunch with us." Claire grabbed her wrist, concerned na concerned. "Gelo will be eating out din, there's no reason for you to stay here and work as well."

May deadline siya tomorrow.

"Sunod ako," she told her, just to get her off her back.

Pumunta si Jiya sa isa sa mga secluded sitting area sa library and sank down on a beanbag, pressing her fingers to the back area of her right shoulder kasi ang sakit, punyeta.

My God. Anong kasalanan ang ginawa niya sa Gelo na 'yon at pinaparusahan siya nang ganito?

She wiped her tears again while her fingers shook dialing Migo. Nasa class pa 'yon pero she prayed na he'd answer.

He did. "Sino 'to?" ang sagot niya, halatang inis na inis sa kanya with her busy schedule and late na pag-uwi niya. Hindi alam ni Migo na hindi siya kumakain ng lunch.

"Girlfriend mo," she whispered, sniffling. "Na naga-ask for timeout muna sa inis mo because she needs you."

"Granted. Are you crying?" he demanded, and humina ang mga boses sa other line. Lumabas siya ng library or sa kung saan man siya. "What happened, baby?"

"I'm so stressed," she muttered, crying, pressing her hands to her eyes, back aching. "And I need you to tell me na kaya kong tapusin ang araw na 'to and that you'll pick me up at five so I can hug you and stress eat and take a nap because God knows I fucking need it."

Sinabi ni Migo lahat 'yon pabalik sa kanya. "Deep breaths, princess. A few hours na lang, okay? I love you, kayang-kaya mo 'yan."

It brought a small smile to her face.

Ang hirap magtrabaho nang masakit ang katawan. When five came, she was halfway through Gelo's assignment, but she shut her laptop closed and packed her things bago pa kay Claire.

She knocked on Gelo's door out of respect na paalam. "See you tomorrow," she said curtly, and tatalikod na dapat siya when Gelo stopped her.

"Did you finish it?"

"I'll finish it by tomorrow," Jiya answered through gritted teeth, forcing a smile kahit gustong-gusto na niyang suntukin ang pagmumukha niya. "For now, sir, kailangan ko pong kumain and matulog if that's okay with you."

His jaw clenched the tiniest bit. "Pinagbawalan ba kita?"

"You tell me po," sagot ni Jiya, unable to contain her anger, and left.

Pagkakita niya kay Migo sa parking she ran to him and sobbed in his shoulder, tapos pinakain siya ni Migo ng maraming McDonald's with McFlurry and sundae 'tsaka maraming fries and nuggets, tapos nag-nap sila together after i-massage ni Migo ang shoulders niyang masakit sa stress.

And ngayon, gustuhin man niyang mag-cuddle with Migo, may one hundred pa siyang natitirang pages to read and think about. Masakit na ulo and mata niya pero hindi siya magpapakita na hindi niya kaya kay Gelo Montemayor.

In fairness, kahit na asshole siya recently, Jiya still learns a lot from him. Kailangan niya rin ipakita na she's learning a lot talaga.

Migo stands up with a sigh and puts his hands on her shoulders, and Jiya groans in the relief his hands bring her, hanging her head back. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, leaning down to kiss her forehead, kneading her skin. "I wish I could help."

"You are," sabi ni Jiya softly. Gusto nga niyang umiyak kasi nandito siya kahit marami siyang kailangang aralin for school.

She turns her chair around to face him and hugs him tight. Migo strokes her hair and back. "Masakit pa shoulders mo?" he murmurs.

Jiya nods miserably.

"I'll buy painkillers," he says, kissing her temple and squeezing them again. "And dinner. What do you want to eat? Or ako na bahala?"

Jiya nods kasi ayaw na niya mag-isip and she's thankful Migo understands that.

Parang ang short ng time na umalis si Migo and bumalik agad with medicine and food. Mang Inasal.

"Sorry," he says meekly, scratching the back of his neck. "I know it's not what you're used to, but I promise masarap."

Jiya stares at him across the table. "I didn't say anything. Thank you for this, baby."

He gives her a timid smile and returns his attention to the chicken and rice.

Kumain sila, pero nabo-bother pa rin si Jiya sa sinabi niya. They brush their teeth side by side, and pagbalik sa kwarto ni Migo, she turns away from her laptop and asks, "Why did you...apologize kanina? When you brought in the food?"

Migo smiles at her, sits on her bed, and shrugs. "Wala lang. I bought it thinking na masaya kainin with you...but then I worried na you might not like it."

Jiya scrunches her eyebrows together. "Kasi?"

"Cheap," Migo says. He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry I...I don't get to buy you dinners na sosyalin, like your favorites. All this time, we've always been eating sa kung saan ako komportable mag-spend, and when we do eat somewhere fancy, ikaw ang humahawak ng bill. 'Pag doctor na 'ko—"

Jiya shuts him up with a kiss, hands sliding to his neck. Migo grunts in surprise but he kisses her back, holding her hips when she straddles him, and lasa siyang toothpaste ni Jiya and nakakainis siya.

"I don't care what we eat," she says when she pulls away, jaw tight. "I don't care kung cheap or mamahalin or hindi ko pa natitikman, I always enjoy what we eat when I'm with you. Hindi ko na nga favorites ang mga sinasabi mo—Caviar, Blackbird ba?"

Migo nods, staring up at her.

Jiya rolls her eyes and smacks him. "Ano ka ba! Ang tagal-tagal ko nang hindi kumakain sa mga 'yon. Have you been worrying over this matagal na?"

He bites his lip, guilty.

Jiya's chest aches. "Migo, alam mo naman na between the two us, I'm the one who has allowance sa work, kaya nga I insist on paying," Jiya mutters. "'Pag namimilit ka, wala akong magawa, but I don't care na hindi sosyalin or whatever. You may call me princess, and I may have joked na I'll marry you kapag doctor ka na kasi mayaman ka na no'n, but it doesn't mean I want anything more than this—more than what we have, more than what you give me. I said I'll marry you when you become a doctor and that's a promise—but not because you have money na, but because naabot na natin both ang dreams natin. Understand?"

He's staring at her. "Ngayon na," sabi ni Migo.

Jiya blinks. "Ha?"

"Ngayon na, pakasalan mo na 'ko ngayon na, please."

Jiya laughs and pushes him back, crawling over him sa mattress. "Alam mo ba kung ano ang favorite kong kainin ngayon, Miguel Salas?"

"Sabihin mong ako and I swear to God hindi mo matatapos ang trabaho mo, Valle. I fucking swear it."

She falls on his body laughing, and his laugh in her ear is the most wonderful sound ever.

Migo wraps his arms around her and kisses her face, her cheeks, her jaw and neck, and Jiya squeals, laughing, trying to get away from him. "Migo!"

They both freeze when Manang knocks on her door. "Anak, sorry, pero pauwi na yata si Ma'am Hillary," sabi ni Manang, parang nagmamadali. "Tinanong niya ako kung may ulam ba dito pang-hapunan, baka mahuli pa si Migo."

"Thank you, 'Nang!" sigaw ni Jiya.

Migo's smile fades when Jiya sits up and sighs. "Don't. Valle, 'wag mo 'kong papauwiin."

"I'm sorry," she murmurs, kneeling up to hug him. His body sags and his arms remain at his sides, grumpy.

Migo mutters, "'Di mo 'ko papakilala?"

She wants to. She wants to, pero natatakot siya sa kung anong sabihin ni Hillary about him, so she resorts to her safe answer—and adds something to calm him. "Next time, my love," she whispers, pursing her lips. Nakailang 'next time' na si Jiya kapag palaging tinatanong ni Migo kailan siya ipapakilala.

"Agh!" Migo pushes her off and narrows his eyes at her. "Nakakainis na may sinama kang 'my love' para mawala inis ko, ayan tuloy, kinikilig ako. Bwisit ka."

She knows what she's doing when it comes to Migo.

When she walks him to his car, he's still sulking, not letting go of her hand. "Take your medicine," he mutters, frowning. "I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

Ito rin ang hindi niya masagot. She gives him a sheepish smile.

Migo sighs, hanging his head back. "I hate you so much."

"I love you," sagot ni Jiya, kissing him hard to appease him. "Drive safe, text me when you're home na."

He grips her chin again and bites her lip hard, making her gasp, and he pulls away with an evil grin. "Text me 'pag tapos ka na sa work mo."

Tama si Manang. Umuwi mom niya not even after half an hour na umalis si Migo.

Patapos na siya sa manuscript, fifty pages na lang, when her phone buzzes, and she blinks nang makita si Gelo 'yon. Eleven na.

Gelo: don't finish the manus na if
you're not done yet.

Putangina, putangina, putangina niya talaga!

May I ask why, sir?

Gelo: Deadline's moved to next week.

Jiya almost fucking cries reading that message. Ginawa 'to ni Gelo sa kanya on purpose, she's sure of it.

She doesn't reply. Umiyak na lang siya tapos tinapos niya. Kung next week, e 'di mas maganda na tapos na niya ngayon.

She goes to work exhausted. Pagkababa niya sa bag niya, dumiretso siya sa office ni Gelo.

He looks up, and nagulat si Jiya na wala ang coldness sa nakakainis niyang mukha.

As much as she wants to throw the file in his face, she settles for putting it down politely. "Good morning po. I was already finished when you messaged," she says tersely. "I'll be back at ten to brief you for your meeting." Then she leaves.

She rolls her shoulder and cracks her neck side to side pagbalik sa desk niya. Nakatulong 'yong painkillers na binili ni Migo, but there's still tension in her bones.

"You look horrible," Claire says in worry pagkapasok niya. "Jiya, why don't you take a break?"

"I'm fine," she says with a smile, only looking up briefly from her laptop. "I'm fine, thanks. I already emailed you pala yung hinihingi ni Sir Gelo kahapon."

Claire blinks and slowly sits down. "That was non-urgent. Sinabi ko sa kanya na I'll need it by next week pa."

Ha. She slaved over nothing.

Walang nasabi si Jiya. Sluggishly, she returns to her work, dreading ten o'clock.

Ten minutes before then, she leans back on her chair and shuts her eyes. Anong oras siyang natulog kagabi finishing the fucking manuscript 'tsaka 'yong mga pinapa-email sa kanya kay Claire? Okay lang naman siguro if she takes a five-minute nap, 'di ba?

Not a second after she closes her eyes, the door opens. Jiya flinches and sits up straight, heart racing in anxiety nang makita si Gelo.

But wala 'yong cold demeanor niya today. He steps inside the office cautiously, swallowing his Adam's apple, and takes a step closer to her desk.

Jiya watches him blankly when he puts down a coffee mug in front of her.

"Your comments were good," he says quietly, meeting her eyes. "Don't come with me to my meeting. Get some rest."

Nakakatawa siya. Ngayon, may pake? "No thank you," Jiya says bitterly, pushing the mug back to him. "And I'll do my work po if you won't be needing me at the meeting."

He sighs in frustration. "Jiya."

"Sir," she says stubbornly, through gritted teeth. Ngayon, Jiya na siya ulit?

"Tarantado ka, Gelo," Claire sneers suddenly, and kahit na agree si Jiya, natakot siya kasi boss pa rin nila 'yon. "Halos nagpakamatay 'yan kakatrabaho, alam mo ba 'yon? Why did you tell her na kailangan ko yung files today when that was non-urgent? And the manuscript when the deadline was finalized last week pa?"

Gelo doesn't look away from her face. "Jiya, I'm sorry."

"Okay po," she says. Wala naman siyang choice. Boss niya 'to. "May I brief you for your meeting now?" She hands him back the mug.

Walang nasabi si Gelo. He sighs and nods, taking the coffee and following her to his office.

True to her word, nag-work si Jiya habang nasa meeting sila ni Claire.

Pagbalik nila before lunch, she thanks her co-worker, and she rolls her eyes. "Don't forgive him easily, Jiya. Walang excuse na he mixed his personal feelings with work."

Hindi niya gets, but she gives her a small smile and nods. "Okay. Where...where are you guys eating lunch?"

Ngayon lang siya sasama ulit. Wala siyang appetite pero kailangan niyang kumain. She also doesn't want to worry Migo.

Pero nang palabas siya para sundan si Claire, fingers wrap around her wrist. "Jiya, hold on."

She stares at his hand, and then his face.

He lets go at her cold look and mutters, "Sorry. Can we have lunch together? Kahit sa cafeteria lang, my treat."

"Okay po." Wala siyang choice, boss niya 'to. To her co-workers, she says, "Mauna na kayo."

She doesn't miss Claire's glare at their boss before they leave.

Jiya follows him to the elevator in silence. Pagkaupo nila, he asks her quietly, "What do you want?"

"Kayo po bahala," she answers robotically.

Gelo sighs and turns around.

Binilhan siya ng kung anong expensive na 'to. She thanks him for the food and eats.

"Jiya."

"Sir."

He scoffs in annoyance and clenches his jaw. "It's Gelo, 'di ba?"

"Ayoko na po gumawa ng kahit anong mistake while I'm working here," Jiya says. "So I think it would be better po if I stuck with being professional."

"Jiya, I'm sorry," he mutters, drawing his eyebrows together. "I was careless to let my personal feelings interfere with our work. I apologize that I strained you with stress, it was shitty of me. Hindi talaga dahil sa Friday night, I really enjoyed eating with you then."

Personal feelings. Sinabi na rin ni Claire kanina. Anong personal feelings? Puta naman.

"Okay po."

"Jiya," he says, swallowing thickly. "I'm sorry."

"Okay po," Jiya says again.

"Stop that," he snaps.

"Okay—yes po," she says. Hindi niya maubos yung kinakain niya. Mga ilang days siyang hindi naglu-lunch. She puts it down.

Gelo blinks at it. "Hindi pa 'yan half."

"I'm full na po." She wipes her lips with a napkin. "Thank you. If you'll excuse me." She stands up and holds onto the table when her vision swirls.

Ayaw na niyang mag-stay rito. She turns around and leaves, feeling lightheaded.

Pero hindi pa man siya nakakarating sa elevator she stumbles.

"Jiya!" Gelo grabs her before she can fall down. "Are you okay?"

"I—" She blinks rapidly.

"Shit." Naglabas ng panyo si Gelo and nilagay sa ilong niya. Mukha siyang galit. "Your nose is bleeding."

Ah. Lagi siyang may nosebleed kapag hindi na kaya ng katawan niya 'yong stress.

Ang OA naman niya. Mas marami pang trabaho sa kanya si Gelo and si Claire tapos gaganto-ganto siya.

She stands upright even as she sweats and pushes him away, holding his handkerchief to her face. "I'll wash this and give it back to you. Thanks."

Gelo looks at her angrily, and in a snap, grabs her wrist, dragging her.

Walang nagawa si Jiya kundi sundan siya.

Pumasok sila sa office niya. He sits her down on the couch and kneels in front of her, dabbing the cloth to her nose and pushing her head down gently.

Hinayaan na lang siya ni Jiya. When the bleeding stops, he goes to the bathroom to wipe the blood off her face, face close to hers, concentrated on her skin.

Pagkatapos n'on, she stands up, nahihilo pa rin. "Thank you po. I'll wash this and give it back to you tomorrow."

"Sit down," he orders. "Hindi ka aalis dito. Rest."

"No, thank you, sir," Jiya says, smiling at him. "Work hours pa po, and I don't get paid to rest."

"I'll pay you to rest for today, so just fucking sit down."

"No, thank you, sir."

"Jiya, kapag hindi ka umupo—"

"Ayoko nga!" Jiya snaps suddenly, clenching her hands into fists. "Bakit ba ang kulit mo?! Nakakainis ka na! Wala ka namang pake, ah? Ano 'to, babait-baitan? Asan ang cameras?"

Gelo blinks in surprise at her outburst.

Oh, God.

Jiya bows her head and squeezes her eyes shut. "I'm so sorry, sir—"

"Mas nakakainis ka," he snaps back at her, stepping closer. "Dumudugo ka na nga, pipilitin mo pa mag-trabaho! And stop with the fucking sir!"

"Wow, ah!" Jiya shouts, laughing at the absurdity. "Says the guy who doesn't stop working kahit mamatay na siya sa gutom! And kung nakakalimutan mo, ikaw ang may kasalanan nito! Suntukin kaya kita?!"

"I didn't forget, kaya nga sinasabing magpahinga ka!" he growls, pushing her forcibly by the shoulders. Nahulog si Jiya sa sofa. "And sige, if that will make you feel better, I'll let you punch me. I'm trying to apologize, nasasaktan ako na ginawa ko 'to sa 'yo, Jiya, okay?"

She exhales deeply, staring at him. When she blinks, she's horrified that a tear falls from her eye.

Jiya turns away immediately, fisting her skirt in her hands, trying to calm her breathing.

This past week was anxiety-inducing for her. Parang 'yong anxiety niya kapag pumapasok mga parents niya sa room niya and biglang sisigaw or tatapunan siya ng gamit, or kapag nag-aaway sila sa labas, or kapag hahawakan siya na parang rag doll gaya noong sa wrist niya.

The reason why she's so angry at Gelo is because he made her feel like this when she thought she could treat him like a friend—which was her mistake. Alam naman niyang may kasalanan siya e, she stepped over the line and she tried to apologize, pero parang...parang ang unfair naman na tratuhin siya nang gano'n, 'di ba?

"Jiya," Gelo murmurs, kneeling in front of her again, pero ayaw siyang tingnan ni Jiya. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been so irresponsible, masyado akong—" He swallows thickly and bows his head. "Masyado akong na-affect sa 'yo and I took it out on you, and that was shitty of me. Babayaran kita sa overtime mo, you're a brilliant employee here and I admire you for your work ethic, I genuinely value your input and thoughts, and I won't...I won't bother you again or ask you to be friends with me again like before. I genuinely enjoy working and talking to you like we're friends, pero nasira ko 'yon and if you don't want that anymore, I won't cross any more lines. I'm sorry."

Nakakainis 'to, puta.

"Gusto kitang suntukin po, sir," Jiya says to the wall, still not looking at him.

"I'll allow it. Stop with the po and the sir," he mutters.

With red eyes, she turns to him. His face is deeply set in anguish, pleading for her response.

Jiya angrily wipes her tears away. "Pakita mo sa 'kin secret place mo."

Gelo blinks at her. "You don't feel well—"

"Ipapakita mo o hinde?"

Dinala siya ni Gelo pababa, past the conference rooms papunta sa library. He walks past the multiple shelves, tapos sa dulo, sa parang emergency exit na door, he opens it, and Jiya finds a staircase—isa lang, pababa, leading to a small, box-like room in glass. No, not room—phone booth.

She steps down carefully and opens it. May isang couch lang sa loob na nakaharap sa window, and she gasps. The window is glass rin sa labas, and the view is breathtaking.

Well, Pilipinas. Mukhang madumi and traffic-congested and polluted, pero ang ganda lang panoorin na tumatakbo ang buhay sa baba from this view.

Pumasok si Gelo and umupo siya sa tabi niya. Nakatingin pa rin si Jiya sa labas.

"I came here more times this past week than in my three years here sa company," he says, scoffing. "Gano'n kalala epekto mo sa 'kin."

Gusto ni Jiya sabihin na hindi niya alam pinagsasabi niya and kasalanan niya, pero parang alam naman niya na 'yon.

She turns her head and bristles at the closeness of his face, pero masikip talaga sa phone booth na 'to. "How old are you?"

His lips quirk up. "Twenty-six."

"Lolo." Ilang years lang naman, pero 'di niya napigilan.

Narinig ni Gelo, imposibleng hindi sa lapit nila, and his smile widens but he says, "Ano 'yon?"

"Wala. Saan ka nag-college?"

"DLSU."

Jiya's lips twitch. "Halata."

He sputters out a laugh. "What does that mean?"

"What was your course?"

"Business," he answers.

Jiya blinks. "Why are you in a publishing company?"

His eyes shine. "Like you, I turned down being heir to Montemayor Corp."

Jiya didn't know that. Kaya pala tanong nang tanong si Gelo sa kanya about Valle Holdings.

"I don't want you to regret choosing this, Jiya," he says quietly, staring at her. "Kaya I'll do my best to make sure to show you that this is what you want until you graduate."

"Don't overwork me and it will stay that way," Jiya tells him seriously, pressing her lips together. "I really..." She sucks in a deep breath and looks away, towards the window. "I really want us to be friends again. Pwede mo ba ako ilibre ng lunch every day next week?"

"Done," Gelo says, and the grin is evident in his voice.

Jiya turns to him with wide eyes. "I was kidding."

"I'm not. Pumayat ka lalo. I'm sorry."

Her hands go to her face. She sighs. "What about singing my praises sa evaluation ko for my OJT?"

"I was going to do that, anyway."

Jiya blinks at him again and smacks him. "Ano ba! Uto-uto! I was joking! Hindi pwede 'yon, sabihin nila I'm threatening you!"

He keeps his easy smile. "Even if you point a gun at me, Jiya, I would still be as willing to sing your praises. I meant it when I said your comments were good and I admire your work ethic and your input."

"Nakakainis ka na," she whispers, turning to the window again, near to tears.

Gelo pauses. "May I ask you something personal?"

"Ano po 'yon, sir?"

"Sige. Isa pa."

"Sorry. Ano?"

He rubs the nape of his neck and looks around the phone booth. Then he sighs and meets her eyes. "Your boyfriend...siya ba...the bruise."

She stares at him, and then hindi napigilan ni Jiya na tumawa.

Gelo looks confused with her reaction.

"Binibigyan niya nga ako ng bruises, but the good kind," she says, chuckling.

"Ah. Okay."

Jiya stands up and dusts her hands off. "Since you shared with me your secret place, I forgive you."

Gelo smiles sincerely, and then they're okay.

Pinagalitan siya ni Claire kasi she forgave him raw agad, na-charm daw siya sa mukha ni Gelo, pero anong magagawa ni Jiya when he sincerely feels remorse sa ginawa niya sa kanya?

And if may kasamang all-week free lunch, e 'di better.