As my heart pounded loudly in my chest, I slowly turned around to face the voice that called out. There, standing before me, was Doctor Crystoff Valois-the man I've been secretly admiring and stalking for weeks. My cheeks turned red, and I felt like the ground would swallow me whole.

Tangina, ang gwapo talaga men!

"Doctor Crystoff," I stammered, trying to regain my composure, "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I was just... um..."

Ano nga ba ang sasabihin ko? Sasabihin ko ba ini-stalk ko siya? No, hindi niya pwedeng malaman 'yon! Nakakahiya!

Before I could even finish my sentence, the man I now knew as Reymond, Doctor Valois's secretary, interjected, "She's actually your secret admirer, Doctor. I caught her stalking you earlier."

Bwisit ka talaga, Reymond! Mapapatay kita!

I cringed at his straightforwardness and felt even more embarrassed. I looked at him, glaring, like I was ready to bury him alive.

Doctor Valois looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Is that true?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Teka, Doc., ang gwapo mo. Nadi-distract ako, ano ba!

"U-uhm..." I hesitated, not knowing how to respond. "Well, yes, but not in a creepy way! I just... find you really fascinating and wanted to see you up close. That's all!"

To my surprise, Doctor Valois chuckled, and the tension seemed to ease a bit. "Well, I appreciate the honesty, Miss..." he trailed off, waiting for me to introduce myself.

"Oh, I'm Rishanne. Rishanne Salvonte," I managed to say with a shy smile. "A-Ako 'yung ate no'ng pasyente mo noon, si Zeros."

Doctor Valois nodded, then turned to the woman beside him, whom I assumed was his sister. "Rishanne, this is my younger sister, Camille. Camille, meet Rishanne."

What the heck? Kapatid niya itong babaeng 'to? Oh, God, please kill me now.

Camille smiled warmly at me. "Nice to meet you, Ate Rishanne," she said in a friendly tone.

"P-pleasure to meet you too," I replied, still feeling slightly overwhelmed by the situation.

Reymond, sensing my discomfort, chimed in, "Actually, Rishanne, I think we should talk. How about we grab a coffee and discuss some things?"

Doctor Valois nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a good idea. It's not every day that my secret admirer reveals herself, after all."

Lihim akong napangiwi dahil sa sinabi niya.

Doc. naman, walang ganyanan. Nahihiya na nga ako, eh

But then, I remembered what he said. My heart skipped a beat.

Coffee with Doctor Valois? How could I possibly say no to that?

Palihim akong lumingon kay Reymond and I saw him flashing a smile on me so I gave him a small nod.

Mukhang bumabawi ang loko sa panglalaglag sa akin, ah.

"Sure, that sounds great," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling inside me.

As we made our way to a nearby coffee shop, Reymond and I were having small chit-chats...err, should I say, an argument.

"Gago ka, ba't nilaglag mo ako?!" Mahinang reklamo ko.

"I'm just doing my job, Ms. Salvonte." He said with formality.

"Eh, kung sakalin kita ngayon?" I hissed at him. "Ang pangit mo talang ka-bonding! Isusumbong kita sa ate mo! Sasabihin ko kay Dhina pinipigilan mo akong lumandi, for sure magagalit sa'yo 'yun." Nakangising saad ko.

Magpinsan sina Dhina at Reymond sa side ng kanilang ina, mag half-sisters kasi ang nanay nilang dalawa. Marami silang magpipinsan pero si Dhina at Reymond talaga ang magka-close. Hindi gusto ng ibang pinsan nila si Dhina dahil nga sa trabaho nito na stripper kaya tanging si Reymond lang talaga ang kakampi ng lokaret na 'yon.

Iritado naman siyang napakamot sa ulo. "Isa pa 'yung babaeng 'yon. Sabi ko sa kanya tumigil na siya sa trabaho niya, eh." Asar na turan niya. "Saka malay ko bang stalker ka ni Doc."

He shared that he had been trying to figure out who the mysterious stalker was, but he never imagined that it would turn out to be me.

Over coffee, we talked about how I became intrigued by Doctor Valois, my accidental falls and mishaps while trying to discreetly follow him, and my overactive imagination about being his future wife.

Reymond and Camille couldn't help but laugh at some of my embarrassing stories, but they assured me that they understood my innocent intentions.

"Wow, you really like my asshole brother that much?" Camille laughed. "No offense girl, but you don't deserve him. In fact, I actually like you but not for him though. I want you to be my friend!" Matinis na saad niya.

Ang ganda talaga niya! Gora ako sa pakikipagkaibigan sa kanya. Hihingi ako ng tips para mas maging kaganda niya.

After the initial awkwardness passed, I found myself feeling more comfortable around Reymond and Camille. They were both easy to talk to, and I could see why Doctor Valois had them by his side.

As we finished our coffee, Reymond surprised me with an unexpected offer. "Rishanne, what if you become Doctor Valois's official assistant? That way, you won't have to stalk him anymore, and you can work with him directly."

Seryoso ba 'tong lalaking 'to? Eh, halos isumpa niya na ako kanina.

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious? But I'm not qualified for that!"

Camille smiled reassuringly. "You never know until you try. Besides, you seem genuinely interested in my brother's work, and he could use some extra help."

Doctor Valois nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think it's a great idea. I believe you could learn a lot while assisting me."

Enebe, 'weg ke ngeng genyen Doc., ehe.

My heart soared at the thought of working closely with Doctor Valois, but I couldn't help but feel doubtful about my abilities. "I don't want to be a burden or mess things up," I said hesitantly.

Aba, kahit desperada ako ayoko namang makaabala sa iba.

Reymond patted my shoulder. "Trust me, Rishanne, you won't be a burden. And besides, I'll be there to guide you along the way.

Mukha mo guide, baka tambakan mo lang ako ng trabaho. Kilala kita, Reymond kaya don't me.

I took a deep breath and mustered the courage to accept their offer. "Okay, then. I'll give it a try."

Mag-iinarte pa ba ako? Duh, no. Sayang opportunity.

And just like that, I embarked on a new chapter of my life-no longer as Doctor Valois's stalker but as his official assistant. The journey ahead was uncertain, but I was excited to be a part of his world in a more meaningful way.

***

I was nervous yet thrilled about my new role. As days turned into weeks, I found myself growing closer to Doctor Valois, learning from him, and discovering the intricacies of his work. Our interactions shifted from awkward encounters to meaningful conversations. And through it all, Reymond remained a constant support, helping me navigate my responsibilities.

Well, kahit naman isa na akong assistant ng Doctor, pumapasok pa rin akong waiter sa club. Nasasayangan din kasi ako sa kikitain ko lalo na't napakamahal pa naman ng gamot ng kapatid ko.

As time went on, Doctor Valois and I developed a genuine connection. Naging komportable ako sa kanya to the point that I was calling him 'Sir Boss' and sometimes he would call me 'Miss Madam'.

We shared laughs, debates, and even the occasional coffee break. He appreciated my enthusiasm for his work and encouraged my questions. I was no longer just an admirer from afar; I was an integral part of his team.

Camille, too, became a dear friend. Her infectious energy and down-to-earth nature made her a joy to be around. Our conversations ranged from light-hearted banter to deeper discussions about life, love, and everything in between. It was clear that our bond was growing stronger each day.

One evening, as the sun set and the office quieted down, Doctor Valois and I found ourselves engrossed in a conversation about our dreams and aspirations. He shared his passion for making a positive impact in the medical field, while I opened up about my desire to become a business woman someday.

"You know, Rishanne," he said, his gaze sincere, "sometimes the path we choose isn't the one we originally envisioned, but it can lead us to incredible places nonetheless."

His words struck a chord within me, and I couldn't help but smile. "I've certainly learned that firsthand," I replied. "Who would have thought that stalking-uh, I mean, admiring you-would lead me here?"

We both laughed, the tension from my initial awkwardness now a distant memory. In that moment, it felt like we were two individuals sharing a genuine connection, unburdened by titles or expectations.