Kairo's POV

I was on my way to the airport to go to Singapore. Opening na kasi ng bagong branch ng Eugenio's Cuisine doon. Excited ako dahil isa na naman ang nabuksan kong branch ng business ng aking ama.

Over the years, I worked my ass off just to be successful like this. Syempre hindi ko magagawa ito kung walang suporta ng pamilya ko. But part of the reason why I was working so much is to forget my problems.

Kahit nawala ang connection namin ni Jordyn ay hindi ko pa din maitatanggi na naaalala ko pa rin siya. Even at the most random time, my mind would wander off by itself and suddenly I'm thinking about her.

Hindi ko nga gets eh. Back then, her eyes were telling me to stay with her. But when I finally told her that she's still important to me and that I still love her... she still chose to leave.

Marami akong naging regrets sa buhay ko no'n, if only I managed to keep her the first time around I could've been happy while working. Well, don't get me wrong, my job is fun but I was doing it with a bit of anger.

Galit ako sa kanya, at hindi ko alam ang rason no'n. Baka dahil hindi siya nanatili sa'kin o hindi ko siya napilit manatili. Her dreams were here, a lot of opportunities are here for her but she chose to lay low back in their province.

I slept the whole flight, kailangan ko kasi ng maraming pahinga para mamaya. I was actually supposed to come here yesterday but I had an emergency and had to take care of Hiara. Nagkasakit kasi siya at walang magbabantay sa kanya since may shoot si Dad while Mom was in the office signing proposals for their new clothing line branch.

Nag invest na nga rin ako sa business ni Mommy dahil deserve niya naman 'yung gano'n. At wala rin naman akong paglalagyan ng pera ko kaya I should just share my blessings. I even donate to charities and animal shelters when it's Christmas and my birthday.

Mom told me that my Dad Elliot wanted to do those stuff but sadly he left us early.

"Mr. Eugenio, what are your new plans after opening a branch here in Singapore of Eugenio's Cuisine?"

"How is Mr. and Mrs. Miranza?"

"Are you here alone, Mr. Eugenio?"

Many news reporters and paparazzi swarmed up on me the moment I landed. Buti na lang may security akong kasama, hindi lang naman kasi dahil sa akin kung bakit ako kilala. Dahil rin sa matunog kong pamilya.

Every person wants a Mom and Dad like mine, a sister like Hiara and a best friend like Luna. Everybody wants a life like mine. 'Yon ang mga nakikita at nababasa ko sa comments and feedbacks from my past interviews.

Hindi lang nila alam napaka komplikado ng buhay ko, I don't even know how much I can keep this facade that I'm fine and lively. I mean, approachable din naman ako but people find me intimidating. It's fine by me, they should be intimidated.

Hindi ko naman sinagot ang mga news reporters at sinuot lang ang aking airpods and shades. Habang hinihintay naman ang van namin sa labas ng airport may napansin akong pamilyar na pigura.

I squinted my eyes to look at the girl, she was sexy but I couldn't see her face dahil nakatalikod siya sa'kin. She was with someone, a girl probably older than her.

Isa ang tumatak sa isip ko, si Jordyn. But as far as I know, Jordyn's hair was purple. The girl's hair was an ombre of dark blue and pastel blue. Attention grabber ang buhok niya dahil unique ito, I mean it worked on me. It grabbed my attention.

Dumating na ang van namin at dinala na muna kami sa hotel. May two hours pa akong vacant time para mag prepare for later. I have a speech of course and a ribbon cutting for later. Tapos mayroon pang meeting and then documentary for how Eugenio's Cuisine started.

Ginusto ko 'to 'di ba? Paninindigan ko 'to.

My phone vibrated so I took it out to check kung ano 'yon, then I saw Mom calling. It's facetime pa. I fixed myself first before answering the call.

"Kai!" agad kong narinig ang boses ni Mommy at kumaway naman siya sa'kin. Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya bago kumaway din.

"Hi Mom." I greeted her at tinawag naman niya si Dad kaya natagalan pa bago kami magkaroon ng matinong usapan.

"How is Singapore? May maganda ba d'yan?" tanong sa akin ni Daddy at tinawanan ko siya bago umiling.

I mean, oo, may mga magaganda. It's just that iba lang talaga ang hinahanap ko or I could say na marami man akong makitang maganda, isang tao pa rin lang talaga ang makakakuha ng buo kong atensyon.

"Ay bakit wala? It's Singapore, anak! Maraming magaganda na babae d'yan. Have some fun naman, Kairo. 'Wag lang work ang ipunta mo d'yan," sambit sa'kin ni Daddy kaya tumango tango na lang ako.

"Ayan, anak, babaero kasi Daddy mo kaya alam niyang may magaganda sa Singapore. Good luck pala, 'nak ha. Sorry we couldn't accompany you there, we have to take care of Hiara and Luna." pagkasabi no'n ni Mommy ay tinapat niya kay Luna at Hiara ang camera.

"Hi, kuya!" Luna teased me and I just rolled my eyes.

"How are you, Hiara?" I asked my sister, ayaw ko kasing may nakikita akong may sakit na tao. Baka kasi hindi ko sila maalagaan at mas lumala lang ang lagay nila.

"I'm fine, Kuya. Lagnat lang 'to, hindi naman ako mamamatay dahil dito." she said and I just nodded. May kumatok naman sa aking pintuan, it was probably my secretary.

"Mom, Dad. I have to go na, I need to shower and prepare my speech for later. I'll see you in 4 days. I love you four!" I said before I ended the call.

I showered first and changed into a more formal outfit before putting perfume on. Huminga ako nang malalim para mas ihanda ang sarili ko. Maya maya lang ay pumasok na ang secretary ko sa kwarto.

"Ready when you are, sir." he said and I nodded before telling him that we're ready to go. I contacted my manager to tell her that I'm on my way to the restaurant.

She was already there, waiting for me. Kasi the moment I step foot on the vicinity, agad magsisimula ang ribbon cutting. My manager looks like my age, but she's 3 years older than me.

Yeah, you're probably thinking why I chose a manager that is still young but she's pretty good as a manager for her age. And I could see a lot of potential.

When we arrived, all I saw was camera flashes everywhere and mics placed in front of me. Even though I lived almost everyday of my life, hindi pa rin talaga ako nasasanay. Minsan nga parang sasabog ako dahil sobrang sikip, init at gulo. Thankfully, kaagad lumapit ang manager ko para hindi na ako pagkaguluhan.

"Please ask the questions later, for now keep your distance. Thank you," pakiusap niya and then she guided me across the crowd.

Nasa entrance na kami ng Eugenio's Cuisine at inabutan na ako ng malaking gunting. Before I cut the ribbon, I turned towards the people to observe and of course, smiled at the cameras. I was about to speak when I saw the girl with that unique hair again, ano kaya ginagawa niya rito?

"I just want to tell everyone, thank you for supporting Eugenio's Cuisine. Looking forward to seeing you all again at the opening of our next branch that's going to be launched 11 months from now," I smiled.

Ginupit ko naman na ang ribbon and took pictures with my manager and secretary. Binuksan naman na din namin ang pintuan at lahat sila pumasok. We're going to let the people settle in first before I make my speech.

I was walking towards my office when I bumped into someone. Nahulog ang dala niyang ballpen and she was the girl with the ombre hair!

"I'm sorry-"

"No. No. I'm so-"

My eyes widened the moment our eyes locked. It was... Jordyn.

What the fuck is she doing here? She was left staring at me, halatang gulat din siya na nagkita kami. It was almost 5 years noong huling kita namin, she was still gorgeous as hell pero imbis na na maging masaya ako na nagkita kami ulit, I was kinda pissed.

It's been years, Jordyn. Bakit kailangan mong magpakita sa akin ngayon?

"My apologies, Sir," she told me after a minute of silence.

"Be attentive and cautious when you're walking. This isn't your own place," I said directly to her before leaving her be. I don't have time to have a chit chat with her, baka kasi kung ano lang masabi ko sa kanya.

After a few minutes, I gave my speech and they all clapped after it. Marami rin nagpa-autograph sa akin and took pictures with me. Lumapit sa akin ang manager ko para sabihin sa akin na may meeting ako mamaya pagbalik ko sa hotel with the agency na magdodocument para sa rise ng Eugenio's Cuisine.

Tumango tango lang ako sa kanya and I felt someone staring at me. Pasimple akong tumingin sa gawi niya and I saw Jordyn glaring at me. Ano kaya iniisip niya? Tangina, may bago na naman akong poproblemahin ngayon eh.

Usually sa mga napapanood kong palabas ay tuwing magkikita sila ulit ng ex nila ay magiging madalas na ulit ang pagkikita nila. Ayaw kong mangyari 'yon. I don't want her back in my mind, kasi baka mapabayaan ko ang trabaho ko and simply focus on her again.

After an hour, tumayo na si Jordyn kaya sinundan ko siya, she was walking towards their van but I held her wrist to stopped her.

"Why are you here?" I asked her immediately. Wala akong balak makipag usap nang matagal, I just want to know why the hell is she here.

Kasi kung ang dahilan niya ay gusto niya ng closure, makipagbalikan, uunahan ko na siya na hindi ako interesado. At kahit kailan, hindi ako magiging interesado.

"Hinawakan mo 'yung braso ko kanina tapos-"

Before she even finished her sentence, I cut her off, "I mean why are you here? Bakit ka nandito sa Singapore?"

"Galit ka ba?" Tanong niya naman sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Why does she even want to know? Ano naman kung galit ako, why the fuck does she care?

"Just answer the stupid question, Jordyn."

"I'm here for work, okay? If you're thinking that I'm stalking you, then think twice or a million times more dahil I would never do that," she crossed her arms. "Galit ka pa rin ba sa'kin?"

She wouldn't let it go, huh? I sighed.

"Oo," Sagot ko sa kanya. "If you're gonna ask why, I don't know. I just know that I'm angry and that I don't want to see you. If your company could send another reporter or journalist, pakigawa kamo."

She then scoffed. Kung siya kasi ang makakasalamuho ko for the next few days ay 'wag na lang mag documentary. Nakakawalang gana plus I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my days here in Singapore with her!

"Fine. I'll gladly tell them, Sir."

I looked at her. The way she said sir turns me on, na dapat hindi naman mangyari! Baka namiss ko lang 'yung boses niya kaya naiisip ko ang ganong bagay.

"Stop calling me Sir," I said before finally walking away.

I was exhausted, marami akong kinausap ngayon. People wanting to invest in my business but i just told them na kailangan muna ng confirmation ng Lola ko at parents ko before agreeing on that.

Nagpaalam naman na ako sa kanila na mauuna na ako sa hotel pero sinamahan na din ako ng secretary at manager ko. May small meeting pa kasi kami mamaya sa hotel with the agency. And I'm already praying to all the saints na hindi si Jordyn ang gagawa no'n.

Naligo ako ulit at nagpalit ng mas komportableng damit. Dinala naman ako ng manager ko sa isang room and I used my phone while waiting for the people to arrive.

Bumukas ang pinto at napasapo na lang ako sa aking ulo nang makita kong pumasok si Jordyn kasama ang boss niya siguro. Akala ko ba sasabihin niya sa boss niya na iba ang gagawa ng trabaho niya?

Putangina naman.

We talked about the flow of the shoot tomorrow morning until matapos ang documentary and when it ended nagtaas naman ako ng kamay.

"Yes, Kai?" tanong ng manager ko.

I cleared my throat before looking at Jordyn, "Maayos naman ang flow ng shooting bukas, but can I just request someone else. I don't want Ms. Clemente working with me." I said not taking my eyes off of her. She gulped before looking away and took down notes on her laptop.

"If that's going to happen, we're going to cancel the documentary. Ms. Clemente is one of the best journalists in our company. And if you don't want her we can't work with you," sabi ng boss niya at nilingon ko naman ang manager ko and she was looking at me with dark eyes.

"Could you excuse us for a moment?" pilit na ngumiti ang aking manager at bigla akong kinurot sa kamay. "If you're not going to accept this baka gumawa sila ng article panira sa'yo. Pero kung wala kang pake, I'll resign." she whispered.

"I'm uncomfortable working with her. Pumayag na nga ako sa documentary, hindi ba ako bibigyan ng chance to pick someone else?" I countered. "I don't like her. For sure naman may mas magaling pa sa kanya."

"If you're not gonna stop, I'll call your Mom and inform her about this-"

"Okay, fine! It's not like I have any other choice, right?" I sarcastically said. I stood up and glared at Jordyn. Iniwasan niya ang tingin ko sa kanya. I was already saying all the curses I know inside my head.

Fuck it. I thought our connection was over 5 years ago? Ano na naman 'to? Mukhang magkakalapit na naman kami eh! Tangina naman.

Umakyat naman na ako sa kwarto ko and slammed myself in bed.

Good luck, Kairo. Kakayanin mo 'to.

Basta 'wag ka lang rurupok.