Dumaan muna ako sa Tim Hortons para bumili ng kape bago ako pumasok ng office. 

"Marshan!" Someone called. My eyes squinted para tignang mabuti yung tumawag sa pangalan ng kakambal ko na napagkamalan ulit ako. She waved at me and then I recognize her. 

What's her name again? It starts with 'L'.. Is it Lea? Lia? Something like that. Well, nevermind. She's with someone, lalaki, at nakatalikod ito sa direksyon ko. 

"Hi!" I forced a smile. Bumaling sakin yung lalaki and I almost gasped. 

"Yung payong mo nga pala!" I said to him. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya at bumaling kay 'L'... "I'll return it later, siguro bandang lunch. Iiwan ko na lang sa receptionist." I said before pressing my lips tightly. 

"Magkatabi lang naman kayo ng office, you can give it back anytime, Marshan." L said. Kumibot ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. People really should stop thinking that I am Marshan. Nahihirapan na rin akong umaktong kilala ko sila.

"Ah yeah... Oo nga..." I said awkwardly. Napatingin ako sa kamay ni L na nakapatong sa mesa and her ring immediately caught my attention. It's very simple but not my taste. Mukhang napansin yun ni L kaya hinawakan niya yung singsing niya at ngumiti sakin. 

"I am just so happy na ikakasal na kami ni Waldrin." Teary eyed na sabi nito habang nakatingin sa kasama niya. Napabaling ako sa lalaking kasama niya who remained stoic. So, Waldrin pala ang pangalan niya... 

"Ohhh cool..." I said shortly, dahil hindi ko naman alam ang sasabihin ko.

"Since when did you fancy wearing colored contacts?" The guy named Waldrin asked me. Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi niya. 

"Wala, para cool." I winked at him. "Anyway, mauna na ko sa inyo. Enjoy your breakfast." I smiled before leaving the two of them. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng makalabas ako ng coffee shop. My heart clenches when I saw that engagement ring. 

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito.

"Miss Prime! Tumawag po ang Lolo niyo kanina, nagset po siya ng appointment for early tomorrow po for a project proposal." My secretary approached me. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. 

Iba ang secretary ko and of course dahil assistant ko si Vicky. My secretary remains here in the office at kasama ko naman sa mga lakad ko si Vicky.

"Where's the proposal?" I asked her.

"On the way na daw po. Diyan lang naman daw po sa kabila manggagaling." She said. 

"Wala bang masasagasaang schedule for tomorrow?" Nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa office ko at nakasunod naman sakin ang secretary ko. 

"Actually ma'am, the project proposal is for about 4 hours, 8 a.m. to 12 noon., but you already have an appointment with Mr. Sebastian Morales by 10 a.m." Natigilan ako sa pag-upo sa swivel chair ko dahil sa sinabi niya. 

"With whom?! Hindi ko naman atah alam yan?" I asked her. Bahagya itong napakislot sa pagtaas ng boses ko at nanginginig na napahawak ng mahigpit sa planner niya. 

"A-Actually Miss Prime, sir Yrew set the appointment po." She gulped. Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya at hindi makapaniwalang bumuga ng hangin. 

I thought he will handle it?! Isa't kalahating g*go talaga yung lalaking yun kahit kailan!!! 

"Call Sebastian then, sabihin mo lunch meeting na lang bukas." I said. 

"Right away Miss Prime." Sabi nito at lumabas na ng opisina ko. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair and took my coffee ng biglang bumulaga sakin si Marshan. 

"W-What?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sakin. 

"Anong what? Ako dapat nagtatanong sayo kung anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked her. Binaba ko yung kape ko at lumapit sa kanya. 

"I'm looking for Miss Prime, para dito sa project proposal." She said. I pointed myself and nodded at her. 

"I am Miss Prime, my full name is Maxene Prime Chua." Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at inilayo sakin yung folder na hawak niya. 

"Hell no!" She gasped. 

"Well, my friends and family of course call me Maxene, but I am well known as Miss Prime." 

"Maxene you can't work here! Nasa tapat lang yung building namin! Pwede ka nilang makita---"

"Ano bang kinakatakot mo Marshan?" I chuckled and grab the folder from her at inilagay yun sa ibabaw ng mesa ko. "So what if malaman nilang buhay ako? I thought wala na silang pakealam satin? You see, I'm fine. I've been meeting people na akala nila, ako, ikaw." 

Napapikit siya ng mariin at bahagyang napasabunot sa buhok niya. 

"Can you at least decline that proposal?" She asked me. Kumunot ang noo ko at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang braso. 

"Look Marshan, I am not afraid, at hindi naman ako nagtatago. Lolo asked me to do this at sino naman ako para humindi? We need people to know that there're two of us and people need to acknowledge my existence, too. Naiintindihan mo ba?" Pinisil ko ang mga balikat niya. Napabuntong hininga ito at marahang tumango sakin. 

"Oh! Before I forgot, can you return this to Waldrin for me?" Kinuha ko yung payong sa umbrella stand. 

"WHAT?! YOU MET WALDRIN ALREADY?!" Tumaas ang boses nito. I looked at her innocently and slightly nodded. 

"Y-Yeah? Pati yung fiancee niya?" I said before giving her the umbrella. Her jaw dropped habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. I almost rolled my eyes at her.

"I told you akala nila ako, ikaw!" 

"Then how did you act in front of them?!" 

"Well dahil kilala ka nila, I thought they were your friends so I acted friendly..."

"WHAT?! MAXENE! They are my most hated creatures in this world! How could you act friendly towards them?!" She's livid at natatawa na lang talaga ako.

"Well, I don't know!" I chuckled. 

"Especially towards Leanna? Oh god!" She rolled her eyes at napasapo na lang sa noo. 

"Well, mukhang hindi naman siya nagtataka, she looks stupid though." I said. Naiiling na lang siya at bahagyang natawa bago kami nagfist bump. 

"Kambal talaga tayo." She chuckled. "Well, I'm quite busy dahil sa papalapit na Company Ball, ibabalik ko na lang to kay Waldrin, and tomorrow just act like yourself, wala akong kaibigan at kayo lang ang pamilya ko so you're free to act bitchy all the way..." She winked at me. 

"Well, that's a relief. I was not reborn friendly anyway." We both laugh. 

"Bakit ka ba nagmamadali?" I asked Vicky as she was fixing some stuffs needed for the meeting.

"It's f*cking 8:30 Maxene! Kanina pang quarter to 7 nandito ang mga bisita mo! Hindi ka na nahiya!" She nagged at me. I sipped my ice coffee using my metal straw as I watched her.

"They need me, sila ang mag-adjust..." I said napasinghap ako when she grabbed my ice coffee at itinapon ito sa trash bin.

"Drink your f*cking water and let's go..." She hissed. Napalunok tuloy ako bago uminom ng tubig. Nakakatakot pa namang magalit si Vicky, kahit short hair siya nagiging sadako siya pag-galit. She pulled me up at hinila na ko papuntang conference room.

"Good Morning gentlemen, sorry we're late!" Vicky announced when she entered the room first. I just rolled my eyes bago sumunod sa kanya at napansin ko naman ang agad na pagbabago sa itsura nila ng makita ako. Napalitan ang mga ngiti nila ng pagtataka when I took my seat.

"Mar---"

"Shall we start?" I cut them off. Vicky closed the lights and the presenter started with her presentation. As we go on with the presentation, ramdam ko ang titig ng tatlong lalaki sakin pero hindi ko sila pinansin.

The presentation goes on and I'm getting bored.

I snapped my fingers. "Light please!" I said at agad namang tumayo si Vicky para buksan ang ilaw. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ng presenter na bahagyang nanginginig na nakatayo sa harapan.

"You can leave now Miss." I said without glancing at her.

"M-M-Ma'am? I'm not yet done with my---"

"Ang mga sinasabi mo ay nasa proposal na, I can't find anything new? So what's the point of continuing?" I asked her coldly. Napayuko ito at napahiya at mukhang maiiyak na.

"You can't do that to my employee..." Waldrin said.

Nangalumbaba ako sa table at sarcastic na ngumiti sa kanya, "But she's useless..." I smirked. "I'm sorry I just have this habit of getting rid of useless people." I popped my lips at pekeng ngumiti sa kanila. "So shall we start with the discussion?" I asked them.

"Marshan, ano bang---"

"It's Miss Prime for you Mister... What's your name again?" I asked him. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito bago tumingin ng masama sakin.

"Oh well, whatever... So, you want me to be your capitalist partner para sa i-pu-put up niyong resort? I like the proposal and the agreement for profit and loss sharing. So, it's a yes for me." I said bago mahinang ihagis sa mesa yung folder.

"Where will you get the money for this? As far as I know, you don't work for the Mafia anymore. Wala ka ng mapagkukunan ng malaking pera." Waldrin said. Nakahalukipkip akong sumandal sa swivel chair bago siya taasan ng kilay.

"Are you questioning my financial capability? Hindi naman ako siguro ieendorse ni Lolo if I don't have the means to support this project, right?"

"Marshan, I don't get it. Why are you here? We're suppose to meet Miss Prime..." If I remember correctly his name is Christian.

"Let me get one thing straight, I am not---"

"MAAAXXXEEENNNEEE!!!" The door of the conference room banged open at iniluwa nito si Yrew na nakasuot pa ng lab coat niya.

"CODE JURASSIC PARKKK!!!" Hingal na hingal na sabi nito.

"You and your weird codes! What is it?!" I asked him.

"This is a serious problem!!! I forgot my Skype Password!!!" He said. Napapikit ako ng mariin and glared at him.

"I am in the middle of a fckingly important meeting and you barged in because you fcking forgot your Skype password?" I asked him while gritting my teeth. Nag-angat siya ng tingin and roamed his eyes around na parang ngayon niya lang narealize na nasa conference room siya.

"Oops sorry about that! Nagkita-kita na pala kayo. But this is really serious Maxene! I'll wait for you in your office." He winked before walking out of the room. Agad akong napasentido dahil sa pagkirot ng ulo ko. Yrew is such a kid!

"I'm sorry about that..." I sighed at muling bumaling sa kanila.

"W-What d-d-did he just call you?" Raven asked me.

"Oh yeah! About that, I want to make everything clear and straight. I am not Marshan... My name is Maxene Prime Chua, and you can call me Prime..."

Napasinghap ako sa marahas na pagtayo ni Waldrin at malakas na paghampas sa mesa. Napahawak pa si Vicky sa braso ko sa gulat.

"That's not a good joke Marshan..." He hissed.

"Do I look like I'm joking Mr... errr McNeil?" I asked him dahil hindi naman ako sigurado kung McNeil siya basta ang alam ko nagtratrabaho siya sa company ni Lolo.

"How can you be Maxene?! Maxene is dead---"

"Well, I'm not. And based sa tono mo. Mukhang kilala mo ko..." I smirked.

"What sh*t are you talking about?!" He asked frustratedly. Mas lalong nangunot ang noo ko sa reaction niya.

"Marshan... Ano bang nangyayari sayo?" Christian asked me.

"Oh come on! This is getting nowhere!" I rolled my eyes bago tumayo ng upuan ko at ayusin yung mga documents sa ibabaw ng mesa ko.

I gasped when Waldrin suddenly grab my arm at agad namang napatayo yung dalawa para awatin ito.

"Take that back..." Namumula ang mga mata nito sa galit. His hand is slightly shaking in anger. I grab his wrist at mahigpit siyang hinawakan hanggang sa mabitawan niya ko at mapangiwi siya sa sakit.

I stared at him coldly before flipping my hair.

"I'm sorry but, hindi ako nagpapahawak sa mga hindi ko kilala." I raised my brow before walking out on them.

Naabutan ko si Yrew sa office ko na nakaupo na naman sa swivel chair ko at nagdudotdot sa phone niya. He felt my presence so he called my name.

"Maxene, I cannot open my Skype! Gegerahin na naman ako ni Yasha nito!" He said. I rolled my eyes at him. Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya at siniksik ko yun sarili ko sa tabi niya sa swivel chair. Malaki naman yung swivel chair ko, para siyang two seater sofa.

I took his phone para ayusin yung Skype niya.

"How was the mini reunion?" He asked me.

"With whom?"

"With those three malamang..." He said when he grabbed his phone ng makita niyang nabuksan ko na yung skype niya.

"I don't remember them though. So I can't really call it a reunion."