"Ma'am you have dinner meeting po with Ms. Garcia at 6:00 pm,"

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa sekretarya ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Ms. Garcia? What's wrong with Duchess at nagpa-set pa siya ng appointment?

"Thank you," I said and smiled at my secretary.

As the secretary left, I quickly get my phone and contacted Duchess. Don't tell me I did something wrong at idinaan niya pa sa secretary ko ang dinner namin?

I sighed. Oo nga pala... I didn't told him about kuya that time in Family Dinner. Sana magkaayos na sila..

Agad naman sinagot ni Duchess ang tawag ko, "Yes, Ms. Davids?" bungad niya.

Napanguso ako, seryoso ba? Parang ilang araw niya na ako hindi pinapansin dahil sa insidenteng iyon.

"Duch..Are you still mad?" nag-aalangang tanong ko. Hindi siya umimik pero maya-maya pa ay nakarinig ako ng hagikgik.

"Duch?" tawag ko muli.

"It's a prank! Don't worry, I'm not. Pero siputin mo ko sa dinner totoo yan!"

"Oh.. okay," I answered sounding weirded. I'm glad that we're fine now. Nakakapagtaka lang talaga kung bakit parang bumalik ang enerhiya niya.

"See you bye!" paalam niya saka binaba ang tawag.

I spent my time finishing my works for today. 3 years ago, I focused on my studies and hobby. Iba talaga kasi pagcollege na. Right after I graduate, nagsimula na akong magtraining dito sa kompanya at ngayon ang ay magdadalawang taon na ako sa pagtatrabaho. Dad is still the one who handles the company while Mom on her restaurant chains which is already under a large company while Clane is still studying.

On the other hand, Kuya Duke build his own name while still studying at college. He grew connections and partnered with a textile company, kahit naman sister company namin ang Ma Duchesse I never handled direct transactions and proposals from them.

Well, I got surprised when I first saw Imperial Textile Co. on our list of business partners. I wonder how kuya manage to deal with same company noong nagsisimula pa lang siya?

Imperial... hindi kaya...

Hindi imposible dahil ang naalala ko, he graduated BFA major in Textile Design.. but the Imperial Company is already running for century.

"Can we... buy ice cream?" I shyly asked.

Mula sa pagtitipa ng laptop niya ay napabaling siya sa akin. Agad napataas ang isang kilay niya bago inihawi ang buhok sa kanyang harapan.

How does he managed to look like that? Sa maarteng paghawi at tikas ng kilay niya, makikitaan mo pa rin ng kastriktuhan at... kagwapuhan.

"I thought you're not fond of it?" pormal na tanong niya.

Napanguso ako at tumungo. Hindi ko nga hilig iyon pero simula noong nawala ako at kumain kami noon, lagi ko ng hinahanap kapag nalulungkot ako.

Maski si Duchess ay nagtaka pag-uwi ko noon. Ano daw ba ang nagawa ng Europe at sinasabayan ko na siya sa mga hilig niya. Kuya Duke didn't asked me to do that for her, sadyang nag-iiba...lang ang gusto..

Ngayon ang pangalawang taon na punta ko sa bansang ito. Nandito ako ngayon sa school office niya matapos ko mag-sit in sa class kanina at magpapaalam na pupunta sa art garden.

I'm sad because of it. Excited kasi ako makita iyon, isa sa mga pinunta ko rito but to my disappointment under renovation pala. Ang sabi kasi mas maganda daw iyon sa personal kaysa sa mga nasa pictures. In the end I asked if I can just stay at his office for a while.

"Kuya Duke!" tawag ko nang makita ito nang papalabas kami ng university. Tumigil naman ito at kunot noong napatingin sa amin.

"Are you going home?" He asked and glanced at Zeno. "Wow, be kind to my sister. She's not used to different people," He sarcastically stated.

I just pouted at Kuya Duke while Zeno rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," tanging sagot nito at naunang maglakad kaya agad na akong kumaway kay kuya at sumunod rito.

Ang alam ko, magkaibigan na sila. Maybe because they are both in federation, they have same interest and parehas din silang may kastriktuhan at katarayan. Ganoon lang talaga siguro sila makipagsalimuha..

"Thank you for the treat!" I happily announced as I indulged myself in the gelatto. I picked a tripple chocolate flavor.

Sa susunod na balik namin rito ko na lang pupuntahan uli iyon, tapos naman na siguro ang renovation ng art garden nila next year.

Hindi siya sumagot sa akin at inabot lang ang tissue. "Eat neatly," paalala niya na sinangayunan ko na lamang.

Thinking of it, parang nakakaguilty pala na ako lang ang nag-eenjoy. I don't know why he keep on agreeing about me going with him kung ikaiinis naman niya iyon, I feel like it's okay but sometimes I can't help but to overthink. Hindi ko kasi sigurado kung ano ibig sabihin ng galaw ng mga tao.

Naglakas loob akong mag-bukas ng pag-uusapan. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit pagdating sa kanya ay sinusubukan ko palagi ang hindi ko sanay gawin.

"Uh.. how did you end up teaching.. ung textile," tanong ko. Nakalimutan ko kung ano nga uling subject iyon.

"I graduated BFA major in textile design in this country as well. I undergo short programs that gave a teaching certificate," paliwanag niya.

"Ah.. how about your parents? Diba nasa ano.. pilipinas sila,"

He wiped his mouth first and drink water. Pinagmasdan ko lang siyang gawin iyon bago siya muling napatingin sa akin kaya tinuloy ko ang pagkain sa ice cream ko bigla.

"Working," maikling sagot niya. Bago pa ako magdagdag ng tanong nagsalita muli siya. "If you'll ask what, car agent." dagdag niya.

Napabalikwas ako sa pagkakaupo ng biglang tumunog ang phone ko. 'Yung alarm ko pala, anong oras na rin. Baka sabihin ni Duchess ay pinaghihintay ko siya, hayst.

Itinago ko na ang file na hawak-hawak ko ngayon. Isa sa past proposal namin with Imperial Textile Co. Hindi nga rin siguro, as far as I remember car agent is nowhere near in the textile industry. Isa pa, Imperial is such a famous surname... siguro ay kapareha lang.

I can't help but to be curious kaya naman ibinuklat ko muli ang file at tinignan ang pangalan ng owner-Mr. Lawton Imperial.

He's familiar from business gathering we attended before noong palagi akong sumasama kila Mom and Dad.

I sighed, I should stop this. 3 years ago when I last visited that country. 3years ago, I never came back and communicated with him.

After all, I was just a little girl for him.

Though I know my feelings weren't.