Chapter 3

(Jennie’s POV)

Tatlong araw.

Tatlong araw na parang walang nangyari.

Walang text. Walang tawag. Walang kahit anong “good morning” o kahit anong cold na utos niya sa office.

Parang multo lang siya sa utak ko—at nakakainis dahil hindi siya nawawala.

So ginawa ko ang pinaka-mature na desisyon.

Iniwasan ko siya.

OFFICE – MORNING

“Jennie, the revisions-“

“Pass sa’kin kay Seulgi,” putol ko agad habang hindi tumitingin.

Natigilan yung katrabaho ko. “Huh? Si Ma’am Ji Hyun ang-“

“Busy siya. I’m sure.”

Pero alam ko.

Hindi siya busy.

She’s just ignoring me too.

JI HYUN POV

“Ma’am, Jennie is handling her tasks through Seulgi now,” sabi ng assistant ko.

Tumigil ako sa pagtingin sa monitor.

“…why?”

“Seems like she’s avoiding you.”

Tahimik ako.

Then I said, “Fine.”

Pernodes finone.

JENNIE POV

Akala ko kaya ko.

Akala ko trabaho lang ‘to.

Pero bawat araw na hindi ko siya nakikita, parang may kulang.

Nakakainis. Nakakabwisit.

Kaya isang gabi, hindi na ako nakatiis.

Pumunta ako sa office niya kahit late na.

OFFICE – NIGHT

Nandun siya.

As expected.

Mag-isa.

Nakatingin sa plans na parang wala siyang pakialam sa mundo.

I knocked on the door harder than necessary.

“Busy ka ba?”

She looked up.

Cold eyes. Pero may something doon na parang… relief?

“Jennie.”

“Don’t say my name like that,” sagot ko agad.

Tumayo siya. “Then bakit ka nandito?”

Tumawa ako nang walang humor.

“Para lang malaman kung baliw ka o ako.”

JI HYUN POV

She looked angry.

Good.

At least she’s looking at me again.

“Anong gusto mo?” tanong ko.

“Ignoring me after what happened? Seriously?” she snapped.

Tumahimik ako.

Because she was right.

But I don’t know how to explain it.

JENNIE POV

Lumapit siya sa’kin.

Too close again.

Parang gusto kong umatras pero hindi ako gumalaw.

“Jennie,” mahinahon niyang sabi.

“Don’t. Don’t start acting soft now.”

She exhaled.

“Hindi kita iniignore.”

“Wow. Amazing lie.”

Natigilan siya.

Then she grabbed my wrist.

Hindi masakit. Pero firm.

“Hindi akpuwedengng maging emotional dito.”
…Bakit? Tanong ko.

Silence.

Pero hindi niya sinagot.

Instead, she pulled me closer.

And kissed me again.

Mas controlled this time. Mas mabagal.

Mas delikado.

JI HYUN POV

This is a mistake.

But she kissed me back like she didn’t care about consequences.

And for the first time…

I almost told her everything.

Almost.

JENNIE POV

When we broke apart, pareho kaming hingal.

“Ganyan ka ba talaga?” bulong ko.

“Ganyan ka ba rin?” balik niya.

Natatawa ako kahit hindi funny.

“Anong tayo? Secret stress relief?”

She didn’t answer.

Pero hinawakan niya kamay ko.

And that was enough of an h answer.

JI HYUN POV

“Jennie,” sabi ko.

“Hmm?”

“I can’t give you normal.”

Natigilan siya.

“…I don’t need normal,” sagot niya.

Tumingin ako sa kanya.

She meant it.

That’s what scares me.

JENNIE POV

“Then what are we?” tanong ko.

She hesitated.

Then said:

“Wala pang pangalan.”

“Secret?” tanong ko.

She nodded.

“Dangerous?” dagdag ko.

She smirked slightly.

“Very.”

I should’ve walked away.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I pulled her back in.

MONTAGE – HIDDEN RELATIONSHIPSAsa office: professional sila, cold, distant

sa gabi: parang nagbabago lahat

hotel rooms, empty apartments, late-night walks

walang label, pero hindi rin “nothing”

Every touch felt like rebellion.

Every kiss felt like a lie na masaya kong tinatanggap.

JI HYUN POV (ONE NIGHT)

“Jennie,” bulong ko habang nakahiga kami.

“Hmm?”

“If this ends badly…”

She cut me off.

“Then don’t end it.”

Tumahimik ako.

She doesn’t understand.

But I still held her tighter.

JENNIE POV

I knew it was wrong.

I knew it was temporary.

But when she looked at me like I was the only thing she could afford to lose…

I stopped caring.

ENDING SCENE – OFFICE ELEVATOR

Nagkasalubong kami.

Walang salita.

Walang emosyon.

Cold boss. Cold employee.

Pero pag sara ng elevator door…

Dahan-dahan niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.

Hindi kita.

Hindi halata.

Pero totoo.

And in that small space-

We were ours again.