The Barrier Between Us

CHAPTER 1 — Office Slaves

“HINDI na ako tao. Spreadsheet na ako.”

Iyon ang unang narinig ni Anya Jahzari Garcia pagpasok niya sa pantry ng RGC kinabukasan.

Nasa harap ng coffee machine si Alysson Marie dela Cruz, nakayuko, hawak ang paper cup na parang iyon na lang ang natitirang dahilan kung bakit hindi pa siya tuluyang bumibigay sa buhay.

Napahinto si Zari sa may pinto. “Good morning din sa’yo.”

Dahan-dahang lumingon si Lyss sa kanya. Magulo ang buhok nito, may faint eyeliner smudge sa ilalim ng isang mata, at suot pa rin ang blazer na kahapon niya pa yata suot.

“Morning?” sarkastiko nitong ulit. “Anong morning doon? Wala pa akong tulog. Umuwi ako 1 AM, nakatulog ako 2:30, gumising ako 5:45. Hindi ‘to morning, Zari. Ito ay continuation ng suffering kahapon.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Zari habang lumalapit sa coffee machine. “At least consistent tayo.”

“Consistent na exploited?”

“Consistent na employed.”

“Toxic positivity ka na naman.”

Kumuha si Zari ng sariling paper cup at pinindot ang button para sa black coffee.

“Hindi toxic positivity. It's survival strategy.”

“Same thing.”

Hindi na nakipagtalo si Zari. Sa totoo lang, wala rin siyang sapat na energy para makipagdebate bago pa man magsimula ang araw. Pakiramdam niya, kahapon lang siya pumikit, tapos biglang office na naman. Ganito ang umaga nila sa RGC. Hindi dramatic. Hindi inspiring. Hindi glamorous.

Pagod lang.

Malamig ang pantry, pero mas malamig ang pakiramdam sa loob ng dibdib ni Zari. Sa labas ng glass wall, kita niya ang Makati skyline na unti-unting nabubuhay. Mga sasakyan sa baba, mga taong nagmamadali, mga building na parang hindi natutulog. Parang lahat may pupuntahan. Parang lahat umuusad. Except her.

“Hoy.” Kinaway ni Lyss ang kamay sa harap ng mukha niya. “Lumilipad na naman kaluluwa mo.”

Napakurap si Zari. “Wala.”

“Kapag sinabi mong wala, ibig sabihin meron.”

“Coffee lang iniisip ko.”

“Liar.” Humigop si Lyss sa kape niya at napangiwi. “Lasang resignation letter.”

“Then maybe it’s a sign.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Natawa si Zari nang mahina, pero naputol iyon nang biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Message mula sa kanilang senior manager.

Need revised deck by 10 AM. CEO wants cleaner numbers.

Napatitig si Zari sa screen.

CEO.

Hindi niya maiwasang maalala ang nangyari kagabi.

Ang conference room.

Ang katahimikan.

Ang malamig na titig.

At si Ali.

Aron Lienzo Rodriguez.

The man behind RGC.

Ang lalaking akala niya iniwan na niya sa nakaraan, pero bigla na lang nakaupo sa pinakadulo ng conference table na parang siya ang may hawak ng buong mundo. Which, apparently, he did.

“Zari?”

Napatingin siya kay Lyss.

Napakunot ang noo nito. “Namumutla ka.”

“Deck daw by 10 AM.”

“Ha? Anong oras na?”

“7:18.”

“Three hours?” halos mapasigaw si Lyss. “Revised deck? Akala ko approved na ‘yon kagabi!”

“Hindi na.”

“Bakit?”

Zari looked down at her phone again. Dahil gusto ng CEO. Dahil nakita niya ako. Dahil hindi ko alam kung trabaho pa ba ‘to o parusa. Pero hindi niya iyon sinabi.

Instead, she shrugged. “Cleaner numbers daw.”

“Cleaner numbers?” Inis na inis na napatawa si Lyss. “Ano gusto nila, paliguan natin ng holy water ‘yung Excel?”

“Lyss.”

“Fine. Let’s suffer professionally.”

Doon nagsimula ang araw nila.

Hindi pa man fully operational ang buong floor, nasa desks na sila. Bukas ang laptops, nakalatag ang printed financial sheets, may sticky notes sa gilid ng monitor, at may tatlong coffee cups sa pagitan nilang dalawa kahit alas otso pa lang ng umaga.

Si Zari ang tahimik na klase ng worker.

Hindi siya madaldal kapag focused. Hindi siya mahilig magreklamo nang malakas. Hindi siya confrontational. Pero kapag may proposal, presentation, o negotiation document na dumaan sa kamay niya, nagiging malinis, sharp, at almost impossible to reject.

Kaya siya valuable sa RGC.

Kaya rin siya overworked.

Si Lyss naman ang kabaligtaran.

Maingay. Diretso magsalita. Mabilis mainis. Pero mabilis din kumilos. Kapag may supplier coordination, client follow-up, logistics issue, or impossible request ang management, siya ang tinatawag.

Kaya siya valuable sa RGC.

Kaya rin siya overworked.

Pareho silang magaling. Pareho silang kulang sa sweldo. Pareho silang hindi nakapagtapos.

At pareho silang takot aminin kung gaano kasakit iyon.

“Zari, check mo ‘to.” Itinulak ni Lyss ang isang folder sa desk niya. “Han Group procurement notes. Sabi nila, gusto raw nila i-highlight na kaya natin mag-scale across three regions within six months.”

“Hindi realistic.”

“Alam ko.”

“Then bakit ilalagay?”

“Kasi sabi ni Mr. Santos, gawin daw nating ‘ambitious but credible.’”

Zari stared at her. Lyss stared back. Sabay silang napabuntong-hininga.

“Corporate translation,” sabi ni Zari. “Lie, but make it pretty.”

“Exactly.”

Kinuha ni Zari ang folder at binasa ang notes. Mabilis gumalaw ang mata niya sa bawat line, pero kahit nakatutok siya sa trabaho, may bahagi ng isip niya na nasa conference room pa rin kagabi.

Miss Garcia.

The way Ali said her name.

Malamig.

Controlled.

Parang wala silang pinagsamahan. Parang hindi siya ang babaeng minsan nitong hinatid pauwi sa ulan gamit ang isang sirang payong. Parang hindi sila nag-aral together sa library hanggang closing time. Parang hindi niya narinig minsan ang boses nito sa likod niya, saying, “Zari, kapag nakatapos tayo, sabay tayong aalis dito.”

Napakagat siya sa loob ng pisngi. No. Hindi ngayon. Hindi habang may deadline. Hindi habang may trabaho. Hindi habang may buhay siyang kailangang panindigan.

“Slide 12,” sabi niya, pilit ibinalik ang sarili sa present. “Palitan natin ‘yung growth projection. Too aggressive.”

“Okay.” Nag-type si Lyss. “Slide 17?”

“Remove the supplier risk paragraph.”

“Bakit?”

“Because it makes us look unstable.”

“Eh unstable naman talaga tayo.”

“Lyss.”

“Sorry. Professional lie ulit.”

“Reframe.”

“Fine. Reframe the truth until it becomes acceptable.”

Naging mabilis ang oras dahil sa dami ng kailangang gawin. Before 10 AM, halos hindi na nila namalayan na puno na ang floor. May mga tumatawag, may nagmamadali, may nagpa-print, may nagmumurang printer, may umiiyak na intern sa copy room.

Typical RGC morning.

At exactly 9:53 AM, napindot ni Zari ang final save.

“Done,” she whispered.

Lyss leaned back dramatically. “Praise the Lord and Microsoft PowerPoint.”

Zari sent the file to their senior manager, then finally allowed herself to breathe. For three seconds. Dahil biglang may nag-forward ng calendar invite.

11:00 AM — Executive Review Meeting

Attendees: Proposal Team, Strategy Team, RGC Executive Office

Location: Boardroom A

Napatigil silang dalawa. Slowly, Lyss turned to Zari.

“Hindi ba… kagabi pa tayo nag-meeting?”

Zari didn’t answer.

She was staring at the organizer’s name.

Aron Lienzo Rodriguez.

Nanlamig ang daliri niya sa keyboard.

“Zari,” mahinang sabi ni Lyss. “Kailangan mo sabihin sa akin kung ano ‘to.”

“What?”

“Don’t what me.” Umikot ang upuan ni Lyss para humarap sa kanya nang buo. “Kagabi pa kita ino-observe. Nung pumasok ‘yung owner, parang nakakita ka ng multo. Tapos siya rin, parang kilala ka. Hindi normal ‘yon.”

Zari swallowed. “Wala.”

“Zari.”

“Lyss, please.”

Tahimik na napatingin sa kanya si Lyss. At doon bumigay nang bahagya ang depensa ni Zari. Hindi dahil gusto niyang magsalita, kundi dahil si Lyss iyon.

Si Lyss ang nakakita sa kanya nung hindi na siya makalabas ng kwarto. Si Lyss ang nagdala ng pagkain kahit hindi siya kumakain.

Si Lyss ang nagbabantay sa kanya kapag nanginginig siya sa gabi. Si Lyss ang hindi nagtanong nang paulit-ulit kahit alam nitong may nangyaring masama.

Si Lyss ang nanatili.

“He’s from college,” mahina niyang sabi. Hindi gumalaw si Lyss.

“Si Ali?” tanong nito.

Napatingin si Zari sa kanya.

“Ali?” ulit ni Lyss, mas mahina ngayon. “As in… Ali?”

Zari nodded once. For a moment, walang nagsalita.

Then Lyss whispered, “Oh my God.”

Hindi dramatic ang pagkakasabi nito. Walang judgment. Walang shock na may kasamang tsismis.

Concern lang.

Dahil alam ni Lyss kung gaano kalaki ang parte ni Ali sa buhay ni Zari noon. At kung gaano kasakit ang nangyari pagkatapos.

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi kagabi?” tanong ni Lyss.

“Hindi ko rin alam na siya ‘yon.”

“Owner siya ng RGC?”

“Apparently.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

Napahawak si Lyss sa noo niya. “So ibig sabihin, boss mo na siya.”

“Boss natin.”

“Hindi. Mas boss mo siya. Kasi ikaw ‘yung tinitigan niya na parang may unpaid emotional debt.”

Zari looked away. “Don’t.”

“Sorry.”

Huminga nang malalim si Zari at sinubukang ayusin ang files sa desk kahit wala namang kailangang ayusin. Ganoon siya kapag hindi niya alam ang gagawin. She organizes. She fixes things. She pretends control exists.

“Okay ka ba?” tanong ni Lyss.

“Hindi ko alam.”

Honest answer. Rare. Lyss softened. “You don’t have to attend kung hindi mo kaya. I can cover for you.”

Zari shook her head. “Hindi pwede.”

“Bakit?”

“Because I work here.”

“Zari—”

“And because I’m not that girl anymore.”

Pero kahit siya mismo, hindi sigurado kung totoo iyon.

At 10:55 AM, nasa labas na sila ng Boardroom A.

Mas maliwanag ang hallway ngayon kaysa kagabi, pero mas mabigat ang pakiramdam. Every step felt like walking back into a place she had spent years escaping.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, unang pumasok si Lyss. Sumunod si Zari.

And there he was.

Ali sat at the head of the table, reviewing documents with calm precision. Black suit. Clean watch. Expression unreadable.

He looked older. Sharper. More powerful.

Pero sa ilalim ng lahat ng iyon, may pamilyar pa rin.

The same eyes.

The same silence.

The same boy she once loved.

Biglang nag-angat ng tingin si Ali. Their eyes met. Walang nagsalita. Pero sa katahimikan na iyon, parang bumalik lahat.

The unfinished confession.

The fake relationship.

The funeral.

The blood.

The silence.

Zari forced herself to look away first. “Take a seat, Miss Garcia,” sabi ni Ali.

Professional ang tono. Pero narinig pa rin niya ang bigat sa ilalim nito. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Lyss. Pinisil ng kaibigan niya ang kamay niya sa ilalim ng mesa.

Small. Hidden. Steady. I’m here.

Zari breathed. The meeting started.

Ali discussed projections, acquisition risks, proposal revisions, investor expectations. Every word was clean, direct, intelligent. Walang sayang. Walang unnecessary. Everyone listened like his voice could decide their employment status. Maybe it could.

Zari answered when asked. Calm. Precise. Professional.

“Miss Garcia,” tawag ni Ali midway through the meeting. “Why did you remove the supplier instability clause?”

Lahat napatingin sa kanya. Zari straightened.

“Because stating it directly weakens our position, sir. I reframed it under operational adaptability. Investors don’t need to see uncertainty. They need to see preparedness.”

Ali held her gaze. For a second, something flickered in his eyes.

Recognition.

Pride?

Pain?

Then it was gone.

“Good answer,” he said.

Her chest tightened. Because once, years ago, he had said the same thing to her after a class presentation.

Good answer, Zari.

Back when his voice still felt like home.

The meeting ended after an hour. Executives started leaving. Papers gathered. Chairs moved. Low conversations filled the room. Zari stood quickly, desperate to leave. But before she could reach the door— “Miss Garcia.”

She froze. Lyss stopped beside her. Ali’s voice was calm. “Stay.”

The room suddenly felt colder. Zari turned slowly. “Sir?”

Ali looked at Lyss briefly. “Ms. Dela Cruz, you may go.”

Lyss did not move immediately. Zari gave her a small nod. It’s okay.

But it wasn’t.

Lyss hesitated, then left, though her eyes clearly said she would wait outside.

When the door closed, silence swallowed the room. Zari stood near the table, hands clasped tightly in front of her.

Ali remained seated.

For several seconds, he only looked at her. Then he said quietly, “So this is where you disappeared to.”

Zari’s throat tightened.

“Sir, if this is about work—”

“It’s not.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Ali stood. Slowly. The distance between them felt too small and too wide at the same time.

“I spent years wondering where you went,” he said. “And now I find out you’ve been working in my company.”

Zari forced herself to breathe. “I didn’t know it was yours.”

“I know.”

That answer surprised her. Ali looked away for a moment, jaw tightening. Then his eyes returned to her.

“Did you know I looked for you?”

The words hit harder than she expected. Zari gripped the edge of the chair beside her.

“Ali…”

His name slipped before she could stop it. And the moment it did, his expression changed. Not much. But enough. Pain softened the coldness.

“There it is,” he said quietly. “You still remember how to say my name.”

Zari felt her eyes burn. “Please don’t.”

“Don’t what?” he asked. “Ask why you left? Ask why you suddenly became Oliver’s girlfriend? Ask why you disappeared before graduation? Ask why everyone acted like you never existed?”

Her breath caught at Oliver’s name. Ali saw it. His gaze sharpened.

“So you do react to his name.”

Zari looked down. “I have work to do.”

She turned to leave. But his next words stopped her completely.

“Were you happy?”

Her hand froze on the door handle. Ali’s voice dropped.

“With him?” Zari closed her eyes.

No. She had never been happy with Oliver.

Not once.

But how could she say that without opening a grave she had buried with her own shaking hands?

So she said nothing.

And maybe that silence was crueler than a lie.

Behind her, Ali let out a bitter breath.

“Still protecting him?”

Zari turned around sharply. “You don’t know anything.”

For the first time, her voice cracked.

Ali stared at her. Then he said, very softly, “Then tell me.”

Tell me.

Two words.

Simple.

Impossible.

Zari looked at the man in front of her—the boy she once loved, the man she lost, the owner of the company keeping her life barely stable. And she realized the past had not stayed buried.

It had only been waiting.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

Ali’s expression hardened again, but his eyes betrayed him. “You always say that.”

Zari opened the door. This time, he didn’t stop her.

Paglabas niya, nandoon si Lyss sa hallway, nakasandal sa wall, arms crossed. Isang tingin pa lang nito sa kanya, alam na agad.

“Come here,” sabi ni Lyss.

At doon, sa gitna ng executive floor hallway, niyakap siya ng matalik niyang kaibigan.

Hindi umiyak si Zari. Hindi pa.

Pero nang pumikit siya, naramdaman niyang bumalik ang bigat na matagal niyang pinilit kalimutan.

RGC was supposed to be just work.

A place to survive.

A place to earn.

A place where she could be ordinary.

But now Ali was here. And with him came everything she had buried.

The love. The lie. The guilt. The night Oliver fell.

And the version of herself she never managed to save.

Lyss rubbed her back gently. “We’ll get through this.”

Zari wanted to believe her.

Pero habang nakatayo siya sa hallway ng kumpanyang pag-aari ng lalaking minsan niyang iniwan, alam niyang hindi na magiging pareho ang buhay niya. Dahil si Ali Rodriguez ay hindi na lang alaala.

Hindi na lang sugat.

Hindi na lang pangalan sa nakaraan.

He was her boss now.

And somehow, that felt even more dangerous than love.

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