A LOVE WE LEFT BEHIND

Chapter 3 — The Flowers She Never Returned

A Love We Left Behind

Chapter 3 — The Flowers She Never Returned

Tatlong araw matapos ang unang hearing, muling nagkita ang dalawang panig.

Hindi sa courtroom.

This time, sa conference room ng isang hotel sa Batangas.

Mahabang mesa ang nasa gitna ng silid. Sa isang side ay ang legal team ng Inigo Grand Hotels and Resorts. Sa kabilang side naman ay si Zielle kasama ang dalawang associates mula sa kanyang law chamber at representatives ng mga residente.

At sa gitna ng Inigo team—

Si Clert.

Tahimik itong nagbabasa ng documents.

"Good morning," bati ni Zielle nang makapasok siya.

Lahat ay tumingin sa kanya.

Tumayo si Clert.

"Good morning, Attorney Rivera."

Tumango lang siya.

"Mr. Inigo."

Walang "Clert."

Walang "Sebastian."

Walang kahit anong personal.

Professional lamang.

Umupo si Zielle.

"Let's proceed."

Umupo rin si Clert.

Sa tabi niya, tahimik na nagbukas ng laptop si Olcen.

"Before we discuss the financial package," sabi ni Zielle, "I'd like to establish the residents' primary conditions."

Olcen nodded.

"Go ahead."

"First, relocation must remain within Batangas."

"Agreed," sagot ni Olcen.

"Second, the replacement houses must be legally documented and transferred properly."

"Of course."

"Third, there should be no hidden fees associated with the relocation."

"Agreed."

"Fourth, livelihood assistance."

Tumango si Olcen.

"That can be negotiated."

Zielle looked at Clert.

"And finally, the residents want assurance that they won't be treated as an inconvenience to the development."

Clert looked directly at her.

"They won't."

Simple.

Diretso.

Walang hesitation.

Zielle looked down at her documents.

"Good."

Nagsimula ang mahaba nilang discussion.

Land acquisition.

Construction schedule.

Environmental assessment.

Structural inspection.

Compensation.

Relocation costs.

Livelihood assistance.

Temporary housing.

Permanent housing.

Every point was carefully discussed.

Hindi madaling kausap si Zielle.

She questioned every figure.

Every clause.

Every condition.

And every time the company's representatives tried to simplify something, she pushed for clarification.

Olcen eventually leaned toward Clert.

"She's terrifying."

Clert didn't look at him.

"She's always been like that."

Olcen smiled.

"You're smiling."

"I am not."

"You are."

Clert ignored him.

Zielle heard them.

She didn't react.

Pero muntik na siyang mapangiti.

Muntik.

Hindi niya ginawa.

After almost three hours, the meeting finally paused.

"I'll review the revised proposal," sabi ni Zielle. "But I want the relocation site inspection scheduled within the week."

Clert nodded.

"I'll arrange it."

"You don't need to personally handle every detail."

"I know."

"Then let your staff handle it."

"I want to handle this one."

Zielle looked at him.

"Why?"

Clert didn't answer immediately.

His eyes stayed on hers.

"Because it's important."

Zielle looked away.

"Fine."

Olcen watched them.

Then quietly whispered,

"Interesting."

Clert glanced at him.

"Don't."

Olcen smiled.

"Didn't say anything."

The following morning, another bouquet arrived at Zielle's office.

This time—

Pink tulips.

Her secretary placed them on the desk.

"Attorney Rivera."

Zielle looked up.

"Again?"

Her secretary nodded.

"Yes."

"Who sent them?"

"Walang name."

Zielle stared at the flowers.

She knew.

Of course she knew.

"Take them away."

"Where?"

Zielle pointed toward the small table near the window.

"Same place."

Her secretary smiled.

"Okay."

She placed them beside yesterday's flowers.

Zielle continued working.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

She tried to focus on a legal memorandum.

But her eyes kept drifting toward the flowers.

Finally, she stood.

Lumapit siya sa table.

She touched one of the tulips.

Soft.

Fresh.

Beautiful.

She remembered something.

High school.

There was a small flower shop near their school.

Clert used to buy flowers there whenever she had exams.

Not roses.

He said roses were too dramatic.

"You're weird," she had told him once.

He had laughed.

"Why?"

"Because normal boys give chocolates."

"And?"

"You give flowers."

He shrugged.

"You like flowers."

"I do."

"Then I'll give you flowers."

She had smiled.

"Every day?"

"Every day."

She had laughed.

"Impossible."

He had looked at her seriously.

"I'll try."

Zielle immediately pulled her hand away from the tulip.

"No."

She shook her head.

"That was a long time ago."

She returned to her desk.

But she didn't throw the flowers away.

Again.

"You're insane."

Olcen dropped into the chair across Clert's desk.

Clert continued reading a report.

"What now?"

"You sent flowers again."

"Yes."

"Yesterday."

"Yes."

"And you're planning to send another tomorrow."

Clert looked up.

"Yes."

Olcen stared at him.

"She hasn't thanked you."

"I know."

"She hasn't replied."

"I know."

"She barely looks at you."

"I know."

"She told you not to call her Zai."

"I know."

Olcen leaned back.

"Then why are you doing this?"

Clert closed the folder.

"Because I don't expect anything from her."

Olcen's expression changed.

"Then what do you expect?"

"Nothing."

"That's not true."

Clert looked toward the window.

"I just want her to know that I'm here."

Olcen became quiet.

Clert continued.

"I left once."

His voice was lower now.

"I won't leave again."

Olcen studied him.

"You know she's going to make you work for it."

"I know."

"She may not forgive you."

"I know."

"She may never want you back."

Clert nodded.

"I know."

Olcen sighed.

"And you're still going to pursue her?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

Clert looked at him.

"As long as it takes."

Olcen smiled faintly.

"You're really serious."

"About her?"

"Yes."

Clert didn't hesitate.

"I never stopped."

Olcen went silent.

For the first time, there was no teasing.

Because he knew Clert.

And he knew that when Clert said something like that, he meant every word.

That evening, Zielle went home to her parents.

The Rivera residence was unusually lively.

Her mother, Celestine, was in the dining room.

Her father, Liam, was discussing something on his tablet.

Zane was already eating.

Zafra was scrolling through her phone.

"Finally," sabi ni Zafra nang makita si Zielle.

"Why?"

"You're late."

"I had work."

Zane looked up.

"Still dealing with the Inigo case?"

"Yes."

Zafra smiled.

"Inigo?"

Zielle narrowed her eyes.

"Yes."

"Interesting."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Zane looked at his sister.

"You know someone from Inigo?"

Zielle continued serving herself.

"Clert Inigo."

The table became quiet.

Zielle slowly looked up.

Zane and Zafra exchanged glances.

Their mother noticed.

"Wait."

Celestine looked at Zielle.

"Clert?"

Zielle sighed.

"Yes."

Her father lowered the tablet.

"Isn't he..."

Zafra answered before him.

"Your high-school boyfriend?"

Zielle nearly choked on her water.

"Can we please not do this?"

Zane laughed.

"I knew something was strange."

"There is nothing strange."

"You've been saying 'Inigo' for three days."

"Because he's involved in my case."

Zafra raised an eyebrow.

"Sure."

"Ate Zafra."

"Okay, okay."

Celestine looked at her daughter gently.

"How was it seeing him?"

Zielle became quiet.

"Fine."

Her mother knew immediately.

"Zielle."

"I'm okay, Mom."

"Are you?"

Zielle looked down at her plate.

"I don't know."

That answer silenced everyone.

Zielle rarely admitted uncertainty.

Liam reached across the table and gently touched her hand.

"You don't have to decide anything now."

She nodded.

"I know."

Zane looked at his sister.

"If he hurt you before, don't let anyone pressure you into forgiving him."

Zielle looked at him.

"I won't."

Zafra nodded.

"But if he is genuinely trying..."

Zielle sighed.

"Ate Zafra."

"I'm just saying."

Zielle shook her head.

"Let's talk about something else."

Zane smiled.

"Fine."

He looked at Zafra.

"Did you finish the quarterly report?"

Zafra froze.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're COO."

"I hate family dinners."

Everyone laughed.

For the first time that day, Zielle smiled.

Late that night, Zielle returned to her room.

She changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the edge of her bed.

Then her eyes landed on a small box near the corner of her room.

She stood.

Binuksan niya iyon.

Inside were old things.

A photograph.

An old bracelet.

A graduation ribbon.

And several dried flowers.

She stared at them.

She had kept them.

For years.

Not because she wanted to remember Clert.

That's what she told herself.

She simply couldn't bring herself to throw them away.

Her fingers touched one dried flower.

Then she remembered his voice.

"I'll give you flowers every day."

Zielle closed her eyes.

"Idiot."

She whispered it.

But there was no anger in her voice.

Only sadness.

She closed the box.

Then looked toward the bouquet sitting on her desk.

The flowers Clert had sent that morning.

She walked over.

Carefully, she removed one tulip.

She didn't know why.

She simply did.

She placed it inside a small glass vase beside her bed.

Then she stared at it.

"One flower."

She whispered.

"That's all."

Outside her bedroom, her mother passed by.

She noticed the light was still on.

Celestine smiled faintly.

She didn't knock.

Some things, she knew, had to be faced in their own time.

Inside the room, Zielle sat beside the flower.

She didn't know that across Batangas, Clert was also awake.

Looking at his phone.

Thinking about whether he should send another message.

He typed.

Good night, Zai.

He stared at it.

Then deleted it.

He remembered what she had said.

Don't call me that.

So instead, he typed:

Good night, Zielle. I hope you had a good day.

He sent it.

Zielle's phone lit up.

She looked at the message.

Her heart gave one small, traitorous beat.

She didn't reply.

But she didn't delete it either.

And for Clert—

That was enough for tonight.