“We Both Know, But We Don’t Say It” (Sev and Brena)

7. It hurts you know

Brena’s POV

Next Morning – Adson & Co. Office

Black slacks. Cream silk blouse. Hair pulled into a clean, low bun.

Brena looked every bit the boss she never used to believe she could be.

Pagpasok pa lang niya sa main floor ng office, napalingon na agad ang mga tao. Some offered warm smiles. Others, slight nods. All respectful.

And none of them knew she’d spent last night crying over a boy who couldn’t make up his mind.

“Good morning, Miss Adson,” bati ng assistant niya na si Jamie, sabay abot ng tablet.

“Nandiyan na ba si Sir Lito?” tanong niya, calm and direct.

“Yes, ma’am. Nasa conference room na po, waiting for your presentation.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. Let’s get to work.

Brena stood at the head of the long table, facing three men in their fifties—executives who’d worked with her father for years. They were skeptical at first when she joined the company full-time after graduation.

Now? They listened when she spoke.

“Adson & Co. is no longer just a local player,” she said, voice steady. “If we close this partnership with the Singapore group, we’re stepping into regional distribution.”

One of the older men, Sir Lito, cleared his throat. “And you think we’re ready for that scale?”

“I don’t think—we are ready,” she answered. Then tapped her slides to show projections, logistics plans, and backup suppliers. “I’ve done the numbers. Triple-checked with operations. We’re tight, lean, and scalable. This is the time.”

There was a pause.

Then slow nods. Satisfied faces.

Sir Lito smiled faintly. “You sound just like your father.”

She gave a soft smile in return. “No, sir. I’m not him. But I’m me. And that’s enough.”

Pagkaalis ng mga execs, dumiretso siya sa private office niya. She shut the door and finally exhaled.

She stared at her reflection sa glass wall—tired eyes, but fierce. Confident. Woman.

Not the girl who begged for Sevy’s attention. Sa ngayon kasi ayaw na niya isipin pa si Sevy, pumapanget na kasi siya kaka-isip dun sa kumag kaya tama na. "loko lang."

She sat behind her desk and opened a folder marked “For Final Signing.”

Biglang tumunog ang phone niya.

A text.

From her dad.

Proud of you today, anak. You’re doing great. Keep going.

Napangiti siya.

Yes, she was okay.

No—she was better than okay.

Because while Sevy was out there figuring himself out, dating or making out with some random girls, she was here. Building something. Owning her name. Making herself whole.

And if someday he came back?

He’d have to catch up.

She smiled.

It was quiet, almost wistful. Like her heart whispered “This is what healing feels like.”

She looked around the office she used to only dream of. Her name was on the glass door now—Brena Adson, Managing Director. Hindi na siya assistant. Hindi na siya tagasalo. Siya na ang nasa harap. Siya na ang gumagawa ng pangalan niya.

Napatingin siya sa isang sulok ng mesa. Nandun pa ang lumang photo frame.

A candid shot from years ago—Sevy, arms around her, both of them laughing like the world didn’t know their names.

She stared at it for a long while.

Then slowly, she stood up, took the frame, and opened the drawer beneath her desk.

She placed it inside. Flat. Quiet. Like closing a chapter.

No drama. Just… done.

Next, she reached for a clean notepad, tore a page, and wrote:

“Vision: Expand by Q3. 2 new regions. Focus on brand autonomy.”

She pinned it on her corkboard, right above a photo of her and her mom, both smiling in front of their first family warehouse.

“Back to work,” she whispered, pulling her laptop closer.

A knock on the door.

“Ma’am, ready na po si Mr. Delgado for your 6 p.m. call,” her assistant said.

“Give me two minutes,” Brena replied.

As the door closed, she took one last look at the city lights outside.

There was still a flicker of pain somewhere inside her chest. But it wasn’t consuming her anymore. It didn’t own her.

And neither did Sevy.

She fixed her posture, set her jaw, and hit dial on the next meeting.

Because while Sevy was out there—dating and for sure making out with that girl—Brena Adson was here, building her empire.

She had just signed the last document when her assistant knocked.

“Ma’am, may bisita po sa lobby. Sabi close daw kayo.”

“Name?”

“Kyla Cortez po.”

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but her voice remained steady. “Okay. Let her in.”

Ilang sandali lang, bumukas ang pinto. Kyla walked in with confident heels and an all-too-bright smile.

“Bren! Ang taray ng office mo. I love this vibe. So CEO.”

“Hi,” Brena said plainly, eyes still on her screen.

Kyla slid into the empty chair across her, like they were old friends meeting up—not… whatever this weird tension was.

“So. Businesswoman na talaga ang peg? Wow. Ikaw na, boss babe,” she said, her tone teetering between mockery and forced charm.

Brena finally looked at her. Neat curls, peach-toned lips, and that ever-so-practiced smile. She wondered if Kyla rehearsed in front of the mirror before talking to people.

“Was there something you needed?” Brena asked coolly.

Kyla leaned in, smug. “Just wanted to see how you’re doing. Yo know....wondering if paano mo nakakayang magkunwaring okay ka, when you know from the first place na nasasaktan ka.." saad nito na ikinataas niya ng kilay.

She crossed her hands to her chest and leaned back in her chair, and looked at Kyla intently. "What do you mean by that?"

Kyla rolled her eyes. "Pwede ba Bren, stop acting as if you don't know what I'am talking about. Alam kong mahal mo si Sevy, at nasasaktan ka knowing na we are dating right? Alam mo walang masamang magpakatotoo girl. " saad pa nito.

"So? yan lang ba ang ipinunta mo dito? Just to say that crap?

"Nope, I just came here to say that you did a great job. Tama lang yang ginagawa mo, stay silent about your feeling, keep it to your self na lang. Kasi we both know na masasaktan at masasaktan ka lang if sasabihin mo ang totoong nararamdaman mo kay Sevy. " wika nito na ikinaakyat ng dugo niya sa ulo.

Pakiramdam niya ay namumula siya sa galit. How dare this malanding babae na 'to para pagsabihan siya ng ganito. But she tried to look calm. Hindi niya papatulan 'to. Never.!

"Okay, you done? if wala ka ng sasabihin you may go Kyla. As you can see, I'm a busy woman. At wala akong time para patulan ka. You know you can have Severino as long as you want. I don't care. You guys can f*ck all you want!. Huwag niyo na lang ako idadamay pa. Makakaalis ka na."

Pakasabi ko noon, ay hindi ko na muling tiningnan pa si Kyla. Nagfocus na lang akong kunyari ay may kinakalikot sa laptop ko, pero the truth is, sa bawat salitang binibitawan ko ay nasasaktan ako. "It hurts you know."