THE COLD CEO SPOILED ME

One More Argument

7:00 A.M. — HANNA'S HOUSE

"Hanna, huwag ka munang umalis."

Napahinto si Hanna habang inaayos ang kanyang bag.

"Bakit, Lola?"

"Masama ang pakiramdam ko ngayong umaga."

Agad siyang lumapit sa kama.

"Lola, what's wrong? Masakit ba ang dibdib mo? Nahihilo ka?"

Umiling ang matanda.

"Hindi naman. Nanghihina lang ako."

Nag-aalala si Hanna.

"Then I'll take you to the hospital."

"Hanna, huwag. May paninda ka pa sa palengke."

"I don't care about the vegetables. You're more important."

"Pero paano ang gamot natin?"

Natahimik si Hanna.

Alam niyang kailangan niyang kumita.

Pero ayaw niyang iwan ang kanyang lola.

Sa huli, nanatili siya nang ilang oras upang alagaan ito.

---

11:00 A.M. — PUBLIC MARKET

Nang gumaan ang pakiramdam ng kanyang lola, saka lamang pumunta si Hanna sa palengke.

Pagdating niya, nakita niyang maraming gulay ang hindi pa niya nailalabas.

"Okay... kaya ko 'to."

Mabilis siyang nag-ayos.

Habang nagbubuhat siya ng isang malaking kahon, may kamay na biglang humawak dito.

"Let me."

Napalingon siya.

Si Michael.

Hanna sighed.

"Why are you here again?"

"Good morning."

"Don't you have a company?"

"I do."

"Then why are you here?"

Michael looked at the box.

"I need vegetables."

Hanna looked at him suspiciously.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"How many vegetables can one person possibly eat?"

Michael stared at her.

"You're asking too many questions."

"And you're buying too many vegetables."

He ignored her and lifted the box.

Hanna immediately protested.

"Hey! I can carry that."

"I know."

"Then give it back."

"No."

"Michael."

"Hanna."

"Give it back."

"No."

She glared at him.

"You're impossible."

"And you're stubborn."

"I was carrying that before you came."

"And now I'm carrying it."

Hanna crossed her arms.

"Fine."

Michael placed the box on the table.

Then he noticed something.

Her hands were red.

There were small scratches on her fingers.

He frowned.

"Your hands."

Hanna looked down.

"It's nothing."

"You have cuts."

"It's normal."

"Normal?"

"I work at a market, Michael. Of course my hands aren't going to stay soft."

He didn't answer.

Instead, he looked around.

"Where's your assistant?"

Hanna blinked.

"I don't have one."

"You do everything alone?"

"Mostly."

Michael looked at the heavy boxes.

"That's too much."

"I've been doing it for years."

"That doesn't make it okay."

Hanna stared at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she smiled slightly.

"Are you worried about me?"

Michael immediately looked away.

"No."

"Sure."

"I'm not."

"Okay."

She smiled.

"Whatever you say."

Michael frowned.

"Don't smile like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know something."

"I don't know anything."

"Good."

---

LATER THAT DAY

A customer approached Hanna.

"Miss, these tomatoes are too expensive."

Hanna politely explained.

"Sorry po, that's already our lowest price. The supplier increased the price this week."

The customer shook her head.

"Never mind."

After she left, Hanna sighed.

Michael had been standing nearby.

"You should lower the price."

Hanna looked at him.

"And lose money?"

"You'll sell more."

"More doesn't always mean better."

Michael looked interested.

"Explain."

Hanna pointed at the vegetables.

"If I sell below my cost, yes, I'll get more customers. But I'll lose money. I need to know my expenses first before I decide the price."

Michael nodded slowly.

"That's correct."

Hanna smiled.

"See? I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were."

"You look like you think everyone around you is stupid."

Michael almost laughed.

"Not everyone."

"Most people?"

"Some."

"You're unbelievable."

---

6:00 P.M.

Biglang umulan.

Malakas ang ulan.

Mabilis na tinakpan ni Hanna ang mga gulay.

"Please, don't ruin my vegetables."

She struggled with the large plastic cover.

Suddenly, someone helped her.

Michael.

"Hold this."

Hanna looked at him.

"You're still here?"

"I was leaving."

"Then why are you helping me?"

Michael didn't answer.

He simply held the plastic while Hanna secured the vegetables.

Pagkatapos, pareho silang nabasa ng ulan.

Hanna laughed.

"You look funny."

Michael looked at her wet hair.

"So do you."

"At least I'm smiling."

"You're always smiling."

"Is that a problem?"

"No."

Michael realized what he had said.

Hanna looked at him.

"Then what's your problem with me?"

Michael was silent.

"I don't have a problem with you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then why do we always argue?"

Michael thought for a moment.

"Because you talk too much."

Hanna laughed.

"And you're too serious."

For the first time, Michael smiled genuinely.

Hanna stopped laughing.

She stared at him.

"Did you just smile?"

His smile disappeared.

"No."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"I saw it!"

"You imagined it."

Hanna laughed again.

"You're really weird."

Michael shook his head.

But secretly...

he was enjoying the sound of her laughter.

---

THAT NIGHT

Michael sat inside his car.

Daniel was driving.

"Sir, you're unusually quiet."

"I'm tired."

Daniel nodded.

After a few seconds, Michael suddenly asked,

"Daniel."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you know anything about Hanna Mendoza?"

Daniel looked at him through the mirror.

"The vegetable seller?"

Michael frowned.

"Don't call her that."

Daniel smiled.

"Yes, sir."

Michael looked out the window.

"Find out if she has any problems with her business."

Daniel became serious.

"Why?"

Michael answered without looking at him.

"I just want to know."

Daniel nodded.

"Understood."

Michael leaned back.

He didn't know why he was doing it.

He only knew one thing.

Every time he saw Hanna struggling...

he wanted to help.

And that was something Michael Grey wasn't used to feeling.

TO BE CONTINUED...