Fifth Goodbye

Chapter 1: The Man Behind The Storm

The air was stiff with anticipation. Even the old air conditioning unit seemed to hum nervously, blowing recycled air around the cramped office floor of Valmores & Co. The once-small firm had recently been bought by a mysterious, elite tech conglomerate—Vega Group—whose CEO was known more for his reputation in boardrooms than appearances in public. Kilalang matinik diumano. Kaya niyang gawin kahit ano man ang gustuhin.

Evelyn tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stared at her monitor, pretending to concentrate, but the memo sent the night before still echoed in her mind:

“The new CEO will be visiting tomorrow. Attendance is mandatory.”

Venancio Jemino Vega.

There was something almost fictional about the name. Like the brooding protagonist from a tragic novel. Rumors painted him as a man both brilliant and brutal, young yet jaded, charming but emotionally hollow. A walking paradox. A walking corpse like.

One look. You'll shiver.

“Evelyn,” a voice whispered from the desk beside her. Si Margo, isa sa mga kakclose niya na officemate and self-declared gossip queen. “I heard he’s drop-dead gorgeous. As in, brooding-billionaire-in-a-movie kind of gorgeous.”

Evelyn gave a soft, amused smile. “And I heard he’s also cold as a morgue. So if you’re expecting Prince Charming, don’t hold your breath.” Nakangiwi niya pang turan.

“ Ah basta…Cold can be sexy,” Margo quipped, wiggling her eyebrows. Tinaasan niya lang ito ng kilay.

Evelyn shook her head. “You need help.”

The entire office fell silent when the elevator dinged. High heels clicked against the marble floor outside. Then the door opened.

He didn’t enter like a storm—he was the storm.

Cynio stepped into the room, tall and commanding. He wore a black tailored suit that somehow made him appear both intimidating and devastatingly refined. His features were sculpted, eyes dark and unreadable expression. There was a subtle tension in his jaw, like he clenched it out of habit. Not anger. Not frustration. Just... emptiness.

Everyone looks at the person who just entered the hall. They scrutinize the person whose demeanor is like an iceberg but devastatingly handsome.

Evelyn was shocked to the core as she stared at the person in front of them.

Damnit! Was he— Oh lord! She silently prayed na sana hindi siya nito mamukhaan. Tudo yuko mula sa kanyang desk para matakpan ang mukha niya.

From afar, Evelyn noticed something else. The way he scanned the room, not looking at anyone, but rather through them—like his body was present, but his soul was somewhere else. Somewhere distant. Haunted.

Asshole! Ang sarap sapakin. f**k! Kong hindi ko lang kailan ng pera ngayon baka autho resign nako.

“Good morning,” he said finally, his voice deep, low, but smooth like old velvet. “I’ll make this quick.”

Cynio spoke with the efficiency of someone who didn’t like wasting time—yet something in the way he carried his words made her listen harder. He explained the merger, his expectations, the changes that were to come.

“Some of you will be evaluated,” he said bluntly. “Some of you will move up. Others will move out. I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to make this company matter.” Even she's hiding nakuha niya pang tumitig dito.

A few employees shifted uncomfortably. Margo exhaled a slow “Damn.”

But Evelyn? She didn’t flinch. Her eyes were fixed on him—not in admiration or fear, but curiosity. There was pain behind his sharpness. She could see it. A man building walls because he had buried something too fragile to face.

When the meeting ended, most of the staff scattered like windblown leaves. Just as about the meeting being adjourned. Evelyn lost her balance. At malakas na lumikhang ingay ang kanyang pagkahulog.

Everyone turns the attention who's now grunting in pain. And hurriedly organizing the mess she just did and sit again.

She looked up.

Shocked.

Cynio stood in front of her desk.

“Yes, sir?.” she nervously asked.

His eyes met hers. He didn't respond.

Evelyn tilted her head slightly, her gaze unflinching. “I find that quiet doesn’t always mean peace.” she murmured. Enough to hear from him.

Omo… no no no. Teka nasabi ko ba talaga ‘yon. I'm doomed!

That made him blink. Just once. Like a single, unseen drop hitting a still pond.

Margo practically leapt onto Evelyn’s desk as soon as he left. “WHAT. WAS. THAT?”

“I don’t know,” Evelyn murmured, fingers slightly trembling against her notes. “But I think I just met someone who forgot how to breathe.” by that time she let go of her breath.

“Damn! Muntik na.” Napasandal nalang siya at napahingang malalim.

“Huh!” Margo said in confusion.

“Di bale hihi pogi pa din naman ni sir. Bawing bawi naman kahit huhu ang sungit sungit.” While looking at her.

“Teka ng—” She cut her off at tinakpan niya ang bibig nito gamit ang kaliwang kamay.

She then let go of her.

“Huwag kang maingay, na andyan pa.”

“Anak ka ng mama mo. Want mo ba mawalan ng bigas.” Turan nito.

“OA!” Margo half shouted habang nakangisi.

"Gaga... Anong OA ka riyan!"

"Hihi..Ah basta ang pogi ni sir. Kita mo ang mga jusko po nagnining mga mata sa gadur bii.! " Kilig na kilig biting turan. Evelyn sigh and just rolled her eyes

Kong alam mo lang..

"O siya siya magtrabaho na tayo baka ano pa abutin natin dito." She then organize the desk before starting to work Margo on the other hand just got back to her desk.

How could I work for him. s**t talaga! Even if it is way past weeks happened. Geez. Hindi pede ngayon. Not now.

Evelyn doesn't really have no idea. Mula sa pagkapahiya niya. Ay aba hindi naman ata tama 'yon. She bitterly smile at the desk and the file infront of her.

"Aisht! Bahala na nga!" Said to herself.

Mukhang maging mahirap nga ang lahat. She didn't expect this to happened aba malay niya ba. At saka that's was accidentally happened. It just happened that they hook that night.

Nothing or whatever it says.