Ex-lusive Nights (SPG)

Kabanata 1

Panandaliang nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata pero hindi nagtagal, nagbawi rin si Thisa. Hindi siya makatagal sa tingin nitong mabigat, malamig at walang emosyon. There was no smile on his face, only that faint smirk that always made her lose her balance before. The same smirk she once kissed off his lips.

Gusto man niyang singhalan ang lalaki, hindi pwede. Walang personalan. Trabaho lang. She's just here for purpose. Hindi niya kailangan ibaba ang sarili dahil lang sa nakaraan. Professional na siya ngayon. No mixing of past issue.

"Shall we start? Magkakilala naman tayo. No need for formal introduction," malamig niyang sabi, deri-diretso.

He stared at her for a while and gestured to the seat across from him. “Yeah, kilalang-kilala. Have a seat Mrs—I mean, Miss Navarro.” A small smile crept on his lips.

Gusto niyang bangasan ang lalaki dahil pakiramdam niya nananadya ito pero pinalampas niya. As much as possible she wanted to avoid conflict especially with this man. Alam niya kung gaano ito kapilyo dati, ngayon, ginagawa niya ulit. Nakakainis lang, bwisit!

If he wants to irritate her, she won't give him that. Manigas siya!

The boardroom was too quiet. Every sound, the clink of her bracelet, the rustle of paper, echoed. Rozen leaned back in his chair, watching her every move. She could feel his gaze tracing the outline of her face, her neckline, the curve of her wrist, her body that once he had tasted, claimed and devoured. Hindi siya bastos tignan, pero ramdam niya na parang inaalala nito lahat—ang nakaraan nilang gusto na niyang ibaon sa limot.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago umupo at sinalubong ang mga titig nito.

“So,” he started, breaking the silence. “You’ve built quite a name for yourself.”

“Trying,” she replied lightly. Hindi siya nagpatinag sa titig nito lalo na nang paglaruan nito ang kanyang ibabang labi. He's really playful. “TH Studio’s still growing," she added.

“Not just growing,” he said. “Dominating. Your designs are everywhere.”

Her eyes flickered in shock, startled at the sincerity in his tone. Hindi niya inasahan ang sinabi nito lalo na't parang kino-compliment siya rin nito. “You keep tabs on me?”

“Of course.” His lips curved slightly. “I like to know what my former wife is up to.”

Nabingi siya sa huling salita. Former wife. Ang casual nito sabihin, pero para sa kanya, parang binuksan ang sugat na matagal na niyang kinalimutan.

“Let’s keep this professional, shall we?” she said, trying to sound unaffected. “I’m here for the collaboration, not for the past.”

Rozen chuckled, low and deep. “Still fiery, I see.”

“Still arrogant,” she countered, looking straight at him this time.

Their eyes locked, steady, dangerous, unflinching. Neither of them wanted to be the first to look away. Ayaw ni Thisa na maunang magbawi ng tingin. Nakipagsukatan siya dito.

Rozen finally spoke, voice softer this time. “You’ve changed.”

“And you haven’t,” she shot back. “Still childish. Pwede bang simulan na natin 'to? May mga meeting pa ako at presentation. If you keep talking to me unprofessionally, I suggest to set another meeting. Wala akong panahon para ungkatin ang nakaraan. I've moved on, Rozen."

Katahimikan ang namayani. Pakiramdam ni Thisa, naubos ang hininga niya sa mga binitawan niyang salita pero mas nakakabingi ang katahimikan ngayon.

“I see,” he murmured. "I'm sorry."

Her breath hitched. It was a simple line, but the weight of it pressed against the space between them. Ang tagal niyang gustong marinig ang salitang 'yon, na marinig itong magsorry pero ngayon, wala nang halaga sa kanya. Iniwan na niya 'yon sa nakaraan. She gripped the pen in her hand a little too tightly. “I’d appreciate it if we stay on topic.”

“Fine,” he said, leaning forward, elbows resting on the table. “This partnership, RV Group wants your vision. You’ll lead the design line, and I’ll handle production. Full creative control on your end.”

“That’s generous,” she said cautiously. “But why me? For sure ang daming nagpasa sa inyo ng portfolio at magagaling din. You're not taking this personally, right?" matapang niyang tanong, hindi inaalis ang malalim na titig, halos mapataas ang kilay.

Hindi mapigilang matawa ni Rozen. "Do you want a personal answer or a professional one?"

She gasped and shook her head. Wala siyang makukuhang matinong sagot sa lalaking 'to. "Alam mo, huwag mo na lang sagutin—"

“Because no one designs like you. Mahalaga sa akin ang uniqueness ng isang design,” he said simply. “Bukod doon, gusto ko rin makita kung sino ang nasa likod ng mga design. Gusto kitang makita, Thisa."

Her chest tightened. There it is. The reason she didn’t want to come here. He still had that way of mixing personal with temptation, of turning every word into a confession.

Nilakasan niya ang loob, nanliliit ang mga mata sa inis. "Are you hitting on me again, Mr. Villaluz? Because if so, I'm not interested."

"That's personal, Miss Navarro," he teased. "Pero kung gusto mong marinig ang sagot ko—"

“Oh, please don't. Ayokong marinig. Wala akong pakialam,” she warned softly. “Don’t start. Nandito tayo pareho dahil sa collab."

“I’m not starting anything,” he said, eyes steady. “Just acknowledging what’s still there. And besides, hindi lang dahil sa collab. Like I said, I'm here to see you, personally.”

“Nothing’s there,” she lied.

“Really?” He stood, slowly walking around the table until he stopped beside her chair. Nanuot sa ilong niya ang bango nito. It was clean, masculine, with a hint of something that used to linger on her skin, filled her lungs. “Then why can’t you look away?”

Natigilan siya, halos makalimutan nang huminga. Every nerve in her body screamed to move, but she stayed still, staring straight ahead. Hindi siya magpapatinag sa lalaking 'to kahit nararamdaman niya ang panlalamig ng batok at pamamawis ng palad. “Because this is business,” she whispered.

He leaned down slightly, his voice barely above a murmur. “Business never made your pulse race like that.”

Napamurà siya sa isip. Her breathing faltered. He was too close now, and the air between them felt charged, humming with everything they tried to suppress.

“Sit down, Rozen,” she said quietly. “Before I forget this meeting has a purpose.” Matapang niyang dagdag. "Wala naman siguro mawawala sa akin kung i-turn down ko ang collab 'di ba?"

He exhaled through his nose, amused, then stepped back. “Fine. I’ll behave.”

Finally, bumalik din ito sa kinauupuan niya, signing the first few pages of the contract with practiced ease. “We’ll meet again next week for finalization. My team will coordinate with yours.”

Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. “Good,” she said, collecting her notes quickly, desperate to leave. Kung magtatagal pa siya, baka masuntôk na niya ito sa sobrang inis. Kanina pa siya nagpipigil.

But as she reached the door, he spoke again, his tone calm, but the words hit hard.

“Thisa,” tawag nito.

She turned. “What?” may bahid na inis na tugon niya.

“You look even better than I remember.”

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She hated how easily those words could still melt her defenses.

Bwisit na lalaki! Nagawa pang humabol ng sasabihin!

“Goodbye, Mr. Villaluz,” matigas niyang sabi at lumabas, letting the door close between them.

Sa elevator, nagpakawala siya ng malakas na buntong-hininga habang nanginginig ang mga kamay. The city outside looked the same, but everything inside her had shifted.

She wanted to believe she was over him.

But one look, one voice, one memory, was all it took to prove she never really was. Iyong akala niyang nakalimot na siya, naka-move on na, hindi pa pala talaga at 'yon ang kinaiinis niya ngayon.

And somewhere in the silence of that office, Rozen leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile on his lips.

“This time,” he murmured to himself, “I’m not letting her walk away from my life, not again."