His Six Months Rule

YAEL 3

That night was loud, glittering, and expensive the kind of party only Yael Vergara’s inner circle could throw.

The rooftop of Aurora Sky Lounge was bathed in golden lights, overlooking the cityscape like a jewel in the dark. Everything's shouted elegance and of course luxury. Parang napakalayo ng features ng lugar sa likod na bahagi lamang niyon na pawang mga squatters area ng kamaynilaan ang makikita. Sa harap ay punong-puno ng karangyaan habang sa likod naman ay ang kabaliktaran niyon.

It wasn’t just any night , it was Zandro's 30th birthday. At syempre halos kumpleto ang barkada. Ilan lang sa kanila ang wala doon yung mga sa ibang bansa lang nakabase ngayon at ang iba naman ay may mga prior schedules ng appointment na naging dahilan para hindi makaka attend sa birthday celebration ng kaibigan.

Yael walked in like a storm in a perfectly tailored suit sharp, black, and commanding. As usual, heads turned the moment he stepped into the room. Syempre hindi nawawala yung mga babae, at alam na alam niya sa sarili niya na maraming mga babae ang nahuhumaling sa kanya kaya ganun na lang kataas ang confidence level niya. Men nodded in quiet respect or envy.

He owned the space without even trying. Well hindi lang naman siya ang ganun, even his friends also has the same effects to women. Hindi lang sila mapepera, they are also good looking billionaires.

They are bunch of businessmen architects, doctors, engineers, pilot, lawyers, politicians etc.

“Bro! Finally!” Zandro came forward, tipsy and grinning wide. “Akala ko hindi ka na darating.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Yael replied smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. May nakita na naman siya na kanyang bagong target for the following months. Although there's still two days before the sixth month ay di na siya nakipagkita pa kay Tessa, she had her shopping spree yesterday via his assistant. And that shopping spree means the ending of their afair.

Behind Zandro was the usual crowd models, socialites, heirs, and heiresses. Faces Yael knew too well. They moved toward him like magnets, like they always did. He always love their attention.

“Hi, Yael.”

“Yael, you look so good tonight.”

“Can I get you a drink?”

He gave them a polite smile, but his eyes were elsewhere scanning, bored, detached. Another night. Another party. Another carousel of women who thought they could make him stay. Zandro tapped him on the shoulder.

“Bro, chill muna tayo tonight. I invited someone you guys should meet. She’s not your type though.” sabi nito na bumaling sa kanya.

Yael raised a brow.

“Not my type?”

“Basta.” Zandro smirked mysteriously.

The music shifted to something softer, and the crowd turned their attention toward the entrance.

And that’s when she walked in.

She wore a simple champagne-colored satin dress that fell just above her knees elegant, understated, effortless. No screaming designer logos, no loud jewelry. Her long black hair was in soft waves, framing her face like a quiet storm. She didn’t need to try. She just was. And just like that, the entire room stilled for a heartbeat.

Even Yael.

His hand tightened subtly around the glass he was holding. Damn. He had seen beauty before hundreds of faces, thousands of smiles. But this was different. She didn’t sparkle like the others. She burned softly… like a flame that didn’t need attention to be dangerous.

"Who is she?" Tanong

“Jam!” Zandro waved at her enthusiastically.

“Finally, you’re here!”

Jam smiled faintly polite, composed and approached their group. Yael watched her every step, the way she moved with quiet confidence, not like someone trying to impress but like someone who belonged.

“This is Jam,” Zach introduced. “Jam, Yael Vergara.”

The moment their eyes met, Yael felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time a sudden, sharp awareness in his chest.

But what stunned him even more was… her reaction.

Nothing.

No fangirl smile.

No shy fluttering lashes.

No subtle “I can’t believe I’m meeting Yael Vergara.”

Jam just nodded. “Hi.”

Her tone was calm. Cool. Almost detached.

Yael blinked once. Twice. For the first time ngayon lang siya naka encounter ng babae o dalaga na parang wala man lang epekto yung charm niya. Di naman siguro ito tomboy, there's no way in hell na magiging tomboy ang ganito kagandang babae. Her face and body is so sexy, yung kahit yata basahan ay babagay dito.

“Hi,” he replied smoothly, masking the flicker of surprise behind a charming grin. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

She tilted her head slightly, lips curving in a polite, almost knowing smile.

“Oh, we have. You probably don’t remember.”

That stung and intrigued him more than he cared to admit.

“Really?” he asked, leaning slightly closer. “Where?”

Jam’s eyes glinted with quiet amusement. “A few months ago I'm Lyka's friend.” maingat na sagot nito, para bang aral na aral ang bawat salitang namumutawi sa mga labi ng babae. Di niya tuloy maintindihan kung may lihim na galit sa kanya ang babae na parang wala man lang siyang nakitang hint ng admiration sa mga mata nito, parang more on pang uuyam.

The memory slammed into him like a delayed punch.

He remember the beautiful face who's with Lyka during his best friend Lyndon's birthday, that was six months ago. Parang nagpapa cute naman ang babae that time and he swear kung di lang niya iniisip na bata pa ang babae ay baka naging biktima na din niya ito noon.

“Right,” he murmured, realization dawning.

She chuckled softly, without warmth.

“Yeah, not that memorable enough to stay in your memory. Anyway it's a pleasure to meet you Kuya Yael and thank you for saving me the last time." Sabi pa nito na para siyang tinadyakan sa sikmura nung tawagin siya nitong kuya, nasaling nito ang kanyang napakatayog na ego. Yael’s smirk faltered.

“You’re welcome?”

“Thanks,” Jam replied simply, taking a glass of champagne from a waiter like she owned the place. “But I don’t owe you anything.”

Zach laughed nervously.

“Okayyy… now this is interesting.”

Yael stared at her, utterly thrown off-balance. Usually, women would melt the moment he gave them that look. They’d stammer, blush, fidget. But Jam? She didn’t even flinch.

She turned away, away from him and began chatting casually with someone else. Like he was just… air. Kung gaano ito ka nonchalant sa harap niya kanina habang kausap siya ay ganun naman ito ka lively habang kausap si Vince at ang iba pa niyang kaibigan.

He didn’t even get the chance to offer a drink. Or a line. Or that effortless charm he’d perfected for years.

Walang effect. Zero. Nada.

And for a man like Yael Vergara, that was new.

“Damn, bro. Hindi man lang siya kinilig. I think I just witnessed history.” Zandro whispered beside him. “

He didn’t reply. He couldn’t. His ego was confused. Bruised. Intrigued.

He watched her as she laughed lightly at something another guest said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear that small, unconscious gesture that made the world slow down for a second.

"Jamela Sy? That's her name right?" Tanong niya sa kaibigan niya na halatang katulad niya ay na amazed sa babae na tila di man lang tinablan ng kahit katiting ng kanyang charm.

"Yeah, she is Jamela Sy, siya ang tumulong kay Agatha to save the drowning company. And if you're planning to get a revenge for this ego shaking event you encounter with her please spare her Kuya!" Tumatawang pang aasar pa ni Zandro sa kanya.

"Damn you!"

"Bata pa yan bro, I think she's just a year or two years older than Lyka. Right now she is still in college. She is a genius dahil ang laki ng naging ambag niya sa naging pagbangon ng kompanya ni Agatha at ng pamilya niya." Sabi pa ng lalaki.

Of course he know Agatha, lalo at muntik na din itong maging member ng mga babaeng nalink sa kanya. Naging maagap lang ang nobyo nito kaya di na umabot sa kanya.

"I don't gave a damn kahit gaano pa yan ka bata." Nagpupuyos na sagot nya sa lalaki.

"Wow seriously? Aherm baka may boyfriend kaya alam mo na, iwas tukso ba. " Sabi ng kaibigan, pero parang di yata niya kayang isipin na pag aari na ng iba ang babae. Di pwede yun, he want to get even with that snob brat.

"Then mas lalong dapat na makuha ko siya, I need to teach her the lesson that she didn't imagine exist." Sabi niya habang tiim ang bagang.

Tatawa tawa lang ang kaibigan niya ng mga sandaling iyon. Jamela Sy. The woman he saved once. The woman who clearly wasn’t impressed by him. And for some reason, that made her ten times more magnetic.

His heartbeat thudded louder than the bass of the music. Something in his gut whispered: this one’s different.

Yael’s gaze locked on her across the room, and for the first time in a long time… he found himself the one watching, waiting.

“Bakit parang… hindi ka interesado man lang sa akin?” tila nagugulohan na tanong niya na nakatingin sa bawat kilos ng babae.

Sa kakatitig niya sa babae ay nanumbalik sa kanya ang sinasabi nito na gabing iniligtas niya ito. Naalala niyang may naging kasundoan silang dalawa na one month in bed kaya naman ay isang plano ang kanyang niluluto niya sa kanyang nagrerebeldeng utak.

Ang usapan ay usapan, naalala niyang muntik na pala itong maging biktima ng mga dating tao ng Tito niya. Marahil kung wala siya doon ng mga sandaling iyon ay malamang na nagahasa na ito ng mga tauhan ng tito anton niya.