I ACCIDENTALLY BECAME THE CEO'S OBSESSION

"Welcome home, boss. Manila is waiting for you with all its chaos." I stepped out of the private jet and the thick humid air immediately wrapped around me like an old friend I had not seen in twenty years. Black button-down shirt already sticking to my back, I stood there on the tarmac and let out a low chuckle. "Sige, tangina. Balik na naman ako sa'yo, Manila. Pakitaan mo nga ako kung ano na ang bago mo." I waved off the company driver who was already waiting with the black SUV. "Cancel mo lahat ng welcome meetings ngayon. Ayaw ko munang maging CEO. Gusto ko muna ng fresh air bago bukas ang gera." The assistant looked shocked but just nodded and walked away. I grabbed my small duffel bag myself and headed straight to the arrival area like any ordinary guy. Hindi muna ako magpapakita kay lola. Ealaunang family affairs and business. Me time muna. I flagged down a regular taxi instead of using the fancy company ride. The driver, a chubby man in his fifties with a small wooden cross hanging on the mirror, grinned at me. "Saan tayo, kuya?" "Anywhere muna. Drive around. Gusto ko lang makita ulit ang lungsod bago ako maging boss bukas," I answered, sliding into the backseat. The taxi smelled like old cigarette mixed with cheap sampaguita air freshener, but it felt strangely right. As we crawled through the heavy EDSA traffic, I stared out the window. Everything looked louder, brighter, and more crowded than I remembered. Billboards everywhere, jeepneys honking nonstop, street vendors shouting "Taho! Mainit na taho!" I felt this weird mix of excitement and pressure in my chest. New York had trained me to be cold, strategic, and always in control. But here, even the air felt like it was testing me already. "Kuya pakitabi saglit sa may taho." "Tagal mo na ba sa abroad, pare?" the driver asked while changing lanes like a pro after ako makabili ng isang basong taho, nilibre ko na din si manong driver. "Twenty years na. Ngayon lang ulit ako nakabalik," I replied, my voice steady but my eyes taking in every detail. "Grabe no? Dati tahimik lang tayo. Ngayon puro traffic, puro ingay, pero masaya pa rin. Ikaw ba, ano'ng balak mo dito? Trabaho?" I smirked a little. "Oo, trabaho. May trabaho sko sa Del Rio Corporation. Apo ako. CEO na ako starting bukas." The driver whistled. "Wow, boss ka pala! Del Rio? Yung malaking kumpanya? Grabe, swerte mo naman. Pero ingat ka ha. Maraming inggit sa taas." "Oo nga. Kaya nga ako nandito. Para ayusin ang gulo sa loob," I said quietly. I did not tell him about the rumors of board members trying to sabotage the family business. That was for me to handle tomorrow. After almost two hours of stop and go traffic, the driver dropped me near Luneta Park. I paid extra and stepped out. The afternoon sun was still hot but the park was full of life. Kids chasing bubbles, old lolo playing chess, and street performers doing tricks. I walked slowly, hands inside my pockets, feeling the grass under my shoes. This was what I missed. Not the clean sidewalks of New York, but this messy, loud, breathing energy. I bought kwek-kwek from a vendor and ate while sitting on a bench. A group of college girls nearby kept glancing at me and whispering. One of them was brave enough to say it loud. "Uy, ang gwapo naman niyan. Bagong dating siguro from abroad." I turned my head and gave them a small smirk, the kind that usually closed million-dollar deals back in New York. "Fresh from the plane nga. Miss ko na ang ganitong eksena dito sa atin." The girls laughed and one even waved. "Ingat ka dito, kuya! Maraming maganda sa Manila!" I chuckled for real this time. The small interaction felt good. In New York everyone was too busy or too fake. Here, people just said what they thought. I finished my snack and continued walking towards the bay area. The smell of the sea mixed with grilled squid and dust made my stomach rumble again. Huminto ako sa may maliit na karinderya and ordered sisig with extra rice. While eating, I thought about tomorrow. First official day as CEO. Meetings, reports, people watching my every move. My father had warned me there were problems in the finance department and some board members were not happy with the sudden leadership change. Hindi na bago sa akin ang corporate challenges. I was ready. I was trained for this. But tonight, I just wanted to feel like a normal guy again. After eating, I walked towards Intramuros. The old stone walls and cobblestone streets brought back vague childhood memories. A street musician was playing an old song on his guitar. I stopped and listened. When the song ended, I dropped money in the case. "Salamat, kuya. Ganda ng kanta. Parang bumalik ako sa dati," I said. The musician smiled. "Para sa'yo yan. Welcome back sa Pinas!" I kept walking until the sky turned orange then purple. My phone kept vibrating with messages from the company and my mother, but I ignored most of them. Only replied to my mom with "Kumain na ako, Ma. Magpahinga muna ako ngayon." I found a quieter spot near the walls and leaned against the old stone. The distant sound of traffic and laughter from families made me feel alive in a way I had not felt for years. For the first time, the tight control I always kept on myself loosened just a bit. Manila was pulling me back, making me remember I was still Filipino underneath all the New York polish. Pero bigla na lang I heard a small commotion. May isang grupo ng mga cute na bata that were playing and one of them accidentally bumped into a woman carrying a big portfolio bag. Papers and sketches flew everywhere because of the wind. "Ay jusko naman! Wag niyo namang kalat-kalatin ang mga drawings ko!" the woman said, half laughing, half annoyed as she quickly crouched down to pick them up. I moved without thinking and pinulot ko ang isa sa mga sketch that landed near my foot. It was a bold fashion design with modern lines but clear Filipino touches. I stared at it longer than I should. It was actually good. Really good. "Salamat ha," sabi ng babae nang hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin, still gathering her things. "Nice work 'to. Parang may buhay ang bawat linya," sabi ko in a low voice, still holding the paper. She finally looked up. Her eyes were sharp, full of fire, and for a second the noisy night around us seemed to pause. Mayroon siyang long dark hair and a face that looked both tired and fierce at the same time.