chapter 13:Kahihiyan.

WARNING: This story contains Boys’ Love (BL) themes and is intended for mature audiences. The content and characters in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This narrative includes mature subject matter, such as romantic relationships between men, and may explore sensitive topics. Reader discretion is advised.

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Skyler’s POV

Kape ang sagot sa lahat. I mean, hindi literal kasi baka ma-acid reflux ako, pero this morning, coffee lang talaga ang pampalakas ng loob ko. Dahil sa pinagkaloob na “trust” ni Mr. Ice King—ay, sorry, Mr. Ezekiel Cruz—kailangan kong mag-level up. Hindi pwede yung usual Skyler na clumsy at panic-stricken. Gusto kong maipakita na kaya ko kahit deep inside, nagpa-palpitate na ako sa kaba.

So, ayun na nga, nasa pantry ako, brewing my life-saving coffee. May kaunting drama pa akong dialogue sa sarili: “Skyler, kaya mo ‘to. Hindi ka magiging laughingstock ng opisina.” Pero teka, bakit biglang may footsteps na papalapit?

“Skyler,” that familiar chill-inducing voice called out. HALA.

Sumabog ang puso ko (metaphorically, of course). Si Ezekiel Cruz, naka-slacks, tucked-in shirt, at naka-blazer na parang kakatapos lang ng fashion show. Bakit ba ang sharp ng presence niya kahit nasa pantry lang kami? Parang hindi yata siya ordinaryong tao. Parang mafia sa suot niya .

“O-Oh, good morning, sir!” sagot ko, trying to sound normal kahit internally, I was like, “LORD, BAKIT KAMI LANG DALAWA DITO?”

Tiningnan niya ako saglit bago magsalita. “Skyler, tungkol sa project...”

Tungkol sa project? Eh tungkol din ba sa survival ko ‘to? I nodded quickly. “Yes, sir? Ano po ‘yun?”

“Make sure you coordinate with the other departments. We need this proposal polished by the end of the week.” His tone was calm but commanding, as always.

“Yes, sir! Ako na bahala!” sagot ko, kahit may kasamang internal monologue: “Skyler, wag ka lang madapa or matapon yung kape sa harap niya. Please.”

Nag-nod lang siya, pero bago siya lumabas, bigla siyang tumigil. Tiningnan niya yung coffee mug ko. “You take your coffee black?”

“Uh, yes, sir!” Medyo nag-panic pa ako. Parang may wrong answer ba sa tanong niya?

“Good choice,” he said before walking away like a character in a drama series.

Pucha. Paano ba huminga? Isipin mo na lang, Skyler, sinabi niya ‘Good choice.’ Compliment ba yun? Parang oo, pero hindi rin.

---

Pagbalik ko sa desk, wala pa akong five minutes na nakaupo nang biglang sumulpot si Zachary. Walang paalam, walang intro, basta lang nandiyan siya bigla. Ganyan siya. “Skyler! Ano? Kamusta ang bonding niyo ni Mr. Ice King?”

“Hoy, Zachary! Wala kaming bonding, okay? Work-related yun!” I snapped, pero siyempre hindi convincing dahil namula na naman ako.

He grinned like the devil himself. “Talaga lang ha? Bakit parang iba ang aura mo ngayon? Glow ba yan ng promotion o glow ng kilig?”

“Zachary, lumayas ka na nga!” I hissed, pero natawa din ako kasi hindi ko siya kayang seryosohin. “Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako makapag-focus, eh!”

“Aba, ako na naman? Grabe ka naman. Ako pa sinisi mo,” he said dramatically, pero may halong ngisi. “Pero seryoso, Skyler, chill ka lang. You’re overthinking things again.”

“Eh paano ba naman, Zachary? Ang bigat ng project na binigay sakin! Big-time clients, tapos si Mr. Ezekiel pa ang nag-monitor. Paano kung magkamali ako? Baka matanggal ako dito.”

“Relax,” he said, leaning on my desk. “You’re good, Skyler. And if you screw up... well, nandito naman ako para tumawa sa’yo.”

“Wow, supportive mo talaga,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

“Anytime,” he said with a wink.

Nag-buzz bigla ang phone ko. An email notification. Binasa ko at muntik nang mahulog ang kaluluwa ko. It was from Ezekiel. Title pa lang: URGENT MEETING AT 2 PM.

“Pucha, Zachary. Biglang may meeting na ako with him!”

“Eh di good luck,” he said, smirking. “And don’t spill coffee, Skyler. Remember, it’s all about first impressions... again.”

“Hindi helpful!” sigaw ko, pero tumatawa na rin ako.

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Pagdating ng 2 PM, andito na ako sa conference room, clutching my notes like my life depended on them. Pumasok si Ezekiel, as calm and collected as ever, and I swear, everyone in the room suddenly went quiet.

He sat down at the head of the table, glanced at me, and said, “Skyler, you’ll lead the presentation.”

ANO DAW?

Kaya ko ba ‘to? Well, wala nang choice. Huminga ako nang malalim at tumayo. “Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we’ll be discussing—”

And then—BAM! Nadapa ako. Parang slow motion. Nahulog yung notes ko, and I swear, the world stopped turning. Lahat sila, nakatingin lang sa’kin.

Pangtingin ko Hindi Pala nakasintas Yung isang shoes ko so agad ko ito inayos at at tumayo ako agad, parang wala lang nangyari. “And that’s the first step of my presenteEee—”

Putcha pumiyok pa!

Tahimik. Tapos biglang tumawa pero mild pero what?! si Ezekiel. Yes, Ezekiel. THE Ezekiel Cruz.

Natawa rin yung iba, pero ako, hindi makapaniwala tumawa siya in front of me? at hindi niya ako sinigawan?! Dahil sa piyok ko

“Continue, Skyler,” he said, and there was a slight hint of amusement in his voice.

After that, tuloy-tuloy na ang presentation ko. Sure, clumsy ako, pero at least, natapos ko nang walang major disaster.

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Pagkatapos ng meeting, Zachary was waiting outside the conference room. “Well?” he asked.

“Zachary, nakaligtas ako kaso nadapa ako at pumiyok pa haist.”

Tumawa siya

“Aba, congrats,” he said with that stupid grin. “At least hindi ka natanggal.”

“Hoy, bakit parang wala kang tiwala sakin?” I said, pero tumawa na rin ako.

Zachary laughed and slung an arm over my shoulders. “Skyler, you’re one of a kind. Kaya kahit si Mr. Ice King napatawa mo, eh.”

“Hay nako, Zachary. Magiging meme-worthy na naman ang buhay ko dahil sayo.”

“Always,” he replied with a wink.

Eto na nga. New day, new chaos. Ang tanong, hanggang kailan ko maiiwasang madulas, hindi lang physically kundi emotionally?