"Be careful with her."
Angela's voice was sharp as stilettos, echoing inside the sleek glass-walled conference room. Ian sat across from her, brow furrowed. The blinds were half-drawn, but from where Aila stood outside, hiding behind a potted snake plant, she could hear every venomous word.
"She's too friendly. Too interested. People like that always have an angle."
Aila's throat tightened. Her hand clenched around the Styrofoam cup of coffee meant for Ian — with a little heart she'd drawn on the lid that now felt ridiculous.
"She's not your type, Ian. Too loud. Too showy," Angela continued, lips curled into a smirk. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Ian didn't say much, but his jaw ticked — a tell she was starting to learn.
"Noted," he muttered.
And just like that, Aila turned away, heart sinking.
Later that afternoon, she sat at her desk, pretending to be buried in work, but her eyes were distant.
Maila plopped into the empty chair beside her. "Update? Operation: Softboi progress?"
Aila forced a chuckle. "Wala. Actually, fail na ata tayo, girl."
"Hala, bakit?" Audrey leaned in, overhearing.
Aila glanced around, then whispered, "Angela. She said something to Ian. Siniraan ako."
"Oo, mukha naman siyang may trust issues. With men, women, mirrors, at Diyos," Maila deadpanned.
Kim popped in from behind the divider. "Sabunutan ko na ba? I've been waiting."
Aila smiled weakly. "Hindi 'to 'yung simpleng sabunutan, bes. Medyo... tama siya."
"Ha?" sabay-sabay silang tatlo.
"I mean..." she sighed. "I was scheming. Nilalandi ko siya for a bet. Parang... I'm exactly the kind of girl he hates."
Maila frowned. "Pero hindi ka fake. You're Aila, for God's sake. You're just... extra."
Audrey added, "And he needs extra. 'Cause clearly, kulang siya sa saya sa buhay."
Kim nudged her. "Do you like him?"
Aila paused. Then whispered, "I don't know. But when he smiles — those rare, tiny smiles — parang gusto kong genuine."
The next day, Aila tried to keep her distance. No coffee deliveries. No hallway flirts. Just silence.
Ian noticed.
He passed by her desk and paused. "No morning caffeine sabotage today?"
She looked up, startled. "Figured you'd prefer the peace."
He stared for a moment. "Was I that obvious?"
"Not really. But Angela warned you, didn't she?"
His eyes flickered.
Aila stood, voice soft. "I heard you. That I'm too friendly. That people like me have... angles."
"I didn't say that," Ian replied quickly.
"But you didn't deny it."
He looked down. Then back at her. "I'm not used to people trying to get close. It feels suspicious."
"Well," Aila said, forcing a laugh, "you're safe now. Suspicion-free zone. I'll stop bothering you."
As she turned, Ian said, "That's not what I want."
She froze.
"What?" she asked without facing him.
"I'm not saying I believe in... whatever this is. But if you walk away now, it'll feel like she wins. And I hate losing."
Aila looked at him, heart pounding.
"Fine," she said with a smirk. "Then I'll keep annoying you. Professionally."
His lips quirked. "Professionally."
Just when Aila thought her heart couldn't get any more confused, Raymond Sonajo waltzed into the office like a walking cologne ad.
"AILA!" he declared, holding a giant bouquet of pink roses. "Surprise!"
Every head turned. Ian, from the break room, slowly raised his eyes from his coffee.
"Oh. My. God." Kim muttered, ducking behind a file cabinet.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Aila hissed at Audrey, who just gave a you tell me shrug.
Raymond reached her desk, grinning. "I was in the area. Thought I'd bring flowers to the most beautiful girl I know."
"Raymond, we talked about this—"
"Talked, yes. But actions speak louder. And you deserve someone who shows up."
Aila glanced around. Angela was watching smugly from her glass cage. Ian was watching too — blank-faced, as usual, but with the subtle tension in his posture that she was learning to read.
"Thanks," she said awkwardly, accepting the flowers but putting them on a side table.
Raymond leaned in. "Dinner tonight?"
"Can't. Busy."
"Work?"
"Life."
He frowned. "You're not still crushing on that icicle guy, are you?"
Aila's smile faded. "Don't call him that."
Raymond blinked. "Wow. Okay. Noted."
Later, as Ian passed her on the way to the elevators, he murmured without looking, "Nice flowers."
She blushed. "Not from me."
He nodded once. "Didn't say they were."
And just before the elevator doors closed, he added, "You're not fake, Aila."
She blinked. "How do you know?"
"Because you don't need to try this hard... and yet, you do."
Then he was gone.
End of Chapter 5.
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