Kaisha's Pov
I gripped the paper bag in my hand, my heart pounding as I sat in the backseat of the car.
I was on my way to Rain’s condo.
She didn’t know.
Before leaving, I casually asked her where she was—just to make sure she wasn’t out or busy. She simply replied that she was at home, resting after her long day.
That was all I needed to hear.
Now, here I was, staring out the window, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Nervous—because what if she didn’t want to see me? What if she was still upset? What if she thought I was being too much?
Excited—because I was going to see her.
I missed her.
Even though it had only been a day, it felt longer because of how cold she had been. Rain wasn’t the type to hold grudges, but I knew her well enough to know that when she gets tampo, it takes a while before she fully warms up again.
I sighed, looking at the sushi in my lap—her favorite.
Please, Rain, let this work.
When the car finally stopped in front of her condo, I took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
---
Standing outside her door, I hesitated for a second before pressing the doorbell.
Ding dong.
The seconds felt like hours before I finally heard the sound of her footsteps approaching.
Then, the door swung open.
Rain stood there in an oversized hoodie and comfy shorts, her hair slightly damp—probably fresh from a shower.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open slightly in shock.
“Kaisha?”
I gave her a small, sheepish smile. “Hey, Rain. I miss you na. Can we talk?”
For a moment, she just stared at me. Then, she stepped aside and opened the door wider. “Sure, come in.”
I walked inside, feeling both relieved and extra nervous.
As I placed the sushi on the table, she crossed her arms and raised a brow.
“Helsey gave you my address, no?”
I scratched the back of my neck. “Yes. Sorry if I asked her. I just really wanted to talk to you.”
She sighed but didn’t seem mad.
I quickly lifted the sushi box and smiled at her. “I bought sushi. Let’s eat?”
She finally smiled—small but genuine. “It’s okay, Kaisha. Thanks.”
---
We sat on her couch, a small table in front of us as we unwrapped the sushi.
She picked up her chopsticks and took a piece, chewing slowly. I watched her, waiting for any sign that she was still upset.
“So,” she started, looking at me, “what do you want to talk about?”
I took a deep breath. “I just really wanted to say sorry again.”
She gave me a small nod, signaling for me to continue.
“I didn’t mean to forget our lakad. I just got… too focused on painting, then Evan gave me art materials and a book, and we started talking—then I lost track of time.”
Rain raised a brow at the mention of Evan but didn’t say anything.
I continued, my voice softer. “When I realized it, I felt so bad—especially when I saw your missed calls and messages. I should’ve told you I’d be late. I should’ve at least updated you.”
Rain put her chopsticks down and sighed.
“Kaisha,” she started, “I wasn’t really jealous of Evan.”
I blinked. “You weren’t?”
She gave me a pointed look. “Okay, maybe a little—but that wasn’t the main reason why I was upset.”
She leaned back on the couch, crossing her legs. “I was worried about you. You suddenly disappeared, didn’t answer my calls… and after what happened to Theo in the gym, I couldn’t help but think what if something happened to you, too?”
My heart clenched at her words.
“Then I find out you were just… busy—but you didn’t even think to message me.” She shook her head. “It just made me feel like I wasn’t important enough for you to remember.”
That hit me hard.
I quickly scooted closer, holding her free hand. “Rain… of course you’re important. You’re very important to me.”
She looked at me, her lips pressed into a small pout.
I pouted back, squeezing her hand. “Please don’t be tampo na. I’ll make it up to you.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile forming on her lips. “How?”
I grinned. “By treating you to sushi again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that—until you’re sick of sushi.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Ayoko nga. Baka malunod ako sa sushi.”
I pretended to think. “Then what about coffee? Or ice cream? Or…” I trailed off, leaning closer, “hugs?”
She raised a brow, trying to act unimpressed. “Hugs? That’s your offer?”
I nodded eagerly. “Unlimited hugs.”
She tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably. A giggle escaped her lips, and that was all I needed.
Success.
I didn’t waste time—I pulled her into a tight hug, burying my face in her shoulder.
“Rain, I really missed you,” I mumbled.
She chuckled but hugged me back. “I missed you too, Kaisha.”
Finally.
My Rain was back.
-----
We were both seated at her study area, the table filled with notes, books, and highlighters. Rain was focused on reviewing her business strategies, while I was doodling in my notebook in between reading my own materials.
Rain was running for summa cum laude, and honestly, I wasn’t even surprised. She and Yanny were both top students—both so passionate about business that even their casual conversations sometimes felt like board meetings.
Meanwhile, me? I was sure I’d graduate with an award, but summa? Nah. I enjoyed my course, I worked hard, but I wasn’t obsessed with rankings. Unlike Rain and Yanny, who practically breathed business, I had a more laid-back approach to academics.
I glanced at Rain, her brows slightly furrowed as she took notes, her lips moving a little as she whispered to herself. Grabe, parang may sariling mundo.
Then, out of nowhere, she spoke.
“I think Evan likes you.”
I blinked, my pen pausing mid-air. “Hah?”
Rain was still looking at her notes, flipping a page like she just casually dropped that bomb on me.
I smirked. “Is that bad?” I asked, tilting my head, ready to tease her.
She sighed dramatically, finally looking at me. “To be honest? It’s not bad for you.” Then, she placed a hand over her chest, acting as if she were in pain. “It’s bad for me because I have a chance to get heartbroken.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Rain, grabe ka naman. Para namang tayo.”
She pouted. “Malay mo, umaasa ako.”
I gasped playfully. “So umasa ka pala?”
Rain rolled her eyes, but the small smirk on her lips betrayed her. “Kaisha, all I’m saying is… I see the way Evan looks at you. That’s not just friendly.”
I waved her off. “You’re just overthinking, poganda. Evan is just friendly.”
She gave me a deadpan look. “Kaisha, I know what I saw.”
I clicked my tongue. “Selosa ka lang.”
She scoffed. “Selosa agad?”
I nodded, grinning. “Mmhmm. Selosa ka.”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, fine. Let’s say konting selos lang—pero mostly, I just know when someone likes you.”
I shrugged, pretending to think. “Hmm. Pero kahit may gusto si Evan sakin, ikaw pa rin naman gusto ko kasama, diba?”
Rain’s ears turned slightly pink, and she looked back at her notes quickly. “Tss. Dami mong sinasabi, mag-aral ka na nga.”
I giggled but decided to be nice and drop the teasing—for now. Instead, I smoothly switched the topic.
“So! Since you and Yanny are both running for summa, do you guys secretly compete? Or do you send each other ‘good luck’ messages na may kasamang pressure is real?”
Rain blinked, thrown off by the sudden change. “H-ha?”
I grinned. Mission accomplished.
-----
“Graduation is coming. What’s your plan after?” I asked, looking at Rain.
She didn’t look up from her notes, still highlighting something as she spoke. “Well, in my internship, the company said if I graduate with an award or honors, they’ll absorb me. They’ll train me. And it’s a good offer because they won’t place me in an entry-level position.” She paused for a second before continuing, her tone steady but filled with quiet confidence. “They see my potential. My mentor even recommended me to the higher-ups, and, yeah... the rest is history.”
I stared at her, completely in awe. Rain was always like this—focused, driven, and full of dreams. She didn’t just talk about success; she worked for it. She had this quiet but powerful determination, the kind that made people listen when she spoke, the kind that made companies want to keep her even before she graduated.
She wasn’t just ambitious—she knew her worth. And that was something I deeply admired about her.
I smiled, feeling warmth spread through my chest. “I am proud of you, Rain. So much proud. Very proud. Like, kung pwede lang ako magdala ng banner sa graduation natin, gagawin ko.”
She chuckled, finally looking up. “Dapat may fireworks rin ha.”
“Syempre! Tsaka confetti, tapos may marching band na tutugtog ng theme song mo.” I teased. “Pero seryoso, I’m really happy for you. You deserve it.”
Rain’s lips curled into a soft smile, and I could tell my words meant something to her, even if she wasn’t the type to get overly sentimental. “Thanks, Kaisha. That means a lot.”
I nodded. “Anyway, saan yung company?”
“They have a branch here in Manila—that’s where I did my internship. But the main office? Nasa hometown natin. It’s Millspire Corporation.”
My heart stopped.
Millspire Corporation?
Mom’s company?
I felt my breath hitch, my mind suddenly spiraling into a mess of thoughts. Of all the companies, why Millspire?
I swallowed, trying to keep my expression neutral, but my mind was running in every direction. Rain was about to work in Mom’s company. That meant… we’d be in the same place.
Would she find out?
Would this change how she saw me?
I wasn’t exactly a nobody in Millspire. I was the heiress, the daughter of the CEO. But I had never told Rain about that part of my life. Not because I was hiding it, but because… I just wanted to be Kaisha to her. Not Kaisha, the future owner of the company she wants to work in.
Would she feel awkward if she knew?
Would she think I had everything easy?
And then there was Mom.
What would she say when she found out about Rain? Would she judge her? Would she see her as someone trying to get close to me because of our company?
I clenched my hands under the table, trying to shake off my nervousness. Rain deserved this job—not because of me, not because of my family, but because she earned it.
But still… how would she feel when she found out?
Would this affect her?
Would this affect us?
“Kaisha?” Rain’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Bakit parang namutla ka?”
I blinked, forcing a small laugh. “H-ha? Wala, nagulat lang. I mean… ang galing lang.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Nagulat ka dun? Sa company name?”
I nodded quickly, hoping she wouldn’t see through me. “Oo. Kasi… ang laki ng company na ‘yan, tas ikaw, dun ka na mismo papasok? Galing mo talaga, Rain!” I said, forcing enthusiasm into my voice.
She smiled, looking a bit bashful. “Well, I really worked hard for it.”
I felt my throat go dry, my heart pounding in my chest as I forced myself to smile at Rain.
Millspire. Mom’s company.
The words kept repeating in my head, echoing like a warning siren I couldn’t ignore. What should I do? Should I tell her? Should I just act like I didn’t know anything?
I could already imagine how this could go—how a single truth could change everything.
If I told Rain now, would she feel betrayed that I never mentioned it before? Would she think I was just silently watching while she worked hard for something that was, technically, already within my reach? Would she feel like all her efforts were wasted because, in the end, the owner’s daughter could get in effortlessly?
But that’s not how it is. I never used my family’s name to get ahead. I worked hard in my own field, in my own way. Mom never handed me things on a silver platter—she raised me to fight for what I wanted, to earn my place.
And Rain… Rain was the same.
She didn’t need me to get into Millspire. She didn’t need connections. She got there on her own. And I was so, so proud of her for that.
But would she still feel proud of herself if she knew?
Would she feel small? Like she was just another employee in a company owned by someone she was…
I closed my eyes for a second, stopping my thoughts before they went further.
Would this affect us?
Would she start looking at me differently? Would she think I was just another privileged rich kid who had everything served to her?
Or worse… would she distance herself from me?
And then there was Mom.
The thought of her reaction made my stomach twist. She was strict, practical, and always saw things in terms of what was best for the company. She never interfered in my personal life directly, but I wasn’t naive. She always had a way of influencing things without saying much.
Would she disapprove of Rain?
Would she think Rain was only here because of me?
Would she think Rain had other motives?
I knew my mom well enough to know she wasn’t the type to say things outright. But she had ways of making people feel like they had to prove themselves, like they had to be more just to be worthy of standing beside me.
And Rain… she didn’t deserve that.
She worked so hard to get here, on her own merits. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel like she had to prove something because of me.
I felt my hands slightly trembling under the table, so I clenched them into fists, grounding myself.
What do I do?
Should I tell her now? Should I just get it over with and be honest?
Or should I wait?
Would waiting make it worse?
What if she found out from someone else? Would she feel betrayed?
“Kaisha?”
I snapped out of my thoughts, looking at Rain. She was watching me closely, eyes slightly narrowed in curiosity. “You’re zoning out. Ano yun?”
I forced a chuckle, shaking my head. “Wala, Rain. Na-overwhelm lang ako sa kwento mo. Ang galing mo kasi.”
I hated lying to her. But I wasn’t ready.
Not yet.
She smiled a little, but I could tell she was still observing me. “Masyado mong iniisip yan, ha.”
I took a deep breath, trying to focus. I had time to figure this out. I had to make sure I handled it right.
Rain deserved that.
I just hope, this wouldn’t ruin us.