CHAPTER 5 Between Floors and Feelings
Seraphine's POV:
After almost an hour sa labas ng office finally nakabalik din ako sa desk ko.
Assistant ng CEO.
Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin ma-process kung paano ako napunta dito. From Vice President’s secretary to CEO’s assistant in just a few weeks. Promotion? Oo. Pressure? Triple.
Inayos ko ang folders sa table ko and then fixed my blazer and checked the time.
“Focus, Amor,” Bulong ko sa sarili ko. “Trabaho lang to. Hindi ito K-drama.”
As if on cue-
ting.
Umilaw ang maliit na indicator sa desk ko, CEO’s line. Napatingin ako roon and every single time na umiilaw yun. kinakabahan pa rin ako. Huminga ako nang malalim bago tumayo, Inayos ko ang buhok ko sa reflection.
“Professional ka at assistant ka lang hindi ka high school.”
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.” Her voice is calm
Pagbukas ko ng pinto, nakita ko agad si Miss Walls. Nakatayo siya malapit sa window, back facing me. The light behind her made her looks like she's glowing.
“Good afternoon, Miss Walls,” Sabi ko, in professional tone. She turned and our eyes met.
“Good afternoon, Miss Reyes.” She said.
Lumapit ako at inabot ang folder.
“Here’s the revised proposal. I adjusted the supplier terms and the projected timeline.” Sabi ko. Agad naman nya itong tinignan.
Kinuha niya at saglit nagdikit ang mga daliri namin mabilis lang pero bakit parang may kuryente? Tumayo ako sa harap ng desk niya.
Utak ko? Controlled sa labas magulo sa loob.
“You adjusted the timeline?,” Tanong niya habang binabasa.
“Yes, Miss Walls. I figured the original schedule was too optimistic. Unless we plan on cloning the marketing team.” Pagkasabi ko gusto ko agad bawiin. Naku ka amor CEO nyo yan.
Tahimik siya sandali.
Then—
May faint curve sa lips niya.
“You’re assuming we don’t already have contingency staffing.” Napakurap ako.
“So may clones po talaga?” Tanong ko.
She looked up diretso sa mata ko.
“If we did, Miss Reyes, I wouldn’t tell you.” Sabi nya sabay taas ng kilay.
Why does that sound attractive?
“Noted, Miss Walls,” Sabi ko na lang.
Habang nagbabasa ako para mag-double check, napatingin uli ako sa kanya.
May pakiramdam kasi akong may nakatingin sakinat tama nga ako nakatitig siya.
Napansin kong tumagal ang tingin niya
mula sa mga mata ko pababa sa labi ko.
Mabilis lang pero alam kong hindi ako
namamalikmata bigla akong naging conscious.
“Is there anything else, Miss Walls?” Tanong ko para ma-break ang tension.
“Yes. Coordinate with finance schedule legal on Thursday.” Sabi nya at bumalik sa pagbabasa
“Yes, Miss Walls.” Sagot ko.
Paglingon ko sa gilid ng office, doon ko nakita sa isang couch ang isang bouquet ng red roses fresh maayos ang pagkakabalot halatang bagong dating lang.
Bigla kong naalala yung lalaking pumasok kanina sa building tall, clean-cut, confident. Yung sinabi ni Hana na boyfriend ni ma'am.
Everything clicked.
Kaya pala magaan ang mood niya. Kaya pala may almost-smile kanina na pilit niyang tinatago. Someone made her smile before I walked in.
Boyfriend of course sasaya yan. Bigla kong naramdaman yung kakaibang bigat sa dibdib ko hindi ko alam kung bakit wala naman dapat to.
Ngayon alam ko na may taong tumatawag sa kanya ng mas malambot kaysa sa “Miss Walls.”
Bakit parang may kumirot sa dibdib ko?
Ang ridiculous mo, Amor.
Assistant ka lang.
“Is there a problem?, Miss Reyes?” Tanong niya. Napatingin ako sa kanya CEO mode composed ulit sya.
“Wala naman po,” Sabi ko, pilit na ngumiti.
“Nice flowers.” Halos pabulong kong sabi. Saglit siyang napatingin sa couch.
“Ah. That.” Sabi nya na parang wala lang.
“They’re beautiful,” Dagdag ko. “Must be from someone important.” May maikling pause para hindi halatang tsismosa
“Yes.” Sabi nya. Simple diretso masakit.
May kung anong bumigat lalo sa loob ko.
“Mas productive talaga ang tao kapag inspired nohh, Miss Walls.” Biro ko. She looked at me steadily.
“Focus on your tasks, Miss Reyes.” Sabi nya.
“Yes, Miss Walls sorry.” Sabi ko sabay yuko
“No personal topics inside this office.” Maotoridad nyang sabi.
“Yes, Miss Walls.” Sabi ko nalang. May katahimik sa pagitan namin hindi na playful hindi na light parang sinasabi na ito ang boundary.
“You may go, Miss Reyes.” She said. Di manlang ako liningon tumalikod agad ako pagkasabi nya at naglakad papunta sa pinto.
“Miss Reyes.” Tawag nya. Napahinto ako at lingon.
“Yes, Miss Walls?” Saglit siyang tumingin sakin hindi cold hindi purely CEO Just her.
“Good work.” She said.
Dalawang salita pero iba ang tama.
“Thank you, Ma'am.” Sabi ko nalang at lumabas na ng office niya at marahang isinara ang pinto. Pagkalabas ko, doon lang ako maka hinga.
Ang arte mo, Amor.
CEO mo yan. May boyfriend siya of course she does she's Successful, Beautiful, Powerful, of course someone would love her.
Umiling ako at bumalik sa desk ko. A few minutes ago, nalilito ako sa tension sa pagitan namin, Now? Mas malinaw. She has someone she’s taken and so whatever this strange pull I’ve been feeling mali to sa bandang huli ako lang ang nasusunog.
Enough, Amor. Ilang weeks mo pa lang siyang kilala, yet kung anu-ano na tong nararamdaman mo. You’re straight remember Napabuntong-hininga ako.
ONE HOUR LATER
Finally, tapos na. I shut down my computer, grabbed my bag and headed out of the office. Tahimik na ang hallway ngayon, most of the staff already gone, at ang tunog ng takong ko sa sahig echoing softly, parang paalala na nag-iisa na lang ako sa building. Lobby na lang tapos home na.
I pressed the elevator button.
Just as the doors were about to open, nakita ko siya.
Miss Walls.
Standing a few steps away reviewing something on her phone composed as always parang wala siyang iniintindi kundi yung phone niya at sarili niya, pero somehow, kahit abala siya, ramdam ko yung presence niya.
I straightened instinctively, parang may instinct na hindi ko kayang labanan.
“Miss Walls.”
She looked up. For a split second, something softened in her expression. Something na hindi ko ma-describe pero ramdam ko agad sa puso ko.
“Going down?” She asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” I stepped back and gestured toward the elevator.
“After you.” I said.
She didn’t argue. Just gave me a small nod and walked in first. I followed, feeling every second every tiny sound ng elevator door closing.
The doors slid shut.
And suddenly it felt smaller.
I stood beside her, careful not to get too close, but I could still feel her presence warm, steady, distracting and alam ko, kahit hindi ko sabihin, parang pareho kaming aware sa bawat galaw ng isa’t isa.
“You stayed late,” She said, voice soft, controlled, but may weight.
“Double-checking some reports, Ma'am,” I replied, trying to sound casual kahit ang dibdib ko kumakaba-kaba. She hummed softly.
“Good.”
Silence again.
But not awkward just charged. Parang may electricity sa space na to, at kahit ang katawan ko natutulak ng tensyon, hindi ko magawang lumayo.
Then-
The elevator jerked and stopped. The lights flickered once before stabilizing.
I glanced at her, and parang lahat ng words ko biglang nawala.
“Test na naman po ba to?” I asked calmly, pero may kaunting shakiness sa boses ko na hindi ko na na-realize.
“No.” Her brows furrowed slightly.
So this wasn’t planned.
I inhaled slowly, trying to remind myself, not to panic, I’ve handled worse than this, it’s just an elevator and nothing more. Pero suddenly, my head felt light. Weirdly warm. Parang may kuryente sa katawan ko na hindi ko maintindihan.
I lifted a hand to my nose.
Wet.
I looked down.
Red.
“Miss Walls-” I started, pero ang words ko nawala sa gravity ng moment. Then my vision tilted.
The last thing I felt was her hand catching my arm, firm, steady, and somehow comforting kahit ang mundo ko gumuho sa loob ng ilang seconds.
When I opened my eyes, the lighting was softer, not the harsh fluorescent lights of the elevator.
I wasn’t in the elevator anymore.
A room.
Not familiar, not mine.
I blinked slowly, trying to process. My head still throbbed a little, and I felt the faintest echo of panic fade away.
Miss Walls was sitting beside the bed, eyes on me. Relief flashed across her face the moment she realized I was awake.
“You’re finally up,” She said, voice lower than usual, soft, careful.
“What happened?” I tried to sit up.
“You fainted.”
She exhaled and crossed her arms, but it wasn’t cold not angry definitely concerned.
“The elevator stalled for less than five minutes. You had a nosebleed, then you collapsed security helped us out. I brought you here.”
“Here?”
“My private lounge upstairs.” She said casually. Of course she has one.
“I’m fine,” I said automatically, trying to sound casual, though my chest still felt tight. She gave me a look I couldn’t ignore.
“No, you’re not.”
There was no teasing this time. Just quiet certainty and for some reason that made my chest feel warmer than the elevator ever did.
I tried to sit up again.
“I’m really fine,” I insisted. The room tilted slightly, or maybe it was just me.
Miss Walls was already beside me before I could pretend better.
“Lie down.” That wasn’t a suggestion.
“I don’t need-”
“Amor.”
She said my name quietly, gently. Not “Ms.” Not formal. Just Amor.
I slowly lay back down.
Satisfied, she adjusted the pillow behind my head. Her fingers brushed the side of my temple briefly checking if I was still warm, maybe.
Her touch was steady, professional yet gentle.
“You haven’t been eating properly,” She said. It wasn’t a question. I stayed quiet.
“You’ve been staying late almost every day.”
“Work needs to get done.” I said.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
“You fainted.”
There it was again. Not anger it was concern and it felt dangerous.
“At least it wasn’t a test.” That earned me the tiniest exhale of amusement. But it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Why would I test you like that knowing that you're tired” she asked softly.
I swallowed. Because sometimes it feels like she’s always watching me. Because sometimes I don’t know if I’m imagining this tension. Because sometimes, when she looks at me—
“Forget it,” I muttered.
Silence settled between us again. But this one was heavier, thicker, the kind that makes your chest ache. She stood up, poured a glass of water from the side table, and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed ,Static, Or maybe that was just me.
“Drink.” I obeyed. After a moment, she sat back down closer this time.
“Amor.” She called me my name again.
I looked at her.Her expression wasn’t CEO. It wasn’t composed or distant.
It was worried.
“You need to take care of yourself, The company can function without you for a day.” She said.
The words were practical. But the way she said them I felt seen and that scared me more than the elevator stopping ever did.
“You don’t have to worry, Ma'am” I said quietly.
“I do.”
The answer came too fast, and we both froze. Her eyes softened slightly, like she realized what she’d just admitted without even thinking.
I felt my heartbeat climb again. Enough. Enough, Amor.
She has someone. Remember?
Red roses. Tall, clean-cut, confident Boyfriend she have a child.
I looked away first.
“You should go, I’ll rest for a bit, then head home.” I said gently.
She didn’t move.
Instead, she leaned back slightly in the chair, studying me like she was trying to memorize every detail.
“I canceled my dinner,” She said. My chest tightened.
“You didn’t have to.”
“I know.”
Silence. My thoughts spiraled you’re straight you barely know her. This is just proximity, Just stress, Just admiration.
So why does it feel like more?
“I don’t really know what’s wrong with me lately,” I admitted quietly before I could stop myself. Her gaze sharpened not judging. Just attentive.
“What do you mean?” She asked.
I hesitated. How do you explain a
pull you don’t understand?
“Nothing, Forget it.” I said quickly. She didn’t push. Instead, she reached out slow enough for me to pull away if I wanted to and brushed a strand of hair away from my forehead.
Gentle and Intentional.
“Rest,” She murmured.
My breath caught.
The room felt smaller than the elevator now and whatever this strange energy was between us it wasn’t one-sided.
That much I knew.
After a few minutes, when I knew I was finally okay, she ordered food for us. We sat together quietly, letting the tension fade, and shared the meal like nothing had happened just the two of us, finding comfort in the small, simple moment.
By the time I got home, malamig na yung night air, enough to clear my head a little.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside.
“ANDYAN KA NA?!” Lara’s voice echoed from the living room bago ko pa man Masara ang pinto.
“As if naman may iba pang nakatira dito,” Bulong ko sa sarili, while inaayos ang shoes ko.
“Grabe, late ka na naman. ikaw ba CEO o Guard?,” Tumayo sya mula sa couch, chips sa kamay.
“Assistant,” Sagot ko, automatic, kahit parang nagluluko ang tiyan ko. Ilang seconds, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Then she froze slowly and suspiciously.
“Bakit ganyan itsura mo?”
“Ganyan how?”
“Parang kakagaling mo lang sa K-drama scene.” She said I rolled my eyes.
“Ang arte mo.” Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti nang kaunti she's always like this. Bumagsak siya sa couch at tinuro ang space beside her.
"SCS" Sabi nya. napa kunot-noo naman ako.
"Ha?"
“Sit, Chill, and Spill... everything!.” She said. Dapat pumunta nalang agad ako sa kwarto ko.
I sat down, careful to keep my distance, but my hands were restless gripping the hem of my shirt as I spoke and feeling ko napansin nya ito.
"Okay, di kita pipilitin-" She was about to continue, pero pinigilan ko siya. I was thinking about it, kung sasabihin ko ba o hindi but somehow, I ended up telling her everything.
Yung elevator. Yung pag-faint ko. Yung private lounge. Yung look ni Miss Walls sa akin. Hindi siya nag-interrupt which was alarming. Pagkatapos ko magsalita, tinitigan niya ako parang nag-confess ako ng crime.
“So let me get this straight,” She said slowly, raising her eyebrow, lips twitching.
“You fainted, your CEO personally took care of you, canceled her dinner. Sinabi yung pangalan mo softly, and looked at you like you’re a long-lost love.” She said.
Napa blink ako medyo oa ahh.
“Hindi ganun yun nangyari,” SA
Sagot ko mabilis ramdam ko ang cheeks ko mainit na, eyes ko flickering sa window na parabang may escape route doon.
“That is exactly what happened,” She said, leaning forward, grin na parang alam na niya yung effect niya sa akin. Chest ko kinakabahan na.
“Lara.” Tawag ko. Tinuturo niya yung chip sa akin, dramatic.
“And you’re telling me there’s a boyfriend involved?” She asked tumango ako
“May red roses,” Bulong ko, sounded weak.
“Were you there nung natanggap niya yun?” She asked.
“No.”
“Did she say she has a boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Exactly.” She said.
Napa buntong hininga ako, leaning back sa couch, eyes closed briefly. Parang gusto kong itigil na lahat ng iniisip ko.
“Hindi ganun yun.”
“Oh, exactly ganun nga, Down bad ka na teh.” She said, grinning.
“I am not,” Sagot ko, tinaas ko sleeves ko.
“You are.”
“I’m just confused,” Bulong ko, biting my lip.
“Confused people don’t describe eye contact in 4K detail, Amor,” She teased.
I threw a pillow She squealed, laughing, at hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti narin.
“Okay okay! Pero seryoso. Ano naramdaman mo nung tinignan ka niya ng ganun?” She asked, leaning back, arms crossed, soft smirk pero napapansin parin.
I hesitated, fingers ko nag-fidget sa hem ng shirt ko and for some reason yung heartbeat ko mabilis.
“Hindi ko alam, It was like she recognized me. It was like she reminded someone else in me." Bulong ko, eyes downcast. Lara tilted her head.
“And how did you feel about that??”
“Small, and seen but someone else.” I said honestly
“Jealous?” She asked.
“Nope.”
“Curious?”
“Siguro.”
“Terrified?” Hindi ko sinagot, She
smirked.
“Amor.”
“What?” I whispered, glancing at her, umiinit ang mukha ko.
“You like her.” She said. Tumayo agad ako.
“Goodnight.” My face is hot as if it's on fire. She laughed behind me.
“DENIAL IS A RIVER IN EGYPT!”
“Shut up!” I hissed, rushing to close my room before she could continue.
Silence.
Finally.
Nagpalit ako ng comfy clothes at humiga sa bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts are racing, nagpi-play na naman ang mga nangyari sa buong araw ko. Her voice saying my name.
Yung kamay niya na nagbru-brush sa forehead ko. Yung paraan ng pagtingin niya sakin na parang kilala niya ako.
I turned to my side, biting my lip.
Nag-buzz ang phone ko. I ignored it at first, but nag-buzz ulit. I sighed at pinulot ko ang phone.
Notification: Miss Walls started following you.
What? My heart jumped.
Umupo agad ako, hawak ang phone ko na parang may kukuha. My fingers were slightly trembling. Then another notification.
Miss Walls: Are you home?
Five seconds akong nakatingin lang sa screen, chest pounding, palms sweaty.
She added me on Instagram.
Binuksan ko yung message, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. I could feel my face getting red; my adrenaline was rushing.
Her profile picture was professional. Of course. Minimal posts, a clean aesthetic very her. I typed. Deleted. Typed again. Deleted.
Calm down. It’s just a message.
Finally, I replied:
Me: Yes, ma’am. I just got home. Thank you.
The three dots appeared almost immediately. She’s typing. Bumilis ang pulse ko, ramdam ko.
Then her reply:
Miss Walls: Good. Rest properly.
Simple and professional.
Humiga ulit ako slowly, phone on my chest, hands still slightly trembling. I could feel my fingers wanting to type again, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.
Hindi niya kailangang i-check ako.
Hindi niya kailangang i-add ako.
Hindi niya kailangang mag-care.
Pero ginawa niya, and I don’t know where this will end. But even as I drifted, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened today.
The elevator. Miss Walls. The message. The way my chest still fluttered when I thought about her.
Her hand brushing my forehead.
Her voice saying my name.
The way she looked at me like someone she knew, like someone she almost lost.
I turned to my side again, biting my cheek, hands fidgeting with the blanket.
My fingers twitched nervously, wanting to reach for my phone again, to type something I didn’t dare send. But I forced myself to pause.
And as I finally surrendered to sleep, I realized: I don’t know where this ends.
And I don’t know if I’m ready to find out.