Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 7

HINDI NA NAGULAT si Nylah nang isang hapon na muli niyang makita si Ashriel na pumasok sa coffee shop at nag-order ng lagi nitong ino-order na black coffee. Pero hindi nakaligtas sa kaniya ang mata nito na parang may hinahanap.

“May hinahanap ka?” tanong ni Nylah.

“Your son.” Sagot ni Ashriel.

Inside the coffee shop, the air smelled of roasted beans and warm pastries. And the shop was full of customers.

Agad naman na dumako ang mata ni Nylah sa nakasarang pinto ng opisina niya. “In my office.”

Napatango si Ashriel.

“Why are you looking for him?” tanong ni Nylah. She was preparing cups for the next order.

“Your coffee shop is always quiet even though it was full of customers,” sabi ni Ashriel. “I like that. My world is never quiet.”

Nylah offered a polite smile, though her guard stayed up. “Some people come here to escape. Coffee has that effect.”

At sa dalawang taon na niyang nandito mula ng maipatayo ang coffee shop, marami na siyang mga nakita at nakausap na customer. Some customers even tell their problems to her. Marahil siguro wala silang mapagsabihan.

Ashriel leaned back slightly, studying her with a faint trace of a smile. “And you? Do you find escape in coffee, too, Miss Laurent?”

For a moment, she froze and looked at Ashriel. Alam niyang hindi lamang ito nagtatanong sa kape kundi patungkol sa buhay niya. Nagbaba siya ng tingin. Her eyes reaching for the steaming cup she had just poured.

“I find disciplined,” she answered in a low voice, almost to herself.

Nylah picked up a slender metal tool, dipping it into the foam. With delicate movements, she etched a design onto the surface — a blooming lotus flower, each petal precise and balanced. Her hands moved with grace, and her focus was absolute.

Hindi nagsalita si Ashriel at pinanood na lamang niya ang ginagawa ni Nylah. He noticed the way her shoulder tenses slightly as if she were always ready to react. He could feel that behind the faint shadow, there was something unspoken in her movements. Yet in the swirl of milk and foam, she created something fragile.

“Meticulous,” Ashriel murmured under his breath.

Sinulyapan ni Nylah ang lalaki. “What?”

Ashriel showed a faint, almost boyish smile—unexpected from a man with such a hard aura. “I said… you’re meticulous. I can tell you put a part of yourself into every cup.”

Natigilan si Nylah. Then she quickly slid the cup toward him when she noticed he had finished his black coffee, breaking the moment. “Try this.”

Napatitig naman si Ashriel sa lotus na nakaguhit sa ibabaw ng kape. He lifted he cup, inhaling the aroma. “You’re not just serving coffee,” he said after a sip. “You’re giving people something to hold on to. Even for a few minutes.”

Nylah didn’t know what to say to that. Kaya naman inabala na lamang niya ang sarili sa paggawa ng iba pang order.

Ashriel set the cup down gently. “My employees… they need this. Send some for them tomorrow morning.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Nylah. “It was considerate of you to think about your employees, Mr. Rios.”

“Bakit? Hindi ba pwede na mag-order ako ng kape para sa kanila?”

“What I mean is with the hard look in your face—” Nylah stopped. “Forget it,” she said and then raised an eyebrow. “How many cups are we talking about?”

“Enough for a small army. But only if you’re the one making them.”

Nylah folded her arms, skeptical but amused. “That’s a lot of work to do.”

“I’ll make it worth your while,” Ashriel said smoothly, but there was no arrogance in his tone.

Medyo nag-alangan pa si Nylah. She’s not really in that hurry to make money, though, but she needs to maintain the image of a single mother making money for her son. “Alright. Tomorrow. At eight, the coffee arrived.

“Mabuti,” sabi ni Ashriel. He took a sip of his coffee again, set it down, and then took his wallet from his pocket.

Inilabas niya ang Black Card niya. “The payment.”

Nylah stared at the black card. Kapagkuwan natawa siya ng walang buhay, and gave Ashriel a flat expression. “Black Card? Mr. Rios, don’t you have three thousand pesos cash in your wallet?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

Ashriel gave Nylah an innocent look. “I don’t have. I usually pay using my card.”

Nahilot ni Nylah ang sentido. “Rich people,” she muttered under her breath. “Kalimutan mo na lang. Bukas na ang bayad. And please lang ha… cash ang gamitin mo. Huwag mo na akong pahirapan pa na mag-withdraw.”

Napakamot naman ng batok si Ashriel. “O-okay… cash it is.”

RIOS GROUP

The Rios Tower gleamed in the early sunlight, its glass façade catching the sky like a blade. Sa loob ng lobby, makikita ang mga empleyado ng kumpanya na abala sa kaniya-kaniyang ginagawa.

But then they all paused when a young woman pushed through the doors, carrying four paper bags stacked with cups of coffee.

Nylah Laurent stepped inside the Rios Tower with her hair tied neatly back, and her posture was calm but steady. To anyone else, she was just the owner of a coffee shop delivering an order. But there was a quiet poise about her, something that made people look twice.

Napakurap pa ang receptionist. “Ma’am, may I help you?” tanong nito.

Tipid na ngumiti si Nylah. “Delivery for the President’s office,” she replied.

Bahagyang lumaki ang mata ng receptionist. “For Mr. Rios, Ma’am?”

“Yes,” Nylah said simple.

Tumawag ang receptionist sa President’s office at nang makuha niya ang kumpirmasyon mula sa Personal Assistant ni Mr. Rios, ibinaba niya ang telepono.

“Ma’am, you can go up now.”

Tumango si Nylah saka naglakad patungo sa elevator pero ramdam niya ang tingin ng mga tao sa kaniya na ipinagsawalang bahala na lamang niya.

Within minutes, whispers began to ripple across the floor. Who was she? No one just walked into the top floor with coffee, let alone for Ashriel Rios himself.

Pero nang bumukas ang elevator sa top floor, nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. Napatigil ang mga empleyado sa kanilang ginagawa at lahat ay napatingin sa simple ngunit magandang babae na lumabas mula sa elevator.

Nylah was just wearing casual clothes — a white shirt tucked in with her black jeans and white shoes.

A young man approached her — wearing a suit, glasses, and an efficient air. His eyes flickered with surprise at the sight of her.

“You must be Miss Laurent,” he said. “I’m Sam Valdez, Mr. Rios’s personal assistant.”

Nylah gave a polite nod. “Coffee for your team,” she said as she put the three paper bags on the empty table, leaving one paper bag in her hand.

Sinulyapan ni Sam ang mga paper bag. Then smiled faintly. “Thank you, Miss Laurent.”

“Huwag kang magpasalamat. Hindi ‘yan libre.” Aniya.

Bago pa man makasagot si Sam, bumukas ang pinto ng President’s office. Ashriel Rios emerged, commanding in his dark suit, exuding the kind of authority that made people step aside instinctively. Yet when his eyes found Nylah, something in his gaze softened.

“You came,” he said, not a question, but a quiet acknowledgment.

Pilit na ngumiti si Nylah. “You ordered coffee. Of course, I would deliver it. So, I came,” she said with a little sarcasm in her voice.

Ashriel smiled.

For a moment, the entire floor seemed to stop—employees discreetly glancing up from desks, curiosity written in their eyes. Ashriel Rios, the man known for his icy detachment, stood smiling at a woman carrying coffee.

Naglakad palapit si Ashriel kay Nylah saka kinuha ang paper bag na hawak nito na parang natural niyang gawin ‘yon. “Come inside.”

Nag-alangan si Nylah pero sumunod kay Ashriel sa loob ng opisina nito. At nang sumara ang pinto, inilibot niya ang paningin sa loob ng opisina ng binata. His office was vast, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening to the skyline, shelves lined with leather-bound books, and a sleek desk for the President. Yet here she was, setting the cups of coffee across the table like they were treasures.

“Thanks for making coffee for them,” Ashriel said. “And this,” he pointed to the coffee he knew was for him.

Tumikhim si Nylah. “May bayad. Hindi ako tumatanggap ng ‘thank you’.” Sabi niya. “Moreover, I’m just good at following orders.” Bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi.

There was also an edge of teasing in her tone, but Ashriel didn’t miss the flicker in her eyes like there was more truth beneath those words. Humarap siya kay Nylah saka naglakad palapit rito, not intimidating, but curious.

“I don’t think you’re the type to follow anyone’s orders,” sabi niya. Unbeknownst to him, he hit the nail on the head.

For the first time, Nylah faltered. His perception cut too close. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Naglakad na lamang siya palapit sa may shelf saka nagtingin ng aklat. “You shouldn’t judge people you barely know.”

“Then let me know you,” deretsahan niyang saad.

Katahimikan ang namayani sa kanilang dalawa.

Nylah held his gaze, her walls firm but trembling under the weight of his attention. She wasn't used to this—to someone trying to peel back the layers, to someone seeing her.

A knock at the door broke the moment. Sam stepped inside cautiously. “Sir, the board is waiting for you.”

Hindi inalis ni Ashriel ang tingin niya kay Nylah. “Give me a minute.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Ashriel leaned against the edge of his desk, his expression was unreadable but softer than before. “Thank you, Miss Laurent. Not just for the coffee.”

Tumikhim si Nylah, pushing away the sudden warmth in her chest. “You’re welcome, Mr. Rios. Now, you should get to your meeting.”

Ngumiti si Ashriel saka naglakad pero bago pa man siya makalagpas kay Nylah, inilahad nito ang kamay na siyang humarang sa kaniya.

“Bago ka pumunta sa board meeting mo. Akin na ang bayad. Baka akala mo nakalimutan ko.” Then she showed three fingers. “Three thousand pesos.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Ashriel. “Sa tingin ko hindi aabot ng three thousand ang bayad ng kape na inorder ko.” Aniya.

Nylah snorted. “Two thousand five hundred lahat pero may bayad ang labor at delivery. Hindi ‘yon libre.”

“You’re extorting me?” Gulat na saad ni Ashriel na parang napakalaking halaga na ‘yon. Eh, sa totoo lang barya lang ang pera na ‘yon sa mayaman na katulad nito.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Nylah. “Hindi extort ang tawag do’n, Mr. Rios. Ang tawag do’n, tamang bayad.”

Napabuga ng hangin at natawa na lamang ng mahina si Ashriel. Tumingin siya kay Sam. “May three thousand pesos ka ba diyan?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Gave it to Ms. Laurent.”

Mabilis naman na naglabas ng tatlong libo ang assistant saka ibinigay kay Nylah.

Nylah smirked. “Thanks.” She put the money in her pocket.

“You’re happy?”

“Of course, our effort with my staff paid off.” Nagkibit ng balikat si Nylah. “Babalik na ako sa café. Next time, send your assistant to get the coffee if you order it next time. Ayaw ko ng bumalik rito.”

“Bakit naman?”

Nylah rolled her eyes. Not answering Ashriel’s question, she turned her back and was ready to leave when Ashriel spoke, “Next time, when you’re with me, don’t force your smile. Don’t smile when you don’t feel it.”

Literal na natigilan si Nylah saka mabilis siyang humarap kay Ashriel pero nakatalikod na ito at naglalakad na palayo. “This man seemed not be ordinary.”