"It's not love if you had to chase it. But I ran anyway." – Aila Briones
"Cheers to another man na walang kwenta!"
Aila clinked her glass against Maila's and Audrey's, the rim of her margarita trembling slightly from her unsteady grip. It was their usual Thursday night — the kind where the lighting in the bar was just dim enough to match the mood of a modern woman in emotional ruins.
"Girl," Kimberly added, swirling her sangria, "ilan na 'to this year? Four? Five?"
"Six," Aila muttered, eyes rolling. "I don't even make it past Day 3. Parang may curse ako. One day, they're sending voice notes na may background music, tapos the next day... seen zone."
Audrey patted her hand. "You're not cursed, babe. You're just dating boys na pang soft launch lang, hindi pang lifetime."
Laughter erupted at their table. But even with all the jokes, Aila's heart sagged with that familiar weight — the ache of being almost, could be, maybe someday, but never the endgame.
"Eh bakit kasi ayaw mo na lang sagutin si Raymond?" Maila asked. "Avid supporter ng love life mo 'yun, oh. Hindi mo na kailangan ng bet."
"Because!" Aila groaned. "He's like a persistent Google ad. Laging present, pero walang spark. And besides, I'm not looking for sparks. I want... fireworks."
"Oooh," Kimberly teased. "So you want a grand finale. Bigat mo, girl."
But before she could respond with a witty retort, a shrill voice sliced through the bar's ambient noise.
"Well, look who's loud as usual."
Angela Denise Hunter. The boss. The certified office maldita. In a slinky black dress, killer heels, and a smirk sharper than a corporate memo, she walked over to their table with all the grace of a woman who enjoyed stepping on fragile dreams.
Aila immediately sat straighter, instincts on high alert.
"Angela," she greeted tightly.
"Briones," Angela replied. "Drunk on disappointment again?"
Kimberly's mouth opened to defend her, but Aila placed a hand over hers. "Not drunk enough to tolerate you, Angela."
Angela raised a brow, amused. "Touché. Still... I heard about your latest 'talking stage' fiasco. Word travels fast in an open-floor workspace."
"Wow, may intercom pala sa pantry," Audrey mumbled.
Angela's grin turned feline. "Tell you what, Briones. Since you think you're such a heartbreaker—"
"I never said that."
"—why don't you prove your power over men?"
And then she dropped the bomb.
"Make Ryan Santillan fall for you. Ten days. I'll even give you my seat at the regional pitch if you do."
Everyone at the table collectively gasped. The regional pitch was the golden ticket — a chance to present before international heads, the kind of visibility that turned careers from 'admin sa cubicle' to 'boss sa glass office'.
Aila blinked. "Wait... Ian Santillan? The Ryan Santillan? Ice Prince of Finance?"
Angela nodded, wicked delight dancing in her eyes. "The very same. Cold. Calculated. Emotionless. Perfect test subject."
"Eh bakit hindi ikaw?" Kimberly challenged. "Type mo 'yun, di ba?"
Angela leaned in. "Because even I know he's a lost cause. No one in that office has gotten more than two words from him. Ever."
Audrey snorted. "Sounds like my ex."
But Aila... Aila was already locked in a stare with Angela.
She didn't like being underestimated. Especially by a woman whose eyeliner screamed mean girl energy.
"You're on," Aila said, standing.
Angela smirked. "Ten working days. Starting Monday. Make him confess. Prove he's into you. Or walk away in stilettos and shame."
Monday – Day 1
The office looked the same — dull gray walls, desks lined with monitors, the occasional plant struggling for life in a corner. But for Aila Briones, everything had changed.
Ten days. Ten days to make a man fall in love.
Easy? No.
Entertaining? Absolutely.
She walked in wearing her best armor — a red blouse with a subtle V-cut, black high-waisted pants, and her most charming smile. Confidence in every step.
"Here comes trouble," Maila whispered from her cubicle. Audrey and Kimberly gave her subtle thumbs up from their desks.
And then... there he was.
Ryan "Ian" Santillan.
Crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal veined forearms. Black slacks. Clean-cut hair. Sharp jawline. And eyes that could freeze an espresso mid-pour.
He sat like a statue, eyes glued to his monitor, typing numbers like they owed him money.
Aila took a deep breath. "This is it," she muttered, then walked up to his desk.
"Hi! Ian, right?"
He didn't look up. "Yes."
"I'm Aila. From marketing."
"I know."
"Oh, okay! Uhm, I was wondering if you'd like to—"
"No."
Her mouth opened slightly. "You don't even know what I was about to say."
"Didn't need to."
Wow. Ice Prince talaga.
But Aila Briones didn't back down from challenges. Especially not ones she bet her pride on.
She leaned a little closer, her voice dipping into a playful lilt. "Careful, Ian. That tone sounds dangerously like a challenge."
He looked up finally. Met her gaze. Unreadable. "It's not. It's a warning."
Aila blinked, then gave him a wink. "Noted."
She walked away, heart racing.
"Girl, grabe," Kimberly whispered once Aila slipped back to her spot. "Nakausap mo siya. Achievement unlocked!"
"Level one lang 'yan," Aila whispered back. "Wait until Day 3."
Day 2 – Lunch Trap
Aila "accidentally" ran into Ian at the pantry.
"Oh! You're eating lunch here? Alone?"
Ian didn't even glance up. "Always."
"Mind if I join?"
"Yes."
She sat anyway.
Brought out her tupperware and started chatting like they were old friends. He ate in silence. Didn't even correct her when she called his broccoli sad.
But then...
When she dropped her spoon, he silently handed her a clean one from the drawer.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Mm."
A breakthrough?
Maybe.
Later that week...
Day 4 brought a smile. Day 6 earned her a nod. By Day 7, she caught him watching her laugh during a team huddle.
But it was Day 8 — when she found a hot cup of coffee on her desk with no note — that Aila started panicking.
Because this wasn't just about a bet anymore.
She started waiting for their random encounters. She started reading finance jokes just to get him to smirk. She started... caring.
She was supposed to make him fall.
But somehow, somewhere between sarcasm and silence, Aila Briones found herself falling instead.
To be continued in Chapter 2: Unexpected Heat
Author's Note34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxt5YYTqVj
Welcome to the hilarious and dangerous territory of fake challenges and real feelings! This rom-com will explore not only the thrill of winning a bet but the unexpected softness behind cold eyes. Sa susunod na chapters, mas makikilala natin si Ian, at ang tunay niyang dahilan for building walls so high. And Aila? She's about to learn that making someone fall might be easy... but unmaking your own heart? That's the real challenge.
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEvbhoLX1x
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