Chapter Seventeen
2126 Words
TATLONG linggo na ang lumipas. Isang linggo na lang bago ang itinakdang araw ng kasal.
The preparations is almost complete. Venue—ready. Catering—confirmed. Guests—invited. Dress—fitted. Everything is set.
Pero ang bride at groom? Hindi pa rin okay. Still distant. Still broken.
Luna has been trying. Sending messages to Jace. Updates about the wedding. Small talk. Trying to build connection.
Pero si Jace? Short replies lang. Cold. Professional. Walang warmth.
But at least sumasagot. At least hindi siya completely cutting her off.
And that's something.
May scheduled final meeting sila. Si Luna, si Jace, lawyers, families. To sign final contracts. Prenuptial agreement. Wedding arrangements. Everything legal and binding.
At ang meeting venue—Sullivan Corporation. Conference room.
Dumating si Luna ng nine-thirty AM. Kasama si Don Felix at Atty. Suarez.
Nandun na si Jace. Kasama si Atty. Mendoza. At surprisingly kasama nila si Elijah. The supportive brother.
"Good morning," tipid na bati ni Luna.
"Morning," maikling sagot lang nito na hindi man lang siya tinatapunan nang tingin.
Naglapag ng mga dokumento ang mga abogado: prenuptial agreement, marriage contract, at asset protection clauses.
"This prenup protects both parties," paliwanag ni Atty. Mendoza. "In case of separation or divorce, assets remain separate. No claims on inherited wealth. Standard protection."
"We agree," maikling sagot ni Don Felix. "Fair terms."
Pirma dito, pirma doon. Walang bakas ng pag-ibig, puro transaksyon at proteksyon ng yaman. Nang matapos ang pulong, nag-shake hands ang lahat sa isang malamig at pormal na paraan. Ngunit bago pa makalabas si Luna, hinarang siya ni Elijah.
"That's everything," sabi ni Atty. Mendoza. "Congratulations. Legally, everything is set. Wedding na lang next week.”
"Luna, can we talk?" tanong ni Elijah. Lumapit sa kanya. "Privately? Just five minutes?"
Tumingin si Luna kay Jace. Asking for permission.
Tumango lang si Jace bilang pahintulot. Lumabas ang dalawa sa hallway at tumigil sa isang pribadong sulok.
"What is it?" tanong ni Luna.
"I want to help," direktang wika ni Elijah. "I want to help fix this mess between you and my brother."
Napatigil si Luna. "Why would you help me? Hindi mo naman ako kilala."
"Because," sagot ni Elijah. "I know my brother. And I see what you're doing. The effort. The trying. The love. It's real. And Jace—he's just scared. Hurt. But deep down, he still loves you."
"He told you that?" umaasang tanong ni Luna.
"He doesn't have to," sagot ni Elijah. "I can see it. The way he looks at you when you're not watching. The way he asks about you—casually, like he doesn't care—but he does. The way he's been miserable for the past month. That's not indifference. That's heartbreak."
Tumibok ang puso ni Luna nang mabilis. "So what do I do? How do I fix this?"
"You need to show him," sagot ni Elijah. "Not just tell him. Show him that you're genuine. That you've changed. That you're not the spoiled heiress anymore. You're Luna—real, honest, vulnerable."
"How?" tanong ni Luna.
Ngumiti si Elijah. "I have an idea. But you need to trust me. And you need to be brave."
"What kind of idea?" tanong ulit ni Luna.
"Come to Lighthouse Children's Home this Sunday," sagot ni Elijah. "Jace volunteers there every Sunday. You know that already, right?"
Tumango si Luna. "Yes. I went there once. Before everything fell apart."
"Go again," sabi ni Elijah. "But this time, don't hide. Don't pretend. Be yourself. Luna Hart. Not Celeste Cruz. Show him that you genuinely care about the things he cares about. Not because you're spying. Not because you're pretending. But because you love him."
Nag-isip si Luna. "You think that'll work?"
"I think it's a start," sagot ni Elijah. "Jace is logical. He analyzes. He observes. If he sees you—really sees you—being genuine, being vulnerable, being you, it'll crack his walls. Slowly. But it'll work."
Tumango si Luna. "Okay. I'll do it. Sunday. Lighthouse. I'll be there."
Ngumiti si Elijah. "Good. And Luna—don't give up on him. He's stubborn. He's proud. But he's worth it. I promise."
---
Pagsapit nang linggo nagmaneho si Luna patungo sa Lighthouse Children's Home. Nakasuot lang siya ng simpleng maong, white shirt, at sneakers. Walang makeup, nakatali ang buhok.
Real Luna. Not the glamorous heiress. Not Celeste the secretary. Just Luna.
Sinalubong siya ni Manang Caring, ang namamahala sa ampunan. "Luna! Ikaw pala," bati nito nang may galak. "Nandito ka ulit. Volunteer ka ba ngayon?"
"Yes po, Manang," sagot ni Luna. "If that's okay. I want to help with the kids."
Napansin ni Luna ang bahagyang pagtataka sa mga mata ni Manang Caring, kaya’t agad siyang nagpaliwanag. Noong huli kasi siyang nagpunta rito kasama si Jace, nagpakilala siya bilang "Celeste."
"Manang, pasensya na po kung naguluhan kayo," mahinang sabi ni Luna. "Luna Hart po ang totoo kong pangalan. Noong huli po nating pagkikita, nagpapanggap lang po ako dahil sa isang personal na dahilan. Pero ang malasakit ko sa mga bata, totoo po 'yun."
Ngumiti si Manang Caring at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. "Alam ko, iha. Nakita ko 'yun sa mga mata mo noon pa. At nabanggit na rin ni Elijah sa akin na darating ka at kung sino ka talaga. Huwag kang mag-alala, tanggap ka namin dito."
Eksaktong pagpasok nila sa playroom, nakita nila si Jace na nagbabasa ng kuwento sa mga bata. Napatigil ito nang makita ang dalaga. "Luna? What are you doing here?"
"I'm volunteering," simpleng sagot ni Luna. "I want to help. If that's okay."
Tumingin si Jace sa kanya. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to pretend—"
"I'm not pretending," putol ni Luna. "Jace, I know what you think. Na I'm here to manipulate you. To act. But I'm not. I'm here because I want to be. Because I care about these kids. Because this is important to you. And what's important to you is important to me."
Tumahimik lang si Jace at wala na itong natanggap na sagot rito.
""Ate Celeste!" sigaw ni Mia, ang batang babaeng naging malapit sa kanya noon. "You're back! Did you come to play with us?"
“Yes, Mia, I’m here to play, but, Mia, my real name is Luna. So from now on ate Luna na ang itawag mo sakin, ha?”
Tumingin ang batang si Mia kay Manang Caring. "Mga anak," anunsyo ng matanda, "siya si Ate Luna ninyo. Siya rin 'yung Ate Celeste na nakalaro ninyo noon, pero Luna na ang itatawag natin sa kanya ngayon, ha?
"Yehey! Ate Luna!" masayang sigaw ng mga bata.
Tumakbo si Mia papunta sa kanya saka ito niyakap nang mahigpit.
Sa loob ng tatlong oras, nakita ni Jace ang isang parte ni Luna na hindi niya inaasahan. Naglaro ito, naglinis ng mga laruan, at tumulong sa paghahanda ng snacks nang walang reklamo. Noong lunch time, naupo ang dalawa sa isang bench sa labas.
"Why did you really come here?" tanong ni Jace, ang boses ay hindi na mapang-atake kundi mausisa.
"Because I want to. Because I care," tapat na sagot ni Luna. Inamin niya ang kanyang takot na baka itaboy siya nito, ngunit naisip niyang kailangan niyang ipakita ang totoong siya—flawed, scared, pero nagmamahal
"But why now?" tanong ni Jace. "Bakit ngayon? One week before the wedding? Bakit hindi ka dumating noon pa? After the revelation?"
Huminga si Luna ng malalim. Honesty time.
"Because I was scared," admit niya. "Scared na you'll think I'm manipulating you. Scared na you'll push me away. But then I realized—I can't keep being scared. I can't keep hiding. If I want to prove myself, kailangan kong lumabas. Kailangan kong ipakita ang totoo kong ako. Kahit scary. Kahit you might reject me."
"You're different," sabi niya. "From the Luna Hart I read about. From the spoiled heiress in society pages. From even Celeste Cruz. You're... different."
"Because I'm me," sagot ni Luna. "The real me. Not the version people expect. Not the version I pretended to be. Just me. Flawed. Scared. Trying. Learning. And loving you."
Napahinto si Jace sa huling katagang sinabi niya.
"Luna—" simula niya.
"Kuya Jace! Ate Luna!" tawag ng mga bata. "Come eat with us!"
For the second time moment interrupted again.
Tumayo sila at bumalik sa loob. Kumain sila with the kids.
Pero something shifted. Yung atmosphere between them. Less hostile. Less cold. More... open.
Small progress but still a progress.
---
That evening while Luna was driving home. Exhausted but fulfilled. She received a text message from an unknown number.
"Thank you for today. The kids loved having you there. - Jace"
Napatigil ang mundo ni Luna. He texted her. Voluntarily. Not about business, but about what they did today.
Nag-reply din siya rito. “Thank you for letting me stay. I loved being there. Can I come back next week?"
Three dots appeared. He's typing.
"The kids would like that. See you next Sunday."
Ngumiti si Luna. Isang malawak at totoong ngiti.
This is it. This is the breakthrough. Hindi pa forgiveness. Hindi pa love. But acknowledgment. Acceptance. Opening.
She's getting through. Slowly. Unti-unti.
At one week na lang before the wedding. Maybe—just maybe—hindi ito magiging purely business arrangement.
Maybe may chance pa for something real.
---
Kinabukasan, Lunes, nakatanggap siya ng hindi inaasahang tawag mula kay Daniella Montero.
"Hello, Luna," bati niya. "How's the wedding planning?"
"What do you want, Daniella?" malamig na tanong ni Luna.
"I want to talk," sagot ni Daniella. "Meet me. Today. Three PM. Starbucks Reserve, BGC. Come alone."
"Why would I—"
"Because I have information," putol ni Daniella. "About your wedding. About Jace. About Don Ricardo's plans. Information you need. Unless you want to walk into that wedding blind?"
Napatigil si Luna. "What kind of information?"
"Meet me and find out," sagot ni Daniella. Then binaba na ang tawag.
Nag-isip si Luna. This could be a trap. Daniella hates her. Siya ang nag-expose kay Jace.
But what if she really has information? What if it's important?
Nag-decide si Luna na pupunta siya. Pero hinanda niya ang sarili sa kung ano man ang balak nito.
Three PM, dumating siya sa Starbucks.Nandun na si Daniella sa isang private corner at naghihintay sa kaniya.
Umupo si Luna sa harap nito. "I'm here. Talk."
Ngumiti si Daniella. "Direct. I like that. Okay. Here's the thing, Luna. I exposed you to Jace because I was jealous. I wanted him back. But after I did it, I realized something."
"What?" tanong ni Luna.
"That Don Ricardo is using both of you," sagot ni Daniella. "Jace and you. Pawn lang kayo sa bigger game niya."
"I already know that," sabi ni Luna. "He's forcing the marriage to control Hart Industries."
"It's worse than that," seryosong wika ni Daniella. Binuksan ang bag niya at may kinuhang folder. "I've been digging. Investigating. Kasi I wanted to destroy Don Ricardo for what he did—forcing Jace into this marriage."
Binuksan niya ang folder. May mga documents. Photos. Bank statements.
"Don Ricardo has a contingency plan," sabi ni Daniella. "Kahit magpakasal kayo, he's planning to bankrupt Hart Industries within six months. Through stock manipulation. Corporate sabotage. Then he'll buy it for pennies on the dollar. The marriage is just a distraction. The real goal is total destruction."
Gulat na napatigil si Luna. "What?"
"Look," sabi ni Daniella. Ipinakita ang documents. "Shell companies. Offshore accounts. Fake investors. Everything is set up. The moment you marry Jace, Don Ricardo triggers the plan. Hart Industries falls. Sullivans acquire everything. You and your family lose everything."
Nagulantang si Luna. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I may hate you, but I hate Don Ricardo more. He's evil. And Jace, even though I can't have him, I don't want to see him used and manipulated by his own father," sagot ni Daniella. "Make sure you don't waste it. Make sure you fight for him.”
Kinuha ni Luna ang folder. "Thank you. I don't trust you. But thank you for this."
Ngumiti si Daniella. Sad smile. "I loved him, you know. Jace. I really loved him. But he never looked at me the way he looks at you. So fine. I'll step aside. But make sure you don't waste it. Make sure you fight for him."
Tumayo si Luna. "I will. I promise."
Umalis siya. Dala ang folder.
She needs to show this to Jace. To Don Felix. To Atty. Suarez.
They need to stop Don Ricardo.
Before the wedding.
Before it's too late.
Kasi kung totoo ang nasa folder na ito—
They're walking into a trap.
A trap that will destroy them all.
At kailangan nilang pigilan.
Now.
- Writer
