Engaged in Disguise

Chapter Two

PITONG ARAW.

Seven days para maging ibang tao.

Seven days para matutunan kung paano maging sekretarya.

Seven days para mawala si Luna Hart at lumitaw si Celeste Cruz.

Nakatayo si Luna sa harap ng full-length mirror sa guest room ng Hart Estate. Alas-sais na ng umaga. First day ng training niya.

Pero ang babaeng nakikita niya sa salamin ay hindi na siya.

Gone ang mahabang wavy hair na laging naka-rebond at naka-treatment sa salon. Ngayon, simple shoulder-length lang. Straight cut. Walang layers. Walang highlights. Natural black lang.

Gone ang designer clothes. Ngayon, suot niya ang plain white button-down blouse na binili sa department store. May slacks na itim na off-the-rack lang from SM. May black flats na comfortable pero walang brand.

Gone ang expensive makeup. Ngayon, BB cream lang. Lip tint. Mascara. Simple.

Tiningnan niya ang sarili niya. Ang strange ng feeling. Parang nakikita niya ang ibang tao.

"Celeste Cruz," bulong niya sa sarili. Testing the name. "Maria Celeste Cruz."

Parang ang layo ng tunog. Ang weird.

Napukaw ang kanyang pagmumuni-muni nang may kumatok sa pinto. "Luna, ready ka na ba?" Boses ni Atty. Ramon Suarez. Ang tutor niya for this week.

"Yes, po," sagot ni Luna. Binuksan niya ang pinto.

Si Atty. Suarez ay nakatayo doon. Sixty years old na, may puti na sa buhok, naka-reading glasses, pero ang postura ay tuwid pa rin. Dati siyang professor ni Luna sa college. Business Law ang subject niya. At si Luna, kahit party girl siya noon, nag-excel sa class ni Atty. Suarez. Kasi matalino talaga si Luna. She just chose to hide it.

"Good morning, Celeste," bati ni Atty. Cruz. Deliberately ginamit niya ang bagong pangalan ni Luna.

Napatigil si Luna. "Ah... good morning po, Attorney."

"From now on, you are Celeste Cruz," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. Seryoso ang mukha niya. "Not Luna. Not iha. Not Ma'am. You are Celeste. Simple girl from Batangas. Working class. Trying to make ends meet. Understood?"

Tumango si Luna. "Understood po."

"At isa pa," tuloy ni Atty. Suarez. "Stop calling me 'po.' Sa trabaho, professional ka. Equal footing. You call me 'Attorney' or 'Sir,' pero hindi yung parang amo at katulong. You're a professional. Act like one."

Napakurap si Luna. This is harder than she thought. All her life, she was raised na mag-po at mag-opo sa mga mas matanda. To be polite. To be respectful in that specific way.

"Yes... Sir," sabi niya. Ang weird ng feeling na hindi mag-po. Ngumiti si Atty. Cruz. Small smile. "Good. Now, let's begin. Follow me."

Naglakad sila sa hallway papunta sa library ng mansion. Ang library ay malaki—two-story high, with spiral staircase, with thousands of books. But ngayon, nag-transform ito into a training center.

May dalawang desks na naka-set-up. May computer. May printer. May file organizers. May telephone system. Parang opisina na talaga.

"This is your training ground," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. Tinuro niya ang desk. "For the next seven days, dito ka mag-work. Eight AM to six PM. With one-hour lunch break. Just like a real job."

Lumapit si Luna sa desk at naupo sa swivel chair. Ang swivel chair ay simple lang. Hindi tulad ng ergonomic chairs sa office ng Lolo niya. This one is basic. Functional. Uncomfortable.

"First lesson," simula ni Atty. Cruz. Umupo siya sa kabila. "Being a secretary is not easy. Most people think it's just answering phones and making coffee. But the truth is, you are the backbone of the CEO's operations. Everything passes through you. Every appointment. Every call. Every document. Every crisis. You are the gatekeeper. You are the organizer. You are the shield."

Seryoso lang siyang nakikinig. Wala siyang inatupag na iba. Walang phone. Kinuha ni Lolo lahat ng gadgets niya. Because he said na dapat no distractions.

"Your boss will depend on you," tuloy ni Atty. Suarez. "And Jace Sullivan, based on my research, is a very demanding boss. He expects excellence. He expects efficiency. He expects you to anticipate his needs before he even asks."

"How do I do that?" tanong ni Luna.

"By learning everything about him," sagot ni Atty. Suarez. May kinuha siyang folder. Makapal. "This is Jace Alexander Sullivan. Everything we know about him. Study this. Memorize this. Know his habits. His preferences. His patterns."

Binuksan naman ni Luna ang folder.

May mga pictures. May mga articles. May mga business reports. May mga interview transcripts.

Binasa niya lahat.

Jace Alexander Sullivan, 29 years old. CEO of Sullivan Corporation for three years. Took over from his father, Don Ricardo Sullivan, at age 26. Youngest CEO in the company's history.

Known for: Aggressive business tactics. Cold demeanor. High employee turnover rate—average secretary lasts only three months.

Personal life: Private. No confirmed relationships. Seen with multiple women at social events but never the same woman twice.

Education: MBA from Harvard Business School. Bachelor's in Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University.

Reputation: Ruthless. Brilliant. Impossible to please.

Nag-flip si Luna ng page at nakita niya ang mga quotations from former employees.

"Mr. Sullivan is a perfectionist. One mistake and you're out."

"He doesn't yell. That's what makes it worse. He'll just look at you with those cold eyes and you know you disappointed him."

"I lasted two weeks. Two weeks of hell. Never again."

Napalunok si Luna. This is the man she's going to work for? This is the man she's supposed to marry?

"Natakot ka ba?" tanong ni Atty. Cruz.

"Honestly? Yes," sagot ni Luna. "He sounds... terrible."

"He sounds challenging," tama ni Atty. Suarez. "But remember, Luna—este, Celeste—this is your chance to see the real him. Maybe he's not as terrible as people say. Maybe he's just... misunderstood. Defensive. Protecting himself."

"Or maybe he's just an asshole," sabi ni Luna.

Tumawa si Atty. Suarez. "Possibly. But that's what you're here to find out."

For the next three hours, nag-training si Luna.

Natutunan niya kung paano mag-file ng documents. Alphabetically. By date. By category.

Natutunan niya kung paano mag-manage ng calendar. How to prioritize appointments. How to schedule meetings without conflicts.

Natutunan niya kung paano sagutin ang phone professionally.

"Good morning, Sullivan Corporation, CEO's office, how may I help you?" Paulit-ulit. Hanggang sa smooth na ang delivery.

Natutunan niya kung paano mag-type ng business letters. Proper format. Proper tone. Proper grammar.

Natutunan niya kung paano gumamit ng Excel. Formulas. Pivot tables. Charts.

By lunch time, sumasakit na ang ulo ni Luna.

"Break muna," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. "Lunch. Then we continue at one PM."

Bumaba si Luna sa dining area. Nandoon si Manang Betty. May naka-prepare ng lunch.

Pero hindi usual lunch ni Luna.

Nawala na ang steak. Nawala na ang pasta. Nawala na ang salad with imported greens.

Ngayon, may kanin. Adobong manok. Ginisang gulay. Manggang hilaw with bagoong.

Simple food. Common food. Working-class food.

Naupo si Luna. Kumain. At you know what? Masarap. Totoong masarap. Mas masarap pa kaysa sa expensive restaurant food na kinakain niya lagi.

Habang kumakain siya, dumating si Don Felix at umupo ito sa tabi niya.

"How's training?" tanong niya.

"Hard," matipid ngunit totoong sagot nito. "Ang dami kong dapat matutunan. Ang dami kong hindi alam."

"That's good," sabi ni Don Felix. "Ibig sabihin, you're learning. You're growing." Tumahimik si Luna. Kumain pa ng kaunti. Then she asked, "Lolo, do you really think I can do this? Ang layo kasi ng mundo ko dito sa mundo na papasukan ko."

Tumingin si Don Felix sa kanya nang seryoso. "Luna, you graduated c*m laude. You have one of the sharpest minds I've ever seen. The only problem is, you never used it. You hid it behind parties and shopping and meaningless relationships. But now? Now you have a reason to use it. And I believe—no, I know—you can do this."

Nag-sink in ang words ni Lolo. At para bang may spark na nag-ignite sa loob ni Luna.

Maybe he's right.

Maybe she can do this.

Natapos ang lunch. Bumalik siya sa library.

Ang afternoon training niya was different.

"Now we practice real scenarios," sabi ni Atty. Suarez at dahan-dahang tumayo. "I am Jace Sullivan. You are my secretary. Let's simulate a typical day."

Nag-transform si Atty. Suarez. Ang posture niya ay naging stiff. Ang mukha niya ay naging cold. Ang boses niya ay naging clipped.

"Miss Cruz," sabi niya. Cold. Authoritative. "I need the financial reports from last quarter. Now."

Napatigil si Luna. "Ah... which specific reports, Sir?"

"All of them," sagot ni Atty. Cruz, still in character. "And I needed them five minutes ago. Why are you still standing there?"

Napabalikwas si Luna at hinanap ang mga files ayon sa utos ni Atty. Suarez. Kinuha ang mga reports. In-organize at saka inabot kay Atty. Suarez.

"These reports are not in order," sabi ni Atty. Cruz. Tinitigan ang papers. "I want them chronologically arranged. And where's the summary sheet? I don't have time to read through fifty pages."

Bumalik si Luna sa desk. In-arrange ulit ang reports. Gumawa ng summary sheet using Excel. Print. Then back to Atty. Suarez.

"Better," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. Konting approval sa boses. "But next time, anticipate. I always want a summary sheet. Remember that."

Ganun ang buong afternoon. Scenario after scenario. Each one designed to test Luna's ability to think fast. To stay calm under pressure. To anticipate needs.

By six PM, pagod na pagod si Luna. Sumasakit ang likod niya dahil sa buong araw na pag-upo. Sumasakit din ang kaniyang mga mata niya from computer screen. Sumasakit ang ulo niya from all the information.

"Good first day," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. Bumalik siya sa normal niya. "You did better than I expected. You're a fast learner."

"Thank you, Sir," sabi ni Luna and she meant it.

Umakyat siya sa guest room niya. Nahiga sa bed. Simple bed lang. Hindi katulad ng king-size bed niya sa penthouse. But comfortable enough.

Kinuha niya ang notebook na binigay ni Atty. Suarez. Notes niya for the day. Things to remember. Things to improve.

Habang nag-re-review, nag-realize siya ang isang bagay.

Today, for the first time in years, hindi siya nag-check ng i********:. Hindi siya nag-check ng f*******:. Hindi siya nag-text ng friends.

Today, for the first time in years, busy siya sa mga bagay na may kabuluhan

It sounds weird, but... she didn't miss her old life. Not even a little bit.

Day two.

More training. Advanced Excel. PowerPoint presentations. Email management. Time management.

Day three.

Business etiquette. How to handle difficult clients. How to screen calls. How to say no politely but firmly.

Day four.

Crisis management. What to do when the boss is angry. What to do when there's a mistake. What to do when there's a scandal.

Day five.

Corporate culture. Understanding office politics. Reading between the lines. Knowing when to speak and when to stay silent.

Day six.

Personal grooming. How to dress professionally on a budget. How to do simple makeup that looks polished. How to carry yourself with confidence.

Day seven.

Final exam day.

Nag-set up si Atty. Suarez ng full simulation. Eight hours straight. Pretending to be Jace Sullivan. Throwing every possible challenge at Luna.

Angry clients calling. Missing documents. Double-booked appointments. Coffee spills on important papers. Unexpected visitors. Last-minute presentation changes.

Everything.

And Luna? She handled it.

Hindi man perpekto dahil may mga pagkakamali pa rin siya, may mga delays, may mga panic moments.

But she handled it.

By the end of day seven, pagod na pagod siya. Pawis. Stressed. Exhausted.

But she’s proud.

"Congratulations, Celeste," sabi ni Atty. Suarez. Nag-shake hands sila. "You passed. You're ready."

Malapad at totoong ngiti ang isinagot nito. Not the fake smile she uses in parties. It’s real, genuine smile ng accomplishment.

That night, nag-dinner silang lahat. Si Don Felix. Si Atty. Suarez. Si Luna.

Simple dinner lang. Sinigang. Fried fish. Kangkong. Rice.

"Tomorrow, you’ll move to your new apartment," sabi ni Don Felix. "Quezon City. Near the Sullivan Corporation office. One-bedroom unit. Simple. Furnished. Rent is seven thousand pesos per month."

Seven thousand. Yung tip lang niya sa waiter dati sa isang dinner.

"And here's your budget," tuloy ni Don Felix. Iniabot niya ang isang envelope. May cash sa loob nito. "Twenty thousand pesos. Your salary for this month—advance. Manage it wisely. That needs to cover rent, food, transportation, everything."

Twenty thousand.

Yung gastos niya lang sa Starbucks dati in one month. "Lolo, paano ako mag-su-survive ng twenty thousand?" tanong ni Luna.

"The same way millions of Filipinos survive every month," sagot ni Don Felix. Simply. "You budget. You prioritize. You sacrifice. You learn the value of money."

Kinuha ni Luna ang envelope. Ang bigat nang pakiramdam niya hindi dahil mabigat ito physically. Kundi dahil mabigat ito emotionally.

This is real now.

This is really happening.

"Your interview is on Monday morning. Ten AM," sabi ni Don Felix. "Nag-arrange na ako. Through connections. But you still need to pass the actual interview. They don't know na inilagay ka namin doon. They think you're just another applicant. So perform well. Impress them. Get the job legitimately."

Tumango si Luna. "I will."

That night, nag-impake na si Luna.

Pero hindi yung usual na pag-iimpake na nakasanayan niya. No Louis Vuitton luggage. No designer clothes.

Ngayon, isang maleta lang. Old. Borrowed from the storage room. Inside of it are simple clothes. Blouses from department store. Slacks. Jeans. T-shirts. Underwear. Basic toiletries.

Wala nang Chanel perfume. Wala nang La Mer skincare. Wala nang luxury items.

Everything simple. Everything common. Everything... normal.

Humiga siya sa kama. Ito na ang huling gabi na matutulog siya sa guest room.

Pumikit siya. At for the first time in weeks, walang anxiety. Walang emptiness.

May excitement pa nga.

Excitement for what's coming.

Excitement to meet Jace Sullivan.

Excitement to prove herself.

Excitement to discover who Celeste Cruz really is.

And maybe, just maybe, discover who Luna Hart is supposed to be.

Sunday morning.

Moving day.

Nag-drive na si Luna—este, si Celeste—papunta sa Quezon City. Pero hindi na Range Rover ang gamit niyang sasakayan. Old Toyota Corolla. Year 2015. Borrowed from the company motor pool. Luma na ito. May gasgas. May dents. Pero tumatakbo naman.

Nakarating siya sa apartment building. Delos Santos Street. Near Quezon Avenue. Old building. Five stories. Walang elevator.

Unit 304. Third floor.

Inakyat niya ang maleta niya. Mabigat. Pawis na pawis siya pagdating sa third floor.

Binuksan niya ang apartment.

Maliit lang ito sobrang liit para sa kagaya niyang hindi sanay sa ganitong klaseng pamumuhay. Yung living room, dining area, at kitchen nasa iisang space lang. May sofa na lumang-luma na. May maliit na table. May two-seater dining set. May maliit na ref. May stove na dalawang burner lang.

May isang kwarto. Just enough for a single bed, small closet, at bedside table.

May isang bathroom na walang bathtub. Shower lang. Yung mismong shower na sumasayad lang yung curtain sa toilet bowl.

This is it.

This is her new home.

Naupo si Luna sa sofa. Tumingin sa paligid.

Ang layo. Ang layo ng apartment na ito sa penthouse niya. Sa condo niya na may floor-to-ceiling windows, may jacuzzi, may walk-in closet na kasing laki ng buong apartment na ito.

Pero you know what?

This feels... real.

This feels like something she earned. Something she's working for.

Tumayo siya. Nag-start na siyang mag-unpack at nag-ayos ng gamit. Naglinis. Nag-organize.

By evening, okay na. Simple. Clean. Organized.

Nag-dinner siya ng niluto niyang Instant noodles. Kasi wala pa kasing laman ang ref, at wala pa siyang time mag-grocery.

Pero masarap. Mainit. Comforting.

After dinner, nag-prepare na siya for tomorrow.

Kinuha niya ang outfit niya for the interview. White long-sleeve blouse. Black pencil skirt. Black pumps na low heels at simple accessories lang.

Nag-practice siya sa harap ng mirror.

"Good morning. My name is Celeste Cruz. I'm here for the executive secretary position."

Nakangiti siya. Not too big. Not too small. Professional.

"I graduated with a degree in Business Management. I have two years of experience as an executive secretary."

Confident. But not arrogant.

"I believe I would be a great fit for this position because I am organized, efficient, and I work well under pressure."

Clear. Concise. Convincing.

Paulit-ulit siya. Hanggang ma-perfect niya ito.

By ten PM, humiga na siya.

Ang kama ay matigas. Ang unan naman niya ay manipis. Ang kumot ay hindi kagaya ng Egyptian cotton sheets niya.

Pero nakatulog siya. Deeply. Soundly.

Kasi pagod siya sa ginawa niya maghapon. Totoong pagod. Yung pagod na galing sa hard work. Hindi yung pagod na galing sa party hanggang madaling araw.

At sa panaginip niya, nakita niya si Jace Sullivan.

Yung cold eyes. Yung intimidating presence.

At naisip niya: Tomorrow, we meet.

Tomorrow, the real game begins.

Tomorrow, Celeste Cruz will face Jace Sullivan.

At walang alam si Jace na ang babaeng mami-meet niya bukas—ang simple secretary na mag-a-apply sa kanya—ay actually si Luna Hart.

Ang babae na pakakasalan niya sa loob ng isang taon.

Ang babae na mag-s-spy sa kanya.

Ang babae na magbabago ng buhay niya.

At ang babae na, eventually, ay mamahalin niya.

Pero for now, they're strangers.

Para sa kanya, si Celeste Cruz lang siya.

At that's exactly what Luna wants.