Engaged in Disguise

Chapter Sixteen

TWO weeks later. Forty-five days na lang before the wedding. Forty-five days to prepare. Forty-five days of awkwardness, tension and pretending.

Si Luna—bumalik na siya sa penthouse niya. Back to her real life. Back to being Luna Hart, the heiress. But everything feels different now. Ang apartment na dating punong-puno ng parties, ng tawa, ng meaningless noise ay ngayon ay tahimik. Empty. Lonely.

Ang mga friends niya, they're calling. Texting. Asking kung nasaan siya. Bakit bigla siyang nawala.

But she's been avoiding them. Kasi paano niya ie-explain?

"Hi, I've been pretending to be a secretary. Nag-spy ako sa fiancé ko. I fell in love with him. Nalaman niya. Ngayon ayaw niya sa akin. But we're getting married anyway to save my family's company."

Yeah. That'll go well.

Sa sumunod na araw ay scheduled meeting si Luna. With the wedding planner. Sa Hart Estate.

Kailangan nilang mag-plan ng ceremony. Kahit ayaw niya. Kahit masakit.

Dumating siya ng ten AM. Si Don Felix ay nandun na. Kasama si Atty. Suarez. At ang wedding planner—Madam Celeste Rivas, the most sought-after wedding planner in Manila.

Ironic na ang pangalan niya ay Celeste. A very painful reminder.

"Good morning, Miss Luna," bati ni Madam Celeste. Enthusiastic and professional. "Congratulations on your engagement! I'm so honored to be planning your wedding to Mr. Jace Sullivan. Ang ganda ng love story ninyo—arranged marriage na naging totoo! So romantic!"

Isang pekeng ngiti lang ang iginawad nito. "Thank you, Madam Celeste."

"So," simula ni Madam Celeste. Nag-open ng iPad. "Let's discuss the details. Venue, theme, guest list, everything. Kailan ba available si Mr. Sullivan for the planning meetings?"

"He's not available," mabilis na sagot ni Luna. "He's very busy with work. I'll handle all the planning."

"Oh," mababakas ang disappointment sa sagot ni Madam Celeste "Usually, couples plan together. It's part of the bonding—"

"We're not a usual couple," putol ni Luna. "I'll make the decisions. Notify him of the final details. He'll approve or disapprove. That's how we'll work."

Nagkatinginan lang si Madam Celeste at Don Felix nang marinig ang sinabi nito, alam nilang may mali pero hindi na lang nila pinansin.

"Okay," sabi ni Madam Celeste. "Let's start with the basics. Venue. Where do you want to get married?"

Nag-isip si Luna. Saan nga ba?

Big church wedding? No. Too public. Too showy. Hindi bagay sa situation nila.

Garden wedding? Maybe. But too romantic. Too painful.

"Simple lang," sabi ni Luna. "Small ceremony. Private. Immediate family and close friends only. Maybe fifty guests max."

"Fifty?" gulat ni Madam Celeste. "But Miss Luna, you're Luna Hart. Heiress. Si Mr. Sullivan is a Sullivan. The society expects—"

"I don't care what society expects," putol ni Luna. "This is my wedding. Gusto kong simple at intimate. Walang media circus. Walang drama. Simple lang."

Tumango si Don Felix mitsa nang pagsang-ayon. "I agree. Simple is better."

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Madam Celeste. "Okay. Simple. We can do that. How about venue? May specific place ba kayo in mind?"

Nag-isip si Luna. Then—

"Here," sagot niya. "Sa garden ng Hart Estate. Sunset ceremony. Outdoor. Fairy lights. Simple decorations. White and gold theme. Elegant but not extravagant."

Nag-type si Madam Celeste sa kaniyang iPad sa mga details na sinabi ni Luna. "Okay. Hart Estate garden. Sunset. White and gold. Got it. How about the dress?"

Ang dress.

Ang wedding dress na dapat ay dream dress niya. Fairy tale. Princess gown. Happily ever after.

But now? Isa lang itong costume. Another disguise. Another role to play.

"Simple din," matipid na sagot ni Luna. "Walang ball gown. Walang extravagant lace. Simple A-line. Elegant. Classy. Walang masyado details."

"Are you sure?" nag-aalangang tanong ni Madam Celeste. "Ito ang wedding mo, Luna. Once in a lifetime—"

"I'm sure," putol ni Luna nagpapahiwatig na final na ang desisyon nito at ito ang gusto niya.

For the next two hours na pagpa-plano. Choosing of Catering, flowers, music, photography, guestlist and invitations. At lahat nang pinili niya ay simple lang.

Every decision she made was practical, simple. No emotion. Kasi if Luna allows herself to feel, she'll break.

This should be the happiest time of her life. Planning her wedding. To the man she loves. But instead—it's a business arrangement. Cold. Transactional. Forced.

---

​Nang hapon ding iyon, nagtungo si Luna sa isang bridal boutique. Walang entourage, walang nanay, walang mga kaibigang nagtititili sa tuwa.

Her mother is in the States, busy.. dahil hindi man lang siya nitong magawang kamustahin o tawagan, sadyang laki si Luna sa lolo niya at kahit sa mga ganitong sitwasyon na dapat ang ina niya ang kasama o nakakausap niya ay wala ito.

Ang mga kapatid naman nito ay may mga sariling pamilya na.

Kaya wala siyang choice kung hindi gawin ito mag-isa.

Pumasok siya sa boutique. High-end. Exclusive. Appointment-only.

"Good afternoon, Miss Hart," bati ng owner. "We've been expecting you. We have a wonderful selection prepared."

Dinala siya sa private fitting room. May naka-display na wedding dresses. Twenty of them. Lahat magaganda. Lahat mamahalin.

Ball gowns with Swarovski crystals. Mermaid cuts with intricate lace. Princess styles with long trains.

Lahat magaganda. Lahat perfect.

Pero lahat ay walang appeal kay Luna. Walang spark.

"Let's start with this one," sabi ng consultant. Kinuha ang isang ball gown. White. Elegant. May thousands of tiny pearls sewn into the bodice.

Sinukat ni Luna. Perfect fit. Stunning.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Three-way mirror. Full view. Maganda ito. She looks like a princess. Pero ang mukha niya—sad. Empty. Walang happiness, walang excitement.

"What do you think, Miss Hart?" excited na tanong ng consultant.

"It's beautiful," walang emosyon na sagot ni Luna. "But not what I want. Next one, please."

Ganun ang pattern. For the next hour. Sukat. Tignan sa mirror. Reject.

Twenty dresses at lahat rejected.

"Miss Hart," mababakas na ang frustration sa mukha nito. "We've shown you our best pieces. Ano ba exactly ang hinahanap ninyo?"

Nag-isip si Luna. Ano nga ba?

"Something simple," sagot niya. "Walang drama. Walang fairytale elements. Just a dress. Beautiful pero realistic. Honest. Not pretending to be something it's not."

Nag-isip ang consultant. Then—

"I might have something," sabi niya. "Wait here."

Lumabas siya. Bumalik after five minutes. May dala siyang dress. Hindi ito kasama sa mga naka-display kanina. Nasa stockroom ito ayon sa consultant.

Simple A-line. Off-white. Hindi pure white. Sweetheart neckline. Lace sleeves. Flowing skirt. Walang train. Walang heavy beading. Just simple, elegant, beautiful.

"This," sabi ng consultant. "Custom-made for a client who cancelled. Simple. Elegant. Exactly what you described."

Sinukat ni Luna.

Perfect fit.

Tumingin siya sa salamin.

Wow.

Hindi siya mukhang princess. Mukha siyang totoong babae. Totoong bride.

Flawed pero beautiful. Honest pero elegant.

"This is it," sabi ni Luna. "This is the one."

Ngumiti ang consultant. "Excellent choice, Miss Hart."

Binili na ito ni Luna at nag-arranged for alterations at matapos magbayad ay lumabas na ito sa botique.

Paglabas niya ng boutique, may text from unknown number.

"Kumusta ang wedding planning? I hope you're not going overboard. Remember—simple lang. - Jace"

First text from Jace in two weeks. Cold. Impersonal. But still—contact.

Nag-reply si Luna. "Going well. Everything is simple. As you wanted. Thank you for checking."

Three dots appeared. He's typing.

Then disappeared.

No reply.

Napahinga si Luna. At least he's checking. At least may communication. Small step. But something.

---

Two weeks later.

Thirty days na lang before the wedding. Ang Hart and Sullivan families ay nagset-up nang dinner for the first time officially.

Ang dinner ay gaganapin sa Hart Estate. To discuss final wedding details.

Dumating ang Sullivan family. Don Ricardo. Jace. At ang older brother ni Jace na kakagaling lang from abroad—Elijah Sullivan.

Si Elijah—thirty-two years old. Black sheep ng Sullivan family. Left the family business years ago. Became an architect. Lives in Singapore at bihira lang umuwi.

Tall like Jace. But more relaxed. More approachable. Laging naka-ngiti. And when Luna met him, nag-shake hands sila.

"So you're Luna," sabi ni Elijah. Friendly. "The famous heiress my brother is marrying. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," magalang na sagot ni Luna sa kaniya.

"You know," mahinang sabi nito sapat na para marinig niya. "Jace hasn't stopped talking about you. Well, not talking exactly. More like brooding. Staring at his phone. Pretending not to care. Classic signs."

Napatigil si Luna. "Signs of what?"

"That he's in love," simpleng sagot ni Elijah. "He's just too stubborn to admit it. Too hurt. Too proud. But trust me—he still loves you."

"How do you know?" nagtatakang tanong ni Luna.

"Because I know my brother," sagot ni Elijah. "I've seen him with other women. Walang emotion. Walang depth. But you? You got under his skin. You made him feel. And now he doesn't know how to handle it."

Napatigil si Luna. She’s processesing what she heard from Jace’s brother and before she could respond, tinawag na sila for dinner.

Umupo silang lahat sa long dining table. Si Don Felix sa head. Si Don Ricardo sa other end. Si Luna at Jace sa opposite sides.

Awkward. Tense. Silent.

"So," simula ni Don Ricardo. Breaking the silence. "One month na lang. Everything is prepared?"

"Yes," sagot ni Don Felix. "The venue. The catering. The guests. Everything is set."

"Good," sabi ni Don Ricardo with a cold smile. "This marriage will benefit both families greatly. Business-wise."

Ang tension sa hapag ay tumaas. Because everyone knows. This marriage is forced. Manipulated by none other than Don Ricardo.

"Dad," sabi ni Jace. Firm. "This is a family dinner. Let's not talk business."

"Everything is business, Jace," sagot ni Don Ricardo. "You should know that by now."

Tumahimik si Jace. Mababakas ang galit nito pero pilit na kinokontrol ang sarili.

Si Luna—she watched. Nakita niya ang dynamic. How Don Ricardo controls. How Jace resists. How toxic their relationship is.

Naaawa siya kay Jace, despite everything. Despite the pain. She feels sorry for Jace. Growing up with a father like that. Cold. Manipulative. Cruel. No wonder he built walls. No wonder he doesn't trust easily.

After dinner, nag-excuse si Luna. Went to the garden. Kailangan niya ng fresh air dahil sa mga nangyari kanina.

A few minutes later, naramdaman niya ang isang pamilya na presensya.

Si Jace.

Naglakad siya papunta sa kanya. Hands in his pockets.

"Hey," sabi niya. Awkward.

"Hey," sagot ni Luna.

Silence.

"Your brother is nice," sabi ni Luna.

"He is," sagot ni Jace. "Iba siya sa akin. More social. More open. More... normal."

"You're normal," defend ni Luna. "You're just... careful. Guarded. Because of what you've been through."

Tumingin si Jace sa kanya. Surprised that she understands.

"Luna," hesitant na tawag nito sa kanya. "About the wedding. I know this isn't what you wanted. I know you're being forced—"

"We both are," putol ni Luna. "Both of us are trapped. Both of us are sacrificing."

Tumango si Jace. "Yeah."

"But Jace," tuloy ni Luna. "Even though this is forced. Even though it's a business arrangement. I want you to know—I'll try. I'll try to be a good wife. I'll try to make this work. Kahit one year lang. Kahit loveless. I'll try."

​Tumingin si Jace sa kanya nang matagal. "Why? Why do you care? You could just go through the motions. Minimum effort. Why try?"

"Because I love you," tapat na sagot ni Luna. "I know you don't believe me. I know you think it's manipulation. But it's true. I love you. At kahit hindi mo ako mahal pabalik—I'll still try. For you. For us. For the possibility na maybe, someday, you'll forgive me."

"Luna—" simula niya.

"Jace! Luna! Time to go!" sigaw ni Don Felix from the house.

The moment was broken. Nag-pull back si Jace. Wall up again, cold and emotionless.

"We should go," sabi niya.

Tumango si Luna. "Yeah."

Bumalik na sila sa loob. Pero ang usapan na yun, parang may something. May pagbabago.

Hindi pa forgiveness. Hindi pa trust.

But acknowledgment. Understanding. Connection.

Small step.

But for Luna it is more than enough. Enough to hold on. Enough to hope. Enough to keep fighting.

Kasi ang love—it's not about giving up. It's about fighting. Even when it's hard. Even when it hurts.

At si Luna—she's willing to fight.

For as long as it takes.

Thirty days na lang.

Then they'll be married.

At once they are—she'll prove it.

She'll prove that her love is real.

Real enough to last.

Real enough to heal.

Real enough to save them both.