How to Break a Billionaire's Heart (SPG)

Chapter 8

“Hoy!” isang pamilyar na boses ang sumigaw mula sa entrance ng café ni Eloise.

Napalingon naman siya kaagad doon. Isang babaeng naka-oversized hoodie at shorts ang pumasok na parang sarili niyang bahay ang café. Bitbit nito ang isang eco bag na may lamang mga Tupperware.

“Klare,” Eloise sighed in relief. “Buti naman dumating ka.”

Nilingon niya si Joaquin na nasa tabi lang niya at sinabihan na siya muna ang bahala sa counter. Hinila niya si Klare sa isa sa mga bakanteng table.

“I brought food!” ngumiti si Klare habang itinaas ang bag, sabay upo. “Pork adobo 'yan. Alam kong 'di ka na naman nag-breakfast.”

Eloise chuckled, trying to play normal. Hindi nga siya nakakain nang maayos kanina sa mansyon ng mga Foreman dahil sa nangyari. “You're the only reason I'm still functioning.”

Bahagyang tumagilid ang ulo ni Klare, pero ang ngiti niya ngayon ay may bahid na ng pang-aasar. “Well, aside from the fact na kailangan mong magpaka-function dahil sa isang certain man na hindi mo lang sinamahan ng isang gabi—kasama mo pa buong gabi.”

Tumigil si Eloise. Her hand froze halfway to the Tupperware. “Alam mo na?”

“Girl. Bumisita ako kahapon. I was literally standing right there,” sabay turo sa counter, “at sabi ni Joaquin, ‘isinama ka raw ng isang lalaki.’” She raised an eyebrow. “So imagine my shock kahapon ng umaga, biglang may natanggap akong one-minute voice message galing sa’yo. 'Sh*t, Klare… I did it. I actually slept with him.’ Kaya dali-dali akong pumunta rito. Hindi ko nga alam kung tatawagin ko ba ‘tong confession o breakdown.”

Napahawak si Eloise sa sentido. She forgot about that. “Oh God.”

Klare stared at her. “So, it really happened? You slept with him?”

“Yeah,” mahinang sagot ni Eloise. “I did.”

Sandaling katahimikan ang bumalot sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi nagsalita si Klare. Binuksan lang niya ang Tupperware, ibinuhos ang kanin sa plato, saka tumingala.

“Tingin mo ba, worth it ‘yon?”

Hindi alam ni Eloise kung ano ang sasabihin. Kaya umupo na lang siya sa tapat nito at mahinang nagsalita. “Hindi ko alam.”

Klare narrowed her eyes. “Akala ko ba this was all part of a plan? Yung deal niyo? The ‘act’?”

Tumango si Eloise. She shared to Klare about the deal between her and Estevan, dahil ito lang din naman ang may alam sa plano niya.

“Yeah, he offered a deal to be his girlfriend for 3 months, and I said yes to make my plan easier.”

“Wait, bakit niya in-offer ang deal na ‘yon anyway?”

Napabuga ng hininga si Eloise. “He said he wants to get back to his younger brother. Inaagaw raw nito lahat ng sa kan’ya and wants to prove to him that he can’t steal everything from him.”

Saglit na nasira ang pagmumukha ni Klare sa narinig. “Wealthy people dramas,” anito at inikot ang mga mata. “So, saan kayo pumunta kahapon at ba’t magdamag kayong magkasama?”

“We went to the Foreman estate... and we stayed the night.”

Klare raised her eyebrow. “Pero ‘di lang ‘yon ang nangyari, obviously.”

Eloise closed her eyes for a second. “No. Walang nangyari sa amin kagabi. No’ng first meet namin lang may nangyari. Inuwi niya ako sa penthouse niya and…yeah, that was the only time we had sex.”

“Holy s**t. You really did it, you little b***h. Si Eloise ka ba talaga na kaibigan ko na super virgin?” biro pa nito habang tumatawa.

Inikot ni Eloise ang mga mata. “Shut up. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I thought—I thought I had it. That I was using him.”

“Pero?”

“But I didn’t want to leave that night. The plan was in my head while we're doing it, yes, but...I don't know,” she admitted. “And now, everything’s just… confusing.” She bit her lower lip and sighed.

Klare shook her head slowly, picking at the adobo. “Eloise, this wasn’t supposed to be personal. You were supposed to be in control.”

“I was in control! I swear, Klare. Pero ngayon? Hindi ko na alam kung sino ang niloloko ko—siya o sarili ko. I don't even know why I'm having these kinds of thoughts. Maybe because siya ang unang taong binigyan ko ng virginity ko? And it's doing something with how I think and how I feel? I really don't know, Klare.” Bakas sa mukha at tono ni Eloise ang gulo sa nararamdaman.

Ilang segundo siyang tinitigan ng kaibigan. “Do you still remember why you’re doing this?” Umangat ang kilay ni Klare.

Tumango siya. “Of course, for my sister,” agad niyang sagot. “Para sa ate ko. Hindi ko p’wedeng kalimutan kung bakit ko ito sinimulan.”

“But you’re already starting to lose yourself,” Klare replied, her voice was calm but firm. “Alam mo ba kung gaano ka delikado ‘yan? Hindi lang dahil kay Estevan, kundi dahil sa'yo rin.”

Eloise stayed quiet. Alam niyang may point ang kaibigan niya.

Klare leaned closer. “Eloise... I’m not judging you, okay? I get it. He’s powerful. He’s charming. Pero just because he held you last night doesn’t mean he won’t drop you tomorrow. Remember what he did to Eli? To your own stepsister? Iiwan ka rin no’n right after he gets what he wants, and that’s to get back to his brother.”

“‘Yon naman talaga ang napag-usapan namin. It’s only a 3-month deal.”

“See? So don’t associate your personal feelings. Remember, gusto mong maghiganti, right? You want him to fall in love with you, then drop him, leaving him on his knees. Ngayon, ba’t parang ikaw ang nahuhulog sa sarili mong patibong? Mind you, you’re only starting, ah. Imagine what three months with him will do to you.”

Saglit na nanahimik si Eloise, trying to process what her best friend said.

“Hindi ako nahuhulog,” tanggi niya, kahit alam niyang may bahid ng pag-aalinlangan ang boses niya. “Siguro dahil lang talaga 'to sa ginawa namin. You know that 'soul tie' na sinasabi nila when you had s*x with someone? I'm sure that's it. And it’s only a 3-month deal, Klare. Plus it’s for my plan at the same time," paliwanag niya rito na para bang pati sarili niya ang kan'ya ring kinukumbinsi.

“Sure ka?” Klare challenged. “Kasi ang dating, ikaw na ang nasusugatan, habang siya? Still playing clean.”

Tumahimik muli si Eloise.

“Revenge is easy to plan when your heart’s untouched, Eloise,” Klare murmured. “Pero ano'ng gagawin mo kapag ‘yong taong target mo, siya na ‘yong nagiging dahilan kung bakit ka kumakapit?”

Napakagat ng labi si Eloise at nag-iisip. “That won’t happen. Hindi p’wede.”

Klare just gave her a look and handed her a spoon. “Just make sure na kung masaktan ka—‘di mo ko sisisihin.”

Eloise gave a quiet, broken laugh. “Thanks for always showing up.”

“Always,” sagot ni Klare, this time with a softer smile. “Now come on. Kumain ka na. Baka mamaya makita ka ni Mr. Billionaire mo, gutom, stressed, at madudulas ka na naman sa kama niya.”

Eloise let out a laugh despite the heaviness inside her chest.

But she knew. Klare was right. Because even with the perfect plan laid out, she was never prepared for how it would feel to become the pawn in her own game.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto, habang nag-uusap sila sa ibang bagay, nag-vibrate ang cellphone niya na nasa bulsa. She fished it out of her pocket, and a text message from Estevan greeted her.

Estevan the Jerk:

I’ll fetch you from your cafe after your work. We’re going somewhere.