Chapter 19
1197 Words
Earlier that evening, Estevan had been introducing her around—exchanging handshakes with men in tailored suits and nodding to women in sophisticated dresses and sleek heels. Eloise followed beside him, offering firm handshakes and polite smiles.
Everyone they met seemed to carry weight—investors, executives, and a few foreign partners.
She couldn’t keep up with all the names, but she did notice how they looked at her—curious, assessing, and some were surprised.
Estevan wore that same quiet confidence again. Stoic, umreadable, but completely in control—like every step he took beside her was deliberate. Like he wanted them to see her. To be seen with her.
Na para bang may mensahe sa bawat pagyakap niya sa baywang niya habang ipinapakilala siya. Hindi niya alam kung para saan—o para kanino—pero ramdam niya ang bigat ng bawat sulyap ng mga tao.
Then came a voice behind them.
“Estevan…”
Pareho silang napalingon.
A woman approached them. She was tall and poised, with hair like black silk and a red dress that clung to her like it was made only for her. She walked like the ground belonged to her. She carried herself with grace—refined, but not soft.
“Camille,” Estevan said, his voice was polite but cool. “This is Eloise. My girlfriend.”
Eloise offered her hand, keeping her poise. “Nice to meet you.”
Naglipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa bago ito pilit na ngumiti. “You’re even more stunning in person,” she said. “Estevan rarely brings women to events like this. Must be serious.”
Bahagyang inihilig ni Eloise ang kan’yang ulo, nanatiling matatag ang kan’yang ngiti. “Maybe he was just waiting for someone worth bringing.”
Camille blinked in shock, then let out a small laugh. “Right. Enjoy the night, lovebirds.”
As Camille walked away, heels tapping against the polished stone, Eloise leaned in.
“Who was that?”
“Camille Villanueva. Head of Corporate Strategy.”
“Ex mo?”
Estevan looked at her with a deadpan look. “None of your business.”
She smirked. “Hmm. That means yes.” She took another sip of wine, letting the warmth coat her throat.
Buti na lang masarap ang alak, aniya sa isipan.
Habang lumalalim ang gabi, unti-unting lumambot ang mga gilid ng kan’yang pag-iisip. Everything felt slightly off, as id she was in a dream she couldn’t quite wake up from. The music was too slow. The lights were too warm. The conversations were too distant.
For some reason, Eloise couldn’t shake the unease building in her chest.
The wine felt heavier than before. Her thoughts slowed, then her limbs tingled, like they were slowly being submerged in heat. And her throat felt dry.
Bakit parang ang bigat sa dibdib?
Pinilit niyang ngumiti habang may kkausap si Estevan na isang board member. Tumango siya rito, nagkunwaring interesado, pero ang tingin niya ay malayo. There was pressure behind her eyes. A haze was forming at the edges of her vision.
Kailangan niya ng hangin.
“I need to step out,” bulong niya sa tenga ni Estevan. “Just for a bit.”
He looked at her for a second, brows tightening, then nodded. “Don’t go far.”
Eloise gently slipped away from the crowd, stepping out onto the private terrace. Sa malayo, kumikislap ang dagat sa ilalim ng buwan. She exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the strange weight in her chest.
She stood there, clutching her glass, trying to catch her breath.
Ang ganda ng gabi, she thought. The wind from the sea was cooler and softer. The sound of the waves lapping against the cliffside.
Ngunit hindi pa rin maalis-alis ang bigat sa dibdib niya.
“Beautiful night,” a voice said behind her.
Nanigas bigla ang katawan niya. Pamilyar na pamilyar ang tinig nito.
Then she turned—and there he was.
Elias.
Dressed in sleek gray, with a glass of whiskey in his left hand, his eyes shimmered under the warm lights.
“Elias,” she muttered, stepping back. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Elias raised his glass. “I’m part of the summit. Surprise.” Sumimsim siya sa hawak nitong baso at ngumisi sa kan’ya. “Why? Did your little roleplaying game make you forget the real reason you’re here?”
Her jaw tightened. “Get away from me.”
“Relax,” he chuckled, tilting his head. “I’m not here to ruin your fun.” His eyes dropped to her wine glass, then rose again with a glint. “Though I must say, you look… flushed.”
She froze. May malamig na gumapang sa batok niya, kahit ramdam niyang pinagpapawisan ang buo niyang katawan. Her heart started to race. Her vision blurred, like the lights suddenly swam around her.
“What the…” she murmured. Sinubukan niyang tumayo nang maayos ngunit nanlalambot na ang kan’yang mga tuhod.
“Careful,” he uttered, swirling his drink lazily. “This whole act—fgirlfriend, good girl—it's convincing. But you and I both know the truth, Eloise. You’re not built for games like this.”
Her head pounded. A strange heat was climbing up her neck, spreading through her veins like wildfire.
Bigla niyang nabitawan ang hawak niyang baso, dahilan ng pagkabasag nito. “What did you—”
“Hush…”
Halos gusto niyang tumakbo palayo nang inilapat nito ang daliri sa mga labi niya. An evil grin flashed on his lips as he stared at her face, down to her lips.
“Sayang,” he whispered, gaze lingering on her lips. “Such tempting lips, Eloise. One day… I’ll make sure those lips say my name instead.”
Before she could respond to anything, her sight turned hazy. The lights around her swirled, and her knees began to give out.
“Eloise?”
Estevan’s voice. It was sharp… alarmed.
Bigla na lang itong nasa tabi niya, mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa braso niya habang sinusuri ng mga mata nito ang kan'yang mukha.
“Eloise—hey.”
Nang muntik na siyang matumba, agad siyang hinawakan ni Estevan.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his arms around her now, leaning her against his chest.
“Hindi ko… a-alam…”
She tried to answer, pero umiikot ang paligid. Ang ilaw. Ang musika. Ang hangin.
Parang may mali. Everything was just swirling. Even Estevan’s worried face.
“Eloise,” he repeated, his voice was lower now, closer, and filled with concern. “Look at me. Stay with me.”
Sinubukan niyang mag-focus, pero lahat ng bagay ay parang nalulunod sa hangin.
Then she heard footsteps behind them.
Elias. She wanted to scream, to tell Estevan, but her lips wouldn’t move.
“Did she drink too much?” came Elias’ voice.
“Stay away,” Estevan snapped, his grip tightening around her waist.
Eloise clutched his coat weakly. Estevan…
The last thing she felt was the heat of Estevan's embrace and the soft pressure of his voice near her ear.
“Eloise. Stay with me.”
And just like that, the world faded to black.
- Writer
