CHAPTER 5
1438 Words
I really had a bad day. I guess?
Kasi wala akong matinong ma isip. I was stuck with this paranoia that maybe Draemon has his own intention, and to that panata I made with Mr. Ismael.
Tahimik ang paligid. For once, walang notification ang phone ko, walang chika sa group chat, at walang kumakatok sa pinto para magpabili ng suka.
I was alone with my thoughts—and honestly? That’s even louder.
Nasa kama ako, nakahiga sideways habang tinititigan ang kisame. Sa tabi ko, bukas ang laptop, showing the same press release over and over again.
“Rivera Publication Welcomes New Private Investor, Draemon Velliar.”
"Private investor..." I repeated softly. "Pero bakit parang... personal?"
I let out a breath, one of those long, exhausted sighs na kahit ilang ulit mo gawin, hindi pa rin sapat. My body was tired, but my mind? WIDE AWAKE.
Si Draemon.
Of all people. Of all clubs. Of all possibilities.
He saw me on my lowest, lasing, emotional, exposed. Tapos ngayon, andito na siya. Not as a suitor. Not as a fling.
But as someone with influence. With power. With access to my world.
And he’s watching me. Carefully.
"Anong gusto niya talaga?"
I turned to my side and stared at my little altar by the window. Doon ko sinasabit ‘yung mga copy ng panata papers ko. Mga sulat sa sarili. Mga pangarap. Mga tahimik na dasal.
I stood up, walked barefoot, and picked the folded one with red ink. The one I wrote days ago after visiting the sacred place, Kanlungan ng Sagrado—a hidden sanctuary sa bundok kung saan nagpapanata ang pamilya namin.
I opened it slowly.
"Ismael Rivera. Hindi ko alam kung panata nga kita. Pero kung totoo itong nararamdaman ko—na ikaw ang gusto ko, na ikaw ang nararapat—sana, kahit imposible, bigyan ako ng pagkakataon.
Pero kung hindi, kung hindi talaga para sa akin... please, pakawalan mo ako.
Kasi ayokong habang buhay akong umaasa sa taong hindi naman ako pinapahalagahan.”
My handwriting. Matapang. Determined.
But reading it now… I felt something strange. A doubt.
"Bakit siya nga ba?"
I thought of Sir Ismael—stoic, quiet, dedicated to work, always unreachable, always perfect. He never flirts. Never looks back. Never makes mistakes. And maybe that’s what made him so... enticing.
But also... cold. Closed off.
And then, there's Draemon.
Misteryosong mayabang. But he listens. Remembers. Makes space. Sinadya man o hindi, parang may hawak siyang salamin at pinapakita niya ‘yung sarili ko na matagal ko nang tinatago.
“Gusto ba niya ako?”
“Or is he just playing?”
I went back to bed, hugging my pillow, thinking.
What is Draemon really investing in? The company? Or me?
Napapikit ako, trying to sort the chaos in my head. At the core of it all, hindi ko masagot ang tanong na:
“Totoo pa ba ang panata ko?”
I used to think that once you made a vow, solid na. But what if it changes? What if he changes? What if I changed?
I remembered Draemon’s words—“Loyalty is noble. But freedom? That’s power.”
It scared me how right it felt.
Kinabukan, I went back to that place.
Yes, I went back.
Nagpaalam ako kay Mama. She didn’t ask questions. She just looked at me and said, “Kung magbabago ka ng panata, siguraduhin mong hindi ‘yan dahil lang sa takot, Pinky.”
Oo nga no? Am I afraid... or am I just waking up?
Sa ilalim ng malaking puno, I sat cross-legged, holding two pieces of paper. The old panata. And a blank one.
Around me were others. Some praying. Some crying. Some burning old vows and whispering new names.
Sa di kalayuan, may isang babae na umiiyak habang hawak ang lumang larawan ng lalake. Beside her, a candle flickered. Her new vow: "Ako naman. Ako na ang mamahalin."
Gusto kong maiyak.
"Will I ever be the 'ako naman' for someone?" I whispered.
I looked at the blank page.
For the first time, I hesitated.
Should I still write Ismael’s name?
Or should I leave it blank?
Or… should I wait—just a little more—to know if Draemon meant something?
Pumasok ako sa office na parang bagong ligo ang kaluluwa ko. Clean slate, 'ika nga. I was calm. Composed. Or at least… trying to be.
Pero sa sandaling makita ko ang pangalan niya sa conference agenda? Nawala ang pagka-zen ko.
“9:30 AM – Strategic Rollout with Draemon Velliar, Investor Introduction.”
“Putok na,” I mumbled. “Ito na ‘to.”
When I stepped inside the conference room, everyone was already there. Mr. Ismael—calm and unreadable as always—sat at the head of the table. His fiancée, Callie Torres, was beside him, naka-blazer na parang naka-armor. Then there was Draemon, relaxed as usual, dark suit, no tie, at may ngiting parang siya lang ang may alam ng plot twist.
“Ah, Miss Miranda,” Draemon said, spotting me immediately. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” I replied, medyo stiff. Medyo defensive. Medyo gusto ko na ulit umiyak.
Huminga ako nang malalim at umupo. I forced my gaze away from him and focused on the screen in front.
A presentation flashed. Title slide:
“Diversified Revenue Streams for Rivera Publication – by Draemon Velliar”
Habang nagsasalita siya, I kept my eyes on the deck but my mind wandered.
“Branded content and native advertising,” he said smoothly. “Content that integrates brand messaging seamlessly into editorial storytelling.”
Translation? Advertorials. Sponsored stories. Parang paid chika sa readers. Medyo nakakunot noo si Sir Ismael. He never liked blurring the line between journalism and profit.
“Next, events and webinars,” Draemon continued, clicking to the next slide. “Branded events—networking nights, launch parties, even media boot camps. Imagine Rivera Publication leading thought leadership events.”
I crossed my arms. That was smart. New. Flashy. But also—expensive.
“Lastly, we propose launching online merchandise and exclusive member benefits. Think Rivera-branded planners, writer’s kits, even exclusive content behind a member paywall.”
Murmurs filled the room. Some were impressed. Some skeptical.
But I wasn’t even sure what I was feeling anymore.
Because as I watched Draemon—smooth, prepared, confident—I realized something:
He wasn’t playing.
This wasn’t some bait to get closer to me. This was real. He came in with strategy, money, and vision. He was serious. And that scared me.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mas nakakakaba: the fact that he might genuinely like me… or that he might genuinely not care at all.
Minutes later, habang nasa pantry ako, I poured myself coffee, hands slightly shaking. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa caffeine withdrawal or emotional overload.
Then came the voice behind me.
“Black coffee?” Draemon said.
I turned around slowly, trying to act chill. “Para magising ako sa realidad.”
He chuckled. “You were quiet back there.”
“Hindi ako executive,” I said, sipping. “Secretary lang ako.”
“Right,” he nodded. “But you’re also someone who knows the heartbeat of the company. I value that more.”
Napalunok ako. “Look, Draemon…”
“You’re wondering if I’m here for business, or for you,” he said flat-out, crossing his arms. “Let me clear it. I’m here for both.”
Boom.
“Excuse me?” I blinked.
“I like investing in things I believe in. Rivera Publication, for one,” he said, stepping closer, voice dropping lower. “And you, Pinky, for another.”
My throat went dry. “May fiancé si Sir Ismael.”
“I know,” he said, calm. “I’m not here to make you break a promise. I’m just here to ask… what if your panata was only your starting point? Not your prison?”
Tahimik.
He took a step back. “I’m not asking for anything now. I just want to stay… in your story.”
And then he walked away. Just like that.
Pagkatapos ng tagpo na ‘yon ay pumunta agad ako sa desk ko.
I stared at my panata paper inside my drawer.
Still folded. Still sacred.
But now, I felt something shift.
Maybe, just maybe… ang panata ay hindi lang tungkol sa kung sino ang gusto mo.
Minsan, it's about choosing the kind of love you believe you deserve.
And for the first time… I wasn’t so sure if mine was still tied to someone cold and distant.
Or someone warm, complicated, and real.
- Writer
