First Temptation: The Billionaire's Game

CHAPTER 13

It started with a knock.

Three soft taps sa pinto ng kwarto ko—sunod-sunod pero hindi demanding. Just enough to make my stomach clench.

Monique peeked in, face pale. Wala na 'yung usual energy niya. Even her eyeliner looked tired.

“Cass,” she said, voice low. “May… may tumawag. Malacañang. Urgent daw. It’s your mom.”

Agad tumayo ang balahibo ko.

Shit.

Tumayo ako agad, tahimik, halos madulas pa sa pagkaka-panic, sinusundan si Monique papuntang study lounge. My robe trailed behind me, the silk now clinging like nerves on skin.

Pagdating ko, andun si Atty. Denise—arms crossed, face unreadable, hawak ang iPad na parang warning.

“Cassie,” she said, handing it to me. “It’s them.”

Napakagat ako sa labi bago tinanggap ang iPad. I wasn’t even ready to breathe. At pag-angat ng screen—

Boom.

My mom’s perfectly made-up face appeared. Cold and stunning in equal parts.

Beside her, si Daddy. Stern. Stone cold. The image of power and disappointment combined.

“Cassandra Sophia,” Camille started, her tone calm but deadly. “What is this we’re seeing all over the news?”

Napalunok ako.

Another leak?

“Fashion shoot photos,” dagdag ni Dad, voice tight. “Exposed. Sensual. Public property ng Madrigal estate. And that’s just the beginning.”

“Tapos may tsismis pa about you entering his room late at night?” Camille’s tone rose. “Do you understand what this is doing to our name?”

“Do you even care what people are saying about you?” singit ni Daddy, eyes narrowing. “What are they saying about us?”

I held the tablet tighter. My nails dug into the sides. My spine locked in place.

Here we go again.

“Bakit laging image? Bakit laging ‘what people say’?” I shot back, chest heaving. “Wala bang may pake kung anong nararamdaman ko?”

“We do care,” Camille snapped, but her voice cracked a little. “Kaya nga pinapabalik ka na namin.”

My blood froze.

“What?”

“You’re coming home. Tonight. May padala nang private jet.”

“No,” I said, voice firm.

“Cassie—”

“No,” I repeated. Mas malakas. Mas buo. “I’m not going back. Hindi pa tapos ang program ko rito. Hindi pa tapos ang buhay ko.”

“Tama na ‘yang drama. This isn’t some movie,” Daddy growled. “You are the First Daughter. You have obligations.”

“No,” I said for the third time, hand trembling. “I have a choice. And for once, I’m making it.”

Camille leaned forward. “You’re making a mistake.”

I stared at her, eyes burning. “No,” I whispered. “I’m finally not.”

Then I said it.

Flat. Diretso. Walang drama.

“Hindi niyo ako property.”

And that… that was the moment.

That’s when I felt it—the shift.

Parang binagsakan ko ng bomba ang buong Palasyo.

“Watch your tone, Cassandra,” my dad snapped, both hands clenched on the table. “This is not how you speak to your parents, much less the President of the Republic.”

Napangisi ako, bitter and raw. “Exactly. You’re the President. Not my father right now.”

“Cassie,” Camille warned, voice icy. “Calm yourself.”

“Calm?” Natawa ako, pero walang saya. “You’re calling me at 2 A.M. para ipilit akong umuwi dahil sensual daw ang photos ko sa PRIVATE property? Tapos may leak na naman? Paparazzi na naman? Kasalanan ko lahat?”

“Pumayag kami sa internship na ‘yan because it was supposed to be structured. Controlled. Not some—some scandal breeding ground!” sigaw ni Dad.

I felt my jaw tighten. My bones trembling from restraint.

“Or dahil akala niyo kaya niyong i-control pati ‘yung mga pangarap ko?” I hissed.

Camille leaned in. “Hindi mo naiintindihan, Cassie. Lahat ng galaw mo, sinusukat. You are not just anybody.”

“I never wanted to be anybody sa version niyo!” Tumayo ako. “Kayo ang nagpadala sa akin dito, ‘di ba? Kaya nga ako nandito. Sa wakas, gumagawa ng sarili kong decisions.”

My dad stood from his seat on screen, looming. Almost presidential in his fury.

“You think this is freedom?” he barked. “Living in a stranger’s mansion, dressing like—”

“Don’t you dare,” I cut him off, voice trembling. “Don’t you dare shame me for finally feeling beautiful on my own terms.”

Tumahimik sila.

Dead silence.

For a split second, I saw it—hurt, panic, disbelief.

Like they didn’t expect me to fight back.

Like I was supposed to break.

Then Camille spoke again, cold as ever. “You’ll be on that jet by morning.”

“No,” I said quietly, eyes locked on theirs. “You want me back in that golden cage, pretend na okay lang lahat? I’m done pretending.”

“Cassie—” they said in unison, something desperate in their voices now.

But it was too late.

I tapped the screen.

And ended the call.

My hand shook as I lowered the tablet onto the table, but my chest—my chest felt like it had just taken its first breath in years.

Monique stared at me, wide-eyed, stunned.

Atty. Denise simply gave a slow nod, her face unreadable. But her eyes said what her lips didn’t:

About time.

And me?

I walked out of the study lounge.

Straight-backed.

Eyes clear.

Still hurting. Still afraid.

But for the first time in my life—

Free...

Silence.

No applause.

No validation.

Just… the sound of my own breathing.

And maybe, for the first time—freedom.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko habang hawak pa rin ang iPad—hinga, pigil, galit, lungkot, lahat sabay-sabay.

Parang may sumisigaw sa loob ng dibdib ko pero walang boses na lumalabas.

Gusto kong sumigaw. Gusto kong tumakbo. Gusto kong wasakin ang lahat ng bagay na nagsasabing hindi ako sapat maliban na lang kung nakaayos ako, tahimik, at sumusunod sa plano nila.

Pero hindi ko magawa.

Hindi ko kaya.

Kaya ang tanging nagawa ko lang… ay manatili roon.

Nakaupo sa gilid ng couch sa study lounge, balikat nakayuko, iPad nakapatong sa kandungan ko—parang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng nangyari sa loob ng ilang minutong tawag.

Cassandra.

What are they saying about us?

You’ll be on that jet by morning.

Bawat salita ng parents ko, parang pakong pinupukpok sa dibdib ko.

My hands were still trembling. I couldn’t unclench them, like letting go of the iPad would mean dropping whatever pride I had left.

Lalamunan ko? Tight. Parang may bara.

Mata ko? Namumula na.

Pero ayokong umiyak.

Ayokong umiyak.

Ayokong ibigay sa kanila ‘yung power na ‘yon.

Not this time.

Kaya pinipilit kong huminga.

Isa.

Dalawa.

Tatlo.

Pero kahit anong pilit ko, hindi pa rin lumalalim ang hinga ko.

And then—behind me, I heard it.

Footsteps. Calm. Heavy. Measured.

Warm hands landed softly on my shoulders. Big. Steady. Sure.

I didn’t need to look.

Alam ko agad.

Xan.

Walang salita. Walang tanong. Walang judgment.

Just him.

Just presence.

Ang init ng palad niya sa balikat ko, parang dahan-dahang inaakyat ‘yung lamig sa likod ko.

He didn’t squeeze. He didn’t pull. He just… held.

Held space. Held me without needing to cage me.

Bumagsak ako ulit sa couch, this time fully. Shoulders sagging. Parang nauubos na ang lakas sa katawan ko.

He sat beside me.

Close, but not too close. Sakto lang para maramdaman ko siya, pero hindi para sakupin ako.

No words.

No noise.

Just… silence.

But it was the kind of silence that says: I’m here. I saw it. I know. And I’m not leaving.

For a moment, I closed my eyes again. Mas mahaba ngayon.

At doon, sa katahimikan na ‘yon, saka lang nagsimula pumatak ‘yung luha ko.

Isa.

Dalawa.

Tahimik lang. Walang hikbi. Walang drama.

Pero bawat patak, mabigat.

I thought I didn’t want to cry—but maybe I needed to.

Maybe I needed to be allowed to.

And somehow… with Xan beside me, tahimik lang, walang salita, walang panghuhusga…

I finally let go.

Not all at once.

But enough.

Enough to feel the ache loosen.

Enough to breathe, just a little deeper.

He still didn’t speak.

Pero naramdaman ko ang dahan-dahan niyang paglaylay ng braso niya sa likod ko, offering space if I wanted to lean in.

And I did.

Slowly, I shifted.

Rested my head against his shoulder.

He stilled for a second—then angled his body just enough para maging mas kumportable ako.

I didn’t know how long we sat like that.

Minutes? Hours?

All I knew was that for the first time since the call, I didn’t feel like I was about to shatter.

For the first time, I wasn’t alone.

And maybe, just maybe…

I didn’t need to be.

Not tonight.

And his arm slowly wrapped around my shoulders.

That was all it took.

Parang may kumalabit sa loob ng dibdib ko, at sabay-sabay—lahat ng pinipigilan kong damdamin, lahat ng tiniis kong lungkot, lahat ng galit na hindi ko maipahayag—bumigay.

My body leaned into his, soft at first, then all at once—like falling into a place I didn’t even know I’d been aching for.

My fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt like life support.

And the tears?

Dumiretso.

Walang pasabi. Walang pigil. Walang arte.

Basta tumulo lang, parang nabuksan ang dam, at hindi na ako makapigil.

“Hindi nila ako nakikita, Xan,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Lagi akong dapat perfect. Controlled. Para lang trophy na dapat laging kumikintab.”

He didn’t answer. Hindi niya pinilit sagutin ang sakit ko ng platitudes.

He just pulled me closer.

Tighter.

Hanggang sa halos nakapatong na ako sa chest niya, my cheek resting above his heart—both arms now wrapped around me like armor I never had growing up.

Strong. Warm. Sure.

“You don’t have to be perfect,” he murmured, his breath brushing against my ear. “You just have to be real. And right now? You’re the realest I’ve ever seen.”

Napasinghap ako.

Because somehow, that hurt more than any insult.

Kasi totoo.

Tumaas ang tingin ko sa kanya—eyes swollen, lips parted, heart wide open for him to see.

And when our eyes locked…

It was like time froze.

He looked down, like he was studying every line on my face.

Our faces… too close.

My breath caught in my throat.

Sa sobrang lapit, naririnig ko ang t***k ng puso niya. Hindi pantay. Parang sa akin din, naguguluhan.

Then slowly—like the world paused just for us—he leaned in.

And kissed me.

Soft at first.

Gentle. Testing. Asking.

Parang tanong.

Parang hinihingi niya ang basbas ng lahat ng basag na bahagi ko.

And when I didn’t pull away—

He deepened it.

His lips moved with heat, hunger, and barely restrained chaos.

Like he’d been dying to kiss me this way, but waited anyway.

One hand cupped the back of my neck. The other traced down my spine, feather-light, like he was afraid I’d break.

But I didn’t break.

I kissed him back.

Harder.

Fiercer.

Walang script. Walang hesitation.

Only need.

Only fire.

I tasted everything—pain, longing, restraint shattering piece by piece.

I gasped when he pulled me tighter, my leg sliding over his lap, our bodies flush.

No more distance. No more room to lie.

He pulled away slightly, forehead resting on mine, both of us panting.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he rasped, voice heavy, raw.

“Then show me,” I whispered, my voice a dare and a plea all at once.

His lips crashed into mine again.

Mainit. Matindi.

Parang lahat ng damdaming pinipigilan naming dalawa mula pa noon—ngayon lang tuluyang pinalaya.

I was in his lap now, his hands tangled in my hair, mine gripping his shirt, pulling, anchoring, wanting.

His breath was hot against my skin as his lips trailed down my jaw, to my collarbone, to the curve of my shoulder.

“Cassie…” he growled, his voice deep, trembling.

My robe slipped from one shoulder. His hand was there instantly—gentle, reverent, but shaking with restraint.

It was too much.

And yet…

Not enough.

I was burning.

And drowning.

All at once.

But just as we teetered over the edge—

A crack.

Not in him.

In me.

A flicker of doubt. Not regret. Not fear. Just… confusion.

“Xan…” I whispered, barely audible. “Wait…”

He froze.

Like I’d shattered the spell with one breath.

Agad siyang tumingin sa ‘kin, his eyes searching, jaw tight, chest rising and falling rapidly.

“You okay?” he asked, voice breathless, alert, concerned.

I nodded. “I—I just…”

My fingers still clutched his shirt, but this time, not to pull him closer…

…but to ground myself.

“I want this,” I said, shaky. “God, I do. But…”

I closed my eyes.

“But not tonight,” I whispered.

And for a moment, everything stilled.

Silence.

Sharp. Holding its breath.

Then, slowly, he pulled back.

Just enough to give me space. Just enough to breathe.

He didn’t get mad.

Didn’t sulk.

Didn’t make me feel guilty.

Instead, he exhaled—slowly, deeply—and reached up to brush a damp strand of hair from my face.

“You stopped,” he said softly, his forehead still resting against mine. “That means you’re stronger than anyone ever gave you credit for.”

His words hit harder than any touch could.

I let out a shaky breath, blinking back tears I didn’t even realize had returned.

He lay beside me, still fully clothed, arms wrapping around me again—this time not as a lover, but as something gentler. Safer.

Just him.

Just me.

Walang pilitan.

Walang pressure.

Just warmth.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I had to prove anything.

I didn’t have to shine.

I didn’t have to fight.

I just had to breathe.

And that’s how the night ended.

Not with bodies colliding.

But with hearts… finally learning how to listen.