Secretly Yours

Chapter 1— Start Of The Agreement

Chapter 1

“Please sit.”

His voice was deep and calm, but commanding and full of authority. Ano pa nga ba ang aasahan ko, after all he's Lucas Montebello. Pero hindi ako basta-basta sumusunod. Tinitigan ko siya nang diretso bago dahan-dahang umupo sa harap ng malaking mesa niya.

“I read your letter,” panimula ko, diretso ang tingin sa mga mata niyang maitim at walang emosyon. “And I'm here to know if you're serious or this is just one of those sick games ng mga mayayaman na naghahanap lang ng aliw.”

Bahagyang umayos siya ng upo, tila nagulat sa tono ko. “You do not speak to me like that,” sabi niya, mabigat ang bawat salita.

“I will speak however I want,” sagot ko agad, hindi ako umiwas ng tingin. “Dahil kung magpapakasal man ako sa’yo, hindi ako magiging sunud-sunuran mong alaga. I am Brielle Magsaysay. And I still have my dignity, Mr. Montebello."

Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal, bago dahan-dahang tumango. “Then you understand the terms,” sabi niya. “All your family’s debts will be paid in full. Mananatili sa inyo ang bahay at lupa. In exchange, you marry me. You carry my name. You stand beside me in every event, every meeting, every occasion where my presence is required. And you will do exactly as I say.”

Napangiti ako nang mapakla. “Exactly as you say? Ganoon ba kadali sa’yo ang buhay? You really think na lahat ng tao ay gagawin ang lahat dahil lang sa may pera ka?"

“I run a business, Ms. Magsaysay. Wala akong oras sa pagtatalo o sa mga emosyon. When I speak, you listen. When I instruct, you follow. In public, you are my wife. In private, you stay out of my way. No feelings attached. This is an arrangement. Nothing more.”

Tumayo ako at sumandal sa mesa, sinalubong ko ang malamig niyang mga tingin. “And if I refuse?”

“Then you lose everything,” sagot niya nang diretsong walang pag-aalinlangan. “Kukunin ng bangko ang lahat. Your father's name will be ruined. And you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

Ramdam ko ang kirot sa dibdib ko, pero hindi ako nagpatinag. “Hindi mo kailangang ipamukha sa akin ang sitwasyon namin. I know exactly what is at stake. Pero huwag mong isipin na dahil kailangan ko ito, ibibigay ko na rin ang pagkatao ko sa’yo.” Huminga ako nang malalim. “I agree. But let me make this clear, I will never lower myself just for you, not in front of anyone. And if you ever cross my limit, I will walk away, no matter what happens.”

Bahagyang gumalaw ang panga niya, “Good. We marry in seven days. Everything will be arranged. Lilipat ka dito after the wedding, you will have your own room. Iisang bubong tayo, but separate lives. Clear?”

“Crystal,” sagot ko nang matatag.

Inilapit niya ang makapal na tumpok ng papel sa ibabaw ng mesa. “Sign these. Every detail is written there. Pwede kang kumuha ng lawyer kung gusto mo, it's up to you.”

Kinuha ko ang agreement letter. Matagal na nakabitin ang kamay ko sa ibabaw ng papel.This is it, sabi ko sa sarili ko. This is the price I have to pay. Pinirmahan ko ito.

Pinanood niya ako, at sa isang saglit, may gumuhit sa mga mata niya na hindi ko maipaliwanag. “You are braver than most people I know,” sabi niya nang mahina. “Or more foolish.”

“Bravery is just fear that decided to keep going,” sagot ko, at ibinaba ang ballpen. “At hindi ako tanga. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko.”

The next seven days felt like a long, endless dream. Gowns, rings, and invitations kept arriving at our house one after another. Umiiyak si Mama habang tinutulungan akong isuot ang wedding gown, it's soft and luxurious, but it felt like armor. Tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Hindi ako nakikita ng iba bilang si Brielle na mahiyain at tahimik. Ngayon, kailangan kong maging matapang para sa kanila.

“You look beautiful, anak,” sabi ni Mama habang inaayos ang belo ko. “You look like a princess.”

Tumingin ako sa kanya nang seryoso. “Princesses are always given away, Ma. But I am giving myself not because I want to, but because I have something worth fighting for. And no one will ever take my dignity away from me.”

Ang kasal ay marangya at puno ng mga taong hindi ko kilala, politicians, business tycoons, and family friends who looked at me with either curiosity or judgment. When Lucas took my hand at the altar, it felt warm, yet firm and controlled. I looked him straight in the eye as he spoke his vows, and it has no feelings. When it was my turn to speak, my voice was clear and steady.

“I do.”

Pagkatapos ng seremonya, ilang oras kaming magkatabi, nakangiti sa litrato, nakikipagkamay, at nakikinig sa mga wedding congratulations speech. Walang nakapansin na kahit magkatabi kami, there was this wall between us.

That same night, in the room they had prepared for us, everything looked beautiful, but it felt so cold and empty. The moment the door clicked shut, he turned to face me.

“I will sleep in the guest wing,” sabi niya. “You are safe here. Walang mang-aabala sa’yo. If you need anything, tell the housekeeper. Kung kailangan mo ako kumatok ka.”

He was about to leave when I spoke up. “Why me, Lucas? There are so many wealthy, powerful women who would obey every single word you say. Why did it have to be me?”

He stopped, his back still turned to me. For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, he said so softly I almost didn’t catch it.

“Because I don’t want someone who follows orders. I want someone who knows how to stand her ground. And you, you are exactly what I need, even if I don’t deserve it.”

Lumabas siya at dahan-dahang isinara ang pinto. Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama at huminga nang malalim. I saved my family. I kept my promise. “But why does it feel like this is only the start of a far bigger battle?”

First week in Montebello's state is the hardest. Natutunan ko ang takbo ng bahay, kung kailan pumapasok at umaalis siya, kung anong mga okasyon ang kailangan kong samahan siya. I saw how everyone treated him, afraid, obedient, no one ever dared to say no. But I was never like them. Kapag may mali, sinasabi ko. Kapag hindi tama ang trato nila sa akin o sa pamilya ko, ipinagtatanggol ko ang sarili ko.

And that was when I saw a different side of him. Every time I stood my ground instead of obeying, he never got angry, he only seemed more intrigued. I noticed how he always made sure I had eaten before he touched his own food. How he would quietly drape a blanket over me when I fell asleep reading on the sofa. How his jaw would tighten whenever someone spoke ill of me, even if he never said a word.

One rainy night, I was sitting in the library looking through old family photos when he walked in. Tumigil siya, sandaling lumambot ang mukha bago bumalik sa pagiging seryoso.

“You should be resting,” sabi niya.

“I’m fine,” sagot ko nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya. “Just remembering.”

Lumapit siya nang kaunti. “Do you regret it?”

Tumingin ako nang diretso sa mga mata niya. “Sometimes. But I would regret it more if I did nothing.”

Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal. “Everyone thinks I have everything, money, power, control. But I have never been able to save anyone. I have only ever been the one people needed saving from.”

Tumayo ako nang dahan-dahan at humarap sa kanya. “You don’t have to be that person, Lucas. Not with me.”

Nagtagpo ang tingin namin, at parang nagbago ang hangin sa buong kwarto. All the pretense, all the rules, all the distance between us felt like it was about to crumble. But he stepped back, and the walls he had built around his heart snapped right back into place.

“Remember our agreement, Brielle,” sabi niya, pero hindi na kasing lamig ng dati. “Feelings have no place here.”

“Sinabi mo ‘yan,” sagot ko nang mahina. “Pero hindi mo hawak ang puso ko, Lucas. At hindi mo rin hawak ang nararamdaman mo.”

Naglakad siya palayo at iniwan akong mag-isa, bago dahan-dahang isinara ang pinto.

Secretly Yours.