The Price of Obsession

"Daddy, I want to marry Siven Montedel. I want him, Daddy." Biglang sigaw ni Cassie Goldrich pagkabukas na pagkabukas nito ng pintuan ng study office ng kanyang papa. Naglakad ito papasok ng hindi manlang nakurap ang mga mata bago umupo sa upuang nasa harapan ng kanyang ama. You can see from the window she's sitting is the city glittered beneath the nigth sky, unaware to the decision about to be made within those four walls. Tinaasan siya ng kilay ng kanyang amang si Samuel Goldrich, one of the most powerful men in the country. Humipak siya sa kanyang sigarilyo habang inaaral ang desperadong itsura ng kanyang unica hija. His salt-and-pepper hair and signature tailored suit made him look every bit the business tycoon he was. "At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yun, hija? The Montedels are on the verge of bankruptcy. That boy is practically worthless now." "He's not worthless to me." Panlalaban nito sa kanyang ama. "Cassie," he sighed, "You could marry any noble young man if you wanted. Why a Montedel?" He continued. Tumayo si Cassie mula sa pagkakaupo at naglakad papunta sa tapat ng bintana, her arms hugging herself. "Remember when I was kidn*pped? It was Siven who found me. He was just a stranger then. But he risked his life to pull me out of that nightmare." Samuel's jaw tightened. Ito ang pinakamasakit na alaala na mero'n siya na halos ikamatay ng buong pagkatao niya. "That boy didn't even know who you were." "Exactly. He saved me without expecting anything." Humarap siya sa kanyang ama at ngumiti. "I fell in love with him that day." Her voice is trembling. Nanahimik ang kanyang ama sandali at dahan dahang tumayo at lumapit sa kanya. "You've been obsessed with him since." Nginitian siya ng kanyang ama pabalik at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat. Cassie met his gaze. "He's in love with someone else. But, Dad... I'm not asking you to make him love me. Just make sure I get the chance to be by his side. Please, Daddy. Let me be his wife." Pagmamakaawa pa nito. "And what makes you think he'll say yes?" She smiled bitterly. "He won't have a choice. Not if you offer to save his family's company." Sa kabilang banda naman, sa isang mataas na condominium, ay si Siven Montedel, Ibinato nito ang kanyang cellphone sa ibabaw ng lamesa. The numbers didn't lie. The Montedel Group was drowning. His father's health was declining, and his mother had been trying to hold the family's crumbling pride together. But pride didn't pay debts. Kyla Reyes, his girlfriend entered the room quietly. Dito na halos natutulog si Kyla dahil sa palaging pag aaway ng kanyang mga magulang tungkol sa pera. "Love, gustuhin ka mang samahan sa problema mo ngayon ay kailangan kong umuwi. I got the call from the hospital. They need an upfront payment for my father's surgery..." Umiiyak itong yumakap kay Siven sa kadahilang naaksidente rin ang kanyang ama sa dahil nagmaneho ito ng lasing. Siven sighed, standing to embrace her. "I'll figure something out. Don't worry." But the weight of everything, his collapsing world, the company, Kyla's father, pressed down on him. And then, just like fate playing a cruel trick, the call came. TAHIMIK lamang nanonood si Cassie sa amang nakatalikod mula sa kanya habang may kausap ito sa telepono. Maya maya pa ay humarap ito sa kanya at tumingin. "He'll come," Samuel, her father said simply. "He has no other choice." Her heart beats so fast. It's painful, excited and afraid. "Thank you, Daddy." "You'd better know what you're doing, hija. Love built on debt and desperation is a dangerous thing." Madiin siyang tiningnan ni Cassie sa mga mata. "I'll make him love me. Even if it kills me." Confident nitong sabi sa ama. KINABUKASAN, Tumigil sa tapat ng Goldrich estate ang isang itim na luxury sedan. Lumabas mula rito si Siven na nakakunot pa ang ulo at bakas mo ang stressed mula sa ekspresyon ng mukha nito. The guard at the gate bowed slightly before opening the grand doors for him. Kilala ni Siven kung sino si Cassie Goldrich. Sino nga ba namang hindi? Kilala siyang unica hija ng pinakamaimpluwensyang pamilya sa bansa. Maliban doon, she's always on every business cover, every high society headline. The untouchable heiress. Ngunit hindi niya naimagine kelan man ang maipatawag siya rito to talk about marriage. Lalo na't he's mind already set to marry with Kyla. Cassie waited in the office room, wearing a deep red silk dress. She looks like a real royalty you can ever see. Napatayo siya at nagliliwanag ang kanyang mga mata ng makita ang pagpasok ni Siven, ngunit ang itsura nito ay hindi mo alam kung ano ba ang nasa kanyang isip. "Thank you for coming," Cassie said gently saka umupong muli. Hindi matanggal ang saya sa kanyang mga mukha. "Let's get to the point," Siven replied, cold and still unreadable expression that you'll ever see. "What exactly do you want from me?" She rose and handed him a document. "My father is offering to invest enough to pull your family out of bankruptcy. In return, You'll have to marry me." Tiningnan lamang niya ang papel na hawak nito bago binalik muli sa kanya ang tingin. "You're insane." "No. I'm in love." "You're buying me like some f*cking product." "You're not a product, Siven. You're a man that I've loved. This is the only way I could have you." Lumukot ang noo nito at nagtangis ang bagang. His hand tightened into a fist. "Why would I ever marry someone I don't love?" Cassie's voice cracked slightly. "Because you have no choice." Still confident uttering her motives. Hindi makapaniwala si Siven sa kanyang naririnig. Ang kilalang untouchable heiress ay ganito pala kadesperada. Sa isip niya. Hindi na siya nagsayang ng oras at tumayo na siya at umalis. Back in his condo, Siven stared at the ceiling. Napatingin siya sa kanyang katabi, it was Kyla sleeping next to him, unaware of the storm brewing. Pakiramdam niya ay nagloko siya dahil lang nanggaling siya sa bahay nila Cassie at inofferan siyang magpakasal upang mailigtas ang Montedel Group. He was guilty and wanted to protect this girl in every best he can. But when morning came, everything changed. "You sure you don't want me to wait for you?" Tanong ni Siven kay Kyla. Hinatid niya kasi ito sa kanyang bahay upang kumuha ng mga bagay na kailangan ng kanyang ama na nasa hospital pa. "I'm okay, love. Pumasok kana, baka malate kapa." Ngumiti si Kyla sa kanya upang masiguardo sa kanyang okay lang siya. Pagkatapos nilang magpaalam sa isa't isa ay pumasok na siya sa munting bahay nila. Kaisa isang anak lamang siya at parehong malayo sa mga kamag-anak ng kanyang mga magulang kaya naman wala siyang ibang mahihingan ng tulong. Napaluhod na lamang siya habang umiiyak sa sobrang hirap ng kanyang pinagdadaanan. Maya maya pa ay may biglang kumatok kaya naman agad siyang napatayo at nagpunas ng luha. "Sandali lang po." Agad niyang binuksan ang pintuan ngunit nagtaka siya ng wala namang tao. Akmang isasarado na niya ang pinto ng makita niya ang isang brown envelope sa baba ng pintuan. Muli siyang napahagulhol ng buksan ang envelope na ito. It's a letter from Cassie. "This is to save your father's life, In exchange, Disappear from Siven's life." Hindi siya makapaniwala. But when her father's condition worsened, she didn't think twice. She need to do what she have to do first. Mahal niya si Siven at mahal siya nito. Sigurado siyang tatanggapin at papatawarin siya nito kung ipapaliwanag niya dito ang lahat pagdating ng panahon. SIVEN waited at the cafe for Kyla after class. Ito kasi ang tagpuan nila noon pa man dahil coffee addict si Kyla. He did something desperate too earlier. And he don't know why he did it. >>>>>FLASH BACK "Cassie, can I talk to you?" Nahihiya man ay pinilit pa ding lapitan ni Siven si Cassie. Napapalibutan ito ng kanyang circle of friends at mukhang may balak nanamang pumunta sa club mamayang gabi. "Hi, Siven. Sure." Bigla nagbago ang expression nito pagkakita sa kanya. Para itong inosenteng anghel. He'll be deceive kung hindi lang niya kilala itong b***h na laging naglalakwatsa sa club tuwing gabi with her friends. "Can you help our company without marriage? I can't marry you, Cassie. I'm already in love with someone else." Hindi katulad kahapon, mapagpasensya ito at kalmado sa harapan ni Cassie ngayon. "My father doesn't want me to marry you Siven. To him, you're just nothing compared to other guys wanted to hook with me. Marriage is the only reason why my father offered you to help your family's company. He's only helping your family because I'm in love with you." >>>>END OF FLASH BACK Hindi niya alam kung paano nainlove si Cassie sa kanya. Pakiramdam niya ay napaka walang kwenta ng pagmamahal na nararamdaman nito para sa kanya. Napatingin siya sa kanyang kamay, his fingers trembling as he held a flower. Where is she? Ilang oras na siyang naghihintay ngunit wala pa ring Kyla ang dumadating. Ni hindi din sinasagot ang text at tawag niya rito. Hours later, he received a message from Kyla: Don't look for me. This is goodbye. Nanlambot siya sa at halos hindi na makakita dahil sa luhang sumasakop sa kanyang mga mata. Pakiramdam niya ay mababaliw siya nung mga oras na yun.