Engaged in Disguise

Chapter Eleven

NAKA-UPO si Celeste sa kupas na sofa ng kanyang apartment, tila isang estatwa na hindi makagalaw sa tindi ng tensyon. Naka-ready na siya—bihis, ayos, at puno ng kaba. Ang suot niya ay isang simpleng black dress, knee-length, may mahabang manggas, at conservative neckline. Eleganteng tingnan pero hindi agaw-atensyon; sapat na upang magmukhang kagalang-galang. Ang kanyang buhok ay maingat na naka-bun, walang hiblang nakawala, habang ang kanyang makeup ay nananatiling natural at subtle.

​She looks respectable. Presentable. Sakto sa imaheng nais niyang ipakita kay Don Ricardo Sullivan. Pero sa loob? Para siyang sasabog sa kaba.

​Naalala niya ang briefing ni Atty. Suarez kahapon. Si Don Ricardo Sullivan ay animnapu’t walong taong gulang, isang self-made billionaire na nagsimula sa wala. Itinayo ang Sullivan Corporation sa pamamagitan ng sipag, tiyaga, at higit sa lahat—dirty tactics. Money laundering, bribery, corporate espionage, blackmail. Ang listahan ng kanyang mga kasalanan ay kasing haba ng kanyang yaman. Siya ay kinatatakutan, makapangyarihan, at konektado sa mga matataas na opisyal.

​"Remember," babala ni Atty. Suarez. "Huwag mo siyang kakalabanin. Huwag masyadong magtatanong. Be polite and respectful. But observe everything. Every detail matters."

​"Paano kung magtanong siya tungkol sa background ko?" tanong ni Luna noon.

​"Stick to your story," sagot ng abogado. "Celeste Cruz. From Batangas. Working to support a sick mother. Simple and consistent. Huwag mag-elaborate hangga't hindi tinatanong. The more details you give, the more chances of contradictions."

​Nag-vibrate ang phone ni Celeste. Isang text mula kay Jace.

"I'm here. Ready?"

​Huminga siya nang malalim, pilit pinapakalma ang mabilis na t***k ng puso. "Ready. Bababa na."

​Pagbaba niya, isang itim na Mercedes-Benz ang naghihintay. Si Jace, na nakasuot ng isang intimidating na dark three-piece suit, ay agad na lumabas upang pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Bagaman pormal ang kanyang anyo, mababakas sa kanyang mga mata ang matinding pag-aalala.

​"You look beautiful," bulong ni Jace. "But are you sure about this? We can still cancel. I can make an excuse."

​"I'm sure," sagot ni Celeste nang may pekeng kumpiyansa. "Let's go."

​Nag-drive sila patungong Forbes Park, ang kuta ng pinakamayaman sa bansa. Ironic, dahil ilang blocks lang ang layo ng mansyong ito sa sariling tahanan ni Luna Hart. Pagpasok sa gate ng Sullivan estate, tumambad ang isang dambuhalang Spanish colonial mansion na napapaligiran ng mga garden, fountain, at marble statues. Imposing. Isang lugar na sadyang idinisenyo para iparamdam sa mga bisita na sila ay maliit at walang kapangyarihan.

​Hinawakan ni Jace ang kamay ni Celeste, pinipiga ito nang bahagya. "Whatever happens, I'm here. You're safe with me."

​Pagpasok sa loob, sinalubong sila ng mga crystal chandeliers at naglalakihang paintings. Dinala sila ng butler sa dining room kung saan isang mahabang mahogany table ang nakahanda. At sa kabisera nito, naka-upo ang leon, si Don Ricardo Sullivan.

​Matangkad pa rin ito sa kabila ng edad. Ang puting buhok ay maayos na naka-slick back at suot ang isang eleganteng barong. Ang kanyang mga mata ay matalas tila nagmamasid sa bawat galaw at puno ng panganib.

​"Jace," bati niya sa malalim at commanding na boses. "You're late."

​"Traffic, Dad," malamig na sagot ni Jace. "We're here now."

​Tiningnan ni Don Ricardo si Celeste mula ulo hanggang paa, tila sinusuri ang bawat hibla ng kanyang pagkatao. Pakiramdam ni Celeste ay nais niyang magtago, pero pinilit niyang tumayo nang tuwid.

​"And who is this?" tanong ng matanda.

​"This is Celeste Cruz," pakilala ni Jace. "My girlfriend."

​"Celeste Cruz," ulit ni Don Ricardo, tila sinusubukan ang lasa ng pangalan sa kanyang dila. "Interesting. Come, sit. Let's eat.

​Nagsimula ang dinner sa nakakabinging katahimikan, tanging tunog lamang ng kubyertos ang naririnig habang si-ne-serve ang marangyang French cuisine. Hanggang sa binasag ito ni Don Ricardo.

​"So, Celeste," casual niyang simula pero may talim ang boses. "Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?"

​"Batangas po, sir," sagot ni Celeste nang may galang.

​"Batangas. And what brings you to Manila?"

​"Work po," sagot ni Celeste, sinusunod ang script. "I needed better opportunities. Better salary. My mother is sick. I need to support her medical expenses."

​Tumango ang matanda. "Admirable. Family first. I respect that. And how did you meet my son?"

​"She's my secretary," sabat ni Jace, halatang pinoprotektahan si Celeste.

​"Secretary," sabi ni Don Ricardo na may halong pangungutya. "I see. So you work for him. And you're dating him. Isn't that... inappropriate?"

​"We kept it professional po initially," maingat na sagot ni Celeste. "But feelings developed. We tried to ignore it. But we couldn't."

​"Feelings," uyam ni Don Ricardo. "How romantic. Tell me, Celeste, are you aware of who my son is? His position? His wealth? His responsibilities?"

​"I am po," sagot ni Celeste.

​"And are you aware," leaning forward, Don Ricardo’s gaze turned icy. "That my son is engaged? Arranged marriage to Luna Hart. Heiress of Hart Industries. The wedding is less than a year away."

​Hindi nagulat si Celeste sa impormasyon, pero nagulat siya sa direktang pag-amin ng matanda.

​"Dad, that arrangement is—" subok ni Jace.

​"The arrangement is binding," putol ni Don Ricardo. "Contracts are signed. Agreements are made. You will marry Luna Hart. Whether you like it or not."

​"I don't love her," giit ni Jace. "I've never even met her. I'm not marrying a stranger just for business."

​"You will," anang matanda nang may absolute authority. "Because that's your duty. That's your responsibility. Your personal feelings are irrelevant."

​Binalingan niya si Celeste na may pekeng simpatya. "I'm sorry, my dear. But whatever you think you have with my son is temporary. A distraction. Nothing more. He will marry Luna Hart. And you? You'll be forgotten. Just another name in his list of past girlfriends.”

​"Dad, that's enough," sigaw ni Jace habang tumatayo. "You don't talk to her like that."

​"I'll talk however I want in my own house," sagot ni Don Ricardo. "Tell me, Celeste. What's your endgame here? You think you'll marry my son? Become part of this family? You think you're good enough?"

​"Dad!!" Tumayo si Jace, nanginginig sa galit. "Stop it. Now."

​"Sit down, Jace. We're having a conversation."

​"This isn't a conversation," ani Jace. "This is you being cruel and controlling as always."

​"You're just like your mother," lason na banat ni Don Ricardo. "Weak. Emotional. Useless."

​Napatigil si Jace. Kitang-kita ang sakit sa kanyang mukha. A raw pain.

​"Don't talk about my mother," sabi ni Jace sa galit na tono. "You have no right."

​"I have every right. She was my wife. And she was weak. Just like you."

​"That's it," deklara ni Jace. "We're leaving." Hinila niya ang kamay ni Celeste.

​"If you walk out that door with her," huling banta ni Don Ricardo. "There will be consequences, Jace. For you. For Sullivan Corporation. For your precious company restructuring. I still have power. I still have connections. Don't test me."

​Natigilan si Jace, tila nagdadalawang-isip sa bigat ng banta. Pero bumulong si Celeste, "Let him threaten. We'll deal with it. Let's go."

​Tumingin si Jace sa kanya, puno ng pasasalamat, bago hinarap ang ama. "Do your worst. I'm done being controlled by you."

​Sa loob ng sasakyan, namayani ang mabigat na katahimikan. Maya-maya, itinabi ni Jace ang sasakyan at marahas na hinampas ang manibela.

​"I'm sorry," basag ang boses ni Jace. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. You had to experience that."

​"It's okay," pag-aalo ni Celeste, hinawakan ang kamay ni Jace.

​"It's not okay! He had no right to talk to you like that. To insult you. To threaten us."

​"He's scared," obserba ni Celeste. "He's scared of losing control over you. That's why he lashed out."

​Tumingin si Jace sa kanya, mangiyak-ngiyak. "How can you be so calm? So understanding?"

​"Because I see what he's doing. He's trying to intimidate me. To make me leave you. But it won't work. I'm not going anywhere."

​Nagyakapan ang dalawa, isang mahigpit na yakap. Sa sandaling iyon, nararamdaman ni Celeste ang bigat ng kanyang pagsisinungaling. Real. Iyon ang tawag ni Jace sa kanya, pero siya ang pinakamalaking kasinungalingan sa buhay nito.

​Pagdating sa apartment, bago bumaba si Celeste, huminto si Jace.

​"Celeste, I need to tell you something. About Luna Hart. About the arrangement."

​"What about it?"

​"I'm going to break it," determinadong sabi ni Jace. "I don't care what my father says. I'm going to find a way to end that engagement. Because I want to be with you. Only you."

​Parang nadurog ang puso ni Celeste. He wants to leave Luna para kay Celeste—hindi niya alam na iisang tao lang ang mga ito.

​"I'll figure it out," pangako ni Jace bago hinalikan ang noo niya. "I promise. For us."

​Pagpasok sa apartment, doon na bumigay si Celeste. Nag-collapse siya sa sofa at umiyak. Umiyak siya dahil na-trap na siya sa sarili niyang patibong. Pag nalaman ni Jace ang totoo, hindi lang galit ang mararamdaman nito kundi matinding pagkakanulo.

​Kinuha niya ang kanyang phone at nag-text kay Atty. Suarez.

​"Mission accomplished. Met Don Ricardo. Confirmed—he's exactly as bad as the files say. Cruel. Controlling. Dangerous. But Atty., I don't know if I can continue this. It's too much. Too painful."

​"Luna, I know it's hard," reply ng abogado. "But you're in too deep now. You need to see this through. For your family. For Hart Industries."

​Alam ni Luna na tama ang abogado. Wala na siyang choice. Kailangan niyang ituloy ang papel na ito hanggang sa huli. Anuman ang maging katapusan nito.