Engaged in Disguise

Chapter Three

ALAS-SINGKO y medya ng umaga.

Gising na si Luna.

Este, si Celeste.

Celeste Cruz. Yan na ang pangalan niya ngayon. Kailangan niyang masanay mag-isip bilang Celeste, hindi bilang Luna.

Bumangon siya mula sa matigas na kama. Ang katawan niya ay medyo masakit dahil hindi pa ito sanay sa kama na ito. Pero wala siyang time mag-complain.

Today is the day.

Today, she meets Jace Sullivan.

Pumasok siya sa maliit na bathroom. Nag-shower. Ang tubig ay malamig. Walang heater. Nagulat siya nung una, pero tiniis niya, mabilis lang siyang naligo. Five minutes. Tapos lumabas na siya.

Nag-toothbrush. Nag-face wash. Tumingin sa salamin.

Ang mukha niya ay wala pang makeup. Plain. Simple. Pero fresh. Mukha siyang—normal. Mukha siyang working girl na papasok sa office.

Exactly the look she needs.

Bumalik siya sa kwarto. Nag-suot ng bra, panty, nag-apply ng lotion. Then ang outfit na naka-prepare na kagabi—white long-sleeve blouse, black pencil skirt.

Humarap sa salamin ulit. Nag-apply ng makeup. Light lang. BB cream para pantay ang skin tone. Concealer sa ilalim ng mata. Blush. Mascara. Nude lipstick.

Simple. Professional. Presentable.

Sinuklay niya ang buhok. Ang buhok niya ngayon ay shoulder-length lang. Walang rebond. Walang treatment. Natural lang. Nag-low ponytail siya. Simple pero neat.

Tumingin siya sa buong reflection niya sa salamin.

This is Celeste Cruz.

Twenty-six years old. From Batangas. Working to support a sick mother. Dedicated. Hardworking. Simple.

Hindi si Luna Hart. Hindi ang heiress. Hindi ang party girl.

Celeste.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

"You can do this," bulong niya sa kaniyang sarili. "You can do this, Celeste."

Alas-sais y medya, lumabas na siya ng apartment. Bumaba ng tatlong palapag na gusali. Walang elevator, kaya kahit hindi siya sanay ay hagdan talaga ang kailangan niyang gamitin.

Lumabas siya sa building at naglakad siya papunta sa kanto kung saan ang sakayan ng jeep papuntang Quezon Avenue. Ten pesos lang ang pamasahe.

Ten pesos.

Dati, hindi niya alam magkano ang jeep fare. Never siyang sumakay ng jeep in her entire life.

Pero ngayon, naka sakay na siya. Kasama ng ibang commuters. Mainit. Masikip. Maingay.

Pero this is her real life now. This is how most Filipinos live every single day.

Sa Quezon Avenue siya bumaba at naglakad papunta sa MRT station. Ang daming tao. Sobra. Nakakatakot yung crowd na nakikita niya.

Pero pumila parin siya para bumili ng ticket. Mahabang pila. Twenty minutes bago siya nakabili.

Tapos pila ulit papasok ng platform. Another fifteen minutes.

By the time na nakasakay na siya ng train, alas-syete y medya na.

Ang train ay sobrang sikip. Dugso-dugso ang mga tao. Nakadikit siya sa isang lalaki na pawisan. May babaeng nakadikit sa likod niya. Walang personal space.

Ang init. Ang amoy ng pawis. Ang ingay ng tao.

This is hell, naisip ni, Celeste.

Pero tiniis niya. Tatlong stations bago siya makarating sa Ayala station at doon siya bababa.

Nang makababa, halos habol habol niya ang hininga. Pawis siya. Laking pasasalamat niya nang tuluyan na siyang nakalabas ng tren.

Naglakad ulit siya papunta sa Sullivan Corporation building. Ten-minute walk from the station.

The building was tall. Thirty floors in total. Glass facade. Modern. Impressive.

Pumasok siya sa lobby. Ang aircon ay sobrang lamig hindi katulad nang init sa labas.

Ang lobby ay maganda. Marble floors. High ceiling. May malaking chandelier. May reception desk na sleek at modern.

Lumapit si Celeste sa reception.

"Good morning," bati ng babaeng receptionist, nasa mid-twenties siguro, naka-professional attire. "How may I help you?"

"Good morning," sagot ni Celeste habang nakangiti. "My name is Celeste Cruz. I have a ten AM interview for the executive secretary position."

Nag-check ang receptionist sa computer. "Ah yes, Ms. Cruz. Please proceed to the 28th floor. HR department. Just present this visitor's pass to the security."

Inabot niya ang pass at kinuha naman niya ito. "Thank you."

Naglakad na siya papuntang elevator, sumakay saka pinindot ang button—28th floor.

Habang umaangat ang elevator, tumibok nang mabilis ang puso ni Celeste. Kinakabahan siya. Sobra.

What if she fails the interview? What if they see through her? What if—

No. Stop.

Huminga siya ng malalim. You prepared for this. You trained for this. You can do this.

Bumukas ang elevator sa 28th floor.

Lumabas siya, pinagmasdan niya ang paligid. May mga paintings sa wall. May mga indoor plants in every corner. Professional atmosphere.

Nakita niya ang sign—"Human Resources Department."

Pumasok siya.

May reception area. May malaking sofa for waiting area. May isa pang babae na naka-upo roon at mukha ring applicant.

Lumapit si Celeste sa desk.

"Good morning. Celeste Cruz, for the executive secretary interview."

"Good morning, Ms. Cruz," bati ng HR assistant. "Please have a seat. Ms. Reyes will call you shortly."

Umupo si Celeste sa sofa. Beside the other applicant.

Tumingin siya sa babae. Around twenty-eight years old siguro, naka professional attire. Designer bag—Prada. Designer shoes—Gucci.

Mukhang may pera. Mukhang experienced.

Ngumiti sa kanya ang babae. "Hi. Ikaw rin ba for the secretary position?"

"Yes," sagot ni Celeste. Nguniti rin ito pabalik. "Ikaw rin?"

"Yeah. Angela Santos." Nag-extend siya ng kamay.

"Celeste Cruz." and they shake their hands.

"Ilang years na ang experience mo?" tanong ni Angela.

"Two years," sagot ni Celeste. Following her prepared background. "Secretary sa trading company. Nag-close down lang yung company last year, kaya I'm looking for new opportunities."

"Ah, I see," sabi ni Angela. "Five years naman ang sakin. Executive assistant sa advertising firm. But I want to shift to corporate. Better opportunities daw dito."

Tumango si Celeste at may halong kaba siyang naramdaman. Kung five years ang experience ni Angela, mas qualified siya for sure.

"Ms. Santos?" Tawag ng HR assistant. "Ms. Reyes will see you now."

Tumayo si Angela. "Wish me luck." Wika nito na mababakas ang kaba.

"Good luck," sabi ni Celeste.

Pumasok si Angela sa office.

Naiwan si Celeste sa waiting area mag-isa. Kinakabahan.

Kinuha niya ang phone niya. Old phone na binigay ni Lolo. Basic smartphone lang. Wala nang social media apps. Walang games. Just basic functions.

Nag-check siya ng time. 9:47 AM.

Thirteen minutes bago ang interview niya.

Huminga siya ng malalim. In. Out. Calm down.

Nag-review siya mentally ng preparation niya. Ang background niya. Ang skills niya. Ang answers niya sa possible questions.

Twenty minutes later, lumabas si Angela. Ang mukha niya ay medyo disappointed.

"How was it?" tanong ni Celeste.

"Tough," matipid na sagot ni Angela. "Si Ms. Reyes, the HR manager, mabait naman. But she said may final interview pa with Mr. Sullivan himself. Yung CEO. At sabi niya, napaka-demanding daw nun. Good luck sa'yo."

Tumango na lamang si Celeste. "Thanks."

Tumalikod na ito at tuluyan na siyang iniwan.

"Ms. Cruz?" Tawag ng HR assistant. "Ms. Reyes will see you now."

Tumayo si Celeste. Hinawi niya ang medyo basa niyang kamay sa kanyang palda. Kinakabahan talaga siya.

Pumasok siya sa office.

Ang office ni Ms. Reyes ay simple lang. May desk. May file cabinets. May small meeting table.

Si Ms. Reyes ay naka-upo sa desk. Around forty years old. Naka-eyeglasses. Professional. May hawak na resume ni Celeste.

"Good morning, Ms. Cruz," bati niya. Nag-smile. "Please, have a seat."

Umupo si Celeste. Straight ang posture and full of confidence. Just like what Atty. Suarez taught her.

"So, Celeste—can I call you Celeste?" tanong ni Ms. Reyes.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Tell me about yourself," simula ni Ms. Reyes. Classic interview question.

Huminga si Celeste ng malalim. Then she began.

"I'm twenty-six years old, originally from Batangas. I graduated with a degree in Business Management from Batangas State University. After graduation, I worked as an executive secretary for Maceda Trading Corporation for two years. Unfortunately, the company had to close down last year due to financial difficulties. Since then, I've been actively looking for opportunities where I can use my skills and grow professionally."

Tumango si Ms. Reyes. Writing notes.

"Why do you want to work for Sullivan Corporation?" sunod na tanong niya.

"Sullivan Corporation has an excellent reputation in the industry," sagot ni Celeste. Prepared ang answer niya. "It's one of the leading corporations in the Philippines. Working here would not only provide me with stability but also opportunities to learn from the best. I believe that working directly with Mr. Sullivan would be both challenging and rewarding."

"It will definitely be challenging," sabi ni Ms. Reyes na may pahiwatig na ngiti. "Mr. Sullivan is a very demanding boss. His previous secretaries... let's just say they didn't last long. The longest one stayed for five months. Most leave within two to three months."

"May I ask why po?" Magalang na tanong nito.

"Mr. Sullivan is a perfectionist," sagot naman ni Ms. Reyes. "He expects excellence in everything. He doesn't tolerate mistakes. He doesn't tolerate laziness. And he doesn't have patience for people who can't keep up with his pace. He's also very... cold. Not rude, but distant. Professional to a fault. Some people find it hard to work with him."

Tumango si Celeste. "I understand. But I believe I can handle it. I work well under pressure. I'm detail-oriented. And I'm willing to learn and adapt."

Ngumiti si Ms. Reyes. Impressed. "Good answer. Now, let's talk about skills. How proficient are you with MS Office?"

"Very proficient po," sagot ni Celeste. "Excel, Word, PowerPoint—I use them daily in my previous job. I'm comfortable with formulas, pivot tables, creating presentations, formatting documents."

"How about calendar management? Scheduling?"

"Yes po. In my previous position, I managed my boss's calendar, scheduled all his meetings, coordinated with clients and partners. I'm good at prioritizing and making sure there are no conflicts."

For the next thirty minutes, nag-continue ang interview. Questions about experience. About skills. About scenarios.

"What would you do if your boss asked you to do something beyond your job description?"

"How do you handle stress?"

"What would you do if you made a mistake on an important document?"

Sinagot ni Celeste lahat. Confidently. Professionally. Exactly like how she practiced with Atty. Cruz.

Finally, natapos.

"Well, Celeste," sabi ni Ms. Reyes. Nag-close ng folder. "I'm impressed. Your qualifications are good. Your answers are excellent. But as I mentioned, there's a final step. You need to be interviewed by Mr. Sullivan himself. He has the final say on who becomes his secretary."

Tumibok nang mabilis ang puso ni Celeste. "When po ang interview with Mr. Sullivan?"

"Right now, if you're available," sagot ni Ms. Reyes. "He has a fifteen-minute window before his next meeting. Are you ready?"

Ngayon?

As in Ngayon?

Hindi pa ready si Celeste. Hindi pa siya mentally prepared na makita si Jace pero she can't say no.

"Yes, ma'am," sagot niya. "I'm ready."

"Good." Tumayo si Ms. Reyes. "Follow me."

Lumabas na sila ng office nito at naglakad sa hallway. Papunta sa elevator.

"Mr. Sullivan's office is on the 30th floor," sabi ni Ms. Reyes habang nasa elevator sila. "Top floor. Don't be nervous. Just be yourself. Be honest. He can detect lies easily."

Tumango naman si Celeste bilang tugon sa sinabi nito. Pero kinakabahan talaga siya at ramdam na ramdam niya ang bilis ng t***k ng puso niya.

Floor 30.

Bumukas ang elevator.

Ang floor na ito ay iba. More exclusive. More private. May reception area. May executive assistant desk that’s vacant for now.

May double doors sa dulo.

CEO's office.

Lumapit si Ms. Reyes sa intercom. "Sir, nandito na po si Ms. Cruz for the interview."

May sumagot naman sa kabilang linya. Deep voice. Masculine. Cold.

"Send her in."

Tumingin si Ms. Reyes kay Celeste. "Good luck. Just knock, then enter."

Tumango si Celeste.

Lumapit siya sa double doors. Huminga ng malalim.

This is it.

This is the moment.

Kumatok siya. Three times.

"Come in," sagot ng boses sa loob.

Binuksan ni Celeste ang pinto saka siya pumasok sa loob.

Ang opisina nito ay sobrang laki. Floor-to-ceiling windows with view ng Makati skyline. May large mahogany desk. May leather chairs. May sofa set sa gilid. May bar area. May paintings sa walls.

Everything screams power. Wealth. Authority.

At sa likod ng desk, nakaupo ang lalaki.

Jace Alexander Sullivan.

Nakatingin siya sa computer. Hindi pa siya tumitingin kay Celeste.

Pero kahit hindi pa nakatingin, ramdam na ni Celeste ang presensya nito. Ang aura niya na intimidating. Cold. Powerful.

"Sit down," sabi niya. Walang bati. Walang good morning. Direkta lang.

Umupo si Celeste sa upuan sa harap ng desk. Hinawi niya ang skirt niya at tumuwid nang upo.

Ilang segundo pa bago tumingin si Jace sa kanya.

At nang tumingin siya, natigilan si Celeste.

Gwapo siya. Sobrang gwapo na dinaig pa ang mga model sa mga magazine. Mas gwapo pa kaysa sa pictures na pinakita ni Don Felix.

Matangkad, kahit ba nakaupo ito ay mapapansin mo. Siguro six-foot-two talaga. Mestizo features. Matangos ang ilong. Strong jawline. Ang buhok ay naka-slick back, professional. Naka-three-piece suit—dark blue, perfectly tailored. May Rolex sa pulso.

Pero ang mga mata niya na kulay dark brown. Almost black ay cold, assessing na parang nag-s-scan ng pagkatao mo.

Tumingin siya kay Celeste from head to toe. Assessing. Judging.

Then he spoke.

"Celeste Cruz," sabi niya. Reading from her resume. Walang emosyon sa boses nito. "Two years experience. Previous employer, Maceda Trading. Batangas State graduate."

"Yes, sir," sagot ni Celeste. Steady ang boses niya kahit nanginginig siya at nagwawala na ang puso niya sa kaba.

"Why did you leave your previous job?" tanong niya. Direkta. Wala man lang small talk. What she expect from Jace Sullivan?

"The company closed down po, sir. Financial difficulties."

"And in those two years, what were your main responsibilities?"

"I managed my boss's calendar, handled correspondence, prepared documents and presentations, coordinated with clients, and managed office supplies and logistics."

Marahang tumango ito. Walang facial expression.

"Ms. Reyes probably told you already," sabi niya. Nag-lean back sa swivel chair nito. "I'm not an easy boss to work for. I expect perfection. I expect efficiency. I don't tolerate incompetence. My previous secretaries couldn't handle the pressure. Why do you think you're different?"

Tumingin si Celeste deretso sa mga mata niya. Bold move. Pero kailangan niyang ipakita na hindi siya natatakot.

"Because I don't give up easily, sir," sagot niya. "I know this job will be challenging. But I welcome challenges. They make me better. And I'm willing to work hard to meet your expectations."

For a few seconds, nagtitigan lang sila. Si Jace, assessing. Si Celeste, trying to stay calm.

Then, may sumilay na ngiti sa gilid ng labi ni Jace, matipid na ngiti lang ito.

"We'll see," sabi niya saka siya tumayo, matangkad talaga ito. Kung mahina ang loob mo ay ma-i-intimidate ka talaga rito.

"You’ll start tomorrow. Eight AM sharp. One minute late, and you're fired. Understood?"

Wait.

What?

She got the job?

"I—yes, sir," sagot ni Celeste kahit gulat pa rin sa sinabi ng lalaki. "Understood."

"Good. Ms. Reyes will handle the paperwork. You may go."

Tumayo si Celeste. "Thank you, sir. I won't disappoint you."

Tumingin ulit si Jace sa kanya, a cold stare. "Everyone says that. Let's see if you actually mean it."

Lumabas si Celeste ng office. Paglabas niya, halos bumagsak siya dahil sa panginginig ng tuhod niya.

She got the job.

She's now the secretary of Jace Sullivan.

Ang lalaking magiging asawa niya.

Ang lalaking kailangan niyang obserbahan.

Ang lalaking... sobrang cold at intimidating.

Bumaba siya sa 28th floor. Kinausap si Ms. Reyes. Nag-fill up ng paperwork. Contracts. NDAs. Employee forms.

By lunch time, tapos na siya.

"Welcome to Sullivan Corporation, Celeste," sabi ni Ms. Reyes. Nag-shake hands sila. "See you tomorrow."

Lumabas si Celeste ng building. Paglabas niya saka lamang siya naka hinga nang maluwag.

She did it.

Step one, complete.

Naglakad siya papuntang MRT station. Pero halfway ay tumigil siya dahil naka ramdam siya nang gutom.

Pumasok siya sa isang maliit na carinderia. Nag-order ng lunch. Adobo, kanin, softdrinks. Fifty pesos lang ito, hindi gaya ng libu-libong pagkain na nakasanayan niya.

Habang kumakain, ay nag-iisip siya.

Tomorrow, she starts working for Jace Sullivan.

Tomorrow, she begins her double life.

Luna Hart sa gabi. Celeste Cruz sa umaga.

Heiress in real. Secretary sa harap ng lahat ng hindi nakakakilala sa kanya.

Spy.

Liar.

But also, someone with a mission.

A mission to discover the truth about Jace Sullivan.

A mission to save her family's company.

A mission to find herself.

Natapos na siyang kumain at uminom ng tubig.

Then she pulled out her phone. Tinext niya si Lolo.

"I got the job. I’ll start tomorrow."

After a minute, nagreply ito.

"Proud of you, iha. Be careful. Remember who you are and why you're doing this."

Nag-smile si Celeste.

Then she corrected herself.

She's not Celeste.

Not really.

She's Luna.

But for the next year, si Celeste siya.

At kailangan niyang magampanan ang role na ito perfectly.

Kasi kung hindi, mawawala lahat.

Ang company. Ang pamilya. Ang future.

At baka pati ang puso niya.