The Beauty Queen's Chaos

CHAPTER 12: The Architect of Lies

Pag-uwi ko, ang mansion ay kasing tahimik ng isang libingan. The grandeur felt suffocating. Every expensive painting and crystal vase now looked like evidence, reminders of a life built on a foundation I didn't truly know.

I went straight to Dad’s study. I didn't knock.

He was there, sitting behind his mahogany desk, looking tired. "Yllana? I thought you were with Luca. Why did you leave the gala early?"

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin, Dad?" ang boses ko ay malamig, halos hindi ko na makilala. "That Luca’s family was involved in the Grade 10 scandal. That you helped them cover it up."Napatigil si Dad. The pen in his hand dropped. In that one second of silence, I got my answer. The guilt in his eyes was louder than any confession.

"It wasn't like that, anak," he started, his voice shaking. "I did it to protect our company. Their family was a major stakeholder. If they went down, we would have lost everything. I didn't know Luca would... I didn't know he was like this."

"You traded the truth for a business deal," I whispered, the realization cutting deeper than any of Luca’s threats. "And now, he’s using that debt to hold me hostage.

Tinuring mo siyang 'safe choice' kasi alam mong may hawak siya sa atin."

"I thought if you two got together, the past would stay buried! I thought I was securing your future!"

"No, Dad. You were securing your reputation." I didn't wait for him to explain. I couldn't look at him anymore. Ang hero ko, ang "shield" ko, siya rin pala ang dahilan kung bakit ako naging target. I turned around and walked out, ignoring his calls.

I drove to the only place where the air didn't feel like a lie. Rylan’s apartment was in a crowded, noisy building. Amoy ulam ng kapitbahay at naririnig ang busina ng mga tricycle sa labas. It was the complete opposite of my world. Nung binuksan niya ang pinto, he was in his pambahay clothes, looking surprised. "Yllana? Hoy, bakit ganyan ang mukha mo? Parang nakakita ka ng-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos. I just leaned against the doorframe, my composure finally breaking. "Totoo lahat, Rylan. My Dad... he knew. He helped Luca's family."

Rylan’s expression shifted instantly. Gone was the jolly "pasang-awa" guy. He pulled me inside and locked the door. "Maupo ka muna. Chill. Dito, walang makakapasok na Soap Model o kahit sinong CEO." He handed me a glass of water in a chipped plastic cup. It felt more honest than the crystal flutes at the gala.

"Dito muna ako," sabi ko, looking around his small, cramped space. May mga reviewers na nakakalat, isang lumang electric fan, at amoy ng kape. "I can't go back there. I feel like the walls are watching me for him." "Sige lang. Space is limited, pero unlimited naman ang protection dito," biro niya, trying to lighten the mood, pero hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "So, anong plano? Ngayong alam na nating kasabwat, o biktima rin, ang tatay mo?"

I looked at the folder we took from the school, now sitting on his small wooden table. "Luca let me find him because he thinks the truth will break me. He thinks I’ll be too ashamed of my father’s sins to fight back."

"Well, hindi ka naman si Yllana kung susunod ka sa gusto niya, 'di ba?" Rylan grinned, his eyes sparking with that old high school mischief. "He’s the director, pero tayo ang scriptwriter ngayon."

"Rylan, why are you doing this?" I asked softly. "You could just walk away. Safe ka na sana kung hindi ako bumalik sa fast food chain na 'yun." Rylan laughed, a genuine, warm sound. "Yllana, pasang-awa na nga ako sa Math, 'wag mo na akong i-fail sa pagiging kaibigan. Besides, boring ang buhay ko 'pag wala ka. Sino na lang ang aasarin ko?"

I looked at him, and for the first time, the "Uncomfortable Peace" was replaced by something real. Something steady.

"We need to find the one thing Luca is hiding from his own family," I said, leaning over the table. "He’s the director, but every director has a scene they cut out because they’re afraid of it. We just need to find the deleted scenes."

"Game," Rylan said, opening his laptop. "Simulan natin sa tech firm nila. I have a feeling na ang 'perfect reputation' ni Luca ay kasing rupok lang din ng sa tatay mo." Inside this small, noisy apartment, the hunt officially turned. I wasn't the prey anymore. With Rylan by my side, I was finally ready to face the man who thought he owned my story.