Miss Rayi의 작품

KEIRA’S POVMy eyes widened in shock when I saw Mom standing at the foot of the stairs, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. Furrows of concern—or was it irritation?—lined her forehead as she stared at Drake and me. My heart skipped a beat.I quickly stepped forward, and Drake mirrored me, rising to his full height, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. Neither of us spoke at first; the silence was heavy and tense.“Why are you both soaking wet?” Mom’s voice was calm, but I could sense her displeasure beneath the surface, the way she shifted her gaze from me to Drake and back again.“I… accidentally fell into the swimming pool, Mom. Drake helped me,” I explained, trying to keep my voice even, though my chest still ached from the sudden dip in the water.Mom’s eyes narrowed, scanning us both

SABINA’S POVI stood in front of Uncle Edward’s office, my hand poised over the polished wood door, taking a deep breath to steady myself. My heart raced—not out of fear, but anticipation. This was my moment to play my part perfectly, to appear fragile yet reasonable, pitiful yet strong enough to earn his sympathy. The stakes were high, and I couldn’t afford mistakes.I knocked lightly. “Uncle Edward?”“Come in,” his calm voice called.I pushed the door open and stepped inside. His eyes widened slightly, but I didn’t allow my smirk to show. Keira’s mother was there, hovering silently beside him. That woman’s presence annoyed me; she had this permanent, parasitic attachment to Edward that I couldn’t stand. I ignored her.“Why, Sabina? Is there any problem?” he asked, his tone cautious yet warm.If I spoke the truth, it would backfire. I wanted to tell him about Drake and Keira, about the way they looked at each other, about the undeniable tension growing between them—but without proof,

KEIRA’S POV“Sit here, Keira,” he instructed, gesturing to the single chair directly across from him.My heartbeat echoed in my ears as I sat. I could feel Mom’s tension radiating beside me—her posture stiff, her hands clasped too tightly.Edward leaned back slowly, studying me in a way that made my skin prickle.“I want to hear what really happened.”I swallowed hard. “It’s already clear that Sabina doesn’t like me.”“I know Sabina,” he said firmly. “She wouldn’t push someone down the stairs without a powerful reason. I’ve known her since childhood. She grew up in this house. She and Drake were raised together. I want to hear your side before I speak to her.”His tone held no softness—only business.Under his gaze, my palms began to sweat. A fear stirred inside me—Sabina knows. She knows about Drake and me. She might tell him everything.“What if I tell you my side,” I asked quietly. “But Sabina’s version is different? Would you believe me?”Edward let out a slow breath.“We are not

KEIRA’S POVI RAN out of patience and collapsed into the nearest chair, my hands gripping its arms tightly as I glared at Drake. The room felt stifling, thick with the tension between us. Trisha and Earl stood awkwardly nearby, shaking their heads, frustration etched on their faces. It was as if we had reverted to a perpetual battlefield, neither willing to give an inch."You know what, Drake," I said, my voice soft but laced with steel, "you have nothing to do here. You might as well leave!"Drake’s lips twitched, as if he wanted to retort, but before he could, a knock on the door interrupted us. I barely had time to glance at each other before Mom stepped in, her presence immediately shifting the air."Keira, send Trisha and Earl home. It’s getting late for them," she instructed, her tone calm but firm."Okay, Mom," I agreed,

KEIRA’S POVFrustration coiled in my chest like a live wire as I stormed toward them, my hands firmly gripping their shoulders to pull them apart. The scuffle had gone far enough, and if I didn’t intervene now, I was certain someone would get hurt.“Why do you two act like children every single time you’re in the same room?!” I snapped, my voice sharp enough to make both of them pause mid-glare. Drake’s jaw tightened, Earl’s lips pressed into a frustrated line, but for once, neither moved to continue the fight. “If you don’t stop this nonsense right now, I will—without a second thought—kick both of you out of my room.”The threat seemed to work. Both boys reluctantly distanced themselves and dropped onto the couch, still shooting each other sharp, annoyed glances, like predators sizing each other up before the next i

KEIRA’S POVThe night’s chaos still lingered in my chest as we drove toward the mansion. Earl slouched silently in the backseat, muttering under his breath, while Trisha chattered nervously beside me. My mind, however, was elsewhere—on Drake.Even from afar, I could sense him. His presence clung to me like gravity, silent yet undeniable, and my heart couldn’t help but respond. I wondered why he had to be so… intense. So impossible. So him.When we arrived, Drake’s sleek black AMG was parked neatly under the mansion lights. He stepped out just as I did, his dark eyes catching mine for the briefest moment. No words were exchanged, yet the tension wrapped around us like a living thing.“What are they doing here?” His voice, low and even, carried curiosity—and something sharper I couldn’t identify. 

PAIGENapatigil ako. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. It was just my name—spoken softly—but I knew exactly whose voice it was.“I was here. Kanina pa…” may halong panunumbat ang boses niya, kaya dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya.And there he was half-shadowed by the dim light spilling from the end of the corridor. He looked the same, maddeningly calm and unreadable, but his eyes burned with something sharp.“W-why?” Hindi ko napigilang tanungin. “Kung gusto mo lang pala akong makausap, hindi mo na ‘ko kailangang i-prank!” Naiinis na dagdag ko.Napaatras ako nang humakbang siya palapit sa ‘kin.“Why?” ulit niya. “And for the record, I don’t do pranks, Paige.”“Huwag kang lalapit,” banta ko sa kaniya.“Then what? Sisigaw ka?” Hindi siya nagpatinag, patuloy lang siya sa paghakbang.Napatigil ako sa pag-atras nang maramdaman kong pader na ang nasa likod ko.“I don’t like seeing you lingering with another man.” Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niyang ‘yon or more likely mas nainis ako.

PAIGE “Great! You look absolutely gorgeous, Paige,” Papa greeted me with a proud smile. I was wearing no less than an Alexena Chavez gown—a dark red evening dress that flowed elegantly with every step.“Thank you, ‘Pa!” nakangiting sabi ko.They originally wanted me to wear white, but I chose red—to show my boldness, to show that I’ve grown, that I’m no longer the little girl they used to protect.“Anyway, someone’s waiting for you by the grand staircase,” he said, his tone turning serious. “Is he your suitor?” His expression shifted instantly—protective, just like Kuya Trace. Honestly, they’re exactly the same in that way.“No, Pa. That’s Beckett—he’s just my escort for tonight,” I explained at napatango naman siya.“Good to hear that!” Pagtapos ay humakbang siya palapit sa ‘kin. “Happy birthday, Paige! I know you’re at the right age to start accepting suitors—just promise me you’ll introduce the guy to me first before anything else.”“Don’t worry, Pa! ‘Yan naman talaga ang gagawin

PAIGEThe mansion smelled like fresh flowers and polished wood. I walked from room to room, checking every detail—tables, chairs, floral arrangements, even the little name cards. My fingers itched to fix everything myself, pero sabi ni Louisianna, it’s supposed to be stress-free for me.“Paige, we need to finalize the catering menu,” Louisianna said, holding her tablet like it was a shield.I glanced at the list again.“Okay, we go with La Première for the appetizers and Casa Celestia for the main course. But I want the dessert tasting tomorrow. I need to try the chocolate soufflé myself.”Harriet piped up, “I’ll schedule the tasting. And the cake—Ms. Joanne already has the sketch for the final design.” Then pinakita niya rin sa ‘kin ang phone niya kung saan nando&rsq

DAMIRA“Hey, have you heard the news?” Tanong sa ‘kin ni Kate. Nandito kami ngayon sa condo niya, having girl’s night out.“What news is that?” tanong naman ni Guia. “‘Yong about sa engagement ni Damira at Jeru? Eh, hindi ba tayo nga ang naglabas no’n in public.”“No! Not that one, syempre hindi ‘yon ang tinutukoy ko.” Naiiling na sabi naman ni Kate kaya napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. “Jeru will finally speak about the engagement issue. At ang daming naghihintay ng side niya regarding sa issue.”“Wait. Which channel?” excited na tanong ni Mau at mabilis niyang kinuha ang remote ng TV “Saka saan mo ba ‘yan nalaman?”“Kay Jacob, syempre nasa news industry siya tapos sa kaniya pa galing yung scoop about sa engagement, so nakabantay talaga sila sa bawat galaw ni Jeru. Then finally nga, sabi ay magsasalita na nga raw siya.”“So, saang channel nga?” tanong ulit ni Mau.“Walang channel, sa L.A. kasi siya nagpa-interview hindi naman dito sa atin kaya link lang ang binigay sa ‘kin.”“Wait,

JERU“Are you kidding me?” buntong-hininga ko habang hawak-hawak ‘yong phone ko. Walang tigil ang patunog ng phone ko dahil sa notification — reporters, managers, sponsors. Lahat nagtatanong. Lahat naghahanap ng sagot tungkol sa kumalat na engagement namin ni Damira.Napipikon ako. Tāngina. Hindi ko talaga alam na ‘yong paglapit ko ulit sa mga Esquivel ay magbibigay pa ng mas malaking problema sa ‘kin.If I have to burn everything to get what I want, I will. But not without taking down whoever started this.Kaya sisiguraduhing kong tatapusin ko kung ano man ang sinimulan nila.Binaba ko ‘yong cellphone ko sa lamesa, nagsasawa na ko sa walang tigil na tunog at vibrate no’n.Napatingin ako sa malaking salamin sa harap ko, pero parang hindi ko na kilala ‘yong taong nando’n. Nakasuot ako ng dark red suit na pinili ng stylist ng PR team—pero kahit anong ayos nila, hindi no’n natatakpan ‘yong pagod sa mata ko.Halos wala pa akong tulong mula nang bumalik kami dito sa L.A. Dahil paglapag nami

DAMIRA“WHAT happened, Damira?” Naguguluhang tanong ni Dad. “Bakit ang lumabas sa news ay engage na kayo ni Mr. McBride? Saan naman kaya galing ang balita na ‘yon?”“I’m not sure, Dad,” pagsisinungaling ko. “Alam mo naman na hindi ko gusto ‘yong idea nang pagpapakasal naming dalawa. Malamang ang Jeru na ‘yon ang may kagagawan nang lahat. Since siya naman ‘tong nasa showbiz industry.”“No, imposible na siya ang gumawa niyan. Mahigpit na bilin sa amin nang assistant niya na huwag munang sasabihin kahit kanino ang tungkol sa deal na ‘yon hangga’t hindi tuluyang pumapayag si Mr. McBride, dahil hindi pwedeng may ibang taong makaalam,” nag-aalalang sabi naman niya. “Ang inaalala ko baka lalo lang siyang hindi magpakasal sa ‘yo nang dahil sa news na ‘yan.”“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m sure na pakakasalan ako ni Jeru McBride kahit na anong mangyari. Lalo ngayon kalat na kalat na ang tungkol sa relasyon naming dalawa,” sabi ko naman then I look to my phone.Kanina ko pa nga hinihintay ang tawag ni J