Chapter 7

I kept my focus on the laptop screen, kahit ramdam ko pa rin yung tingin ni Sage mula sa loob ng lounge.It feels like I'm being burned every second, pero I forced myself to type, to scroll through research files, to act as though nothing was wrong.

Small wins. Kaya ko ‘to.

“So, the summit,” Luca began, pulling his chair closer to mine, ang boses niya ay mahina para hindi marinig ng iba. “They’re expecting high-profile speakers. May rumor pa nga na si Carden Group might sponsor part of the event.”

My breath hitched, pero I forced a neutral nod. “That makes sense. His company has reach in almost every sector.” nagpakita ako na parang wala akong alam at normal lang na marinig ko ang mga bagay na ganito dahil sa galing naman talaga ni Sage. 

“Exactly. Which means mas magiging strict ang security, mas tricky ang access. Pero—” He flashed me a quick grin, “I know you can handle it. You always do.” kinindatan pa niya ako. 

I smiled, soft and hesitant. Hindi ko napigilan. Kasi sa gitna ng lahat ng gulo sa personal kong buhay, naroon si Luca—someone who saw me as competent, reliable. Not just his wife, not just someone’s possession.

“Thanks,” I murmured, fingers tapping against the coffee cup. “We’ll need to map out which sessions to prioritize. Siguro after lunch, we can start drafting questions.”

“Lunch it is,” Luca confirmed, eyes warm.

I felt lighter. A tiny bit stronger. Even if it was just me choosing to stay at my desk, doing my job, instead of being dragged away.

When I risked a glance at the glass wall, Sage’s eyes were still on me. His expression unreadable, but the tension radiated even from a distance. Parang leon na nakakulong, pinipigilan lang ang sariling sumigaw o magwala. 

For once, I didn’t look away. Hindi ako yumuko, hindi ako nagtago. I sipped from the coffee Luca gave me, turned back to my laptop, and continued working.

Small wins. Ito ang kailangan ko, ito talaga ang mga kailangan ko. 

Inside, my heart still raced with fear but there was something else now. A quiet fire. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Maybe… just maybe… I wasn’t as powerless as he wanted me to believe.

“Okay, hear me out,” Luca said habang nag-oopen siya ng bagong tab sa laptop niya. “We have three panels happening at the same time on Day 1. Tech innovations, political reforms, and economic trends. Anong gusto mong kunin?”

I leaned forward, glad to finally talk about something na may sense. “Economic trends. Mas malaking coverage, mas relevant. Ikaw?”

“Tech,” sagot niya agad. “That’s my playground.”

I smiled, for real this time. “Figures. Ikaw ang geek sa ating dalawa.”

“Excuse me?” He placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. “Intellectual, Phoebe. Not geek. May difference.” natawa ako, and I caught myself, pressing my lips together. My laugh sounded too loud in my ears, pero ang sarap maramdaman. Ang sarap tumawa nang hindi natatakot.

“Fine,” I said, shaking my head. “Intellectual.”

“Better.” He shot me a satisfied grin, then tapped on his screen. “Pero may isa pa akong naiisip. The political reform panel? We might need someone to cover it. Kasi kung hindi natin itatackle, parang may missing piece yung buong article.”

I nodded slowly, then glanced at my planner. “Liza can take that. She’s good at handling sensitive topics, mas malalim yung perspective niya.”

“See? Team player ka talaga,” Luca said, sipping his coffee. “Hindi ko alam paano gumagana itong office kung wala ka.”

The words hit deeper than I expected. I swallowed hard, staring at my notes. Because with him, it felt different. I wasn’t invisible. I wasn’t a burden. I was useful. Needed.

“Don’t flatter me too much,” I muttered, hiding my smile.

“Not flattery. That’s a fact,” he countered easily.

And for a moment, I let myself bask in it. The warmth, the ease, the simple normalcy.

Then, my eyes flicked up through the glass wall.

Sage was still there.

He hadn’t moved. Still seated, still composed, but his hand gripped the armrest too tightly. His jaw was clenched, his eyes was sharp, unblinking, and were fixed on me. On us.

The air shifted around me again, cold against my skin.

I looked away quickly, forcing myself back into the conversation. “So, let’s start drafting questions. For the economic panel, dapat ang angle natin ay—” I flipped my notepad open, scrawling words that my trembling hand barely kept straight. “…how international partnerships affect local industries. Yun ang madalas di nakikita ng iba.”

“Smart,” Luca said, leaning a little closer to peek at my notes. “Pwede kong idagdag dito yung data from last quarter reports. Para mas solid.”

“Exactly.”

The click of his pen, the scratch of mine, the hum of the newsroom. It all grounded me. Every second I stayed here, choosing to work, was a silent rebellion. A quiet no to Sage’s command.

My chest was tight, my heart was pounding, but I stayed.

And when Luca nudged another cup of coffee closer. “This one’s decaf, para hindi ka manginig buong gabi.” I accepted it with a small nod.

“Thanks.”

It was nothing. A coffee, a smile, a conversation about work. Pero para sa akin, it was everything. A tiny piece of myself I fought to keep.

Through the glass, I felt Sage’s fury simmer. But he still didn’t move. He couldn’t drag me out this time.

At sa unang pagkakataon, hindi talaga ako nakakaramdam ng takot para bang nasa safe place ako ngayon.

I buried myself in work. Every click ng keyboard, every note I scribbled down, every little exchange with Luca, lahat yun naging sandata ko. Para ipaalala sa sarili ko na kaya ko. Na may sarili akong mundo na hindi niya kayang kontrolin.

Pero kahit anong pilit kong i-focus ang atensyon ko, ramdam ko pa rin ang titig ni Sage sa kabilang side ng glass. Para siyang multo na hindi umaalis. Tahimik. Naghihintay. Nagbabantay.

“Phoebe,” Luca said, handing me a printed agenda. “Can you double-check if this aligns sa economic panel schedule?”

“Yeah, give me a sec.” I leaned over the paper, grateful for the distraction. My pen tapped lightly against the table as I scanned. “Okay, may konting adjustment lang dito. Yung time slot overlap sa tech panel, so kailangan natin magpasa ng secondary team para sa live coverage.”

“Good catch,” Luca said, smiling at me. “That’s why you’re the best. You wouldn't be called the best if you weren't Phoebe.”

I tried to smile back, pero napansin kong parang lalo lang nag-init ang paligid. Parang mas lalo akong sinisinghot ng titig mula sa labas.

I forced myself to breathe. Ignore him. Focus. You’re at work.

Hours slipped by in that push-and-pull. Silence outside, work inside.

At minsan, nahuhuli kong nakatingin si Sage sa laptop niya, but the moment my gaze flicked up, his eyes were already back on me. Hindi siya nagparamdam ng kahit ano. No words, no gestures. Just his sheer presence, suffocating and undeniable.

It was nearly seven when Liza tapped my desk. “Hey, Phoebe. May team dinner later, gusto mo sumama?”

My heart jumped. Alam kong maririnig ni Sage yun. At alam kong ang sagot ko, ay oo.

“I—” I started, pero mabilis kong naramdaman ang malamig na kilabot sa batok ko. Alam kong nakatingin siya. Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa ballpen, tapos ngumiti ako kay Liza. “Next time na lang siguro. May mga notes pa akong aayusin for tomorrow.”

“Alright, ikaw bahala. Don’t overwork yourself,” she said bago umalis.

The moment she was gone, Luca leaned closer. “You should’ve gone. Kailangan mo ring mag-relax minsan.”

“I can’t,” I whispered, almost to myself.

Pero sa halip na mangulit, tumango lang siya, parang naiintindihan. “Okay. Then let’s finish this draft, at least.”

At doon ko narealize, hindi ko siya kailangang ipaliwanag. Hindi ko kailangang i-justify ang bawat kilos ko. He just accepted it.

By the time the clock struck nine, halos tapos na ang outline namin for the coverage. I stretched, rubbing my temples.

“Good work today,” Luca said, flashing his easy smile. “Don’t forget to eat pag-uwi mo.”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “You too.”

He walked me to the elevator, as always, casual and unassuming.

Bago pa kami makalapit sa elevator, bumukas ang pinto at sumabay si Luca sa tabi ko. Naglakad kami papasok nang walang sagabal, at kahit sa gilid ng mata ko ay naramdaman kong may presensya sa malayo pero hindi siya gumalaw. Si Sage. Nandoon lang, nanonood. Hinayaan niyang pumasok muna kami ni Luca.

“See you tomorrow, Phoebe,” Luca said habang hawak ang coffee tumbler niya. May ngiti pa rin sa labi niya, parang walang mabigat na bagay na nakabitin sa hangin.

“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a small smile. “Ingat ka.”

Tumango siya bago bumaling sa kabilang direksyon. Ako naman ay diretso nang naglakad papunta sa basement parking. At doon, habang papalapit ako sa kotseng nakapark, doon ko siya nakita.

Si Sage.

Nakasandal siya sa hood ng sasakyan niya, suit jacket draped neatly over his arm, sleeves rolled up, expression carved in ice. Hindi siya nagsalita, pero ramdam ko agad ang galit na pinipigil niya. Yung klase ng katahimikan na mas nakakatakot kaysa sa sigaw.

My steps faltered, pero pinilit kong ituloy. The sound of my heels against the concrete echoed far too loud, bawat hakbang parang kumakabog sa dibdib ko.

“You enjoyed yourself?” he finally asked, his tone clipped. Mababaw pero halatang kumukulo ang ilalim.

I swallowed hard, clutching my bag tighter. “I was working.”

“Working.” He pushed himself off the hood, slowly walking toward me, his presence overwhelming the space. “Is that what you call laughing over coffee with him?”

My chest tightened, but I forced my chin up. “Yes. Because that’s exactly what it was. Work.”

His jaw ticked, eyes narrowing, pero hindi siya sumagot agad. Instead, he opened the passenger side door of the car with a sharp motion. “Get in.”

And in that moment, I knew, wala na siya sa mood. Hindi na siya magpapanggap.