Kabanata 4

12:30 PM.

Hinintay pa niya ng ilang minuto bago lumakad patungong opisina ni Elias. Sa bawat hakbang niya ay parang naglalakad siya papunta sa sariling bitayan. Bitbit ang brown lunch bag na may laman sanang homemade sandwich, pero malamang ay hindi na niya ito makakain.

Kumatok siya sa pinto.

“Come in,” tawag ng malalim na boses mula sa loob.

Pagpasok niya, agad siyang sinalubong ng aroma ng steak at mashed potatoes. Of course, fancy lunch. Sa table ng opisina ay nakalatag ang dalawang set ng meal, may kasamang wine.

“Wow. Nag-restaurant ka pa,” sarkastikong bati ni Lyra habang umupo. “Baka p’wede ko na lang itong i-takeout para sa Nanay ko.”

Elias smirked. “Sit down and eat. You look like you haven’t eaten since last night.”

“Hindi ko kailangan ng concern mo,” malamig na sagot niya, pero naupo rin.

“You do,” kalmadong tugon ni Elias habang pinupunasan ang utensils. “Alam kong wala kang savings left. Naubos mo lahat para sa kasal na hindi natuloy. Tapos may pamilya kang sinusuportahan.”

Napasinghap si Lyra. “How do you know that?”

“Because I do my research.”

Nagpanting ang tenga ni Lyra. “You’re seriously insane.”

Elias smiled. “Just smart. I always look into the woman I marry—even in a flash wedding.”

Natahimik si Lyra. Kinuha niya ang baso ng tubig at uminom, pero ramdam niyang nanginginig pa rin ang kamay niya.

“Hindi ako for sale,” mahina niyang sabi. “Wag mong isipin na porke’t may utang ako sa iyo, you can just throw money and I’ll obey.”

“Hindi kita binibili,” tugon ni Elias habang tinikman ang steak. “I’m just offering you something beneficial. Lunch. A raise. Privacy.”

Napangiwi si Lyra. “Kapag nalaman ng mga tao rito na—”

“They won’t,” putol ni Elias. “Wala akong balak sirain ang career mo. Pero kung gusto mong mapanatili ang tahimik na buhay mo, you better cooperate.”

“And if I don’t?”

He leaned forward. “Then I might just get bored… and do something reckless. Again.”

Tinapunan siya ni Lyra ng matalim na tingin. “You’re blackmailing me?”

“No,” Elias replied calmly. “I’m seducing my wife.”

Nalaglag ang kutsara ni Lyra.

“Tangina mo talaga,” usal niya.

Elias chuckled, clearly amused. “Now eat, wife. I want you to have enough energy for later.”

“Later for what?” tanong niya, pikon na.

“For work. What were you thinking?”

Napapikit si Lyra, pinilit ang sarili na huwag magwala.

Tahimik na kumakain si Lyra sa loob ng opisina ni Elias habang pilit kinakalimutan ang presensiya ng lalaking kaharap niya. Kahit pa masarap ang steak, hindi niya magawang namnamin ito. Pakiramdam niya’y nasa lion’s den siya at kahit isang maling tingin ay puwedeng pagsimulan ng gulo.

Napapikit siya habang umiinom ng tubig. Konting tiis na lang. Pagkatapos nito, balik sa cubicle. I-survive lang ‘tong araw na ‘to.

Pero bago pa niya maisubo ang huling piraso ng mashed potato, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Elias. Agad niya itong sinagot, ngunit hindi pa man umaabot sa tenga ay narinig na agad ni Lyra ang malakas na boses mula sa kabilang linya.

“Elias! You useless boy! Until now, you haven’t fulfilled the family agreement! Do you think I’ll let you inherit the company without a damn wife?!”

Napatigil sa pagnguya si Lyra.

Tumindig ang katawan ni Elias, pero nanatiling kalmado ang mukha.

“Yes, Lolo,” sagot niya, mahinahon. “I’m aware. But I have news.”

“It better be something good, or I swear I’ll strip you of your shares! You think you can just hide in that office and avoid your responsibilities?!”

Napayuko si Lyra, hindi makagalaw.

Elias exhaled slowly. “I got married.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said I’m married,” ulit ni Elias, walang bakas ng kaba. “Legally. Civil. Immediate. You’ll meet her soon.”

“To whom?! Sino ang babae?!”

“Her name is Lyra Santiago. She’s...” Elias looked directly at her, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “My wife.”

Halos mabilaukan si Lyra. Napalunok siya ng malakas at muntik pang masamid sa tubig.

Napatingin siya kay Elias na waring walang nangyari, tila kaswal lang na in-order sa delivery app ang pagiging asawa niya.

“Santiago? That doesn’t sound like a political surname. Is she from a business family?”

“No,” sagot ni Elias. “She’s from a humble background. But she’s smart, resilient, hardworking. And she married me not knowing anything about my name.”

“Tsk! At saan mo siya nakilala?!”

“Long story, Lolo. But you’ll meet her soon. I’ll bring her over for dinner.”

Bigla tumindig si Lyra sa kinauupuan niya.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” pabulong pero galit na galit ang boses niya.

Elias raised one finger to silence her.

“You better make sure this isn’t another one of your games, Elias. This family’s name is not a joke! If I find out you’re lying—”

“You won’t. She’s real. She’s beside me now.”

Napahawak si Lyra sa sentido.

“Alright,” huling sabi ng matanda. “You have one week. Bring her to dinner. The entire board will be present. And she better act like a Montero wife.”

Pagkababa ng tawag ay tahimik pa rin ang opisina.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” sigaw agad ni Lyra. “Did you just tell your billionaire war-freak grandfather that we’re married and that you’ll introduce me to your entire family?!”

Elias looked amused. “You are my wife. Yourm ate Lyra Santiago—Montero. Nakasabit na ang apelyido ko sa 'yo.”

“That’s not the point!” Lyra shrieked. “Hindi pa alam ng pamilya ko na kasal ako! Ni hindi pa nga ako nakaka-recover sa kahihiyan ng binasura ako ni Tristan tapos ngayon—tapos ngayon dadalhin mo ako sa pamilya mo like I’m some prize trophy wife?!”

“Why not?” Elias said nonchalantly, as if she was overreacting. “You’re beautiful, sharp, and real. They need to see that.”

“I don’t care about what they need to see!” naglalakad na siya paikot, pilit hinahanap ang composure niya. “Hindi ako handa, Elias! I didn’t sign up for this!”

“Well, technically, you signed a marriage certificate. That covers the basics.”

“Elias!”

Tumayo si Elias at lumapit sa kaniya, walang takot sa init ng ulo niya.

He lowered his voice. “Listen, Lyra. I married you for my own reasons, yes. But now, you’re my shield. My protection against the board, my grandfather, and everyone else trying to control me. So yes, I need to show them I’m married. But more importantly…”

Hinawakan niya ang baba ng dalaga, pinilit siyang tumingin sa mata niya.

“…I want them to see what kind of woman I chose.”

“Stop romanticizing this,” bulong ni Lyra. “This is manipulation, and you know it.”

“No,” aniya. “This is survival.”

They locked eyes for a long moment—tension-filled, uncertain, heavy with things unsaid.

Maya—maya, binitiwan siya ni Elias at bumalik sa desk.

“You have one week,” aniya. “To prepare.”

“Prepare for what? To pretend to be in love with you in front of your royal snake family?! Ome fucking week?!”

Elias smiled lazily. “You don’t have to pretend.”

Tumalikod na si Lyra, hindi alam kung iiyak, sisigaw, o tatakbo palabas.