Chapter 05

ELI CLAYTON

Wala pang alas-siyete nang makarating ako sa office ko sa loob ng club. Habang hinihintay si Shanaia, inabala ko muna ang sarili ko sa pagbabasa ng mga impormasyong nakuha ko tungkol sa pamilya Parker. Nakapatong sa mesa ang makapal na folder habang isa-isa kong binabalikan ang laman nito.

Napangisi ako. Sigurado akong hindi magiging maganda ang reaksyon ni Shanaia kapag nalaman niya ang mga impormasyong ito.

O baka hindi rin. Si Shanaia pa naman iyon. Napakahirap basahin ng emosyon niya. Hindi mo malalaman kung galit ba siya, masaya, nalulungkot, o nasasaktan dahil palagi siyang may poker face. Walang emosyon sa mga mata. Walang ekspresyon sa mukha. Minsan naiisip ko na baka ganoon talaga kapag sobrang dami mong pinagdaanan. Unti-unti kang natututong itago ang lahat hanggang sa wala nang makabasa ng nararamdaman mo.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang bumukas ang pinto ng office. Napatingin agad ako roon. At gaya ng inaasahan, si Shanaia iyon.

Agad akong tumayo mula sa swivel chair. "My baby!" masigla kong bati habang nakangiting lumalapit para yakapin siya. Ngunit hindi man lang siya tumigil.

Diretso niya akong nilagpasan at naupo sa couch. "Don't you dare hug me habang wala kang suot na damit."

Napatingin ako sa sarili ko. Ah, tama. Kanina ko pa pala hinubad ang long-sleeve polo ko dahil naiinitan ako. Hindi ko alam kung epekto ba iyon ng alak o dahil sadyang gwapo lang talaga ako.

Ngumisi ako at naupo sa tabi niya. "Bakit ayaw mo?" tanong ko. "Baka mamaya bigla ka na lang kiligin." Kinindatan ko pa siya. "Baby, alam ko namang may feelings ka rin para sa akin. Hindi mo lang inaamin."

Tumingin siya sa akin. Diretso. Walang emosyon. Iyong tipong tingin na parang gusto niyang itanong kung may sira ba ako sa ulo.

Pero wala akong balak tumigil. Mas lalo lang akong ngumisi.

Inalis niya ang tingin sa akin at dinampot ang tatlong malalaking marble na naka-display sa center table. Isa-isang pinaglaruan ng mga daliri niya.

Pagkatapos ay tinaas ang isa. "Gusto mong ibato ko ito sa mga alak mo?"

Agad akong napatayo. "Hoy!" Mabilis kong kinuha ang marble sa kamay niya. "Baby naman. Binibiro lang kita." Kinuha ko rin ang dalawa pang marble bago niya maisipang gamitin bilang armas. "Huwag mong idamay ang mga alak ko. Mahal ang mga 'yan."

Import pa naman ang iba. Nakakaiyak kapag nabasag. Tsk.

Pagkasoli ko ng mga marble sa mesa, agad siyang sumandal sa couch. "Nasan na ang mga impormasyong pinahanap ko?"

Sa wakas. Business mode na.

Kinuha ko ang folder mula sa mesa at iniabot sa kanya. "Here."

Tahimik niyang tinanggap iyon at agad na nagsimulang magbasa.

Habang abala siya, ako naman ang tahimik na nakatingin sa kanya.

Matagal ko nang gawain iyon. Noon pa sa London.

Kapag may ginagawa siya, pinapanood ko lang siya. Mula sa maitim niyang buhok. Makakapal na kilay. Mahahabang pilikmata. Matangos na ilong. Hanggang sa mapupula niyang labi. Hindi niya kailangan ng make-up para maging maganda. Natural na iyon. At marahil...

Ang madalas kong pagtitig sa kanya ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit unti-unti akong nahulog. Isang bagay na pilit kong itinanggi noon.

Natigil lang ako nang magsalita siya. "So this is the reason why they fixed a marriage between our families." Ibinalik niya ang folder sa mesa.

Tahimik akong sumandal sa upuan. "Ngayon na alam mo na ang posibleng dahilan ng daddy mo, ano'ng gagawin mo?" tanong ko. "Pipigilan mo pa rin ba?"

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Saglit siyang natahimik habang nakatingin sa mga dokumento. Pagkatapos ay nagsalita. "Isang Villafuerte si Shally. Pero wala siyang kasalanan." Mariin ang boses niya. "Hindi siya ang dapat magbayad sa ginawa ng kapatid ni Dad." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Kaya oo, Clayton. Pipigilan ko pa rin."

Napailing na lang ako. Bakit pa nga ba ako nagtanong? Kapag tungkol kay Shally ang usapan, handang gawin ni Shanaia ang lahat. Kahit imposible. Kahit mahirap. Kahit siya pa mismo ang masaktan.

Kinuha ko muli ang folder at isinilid iyon sa drawer bago ito ni-lock. "Anong plano mo?"

Tumayo siya. Ipinasok ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang itim na pantalon. "Kakausapin ko muna si Dad. Para ma-confirm lahat ng impormasyon. Pagkatapos noon, saka ako magdedesisyon."

Tumango ako. "So uuwi ka na?"

Tumango rin siya. At agad nang naglakad palabas.

"Shanaia, wait!"

Mabilis kong dinampot ang isang T-shirt mula sa drawer at sinundan siya palabas ng office. Nakahinto siya malapit sa hagdan nang maabutan ko.

Iniabot ko ang T-shirt. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Pauwi na ako. Hindi ko kailangan nito."

Tatanggapin ko sana pabalik ang damit. Pero umatras ako. "Wala akong pakialam." Napangisi ako. "Ang liit ng suot mong tank top. Isuot mo na."

At bago pa siya makatanggi, ginulo ko pa nang bahagya ang buhok niya.

Inismiran niya ako. "Fine."

Ngunit sinuot pa rin niya ang T-shirt. Napangiti ako. Kahit papaano, marunong din pala siyang sumunod.

Pababa na kami ng hagdan habang nagbubutones ako ng polo. Sa malayo, mukhang bagong bihis si Shanaia. Maputi kasi ang suot niyang tank top. At mas maputi pa ang balat niya. Kaya mas mabuti nang may dagdag siyang damit.

"Sa fire exit tayo dumaan," sabi ko.

Pagkababa namin, inayos ko pa ang magulo niyang buhok. At pati na rin ang akin. Ayokong may makakita sa amin at mag-isip ng kung anu-ano.

Pagdaan namin malapit sa bar counter, may lalaking biglang humarang sa landas namin. "Shanaia!" Masaya ang mukha nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Nandito ka rin pala."

Napatingin ako sa lalaki. Parang pamilyar. "You look familiar."

Saglit niya akong sinulyapan bago muling tumingin kay Shanaia. Halatang wala siyang interes sa akin. At mas lalong halatang si Shanaia ay wala ring interes sa kanya.

"Kanina pa ako nandito," sabi ng lalaki. "Ngayon lang kita nakita. Kakadating mo lang ba?"

Bago pa makasagot si Shanaia, ako na ang sumagot. "Paano mo makikita?" Ngumisi ako. "Nasa kuwarto kami."

Parang may sumabog sa mukha ng lalaki. Mula sa masayang ekspresyon ay naging madilim agad ang tingin niya.

Muntik na akong matawa. Mas lalo ko pa siyang ininis. Inakbayan ko si Shanaia. "Kung gusto mo siyang makausap, next time na lang. Pagod na ang baby ko. Kailangan ko na siyang ihatid."

Kung nakakapatay lang ang tingin, malamang nakaburol na ako ngayon. Pero wala akong pakialam. Masaya akong asarin siya.

Iniwan namin ang lalaki at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Pagkalayo namin ay agad akong sinamaan ng tingin ni Shanaia.

"Ano iyong mga pinagsasasabi mo kanina?"

"Alin?" Kunwari'y inosente akong tumingin sa kanya. "Yung tungkol sa kuwarto?" Tumawa ako. "Office dapat iyon. Nagkamali lang ako."

Mas lalo niya akong inismiran. At mas lalo naman akong natawa.

Paglabas namin sa fire exit, dumiretso kami sa parking area kung saan nakaparada ang mga sasakyan namin. Huminto siya sa tabi ng kotse niya. Ako naman ay tumigil sa tapat niya.

"Mag-ingat ka sa pagda-drive."

Tumango siya. "I will."

Pagkatapos noon ay sumakay na siya sa kotse. Nang umandar ang makina, bumusina siya nang isang beses. At dahan-dahang umalis.

Pinanood ko ang sasakyan niyang papalayo hanggang sa mawala sa paningin ko.

Napangiti ako. "See you next time, baby."

Pagkatapos ay sumakay na rin ako sa sarili kong sasakyan at umalis ng club.

SHANAIA ISABELLE

The drive home felt longer than usual. The city lights blurred past the windshield, but I barely noticed them. My mind remained trapped in the information Clayton had handed me.

The Parker family was drowning. The famous E&G Cosmetics Company was standing on the edge of collapse.

A year ago, six hundred fifty million pesos disappeared from their accounts. Since then, everything had gone downhill. To compensate for the loss, Mr. Parker cut corners. Instead of importing premium ingredients and high-quality materials, they started buying cheaper alternatives. The production costs went down—but so did the quality of their products.

And customers noticed.

At first, there were only a few complaints.

Skin allergies. Hair damage. Rashes. Product reactions.

The Parkers ignored them. They assumed competitors were spreading rumors to destroy their reputation. But the complaints kept growing. Weeks became months. Negative reviews flooded social media. Influencers exposed their products. Consumers demanded accountability. And now, people were protesting outside the company building.

The Parker brand that once symbolized quality was now becoming a symbol of distrust. The worst part?

The person responsible for their downfall was connected to us. Connected to my family. My father's older sister. My Aunt Shan. And her husband.

My grip tightened around the steering wheel. "Damn it." The curse slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

I slammed my palm against the steering wheel.

No. I refused to let Shally pay for a crime she didn't commit.

When I arrived at the mansion, the first person I saw was Dad. Waiting. Of course he was. As if he had been standing there the entire time.

"Buti naman at umuwi ka na," he said. I walked past him without answering. "Shanaia." His voice stopped me.

I closed my eyes briefly before turning around.

"Alam kong gabi na, pero kailangan nating mag-usap."

I stared at him for several seconds. Then I exhaled. "Sige." Because I had questions too. And tonight, I wanted answers.

We sat across from each other in the living room. The atmosphere was tense. Heavy. Almost suffocating.

I leaned back against the sofa and crossed my arms. "Is this about the fixed marriage?"

Dad nodded. "Oo." His expression remained serious. "I already contacted the Parker family. Pupunta sila rito bukas para pag-usapan ang kasal." His gaze locked onto mine. "My decision is final, Shanaia."

A cold smile tugged at my lips. "Final?"

"Yes. Magpapakasal si Shally kay Ethan."

I slowly straightened in my seat. "So that's it?"

"That's it."

I stared at him. Waiting. Giving him one last chance. But he remained firm. Unmoving. Just like always.

"Dad." My voice became quieter. More dangerous. "Can you tell me the real reason?"

His brows furrowed. "You already know."

"I want to hear it from you."

Silence. For several long seconds, neither of us spoke. Then Dad released a heavy sigh. His shoulders visibly sagged. As though carrying a burden he had hidden for a very long time.

"Fine." He leaned forward. "A year ago, ninakawan ang E&G Cosmetics Company."

I remained silent. Listening.

"The person responsible was their CFO." His eyes darkened. "And that CFO was your Aunt Shan's husband."

There it was. Confirmation.

Dad continued. "Nalugi ang negosyo nila sa ibang bansa. Nalubog sila sa utang." His jaw tightened. "So they stole money."

"And after that?"

"They disappeared."

I looked away briefly. Just enough to hide my frustration.

Then I looked back at him. "So because Aunt Shan's family stole from the Parkers..." I let the words hang. "...you decided that Shally should pay for it?"

Dad immediately frowned. "Hindi gano'n—"

"No?" I laughed. A bitter laugh. One without humor. "Then explain it to me."

His silence already gave me the answer. But I wanted him to say it. I wanted him to hear how ridiculous it sounded.

"We're helping the Parkers."

"There." I nodded slowly. "Helping them. By offering your daughter."

"Shanaia!" His voice rose.

But mine rose higher. "Then what do you call it?!" The room echoed with my anger. "If not payment, then what?"

Neither of us looked away. Neither of us backed down. For the first time in years, we stood on opposite sides of a battlefield. And neither wanted to surrender.

"I care about Shally." The words came out trembling.

Not from fear. From anger. From pain.

"Do you?"

Dad froze. I continued. "She's your daughter. Your flesh and blood. But all I see is a father willing to sacrifice her happiness."

His face hardened. "You don't understand."

"Then make me understand."

The challenge hung between us. But he couldn't answer. Because there was no answer. Only excuses. And I was done listening to them.

"Do you know what Shally lost?" My voice cracked.

Memories flooded my mind. Three years. Three long years. Three years of distance. Three years of loneliness. Three years of pretending everything was okay.

"She lost me."

Dad's expression shifted. Just slightly. But I saw it. Guilt.

"Three years akong nawala sa buhay niya." My eyes burned. Yet I refused to look away. "Three years siyang mag-isa." The silence grew heavier. "And now you're asking her to give up even more?" I shook my head. Slowly. Disappointed. "No. I won't allow it."

"At ano'ng gusto mong gawin ko?" Dad asked. His patience was finally breaking. "Maglabas ng daan-daang milyong piso?"

"Kung kailangan."

His eyes widened. I stood up.

"So that's your answer?" He laughed bitterly. "As if ganun kadali."

I stared at him. Then nodded. "It is."

His forehead creased. "What?"

I wiped away the tears that escaped my eyes. "If the person we're talking about is Shally." My voice became firm. Certain. Resolute. "I would."

Even if I lost everything. Even if it ruined me. I would choose my sister. Every single time.

The room fell silent. Then Dad suddenly stood. "Fine!" The sharpness of his voice echoed through the mansion. "If you're so determined—" He pointed at me. "Then ikaw ang magbayad!" His breathing was uneven. His anger obvious. "At hindi ko na itutuloy ang kasal."

For a moment, I simply looked at him. Then I smiled. Not because I was happy. Because I had finally made my decision.

"There won't be a wedding."

Dad frowned. "What?"

I met his eyes. Steady. Unwavering. "Invite the Parkers tomorrow."

His expression shifted. Confusion. Suspicion. Concern. "Shanaia..."

I grabbed my bag from the sofa. Then turned away. "I already know what I'm going to do."

Without waiting for his response, I walked toward the staircase. Leaving him alone in the living room. Alone with the consequences of his choices. I was halfway up the stairs when I stopped.

A familiar figure stood there. Frozen. Crying. Shally.

Her eyes were red. Her cheeks wet with tears. The moment our gazes met, she broke. "Ate..."

She rushed toward me. And wrapped her arms around me. Tightly. As though afraid I would disappear again.

I hugged her back. Without hesitation. Without words.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. We simply stood there. Holding on. Finding comfort in each other's presence.

Then I gently stroked her hair. And whispered the only promise that mattered. "Everything will be alright, Ly."

No matter what happened tomorrow. No matter who stood against me. I would protect her. This time—

I wouldn't leave her behind.