Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7: MEET

Kasabay ng panlalamig ng mga kamay ko ang pamimilog ng mga mata ko. 

“B-bukas na agad?” gulat kong tanong, halos pabulong lang.

Tumango si Matthew at bumuntong-hininga. 

“She was surprised by the news... so she wants to see you tomorrow.”

Ramdam ko ang kaba na gumapang sa dibdib ko. 

Hindi pa nga masyadong nag-si-sink in sa akin lahat ng mga nagyayari, tapos biglang haharap na ako sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay niya? Tapos bukas na a gad!

Napansin niya ang bakas ng pag-aalinlangan ko. Bahagyang lumambot ang mga mata niya, kahit pa nakaigting ang kaniyang panga. 

“Don’t overthink it. Just… be yourself."

Be myself... Kung ganoon lang sana kasimple 'yon.

Paano kung hindi nila ako magustuhan? Paano kung makita niya na wala naman talaga akong karapatang tumayo sa tabi ni Matthew? The thought alone makes my stomach twist. I don’t even know her, but if she really is his grandmother, then she must be one of the pillars of their family. And their family… they’re not just wealthy, they’re powerful, almost untouchable. People speak about them in whispers, yet I’ve never seen a single photograph, never once caught a glimpse of their faces on the news. Kaya wala talaga akong ideya sa mga itsura o pagkatao nila. 

Iniisip ko pa lang na makakaharap ko pamilya ni Matthew, nakatakot na agad ako.

“But if you don’t want to do it tomorrow, I can postpone it until you’re ready,” aniya pa sabay iwas nang tingin nang hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita.

Doon ako mas lalong nagulat. 

He… can do that?

We made this deal so he could secure full control of their wealth, and part of the agreement was for us to act like real lovers. Kailangan namin silang paniwalain. I knew this day would eventually come, pero hindi ko naman inaasahang bukas agad. And yet, he’s willing to wait? Willing to give me time? Was that concern I heard in his voice? Concern… for me?

My chest tightened, my heartbeat stumbling into a faster rhythm, loud enough that I almost feared he could hear it too.

"Okay lang i-postpone?"

"Well, I can handle it. Because, if you are not comfortable..." he licked his lips. “It might just cause trouble, so it’s better to postpone it. We still need to prepare, anyway.”

Napalunok ako. So that was it. I had assumed too much. In the end, he just didn’t want things to get complicated, like always. I bit my lip and turned my gaze away the moment his eyes searched for mine again, afraid he might see what I was really feeling.

"Just give me three days..."I said, already thinking the things I must do.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. It was the kind of sigh that made it clear he had already expected me to say no. And yet, there was a subtle relief in the way he breathed out, like he hadn’t realized he was holding it in until now.

Did he really think I would refuse? Or was he simply relieved that I hadn’t turned him down completely?

“Alright then,” he said softly, almost careful. “Let’s have our dinner.”

At bago pa ako makasagot, dahan-dahan na siyang tumalikod at naglakad palayo. 

I stayed there, unmoving, as his shadow melted into the dim light. A quiet ache lingered in my chest, and I wondered if three days could ever hold enough time… for me.

After that night, everything seemed to rush by, like the world itself had sped up. 

Lahat ng preparations na kailangan gawin, ginawa namin ni Matthew. Sinabi niya na para mas maging convincing ang aming pagpapanggap, kailangan naming kilalanin ang isa’t isa… kaya sa mga nagdaang araw, gano’n nga ang ginawa namin.

Marami akong nalaman tungkol sa kanya, pero mostly, mga simpleng bagay lang. Halos ako lang kasi ang palakwento, kaya buong talambuhay ko na yata ang alam niya. 

I knew it was risky, that I should be careful… yet we needed trust. So I let my stories flow, my fears, my small, quiet dreams… like fragile whispers reaching out, hoping he might meet me halfway. I let him in, hoping he would do the same. 

At mali na naman ako. Masyado siyang maingat, laging pinipili lang ang mga sasabihin niya. Naiintindihan ko naman… this was just part of the show, part of the deal.

Pero may maliit na sulok sa puso ko ang may panghihinayang. Gusto ko siyang makilala nang higit pa, to see beyond the careful words and guarded smiles. At kahit hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit, hindi ko maiwasang maramdaman ito, parang isang lihim na apoy na unti-unting sumisiklab sa loob ng dibdib ko.

He also showed me pictures of his family tree, from his ancestors all the way to him. He told me about each of their personalities and their stories and I couldn’t help but admire them. I never expected, not even in my wildest dreams, to learn these things. It felt like a privilege.

Kahit panandalian lang ito, hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng saya, at the same time, lungkot dahil... lolokohin namin sila.

At ngayong araw na ang simula non.

The sleek, black luxury car eased to a stop at the gate, its polished surface reflecting the golden afternoon sun. 

I held my breath for a moment, taking in the calm yet commanding presence of the vehicle. Isang nakaitim na lalaki ang bumaba mula sa passenger's seat at kaagad na binuksan ang pinto sa rear seat sabay lahad ng kamay para sa bababa. Judging by his posture and the careful precision in his movements, I could tell, he was a bodyguard.

Binigyan ako ng makahulugang tingin ni Matthew bago siya lumapit sa kotse. I forced a small smile back, though my stomach twisted with the familiar mix of anticipation and unease. Sinabi kasi ng Lola niya na dito niya kami gustong makausap sa beach house. Matthew suggested we could just go to their mansion, but his Lola wanted to come here herself. So… here we are.

Napiga ko ang kamay ko nang tuluyang makababa ang Lola ni Matthew. She moved with a grace that seemed almost unreal, as if the air itself bent gently around her. Her silver hair fell in soft waves, perfectly framing a face that carried the quiet authority of a matriarch, the kind that commanded respect without needing to speak. Her dress was impeccable. 

Even from a distance, I could feel the weight of her presence pressing softly against the space around her. Strong. Composed. Commanding. Maganda siya sa mga larawan na ipinakita ni Matthew sa akin, pero mas higit pa pala ang ganda niya sa personal. 

"Hijo, I missed you!" agad niyang niyakap si Matthew.

"I missed you too, Mamita. You should’ve just let us visit you at the mansion—less hassle."

"Well, it’s too boring there, you know. And traveling is my hobby, not yours."

Natawa sila parehas, a sound both warm and intimidating.

Nasa gilid lang ang bodyguard, just like how I stayed where I was, my heart hammering, breath caught somewhere between awe and a hesitant fear. Watching them, I could sense the quiet power of their family, and for a brief moment, I felt like an outsider, peering into something intimate and sacred. 

Halos mapatalon pa ako sa gulat nang bumaling ito sa akin. 

A subtle lift of her brow, a quiet tilt of her head, and I knew she was taking me in, from head to toe. Isang mamahaling dress ang suot ko ngayon. Binili iyon ni Matthew para sa araw na ito. May mga bagong damit pa naman si Donna na pwede kong isuot pero wala na akong nagawa nang paggising ko noong nakaraan, sinalubong ako ni Matthew ng mga kahon ng mamahaling damit at sinabing akin na ang mga iyon. Binilan niya rin ako ng mga stilettos.

"So, this is your fiancee?"

My stomach twisted, and I forced my shoulders to stay squared.

Okay… breathe. Just be yourself. Don’t make a fool of yourself, I told myself, stepping forward slowly. 

"Yes, Mamita."

Her eyes didn’t soften, they lingered on me, as if she were quietly weighing every detail, every hint of who I might be. She’s strict… so sharp. And powerful. Kagaya ng kwento ni Matthew. 

Matthew’s eyes met mine for a brief second, giving me that quiet encouragement that made my chest tighten in both relief and nerves.

“I… uh, good afternoon po, I'm Rain Italy Cuervane po,” I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Rain Italy Cuervanue,” she repeated slowly, almost like she was rolling the syllables on her tongue to test how they tasted. Her eyes lingered on me for a second too long, bago siya tumango nang bahagya at muling lumingon kay Matthew. 

“Come, hijo. Let’s go inside.”

Nagpilit ako ng ngiti. 

Matthew walked a few steps ahead, still holding Mamita’s arm as they entered. I followed closely, careful not to stumble in my stilettos, my palms damp with sweat despite the chill in

side. hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko parang hindi ako gusto ng lola niya... Sana naman mali lang ako ng iniisip.