Chapter 5: Proof on Paper

Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ni Eli habang bumababa ang elevator. Halos hindi siya makapaniwala na nakalabas pa siya sa office ni Adrian nang hindi tuluyang nabubunyag.

Pero alam niya…

Hindi pa tapos.

Hindi siya basta pinalayas ni Adrian para lang kalimutan ang lahat.

Si Adrian Velez was not the type of man who lets go of a mystery.

At lalong hindi siya yung tipo na pumapayag na niloloko siya.

Pagdating nila sa lobby, hinila siya ni Aira palayo sa mga tao.

“Eli… anong gagawin mo ngayon?” mahina nitong tanong, halatang nanginginig pa rin.

Hindi agad sumagot si Eli. Parang wala na siyang lakas.

“Kailangan kong ayusin ‘to,” bulong niya.

“Ayosin? Paano? Alam na niya pangalan mo.”

Napapikit si Eli.

“Hindi pa niya alam ang buong totoo.”

Tahimik si Aira saglit, bago huminga nang malalim.

“Uuwi na ako,” sabi niya. “Pero… mag-ingat ka.”

Tumango si Eli.

Hindi na siya nakasagot pa, dahil ilang segundo lang, tumalikod na si Aira at tuluyang umalis.

At sa unang pagkakataon sa gabing iyon…

Si Eli na lang mag-isa.

Kinabukasan, mas maaga pa sa lahat, nasa Velmont Corporation na si Eli.

Suot niya ulit ang suit.

Ayos ang buhok.

Cold expression.

Perfect disguise.

Pero sa loob niya, nagwawala ang takot.

Habang naglalakad siya papunta sa executive floor, ramdam niya ang mga mata ng mga empleyado.

Wala silang alam.

Hindi nila alam na ang “Campus Prince” ng corporate world…

ay may lihim na halos sumira sa kanya kagabi.

Pagdating niya sa hallway ng CEO’s office, tumigil siya.

Parang humigpit ang hangin.

Parang hinihintay siya ng bagyo.

At hindi nga siya nagkamali.

Bumukas ang pinto.

Lumabas si Adrian.

Hindi siya ngumiti.

Walang kahit anong warmth sa mukha niya.

“Come in,” malamig niyang utos.

Lumunok si Eli.

“Yes, sir.”

Sa loob ng office, isinara ni Adrian ang pinto.

Tahimik.

Walang ibang tao.

Just the CEO and his assistant.

Adrian walked toward his desk, then turned slowly.

“I read the message again,” sabi niya.

Nanlamig ang dibdib ni Eli.

“Sir…”

Adrian’s eyes were sharp.

“Elisabet.”

Napatigil si Eli.

But then…

Huminga siya nang malalim.

At sa wakas, nagsalita siya.

“That’s not what you think.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Then explain.”

Eli forced herself to stay calm.

“It’s a prank.”

Tahimik.

Adrian didn’t move.

“A prank,” ulit niya, voice dangerous.

Eli nodded, mabilis.

“Yes. Someone’s trying to ruin me.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“And why would someone do that?”

Eli’s jaw tightened.

“Because… I don’t belong here.”

For a second, may dumaan na emotion sa mga mata ni Adrian.

But it vanished quickly.

“You expect me to believe that you’re not hiding something?”

Eli looked up, meeting his gaze.

“I’m not a woman, sir.”

The words tasted like poison.

Not because it was a lie…

But because it was a cage.

Adrian stared at her for a long moment.

Then, coldly, he said:

“Evidence.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eli.

“Sir?”

“I want proof,” Adrian said, voice firm. “If you want to stay in this company, show me proof.”

Tumigil ang mundo ni Eli.

Proof?

Paano niya mapapatunayan ang isang kasinungalingan na matagal nang isinulat sa papel?

Pero…

Mayroon.

Dahan-dahan, inilabas ni Eli ang isang maliit na envelope mula sa bag niya.

Matagal na niyang dala iyon.

Just in case.

Parang alam na niyang darating ang araw na ito.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“What is that?”

Eli’s voice was quiet.

“My birth certificate.”

Adrian froze.

“Birth certificate?”

Eli nodded.

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me without it.”

Slowly, she placed it on the desk.

Adrian didn’t touch it agad.

Parang may parte sa kanya na ayaw makita.

Pero sa huli, kinuha niya rin.

Binuksan niya.

Sinuri.

Tahimik.

Minutes felt like hours.

Eli stood there, hands clenched.

Finally, Adrian spoke.

“…Male.”

Isang salita lang.

Pero parang bumagsak ang bigat sa dibdib ni Eli.

“Yes,” mahina niyang sagot.

Adrian’s eyes flickered back to her.

“This says you were registered as a boy.”

Eli swallowed hard.

“My mother did it.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened.

“Why?”

Hindi agad nakasagot si Eli.

Paano niya sasabihin ang dahilan?

Na ang pamilya niya…

ay mas pinapahalagahan ang lalaki kaysa babae?

Na ang pangalan niya…

ay dapat sana wala sa mundong ito?

Her voice trembled slightly.

“She wanted me to survive.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I have,” Eli whispered.

Adrian placed the certificate back down.

Tahimik ulit.

Then he leaned back, eyes still suspicious.

“This paper proves what’s written.”

His voice dropped.

“But it doesn’t erase doubt.”

Nanlamig si Eli.

“So… you still don’t trust me.”

Adrian’s lips curved faintly.

“I don’t trust anyone.”

Eli’s eyes flashed.

“Then why keep me here?”

Adrian stood, walking closer.

“Because now…”

His gaze locked onto hers.

“I want to know what you’re really hiding.”

Eli’s breath caught.

Adrian was too close again.

Too intense.

Then he spoke softly, dangerously.

“If you lie again…”

His eyes darkened.

“I will personally destroy you.”

Silence.

Eli forced herself to nod.

“Yes, sir.”

Adrian stepped back.

“Good.”

He turned toward the window, dismissing her.

“You may go.”

Eli hesitated.

T

hen slowly, she walked out.

But as she closed the door behind her…

She realized something terrifying.

The birth certificate saved her today.

But Adrian Velez…

was not convinced.

And the closer he got to the truth…

The more dangerous it would become.