Chapter 3

Chapter 3 #VelascoVargasWedding

The news broke like a grenade.

By nine a.m., halos sabay-sabay na nag-crash ang social media platforms sa dami ng posts. T*****r (a.k.a. X), F******k, TikTok, lahat trending.

#VelascoVargasWedding

#BillionaireGetsHitched

#JournalistBride

Ang mga netizens ay nagwawala. Ang iba nagulat, ang iba kinikilig, at marami ang hindi makapaniwala. Sino ba namang mag-aakalang ang cold-blooded billionaire na halos walang personal na scandal at issue… ay biglang engaged na? At hindi lang basta engaged. Kay Elena Vargas pa, the renowned and fearless journalist na kilalang kumakalampag sa mga corrupt politicians and businessmen.

Sa maliit na newsroom kung saan nagtatrabaho si Elena, para silang nanalo ng jackpot. Phones ringing, reporters shouting, editors pointing at screens.

“Elena!” sigaw ng editor niya, si Ma’am Liza, habang hawak ang tablet na may flashing headline: “Billionaire Adrian Velasco to Wed Journalist Elena Vargas.”

Ipinikit ni Elena ang kanyang mga mata, deep inhale, deep exhale. Oh God. Heto na.

“Ma’am Liza—” umpisa niya.

Pero hindi na siya hinayaan nitong makapagsalita. “Girl, paano mo nagawa ‘to?! Tell me this is an undercover op! Tell me exclusive scoop ito at may follow-up article!”

Elena raised her hands defensively. “It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated?!” halos malaglag ang salamin ni Ma’am Liza sa ilong. “The nation thinks you’re in love with Velasco and all you can say is complicated? Elena, this is the biggest headline of your career! As in cover-story levels!”

“Or career suicide,” mahinang bulong ni Elena sa sarili.

Meanwhile, sa Velasco Tower press lounge, nakaupo si Adrian na parang hari sa gitna ng nagkakagulong media. Reporters packed the room, flashing cameras nearly blinding, microphones shoved toward him.

“Mr. Velasco, totoo bang whirlwind romance ito?”

“How long have you been dating Ms. Vargas?”

“Was this an arranged marriage for business reasons?”

Adrian adjusted his cufflinks, calm and collected. “No comment on private matters. Ang masasabi ko lang is that I’m engaged, and I’m… happy.”

The word “happy” sounded foreign on his lips, pero sapat na ‘yun para sumabog ulit ang feed ng social media.

Sa gilid ng press lounge, Elena stood stiff kararating lang, arms crossed, wearing a navy dress na pinilit lang niya isuot para magmukhang formal. Kung pwede lang magdala ng placard na may nakasulat na “This is not my idea,” ginawa na niya.

“Ms. Vargas!” isang reporter ang sumigaw. “Can you tell us how he proposed?”

Elena blinked. Deadpan. “He said, Marry me or else. Romantic, ‘di ba?”

The room erupted into laughter. Adrian’s jaw tightened, though his eyes glinted with amusement.

“Elena,” Mahinang bulong niya kalaunan habang palabas sila ng press room, “remind me to ban you from press conferences.”

“Gladly,” she shot back. “Remind me never to let you talk about happiness again. Mukha kang constipated.”

Within hours, memes exploded online.

*A picture of Elena rolling her eyes beside Adrian’s stoic face. Caption: “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is… one-sided?”

*A GIF of Adrian saying “I’m happy” with subtitles: “When your mom forces you to eat ampalaya.”

*Fan edits na may dramatic background music, turning them into a full-blown teleserye couple. Title card “The Billionaire and the Journalist Forbidden Love.”

Elena wanted to dig a hole and never come out. Adrian, on the other hand, scrolled through the memes during a board meeting.

“Sir, should we release a formal statement?” tanong ng PR head, halatang stressed na.

Adrian smirked. “No. Let them talk. Every post, every meme, every hashtag, they’re stabilizing the stocks.”

“Stabilizing?” pag-uulit ng PR head.

“Look at the market,” sabi ni Adrian in a cool way, swiping the holographic display. “Velasco Innovations is up by 11%. Investors think I’m… human.”

“Sir, with all due respect, this isn’t a business strategy. Personal na buhay mo ito.”

“Exactly,” Adrian replied. “Which makes it the perfect shield.”

That night, Elena’s apartment buzzed with unwanted visitors, neighbors, chismosas, pati mga barangay tanod na curious kung totoo raw ba na engaged na siya.

“Ate Elena!” one neighbor squealed, clutching her phone. “Pwede pa-picture? Omg, si Adrian Velasco magiging kapit-bahay namin?!”

Elena forced a smile, pero inside she was screaming.

Pagpasok niya sa loob, Marco was waiting, guilt written all over his face.

“Ate… viral ka na,” he said quietly.

“I know,” Elena groaned, dropping her bag on the couch. “I can’t believe na pumayag ako sa kabaliwang ito.”

Marco looked down. “Kasalanan ko ito ‘di ba? If I hadn’t messed up…”

Elena softened, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Tsk, tigilan mo nga ‘yan. This is on me. I’ll handle it.”

Pero bago pa siya makapagpahinga, tumunog na naman ang cellphone niya with a message from Adrian:

“Tomorrow. Engagement dinner. Wear something that doesn’t scream ‘I hate this.’ - A”

Elena rolled her eyes so hard na halos mahulog sila. “Great. Another round of acting.”

The next day, headlines screamed louder.

“Velasco and Vargas, Love Story or PR Stunt?”

“Journalist Marries Into the Empire She Criticized”

“From Enemies to Lovers? Nation Watches as Drama Unfolds.”

And somewhere between the flashing cameras, the online chaos, and the endless stares, Elena realized, this wasn’t just about a fake marriage anymore.

This was war.

At hindi siya dapat magpatalo.