Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Penthouse Problems

“Welcome home,” Walang emosyon na salita ni Adrian nang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator.

Home? Kamuntikan pang mabulunan so Elena. Kung hindi lang dala ng dalawang bodyguards ang dalawa niyang maleta, ay baka tumakbo na siya pabalik sa apartment niya.

The penthouse stretched out before her—floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors, minimalist furniture na parang hindi tinitirhan ng tao. Wala man lang kalat. Parang museum sa linis.

“Wow,” bulong ni Elena, hands on her hips. “So this is what loneliness looks like with a billion-peso price tag.”

Napataas ng kilay si Adrian. “Ang tawag diyan ay minimalism.”

“It’s called walang taste,” pabalang niyang sagit. “Seryoso, may tao ba talagang nakatira dito?”

Adrian ignored her sarcasm and signaled the staff. “Ilalagay na nila ang gamit mo sa guest room.”

“Guest room?” pag-ulit ni Elena, crossing her arms. “Akala ko fake marriage, not fake roommate. Ano ‘to, may divider pa tayo?”

He met her glare calmly. “Of course. Unless you’d prefer to share my bed?”

Napatigil si Elena, muntik nang mabitawan ang bag. “Hoy, Excuse me ha?!”

Napangisi si Asrian. “Relax. Joke lang.”

Mariin ang pagkakatitig ni Elena kay Adrian. “Hindi nakakatawa.”

“Depends who you ask,” sagot ni Adrian sa kanya, walking ahead like nothing happened.

Pagkatapos umalis ng staff, naiwan silang dalawa sa tahimik na penthouse. Tahimik nga ba? Hindi ba't parang mas malakas pa ang kabog ng puso ni Elena kaysa sa central aircon.

Hinila niya ang mga suitcase niya papasok ng guest room. Sa loob ay sobrang lawak. Mas malaki pa kaysa sa buong apartment niya. May sariling walk-in closet, ensuite bathroom, at isang queen-sized bed na parang ni hindi pa natutulugan.

“Grabe,” Elena whispered. “Pati kama may trust fund.”

Nag-ring ang phone niya—text galing kay Marco. Ate, are you okay?

She sighed, typing back, 'Okay lang. Don’t worry. Focus ka muna sa trabaho mo.'

Pero bago pa niya ma-send, may kumatok. Si Adrian.

“Dinner’s ready,” pasimple nitong sabi.

“Wow, marunong ka palang magluto?” Elena asked, half-mocking him.

“Of course not,” he deadpanned. “I hired a Chef para magprepare ng dinner for us.”

They sat across each other sa elegant dining table, parang nasa negotiation meeting ulit. Ang tahimik. Elena stabbed her steak, at tumingin sa itaas.

“So… ganito ka ba talaga palagi? Tahimik. Seryoso at parang robot?”

Adrian cut his meat with surgical precision. “I prefer efficiency.”

“Efficiency mo mukha mo,” bulong ni Elena. “Ang sabihin mo hindi ka marunong mag small talk."

Napatingin si Adrian sa kanya. “Then, maybe you can teach me. Turuan mo ako Elena.”

Caught off-guard, napakurap si Elena. “Ano?”

“You’re the journalist. Expert ka on words. Teach me small talk.”

Napangisi si Elena. “Okay. Lesson one, when dining with a lady, you ask about her day.”

Adrian set down his fork. “Fine, kumusta ang araw mo, Mrs. Velasco?”

Inirapan niya ito. “Disastrous, thanks to you. Next question. At teka lang, FYI hindi pa tayo kasal. Don't Mrs. Velasco me!”

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. “Noted.”

After dinner, Elena explored the penthouse. May sariling library, indoor garden, at isang rooftop pool na parang infinity edge sa buong lungsod. She stood by the glass window, staring at the city lights.

Hindi niya maiwasang mapaisip. What am I doing here?

Her life used to be simple, deadline, article, coffee. Now? Fake marriage, billionaire fiancé, at isang kalabang parang teleserye villain (hello, Rafael).

“You’re quiet,” Adrian’s voice broke her thoughts.

Napalingon siya, finding him standing beside her, hands in his pockets. Ang lapit niya. Too close for comfort.

“Just thinking how crazy this all is,” pag-amin niya. “Parang every day may bagong plot twist ang buhay ko.”

Sandaling pinagmasdan ni Adrian ang mukha ni Elena “Regret?”

Nagkasalubong ang mga mata nilang dalawa. “I don’t regret protecting Marco. But you? Let’s just say you’re not exactly my dream roommate.”

“Noted again,” sagot ni Adrian na poker face parin ang mukha.

Pero bago pa siya makalayo, biglang nag-brownout. The entire penthouse went dark, except for the city lights outside.

“Oh great,” Elena groaned. “Even billionaires can’t bribe Meralco?”

“Backup generator will kick in,” kalmadong sabi ni Adrian.

Pero hindi agad bumalik ang ilaw. Tahimik ang paligid. Madilim.

“Uh, Adrian?” tanong ni Elena, her voice tight. “Nasaan ang mga flashlights or emergency lights?”

“Nasa kitchen drawers, or somewhere there?”

“Somewhere?!” napasinghal siya “Dito ka ba talaga nakatira?”

Mahinang tumawa si Adrian,something unusual, something real. “Relax. Stay put. Hanapin ko lang.”

Habang naglalakad siya palayo, Elena found herself oddly uneasy sa dilim. When the light finally flickered back on, she nearly jumped. Adrian was suddenly right in front of her, may hawak na maliit na rechargeable lamp.

“O, heto na po,” sabi pa niya, sabay lagay nito sa ibabaw ng lamesa

Elena’s heart skipped again. Too close. Too intimate.

“S-salamat,” bulong niya habang mabilis na ipinaling ang mata palayo kay Adrian.

Later that night, nakahiga na si Elena sa bagong kama niya. She stared at the ceiling, replaying the awkward dinner, the blackout, and that weird almost-comforting presence ni Adrian.

This is temporary, pinaalalahanan niya ang sarili. Fake marriage. Business deal. Period.

Pero habang naririnig niya ang tahimik na tunog ng piano mula sa kabilang kwarto. Adrian playing, soft and haunting, she realized something terrifying.

The walls of the penthouse weren’t the only ones starting to crack. Pati narin yata ang puso niya.