Chapter 4

Pagkatapos ng hapunan, dumiretso si Eloise sa hardin na nasa likod ng bahay. Hindi na siya nagpaalam, kailangan lang talaga niya ng hangin. Her chest felt tight, as if every glance from Elias during dinner had been a weight pressing down on her ribs.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas niya, malamig ang simoy ng hangin, pero hindi iyon sapat para mapawi ang tensyon sa katawan niya.

The garden was beautiful—manicured hedges, white stone paths, and lantern lights flickering like fireflies. Pero kahit gaano ito katahimik, hindi rin iyon naging sapat para pakalmahin siya.

Because she could still feel it.

The eyes.

Hindi na niya kailangang lumingon para malaman na sumunod ito sa kan'ya. Ramdam na niyang susunod ang taong dahilan kung ba’t siya naroon.

At hindi nga siya nagkamali.

“I figured I’d find you here,” Elias said, voice too smooth, too casual. May dala-dala itong isang baso ng brandy. Lumapit ito na para bang wala siyang tinatago, pero sa likod ng magaan nitong ngiti, Eloise could feel the sharpness.

“So... girlfriend ka ni Estevan?” kaswal ang tanong, pero may dating.

“Mm-hmm.” Tumango lang siya ng bahagya at muling tiningnan ang koi pond sa gilid, pretending she wasn’t startled. Pretending she wasn’t preparing herself.

“You seem different.”

“How so?”

“Just… different. Not the usual type.”

She shrugged. “Maybe that’s why it works.”

Ngumiti ito pero hindi umabot sa mga mata.

Mabagal itong humigop mula sa kan'yang inumin, saka bahagyang sumandal sa haligi. “You know,” he said, almost like a whisper, “people around here don’t always come as they seem.”

Eloise gave him a sideways glance. “Are you talking about me, or yourself?”

Napatawa ito nang mahina, pero hindi sumagot. At sa kung anong paraan, mas marami pang sinabi ang katahimikang ‘yon kaysa sa kahit anong salita.

“How long have you two been together?” tanong ni Elias.

“Not that long,” she said, short but firm.

He smiled. “And how did you meet again?”

Here it comes.

She repeated the version she and Estevan had agreed on. “He once went in my cafe to buy a coffee."

Hindi niya ipinakitang kabisado niya ang linya. Pero sa loob-loob niya, lumalakas na ang tibok ng puso niya. Her palms started to sweat, though the air was cold.

Elias tilted his head, almost like he was studying her. "What do you see in my brother?”

Hindi siya agad sumagot. Sinusubukan niyang hayaan itong magsalita pa at mag isip ng kung ano-ano.

“Estevan isn’t exactly the easiest man to be with,” he added. “A little…difficult, don’t you think?”

“I like difficult,” sagot niya, sinusubukang pakalmahin ang sarili.

“Do you?” His smile widened, but his eyes narrowed. “That’s good to know.”

Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero bawat tanong nito, kahit gaano kasimple, ay parang may nakatagong ibang layunin. And every time she answered, she felt like she was being measured. Or worse—anticipated.

Ilang sandali pa silang nanatiling nakatayo roon, habang ang katahimikan sa pagitan nila ay parang umaalingawngaw ng mga salitang hindi mabigkas. And then Elias gave a small nod. “Well then. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

At iniwan siya sa ilalim ng mahina at malamig na ilaw ng hardin, the echo of his footsteps fading behind her. Ngunit kahit wala na ito sa paligid, nanatili pa rin ang kilabot.

Humugot siya ng isang nanginginig na paghinga, saka niyakap ang sariling mga braso, na para bang may pinipigilan na mas malalim kaysa sa lamig.

Doon niya narinig ang isa pang tinig.

“You held up better than I expected.”

Mabilis siyang napalingon. Estevan.

Nakatayo ito sa lilim ng isang puno, his arms were crossed, and his expression was unreadable.

“Were you watching me?” she asked, trying to sound annoyed, pero alam niyang halatang may bahid ng kaba ang boses niya.

“Elias isn’t just charming for show,” sagot ni Estevan. “He doesn’t ask unless he’s digging for something.”

“And you think I said something wrong?”

“No,” he said calmly, stepping closer. “But he already suspects something. That’s how he operates. He pokes and waits for the cracks.”

“You two don’t get along, do you?” tanong niya, halos pabulong.

Estevan didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched. “Let’s just say...I know the games he plays.”

She looked at him, eyes shadowed by the garden lights, his face was calm but guarded. And in that moment, she realized something.

Pareho silang nagmamasid. Parehong sinusukat kung hanggang saan nila kayang pagkatiwalaan ang isa’t isa.

And yet here they were, still playing the part.

“You brought me here,” Eloise murmured. “You threw me into the fire.”

“I didn’t throw you,” sagot ni Estevan. “I brought you to see who’s already burning.”

Sa ilang segundo, wala ni isa sa kanila ang nagsalita. The wind rustled through the hedges, and the koi pond made soft ripples beside them.

Eloise stared at him. “You didn’t warn me. You didn’t even tell me I’d be meeting your entire family.”

Estevan stepped closer, his voice low. “Because warning you wouldn’t have changed a thing. He would’ve sniffed you out no matter what. Better to let it play out.”

“You used me as bait,” she said bitterly.

“I gave you a role,” he countered. “And you played it well. Now we both know what he’s sniffing around for.”

“You said this was a game, but you didn’t say it was war.”

Tumama ang mga mata ni Estevan sa mga mata niya. “It is. You just didn’t know what kind of battlefield you were stepping into.”

Muli silang binalot ng katahimikan, at sa pagkakataong ito ay mas mabigat.

And then he added, softer this time, “But I didn’t bring you here to hurt you, Eloise. I brought you here because I need someone who can stand the heat.”

Umiwas siya ng tingin, hindi alam kung ano’ng mararamdaman sa sinabi ng binata.

“Next time,” she said, chin raised slightly, “don’t throw me in blind.”

Bahagyang ngumisi si Estevan—ang unang totoong ekspresyon nito simula pa ng hapunan. “Next time, you’ll be ready.”

And just like that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the estate.

Nanatiling walang kibo si Eloise. All she knew was that after tonight, nothing about this deal felt simple anymore.