Chapter 5

It was already nine in the evening when Eloise and Estevan decided to go home. Malakas ang buhos ng ulan at mukhang wala itong planong tumigil kaya kinailangan na nilang umalis.

Nasa paanan na sila ng hagdan nang biglang sumulpot si Elias galing sa dining area.

"You're leaving already?" tanong nito gamit ang kalma at kaswal nitong tono, pero may kung anong lalim ang hatid nito.

Eloise stiffened. She didn’t even have to look back—ramdam na niya kaagad ang titig ni Elias sa batok niya, malamig at parang may gustong tuklasin.

"I have an important meeting tomorrow," sagot ni Estevan, his voice was low but had a final tone to it. 

But of course, Elias wouldn’t allow them.

"Sayang naman," tuloy nito at huminto mismo sa harap ni Eloise. He threw her a glance before continuing. "You rarely visit, and the weather’s terrible tonight. Dangerous even. Might be better if you stay."

Napakagat si Eloise sa loob ng kan’yang pisngi, tahimik na nagdadasal na sana’y hindi pumayag si Estevan.

It sounded rational and logical, yes. Safe, kung ibang tao ang magsasabi. Pero kay Elias? It felt like bait. Like he was laying a trap with a smile.

"We're fine," sagot ni Estevan, pero mas mahina. Biglang kumulang sa tibay.

“I agree with Elias,” singit ni Mrs. Foreman na pababa ng hadan. Calm, but there was a commanding tone in her voice. “The storm’s getting worse. Just stay the night. Your room is still exactly as you left it, Estevan. And Eloise can stay in the guest suite beside yours.”

Beside. She silently scoffed.

Parang sinadya. Parang planado.

Her stomach suddenly twisted. That was too smooth. Parang napagplanuhan talaga.

She glanced at Estevan, expecting him to say no. To refuse, to argue. Pero hindi. Tumahimik lang siya. Nakatitig lang sa kawalan, then with a slight nod, he said—"Fine. Just for tonight."

Bumagsak ang balikat ni Eloise. Not out of relief, but out of dread. Lalo na nang naispatan niya ang pagngiti ni Elias na para bang may ibig sabihin..

THE GUEST ROOM was beautiful. Cream-colored walls, ambient lighting, and expensive linen. Pero para kay Eloise, para siyang nakakulong. No matter how grand the room is, hindi pa rin niya maitangging hindi siya komportable sa bahay na ‘yon.

She stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the rain sliding down the glass. Tuloy-tuloy ang bagsak ng ulan, parang wala talang planong tumigil at sang-ayon yata sa kung ano mang pinaplano ni Elias.

His words echoed in her head. His questions, his tone—like every word was a needle sliding under her skin. He looked at her like he already knew she was lying.

She took a shaky breath. The room felt colder than it should have.

This is what you wanted, she reminded herself. You’re inside. You’re in their world.

This was the goal.

Pumasok siya sa pamilya para sirain ang isa sa mga anak nito. Para ipaghiganti ang kapatid niyang binuntis at iniwan ng isa sa mga magkakapatid na Foreman. But what she didn’t plan for...was how it would feel. How suffocating it would be. How real it would become.

Hindi lang basta plano ang dala niya—bitbit niya ang galit, ang hiya, at ang sakit ni Elizabeth. Lahat ng iyon, nakasiksik sa puso niya, kumakain sa kan’ya tuwing naiisip niyang wala pa siyang napapatunayan.

You can’t break now, bulong ng konsensiya niya.

Moments later, she had changed into a loose white shirt and cotton shorts borrowed from the drawer in the bathroom. Malinis, mabango, pero hindi niya magawang kumalma. Her nerves were still alert. Eyes were on edge. Parang kahit anong oras, may mangyayaring hindi niya gusto.

Then a soft knock startled her.

“Eloise?”

It was Estevan.

She hesitated but eventually walked to the door and opened it.

Nakatayo ito sa labas, suot ang dark gray shirt at black pajama pants. His hair was still slightly damp. There was a quietness in his face, not guarded this time, but tired.

"Can I come in?"

She stepped aside wordlessly.

He walked in slowly, his gaze drifting around the room before settling on her. "You okay?"

She looked down at her hands as she clenched them unconsciously. "Not really."

Estevan nodded once, then silence enveloped the room. Without another word, he sat at the edge of the bed.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the rain outside and the occasional creak of the old walls.

Kalaunan ay hindi na napigilan ni Eloise ang magtanong, "Do you always let him win?"

"I don't let him win. I let him believe he does."

That made her look at him. “So this...us staying here tonight...what is it to him? A victory?”

Estevan met her gaze. "A move."

She sat down beside him, close but not touching.

"Why didn’t you warn me, Estevan? About how far he'd go?"

His jaw tightened. "Because I didn’t know how far you’d go either."

The words hit harder than she expected. He didn’t say it like a challenge. He said it like a truth. Like a confession.

Eloise stood up again, walking back to the window. Her reflection looked pale and smaller somehow, like someone watching herself fall from the inside.

“This whole plan was supposed to be simple,” she murmured. “But nothing about this family is simple, is it? They’re not just complicated. They’re dangerous.”

Estevan stood and approached her slowly. 

“Which is why I brought you here. To see it for yourself.”

She didn’t move. Ramdam niya ang init ng katawan nito kahit hindi sila magkadikit.

“You held your ground tonight,” he murmured. “Better than I expected.”

She inhaled and replied, “that makes two of us.”

Nang bigla niya itong nilingon, hindi niya inaasahang sobrang lapit pala nito. He was so close that his scent lingered in her nose. It was rich, dark, masculine, and a little too inviting.

“Estevan...” wala sa sariling naibulong niya ang pangalan ng binata.

Ilang segundo siyang tinitigan ni Estevan gamit ang mga mata nitong tila nangungusap.

“I shouldn’t be here,” he mumbled suddenly. Pero hindi siya umatras o gumalaw man lang sa kinatatayuan.

Eloise blinked. “Then go.”

But neither of them moved.

Estevan slowly raised his hand and brushed her cheek. It was soft and warm. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t even breathe. Her eyes searched his, and for a moment—just a moment—everything else disappeared. Wala si Elias, wala ang plano. Just him. Just this.

Namura ni Eloise ang kan’yang sarili sa isipan. What the hell was that, Eloise Manalo?

“You want me to stop?” bulong bigla ng binata.

Hindi siya sumagot. Because truthfully, she didn’t know.

Estevan leaned in, so slow, so maddeningly slow. Bahagyang sumayad ang labi ng binata sa labi ni ELoise, at nagsalubong ang mabibigat nilang mga hininga—mainit, mabigat, at puno ng damdaming tila pilit na kinikimkim.

She wanted to step back...or forward. Anything. But her legs stayed numb, her brain even worse. 

And just when she thought he’d finally kiss her, he pulled away and took a step back. Umawang nang bahagya ang mga labi ni Eloise dahil sa ginawa ng binata.

“Goodnight, Eloise,” he murmured under his breath.

And just like that, he turned around and walked out, gently closing the door behind him. But it wasn’t gentle enough to silence the storm raging inside her.

Eloise stood frozen, her fingertips slowly brushing her lips.

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata kapagkuwan at tahimik na pinaaalahanan ang sarili kung bakit siya nandito.

Stick to the plan, Eloise. Don't fall now.