THE COST OF LOVE

She gave me a cold, assessing look before turning her gaze to Timothy.

"Why was the door closed?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. "And why do you both look as though you were in such a hurry?"

Tumayo ako nang tuwid, pinipilit na maging propesyonal kahit na ang tuhod ko ay nanginginig. "I will be heading back to my desk now, Sir, Madam Lancaster," I said, my voice barely audible.

But before I could take a step, Timothy spoke. "Stay, Ysha. We haven't finished discussing the project."

Nagulat ako. Bakit ayaw niya akong paalisin? Hindi ba niya alam na lalong maghihinala sa amin si Ma'am Sofia?

Sofia walked toward the desk, her eyes never leaving mine. "Discussing a project until this late hour?" Every word felt like a dagger. "Or were you discussing something else entirely?"

"Sofia," Timothy said firmly. "Don't be ridiculous. This is work."

"Work," she repeated, unconvinced. She moved closer to him, and right before my eyes, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, lingering there deliberately. A display of possession. A reminder of who truly belonged to him. "Come home now. Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table. The meal I prepared will go cold."

Tumingin si Timothy sa akin. Ang kanyang mga mata ay nagpapakita ng paumanhin sa akin, ngunit wala siyang magawa. Ang mga kadena ng kanyang kasal ay masyadong matibay.

"I'll be going," I whispered, and quickly walked out of the office. I didn't wait for his response.

Habang naglalakad ako sa tahimik na pasilyo ng kumpanya, ang bawat hakbang ko ay tila naging mabigay. Ang halik na iyon—ang sandaling iyon na akala ko ay espesyal—ay biglang naglaho nang makita ko silang dalawa. Akin lang siya sa dilim kung saan walang nakakakita. Ngunit sa liwanag, siya ay pag-aari ng iba.

Paglabas ko ng gusali, sinalubong ako ng malamig na hangin at malalaking patak ng ulan. Wala akong dalang payong. Naglakad ako patungo sa sakayan, hinahayaan ang ulan na basain ang aking damit, parang gusto kong hugasan ang lahat ng naramdaman ko kanina. Ang pagmamahal na ito ay wala namang ibibigay sa akin na maganda kundi matinding kalungkutan. Alam ko iyon. Pero paano ko pipigilan ang puso ko?

The next day, I tried to avoid going into his office. I sent documents through other staff members. I claimed I wasn't feeling well. The truth was, I was afraid to see him. Afraid to look into his eyes and find that the warmth from last night was gone. Afraid to discover that for him, it was nothing more than a mistake to be forgotten.

But I couldn't escape. Late in the afternoon, he called for me. Personally.

When I entered his office, he closed the door. It was just the two of us.

He sighed and stood up from his chair. "Why are you avoiding me, Ysha?"

"We need to be careful," I replied, keeping my eyes lowered. "Sofia saw us. If we repeat what happened last night, we will get caught. And I am not ready to ruin your life."

Lumapit siya sa akin, at hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak rito "Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang nangyari, Ysha. Hindi kahit saglit."

"Pero mali po ang ginawa natin," my voice trembled. "Ayokong sirain ang binibuo mong pamilya," malungkot na sabi ko.

He shook his head, gently brushing his thumb against my cheek. "You are not the other woman. There was no family to ruin. We were already dead to each other long before you arrived. This marriage was a tomb for two lives. And you... you brought light into my darkness."

His words were both medicine and poison. They soothed my pain, yet deepened my entanglement with him.

"So what do we do now?" I asked, tears finally spilling over. "Do we hide forever? Do I remain a secret while she stands by your side in public?"

He swallowed hard. He knew there was no perfect answer. "I don't know yet. But I know this... I cannot go back to the way things were. I cannot pretend that I don't feel anything for you."

Hinalikan niya ang aking noo. "Bigyan mo ako ng panahon. Hahanap ako ng paraan. Pangako."

But the world does not wait for promises.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, dumating ang kinakatakutan ko. Ang galit ng katotohanan. Habang naglalakad ako sa labas ng opisina, hinarang ako ni Sofia. Mag-isa siya sa kanyang sasakyan, ang mukha ay maputla na parang galing sa pag-iyak. Ang kanyang mga mata ay nanlilisik kaya hindi ko magawang labanan ang mga tinin niya.

"Get in," she commanded. "We need to talk."

Ang loob ng sasakyan ay malamig at nakakapanindig-balahibo. Tahimik kaming dalawa hanggang sa makalayo kami sa gusali. Nang huminto ang sasakyan sa isang tahimik na lugar, lumingon siya sa akin at tumingin nang diretso sa aking mga mata.

"Do you know what our marriage is really about?" she asked, her voice low and chilling. "We married for power. There was never any love. But do you know what the contract states? We cannot cause scandal. We cannot divorce until our business merger is fully complete. And you... you are the threat that could destroy everything."

"Hindi ko intensiyon na sirain ang buhay niyo," walang-ganang sabi ko.

"But you are," she replied sharply. "I don't love him, Ysha. Did you know that? I wouldn't care less who he runs to. But my reputation... my family name... I will not let it be tarnished by someone like you."

Ang mga salitang iyon ay tumagos sa aking puso. Masakit. Totoo. Iyon lang naman ako. Isang mahirap na babae na nagpapanggap na karapat-dapat sa atensyon ng isang bilyonaryo.

"So here is my offer," Sofia continued, taking a thick envelope from her bag. "Resign. Leave this place. Go far away and start a new life. This is enough money to make sure you never have to worry about anything again. No one needs to know. No one gets hurt."

"Kaya ito ang alok ko sa iyo," patuloy ni Sofia, at kumuha siya ng isang sobre mula sa kanyang bag. "Umalis ka. Magbitiw ka sa trabaho. Lumayo ka sa kanya. At ito ang sapat na pera para makapagbagong-buhay ka sa malayong lugar. Walang makakaalam. Walang masasaktan."

I looked at the thick envelope. It was enough to lift my family out of poverty. Enough to forget everything. But how could I pay back the debt my heart owed to Timothy?

"Tinatanggap ko po ang pag-alis," sabi ko nang dahan-dahan, habang tumutulo ang luha ko. "Pero hindi po ang pera. Dahil hindi ko ibinebenta ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya. Inaalay ko lang ito. At kung kailangan kong umalis para sa ikabubuti niya... aalis ako."

Sofia's eyes widened. She hadn't expected me to refuse. "Are you serious? You would give up everything just for love?"

"Love is the only thing money cannot buy," I answered. "So tomorrow... I won't be coming back."

I stepped out of the car without looking back. Every step felt like my soul was being torn from my body. When I reached my small rented room, I began to pack my things. The pain was almost unbearable. His name kept repeating in my mind, but I knew this had to be done. If I stayed, I would only drag him deeper into ruin.