THE GOLD TURN TO DUST

The next morning, I arrived at the office early. I left my resignation letter on his desk. No title. Not many words.

Timothy,

I'm sorry that I have to leave. I love you, which is exactly why I have to set you free. Perhaps one day, in another time, under different circumstances... we can be together without hiding.

Goodbye.

Ysha

 Nang makababa ako ng gusali, huminto ako sandali at tumingin sa kanyang bintana. Ang bintanang naging saksi sa pag-ibig na hindi namin pwedeng ipagmalaki. Pinunasan ko ang aking luha at tumalikod.

 Ngunit hindi pa ako nakakalayo nang marinig ko ang mabilis na mga yabag sa likuran ko.

 "Ysha!"

His voice. Breathless. Filled with panic.

 Lumingon ako at nakita ko siyang tumatakbo palapit sa akin. Magulo ang buhok, walang suot na amerikana, ang mukha ay namumutla. Nang makarating siya sa harap ko, hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong balikat, parang takot na takot siya na baka maglaho ako kung bibitaw siya.

 "What does this mean?" his voice shook as he held up my letter. "Why are you leaving? Is it because of Sofia? Is it because of me?"

 "Dahil po ito ang tama," sagot ko, pilit na pinapatatag ang sarili. "Para sa ikabubuti nating lahat."

 "Nothing is right if you're not here," he said firmly. He cupped my face in his hands, looking deep into my eyes. "I won't let you go. Not like this. Not before we've even fought for us."

"Timothy, hindi mo pwedeng iwan ang lahat para sa akin," umiiyak na sabi ko. "Masisira ang buhay mo. Masisira ang pangalan mo. At hindi ko kayang maging dahilan ng pagbagsak mo."

 "If losing everything means having you... then I will gladly lose it all," he answered without hesitation. "My life before you was hell, Ysha. If I go back to that, you might as well have killed me. So don't leave me. Choose me. Even if it's hard. Just choose me."

 Ang mga salita niya ay bumigay sa pader na itinayo ko sa paligid ng puso ko. Paano ko siya tatanggihan kapag ang pagmamahal niya ay mas matimbang kaysa sa takot?

 I wrapped my arms around him, holding on as if I would never let go. "I choose you. No matter what happens. No matter what storms come."

 Hinalikan niya ang aking noo, ang kanyang mga braso ay nakapaligid sa akin, parang pader na magpoprotekta sa akin mula sa buong mundo. "Then let's face it all. Together. No more secrets. No more hiding."

In that moment, standing on the busy street, I knew the storm was only just beginning. His family's wrath. Society's judgment. A divorce that could crumble their business empire. But as long as we held hands, I was ready to face it all. Because the love we had hidden away was stronger than any wall the world could build between us.

By noon that same day, the news had spread through the entire company like wildfire. Whispers in the hallways. Pitying glances. Judging eyes that followed me wherever I went. She is the reason. The assistant who seduced the boss. A homewrecker. Every word was a knife, sharp and cruel, cutting through my resolve. But I stood tall. Because e 12very time I felt like crumbling, I would look at Timothy—walking beside me, his hand firmly holding mine, unashamed and unyielding—and I remembered: this was worth it.

Nakaupo kami sa kanyang opisina, ang p***o ay nakabukas nang malawakan para makita ng lahat. Tumawag siya ng agarang meeting na dinlauhan naman ng mga board members. Nang pumaaok sila sa meeting area, ang kanilang mga mukha habang nakatingin sa akin ay halo-halong pagkadismaya, galit, at kawalan ng paniniwala. But Timothy did not flinch. He stood before them, not as the perfect CEO they expected, but as a man who had finally found his humanity.

"I have made my decision," he announced, his voice steady and commanding, silencing the room instantly. "I am filing for divorce. My marriage to Sofia was never built on truth, and it will not be built on lies any longer. I will not spend the rest of my life in a cage."

The room erupted.

"Have you lost your mind?!" shouted an elderly man, his face turning red. "The merger will collapse! The stocks will plummet! You are risking everything we have built for a woman who works for you!"

 "I am risking nothing," Timothy replied calmly, tightening his grip on my hand. "Because everything I had before meant nothing to me. If the company falls, I will rebuild it. If my fortune is halved, I will work twice as hard to earn it back. But I will not trade my happiness for a fortune that only buys me loneliness."

 "You will destroy this family name!" another voice boomed.

 "I would rather be known as a man who chose love than as a man who sold his soul for a contract," Timothy declared, and there was such fire in his eyes that even his loudest critics fell silent. "And if any of you cannot accept Ysha... then you do not accept me either. Choose now. Stay, or leave. But do not ask me to choose between my soul and my wealth."

 Isa-isa silang lumabas habang nanggagalaiti sa galit. Ang iba ay nagbabanta at ang iba naman ay may huling paalala. Ngunit hindi natitinag si Timothy. Nang sa wakas ay mawala na ang lahat at kaming dalawa na lang ang natira, lumingon siya sa akin, at ang matinding tapang sa kanyang mga mata ay napalitan ng labis na pagmamahal.

"I have nothing left now but you," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Are you sure you still want me?"

 I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close. "I don't want the billionaire, Timothy. I want the man. And I have him."

 But reality was far harsher than we imagined.

 Nang gabing iyon, tahimik ang bahay—mabigat, na parang naghihintay ng pagguho. Dumating si Sofia, hindi nag-iisa, kasama ang kanyang mga magulang at ang ama ni Timothy. Ang hangin sa loob ng meeting  area ay ay mas lalong  matigas at naging mabigat na parang bakal. They stood there like judges in a courtroom, looking at me with absolute contempt..