Owned By Contract

Ingrid Alessia's Point of View

Nasa biyahe pa lang ako pauwi, parang may nakaupo na sa dibdib ko. Wala pang sinasabi si Mama kung bakit urgent ang tawag niya, pero sa tono ng boses niya kanina, alam kong may nangyaring hindi maganda.

Pagbaba ko ng kotse sa harap ng Romano mansion, ang bigat agad ng hangin. Tahimik. Walang karaniwang kaluskos ng mga kasambahay.

Pagpasok ko sa loob, sumalubong ang lamig ng marmol sa akin. Naroon sila, si Papa nasa favorite armchair niya, nakatungo. Si Mama, pabalik-balik sa likod ng sofa, para bang sinusubukang buuin ang mundo gamit lang ang lakad niya.

“Ingrid,” tawag ni Mama nang makita ako, malumanay na ang boses niya. “Kailangan natin mag-usap.”

“Can we just skip the dramatic intro and go straight to the part where I’m the solution to another disaster?” Tumayo akong diretso, pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili ko.

Napatingin sa akin si Papa, halatang puyat at pagod. “Anak... bagsak na ang kumpanya.”

Napalunok nalang ako bigla dahil sa sinabi niya. I’ve suspected it, but hearing it out loud felt like a cold running down my spine. “So? What now? Gusto niyo ibenta ‘tong bahay? I-layoff ang mga tao?”

“We found another way,” sabi ni Papa. Pero sa tono niya, alam kong desperado na sila.

I glance at both of them. “Let me guess. A setup. You want me to go on a date with some rich heir who can save us.”

There's a silence. Wala kahit isang ingay. At sa katahimikan na ‘yon, napatunayan kong tama ako.

“A blind date?” Tumawa ako ng mapait. “Seriously? What is this? Teleserye?”

“He’s not just anyone,” ani Mama. “Leonhardt Dietrich Moretti.” Biglang nanlamig ang batok ko. The Moretti heir? I’ve heard about him. Cold, dangerous, brutal in business. A man na hindi basta-basta gumagalaw kung walang kapalit.

“Are you selling me, Ma?” May halong panginginig na ang boses ko.

“This is the only way to save everything we built,” ani Papa, halos pabulong na, muntik ko na ngang hindi marinig. “Ikaw na lang ang natitirang alas namin.”

“Goosh, Dad. Pwede naman si Kuya na lang ‘di ba? Total naman may girlfriend na siya.” Napahawak ako sa sentido at mariing napabuntong-hininga.

“They’re not influential enough,” sabat ni Mama, biglang napalakas na ang boses niya. Simple lang naman talaga ang buhay ng girlfriend ni kuya. I snorted. “At ayokong ipilit sa Kuya mo na pakasalan ang hindi niya mahal. Gusto mo bang sirain ang relasyon nila?”

Puñeta naman. Hindi ba’t ako rin may relasyon? Hindi ba’t ako rin may buhay na gusto kong buuin? Tinungo ko nalang ang sofa at umupo, pilit ko na pinapakalma ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko. “Damn. Do I even have a choice?”

Walang sumagot sa kanila. Dahil alam naming tatlo na wala talaga. Well, if you can see this wasn’t just about business. It was about legacy. Their reputation and how to survive. I’ve spent years proving myself, working twice as hard just to be seen beyond being the daughter. Pero sa huli, ibebenta rin pala ako, parang ari-arian na isasanla para iligtas ang kaharian. Damn.

“When?” tanong ko, kahit alam kong ayoko marinig ang sagot.

“Tomorrow night. Dinner.”

Of course. Walang oras para mag-isip. Walang panahon para tumanggi. I stood up, fixed the crease of my blazer, and nodded once. “Fine. Pero ‘pag di ko siya nagustuhan, I’m walking away. Kayo ang bahala sa fallout.”

“Thank you, anak,” bulong ni Papa, at sa saglit na ‘yon, parang mas tumanda siya ng sampung taon. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim at umakyat sa kwarto ko, and the moment I closed the door behind me, all the composure I wore like armor crumbled.

Lumapit ako sa salamin. Doon, nakita ko ang babaeng mukha kong pamilyar pero hindi ko kilala. Elegante. Matapang. Pero sa likod ng pulbos at mascara, isang anak na ginamit bilang alas.

Pinulot ko ang journal ko at binuksan ang isang blangkong pahina. How far am I willing to go for loyalty that demands my soul?

Sinulat ko iyon gamit ang nanginginig na kamay. Kasi kahit ilang ulit ko itong tanggihan sa isipan ko, alam kong ‘yun ang katotohanan.

Ang sakripisyo, para sa pamilya. Ang tanong, hanggang saan ang kaya kong ibigay?

Humiga nalang ako sa kama at napatitig sa kisame. Pagkahiga ko sa kama, saka lang bumuhos ang lahat. Tulad ng ulan sa bubong ng kwarto ko, tahimik pero walang habas. I bit my lower lip just to stop myself from crying too loud.

Hindi ako iyakin, pero ngayon. God, it hurts. I wrapped my arms around my pillow like it could shield me from the truth. Wala na akong choice. I was born a Romano, which meant I was born into sacrifice. But I never thought the day would come when they’d willingly sell my future for survival.

Ang sakit. Yung tipong pilit mong inintindi lahat ng desisyon ng pamilya mo, pero sa huli, ikaw pa rin ang huling susugal para sa kanila. My mind wandered back to the times I had to set aside my dreams just to stay in line, ‘yung mga college applications abroad na hindi ko sinend kasi ayaw ni Papa na masyado akong malayo. ‘Yung mga gabi na ako ‘yung nag-aasikaso ng financial reports kahit puyat sa thesis.

I gave so much. And now they want more?

“I hate this,” I whispered into the surface.

Pero kahit gano’n, alam kong bukas, I’ll still get dressed. I’ll still meet Leonhardt Moretti. Because what choice do I really have? I stood and walked to the window, looking out at the garden I used to play in as a child. Dati, ito ‘yung mundo ko, ligtas, puno ng tawa. But now, it felt like a prison with gold-painted bars.

I heard a soft knock. “Ingrid?” it's Mama.

“Hindi ako gutom,” I scoffed, and let my lips pressed into a thin line . She opened the door anyway, tray in hand. “I know. Pero baka gusto mong uminom ng gatas. Para makatulog ka nang maayos.”

I didn’t answer. She placed the tray on my desk and stood awkwardly by the door.

“I never wanted this for you,” she mumbled quietly.

“But you still did it.”

She flinched. “We’re drowning, anak. Wala nang ibang lalangoy para sa atin.”

I turned away. Ayokong makita niyang umiiyak ako. Ayokong makita niyang nasaktan nila ako.

“If this breaks me, will you still think it was worth it?” I asked my voice little more than a whisper. There was no reply. Just the sound of the door closing behind her.

I laid back down, eyes tracing the ceiling again. A single thought echoed over and over in my head. Will he see me as a person or just another business move?

Hindi ako sigurado kung alin ang mas masakit. But one thing was certain, after tomorrow night, nothing would ever be the same again. And as much as I hated to admit it, part of me was terrified he might be the only one who could break me in ways even my family never could.