Ch. 4: Photo engagement

Ingrid Alessia’s Point of View

Dalawang araw ang lumipas, at heto ako ngayon sa isang penthouse suite na para bang ginawang battleground ng mga makeup brush, designer gown, at mga tripod ng camera.

“Final touch-ups!” sigaw ng makeup artist habang hinihila ang mukha ko pabalik sa center. I sat still, letting them paint me into the perfect image of a bride-to-be. Hindi na nga ako humihinga masyado. One wrong move and they’d think I was fragile. But I wasn’t. I was just worn out.

“Ma’am, your stylist sent the schedule,” sabi ng assistant ko, handing over a thin folder. “Whole day shoot po for the announcement. Six looks siya, and one couple shot by the rooftop.” I nodded, flipping through the neatly printed itinerary. My name, paired with his.

Ingrid Alessia Romano-Moretti.

Parang hindi pa rin totoo. Parang panaginip lang ang peg, pero nightmare nga lang. I glanced at the mirror. The woman who looked back at me was elegant, and her smile was a weapon. Pero sa likod ng smoky eyes and bold lipstick, I saw it, the exhaustion, the disbelief, and and the quiet fury na hindi mawala-wala. I took a deep breath. This was my life now. A fake fairy tale for public consumption.

“Ready?” tanong ng coordinator. “Mr. Moretti is on standby.”

Mr. Moretti. Hindi Leonhardt. Never, Leon. Lagi siyang ganun, formal, cold, and untouchable. I stood, smoothing down the silk gown and hugging my body. Champagne-colored, elegant, if they called it that, and expensive too. Parang ako. Mahal, pero hindi pag-aari ng sarili.

Bumukas bigla ang pintuan. There he was. Leonhardt Dietrich Moretti. Suot niya ang itim na suit, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, at wala rin siyang suot na necktie. He maintained his cool and sharp vibe as always.

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, and for a second, everything else blurred. The noise, the flashing lights, and the clamor of staff all faded. Walang emosyon na makikita sa mukha niya. The expression remains unreadable. Palagi naman, e. Sanay na ata ako.

“Took you long enough,” he snorted.

“Sorry,” I replied, just as blandly. "I had to ensure my appearance was appropriate."

“You do.” He breathed it without blinking. He offered his arm. And I took it, duh? It was intended for a show. Not because I wanted to. But because the cameras were rolling.

As we posed, the photographer gave instructions like we were dolls. “Closer. Chin up. Smile like you’re in love. That’s it.”

I leaned in a little  closer to him. He placed a hand on my waist like he was checking for a weapon. I plastered on a smile. He didn’t. “Can you at least pretend you’re not dead inside?” I muttered through clenched teeth.

He angled his face closer, jaw sharp against the light. “Can you pretend you’re not lying through yours?”

Binaon ko ang mga kuko ko sa palad ko pero tuloy pa rin ang ngiti. Click dito, flash doon ang ganap. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Lahat ng 'to, puro palabas.  Ano pa nga ba? Pagod na pati kaluluwa ko.

“Now, rooftop shot!” an assistant called out.

Tahimik ulit kaming naglakad, pinapalibutan ng mga handler, stylist, at kung sinu-sinong tao na wala namang pake kung nalunod na ba kami sa sarili naming pag-iisip, basta maganda pa rin kami habang ginagawa 'yon.

Pagdating sa rooftop, the wind was colder. The skyline stretched behind us, so beautiful, distant, and unreachable. Kagaya niya.

“Wrap your arms around him, Ingrid. Eyes on him like you’re in love,” sabi ng photographer.

Yumakap ako sa baywang ni Leonhardt. Hindi naman siya umiwas, pero ni hindi man lang lumapat ang mga kamay niya sa’kin. Para siyang estatwa. Tiningala ko siya at pinilit na malambingin ang tingin. Pero tumingin lang siya ng diretso na parang hindi ako nandito. At ayun nga, tuloy pa rin naman ang click ng mga camera.

This would be on every headline by tonight.

Moretti Heir Ties the Knot with Romano Heiress

Engagement of the Year.

Kung alam lang nila. We weren’t lovers. Kami lang naman ang dalawang taong naipit sa kasunduang tinatakan ng desperasyon. At naisip ko, hanggang kailan kami tatagal sa pagpapanggap na hindi masakit 'to?

After the press shoot, the real show began.

Hindi lang simpleng dinner ang engagement announcement namin. Isa siyang planadong eksena sa top floor ng hotel na pagmamay-ari ng Moretti. Red carpet, check.Crystal na chandelier, check. And people in expensive clothes pretended they liked each other, okay check.

Tumayo lang ako malapit sa may glass wall, a flute of champagne in hand, watching the skyline and blink beneath us like a warning.

“Parang gusto mo nang tumalon diyan,” bulong ni Leonhardt sa tabi ko, his voice was eerily calm, the kind that made silence feel like a loaded gun.

I rolled my eyes, and hindi rin ako lumingon sa kanya “Only if I can push you first.”

I can see in my peripheral view, his lips twitched. “Charming.”

“You brought me here to charm, didn’t you?” Tanong ko, finally at lumingon na sa kanya ng tuluyan.

“We’re announcing a merger, Ingrid. Not a love story.”

“Tama ka d’yan,” I said, sipping from my glass. “Because this feels more like a funeral, e.”

Dumapo 'yung tingin niya sa akin na para na niya akong sasaksakin. “Then mourn silently.”

Before I could bite back, we were approached by a server and then, them. 'Yung pamilya niya.

Naunang dumating ang ina ni Leonhardt, naka-beaded gown na parang reyna kung lumakad. Sa tabi niya, ang asawa nito na mukhang laging nasa boardroom, inaayos pa ang cufflinks na parang stockholders’ meeting ‘tong party na ’to. Sumunod ’yung isa pa—ni hindi ko pa rin maalala o pinaplanong alalahanin ang pangalan niya.

“Oh, look at the happy couple,” Mrs. Moretti said, voice dripping with diplomacy. “Such chemistry.”

Isinwitch ko agad ’yung ngiting pinraktis ko sa harap ng salamin. “We try.”

Hindi naman umimik si Leonhardt. Tinitigan lang niya ang ina niya na parang he was resisting the urge to set the room on fire.

His father gave me a firm nod. “Let’s make this quick. Investors are watching the livestream.”

Syempre naman, there are. Pagkatapos no’n ay ang toast. Merong maliit na stage malapit sa piano, at para kaming art piece sa museum nang akayin kami paakyat. Flash dito at flash doon na naman. Naka-kordon ang media sa likod ng velvet rope, pero ang mga lente nila, nakazoom in na parang mga mabangis na hayop, nag-aabang lang na madulas kami.

Kinuha ni Leonhardt ang mic. “To our families, our allies, and those who still believe in legacy,” he began. Nandoon pa rin 'yung pagkakalmado niya at 'yung pagiging stiff at cold. “This engagement marks not just a union, but the continuation of something far bigger than two people.”

I glanced at him. Napatingin din siya sa akin at inilahad ang kamay niya. I took it because I had to.

Itinaas niya ang magkahawak naming kamay sa harap ng mga bisita. “To Ingrid Alessia, who now carries the Moretti name with strength and grace. May this alliance bring peace and power to both sides.”

There was a polite applause. At nung tumingin ako sa crowd, nakita ko 'yung parents ko na pinipilit lang talaga nilang ngumiti.

When it was my turn to speak, I took the mic, my eyes scanning the crowd again. Alam ko kung ano ang nakikita nila. A girl in white, standing beside the devil. Am not different to a pawn who agreed to play the queen.

“I didn’t expect this,” I said honestly. “Not the lights, the whispers, or the headlines. But if you must step into a storm, you might as well dress for it.”

A few guests laughed softly. Napatingin ako kay  Leonhardt, pabalik ulit sa crowd. “Thank you for welcoming me into your world. I may not know all the rules yet, but I know how to survive.” Napatingin ulit ako kung nasaan ang parents ko. Kinindatan ko nalang si daddy. And their applause this time was more genuine. Because even vultures respect boldness.