KABANATA 5Tahimik ang loob ng munisipyo, maliban sa mga kaluskos ng papel at mga hakbang ng ilang staff na abala sa pag-aasikaso. There were no traditional wedding march, flowers, fancy design or even music–just a few lawyers, a judge, and two people from Draven’s team to serve as our witnesses.I am wearing a simple but elegant ivory silk dress. It fell just below my knees, hugging the shape of my body. No veil nor bouquet.While Draven, on the other hand, is wearing his usual black suit. His tie matched my dress perfectly and I wondered if he planned it or if it was just another calculated move.“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice was too calm. Parang wala lang sa kaniya ang mga nangyayari.“I already signed away my soul this morning. Ngayon pa ba ako aatras?” The corner of his lips lifted in a tiny smirk, but it never made it to his eyes. “Let’s get this over with,”Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon. No hesitation. No turning back.Wala sa plano ko ang magpakasal ulit, especially
KABANATA 4 “Then marry me.” Nakailang kurap pa ako bago makapagsalita. “A-ano?” “Marry me,” he repeated. “In paper only. It’s a deal. A contract marriage. I’ll help you get your life back, your company, your name.” tahimik lamang akong nakikinig sa mga susunod niya pang sasabihin. “In return, you’ll carry my child. My heir.” Napamaang na lamang ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ako nakapagsalita. “You help me secure my heir. I help you get your life back. No strings, no feelings, no emotional attachment. Just business.” he said casually. “C-carry your child?!” sa wakas ay nakakuha na ako ng lakas para magsalita. “First you want me to marry you, and you also want me to carry your child?! I didn’t even know your name?!” I saw him pause for a moment. Like he was realizing something just now. “Why would I marry a stranger and carry his chi–!” hindi ko na natapos ang pagh-hysterical ko ng muli niyang pinutol ng sinasabi ko. “Draven. Draven Montelare.” I blinked. “M-montelare? I feel
KABANATA 3 Marahas kong nahigit ang hininga ko kasabay ng biglaang pagmulat ng mga mata ko. I coughed—violently. Water came out of my lungs as I gasped and choked. “What the hell were you thinking?!” marahas na boses ang nagpabalik sa akin sa reyalidad. Nilingon ko kung kanino nagmula ang boses na narinig ko at gano’n nalang ang panlalaki ng mata ko. It was him! The man I had a one night stand with! Paano niya ako nasundan? Paano niya ako nahanap? Paano niya ako nakita? Napawi lahat ng iniisip at hiyang nararamdaman ko ng muling umalingawngaw ang boses niya. “Do you think that river was going to save you?! You think disappearing would erase everything?!” bulalas niya. Basang-basa ang suot niya ngunit wala doon ng atensyon niya. “You’re insane!” sigaw niyang muli habang matalim ang mga matang nakatingin sa ‘kin. Hindi ako nakasagot. I just broke down and cried. The sobs that I’ve been holding in came out like a flood–matindi pa sa tubig na muntik nang kumuha sa buhay ko. And t
KABANATA 2My head hurts as hell! Parang pinupukpok ang ulo ko sa sobrang sakit, maybe because I drunk too much last night? Hindi ko na rin alam. Basta ang alam ko, sobrang sakit ng ulo ko.Unti-unti kong iminulat ang mata ko, damang-dama ko pa rin ang pagpintig ng ulo ko. Dumiretso ang mata ko sa bintana, the sky outside was barely turning gray. Agad naman akong tumingin sa paligid at doon ko lang napansin na wala ako sa kwarto ko.Hindi ito ang kwarto ko sa bahay at lalong hindi ito ang condo ko. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng matagpuan ang sarili kong hubad at mas nanlaki ang mata ko ng mapansin ko ang hindi kilalang lalaki na nakahiga sa tabi ko.Naramdaman ko ang lalong pagkirot ng ulo ko habang pilit inaalala ang mga nangyari kagabi. The memories flooded back–from my ruined wedding because of betrayal to how I desperately threw myself to a stranger just to forget the pain temporarily.Parang nagkabuhol-buhol ang sistema ko sa kahihiyan. Muli kong nilingon ang lalaki sa tabi ko, he was s
KABANATA 1CONTENT WARNING: R – 18!The remnants of the girl I once was were thrown along with my bridal robe in some stranger’s trash bin. I had slipped into a black dress instead–tight, not too short, too loud for someone grieving, but perfect for someone trying to forget.I didn’t want to cry anymore.I just want to disappear.Natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili ko sa aming subterranean type bar, sitting alone in front of my almost empty bottle of champagne.Low music hummed through the dim, artificially warmth bar. Drinks were shared and strangers laughed. The aroma of wood smoke and whiskey enveloped me like a call to relax.I don’t know how many shots I've taken but I can already feel the dizziness and my vision is slowly getting blurred when I see a familiar face.Dark suit. Loosened tie. Sleeves rolled.He was also sitting alone not that far from my table, looking at me quietly but with intrigue visible in his face. Our gazes met, I looked at him with a smirk, gulping the last d
SIMULAMy stylist put the last pin to my hair to make it strong and stable during the ceremony. Nang matapos na sila ay nanatili akong nakaupo habang pinagmamasdan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. The woman staring back at me is the woman I dreamed of when I was a child–perfect, flawless, and glowing with love. This is exactly how I picture this scene to be.All the other stylists and bridesmaids buzz around me, telling me how perfect my look is. I smiled hearing their compliments. Bumalik sa isip ko kung paano nga ba ako napunta sa sitwasyon na ‘to. How the fairytale-like love story I only dreamed of came true.Sebastian, my fiancé, was my childhood sweetheart. Syd and Calloway are really close friends and have strong business ties. We were already aware that our parents had arranged for us to get married in order to continue our company’s relationship.Growing up, he always made me feel secured and wanted, he was my safe place especially in our world where I was expected to be ‘p