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Chapter 2 Golden Cage
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2026-05-18 19:55:05Maingay. Iyon agad ang unang pumasok sa isip ko habang nakaupo sa gitna ng engrandeng ballroom ng Villanueva Grand Hotel.
Tunog ng champagne glasses. Mahihinang tugtog ng violin. Paulit-ulit na tawanan ng mga taong nagkukunwaring masaya. Nakakasakal. Humigop ako ng whiskey habang malamig na pinagmamasdan ang mga taong nakapaligid sa akin. Halos lahat ng narito ay kilala ko—mga politicians, investors, business partners, celebrities, at mga taong desperadong mapalapit sa pamilya namin. The Villanueva family. One of the most influential families in the country. And tonight? This entire event is for me. For my engagement. Napabuntong-hininga ako at niluwagan ang necktie ko. Pakiramdam ko nasasakal na ako sa sobrang higpit no’n. “Fix your posture.” Hindi ko na kailangang lumingon para malaman kung sino. Dad. Nakatayo siya sa tabi ko habang hawak ang wine glass niya. Tulad ng dati, malamig ang mukha. Walang emosyon. Parang hindi ama. Parang CEO lang na minamandohan ang empleyado niya. “People are watching,” dagdag niya. Napangisi ako nang bahagya. “Then let them.” Humigpit ang panga niya. Classic. “Don’t embarrass this family tonight, Zane.” Tumawa ako nang mahina bago inubos ang laman ng baso ko. “Too late for that.” Ramdam ko ang malamig niyang tingin pero wala akong pakialam.Sanay na ako. Ever since I was a kid, wala naman silang ibang ginawa kundi diktahan ang buhay ko. What to wear. How to speak. Who to date. Who to marry. Everything. Kahit itong engagement na ‘to. Hindi ko gusto. Never ko ginusto. Pero wala naman silang pakialam kung ano ang gusto ko. Ang importante sa kanila—connections, business, at power. At ang fiancee kong si Veronica Villareal? Perfect candidate. Beautiful. Elegant. Sophisticated. The ideal woman for a man carrying the Villanueva surname. Pero hindi siya ang gusto ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung may gusto pa ba talaga ako. “Zane.” Napatingin ako sa hagdan nang marinig ang boses ni Mom. Nandoon si Veronica. Nakasuot ng puting gown na halos kumikislap sa ilalim ng chandelier lights. Maganda siya. Too beautiful. Too perfect. At mas lalo akong nasakal. Lumapit siya sa akin habang may eleganteng ngiti sa labi. “You disappeared again,” mahina niyang sabi. “I’m still here.” “But mentally? Probably not.” Napatingin ako sa kanya. She smiled sadly. Kilala niya ako. At iyon ang problema. Alam niyang ayoko rito. Alam niyang ayokong pakasalan siya. Pero nandito pa rin siya. Pareho kaming bihag. “Five minutes before the announcement,” paalala niya. Napailing ako habang sinusulyapan ang paligid. Napakaraming tao. Napakaraming pekeng ngiti. Napakaraming matang naghihintay na makita akong maging perpektong tagapagmana ng Villanueva Group of Companies. The golden son. The future CEO. The perfect fiance. Fuck.Hindi ko kaya. “Excited ka?” tanong ko kay Veronica. Hindi siya agad sumagot. Tumingin muna siya sa mga taong nasa paligid namin. “At this point, does it matter?” Tahimik. Pero mas mabigat pa iyon kaysa sigaw. Napatawa ako nang mahina. “We’re both trapped, huh?” “Looks like it.” Saglit kaming natahimik. Tapos dumating ang event host. “Mr. Villanueva, Miss Villareal, everyone’s waiting.” There it is. The beginning of a life I never wanted. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baso. Biglang parang lumiit ang paligid. Parang nauubusan ako ng hangin. Nakikita ko na. The headlines. The interviews. The fake smiles. The marriage. The endless pretending. At pagkatapos no’n? A lifetime inside a golden cage. Napapikit ako. Then suddenly—naalala ko ang sarili ko noong college. Iyong panahon na kahit papaano, kaya ko pang gawin ang gusto ko. Cars, racing, bars, random cities, women, freedom. Hindi ako mabait. Hindi rin ako inosente. Pero kahit papaano, totoo ako roon. Unlike here. Sa ballroom na ‘to, para akong mannequin na binihisan lang ng mamahaling suit. “Zane?” Napakurap ako. Nakatitig na sa akin si Veronica. Concerned. And somehow, that made me feel worse. Kasi kahit siya, nadadamay sa kagaguhan ng pamilya namin. Huminga ako nang malalim. Then I smiled. Yung tipong ngiti na ginagamit ko kapag may itatago ako. “Go ahead,” sabi ko. Kunot-noo siyang tumingin sa akin. “What?” “Go downstairs.” “What about you?” Napatingin ako sa malalaking pintuan ng ballroom. Sa labas. Sa freedom. Then I looked back at her. “I’m leaving.” Nanlaki ang mata niya. “Zane—” “Tell them whatever you want.” Tumayo ako. Diretso. Walang pag-aalinlangan. Naririnig ko na ang tawag ng pangalan ko sa stage. Pero tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad. “Zane Alejandro Villanueva?” “Sir?” “Where are you going?” Hindi ako lumingon. Paglabas ko ng ballroom, agad kong niluwagan ang tie ko at napabuntong-hininga. Pakiramdam ko ngayon lang ako nakahinga. “Sir! The announcement is starting!” habol ng assistant ni Dad. “Then announce it without me.” “Sir—” “Move.” Tumahimik siya. Good. Mabilis akong naglakad palabas ng hotel habang sunod-sunod ang vibrate ng phone ko. Dad, Mom, Managers, Assistants, Veronica. I ignored all of them. Pagdating ko sa parking lot, agad kong binuksan ang kotse ko at sumakay. Tahimik, Finally.Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa upuan at ipinikit ang mata ko. “What the hell am I doing?” bulong ko. Hindi ko alam. All I know is that I can’t stay there. Not tonight. Not anymore. Napatawa ako nang mahina habang hinihimas ang noo ko. Magwawala si Dad. Definitely. Pero wala akong pakialam. Mas gugustuhin ko pang mawala kaysa mabuhay sa buhay na hindi ko naman pinili. Huminga ako nang malalim bago pinaandar ang sasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Ang alam ko lang—ayokong umuwi. Ayokong makarinig ng panibagong sermon. Ayokong makita ang disappointment sa mukha nila. Kasi sa totoo lang? Pagod na akong maging anak na gusto nila. Pagod na akong maging perpekto. Pagod na akong maging Zane Alejandro Villanueva. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela habang mabilis kong tinatahak ang kalsada. Maliwanag ang city lights. Maingay. Magulo. Pero mas gusto ko ‘to kaysa sa ballroom na pinanggalingan ko. At least dito—totoo. Past midnight. Napangisi ako nang mapait. Congratulations to me. Sinira ko ang sarili kong engagement party. Biglang tumunog ulit ang phone ko. This time, it was Veronica. Saglit akong natahimik bago sinagot. “Hello?” “Your father is furious.” “Expected.” Tahimik siya sa kabilang linya. Then she sighed. “You know… I almost envied you tonight.” Napakunot-noo ako. “What?” “You left.” Tahimik. “I wanted to do the same.” Hindi ako agad nakasagot. For the first time tonight, may naramdaman akong guilt. “I’m sorry,” mahina kong sabi. At totoo iyon. Hindi siya ang kalaban ko. Pareho lang kaming nakakulong. “Don’t apologize,” sagot niya. “Just don’t come back tonight.” Napangisi ako. “Wasn’t planning to.” Pagkaputol ng tawag, muling bumalik ang katahimikan. Pero hindi na siya ganoon kabigat. Huminga ako nang malalim habang pinagmamasdan ang ilaw ng siyudad. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang susunod. Pero ngayong gabi? Ayokong maging anak. Ayokong maging fiance. Ayokong maging business asset. Ngayong gabi—gusto ko lang maging ako. At sa unang pagkakataon pagkatapos ng matagal na panahon… pakiramdam ko, may kontrol ulit ako sa buhay ko. Kahit saglit lang. Even if everything starts falling apart tomorrow. At hindi ko pa alam—na sa parehong gabing ‘yon, may isa ring taong tumatakbo palayo sa sakit. At sa bar na pareho naming pupuntahan… magbabago ang lahat.
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The acoustic melody floated softly on the warm sea breeze, blending perfectly with the gentle rush of the tide. Mich’s heart hammered against her ribs as Zane finally stopped them right beneath the towering arch of orchids and pampas grass. The golden hour light painted everything in shades of rose and deep amber, reflecting beautifully off the tears that were now openly spilling down her cheeks.Zane turned to face her completely, taking both of her hands in his. His large, calloused palms were slightly damp—a rare sign of nervousness from a man who had faced down ruthless corporate boards without a single flinch. He looked down at her, his dark eyes brimming with a vulnerability that he had never shown to anyone else in the world."Mich," Zane began, his deep voice thick with an emotion that vibrated straight through her soul. "We spent years running from each other. Years hiding behind fake names, dealing with the worst possible timing, and pretending that we could surviv
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The soft, rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore echoed through the open windows of the private beach villa. Mich stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the straps of a simple, flowing white sundress she had found neatly hanging in the closet—a thoughtful detail she knew had Zane’s signature all over it. The heavy, structure-filled gowns of the high-society gala were gone, replaced by a pure, barefoot freedom that felt incredibly liberating.Zane walked into the room, his casual white linen shirt half-unbuttoned, matching her relaxed attire perfectly. He didn't say a word at first; he just stood at the doorway, his dark eyes sweeping over her with a raw intensity that made her chest tighten with affection. He walked up behind her, his large hands resting on the curves of her waist."The sun is about to set," Zane murmured, his deep voice carrying a quiet warmth that always grounded her. "Let’s take a walk down the beach."Mich turned in his arms, smiling
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The bright morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the penthouse, casting a warm, golden glow across the master bedroom. Mich woke up with a light heart, the lingering peace of the previous night’s grand declaration still wrapping around her like a security blanket. When she walked into the kitchen, she found Zane already dressed in casual linen clothes, looking effortlessly handsome as he poured fresh orange juice into two glasses."Pack a light bag, Mich," Zane said, a rare, teasing smirk playing on his lips as he handed her a glass. "We’re leaving the city for a few days."Mich blinked in surprise, taking a sip. "Leaving? Akala ko ba may mga pirmahan ka pa ng mga dokumento kasama si Atty. Santos ngayon?""Everything is handled," Zane replied smoothly, stepping closer to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her into his solid warmth. "I told you, we are operating on our own terms now. The city can wait. We’re going on a road trip."Mic
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The heavy mahogany doors of the grand ballroom closed behind them, sealing away the explosive murmurs and the continuous glare of the media. The luxury SUV swept them smoothly through the clean, towering streets of Bonifacio Global City, leaving the high-society battlefield far behind. Inside the quiet sanctuary of the vehicle, the silence was no longer heavy or suffocating—it was incredibly peaceful. Zane’s large, warm hand remained tightly locked with Mich’s, his thumb brushing slow, soothing circles over her knuckles.The moment the private elevator doors opened directly into the dark penthouse, the corporate masks they wore for the world completely dissolved. Zane pulled Mich into his arms right there in the foyer, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He exhaled a long, ragged breath, letting go of the tension he had carried for years."You did it," Mich whispered softly, her hands resting against his broad shoulders. "Zane, you told everyone."Zane pulled back
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