CHAPTER 2: Silent Wars and Shaky Hands

"Ugh, bakit ba ang bagal ng elevator today?" Moon murmured, impatiently tapping her high heels on the marble floor.

She was wearing a perfectly pressed silk blouse tucked neatly into her pencil skirt, hair in a slick ponytail, holding a leather folder filled with reports she crammed the whole night. Bagsak ang confidence niya today. Wala siyang tulog. Wala rin siyang gana. Bakit? Because Lucas Madrigal decided to ignore her again — for the fifth time this week.

"Morning, Ma'am Moon," bati ng janitor, who was sweeping near the lobby.

"Morning, Kuya Danny," she greeted with a small smile.

Finally, the elevator doors opened. Pagkapasok niya, bumuntong-hininga siya and leaned her head slightly against the elevator wall. Bakit ba kasi siya pumayag sa set-up na 'to? From fake girlfriend to secretary, ang downgrade, girl.

----

"Miss Moon, may sinasabi si Sir Lucas. Meeting daw in fifteen minutes," announced Gabbie, her co-staff, habang sumisilip sa cubicle niya.

"Thanks," she nodded.

She fixed her blouse, double-checked her files, then walked into the glass meeting room where Lucas stood near the window, looking impossibly powerful in his navy blue suit.

"Good morning, Sir," she said formally.

"You're late," was his cold response.

"Actually, I’m three minutes early. Check your watch, Sir," she replied, biting the inside of her cheek.

Lucas turned slowly to face her, arching one brow. "You’re getting too comfortable."

"Well, you hired me to be efficient, not submissive."

There was a flicker in his eyes, a strange mix of amusement and annoyance before he sighed and sat down.

"Fine. Sit. Let’s start."

Moon sat across him, trying hard not to meet his eyes too much. Kasi every time she did, parang nababalik lahat. Yung fake smiles nila noon sa mga family dinners. Yung mga stolen moments, 'yung mga tinginan na parang may ibig sabihin pero hindi pwedeng totoo.

"Sir, about the BGC expansion—"

"I saw your report. There’s a flaw. Page six."

"What flaw?" she asked, leaning forward.

"The projected revenue. Your numbers are too optimistic."

"But the metrics are based on real-time analytics from our site—"

"I want conservative estimates. I don’t run this company on hopes and dreams."

Moon tightened her jaw. "Understood. I’ll revise it."

He stood, grabbing a coffee cup. "Also, tonight. Gala event. Be ready by seven."

"Wait. Gala? You didn’t mention—"

"I just did."

She wanted to scream. But she just nodded. "Copy, Sir."

---

7:15 PM. Peninsula Hotel.

Moon walked in wearing a sleek backless emerald gown. Her hair in a soft bun, eyes lined with perfect winged eyeliner. She looked every inch a CEO's date but in reality, just a secretary.

Lucas was already inside, surrounded by board members and investors. But the moment he saw her, tumigil siya sandali. His eyes scanned her from head to toe.

"You're late," he whispered once she was close.

"Well, you didn’t say fashionably late wasn’t allowed."

He offered his arm. "Let’s not make a scene."

The whole night, they played their roles. Smiling, laughing, even leaning into each other when investors were watching. But when they were alone?

"You’re doing that thing again," Moon said softly as they stood by the bar.

"What thing?"

"Looking at me like we’re back in that rooftop sa Tagaytay."

He stiffened. "We’re not."

"I know. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel that way sometimes."

Lucas looked away. "Moon, don’t start."

"I’m not starting. I’m just reminding you. You started this whole fake relationship thing. You disappeared. Then you hired me. Now we’re doing this dance again."

"You could’ve said no."

"And you could’ve just told me why you left."

Lucas looked at her, jaw clenched. "It’s not the time."

"It never is."

They were interrupted by an old investor. The moment was gone. Again.

But that night, as Lucas escorted her to the car, he held her hand a little longer.

"You looked beautiful tonight," he said, almost like an apology.

She smiled bitterly. "Don’t say that unless you mean it for real."

Then she got in the car, leaving him in silence.

Inside, she whispered to herself. Here we go again.

---

Flashback

Tahimik ang buong café habang kumakain sila Moon at Lucas sa isang maliit na table sa sulok. Parang slow motion ang lahat para kay Moon habang pinagmamasdan ang lalaki sa harap niya. Parang kanina lang ay nag-aaway sila, pero ngayon, magkausap na parang matagal nang magkaibigan. O magkasintahan.

Pero hindi. May kasunduan lang sila.

Fake relationship.

"So... ilang weeks natin ‘to gagawin?" tanong ni Moon habang nilalaro ang baso ng iced coffee sa harapan niya.

"Depende," sagot ni Lucas na hindi man lang tumitingin. Busy sa pagche-check ng email sa phone niya. "Hanggang mawala na ‘yung issue sa family ko. At tsaka sa social media."

Napangiwi si Moon. "Ah, so ganun ka lang kadaling gamitin, no?"

Napatingin si Lucas sa kanya. "Ginagamit din kita. Hindi mo ba napapansin kung gaano ka na sumisikat sa department mo dahil sa 'relationship' natin?"

Hindi nakaimik si Moon. Totoo. Dati-rati, halos hindi siya pinapansin sa opisina. Pero ngayong akala ng lahat ay girlfriend siya ng boss, bigla siyang naging visible. Sa meetings, sa pantry, pati sa HR.

"Kaya nga dapat walang mahulog sa ating dalawa," biglang dagdag ni Lucas.

Napangiti si Moon, pilit. "Oo naman. Kasi ang hirap na kung may ma-fall, 'di ba? Masisira ang deal."

Pero hindi niya masabi... unti-unti na siyang nahuhulog. At iyon ang pinakamasaklap sa lahat.

---

Lumipas ang mga araw na mas naging malapit sila sa isa’t isa. Madalas silang magkasama sa lunch, sa overtime, sa gala. Pati weekends ay nagagawa na nilang magsama sa harap ng pamilya ni Lucas. All for the act. For the deal.

Pero ang puso ni Moon? Hindi na sigurado kung ganyan lang ba talaga dapat ang nararamdaman niya.

Isang gabi, habang nasa condo unit ni Lucas...

"May wine ka ba d'yan?" tanong ni Moon habang naghahanap ng snacks sa kusina.

"Second shelf," sagot ni Lucas habang nakaupo sa sofa at nagsusulat sa laptop niya.

Kinuha ni Moon ang bote ng red wine at dalawang baso. Tumabi kay Lucas.

"You’re always working. Chill ka naman kahit once a week."

"Wala sa vocabulary ko ang 'chill'," seryoso niyang sagot.

Napahigop si Moon ng wine. "Ang weird mo din, no? You asked me to pretend to be your girlfriend, pero you act like we’re roommates."

Napahinto si Lucas sa pagta-type. "So gusto mo ba talaga ng girlfriend treatment?"

Napatingin si Moon sa kanya. Nakangiti si Lucas pero ibang ngiti. Hindi biro, hindi din bastos. Parang may halong tanong na hindi niya kayang sagutin.

"Hindi," mahinang sagot ni Moon. "Ang gusto ko... ‘yung totoo."

Biglang natahimik ang paligid. Naririnig lang nila ang humihingang aircon at ang tibok ng puso niya—na para bang naririnig na rin ni Lucas.

Tumayo si Lucas, inilapag ang laptop sa mesa. Lumapit siya kay Moon at tumingin sa mga mata nito.

"Moon... don’t fall for me. Kasi I warned you, okay? I’m not capable of loving anyone."

Napapikit si Moon. "Bakit? Dahil ba sa ex mo? O dahil... sa trauma mo sa pamilya mo?"

"Both," sagot ni Lucas. "I don’t want to ruin you. Kaya huwag."

Pero hindi iyon ang nangyari. Sapagkat habang sinusubukang huwag mahulog si Moon, lalo siyang nahuhulog. At habang sinusubukang itulak siya ni Lucas palayo, mas lalo siyang napapalapit

Isang linggo matapos ang simula ng kontrata, nagbago na ang dynamics nina Moon at Lucas. Kung dati ay punong-puno ng tension ang mga sulyap nila sa isa’t isa, ngayon ay may kasamang kabog at kilig. Kahit pa nga alam nilang peke ang lahat.

Pero si Moon? Ramdam na ramdam na niya ang pagkalito sa puso niya.

“Lucas, bakit pa natin ‘to ginagawa?” tanong ni Moon habang nasa loob sila ng kotse, pauwi mula sa isang event na dapat ay “couple appearance” nila.

“Because it’s working,” kalmado niyang sagot. “The board is finally seeing me as a ‘settled’ man. At ikaw, hindi ka na masyadong binabakuran ng HR.”

“Yeah pero… paano ‘pag may nahulog?”

“Then don’t.”

Yun lang. Walang pasakalye. Walang paliwanag. Basta raw, ‘wag mahulog.

‘Yun ang problema eh. Hindi niya kayang sundin ‘yon.

Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na bigla na lang siyang na-ghost.

---

Walang kahit anong text. Walang tawag. Walang paliwanag. Walang paalam.

At doon nabuo ang galit at sakit sa puso ni Moon. Hindi man lang siya binigyan ng kahit kaunting paliwanag.

Hindi sila naging totoong mag-jowa, oo. Pero may naramdaman sila. Alam niya 'yon.

Pitong taon ang lumipas.

At heto na siya. Muling babangga sa lalaking sumira sa puso niya.

Si Lucas. Ang boss niya ngayon.

At siya, ang secretary na muling mamahalin ang lalaking minsang iniwan siya na parang wala lang siyang halaga.