Kabanata 4: The Aftermath

Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang panginginig ng mga tuhod ko kahit nakapasok na kami sa loob ng private elevator pababa sa basement parking ng Shangri-La.

Nang sumara ang metal na p***o at nawala ang ingay ng ballroom, parang biglang naubos ang lahat ng hangin sa baga ko. Humilig ako sa malamig na salamin ng elevator, sapo ang dibdib, habang pilit na kinakalma ang nagwawalang pulso.

"Breathe, Alyanna," malamig ngunit may diin na sabi ni Rafael mula sa tabi ko.

"Breathe?!" Napalingon ako sa kanya nang may nanlalaking mga mata. "Breathe mo 'yang mukha mo! Did you see Beatrice Laurel's face?! She looked like she wanted to murder me with that butter knife! At si Doña Carmela—she literally looked at me like I was something she stepped on sa kalye!"

Hindi man lang natinag si Rafael. Kalmado niyang inayos ang cuffs ng kanyang tuxedo jacket, his posture straight and regal as if we had just come from an ordinary casual lunch instead of a social battlefield.

"She can look all she wants," Rafael replied smoothly. "Ang mahalaga, you held your ground. The board members were completely sold. Don Alfonso even asked for a private lunch with us next Tuesday to discuss the corporate estate portfolio."

"With us?!"

"Yes. Which means you can't back out now, Ms. Cruz. You're knee-deep in this."

Ting.

Bumukas ang p***o ng elevator sa VIP basement. Walang ibang tao roon maliban sa isang makintab na matte-black Mercedes-Maybach na naghihintay. Isang driver na naka-uniporme ang agad na bumaba at nagbukas ng p***o para sa amin.

"Good evening, Sir Rafael. Ma'am," bati ng driver nang may paggalang bago yumukod.

Pumasok si Rafael nang walang kahirap-hirap, at napilitan akong sumunod. Pagkaupo ko sa malambot na beige leather seats, halos lumubog ang pagod kong katawan. The scent of Italian leather and bespoke cologne filled the private compartment. Sa gitna namin, may maliit na compartment kung saan may nakalagay na chilled mineral water at vintage wine.

"Bonifacio Ridge, Nelson," utos ni Rafael bago itinaas ang tinted partition window sa pagitan namin at ng driver.

Nang mag-isa na lang kaming dalawa sa likod, tinanggal ko ang strap ng emerald-studded heels ko. "Diyos ko, ang sakit sa paa. Hindi ko alam kung paano nakakatagal ang mga socialite sa sapatos na 'to nang limang oras."

Napatingin si Rafael sa mga hubad kong paa, pagkatapos ay umangat ang tingin niya sa akin. May bahagyang amusement sa kanyang mga mata, pero mabilis din itong napalitan ng pamilyar na seryosong awra.

"You performed well tonight," aniya, his tone measured. "Your retort to Beatrice was sharp. Reckless, but effective. She’s used to people kissing her feet because of her father's political clout. Nobody has spoken to her like that in her entire life."

"Hindi 'yon plano," depensa ko habang minamasahe ang namamagang sakong ko. "She insulted my worth. Hindi porket wala akong apelyido tulad ng sa inyo, may karapatan na siyang tapak-tapakan ang pagkatao ko. I have a degree. I worked three jobs just to buy groceries. She doesn't get to act like I'm dirt just because she was born with a platinum spoon in her mouth."

Tahimik lang na nakikinig si Rafael habang nakatitig sa akin. Sa madilim na loob ng sasakyan, ang liwanag ng streetlights mula sa labas ay papalit-palit na tumatama sa matalas niyang panga.

"You're angry," he noted quietly.

"Of course I'm angry!" singhal ko, pilit na binababa ang boses dahil baka marinig pa ng driver sa kabila ng partition. "I didn't ask to be part of your twisted family feud! Pumunta lang ako sa opisina mo para sa trabaho! Now my face will probably be all over the morning business news and lifestyle blogs by tomorrow!"

"That was the agreement, Alyanna."

"The agreement was for me to be your shield, not your human sacrifice!"

Kinuha ni Rafael ang bote ng tubig, binuksan ito nang walang kahirap-hirap, at iniabot sa akin.

"Drink," he ordered softly.

Kinuha ko iyon nang padabog at uminom ng malalaking lagok. Malamig ang tubig, sapat para mahimasmasan ang nanunuyot kong lalamunan.

"Carmela will start digging into your life the moment the sun rises tomorrow," patuloy ni Rafael, seryoso ang bawat salita. "She will send investigators to your neighborhood in Project 4. She will check your high school records, your previous employers, your bank accounts, and your mother's hospital records."

Nanlamig ang batok ko. "A-ano?"

"Don't panic," aniya, casually resting his arm on the leather console between us. "I already had my legal team sanitize your digital footprint this afternoon. As far as the public is concerned, your mother was transferred to St. Luke's Global City under my personal executive medical grant. Your old apartment lease has been fully settled, and your personal belongings are already being transported to my penthouse as we speak."

"Wait—what?!" Muntik ko nang maibuga ang tubig. "You moved my things nang wala akong pahintulot?!"

"You cannot go back to that slum, Alyanna," malamig niyang sagot, walang bahid ng paghingi ng tawad. "If Carmela’s tabloids catch you sleeping in an apartment with shared water lines and dangling electrical wires, the engagement is blown. The media will tear you apart, and the board will demand an audit on my credibility. You live with me now. End of discussion."

Napatitig ako sa kanya, naghahalong galit at kawalan ng magawa ang nararamdaman ko. He had orchestrated every single move with military precision. Walang butas. Walang takas.

"Pera mo lang ba talaga ang may boses sa mundong 'to?" mapait kong bulong.

Tumingin siya sa bintana, pinagmamasdan ang nagtataasang skyscrapers ng BGC na mabilis naming nilalampasan.

"Yes," sagot niya, mababa at walang emosyon. "In this city, money isn't just comfort, Alyanna. It’s power. It’s the only wall high enough to keep predators from ripping you to pieces. You’ll learn that soon enough."