Chapter Three [Sera]: Under The Roof

=Sera's POV=

“Miss Navarro, Mr. Vale is waiting in his office. He said it’s urgent.”

'Yun agad ang salubong sa akin ng assistant ni Damien pagkapasok ko pa lang sa VALECORP para sa planning session with the PR team. Naglakad ako papunta ro’n, tumigil sa harap ng glass door, at kumatok.

“Come in.”

Pagpasok ko, nakita ko siyang nakaupo, may kape sa kamay, while reading something on his tablet.

Hindi siya tumingin agad. Mahangin as always.

“Your mom texted me.”

Napataas ang kilay ko. Agad-agad?

“What did she say? ‘Pakisundo ang anak kong stubborn’?”

Finally, he looked up with his serious face. As usual. “She wants us to move in together. Before the wedding.”

Alam ko naman na ang magiging topic namin pero natahimik pa rin ako.

He leaned back. “It makes sense. For the press, for appearances. We’ll set boundaries, of course.”

“And whose place? Yours?” I confidently asked.

“I don’t do roommates,” he said casually. “But I suppose I can make an exception. There’s a guest room. You’ll be comfortable.”

Nag-isip ako sandali. This was moving fast. Too fast.

Pero wala akong choice. At kung game face talaga ang usapan…

“Fine,” sagot ko. “Pero kapag may rules ako, sundin mo.”

“I don’t leave socks on the floor, I don’t snore, and I don’t knock,” he said with a shrug. “Anything else?”

“Rule #1: No flirting.”

“Rule #2: No falling in love,” sabay ngiti niya—isang ngiting nakakainis.

“Tss. As if.”

"Talaga."

"Game on, princess."

Naglakad ako palabas ng office niya, pero bago ako makalabas, tinawag niya ako.

“Seraphina.”

Lumingon ako. He swiveled his chair to face me.

“Let’s make this work. Even if it’s fake… let’s be unstoppable. No strings attached."

Natigilan ako. Kasi kahit alam kong scripted lang lahat ‘to… para bang, for a second, naniwala akong kaya naming maging totoo.

✴✴✴

"Welcome home, Miss Navarro."

Binati ako ng butler ni Damien pagpasok ko sa penthouse.

Talagang 'Miss Navarro' pa rin and tawag nila sa akin? Mukhang ayaw talaga akong pakasalan ng amo nila. Well, quits lang. Ayoko rin sa kanya.

Napa-step back ako sa laki. Floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors, minimalist design—lahat mukhang showroom. Halos wala akong makitang personal touch. Walang family picture. Walang kahit anong tanda ng buhay.

Exactly like Damien—structured, cold, flawless. Lahat ng ayoko sa lalaki.

“This way, ma’am.”

Sinundan ko si Manong Butler sa guest room. Mas malaki pa ito kaysa sa buong condo ko. May sarili pang bathroom at walk-in closet.

Pero habang naglalakad ako, parang nararamdaman ko ang presence niya kahit wala siya sa paligid. Ewan ko ba. Baka dahil alam kong isang pader lang ang pagitan namin.

Lumipas ang araw hanggang mag-dinner, I didn't even hear one step of Damien in this house. Ganun ba karami ang ginagawa niya sa isang araw para magmistulang multo sa sarili niyang pamamahay?

Maya-maya pa ay isang plato ng spring roll ang nilapag ng isang maid sa table ng dining area. Meron ring mga california roll. Mayroon ring mga salad.

"Manang, luto niyo?" tanong ko nang makalapit ako sa lamesa.

"Ay, hindi po, ma'am. In-order lang ni Sir Damien. Baka raw po gutom na kayo," aniya bago ko siya pinasalamatan at umalis.

Akmang aalis na rin ako nang makita kong dumaan si Damien malapit sa entrance ng dining area, reading something in his tablet again. Hindi ba nauubusan ng trabaho 'to?

Lumapit ako sa kanya at tumabi habang sinasabayan siya sa paglakad.

“Wow, thank you ha. Nag-order ka lang pala.”

Nahinto siya sa ginagawa niya sa tablet at tinapunan ako ng tingin.

“What? Did you expect me to cook?”

Umirap ako. “I expected you to at least try.”

“Try? I don’t gamble with food poisoning.”

“Ang sweet mo talaga 'no?” sarkastiko kong sagot.

Hinatak ko siya papalapit sa table at kumuha ang isang spring roll, at kinain. 

After I finished chewing and gulped, I speak again. "Alam mo? First day na first day na magkasama tayo sa bahay, hindi ka nag-eeffort."

"I brought you food. Aren't you happy?"

"Siguro naman kahit pagpapanggap 'to, you can make an effort, and I will do the same."

"I don't cook for someone I don't know, Seraphina."

"Oh, honey, I am not just 'someone'. I'm your future wife, remember?" sarkastiko kong sabi.

“Tomorrow,” biglang sabi niya na para bang walang narinig sa mga sinabi ko kanina. “We have a photoshoot again. Lifestyle feature. They want us to look domestic.”

“Domestic? Like, magluluto at maglalaba together?”

“More like breakfast shots. You in a robe. Me making coffee.”

“Oh my god. Damien.” Napa-iling ako. “Fake engagement, I can handle. Do the domestic, I can handle. Fake honeymoon phase? That’s too much.”

He smirked. “It’s what sells.”

Alam kong may punto siya. Pero deep inside, parang may maliit na bahagi sa akin na natatakot. Kasi kung masyadong maging convincing ang palabas namin… baka may masaktan.

At ayokong ako ang masasaktan.