CHAPTER 02: The Forced Kiss

Lahat ng mata ay nasa kay Marco. Danica was already leaning in, expecting that "kiss through a tissue" moment—the ultimate kilig bait. 

Pero si Marco, walang kaabog-abog na dinampot ang baso ng spirits sa harap niya at tinungga ito sa isang lagukan.

He chose the penalty. He’d rather burn his throat with alcohol than kiss anyone.

"Grabe, you're so boring, Marco! Bakit mo kailangang mahiya?" inis na hirit ni Danica habang binabagsak ang tissue sa mesa.

Marco just exhaled, the smell of strong liquor trailing from his breath. Cold and unbothered.

Nung turn na ni Elena, kinakabahan siya. She couldn't handle the alcohol, and she definitely couldn't handle a "dare" like Marco's.

"Truth na lang," Elena whispered.

Danica’s eyes lit up like a predator. She didn't miss a beat. "Sige. Let me ask you this, Elena: Do you regret what happened five years ago?"

Tahimik lang si Elena habang nakikinig kay Toni. Everything Toni said? Old news na ’yun. Hindi lang "familiar" si Elena sa background ni Marco—kabisado niya ang bawat detalye ng buhay nito na parang binabasa niya ang sarili niyang palad.

Alam niyang hindi talaga namatay ang kuya ni Marco sa isang aksidente; it was a cover story para protektahan ang pamilya nila dahil sa isang dangerous undercover mission. Alam niya kung gaano kabait at kainit ang pamilya nito dahil tatlong taon silang nagsama sa iisang bubong.

They were building a life together. Plano na nilang magpakasal. Halos nandoon na sila, eh. Isang hakbang na lang.

Back in college, Marco was the ultimate "Golden Boy." Siya yung campus crush na parang abot-langit ang narating. Isang genius, a leader—yung tipong tinitingala ng lahat pero sa kanya lang umuuwi gabi-gabi. Siya yung lalaking gagawin ang lahat para lang mapangiti si Elena.

Elena let out a bitter, painful smile to herself. How lucky was she? Minahal siya nang sobra-sobra ng isang Marco Elizalde sa loob ng apat na taon. She was his world, his priority, his everything.

Pero ngayon?

He looked her straight in the eye and said, "Hindi ko siya kilala." Isang sentence lang, burado ang limang taon. From being his "soulmate" to a total stranger. Yung sakit, parang luma na pero sariwa pa rin ang hapdi.

Pagbalik sa table kanina, nung tinanong siya ni Danica kung nagsisisi ba siya...

Biglang naging bingi ang paligid ni Elena. Napakapit nang mahigpit si Marco sa baso niya, his knuckles turning white. He stared at the liquor as if it could drown out the sudden tension, his brows furrowed like he was fighting a memory he worked so hard to numb.

Para kay Elena, the world just stopped. It felt like she was free-falling into a dark abyss.

Limang taon na ang nakakalipas, pero fresh pa rin ang sakit. Her life was a total mess back then. Habang nasa loob ng kulungan ang tatay niya, ang kapal ng mukha ng tita ni Marco na ipamukha sa kanya ang lahat. Those words were cold and surgical—bawat salita, saktong tumatama sa mga sugat niya:

"Marco is the pride of this family. He has a brilliant future, Elena. Kung totoo mo siyang mahal, huwag mo siyang idamay sa dumi ng tatay mo. Be smart. Don’t be the reason he falls from grace. Leave him."

And God, she loved him. Mas mahal pa sa sarili niyang kaligayahan, mas mahal pa sa sarili niyang buhay. Kaya kahit labag sa loob niya, she did the only thing she thought was right: sinira niya ang puso nito para lang isalba ang future nito."

Sa wakas, nag-angat na ng tingin si Elena. Her eyes were burning, but her gaze was steady—the kind of look that only someone who has survived a war can give.

"Hindi," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "I don't regret it. If the universe gave me a chance to go back, I’d still choose the same path.”

Danica smirked, satisfied with what she thought was a "scumbag" answer. "Good to know. Let's move on."

Suddenly, Marco grabbed another glass of spirits and downed it. One shot. No hesitation.

Everyone was stunned. Bakit siya nag-punish? Hindi naman siya ang tinanong.

"Kayo na muna bahala rito. I need to use the restroom," Marco said as he stood up and walked out without looking back.

Elena watched him leave. Her heart ached. 

Hindi mahilig uminom si Marco. Two heavy shots of spirits? Siguradong masama na ang pakiramdam nun. Pero sino ba siya para mag-alala? He has Danica now.

Pumasok si Toni sa room at muling sumigla ang ingay, pero si Elena, parang lutang. Nararamdaman ni Toni na may mali, kaya hinila niya si Elena papunta sa restroom.

Sa harap ng malaking salamin, hinayaan ni Elena na dumaloy ang malamig na tubig sa mga kamay niya.

"Huy, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost," untag ni Toni habang nag-re-retouch ng lipstick.

"Wala 'to. Pagod lang siguro sa work," Elena lied, slowly drying her hands.

"Malapit na 'to matapos. Go home and rest, okay? Don't push yourself too hard," Toni said softly, then added, "Anyway, what do you think of Marco? Close sila ni Ethan. He’s from a big family in Manila, and he just moved here six months ago for the Aerospace Institute."

"I... I'm not really..."

"I get it, I get it!" Toni teased. "Gwapo, fit, genius, and a top-tier Aerospace Engineer. Nasa kanya na ang lahat, 'di ba? Future's so bright, it's blinding." Elena just sighed and threw the tissue in the bin.

"Pero bes, real talk lang," Toni’s voice turned serious. "Maganda ka, bagay kayo, pero magkaiba ang mundo niyo ni Marco. He’s on a different level."

"Sabi ng husband ko, Marco’s family is old money and high-ranking. Lolo niya, war hero. Tatay niya, big time sa politics. Nanay niya, retired judge. He’s basically royalty in the government circles. Pure red bloodline."

"That kind of family... hindi tayo basta-basta makakapasok doon. Plus, nandyan na si Danica. Ayoko lang na masaktan ka."

Tahimik lang si Elena. Everything Toni said? Old news na 'yun. Hindi lang "familiar" si Elena sa background ni Marco—kabisado niya ang bawat detalye ng buhay nito.

Paglabas nina Elena at Toni sa restroom, naglakad sila sa hallway. Biglang napatigil ang mundo ni Elena nang mahagip ng tingin niya ang smoking area. 

Nandoon si Marco, nakasandal sa pader, lumatay ang pagod sa kanyang tindig. Nakayuko ito habang may hawak na sigarilyo sa pagitan ng kanyang mahahabang daliri.

He took a puff, and the smoke blurred his handsome face. His broad shoulders looked heavy, as if the weight of the world was resting on them.

Bumigat ang mga hakbang ni Elena. He never smoked before. Noong sila pa, napakalinis ng habits ni Marco. Pero ngayon? Alak at sigarilyo na ang kasama niya.

Nang dadaan na sila ni Toni sa tapat nito, mabilis na pinatay ni Marco ang sigarilyo sa ashtray. Humakbang siya palabas at hinarang sila. Bago pa makakilos si Elena, naramdaman niya ang mahigpit na paghawak ni Marco sa braso niya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Toni. She was stunned. Wait, what? Ngayon lang ba talaga sila nagkita? "You two...?"

Elena felt like she was struck by lightning. Nanigas ang buong katawan niya, puso niya ay nagwawala sa kaba habang nakatingin sa mga mata ni Marco. His eyes were deep, cold, sharp—and faintly bloodshot.

"Mag-usap tayo," Marco’s voice was low, sounding a bit tipsy but dangerous.

"Ah... sige, mag-usap kayo!" naguguluhang sabi ni Toni. Sensing the explosive tension, Toni practically ran away, leaving them alone.

Hindi pa nakaka-react si Elena, hinila na siya ni Marco. Hindi lang sa smoking area—diretso sa fire door, papasok sa madilim at tahimik na stairwell.

With one forceful move, isinandal siya ni Marco sa pader.

Bago pa siya makahinga nang malalim, Marco’s hands were on her shoulders. He leaned down and kissed her.

It was unexpected. It was violent. Elena gasped as the scent of alcohol and his signature pine fragrance overwhelmed her senses.

Walang pasabi. Walang "kumusta." Ang halik ni Marco ay puno ng galit, parusa, at paniningil. It was a kiss meant to hurt, to vent out five years of suppressed rage and longing.

"Hmm..." ungol ni Elena sa sakit. Her lips felt swollen and raw under his pressure.

Panic surged through her. Nagsimula siyang manlaban, ang mga kamay niya ay pilit na tinutulak ang matigas at malapad na dibdib ni Marco.