Semua Bab The last name I never planned to keep: Bab 1 - Bab 8

Chapter #02SIENNA POVThree days later.12:47 A.M. – East Crest Medical Center, Emergency RoomBlood. Noise. Monitors. Calls for "O2 stat" echoing across the walls.Gabi na, pero parang di natutulog ang ER.I had just finished stitching a little boy’s forehead when the automatic glass doors burst open. May mga nurse agad na sumalubong."Code yellow incoming! Multiple patients, vehicular accident along South Bay!" sigaw ni Nurse Jessa.I took off my gloves, quickly grabbed a new pair, and fixed my coat. I was already walking toward the trauma bay when__"Doc Sien!" tawag ni Jessa, catching up. "May naghahanap po sa inyo.""Huh? Sinong__""Si Mr. Dorian Valencia po. CEO ng__"I froze."Anong ginagawa niya dito?"But I didn’t wait for an answer. I rushed to where she pointed, and there he was standing by the wall, sleeves rolled up, hair messy, a small cut on his right temple.But he wasn’t the one bleeding.My eyes followed his arm… he was holding a man, older, limp, duguan.“Lolo…” he

Chapter #04PLAYING ALONG.SIENNA POV“Be at Café Le Monte. 4PM sharp.”That was the text from Dorian. No emojis. No greetings. Walang kahit anong effort.“Busy ako,” reply ko agad kahit hindi naman. Routine ko ang lahat kaya para sa'kin trabaho, responsible, profession na matagal kung pinaghirapang makuha. ‘Yun lang.“I'm busy too. Or maybe you want… kailangan kitang puntahan d'yan.”Napasinghap ako at luminga-linga sa gilid.Parang binubuhay niya ang inis ko. Ano bang problema niya? Kung busy siya… ba’t pa siya makipagkita sa akin.“Puntahan kita d'yan?” message niya ulit dahil wala akong reply.“KAYA KO NAMAN!”Kung hindi ko alam ang context, iisipin mong may business pitch akong pupuntahan hindi fake date.Nasa harap ako ng salamin, nakasuot ng neutral-colored dress na hindi masyadong effort pero hindi rin mukhang wala akong pake. Simple makeup. Loose curls. Just enough to look convincingly interested.Pero habang nagda-drive ako papunta sa café, hindi mawala sa utak ko.Ano bang

CHAPTER #6 SIENNA POV "Charity gala. Formal attire. Plus one mandatory." That was the message. From Lolo. And guess who my plus one was? I stared at my reflection. Champagne-colored silk. A soft slit on the side. Hair pulled up, with a few strands loose to soften my face. I looked… elegant. Like someone who belonged to Dorian’s world. Even if I never really did. Dumating siya sa pickup location not in his usual SUV, but in a sleek black car that probably costs more than my entire medical school tuition. He stepped out in a tailored black suit. Clean. Crisp. Lethal. Pagbukas niya ng pinto, nagkatitigan kami. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako natigilan. Maybe it was the way he looked at me not with awe, not with charm… Just attention. "Okay ka lang?" tanong niya, casual. Tumango ako. "Let's get this over with." The ballroom was glowing in soft lights. Crystal chandeliers. Golden table settings. Photographers. Socialites. CEOs. Political names. And us. "Smile," he whispered haba

CHAPTER #08 SIENNA POV It's already six o'clock, nagbyahe pa ako papunta sa restaurant. One of the most expensive and beautiful fine dining sa buong bansa, ang Valencia-Lee Prime. Pag-aari ng pamilya Lee, kilala hindi lang sa bansa kundi maging sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo dahil sa chain of luxury restaurants nila. Alam ko ang lugar na ito. Naririnig ko sa mga gala at sa usapan ng mga sosyal, pero ngayon lang ako makakapasok dito. At to be honest, hindi naman talaga ako interesado. Pagbaba ko ng sasakyan, sinalubong agad ng malamlam na golden lights na galing sa mga chandelier na nakikita pa lang sa malalaking glass windows. Sa labas pa lang, makikita mo na agad ang mga nakaparadang mamahaling kotse. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari. Puro world-class. Halatang lahat ng pumapasok dito, hindi ordinaryong tao. And I belong to that kind of luxurious lifestyle. Huminga ako nang malalim. I chose something simple pero disente. Hindi loud, hindi rin flashy. White long sleeves na tucked i