جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Okay,” mahinang sabi ni Kaella habang nakatayo sila sa veranda ng resort, sa huling gabi bago sila umuwi. The sea breeze carried the faint scent of salt and coffee, and somewhere behind them, the faint music from the bar played softly. “Let’s make it clear, Jerome. Fake couple lang tayo. Nothing more, nothing less.” Jerome leaned against the railing, his usual confident grin tugging at his lips. “Deal,” he said, though his tone carried something deeper—something she couldn’t quite name. “Pero sa parents ko lang, right? Sa kumpanya, walang makakaalam.” “Exactly.” Tumango si Kaella, crossing her arms para itago ang kaba sa dibdib. “This is just a… temporary arrangement. Kapag nakumbinsi mo na ang parents mo na hindi mo kailangan ng arranged marriage, tapos na ang papel ko.” “Got it,” he replied, though his gaze lingered on her face longer than it should have. “No strings attached.” Kaella nodded, trying to look composed even if her heart was doing somersaults. “Good. Kasi this is

Sa totoo lang, hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Jerome Roque sa bilis ng mga pangyayari. Just a few days ago, he was trying to convince Kaella Ponce to help him out sa isang “temporary arrangement.” Ngayon, habang minamaneho niya ang sasakyan pauwi sa bahay ng mga magulang niya, kasama si Kaella sa passenger seat—parang surreal.“Relax,” biro ni Kaella habang pinipisil ang strap ng seatbelt niya. “Hindi naman ako magaling magpanggap, ha. Baka madali ako mabuko.”Ngumiti si Jerome. “You underestimate yourself. Kung paano mo ako sinermunan noon bilang boss, I’m sure kaya mong lokohin kahit ang mga magulang ko.”Napairap si Kaella, pero halatang kinakabahan. “Jerome, this is just to help you save face sa family mo, right? Wala nang iba.”“Of course,” sagot ni Jerome, pero ang totoo, may kung anong kumikirot sa loob niya sa salitang wala nang iba.Tahimik silang dalawa nang ilang sandali, tanging tunog ng makina at mahina niyang paghinga ang maririnig. Kaella looked out the window, her reflec

Sa isip ni Jerome Roque, successful ang dinner kagabi.His parents were smiling, Kaella was polite, and the evening ended without a single awkward silence — at least, not the kind that ruins plans.If this were a board presentation, he’d call it a win.Pag-uwi nila, nagpasalamat siya kay Kaella. “You did great,” sabi niya habang binubuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan.“Of course,” sagot lang nito, simple at walang emosyon.Nginitian niya ito. “My parents seemed to like you.”“Then that’s good for your plan,” tugon ni Kaella bago bumaba, sabay sara ng pinto na parang may titikim ng hangin sa pagitan nila.Magdamag hindi agad nakatulog si Jerome. He kept replaying the night — her poised smile, the way she handled every question, the quiet strength behind her eyes.She was still the same Kaella he fell for — maybe even stronger now.And yet, the wall between them was higher than ever.Kinabukasan, normal na umikot ang opisina.Employees were buzzing about the recent campaign, and Kaella — as u

Tahimik ang buong opisina. Halos wala nang tao maliban sa ilang ilaw na bukas sa hallway at sa dalawang aninong naiwan sa loob ng conference room — Jerome Roque at Kaella Ponce-Roque.It was supposed to be a simple after-hours review meeting and a final check for the client presentation tomorrow. Pero sa bawat minutong lumilipas, pakiramdam ni Kaella, mas nagiging mabigat ang tensyon sa pagitan nila.“Hindi pa rin aligned ‘yung figures dito,” sabi ni Kaella, tinuturo ang screen ng laptop niya. “The projections don’t match the actual quarterly flow.”Jerome leaned closer, his tone calm. “Let me see.”Ang boses niya na mababa, steady, pero may halong pagod. Yung tipong hindi na kailangan ng caffeine para magising dahil gising na gising na siya sa tensyon ng presensiya ni Kaella.Suminghot siya ng mahina, amoy pa rin niya ang faint na pabango nito — lavender, just like before.Get a grip, Jerome.“Here,” she said, scrolling down. “You used the old computation template.”“Ah, kaya pala,”

The Monday after the elevator incident came with an unusual tension in the air — the kind that makes even the sound of heels against the marble floor feel louder than usual.Everyone at Roque Holdings seemed unusually observant that day.It started with whispers at the pantry.“Did you hear? Si Ma’am Kaella at si Sir Jerome daw, na-trap sa elevator!”“No way! Ilang oras?”“Almost thirty minutes, pero sabi ni Sir Jerome, calm lang daw sila. Ang professional!”“Professional? Eh sabi ni HR nakangiti si Sir Jerome paglabas—”Kaella Ponce-Roque, on her way to grab coffee, heard every word. She sighed inwardly, pinching the bridge of her nose before stepping inside.“Good morning,” she said curtly, pretending not to notice how everyone suddenly froze.“Good morning, Ma’am!” sabay-sabay nilang sagot, halos sabay rin ang ngiti na parang may pinipigilang kilig.She took her mug, filled it with coffee, and walked out gracefully. Pero pagtalikod niya, napangiti ang isa sa mga staff.“Ma’am Kaell