All Chapters of The Deal We Called Marriage: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

Ang sakit sa mata ng sikat ng araw, parang may personal vendetta siya laban sa’kin. My head was pounding from too much wine, too many fries, and way too much Luca last night declaring that our “relationship was evolving.” Whatever that meant.‘Sure, Luca.’ Evolving into what? Migraine?I rolled out of bed, hair sticking out in all directions, eyes half-open. Pagtingin ko sa orasan, 8:00 a.m. na. Nangangamoy kape na galing kusina. Of course. Gising na siya.Callisto Maxim didn’t know what sleeping in meant. Probably considered it a mortal sin.Paglabas ko, nakasandal sa counter, tie already in place, phone in one hand, coffee in the other. Parang ad sa perfume na “For Men Who Conquer Mondays.”“Do you ever look… human?” bulong ko, sabay abot ng mug sa shelf.“Good morning to you too,” he said, calm as ever, sabay abot ng mug bago ko pa makuha. “Two sugars, no cream, right?”I blinked. “You remembered?”“I have a functioning memory,” he said, still scrolling through his phone.“Congratu

Kung makakapatay ang katahimikan, malamang naka-ukit na pangalan namin sa sahig ng Ember’s bar.Si Rafe, naging sober bigla.Si Luca, nakanganga.Si Bianca, mukhang nagfa-flashback sa lahat ng conversation namin ever since college.Si Dane, may “told you so” face na nakakainis.At si Tessa… Diyos ko, parang nanonood ng Maria Clara at Ibarra: Live Edition.Si Callisto? Siyempre, kalmado.Lumingon sya sakin with a silent question in his eyes, parang sinasabi nyang,‘Do we tell them or pretend this never happened?’I was left with no choice so I just sighed.“Well,” I said, voice cracking halfway, “surprise?”Bianca blinked. “You married him?”“It’s not what it looks like!” mabilis kong sagot, sabay tawa na pilit. Kasi ‘yun lang ang kaya kong gawin kapag nagpa-panic: ngumiti na parang may control ako kahit wala naman.“Oh?” si Luca, naka-lean pa sa table. “Kasi sa nakikita ko, mukhang it’s exactly what it looks like. You got married, didn’t tell anyone, and then casually show up on