Lahat ng Kabanata ng The 5 Years Contract with Him: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

The music began, soft strings, classic and expensive. The doors slowly opened.The crowd gasped.Every camera turned to me. Every guest leaned forward. To them, I was a glowing bride. Pero sa loob ko, I am just an ordinary girl. As I walked, the petals crushed softly beneath my heels. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba. This was the path I agreed to walk. I would play the part. I would not falter.Pag-angat ko ng tingin, I saw him. Damian.His suit tailored like a second skin. His eyes locked on me with an expression everyone interpreted as awe.But I knew better, it wasn’t admiration, it was a pretention.When I reached him, he offered his arm like what a groom usually do.“You look beautiful,” he whispered.“For the cameras?” I whispered back.“For everyone,” he corrected, then added, barely audible, “including me.” A lie whispered convincingly.We stood in front of the officiant.“Today, we gather to witness the union of Damian Cruz and Hyacinth Liana Monteverde…”Words

Pagkabukas ng plane door, parang ibang mundo ang sumalubong sa akin. The Maldives felt unreal, parang painting, para akong nananaginip habang tinitingnan ko ang tanawin, napakaganda. The water was impossibly clear, layers of turquoise and deep sapphire blending like liquid crystal. The air was warm, gently humid, may halong amoy ng dagat na pero hindi malansa. The sky was vast and open, Sunlight danced on the water, creating sparkling ripples everywhere you looked.My lips parted. “It’s… beautiful.”Damian’s voice softened “I told you.”Habang papunta kami sa speedboat, hindi ko maiwasang humanga. Kahit hindi ito romantic honeymoon for love, kahit hindi ako dinala dito as a cherished bride, hindi ko kayang hindi ma-amaze sa lugar. Kahit peke ang lahat, gusto kong i-enjoy tong honeymoon namin.The boat cut through the water smoothly. All around us were small islands with overwater villas lining the horizon. The ocean underneath was so clear na kitang-kita ang corals and fishes swimm

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa shoreline, Damian suddenly said:“Do you want photos?” I blinked. “Photos? Of me?” Gustong gusto kong magpapicture pero nahihiya ako magsabi, kaya natutuwa ako na sya yung nag offer na kuhanan ako ng litrato.“Yes,” he said, holding up my phone. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”Before I could reply, he positioned himself a few steps away. “Stand there,” sabi niya. “Face the beach. Ilagay mo ang hair sa likod mo. Good." His voice turned unexpectedly gentle. He wasn’t commanding me, he was guiding me.I posed awkwardly at first, pero he smirked.“Relax, Liana. You’re beautiful. Just… breathe.”And I did. I let the breeze play with my hair. I let the sunset kiss my skin. I let the ocean reflect in my eyes.Damian clicked several shots.Then he said, “Turn to me.” I did.At doon ko siya nakitang… nawala saglit.Like he forgot he was taking a photos of me. Nakanganga lang sya habang nakatingin sa akin.His jaw clenched lightly. His eyes darkened just a shad

Damian's POVThe morning arrives not gently, but with a familiar ache on my neck. isang sign na hindi dapat ako natulog sa sofa. Sunlight filters through the curtains, warm and annoyingly bright. I blink a few times, adjusting to the light, and the first thing I notice is the blanket draped over me.I didn’t put that there.I sit up slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. Someone must’ve checked on me, I guess. But what strikes me more is the faint citrus scent lingering on the fabric.Liana’s scent. I froze. Did she…?No. I would’ve noticed if she approached. I’m a light sleeper, except last night when exhaustion finally knocked me out. But still, that possibility alone sends a strange, unfiltered warmth through my chest.I stand, straighten my shirt, and head toward the stairs. The villa is already alive, soft voices, footsteps, distant noises from the kitchen. Preparations for today’s activities have begun. Outside the window, the sea glimmers under the morning sun, calm and steady, s

We moved to a wooden table and shaped figurines. I made a tiny sea turtle. Damian made… “Is that supposed to be me?” tanong ko, pointing to the small clay figure. Natatawa ako sa nagawa nya dahil parang ginawa ng bata HAHAHA “It’s a woman,” he said defensively. “She looks angry.” Inaasar ko sya dahil hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung ano yung figure ang ginawa nya, ang alam ko lang, Mukhang babae. “She looks determined.” I was shock on the way he describes it. Mukhang may malalim na meaning yung ginagawa nya. Pero natatawa pa rin ako. “She looks like she hasn’t slept in four years.” Habang pinipigilan kong tumawa He exhaled sharply. “Okay. Fine. I will fix the face.” And there, I laughed so hard na kinailangan kong yumuko. Dahil alam kong mapipikon sya. After that, we decided to do another activity. Pinili namin i-paint ang small plates na ginawa ng studio. I painted blue waves, little white shells, and gold accents. Damian painted… “Damian… is that a… black circle?