"I love you, Lana. No words will ever be enough to tell you how much..."

Rylie cupped my face with both of his hands, and met my gaze. He stroked my cheeks using his thumb, before pulling me in and landing a kiss on my forehead.

"I'm never letting you go again, my love.."

I looked up at him, tears threatening to fall from my eyes, "Never?"

"Never.", he said with finality.

I hooked both of my arms around his neck and placed my lips on top of his. Our lips started dancing in a perfect design. The world seemed to vanish, and all that's left were the two of us.

"And...cut!"

I pulled away, but Rylie gave my lips one last smack and I heard a camera shutter go off. That kiss would be all over the internet in seconds. Mukhang trending na naman kaming dalawa mamaya.

"Nice work, Ysabelle."

He winked at me and I just gave him a fake glare, "People don't call me One-Take Queen for nothing. Rehearsing those scenes are always worth it."

"That's a wrap for episode 7! Pack up everyone, and I'll see you all again tomorrow!"

The director walked towards me and Ry, "Hindi talaga ako nagkamali ng piniling artista. You, my Darlings, will bring me loads of money! Keep up the good work!"

"Thank you, Dave. We owe this break to you", Rylie replied.

I agreed with him. "Rylie's right. Thank you for the chance."

"Ano ba naman kayong dalawa? Kinilig naman ako!"

He walked away with a huge smile on his face.

"Do you wanna go have dinner with me, babe?"

I feigned a thinking expression, and a mischievous grin appeared on his angelic face.

"When did I ever say no to you, Ry?", I was about to say something else when the conversation was cut off.

"Ano na namang binabalak niyong dalawa?", my assistant slash best friend asked.

Rylie placed an arm around my shoulder and grinned at Diana, "Don't worry, I'll bring her back in one piece. Do you wanna come with us, Diana?"

"And what? Watch you guys make out in the back seat for thirty minutes? No, thanks. I'm already scarred for life.." 

It was one time!

My face got heated, and I tried to cover it up with an exaggerated eye roll, "Whatever, Dee. I'll text you later, okay?"

I took my bag from her hand, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I hugged her softly, and whispered, "Tell my mother that I'm doing what she asked me to do."

She whispered back, "Take care, okay? Just text me if anything goes wrong..."

I released my best friend from the embrace after three back pats.

"You worry too much. Loosen up, Diana, she's with me."

Dee looked plainly at Ry, then to me knowingly, as if she wanted to say she's with you and that's the problem.

I gave her a small nod before turning to the man who stood next to me, "Let's go, Ry?"

We walked towards the exit of the studio, and his Porsche was already waiting for us. The valet tossed the car keys to Rylie and he caught it effortlessly with his huge hand.

He opened the car door for me and waited for me to settle myself inside. There were camera flashes everywhere from paparazzis, but I was already so used to it that it didn't bother me one bit.

Rylie started driving, and I busied myself with my phone. Thoughts came flooding my mind as silence surrounded us inside the small, luxurious car.

This is what my mother wanted to happen. Ride the high tides of Rylie Allegre's fame, and surf on the chemistry of our love team. Sabi nga ng mga tao, we were a match made in heaven. No one would dare separate the two of us.

The last time me and Rylie were paired with a different partner, there was an uproar among our fans. Our agencies suffered the consequences, and we benefited from their error.

I lost count on how many times I have put on a show to fool people that I was in love with their angel. Some of the shows I played went a little bit overboard, and sometimes, I did them without an audience.

Oh who am I kidding? Almost all of them went overboard.

Rylie Allegre came from a rich family. His dad managed an entire entertainment label, and his mom owned hotels and resorts in and out of the country. His world was totally different from mine. We were on different ends of the social hierarchy.

When I was young, I helped my mom clean stores at night after her regular job in a small bookshop. I would spray counters with ammonia that went up my nose and stung my eyes, then I would rub away the fingerprints on the surface with a dirty white cloth.

I would scrape gum from the floors of New Jersey's most famous diner- Mustache Bill's, and I would sometimes find a dollar or two hidden beneath the worn out couches that smelled like beer and tartar sauce.

She would take me to theaters, and I would find coins in dressing rooms. Once I found a wallet on the floor of a cinema. No identification cards, no pictures. Only money. My mother called me Lady Luck.

We bathed in sweat everyday to survive, and when my good-for-nothing, poor excuse of a father left us, we went back home to the Philippines.

That's when mom met Tito Alister, the owner of ALT Entertainment. He loved my mom so much that he married her. My mother and my biological father never got married. They were live-in partners, yes, and I was born out of wedlock. My mom was love's fool, like how I am pretending to be.

It was all going so well for everyone until my mother started to change. She was so traumatized with what we went through, that she vowed we would never be poor ever again for the rest of our lives.

She asked me to enter the showbiz industry for money and for recognition. To show my biological father that we would be able to survive without him. And we did. 

To my mom's pleasure, I was given the talent of singing and dancing and she used them for her benefit. However, I needed to be enrolled in acting workshops. 

Years of practice later, I became a natural. Like I was born to act and be someone else when cameras start rolling.

Tito Ali paired me up with the nation's superstar, Rylie. Fame did come and deals came pouring down like endless rain, but I paid the price.

No more privacy, no more freedom, and the worst of them all, I bid farewell to my innocence. I had to surrender it to him, in exchange for the spotlight I gained. I did all of it without having to be forced, because deep down I knew, I was scared too.

"Babe, you okay?"

My quiet time was cut off when Rylie took my hand in his free one, while the other maneuvered the car. Our gazes met and he looked at me worriedly, "I'm fine, Ry. Are we almost there?"

I inquired, looking out the car's window for any sign that we were nearing the restaurant that he chose.

"Almost.. Are you hungry?", he asked. His hazel eyes still remained focused on the winding road ahead. I almost rolled my eyes. 

Typical Rylie. 

Choosing a restaurant that would nearly reach the world's end with how far it was from the heart of the city.

I couldn't blame him though. We never planned our dates unless we wanted to be swarmed by fans on purpose. Those were the dreaded days when we needed to publicize our relationship more.

I didn't know how, but our fans always found out our planned getaways.

"Super.. I didn't eat lunch eh. I was busy memorizing the script..", I said softly.

"Don't worry, just a little bit more and my princess can eat". He placed gentle kisses on the back of my hand, and I faked a giggle making him smile.

He's a good person, but even after more than a year of fake dating him, I just never found myself falling in love with Rylie.

Sure we had our nights, but that was it.

Sex. No more, no less.

But he didn't know that. He would never know. That secret will be buried with me.

"Here we are.." he exclaimed as he pulled on the handbrake, "Are you sure you're okay, Belle?"

I reached for his face and placed a hand on his chiseled jaw before devouring his lips with a steamy kiss.

"You worry about me too much, Ry" I said into the kiss. His lips then traveled down to my neck, to the expanse of my chest, and I felt a sting just above my right collar bone.

I tried not to moan, but what's a lady got to do when her hormones are on overdrive?

"You're making me want to have my dessert first, Ysabelle", he said with a groan.

It took every bit of my willpower to stop. My stomach was already screaming at me, demanding to be fed.

I was hot all over, and down there, an ocean.

Rylie bit his lip as he watched me fix my smudged lipstick. I was still trying to catch my breath from our rushed make out session, when he dropped a familiar question, "You do love me, right, Belle?"

I knew from the mention of my name that he was dead serious. May God forgive me but for the thousandth time, I lied.

"I love you, my Rylie. Okay? And do you know what would make me love you more?"

His eyes lit up, "Tell me.."

"If you give me food. Babe, I am famished.."

He shook his head in amusement and went out. He opened my door for me and helped me slide out of his expensive car.

Just when we thought we were safe from the public's eye by choosing a restaurant that wasn't known to the city, there was a camera flash.

Ry quickly placed an arm around my waist and led me towards the entrance.

The receptionist's eyes widened into the size of plates when she saw Rylie.

"Good evening. Uhm, I made a reservation for two.. Rylie-"

"Sir Rylie Allegre. Right away, Sir!" the woman cut Ry off and typed away in panic. In almost a split second, she went out of her post and guided us to our reserved booth.

I looked at Rylie in question as to why our booth was right in the middle of the restaurant, "I'm so sorry about that, Babe. I didn't know we would be given these seats.."

"It's okay, Ry." 

I sucked it up as it was the only vacant booth in the restaurant.

He pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. He went to his side right after giving me a forehead kiss that made the female receptionist squeal in excitement.

"Was that for show?" I jokingly questioned, to which I earned a glare for.

"I never do those for show, Babe, you know that.."

I placed my elbow against the cold surface of the table and cupped my face, "Really?", I said with a smirk.

Rylie reached a hand out and pinched my nose softly, a habit of his that has been going on for about two years now.

"Really.. Now, what do you wanna eat?"

I opened the menu and my eyes sparkled, "Ry! They have Wagyu! I want that, please.. And salad."

"Anything for you, Babe"

Rylie signaled the waiter and he relayed our orders.

"A glass of champagne for the lovely couple?" Rylie and I lifted our flutes to have them filled with sparkling goodness.

We were both well aware of people taking pictures of us. Years ago, it annoyed me big time, but after dealing with fans and paparazzi for so long, it kinda became normal. At least for me.

I took a sip of the bubbling champagne, and the effervescence tickled my mouth as it flowed. My eyes widened at the taste and sensation, it was like having the stars twinkle at the tip of my tongue.

"How's the champagne, Babe?"

"It's amazing, Ry! I need more..."

He gave me a knowing smile, "You always do."

Our food came, and a comforting silence enveloped us both. It was nice having quiet times like this with Rylie. Drama and career aside, Rylie Allegre was the closest thing I have to a normal friend.

Diana Grace wasn't normal. She's my PA. So every time we were together, she bombards me with details regarding my schedule and whatnots.

We have decided to take a stroll down the empty lane after eating. A nice way to burn some of the calories.

In a city that feeds off youth and money, Metro Manila resembled a siren who lures people in and traps them in an endless loop of dreams. Most of them were ones that were impossible to reach. You really have to give everything you have in order to succeed.

Rylie and I didn't become celebrities by hoping, wishing, or depending on others. Discipline, control, and determination powered our ascent.

In a rare moment of privacy, I strode towards the edge of the almost empty boulevard. The heels of my Valentino stilettos tapped gracefully against the stone floor.

I felt Rylie's presence behind me, "You know, sometimes I just can't believe that we have been together for 6 years now..."

It also surprises me every time. I have been using him for 6 years now. I would pay for this later at full price.

Rylie took my hand in his, "But it feels new to me everyday, Ysabelle.. I fall in love with you everyday. I know it's not manly for me to say this, but I'm gonna say it anyway-" the strength of his gaze faltered- "I'm scared, Belle.. So damn scared.."

"Why? What are you afraid of?", I said as I tightened my grip on his hand for assurance.

"That one day, you might wake up not feeling anything for me anymore and I would still be too busy falling in love with you."

Guilt struck me like lightning. There was genuine fear in Rylie's eyes, while I couldn't look at him straight.

I strongly believe that someone in this world was created just for me. My destiny. My soulmate.

But after seeing Ry like this- vulnerable, I could be a little less selfish by praying hard to never meet that person for the rest of this lifetime.

I was contented with how things were at the moment, and I couldn't ask for more.

But that lingering question in my head makes everything a tad more difficult... 

Maybe?

Maybe I could be happier? 

Maybe I could be free from the blinding fame? 

Maybe I could live a quieter life?

Maybe, just maybe, I could find out how it feels like to really fall in love?

Rylie's deep chuckle brought me out of my trance, "Did I worry you, Babe?..", then he pulled me slowly, "Come here.."

I walked closer towards him, until there was no more space left between us. Both of my hands were against his chest, and his arms were wrapped tightly around my waist.

He looked down on me to meet my gaze, "You were just 17 when we met, Belle. You're 24 now. Damn, you're old.."

I laughed, "Like you're not, Ry. You're 3 years older than me!"

I stopped laughing when I noticed he was silent.

"What now?"

He smiled and shook his head, "Nothing... You look even more beautiful when you smile, Ellora Ysabelle. I wonder, did Tita Maureen look as beautiful as you when she was your age?"

"Why don't you go ask her for pictures?"

"Baka sampalin ako ni Tita Mau ng photo album for questioning her beauty. 'Wag na lang, Belle."

I ended up laughing harder at the possibility of the situation happening.

"She won't do that to your handsome face.. My mother loves you, Ry."

"Do you?", he questioned once more.

I gave out a sigh again, preparing myself for another lie. I just hope one day, this web of white lies that I've been crafting all these years won't end up trapping me to be eaten alive.

"I do."

Rylie leaned down for a kiss, and I met him halfway. I rested my forehead on his chest, slowly catching my breath to calm my terrified heart.

My heart broke for him. It breaks everyday for him.

"Belle?"

"Hmm?"

"I have found a way to overcome my fear."

"Yeah? How?" I turned to him, and my world stopped.

Everything around me halted as Rylie pulled something out of his pocket. My eyes welled up in tears as I saw the small velvet box in his hands.

And when he went down on one knee, I lost it. I knew deep down that I wanted to run, but my feet were rooted on the pavement. No words left my parted lips, and tears came falling from my eyes nonstop.

I saw Rylie's hazel orbs become glazed with tears too.

We were both tearing up for different reasons.

"Ellora Ysabelle Tuazon, you're both my strength and my greatest fear. I thank my God everyday for you. I have to put on a facade in front of other people and pretend that nothing gets to me, but with you, I can just be me. No fancy clothes, no cameras, just me, you, and our beautiful love."

He paused for a while and wiped away his tears. I stood there, still finding it hard to comprehend what was happening.

"When I saw your brown eyes and the fine line of your lips for the first time, it was like magic. I wanted that face to smile at me forever. I want to wake up at dawn and sleep at midnight beside you, knowing that I was a part of your yesterday, and that I was safe in tomorrow with you."

"Rylie.."

He looked at me and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing, "You're everyone's Elyse Tuazon, but to me, you will always be just Ysabelle. My Ellora Ysabelle.."

"Ry.. please, stand up.."

"Just a bit more, Babe.."

I had no choice. I waited.

"They say, the best way to get rid of your fears is defeat them. So here I am, conquering my fear of not having you by asking you to be with me for the rest of our lives.. 

Belle, will you marry me?"

I was already 24, he recently celebrated his 27th birthday too. We are of age to marry and have a family of our own, but I was nowhere near ready to tie myself down to him.

I just can't.

I was about to tell him no, reject him once and for all, but a flash from somewhere made me bite the rejection back.

Once again, we ended the night with me in his bed, and a heavy weight on my hand.

We became a concoction of lust and pleasure. I was once again a moaning mess underneath his warm body as he took me over and over again.

I turned my head to the side, and I came face to face with his giant mirror. He fit the area between my legs like a perfect puzzle piece. It was like I was made for him.

I left scratches on his smooth back as he reminded me that I was his. No one else's.

I was his Belle.

I screamed his name as I reached my zenith for the 5th time. He shook my world completely, and left trails of his marks on my entire body.

The clock read 2:56 am.

My phone was blaring with ignored notifications. I was sure they all came from Diana. My mother wouldn't bother me at this hour. I think she's well aware of what I do with Rylie.

Ry carried me in his arms and he went inside the bathroom with me. I was too tired to walk. 

Not like I could after what happened.

He placed me down on the tub filled with warm water, and I felt my tensed up muscles melt like pudding. The water splashed and Rylie was immediately right behind me with a soft loofah in his hand.

He started gently rubbing circles with it around my back, going to my neck, down to my sides and legs.

He tossed it aside, and he paid attention to my hair. I felt him leave kisses on the back of my neck and my bare shoulders.

Rylie parted my legs, and before I knew it, his fingers were once again busy playing with my womanhood.

"Ry.. I'm tired."

He shushed me, "Just calm down, Babe.. Relax"

I reached my 6th. It was our cool down.

He took my hands and rested both of ours on the surface of my flat stomach.

Ry almost drove me insane tonight. In all ways possible.

But I knew I was still sane..

The glimmer of the huge diamond on my left ring finger never forgets to pull me back to reality..

I was engaged to Rylie Allegre.