"Even the name?" I tilted my head. 

Chaos, who's sitting on a couch in front of me, firmly shook his head. "Almost. Just sounds like the same. But not totally." 

The side of my lips rose for a smirk. 

"Kamukhang kamukha mo talaga si Ma'am Rieselle." Noon ko lang muling naalala si Clarita nang umupo siya sa aking tabi. "You two can pass as twins! Naku! Kung nandito lang si Ma'am. Right, Sir?" she even asked for Chaos's approval.

I crossed my legs and shifted my seat while eyeing Chaos. 

"They're actually..." He stared back at me, tila nakikipaglaban sa aking mga titig. "Different."

I let out a mocking breath. "Of course we are." I smirked as a thought crossed my mind. Marahan akong napailing. "Shall we start?" 

Hindi pa man nakakasagot ang dalawa ay tumayo na ako. I walked towards my table and opened the drawers for my measuring tape. 

Bumalik ako sa kinaroroonan ng dalawa at naabutang nakatayo na si Chaos habang nasa akin na naman ang mga mata. 

What's wrong with him?

I started getting his measurements. And I'm behind him, measuring his shoulders' width when Clarita gasped. Sa lakas noon, nakuha niya ang atensyon namin ni Chaos.

"Huh? Ano 'to?!" She's frowning while looking at her phone. Napatingin siya sa amin ni Chaos, para bang nag-aalinlangan pa. Matapos ay tumayo siya bago binigyan ng mabilis na sulyap ang hawak na phone.

"Marcia!" 

Ibinaba ko ang kamay na nasa balikat ni Chaos. "What?!" I asked, equal to her almost shrieking tone. 

She stride near us. "Baka ikaw 'to?" She handed me her phone. Naroon ang post sa social media na ipinakita sa akin ni Flavio kanina. 

"W–what are you talking about?" maang ko. I mean that's me but... "P–probably. I heard Rieselle's not into..." I nibbled my lower lips when Chaos frowned at me. "I mean... Ms. Serrano seems not used to those places. Kaya... baka ako nga 'yung nasa picture."

"What was that?" Chaos's voice was hoarse as he turned to Rita.

"Sir, t–there's a..." Clarita trailed off. Hindi alam kung paano itutuloy ang sasabihin kaya't ipinakita na lang niya kay Chaos ang kanyang telepono.

Kunot ang noong tinitigan iyon ni Chaos, igting ang panga bago kinuha sa bulsa ang sariling phone. "I'll call my fiancee."

Agarang namilog ang aking mga mata. Why would he call her? "You'll call who?"

"Hey, y–you wha—" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin dahil sa pagtunog ng aking phone. 

Fucking shit.

Chaos is looking at me while his phone is in his ear, waiting for his fiancee to answer but because my phone started ringing, his attention is on me.

Even Clarita turned to our direction because of the sudden ringing of my phone. I instantly fished my phone from my pocket while trying to calm myself. Mabilis ko iyong sinulyapan ngunit agad ko rin pasimpleng inilayo sa mga mata ni Chaos. He'll surely recognize my phone. 

I cleared my throat and calmly faced the two. "I'll just answer this. I'll be back in a few minutes," paalam ko bago lumabas ng aking opisina.

Dire-diretso ang lakad ko palabas ng boutique. And the moment I went out, I cleared my throat and that's when I answered Chaos's call. 

"Hon!" I merrily greeted. I opened Flavio's car and sat on the driver's seat. 

Sandali pa siyang walang imik sa kabilang linya bago tuluyang sumagot. "Where are you? Have you seen—"

"Yes!" I answered, cutting his words. Agad akong napangiwi at pinagsisihan ang agarang pagsagot. "I mean, the one in the social media." Pahina nang pahina ang boses ko. 

"C–Chaos..." I paused and nibbled my lower lip. "I'm not the one in the photo. You know I'm not..."

"I know. I know my fiancee well," he answered with his deep voice. "I'll take those posts down. Are you alright?"

I hummed as an answer. "Thank you."

"Alright. I'll see you later."

The call ended as I put my phone on silent. Muli kong isinilid sa bulsa ang phone. I held the steering wheel and leaned my head on it. 

There's something in Chaos's stares earlier. He's acting strange too! Like he's suspicious that... I'm his fiancee?

Nagpalipas ako ng ilang minuto sa kotse bago muling bumalik sa loob. I made sure my phone's silent as I confidently went in my office. 

Nakabalik na si Clarita sa kinauupuan habang si Chaos ay nakatingin sa pinto na para bang hinihintay ang pagpasok ko roon.

"I'm sorry. Shall we continue?" 

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin kay Chaos at hindi na pinansin ang mga titig niya. I was a bit uncomfortable because his stares went more intense when I continued getting his measurements. 

We're done at almost twelve in the afternoon. I was fixing my table and the paper where his measurements are, when Chaos spoke. 

"Let's have lunch."

Natigilan ako sa ginagawa at marahang nag-angat ng tingin patungo sa kanyang direksyon. 

If Clarita didn't answer to agree, I wouldn't know that he's pertaining to Clarita and I.

His eyes then darted at me, like he's waiting for my answer. I stopped myself from raising my brow. "Sure." 

He firmly nodded. "Alright. I'll call my fiancee and fetch her if she can join us."

He started dialing his fiancee's number in his phone, still looking at me like he's expecting my phone to start ringing again, like what happened earlier. But nothing came. 

I put my phone on silent in case he'll call me again and here we are. 

He's really testing me, isn't he? 

No one answered Chaos's call. Of course who would? It will keep ringing but no one will answer as I won't.

Because of that, it's just us who went out for lunch. Chaos said the lunch is on him, maybe to express gratitude as Clarita is a part of the team helping in the preparation of his marriage. And I, as I will provide all the gowns and suits that will be used in his wedding. 

Ganoon pa man, hindi pa rin nawala ang mga titig niya sa akin. I was scanning the menu, sitting across from where he's seated when I felt someone's eyes on me. At hindi ko na kailangang hanapin pa ang mga matang iyon. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nasalubong ang mga mata ni Chaos.

I raised my brow when I caught him staring at me. He matched my gaze, challenging me. 

I sultry blinked as I shifted my eyes to the waiter. "And baked scallops," I added from what I said previously. "That's all." 

The waiter left our table after repeating our orders. Matapos ay bumaling ako kay Chaos at ngumisi.

"Why are you staring, Mr. Zaldivar?" I asked in a bit sultry voice. 

Clarita who's sitting beside me immediately nudged my arm. "Marcia," mahina ngunit mariing sambit sa akin ni Clarita. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang naeeskandalong ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

Chaos raised a brow, he didn't expect me bluntly asking those. Well, this is Marcia.

"You've been staring at me since we met. If I didn't know that you're getting married, I'll think that you're... hitting on me," I lewdly smirked while lowly chuckling.

"What the? Uy, Marcia!" Naeeskandalong saway ni Clarita.

I didn't gave her even a single glance. Nanatili kay Chaos ang aking mga mata habang may bahagyang panunuya sa ngisi.

Reason why Clarita apologetically turned to Chaos instead. "D–don't mind her, Sir. Gutom lang 'yang si Marcia—"

"If I didn't know that your..." Chaos started using the same time I used that made Clarita slowly shut her mouth. "Name's Marcia, I'll mistook you as my fiancee," he smirked back with no humor at me but his eyes remained perilous. 

"Really?" puno ng sarkasmong tanong ko. "I thought we're different?" 

I can still hear Clarita's low murmurs beside me, stopping me from saying what I want to say. Why? I just want to voice it out. Is there anything wrong?

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. I didn't even leave Chaos's eyes.

"Hmm. I realized it too late though." The coldness in his voice made me feel I'm strangled.

I slowly nodded, carefully controlling my emotion. "So who do you like better then? Is it Rieselle, your fiancee? Or me?"

"My fiancee, of course."

Muli akong marahang tumango habang may nanunuyang ngisi pa rin sa mga labi. "Then let's say I'm your fiancee. Will you still like Rieselle?"

From the side of my eyes, I caught Clarita running her palm in her face while pleading me to stop. But I'm too busy watching every emotion in my fiance's face while sorting my own emotions at the same time. From the very start of our talk, I could already feel the rough beating of my heart but I managed to ignore it and set it aside as this conversation continued. I'll make everything obvious if I don't do that. I might even fucking stutter.

Chaos's smirk widened. "I'll answer that when it happens."

I shrugged and grinned. "Sure." I emphasized the mockery in my tone. 

Our talk ended that way. But Clarita seems like she can't move on from it. 

I rolled my eyes as she kept apologizing for the things I've said while we're waiting for our orders to arrive.

There's nothing to say sorry. Maybe she's scared that Chaos will fire her or cancel their contract with me. I doubt if he'll do that. And if in case he did then I have to step in as Rieselle. I won't let this opportunity slip out of my hands.

Our orders came but no one dared to speak between the three of us. We all continue like strangers though Rita keeps clearing her throat. I don't know if she's just making it or there's really something itchy on her throat.

We're silent for a couple of minutes, eating peacefully. But we all know no one's speaking for a reason and not because we wanna eat in silence. 

I felt like I'm salivating when I stretched my arm and reached for the baked scallops but I failed when Chaos pulled it away from me.

"What are you doing?" Kunot noong anas niya. 

My lips parted, I can't understand him. What is he doing? 

"Why did you even order scallops?" 

I shifted from my seat and slowly blinked. "W–what's wrong?" nahihiwagaang tanong ko.

His lips parted. Natigilan siya at tila noon lang natanto kung ano ang ginawa niya. "I'm sorry." He cleared his throat. "My fiancee have a mild allergy to scallops. I was just... confused."

And he's what? What the fuck? Confused? Oh, don't tell me...

"Really?" I prolonged the first syllable.

Kanina pa siya, ah? He seems suspicious of me. That I'm Rieselle, his fiancee. Still at it, huh?

Let's see. I licked my lower lip. "This is my favorite," I stated as I reached for the baked scallops again. Chaos seems hesitant but still let me.

Mild allergy? That's nothing.

I smirked as I placed a piece of scallops on my plate. I never tear my eyes on him as I started eating it. I elegantly chew it with a suppressed smirk in my lips. "See?" 

The lunch ended with a triumphant smirk in my lips. While I can't explain Chaos's mood. Maybe because his face is now devoid of any emotion.

"Let's have another lunch," I muttered while eyeing the cab where Clarita's in. She said she'll have to go first as she still has other appointments. "Chaos..." I added as I turned my head to him beside me.

His stares took a few while before he nodded. "Alright. My fiancee will join us next time."

I loudly smirked, suppressing a chuckle. "I hope she isn't very busy again when that happens... so she can really join us."

I turned my back on him and leave him alone. Umuwi ako sa unit ni Chaos matapos dumaan sa condo ni Flavio. I changed my clothes into a dress and even removed my makeup to apply a light one. Matapos at iniwan ko na ang kotse ni Flavio.

I arrived at Chaos's unit a bit late. If he doesn't have any other appointments, he's supposed to be here already.

I'm right when he's the first one I saw as I entered. He's sitting on the couch while doing something on his laptop at the top of the table. Work maybe. 

He turned to my direction. Nagtagal ang mga titig niya sa akin. Just like what he did earlier... at Marcia.

"You done for today?" he asked, his voice was husky but still a bit distant.

I stared at him for a couple of seconds before heaving a deep sigh. I didn't answer but I slowly walked towards his direction. Sumunod sa akin ang kanyang mga mata.

Nananantya akong umupo sa tabi niya. I carefully shifted near him while he's intently eyeing me. I slowly slid my arms around his waist to hug him from his side. 

"I'll surely miss you," I whispered.

Chaos stilled for a few seconds. But slowly, I feel his body started loosening up. 

Inalis niya ang kamay na nakulong sa pagitan ng aming katawan dahil sa aking yakap mula sa kanyang tagiliran. His hand then landed at the side of my head as he carefully pulled it closer to him while he leaned a bit.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pamimilog ng aking mga mata nang maramdaman ang marahang paglapat ng labi niya sa aking sentido.

"No one's leaving," he said in his deep and firm voice like he knew what I meant.

__________