The following weeks become lighter than usual. Chaos finally took a leave effective starting today, ten days before the wedding.

I can say that in those days we spent together while preparing for our wedding, we got... closer than before. That shouldn't have happened in the first place. Ngunit pinagbigyan ko na lang din ang sarili na mapalapit sa kanya.

I feel calm as Chaos caressed my hair while my head is leaning in his chest. Patagilid akong nakaupo sa kandungan niya habang nakayakap sa baywang niya ang aking mga braso.

I cleared my throat as I decided to tell him what Hazaiah told me even though it wasn't necessary. "Hazaiah talked to me. She told me you got her pregnant."

I felt him froze. "She did?"

I glanced at him and saw him with his jaw clenched.

"It wasn't damn true. Nothing happened between us. I asked someone to check the CCTV of the hotel where I stayed that day. Hazaiah left after less than fifteen minutes after she arrived."

Marahan akong napatango. "I know. I believe you. I believe nothing happened." Because I saw it in my own eyes too. I asked Flavio to hack the CCTV for me and Hazaiah didn't stay for too long like what she said.

"Isn't she obsessed with you?" It was supposed to be an inside thought but well, it slipped off my mouth.

But maybe, she only wants the Zaldivar after her name. Is she even really pregnant or she's just saying it thinking she can lure Chaos?

Anyway, I shouldn't give a damn about it. What's important is, if she really is pregnant, I'm pretty sure Chaos isn't the father.

"I have nothing to do with Hazaiah. Let's not talk about her."

I shrugged while a smile plastered on my face. "How about Leticia?"

My lips stretched when his eyes turned into slits. "Why are we suddenly talking about all these, huh?"

I lifted my shoulders once again, still with a wide smile on my lips. "Her mother said the two of you should have been married if..." I trailed off, taunting him to continue. But he didn't.

"You don't have to be jealous," he stated like he's so sure of it.

Sandali akong natigilan.

Siguro nga, napapansin niya. Hindi ko rin naman ginusto na ipahalata iyon. I don't even want to feel it. But what can I do? I can't stop myself from feeling it.

"It's you who I wanna spend my life with. Not with anyone else," Chaos muttered as he kissed the top of my head.

I placed my hand in his chest. Bahagya kong itinulak ang sarili palayo sa kanya. I frowned a bit. "I'm not jealous."

I am. Maybe. But heck I won't dare admit it in front of him.

He nodded but stifled a smile on his lips. "You're not then."

My eyes narrowed while staring at him. Kasabay noon ang paglawak ng ngisi sa kanyang mga labi.

I slapped his chest when a chuckle escaped from his lips. "I'm not jealous."

"Yeah." He chuckled. "Leticia's family wanted the two of us to marry for the sake of the company back then. Mama declined," he stated while still caressing my hair.

I would be lying if I'll say I'm not glad Tita Cecille declined. If she didn't, I surely wouldn't be here.

"How about you?" I asked while my eyes were scrutinizing him.

"I, of course am not in favor of it." He licked his lower lip. "Leticia and I grew up almost always together but I couldn't see her as the person I'm with till I'm gray and old."

"If you marry her, then we shouldn't have..." I trailed off, thinking of the possibilities if he marries Leticia.

"I..." He paused a bit and cleared his throat. Chaos held my waist as he shifted in his seat. He seems uncomfortable? Hesitating?

"I honestly do not love you... before," he confessed.

I blinked and smiled.

"Even I, do not love you before," I stated as maybe I didn't get what he said at first. That's expected. I, Marcia, know him but do not love him too before... Or that's what I've thought.

"When I started courting you. When you accepted me as your boyfriend. And maybe..." He swallowed. "Until I asked your hand for marriage... I do not love you."

I tilted my head and this time, it was me who shifted in his lap. I shifted more to face him. "I..." I shook my head while my lips were parted. "I-I don't understand, Chaos."

"Although both families were friends, the Zaldivars see the Serranos as a threat."

My mouth literally opened. A threat to the Zaldivars?

"Reason why one of us shall marry a Serrano to avoid a possible competition in the future."

I blinked in disbelief while wanting to sarcastically laugh at the Zaldivars. Really? They must marry a possible threat to avoid...

Zaldivar, the epitome of perfection? Who the hell even gave them that name? So this is what they called perfection?

"Guerdon, the first born in our generation, can't be paired with a Serrano as he has a girlfriend at that time. So I courted you..."

I can't feel anything at his confession. If there's any, it is maybe disgust for the whole clan of the Zaldivar.

"I do not love you." His arms around me tightened as he whispered while showering kisses on my temple.

My eyes voluntarily shut closed as I feel comforted at what he's doing. His mere presence can make me feel warm, what more when he's like this.

"I was so sure of it until our engagement happened. That's when I started feeling this," marahang sambit habang patuloy ang halik sa aking sentido. "I was wondering why all this time I didn't feel this."

He didn't directly name what he's feeling but his words, his actions, are enough for the both of us to understand what it is.

"Kung kailan ikakasal na tayo, saka ko lang naramdaman. Now I know why," he whispered softly in my ear.

Ilang segundong nagtagal ang mga labi niya sa aking ulo. "Allow me to turn gray and old with you. I love you."

Every word coming from his mouth feels surreal. My head is already in chaos while my heart is pounding my ribcage, badly.

I raised my hand and let it gently land in his cheek. "I love you too, Chaos." The corner of my lips tugged in a smile as I heaved a deep breath when I felt breathless while staring at him.

The truth is... I'm glad that he started feeling this just recently even though I'm stunned at his confession.

He looked in my eyes as he held my hand holding his cheek. Dinala niya iyon malapit sa kanyang labi at marahang hinalikan ang likod ng aking palad. "My whole family will surely be furious about this but I don't give a fuck, baby."

He leaned closer for our lips to meet for a few seconds. "I'll cancel the wedding and I'll marry you," he whispered. It was so full of emotion that I almost drowned.

Reason why it took me a few seconds to realize what he exactly said... Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

I pulled away from him to fully stare in his eyes. Bakas ang kaguluhan sa aking mga mata nang sinalubong ko ang mga titig niya.

"W-what? What do you mea-"

My words were cutted when the doorbell of his condo started ringing one after another. Na para bang madaling madali ang nasa labas.

I glanced at Chaos and frowned a bit because the ringing of his doorbell isn't stopping. "You expecting someone?"

Kunot din ang kanyang noo at napailing. "No."

Tumayo na ako mula sa kanyang kandungan at dumiretso sa pinto ng kanyang condo upang pagbuksan ang sino mang nasa labas.

I readied a welcoming smile in my lips as I opened the door. But the moment I saw the woman outside, the smile in my lips slowly wavered till it vanished.

"Chaos-" she stopped when she saw me.

Magulo ang buhok at bahagyang marumi ang damit. She isn't even wearing something on her foot. But the resemblance... Our resemblance can still be seen despite her state right now.

And fuck, it wasn't a mere resemblance.

My lips parted as my eyes stayed on the woman who I exactly looked the same. While her eyes widened like she wasn't expecting to meet me too.

"M-Marcia?" Her soft voice held a tremor as her lips quivered. Fear consumed her eyes as her hands started trembling. Ngunit agad na napalitan ng galit ang kanyang mga mata.

Sa gulat at bilis ng pangyayari ay hindi ko na siya napigilan nang marahas niya akong itinulak. I was thrown inside Chaos's condo and the door widely opened.

"Fuck!" I heard Chaos cursed as he went near me. Sunod-sunod ang malutong na mura niya nang dinaluhan ako.

I tried to use my mind despite how astounded I am right now. But the first thing I thought was to curse Flavio. Damn it.

"Are you alright?" Chaos asked the moment our eyes met and I finally stood.

I opened my mouth but I became mummed when nothing came out of it. His arms are still around me, supporting me as I stood while I'm holding in his hand and I should feel safe in here but I can't. Especially when we're in this situation. A situation I never planned.

Mariin akong napapikit at nagbaba ng tingin.

"I-I'm sorry. H-hindi ko sinasadya."

My grip on Chaos's hand tightened as I heard a soft voice of a woman that I could almost hear my own... facade.

Nothing's coming in my mind as it is now in chaos. Like it went blank at the sudden appearance of this woman in front of us.

I felt Chaos stilled. Nag-angat ako ng tingin. I saw him staring at the woman in front of us but I couldn't read what he's thinking as his eyes were cold.

The woman's eyes fixed on Chaos while longing were visible in her. Ngunit nang nagtama ang aming mga mata ay bumaba ang kanyang mga titig sa mga braso ni Chaos na nakaprotekta sa akin.

"C-Chaos, Hon." She took a step towards us but I took a step back. Nakasuporta sa akin si Chaos kaya't pati siya ay napaatras.

"W-what are you doing with her? It's me, R-Rieselle. That w-woman's fooling-"

I slowly shook my head, like I was confused. "W-what are you talking about?" I cutted her words using my soft voice, baffled. Binalingan ko si Chaos. "H-Hon." I let my voice tremble even though a part of me is already crumbling as everything might end here. But it can't. It won't.

I nibbled my lower lip as he stared at me, the same emotion he used while looking at this woman in front of us. I lowered my head as right now, I can't stand those cold eyes.

Mapait akong napangiti habang nakatungo. Ngunit agad akong nanigas sa aking kinatatayuan nang humigpit ang yakap ng isang braso sa akin ni Chaos at naramdaman ko ang paglapat ng labi niya sa aking ulo.

"I know who my fiancee is, Miss. You may leave," Chaos said with finality in his voice. Namimilog ang mga matang napaangat ako ng tingin.

Chaos is directly looking at the woman, the reason why he won't see my reaction.

Pain instantly crossed her eyes as it widened. Agad na namasa ang gilid ng mga mata niya sa luha. "C-Chaos-"

"Leave," he ordered firmly. That made me blink.

"Hon, I'm Rieselle-"

"Don't wait for me to call the guards. Leave, Miss."

She shook her head while nibbling her lower lip. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang tuluyang naglandas ang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi.

I shut my eyes while chewing the insides of my cheeks.

Sa huli ay wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang umalis habang halos nagmamakaawa kay Chaos. Chaos is firm in his decision. Kahit pa anong pilit nang babae na siya si Rieselle. I don't know why Chaos is so certain in his decision. I should be glad at it but a part of me is bothered.

And the moment she left, Chaos and I hastily minded our own business. Na para bang may kanya kanya kaming kailangang gawin.

"Just a minute," paalam ni Chaos habang hawak ang kanyang telepono.

Hindi ko na iyon nabigyang pansin dahil sa mga bagay na nasa aking isip.

I said I'll fix everything and return it to where it used to be. But not like this. Why should it be right now?

I'm selfish but I'm not ready for this.

I was about to dial Flavio's number when a call from him came. Agad kong sinagot ang tawag.

"Marcia," seryosong bungad ni Flavio. Sa tono niya, mukhang parehas kami ng dahilan sa pagtawag.

"What the fuck happened to Rieselle?" mariin ngunit nagpipigil na tanong ko. "How the fuck did she managed to escape?!"

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