"Here's her phone. Might use this as well." Flavio handed me Rieselle's phone the moment he got inside the room where I'm talking with Rieselle. 

I snatched it from him and lit up the screen but it's asking for a password. 

I met Rieselle's eyes who's still tied to the couch. "Tell me the password." 

She firmly shook her head. 

"Tell me—"

"I can open that for you," Flavio interfered. Para bang alam na niya na muli na namang nauubos ang pasensya ko. "Let me."

I sighed and fished my phone from my pocket before handing the two phones back to Flavio. "Get her sim card first and insert it on my phone. I need to contact Chaos."

"N–no, please. Not Chaos—"

I turned my back on her like I heard nothing. 

When Flavio gave back my phone, of course with Rieselle's sim card inserted on it, I instantly composed a message for Chaos. 

First, asking if we can talk. But I didn't get any reply within five minutes and I really am a bit impatient so I sent a message again. This time, apologizing for kissing another man—which I didn't do because it's Rieselle who did—in front of him. But well, I'm pretending as Rieselle so, yeah. I even asked for a second chance and pleaded for us to continue their... well, our engagement.

He called after a few minutes but I didn't answer. I stared at my phone as it kept ringing. Matapos ang ilang tawag na hindi ko sinagot mula kay Chaos ay may dumating na mensahe sa akin. 

Chaos:

Let's talk about this in person. Where are you? I'll fetch you.

I simply am not in the mood to meet up with him so I declined. If Chaos really loves Rieselle then he'll agree to continue their engagement even without us... having a proper conversation?

Maybe I'll meet him in our engagement. At p'wede namang doon na lang namin pag-usapan ang bagay na ito. I mean, after the engagement.

Luckily, Chaos agreed. I didn't think of any possible reason why he concurred without us talking about our issues personally because as of now, it doesn't matter. Ang importante lang, pumayag siyang makipagbalikan at ituloy ang kasal.

As for Rieselle, I think she has to stay in that room for quite some time.

I winced upon remembering how I treated her before. I was... well a bit harsh on Rieselle.

I heaved a deep sigh before walking towards her direction. 

"M–Marcia, let me g–go," she pleaded. 

I went on the couch where she's tied and started untying her while forcing myself to refrain from showing any kind of emotion in my face.

I heard the door open and I didn't have to turn my head in that direction to know who entered. 

"Marcia, what are you doing?" Flavio asked as he hastily stride near me. Akmang pipigilan pa ako sa aking ginagawa.

I nonchalantly turned my head on him with my sarcastic eyes. "Untying her, if it's not obvious, Flavio."

"Fuck. I know." Malutong siyang napamura. "Are you serious about what you said earlier?"

I didn't have to answer him. I told him I'll release Rieselle and I will.

Rieselle's constant sob made my eyes dart at her. Tuluyan na siyang nakawala sa mga nakatali sa kanyang katawan.  

She instantly rose from her seat. Agad niyang inabot ang aking mga kamay nang may luha sa mga mata. "M–Marcia," she whined. "P–please..." 

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kabuuan niya. She... looks like a mess. "What happened to you?" kunot noong tanong ko. "Did they starved you?"

Her puffy eyes gawked at me like I said something strange. "W–what?" she absentmindedly asked but still shook her head in the end.

My brow raised. "Did anyone from my men touch you, perhaps do something inappropriate?"

She shook her head while still staring at me, baffled. "N–no. They didn't do anything..."

"As they should," I stated and eyed her again. I bit the side of my cheeks. "Clean yourself."

"L–let me go. Please." It seems the only thing that matters to her is her freedom. 

I nonchalantly nodded. "Don't worry, I will. Give me three days and I will."

Namilog ang namamaga niyang mga mata. "W–what?"

"Marcia," tawag sa akin ni Flavio ngunit hindi ko siya binalingan.

"Y–you will?" Her hopeful eyes misted with tears again. 

"I'll let you go in three days, I said. Feel..." I paused a bit. Why is she crying again? "Feel free to roam around. Just don't escape again. I promise to let you go after three days."

"I won't—" I cleared my throat. "I won't apologize for what I did. Apology is only given if someone did something unintentionally. But everything I did is my intention so..." I paused a bit. "Don't expect for my apology." 

"You can sue me and I know you will. But I, of course, will hide. So find me well, Rieselle. Hire the best lawyer too if you want me in jail," I smiled with my lips tightly pressed onto each other.

"Marcia, you're not going in jail," mariing sambit ni Flavio, para bang sigurado siya roon. 

I wanna laugh at his statement but I choose to smirk instead. Naiiling akong bumaling kay Rieselle. "You clean yourself. I'll lend you some of my unused clothes," I muttered with finality before turning my back on her. 

Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod sa akin ni Flavio ngunit pareho kaming napahinto nang nagsalita si Rieselle.

"M–Marcia Estelle," she called using my full given name.

When I turned my head in her direction, I saw her eyes were misted with tears again as it softened a little. 

"Why?" I asked with lack of emotion.

"Why didn't I realized this back then?" she whispered but I heard it clearly. Tears started cascading down her cheeks again as her hand is on her mouth, stopping herself from sobbing. Para bang alam niya na hindi ko gustong marinig ang mga hikbi niya. Like she knew that a sob from her would make a flicker of irritation and impatience show in my eyes.

I frowned. What's wrong with her again? "What is it this time?"

"Marcia, w–we thought you're dead—"

Laglag ang panga ko sa sinagot niya. I lowly chuckled while blinking. "The hell are you talking about?" Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan. 

I shifted from where I'm standing to fully face her. "You know, Rieselle, stop crying. I never thought tears can make someone lose their sanity..." napapantastikuhang sambit ko. 

"I'll let you go but I don't wanna see you in an asylum after this. Please, get your shits together," I muttered before getting out of her room. 

Dumiretso ako sa aking silid at kumuha ng ilang bagong damit doon bago bumalik kay Rieselle. Agad din akong lumabas ng silid niya matapos ibigay ang mga damit. Because her stares are making me uncomfortable. She even tried to smile at me despite her tears. Dahilan kung bakit lalo akong nahiwagaan sa ikinikilos niya.

Or maybe a plan is forming in her mind? Kung paano ako ipahuhuli pagkatapos ko siyang pakawalan.

Damn it. I only have three days to fix everything. 

I sighed as I picked up my phone from my pocket while walking towards the living room. Doon ko naabutan si Flavio. He's sitting on the couch while the television is on and a movie is playing but seems his mind is flying somewhere. 

I grabbed the remote control and muted the television before dialing Clarita's number. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Flavio habang hinihintay ang sagot mula sa kabilang linya at para bang noon lang niya napansin ang aking presensya. 

I raised a brow on him and was about to ask him what's wrong when I heard Clarita's voice from the other line.

"Marcia? Napatawag ka?" I heard her usual energetic voice.

"Can we meet? Tomorrow, first thing in the morning."

"Oh! Alright. But... can I ask why? I mean you're not usually..." She trailed off. "You have a problem?" she asked instead.

I nibbled my lower lips. "It's about my boutique," I started. 

From the side of my eyes, I caught Flavio turned to me upon hearing my words. 

"Yeah, about your boutique, Marcia! A lot were calling me asking if they can schedule an appointment with you!" She giggled like she's too excited about it. "Let's say, the publicity because of the Zaldivars is only a stepping stone but aside from that?" She paused a bit and moaned in pleasure that made me chuckle a bit. "It was all because of your designs! You deserve it!"

Si Flavio na nasa tabi ko ay nahihiwagaang nakatitig sa akin. I glanced at him and raised a brow, lowkey asking what's wrong.

"You're smiling," he whispered.

I blinked. I was oblivious that the corner of my lips were already tugged for a smile. I nibbled my lower lip and averted my eyes away from him. 

"Thank you," I genuinely answered Clarita. "About my boutique, I'll leave every transaction of it under your management... If it's alright with you."

Ilang sandaling natahimik ang kabilang linya. "H–huh? What do you mean by that?" 

"I'm leaving and I need someone I trust to pose as the owner of the boutique." Right now, she's the only person I can trust with The Estelle. Hindi ko naman maaaring iwan iyon kay Flavio. Dahil anong alam niya sa bagay na 'yon? I mean, he's already handling my family's company and father's underground organization. At isa pa, it's a boutique! That's not his expertise so no.

She gasped. "You trust me?"

Para bang iyon lang ang naintindihan at narinig niya.

"If it's not obvious, Clarita," I flatly answered. "I'll compensate you for everything you'll do for my boutique. I'm still the one who'll make the designs but I can't... make an appearance at the boutique."

"I have no problem with that and I'm not asking for compensation but... why? Where are you going? Ilang linggo ka bang mawawala?"

"I insist and not weeks, Rita. A year or probably years."

"What?!" Bahagya kong inilayo ang cellphone sa aking tainga dahil sa biglaang pagtaas ng kanyang boses. "I mean, no. No. Years? Where the hell are you going?"

"Let's talk about this tomorrow?" I think I should explain things personally. Nang magkaintindihan kami.

I ended the call after a few more exchanges of words from Clarita. I let my body leaned on the couch while I shut my eyes and massaged my temples.

"What's your plan?" Flavio asked. 

I glanced at the wall hiding the rooms, the direction where Rieselle's room is in before fully turning my back in there. 

Tuluyan akong napaharap sa direksyon ni Flavio. "I need you to book several international flights for me, scheduled on the same day."

I fished the card I slid in my pocket when I went in my room earlier. I stared at black card from Chaos for a while before handing it to Flavio.

"Use this. Book a seat in all flights for a couple of consecutive days the day after I release Rieselle. I need to leave," I eagerly muttered.

He glanced at the card before taking it. "Are you sure about this? There's another way, Marcia. You don't need—"

"This is what I planned the moment we started." I gave emphasis to every word to make him remember in case he forgot. "Napagusapan na natin 'to. When everything went out of hand or when it's all done, I'll leave and hide. I can't stay as I'll surely rot in jail if..." I heaved a deep sigh. "You know what I mean." 

"I know—" Flavio's words were cutted when we heard a gasp.

Agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan noon. I shifted when I saw Rieselle standing just beside the wall. Hindi ko alam kung kararating lang niya ngunit sa tingin ko ay hindi.

My eyes narrowed. "Kanina ka pa d'yan?"

She nervously shook her head. "N–no. Kabababa ko lang. I'll just get... w–water."

"The kitchen is there." I motioned my palm towards the direction of the kitchen and she nodded at me. Alanganin siyang ngumiti bago tuluyang umalis at nagtungo sa kitchen.

The moment she went out of my sight, I instantly turned to Flavio. I tilted my head. "Do you think she heard enough?"

"Hmm." He hummed. "I caught her peeking. She's been there for quite a while already. She probably heard everything."

I smirked. "She should."

__________