"Rieselle?" Bumakas ang gulat sa mga mata nito ngunit agad na nakabawi at inayos ang sarili. 

She raised her brow on me and smirked. "I didn't know you're blinded by your love for Chaos. Really? Even if he cheated, you'll marry him? How pitiful."

I roamed my eyes around, looking if there's anyone who can hear us but when I saw nothing, I mockingly smiled at her. "Sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang mas kaawa-awa," marahang sambit ko, sinisigurong tatatak sa utak niya ang bawat salitang pakakawalan ko. "You're claiming that you two were in a relationship, implying that you two fucked on that day while Chaos denied it, like he's so disgusted of you."

Namilog ang mga mata niya at bahagyang bumuka ang mga labi. Not expecting that I'll talk back, huh? 

She let out a sarcastic laugh to hide her emotion. "Looks like I'm r–right about you." She tried to be firm but her voice trembled, revealing that she's truly shocked. "You're a two faced bitch! Just wait and I'll tell Chaos about this!"

I pursed my lips and lowered my head. "You think Chaos will believe you?" I asked with the usual soft voice I'm using, especially in front of Chaos and his family.

Her face reddened in anger as I thought she'll attack me. 

Kunot noo akong napailing nang muling maalala ang nangyari noong nakaraang linggo. I was slouching on the chair in front of the dining table when I remember it. If ever she attacked me, I won't back down. I'll make sure it's her who'll get more damage than I am. Luckily, she didn't. Someone called her and she left.

I looked down on what I'm sketching before turning my phone on and glanced at the time. It's already nine in the evening yet Chaos's still in his office. 

I rolled my eyes before picking up the pencil and started sketching for a new design again. 

Ngunit ilang sandali lang ay nahagip ng aking mata ang dokumento nasa ibabaw ng lamesa na nangangailangan ng aking pirma.

I sighed and started massaging my temple. Really, this is making my head ache. 

I grabbed my phone and dialled the number of my boutique manager.

It's just nine, she must still be awake. 

Hindi ako nagkamali nang marinig ang boses niya sa kabilang linya.

"Good evening, Ma'am?" She politely greeted me.

"Good evening. How's the boutique doing these days?"

"The sales increased by four percent compared to the last month."

Mariin akong napapikit. Four fucking percent. Seriously?

"Four percent," I repeated. 

"I suggest we should organize an event to showcase your designs. Your designs are all good. Kulang lang tayo sa publicity, Ma'a–"

"You think I don't know that?" I cutted her words midway. "Tingin mo hindi ako nag-iisip? I'm a fashion designer, for Pete's sake! I know that! That's the reason why I hired you, right? For the boutique to have sales without—" I shut my mouth. Remembering that I should be nice so she doesn't have to resign and I don't have to hire another employee that can't handle my words.

"I told you already before, we don't have a budget to organize that event you're saying." I don't have the means to pay for the models, for the venue, and for everything needed in that fucking event! The profit of that boutique is already budgeted in other things. Damn it.

"I'll visit one of these days," I said with finality in my voice before ending the call. 

"Where will you visit, hon?"

Marahas akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses at muntik pang dumulas mula sa aking mga kamay ang aking phone. "H–Hon!" I heavily breathe while my chest were heaving. 

"You startled me," I chuckled while staring at Chaos who's still wearing his business suit.

He smiled and closed the distance between us. Humalik siya sa gilid ng aking sentido at humagod ang kanyang kamay sa aking baywang. "Why are you even looks shocked?" He asked though I can't sense a hint of suspicion in his voice. 

I pursed my lips. "I was alone earlier then you suddenly..."

He smirked before his eyes went on the gown I'm sketching atop the table. His eyes narrowed and walked near it. 

Fuck. I bit the side of my lips and let him do what he wants. It'll be suspicious if I stop him.

He picked up my sketch book and started flipping the pages. He'll stop for a few seconds for every page, scrutinizing the designs I made.

Amusement is evident in his face as his eyes bore unto me. "I didn't know you're into designing." 

Tipid akong ngumiti. I placed my hands in front of me and started fidgeting my fingers. I nibbled my bottom lip and lowered my head. "Y–yeah." 

"You wanna pursue designing? You're designs were all great." 

He pulled my hand as he sat on the chair where I'm seated earlier, making me seat on his lap. My hand landed in his shoulder. Habang ang kamay niya ay pumulupot sa aking baywang.

"You're just telling me that because I'm your fiance," marahang sambit ko.

His forehead creased. "Of course not. Really, they're great. Why don't you try to enter that industry?"

I tilted my head. "You think I'll succeed?"

Walang pag-aalinlangan siyang tumango. "Hmm. I know you can make it. And in case you need help, I'm always here, hon."

I slowly cocked my head. "I... actually have a small boutique," I confessed.

His lips parted. "You—" He blinked. "You have?"

"I have. Though, like I said, it's just a small boutique. My father's against it so don't tell him. Please, don't tell anyone."

I tapped his shoulder when he didn't speak. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin habang unti-unting sumisilip ang ngiti sa mga labi. 

"Since when?" he asked while suppressing the smile in his lips.

"Three years already." 

Bumuka ang kanyang mga labi. "My fiancee's really one heck of a woman. I— how did you even manage to keep it to me all these years? And to your family? They really don't know?"

"Yes. That's one of the reasons too why I wanna keep it lowkey and small. So it won't reach my family." Pinaglandas ko ang kamay sa kanyang buhok at marahang ginulo iyon. 

"That's why. Though, you said Tito Joaquin's supportive?"

My hand in his hair stopped moving. I bit the side of my cheeks and shrugged my shoulders off. Hindi naman sa lahat ng bagay, nakasuporta sa akin ang aking mga magulang. There's really times that they're against on what I'm doing.

"How about your parents? Are they always supporting you?" I asked instead. I shifted my weight on his lap, agad namang sumuporta ang kamay niya sa aking likod. 

"Always. And I don't know if I should be pleased with it."

"B–bakit naman?" 

Heck, I can't imagine the things I'd do just to get the support of my father in everything. 

"I'm now their only child. Reason why they tried to fulfill and support everything I wanted. You know my sister, Sequoia right?"

I nodded. Alam ko kung ano ang nangyari sa kapatid niya 

"Sequoia..." He trailed off. A melancholic smile left his lips.

"P–passed away." May pag-aalinlangang tinapos ko ang mga salita niya. I know that. That was all over the news. The Zaldivars even tried to keep it private but they failed.

"Aside from her, I have a sister named Solace."

What's the fuck. There's Solace? 

I swallowed while trying to calmly listen. 

"Y–you have?" Fuck. How come I didn't know? What the hell! Did I miss something?

I stilled when I realized what I'd asked. "I mean–" 

"Yes. No one knew aside from our clan." 

My mouth opened and released a relieved sigh.

"I still can't find her until now while Mom and Dad gave up already."

"May I... know what happened? It's alright if you wanna keep it private. I'll understand." 

But damn! I need to know. 

"Solace is the youngest among us. She's supposed to be the third child of our parents. But you see, it wasn't allowed for our family to have more than two children."

"What? But your father... they're six siblings. Five sons and Tita Cello, right?" 

"In my parents' generation onwards, perhaps."

Then what happened to Solace?! "Y–your sister, Solace. You mentioned you're looking for her." 

I directly looked at his eyes and saw a glint of longing in there. "She went missing when she's still a newborn."

Suminghap ako habang namimilog ang mga mata. My hand landed on my mouth to cover my parted lips, hindi na mapigilan ang sarili sa mga nalalaman. "She's kidnapped? And until now you all can't find her?" My soft voice rose a bit.

That's impossible! They're Zaldivars! Anong hindi magagawa ng pera nila? At bakit itinago nila sa publiko ang nangyari? Exposing what happened can help them!

"We can't. Grandma and Grandpa didn't allow my parents to find her."

Lalong kumunot ang aking noo. I shook my head, baffled at what I've heard. "Why?" 

"It's because they don't want my parents to have more than two children. It wasn't allowed in the family."

"My parents still privately looked for her but found nothing until they gave up. They fucking accepted that she's dead. But I can't." Marahas siyang nagpakawala ng hangin. I felt his body trembling in anger. "That's my sister, damn it!" 

"Alam kong isa lang din sa pamilya namin ang nagtago sa kapatid ko. That's why I can't find her."

My lips parted. What kind of fuckery is that? Really? I can't believe these Zaldivars. Whoever's hiding Chaos's sister must be insane.

But come to think of it, there's a big chance that a Zaldivar is really hiding Solace Zaldivar. If not... I can't think of anyone who would go against the Zaldivars. 

"She's alive. Either Grandma or Grandpa surely–"

A loud phone started ringing that interrupted him from what he's telling. I'm still digesting his words reason why my focus is not the phone ringing. 

Natauhan lang ako nang matantong phone ko iyon at akmang aabutin na ni Chaos. My eyes widened when I caught the name of the caller and my first instinct is to grab it and I did. Agad kong pinatay ang tawag at itinago iyon sa aking mga palad. 

I bit my lower lip and slowly tried to look at Chaos. Nang makitang nakakunot ang noo niya ay noon ko natanto kung gaano kamali ang aking ginawa. 

Shit. 

I cursed inwardly when I felt how fast my heart's pounding my ribcage. 

I shifted my weight. I opened my lips but felt like my voice would tremble because of the lump in my mouth. I cleared my throat and equal his gaze. "Don't mind it. That's just my client, he'll probably update me about his wife's preferences on her gown," I lied while looking straight in his eyes, without even blinking an eye.

Slowly, the creased in his forehead vanished but his confusion remained evident in his eyes. "Then why did you ended the call?"

"We're talking." I reasoned out. "I'll call him back later."

"If it's about his wife's preferences then that's important. Go on, call him. I'll clean up, too. Let's talk later?" 

"Come on, let's go upstairs. Doon mo na tawagan sa balkonahe."

Umalis ako sa kandungan niya at sinimulang ipunin ang mga gamit ko na nasa mesa. 

I turned to Chaos while holding my things. Inilahad niya sa akin ang kanyang kamay. "Let me." 

I gave him a faint smile and let him hold my things.

I was tightly gripping my phone as we climb up the stairs. Ikinalma ko ang sarili, lalo na at kasabay ko sa paglalakad si Chaos. 

But the moment we got in our room and he stepped inside the bathroom, I instantly went to the balcony. I closed the glass door to make sure Chaos wouldn't hear me. Or at least, I'll be alerted if he opens the door.

I picked up my phone and opened it. My jaw clenched, remembering the call earlier and how I almost got caught. If Chaos didn't believe my alibi then I'm dead.

I started dialling the number of the caller earlier. I paced back and forth on the balcony as my patience is slowly wearing thin while waiting for him to answer.

Marahas akong napabuga ng hangin nang ilang sandali ay sinagot niya ang tawag.

"Babe–"

"Didn't I tell you I'll call you first? Not the other way around, Flavio! Damn it," I firmly cutted his words like it didn't matter as my whole being is now seething in anger.

__________