I am supposed to be grounded. I should be sulking at home, punit ang social calendar, confiscated ang black card, and both my mom and dad are acting as if I was the one who started a war. The usual silent treatment, no card, no driver, no privilege. But of course, when you're a Madrigal the rules only work if you let them. And right now, I choose not to.
Kumportable ang kinauupuan ko sa loob ng Elephant Grounds, a corner table with the right view for people-watching. I stirred my salted caramel latte absently, watching the foam swirl. I took a sip. The bitterness hit first, pero kaagad na nasundan ng subtle sweetness ng caramel. It was smooth, which is exact opposite ng mga nangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon.
I stared through the glass wall, watching people go by. Runners in coordinated sets, corporate types carrying laptops and tension, and early brunchers dressed like their lives were perfectly edited. Walang bakas ng scandal, walang mabigat na pangalan. None of them carried the weight of a last name that doubled as a news headline. I shifted in my seat. Masyadong tahimik ang utak ko. Kaya nga gusto ko na dumating na si Wily. I need her noise, her bluntness, her absurd theories and ridiculous skincare hacks. Sabi niy ay malapit na siya, that was thirty minutes ago pero hindi pa rin siya dumarating. Classic.
Winona Lynette Arevalo is my partner in crime. She isn't just my best friend, she is my human truth serum, and my escape route rolled into one. The kind of woman who walked into a room like she owned the lease to everyone's attention. She came from old money too, pero yung sa kanya was the kind that didn't care about reputations or press releases. Her mother was a publishing tycoon while her dad is an art dealer who probably laundered emotions for a living. Wily had freedom in her blood, rebellion in her eyeliner and zero fear of saying things that would make my mom drop her teacup.
Una kaming nagkita sa isang charity gala when we were sixteen. I was in pearls and polite smiles, rehearsed for the camera like a show dog. I saw her in her black stilettos two inches too high, laughing too loud with a glass of champagne she definitely wasn't old enough to be holding. I still remember what she said to me that night: "You look like you're dying inside. Want to sneak out the back and get shawarma?"
And we've been inseparable ever since.
"Wow! I love this thai shrimp salad and gruyere sandwich. Thanks for the treat, future Mrs. Villaverde." pang-aasar ni Wily pagkaupo, setting her bag on a seat beside her.
Inirapan ko siya saka pinasadahan ng tingin, she's in her usual perpetually messy dark brown hair, fierce winged eyeliner, and a leather jacket na tila ba hindi niya na hinuhubad kahit summer. She is the visual opposite of my polished, pristine self.
"Please, don't start." napahilot ako sa aking sentido at sinimulang inumin ang latte.
Wily leaned in. "So. After the dinner, what happened? Ano itong sinasabi mo na aalis ka?"
"Well, kanina lang namin napag-usapan ni Dad. I don't know what he's thinking... Or what he's actually planning pero yun ang deal namin. I finish whatever the hell this program is, then I can do what I want." paliwanag ko.
Wily's thinking. Nakatingin siya sa malayo at salubong ang kilay. Probably trying to process everything that we talked about over text. Tumusok siya ng isang shrimp na nasa plate bago nagsalita.
"And this program... Is it like a rehab kind of program? Or like The Hunger Games kind of program?"
"I wish it was rehab. At least may spa." biro ko.
She burst out laughing na halos maubo na. She drank her latte and composed herself. "Wait... seriously? You don't even know where you're going?"
I shrugged, trying to sound indifferent. "No idea at all. Ang alam ko lang, it would be somewhere far. He said I have to earn my freedom bla bla bla. Basta our deal is simple. Finish the program, and the engagement is off. Or fail, and the ring is on my finger by Christmas."
Wily leaned back, crossing her legs dramatically. "Wow. Classic rich dad energy talaga si Senator. Guilt trip meets bootcamp. You know what this means?"
"What?"
Ngumisi siya at iniangat ang wallet ko. "You need a pre-exile shopping day kasi kung mawawala ka ng matagal, let's say it could be a month, then kailangan Instagram-worthy ang outfit. You have to stock up on your skincare and toilettries too."
Natawa ako pero hindi rin naman umindi. I know that I really need to shop for things. Hindi ko man alam kung saan ako dadalhin but at least I have complete items. Actually, scratch that. Kailangan hindi lang ako complete. I need to be prepared. Paano kung dalhin nila ako sa isang undisclosed jungle? I better be the most moisturized, sun-protected, and well-dressed living creature in that entire forest.
"Pero I'm curious about this Lucas Villaverde. I haven't met him, pogi ba?" she asked, grinning.
I raised a brow. "You seriously don't know him?"
" know the Villaverdes, just not him. Besides, kailangan ba kilala ko siya? But if he's gonna be your future husband—"
Napatingin ako sa kanya nang masama. "Don't call him that! I don't want his last name, Wily."
Humalakhak si Wily. "You make it sound like he's contagious, Concepcion." She stabbed a piece of mango with unnecessary violence. "What I heard is that the Villaverdes are old money. Defense contracts, generational power. It's a classic political fairytale."
"Fairytale?" I let out a humorless laugh. "More like a merger."
"Merger?"
"Yeah." I leaned back against my chair, crossing my legs. "Lucas Villaverde is everything a senator's daughter is supposed to want. He's polite, may MBA, may legacy, at may pamilya na halos magmamana ng buong Department of Defense."
Wily raised a brow. "You make him sound like a résumé."
"Because that's exactly what he is. A résumé with a pulse."
"But is he hot, though? Because if he's not hot, I'm officially filing a complaint."
"He's... fine." I said after a pause. "Hindi naman siya pangit. He looks good in campaign posters or business magazines, and makes your parents sigh in approval. Pero not the ones who make your heart race."
She smirked. "Is he fine fine... or fine because your dad is listening through hidden cameras right now? And if he's fine fine, what's wrong with that? He sounds decent and responsible naman. He's probably the kind of man who'd never cheat and always file his taxes."
"Exactly." I stirred my latte, eyes tracing the foam. "He's safe and predictable. Perfect in a way that makes me want to scream."
Natawa si WIly. "Cion... Are you allergic to stability or something?"
"I'm just allergic to cages. Alam ko na ang patutunguhan nito kung pakakasal ako sa kanya." I replied.
Wily tilted her head. "You think marrying him would be a cage?"
"It already feels like one."
"Well, you're pretty, he's pretty. Maganda kayong press release."
"That's the problem Wily, we'd probably look good on paper. The kind of couple that ends up on the cover of Forbes Society with a headline that says, Power Meets Legacy. But inside that glossy photo? Wala na. Empty."
Wily squinted at me. "Okay, but hear me out... Maybe empty with a yacht isn't so bad? We can host parties at sea." sabay halakhak niya.
I stirred what's left of my latte, watching the foam dissolve into brown swirls. "Do you know what it feels like to be chosen for a story you didn't even write? My dad only wants a merger and not a marriage. Si Lucas? He definitely just wants an alliance and not a wife. I'd just be a bridge between two families who already have everything, except something real."
Wily softened, setting down her fork. "Cion..."
"He's perfect, Wily. And I don't trust perfect." I exhaled, leaning back. "Men like him don't fall in love. They invest. They calculate. Every smile has a purpose, every gesture is rehearsed. He's the kind who'll kiss me for the cameras, not for me."
Napakurap kurap si Wily, diretsong nakatingin lang sa akin. "Wow ha. That is so poetic, but also depressing."
I laughed under my breath. "I just... don't want to marry someone who sees me as a headline. I want someone who looks at me and sees me. Not the senator's daughter. Not the alliance. Just... Cion."
Wily studied me for a second before smirking again. "So basically, you want someone who's slightly dangerous, possibly emotionally unavailable, but can kiss you like it's the end of the world."
I pointed my straw at her. "Exactly! Someone who ruins me properly."
She clapped her hands, grinning. "Finally! A confession! You don't want a husband, you want chaos in human form."
"Pretty much..." I said with a half-smile. "At least chaos is honest."
Wily raised her glass in a mock toast. "To chaos, then. And to the Villaverde guy who's clearly about to have a very bad day."
I clinked mine against hers. "He already ruined my week just by existing."
She cackled. "Fine! Pero I say, give this a chance. Malay mo naman he can provide the fireworks in bed. Pero kung hindi, find a hotter side piece. Preferably from military because they know stamina."
I almost spat my drink. "You're insane Wily! Hindi ako pakakasal sa kanya. Tinanggap ko na nga ang deal ni Dad. I am going to that freaking program of his. Sigurado naman akong madali lang yun. After that, I'm all free."
After ranting about everything that occurred last night, we decided it's time to shop. Pumasok kami ni Wily sa isang brightly lit boutique sa Bonifacio High Street. The kind with floor-to-ceiling glass, minimalist shelves in matte black, and glowing product displays that made each serum bottle look like it graduated cum laude from a science laboratory in France.
Kinuha ko agad ang mga usual ko. Two bottles each of cleansing balm, hydrating toner, niacinamide serum, moisturizer, at tatlong tube ng sunscreen. I also grabbed three sheet masks for my mental health, and a lip balm with SPF because cracked lips were not part of my plan.
"Feeling ko, you have to buy this..." sabi ni Winona habang nag-e-examine ng isang travel-sized lint roller like it was a luxury item. "Wala yang kwenta but you'll thank me later when your clothes aren't covered in random alikabok."
We moved to the next rack kung nasaan ang mga travel-sized toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant. Lahat decanted into aesthetic pastel bottles na parang gusto mo na lang sila picturan and call it a day.
I got back to the house just after five. The sun had dipped low enough to paint everything gold, casting a warm glow on the long windows of our Forbes home. Sa totoo lang, hindi pa rin ako sanay how the silence here felt so different from the quiet of a boutique or a café . Dito mas mabigat, mas makapal, like everything inside these walls carried expectation. I dismissed the driver and walked straight to my room, leaving the bags for the staff to manage.
Pagpasok ko sa kwarto, bumulaga sa akin ang dalawang maleta na iniwan na ni Yaya Fe sa gilid ng kama ko. I sat on the edge of the bed, dumped the paper bags beside me, and sighed.
"Okay..." I muttered. "Let's do this."
Binuksan ko ang mga bags, and one by one, I began pulling everything out: skincare bottles lined like soldiers, packed in bubble wrap like they were national treasures. Tinabi ko muna ang mga iyon and went for the clothes next.
Habang tinutupi ko ang isang black windbreaker, narinig kong kumatok si Yaya Fe.
"Hija, gusto mong ipahanda yung dinner mo?"
"Later na po, Yaya Fe. Mag-aayos na muna ako ng gamit."
"Okay, hija. Nandito lang ako kung kailangan mo ng tulong."
"Thank you po."
She closed the door gently, leaving me alone again. I opened my dresser drawer and pulled out the box where I kept my essentials: passports, IDs, and other things that screamed bureaucratic compliance. Gusto ko man maging rebelde, hindi pwedeng wala akong valid ID. That's the least I could do for myself. I tossed in my camera too. My film one. Because if I'm going to spiral into wilderness-level drama, I might as well document it in aesthetic grainy shots. Pang-artsy Instagram dump if I survive.
Habang inaayos ko ang toiletries pouch ko, a message from Wily flashed on my phone.
Wily: Don't forget to pack that thing that makes you feel like you have your shit together. For me it's my red lipstick. For you, maybe it's that cashmere socks na mahal pa sa tuition ng UP student.
Me: Tried-and-tested retail therapy. Thanks, Wils. P.S. Binalot ko na rin ang buong Watsons.
By 6:45PM, everything was packed. I zipped up the last bag and stood there for a second, staring at my two bit suitcases and duffel.
I was woken up even before dawn. Pero nagtagal ako sa pagmumuni muni at pagligo hanggang sa kinakatok na ulit ako ng kasambahay para bumaba sa dining. Minadali ko ang pagbibihis at bumaba na. Dad sat at the head of the table, scrolling through his tablet like national security depended on it. Mom, as usual, looked poised in her robe, sipping her black coffee with the same elegance she used to dodge confrontation.
"Good morning, hija." Mom said without looking up, buttering her toast. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well, like a prisoner on her last night of parole." I replied dryly, reaching for the orange juice.
"Concepcion." Dad warned, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through marmalade.
"Sorry..." I muttered, stabbing my scrambled eggs like they insulted me personally.
After breakfast, I walked towards our driveway right away. Our guards brought my luggage and settled them in a black, unmarked sedan waiting for me. Walang limousine, walang press, just a silent driver and one security personnel.
"Get in." sabi ni Dad, not looking up from his phone.
My mom kissed me on the cheek and a quick, tight hug and a familiar warning: You complete the program. Or you come home and marry Lucas. That is the only deal. Tumango lang ako kay Mom, clinging to the locket she gave me, it was the only piece of true sentimentality in this entire transaction.
I sat in the backseat, together with my duffel and tote bag. The car's engine started at ilang saglit lang, nasa highway na kami. I leaned my head against the window, watching the streets blur by. The city was waking up with vendors opening stalls, cars piling up on EDSA and sunlight bouncing off glass buildings. Inabala ko ang sarili sa pagpo-phone.
I wonder if this program is even real.
Habang nasa likod ako ng SUV at tahimik lang na nakatingin sa labas, paulit-ulit na gumugulong sa utak ko ang tanong na yan. I mean, sino bang biglang isinusubo ang anak nila sa isang "program" na walang briefing, walang pangalan, walang kahit anong paperwork or orientation? Knowing my father, it could be anything. A leadership camp. A political PR stunt. A punishment facility in the guise of a government initiative.
I sighed. Ang buong arrangement na ito ay parang puzzle na ang sagot lang ay control. Everything felt like it had strings attached, like I was some doll na pinapaikot sa isang stage I never agreed to be on.
Lucas Villaverde.
I'd rather camp in the jungle with rabid monkeys than take his last name. Marry him? Para lang itapon ang buong future ko sa control ng dalawang patriarchs who only know how to wield power and influence like weapons? No thanks.
But I made a deal. Finish the program, whatever it is, and I get my life back. My terms. My rules.
We've been on the road for almost an hour now when it eventually turned left onto a wider road. Napakunot noo ako nang mapansin kong parang pamilyar ang area. Alam kong somewhere south ito, malapit sa Pasay, maybe near the airport? The sound of planes overhead confirmed it.
I peeked at my phone. 08:43 AM. I shifted my gaze outside again, where the sidewalks started to clear and the civilian buildings transitioned into chain-link fences and guarded gates. Then, the van began to slow down. Ipinasok ko ang phone sa bag at sumilip sa bintana ng sasakyan.
There it was, a massive concrete archway with letters across it.
VILLAMOR AIR BASE
PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE
My mouth dropped open. What the hell is this?