Bella

Isang umaga na puno ng katahimikan—kung tutuusin, bihira para kay Bella Santiago ang ganitong moment. Sa loob ng kanyang high-rise condo, nakatayo siya sa harap ng floor-to-ceiling window, pinagmamasdan ang city skyline habang humihigop ng kape. Ilang buwan na siyang sunod-sunod ang trabaho—photoshoots, endorsements, at events—pero ngayon, sa wakas, may pagkakataon siyang huminga.

O at least, ganoon sana ang plano niya.

Biglang nag-vibrate ang phone niya sa coffee table. Napabuntong-hininga siya bago ito dinampot, at nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag, halos hindi na siya nagulat.

📲 Manager Faye: Bella, kailangan nating mag-usap. Urgent.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay at marahang ipinatong ang kanyang tasa.

"Ate, hindi ba sinabi ko na magpapahinga muna ako? Ano na naman 'to?"

📲 Manager Faye: Listen, I know you're on break, pero hindi mo pwedeng palampasin 'to. This is a really big opportunity.

Napahilot si Bella sa sentido. Bakit parang may kutob siyang hindi niya magugustuhan 'to?

"Okay, spill."

📲 Manager Faye: TV show. Hosting gig.

Napakunot-noo siya. Hosting? Siya? Hindi naman siya madalas tumanggap ng hosting jobs—mas comfortable siya sa modeling at music. Pero kung TV show ito, siguradong malaki ang offer.

"Reality show?"

📲 Manager Faye: Yes. At hindi lang basta-basta. It's a dating reality show.

Napatawa si Bella sa hindi makapaniwalang tono. Hosting a dating show? Seriously?

"Ate, seriously? Gusto mong maging love guru ako?"

📲 Manager Faye: Not exactly. You'll just be guiding the contestants, reacting, and making the show fun. Hindi mo kailangang magbigay ng love advice... unless gusto mong gawin.

Pumikit siya sandali, iniisip kung paano niya io-offer ang sarili sa isang dating show nang hindi siya mapagtawanan ng fans niya. She was known for her savage attitude—kaya nga love ng netizens ang mga candid interviews niya.

"Okay, sino kasama ko?"

Nagkaroon ng ilang segundong katahimikan bago sumagot ang manager niya.

📲 Manager Faye: Si ano...

"Ano? Sino?"

📲 Manager Faye: Si... Sebastian Reyes

At doon, parang may pumutok na bubble sa isip ni Bella.

"Ano?! Si Basti?! Si Basti Reyes?

📲 Manager Faye: Yes.

Muntik nang mahulog ang phone niya. Napapikit ang mata niya, pinaglalaruan ba siya ng mga ito?

Hindi pwede makita niya ulit ang lalaking iyon!

"Ate, you cannot be serious. Ikaw mismo ang nakakaalam kung gaano ka-imposible 'yon."

📲 Manager Faye: That's exactly why it's perfect. Think about it. Bella and Basti, former rivals, hosting a dating show together? Iconic.

At doon siya tuluyang napatigil.

High school rivals.

Si Basti at siya ang tinuturing na pinakamatinding magkaribal noong high school. Magkaibang mundo, pero parehong competitive. Kahit saan sila magtagpo—debate, talent competitions, academics—parang laging nagbabanggaan. Wala halos ibang nakakaalam nito maliban sa kanilang managers.

At ngayon, gusto ng network na pagsamahin sila sa isang show na may kinalaman sa pag-ibig?

"Ate, bakit ako? Maraming ibang hosts diyan."

📲 Manager Faye: Because you and Basti are rising stars, and they think your chemistry will bring in ratings. You're known for your savage attitude. They want to see if you can apply that in a dating show.

Oh, great. Gusto siyang gawing Queen of Savage Love Advice?

Fantastic.

Basti

Samantala, sa kabilang panig ng siyudad, walang ibang iniisip si Basti Reyes kundi ang kanyang bakasyon. Wala siyang rehearsals, walang guestings, at walang interviews—isang rare na moment na pwede siyang mag-relax. Kaya he was in his gaming setup, happily playing, nang biglang tumunog ang phone niya.

Kahit hindi tumitingin, sinagot niya ito habang patuloy sa pag-click ng mouse.

"Yes bossing, anong ganap?" he asked as he put his headphones on the table.

📲 Manager Tom: May project tayo.

Project? Hmmmm.

"Sige, go. Kahit ano 'yan, game ako." Talaga lang! Dapat lang!

📲 Manager Tom: Reality dating show.

Biglang napahinto si Basti sa paggalaw ng mouse. Dating show? Wow, hindi niya 'yon inexpect.

"Uy, interesting. Ano ako dito, contestant? Pwede sana kaso ayoko munang mag jowa, Mikael. Alam mo-"

📲 Manager Tom: No. You're hosting.

Napangiti siya. 'Yon naman pala. Mas okay 'yon. Mas chill.

Oh, edi mas nice. May kasama ba ako? If meron, sino?"

Tahimik.

📲 Manager Tom: ...Bella Santiago.

Napatigil siya, napaatras sa upuan. Teka. Si Bella?!

"Wait. Si Isabel Santiago? 'Yung Bella na—"

📲 Manager Tom: Yes.

Napapikit si Basti bago huminga nang malalim.

Si Bella.

Ang karibal niya noong high school.

Hindi ito alam ng publiko, pero matagal nang may silent rivalry sila.

At ngayon, gusto ng network na gawing "perfect pair" sila sa isang dating show?

"Wow. Ewan ko lang ha kung papayag ang babaeng 'yun. Knowing that girl, she can be..."

📲 Manager Tom: Pumayag siya, Sebastian.

Aba! Pumayag naman pala, feel niya nagwawala na iyon sa bahay niya at puro rant sa mga tropa niya.

"Another wow! Sino bang may pakana nito?"

📲 Manager Tom: Network executives. They think your chemistry will bring in ratings. Pareho kayong sikat ngayon. Bella's iconic for her savage attitude, and you're known for being the heartthrob charmer. They want to see if you two will clash—or click.

Napangiti si Basti. Interesting. Gaano kaya katagal bago sila magbangayan ni Bella on air?

"At kelan tayo magkikita?"

📲 Manager Tom: Tomorrow. First meeting with the producers.

Huminga nang malalim si Basti bago tumawa.

"Tangina. This is gonna be chaotic."

Bella

Bella stared at her phone, her fingers tightening around the device. The idea of working with Sebastian Reyes—the one person who could still get under her skin even after all these years—made her want to launch her phone across the room.

Why him? Of all people, why him?

She stood up abruptly, pacing around her condo with her coffee still in hand.

📲 Manager Faye: Bella, I know this sounds crazy, but it's going to be huge. The audience loves drama, and you two? You're a gold mine for that.

She let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head.

"Right. Because the world wants to see me and Basti Reyes bicker on national TV."

📲 Manager Faye: Exactly.

Bella groaned, rubbing her temples. "I swear, 'pag nakita ko 'yang mga executives na 'yan, ipapakita ko sa kanila ang tunay na drama."

She knew she should decline. She should absolutely say no and walk away from this disaster before it even started. But something in her hesitated.

Hosting a reality show—especially one about love—was the last thing she expected to do. Yet, if she was being honest, part of her was intrigued. Not just by the challenge, but by the chance to go head-to-head with Basti again.

Would they still clash like before?

Or worse—would they get along?

That last thought sent an unsettling shiver down her spine.

📲 Manager Faye: So? Ano na? I'll tell them yes?

Bella sighed, staring at the city skyline.

"Fine. Pero kung magkaproblema 'to, Ate Faye, ikaw bahala sa damage control."

📲 Manager Faye: Noted, Queen Bella. See you tomorrow at the meeting.

Bella ended the call and exhaled slowly.

Tomorrow. She would see him tomorrow.

She gulped down the rest of her coffee.

Basti

Basti leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with a smirk playing on his lips.

Of all the people he could work with, bakit si Bella Santiago pa?

He should've guessed. Their history, their banters, their... whatever the hell they had—it was the kind of entertainment people ate up.

"Dating reality show, huh?" he muttered to himself. "So technically, trabaho ko 'to para panoorin ang mga tao maglandi?"

He chuckled at the thought.

Then again, the real entertainment wouldn't be the contestants.

It would be Bella.

How long would it take before she snapped at him? Before she gave him one of those fiery looks that could probably kill a man?

And why did that idea make him even more excited?

📲 Manager Tom: You good, bro? This is gonna be big.

Basti grinned.

"Oh, I know. I just hope Bella's ready."

The next day

The production meeting was held in a sleek studio conference room, filled with big-shot executives, producers, and staff. Bella arrived first, looking effortlessly stunning in an all-black ensemble. She sat at the far end of the long table, arms crossed, exuding her signature don't-mess-with-me aura.

She was calm. Prepared.

Naka-cross arms si Bella habang hinihigop ang iced coffee niya. She was not looking forward to this meeting.

Love Roulette? A dating show? Sure, maganda ang offer. Pero seryoso ba sila sa co-host niya?

She had a gut feeling na may mali.

And her gut feeling were never wrong.

Sakto, bumukas ang pinto.

And there he was.

Sebastian Reyes strolled in like he owned the place.

With his signature smirk, wearing a leather jacket, earrings glinting under the studio lights—at may pa-wink pa sa mga staffs bago pumasok.

Bella internally rolled her eyes. Of course. The same cocky bastard.

"Wow! Late ka pa rin pala, Reyes," she said flatly, not even bothering to look up.

Basti grinned, at tumabi sa kaniya sa upuan. "Missed me, Santiago?"

Bella took a slow sip of her coffee. "Like I'd miss a headache."

Narinig nila ang pigil na tawa ng ilang executives. Kahit sila, alam na ang history ng dalawa.

Once high school rivals.

Now, two of the biggest rising stars.

And soon, co-hosts of a national dating show.

"Ay, ang sungit pa rin," Basti teased, leaning back in his chair. "Kaya maraming naiilang sa'yo, eh."

Bella smirked. "And yet, here you are, sitting beside me."

"Hindi ko kasalanan na ako ang pinili nilang magdala ng chemistry sa show na 'to."

Bella faked a gasp. "Oh? May chemistry pala tayo?"

Basti leaned in, eyes playful but challenging. "You tell me."

Bella refused to back down, matching his gaze. "Wala. Walang chemistry."

Pinanuod lang sila ng producer na nakaupo sa harapan. "Looks like you two still have the same energy."

Bella scoffed. "Hindi po 'yun energy."

"Hindi ko in-expect na dito pa tayo magkikita ulit, Santiago," sabi ni Basti, nakangisi pa rin.

"Lalo naman ako! Pero kung gusto mong mag back-out, be my guest."

Tumawa si Basti, umiling. "Sorry, sweetheart, pero 'di ako umaatras sa challenge."

And she knows, the executives were eating this up.

She straightened her posture, forcing herself to focus. You're here for work, Bella. Don't let him get in your head.

Basti chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Relax, Queen B. Mag-eenjoy ka rin dito."

Basti

Sa totoo lang, sa lahat talaga ng pwedeng ka-collab niya, hindi niya in-expect na magiging co-host niya si Bella.

Kilala niya ito bilang top student, beauty queen noong high school. Hanggang ngayon, ganun pa rin ang ugali.

Tsk.

"Alright, let's talk about the format of Love Roulette."

Tumingin ang head producer sa kanilang dalawa. "You two are perfect for this project. We want natural banters, unexpected chemistry, and a little chaos para mas exciting."

"Bakit parang gusto niyang awayin ko siya on-air?" sarkastikong tanong ni Bella, sabay irap sa kaniya.

Aba, ang babae!

"Because people love tension, Bella," sagot ng producer, nakangiti.

"Plus, gusto ng audience makita kung may slow burn chemistry din ba kayo like the contestants," dagdag ng isa pang executive.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Hindi ako naniniwala sa slow burn."

"Bakit, Santiago?" Basti smirked. "Mas gusto mo tung fast burn?"

Napairip si Bella. "Mas gusto kong sunugin ka ngayon."

Natawa si Basti. "Ayan! Ganyan ang gusyo ng audience."

Napahawak si Bella sa sentido, kita sa mukha niya ang inis. First meeting pa lang, gusto na niyang mag resign.

Pero kahit inis siya, may isang bagay na hindi niya maitatanggi.

Mabilis na mapalapit si Basti kahit kanino.

At iyon ang pinaka-ayaw niyang mangyari sa sarili niya.

The Deal

Matapos ang mahigit isang oras na pagpapaliwanag ng kung ano anong gagawin sa show, nagpaalam na ang mga executives.

Bago lumbas, tinapik ni Basti ang lamesa at ngumiti kay Bella. "So, ready ka na bang maging partner ko, Santiago?"

Bella smirked. "Mas ready akong gulatin ka on-air, Reyes."

"Can't wait."

This will be fun.

Or a total disaster.

Either way, the game has begun.