JASIA hurried inside her car to drive toward Xibel's haunted-looking mansion. It was past a week after they had their agreement. That week, she barely got her sleep. It wasn't because she was busy, but because it was still surreal that the man she had a deal with was a fictional character.

But what was done is done.

Sinilip niya muna ang sarili sa rear view mirror at inayos ang pink na head band na suot sa naka-pony tail niyang buhok. Pagkatapos ay nagsimula na siyang mag-drive.

Natapos na rin niyang ihain ang mga papeles na kakailanganin sa adoption at sa pagpapa-enroll niya kay Imris sa isang pre-school. Papunta na siya ngayon upang ihatid si Imris sa magiging paaralan nito.

Magpapatugtog na sana siya sa kaniyang phone nang bigla itong mag-ring. It was her secretary.

"Hello? What is it?" saad niya pagkatapos pindutin ang answer button.

"Miss Cecora, are you already going to your pretend-husband's home? Kakarating ko lang kasi sa bahay niyo at wala kayo."

"Yes. I'm on my way. Do you need something?" She pressed the brake when she reached the intersection and found the traffic light green. The people started crossing the pedestrian lane just in front of her car.

"I just want to inform you the change of schedule for your performance this coming week. It will be Saturday, instead of Friday. President Lan also notified me yesterday that she wants you to attend the upcoming company anniversary's ball."

"I see." Nagsimula na siyang magmaneho ulit. "She also texted me last night."

Perti Lan or President Lan is the head of the Portal Shoe Ballet Company. Taon-taon, ang kompanya ay palaging nagdadaos ng ball para ipagdiwang ang anibersaryo nito. Pero sa loob ng mga taong naging parte siya ng kompanya, isang beses lang siyang dumalo. Hindi na nasundan pa ang pagdalo niya sa una niyang taon matapos ng isang pangyayari.

"Will you attend this year?"

"Pag-iisipan ko pa." Lumiko siya sa mabatong daanan. Pinasok niya ang kalsadang inabanduna na dulot ng panibagong daanang pinatayo ng gobyerno.

"All right. Also, the media will pay more attention to you, so please, be careful all the time. Take care, Miss Cecora."

"I will." She ended the call and fasten her ride. Nang mahagilap na niya ang kaisa-isang bahay sa gitna ng matatayog na mga puno ng manga, hininaan na niya ang takbo.

She stopped in front of his house.

Lumabas na siya pero bago niya maisipang kumatok, pinagmasdan niya muna ang labas ng bahay. Wala man lang tarangkahan ang malaki nitong mansyon. Ang mga patay na halamang nakapaligid ang tangi lang nagsisilbing hangganan ng teritoryo nito.

She wanted to know more about Xibel, but when she asked about him from Isabella, she was shut out. She wouldn't believe her.

"I think I need to bring her here some other time to believe me." She sighed and knocked on the door.

Kaagad itong bumukas. Ang akala niya'y nakatayo sa harapan ng pinto ang bumukas, subalit nakatayo pala ito ng ilang metro mula sa kaniya.

How did he open it?

"Did you use your magic to open this door?" tanong niya. Inikot niya ang mga mata sa paligid. She wasn't able to glance around the last time she got here for she was too focused on the deal.  Now that she wasn't feeling any sense of urgency, she could perfectly see how the place complimented the man staring at him with disgust.

What's his problem?

"Our deal is for you to come here at eight in the morning. It's still seven." Tumalikod ito sa kaniya at umupo sa sofa nitong kakaiba ang disenyo. Purong mga buto na hindi siya sigurado kung totoo ba o ito'y mga peke lang. Kahit na ganoon, komportable naman siyang upuan.

Hindi niya pa narinig nang maayos ang boses nito dahil bukod sa may kalayuan ang lalaki, hindi rin kalakasan ang boses nito.

"Imris' class will start at 8:30. First day niya ngayon kaya mas magandang mas maaga siya." Pumasok na siya sa loob. Inayos niya muna ang kaniyang pink A-line dress bago umupo sa kaharap nitong sofa. "Where's Imris? Ready na ba siya?"

Hinintay niya itong sumagot pero nanatili lang itong tahimik. Hindi pa ito nakatingin sa kaniya. His body facing right with his armed crossed was already enough to tell he didn't want to talk to her.

She just shrugged and didn't mind his elusive nature.

"By the way, it's not impossible the people will find this place soon, Xibel. Kaya wa-warning-an na kita na may posibilidad na may mga aaligid sa bahay na 'to to get a scope about our relationship." She put both her hands on her lap. "At oo nga pala, nakalimutan kong sabihin na I registered Imris under my name. Ako lang din ang registered na guardian niya."

"What?" Kumunot ang noo nito. Halata sa boses ang pagkairita pero hindi pa rin nito nilingon.

"You don't have any identity dito which leave me no choice but to do that. But don't worry, she is just under my name." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Hindi ko siya kukunin sa 'yo at mananatili siya sa 'yo. Nakapag-usap na rin kami ni Ma'am Lisa sa orphanage tungkol dito."

Matapos niya iyong sabihin, hindi na ito sumagot pa. Tumahimik na rin siya. Gusto niya sanang aliwin ang sarili sa pagtitingin ng mga antique na mga kagamitin pati na sa mga kakaibang guhit na nasa bawat haligi ng mansiyon pero napunta sa mukha ng lalaki ang kaniyang atensyon. Hindi niya mapigilang titigan ang mga nahuhulog na patay na bulaklak nito sa mukha.

The continous sprouting and falling of dead flowers pictured a never-ending cry. Petals were like tears, and the roots stuck on his bone birthed grief—it was grieving, and sad. His whole gloomy appearance made her think about the reason why he was designed like that.

Why did Isabella give him an inhumane face? Was it because he was the villain?

"Stop staring at my face, disgusting woman."

Napakurap siya nang bigla itong nagsalita. Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito pero kaagad ding nagsalubong ang kaniyang kilay.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" Pinilig niya ang kaniyang ulo. "Did you call me disgusting? In what part do I look disgusting to you?"

He took a quick glance at her before standing up. "Your whole existence."

For the second time, she was surprised. Her eyebrow arched as she started clutching the cloth on her dress. Seriously, what was his problem? As far as she could remember, she was just sitting peacefully in his mansion without saying anything offending, so how come she was suddenly a disgusting woman?

"I don't know what you--"

"Papa!"

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang marinig ang boses ni Imris. Sabay sila ni Xibel na napaangat ng tingin upang tingnan ang bata na masayang bumababa sa hagdan habang dala-dala sa likod ang backpack nito. Nang mahagip siya nito, kaagad na sumilay ang ngiti nito sa labi.

"Ate Jasia!" Tumakbo ito papalapit sa kaniya. Kaagad naman niya itong kinarga at pinaupo sa kaniyang lap.

"You should start calling me mom from now on." She tucked some strand on her hair.

"Huh? " Pinilig nito ang ulo. "You're my mama now?"

Tumango siya.

Ang nalilito nitong mukha ay mabilis na napilitan ng tuwa. Tumalon ito pababa at tumakbo papalapit kay Xibel. Siya naman ang nalito. Why was she running towards his father?

"Papa, I love you!" Yayakapin na sana nito ang ama pero nilapat ni Xibel ang palad sa noo nito dahilan upang matigil.

"No. I didn't reconsider your request last time," Xibel said and looked at Imris. "Don't make any assumptions."

Imris just giggled and went back to her. Umupo ito sa kaniyang tabi. "Mama, are you really my mama now?"

"Yup." Nakangiti niyang pinagmasdan ang mukha ni Imris. Her mud-like eyes reminded her of someone.

"Does that mean you and Papa . . ." Tumayo ito sa sofa at bumulong sa kaniyang tainga. ". . . are together?"

Natawa naman siya. She did not need to whisper that in her ear because it was still loud enough for Xibel to hear.

Pinisil niya ang malaman nitong pisngi. Though plump, the trace of famish was still evident on her face. Imris' body was also way smaller like how a four-year old should look like. She needed more nourishment.

"Just for the mean time, Imris."

"Will you be here all the time?"

"I'll be fetching you to school every day, so most probably."

"Yey!" Tinaas nito ang dalawang kamay at masayang tumalon pababa ng sofa. Hinawakan nito ang kaniyang kamay upang hilahin siya palabas. "Let's go, Mama!"

"Okay. Okay. Calm down for a moment," natatawa niyang sabi bago tumayo at nagpatangay sa patalon-talong lakad ng bata.

Nang makarating sa pinto, tumigil muna ito saglit at nilingon si Xibel.

"Bye-bye, Papa!" Imris waved.

Nilingon niya rin si Xibel na nananatili pa ring nakatalikod sa kanila. Hanggang sa tuluyan silang makalabas ay hindi ito lumingon.

"Your dad is really cold, 'no?" she commented.

Nagpakawala naman ng isang maliit na tawa ang bata. "Papa just don't like people."

"Is that so?" Halata nga namang ayaw nito sa mga tao. Kung paano pa lang siya nito tatruhin, malinaw pa sa salamin na ayaw nitong makipag-usap sa kaniya. "And you seem to be good in the English language. Who taught you?"

No'ng nakaraan niya pa napapansin ang pananalita ng bata. Despite not getting into school, Imris most of the time spoke in English.

"Mama Lisa taught me because Mama Hester wants us to be good at it."

"Hmm. I see." Tumango naman siya. Pumasok na sila sa kotse at kaagad itong pinaharurot papunta sa paaralan.

MEANWHILE, naiwan si Xibel sa loob ng bahay. Saka lang siya lumingon nang marinig ang pagsara ng pinto. Doon lang din siya nakahinga nang maluwag.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo dahil nararamdaman niya pa ang panginginig ng kaniyang mga tuhod. Ang mga palad niya sa kamay ay patuloy pa rin sa pamamawis. Even with that distance, he could still get a panic attack. It was only a short time, but in those moment, he wished nothing but for the woman to leave.

"I want to sleep," he murmured as he flew his way up to his room. Iyon pa lang pero naubos na kaagad ang lakas niya.

And to think he had to deal with her every day.

Heavens and curses. Women are such a pain.

Handa na siyang buksan ang pinto ng kaniyang kuwarto subalit biglang sumulpot si Stone. No'ng nakaraang linggo pa niya ito inutusang maghanap ng mga orphanage na nalalapit sa dalampasigan. Sana'y may magandang balita itong dala.

"I have returned, my lord." Yumuko ito bilang pagbati.

Pinihit niya pabukas ang pinto. "Speak what you've found quick."

"There is an ocean west in this city, my lord. I went there and asked the locals to find an orphanage." Tinaas nito ang paningin. "I have found one. However, the orphanage had long been closed."

"The building of that orphanage . . ." He glanced at his follower. "Is it still intact?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Good. I'll see for myself what that orphanage looks like," saad niya bago nag-umpisang pumasok ng kuwarto.

The orphanage Stone found might be the orphanage where Imris' mother left her. Sisiguraduhin niyang pupuntahan niya ang lugar na iyon upang makakalap pa ng impormasyon, pero sa ngayon, magpapahinga muna siya. His nerves were still shaking like a rattled bell.

"By the way, my lord. Where is Imris? I can't feel her presence in the house." Nagtatanong ang mga mata nito.

"She's with Jasia."

"Jasia?!" napasigaw ito. Stone was taken aback. "Isn't that--"

"No. It's not her. And don't dare speak her name," he warned.

"My apology, my lord, but I don't seem to understand." Pinilig nito ang ulo.

"Go inside the kitchen and let Arator explain it for you. I'm going into slumber. Don't disturb me." Tinulak niya pabukas ang pinto.

"Have a good rest, my lord. I hope you won't see Celestialiana in your dreams today."

His forehead creased after hearing it. He was more than clear in saying not to mention her name, but this dumb follower of his really knew how to piss him off. Now, he had her image in mind.

Pinili na lang niyang huwag nang sumagot pa at padabog na sinara ang pinto.

Hinubad niya ang kaniyang sutana dahil sa kaniyang pamamawis bago itapon ang sarili sa kama. Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang mga mata gamit ang braso.

It was still morning but a woman had already ruined his day. And now that he was about to sleep, his sanity would crack open the second time around.

And still because of a woman.