When I woke up the next day, the fierce sun rays are enough for me to realize it's late already. Tirik na tirik na ang araw at laking pagtataka ko kung bakit inaabot ako ng sikat ng araw sa aking kinahihigaan.

Didn't I close the balcony's door?

But as I roamed my eyes around the place, that's when I realized I'm not in the master's bedroom. I'm in the guest room where Chaos is staying. 

I tried to remember what happened last night. I don't know how long we stayed in that position. Chaos didn't ask about the things I said until I dozed off to sleep while my head was leaning on his shoulder and our hands were clasped together. Sa ganoong posisyon ako nakatulog.

Muli kong inilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng silid. Bahagya akong napangiwi nang walang bakas ni Chaos na nakita sa loob ng silid. He probably left already. 

I stood and tidied the bed before leaving the room. Lumipat ako sa silid namin ni Chaos at doon nag-ayos ng sarili bago tuluyang bumaba. 

I'm lazily descending the stairs while thinking of the things I'll do today. I'll cook Chaos's lunch again and probably visit the hospital. It's been a while since the last time I visited.

Nang tuluyan akong nakababa ay agad akong dumiretso sa dining room. I'm thinking of the dish I'll cook later when I saw Chaos at the countertop, preparing... breakfast?

It's already office hours. What is he still doing here? He's not usually eating here, even breakfast these past few weeks so...

Mabilis siyang sumulyap sa akin nang maramdaman ang aking presensya. Agad namang bumalik ang atensyon niya sa ginagawa. 

I thought he'd ignore me like what he's used to when he spoke.

"Have you eaten your dinner?" he asked but in a slightly distant voice. Well at least he asked. "Last night?" pahabol niya.

Dinner? Bumuka ang aking mga labi ngunit bahagyang nagtagal ang aking sagot dahil sa bahagyang pagkabigla. "I... forgot." 

"You always remember to cook for me yet you forgot that you need to eat?" He sounded like he's scolding me like... he cares.

I parted my lips even though I don't know what to answer. Nahihiwagaan ako sa inaakto niya. After three weeks, this is the first time he talked to me without me forcing him first.

"I forgot because I waited for you yet you're done on your dinn-"

I cleared my throat when I realized that sounds very Marcia. Not Rieselle. 

"I mean, I won't let it happen again. I'm sorry."

There. 

"Let's have our breakfast," he muttered instead. He placed the plates on the table with the food he's preparing earlier.

With still hesitant moves, I slowly sat down on the chair beside him. 

"The wedding organizers emailed me about the schedule of getting my suit's measurements today," sambit niya matapos ang ilang minutong nasa pagkain ang aking atensyon. 

Ngayon 'yon? I heaved a sigh when I remembered it was rescheduled because he failed to go the last time.

"If you don't have any other commitments, you can come with me and let's visit the designer for our wedding."

I blinked. Visit— "T–the what?"

The designer! And what? For our wedding?! 

I don't know what made me froze from where I am sitting. Kung doon sa sinabi niyang bibisitahin namin ang designer, which is m–me. Or because he's planning to attend our supposed commitments today for our wedding.

"The designer. The organizers said she has a boutique that we can visit anytime."

The owner must not be there! Hindi naman laging nandoon ang may-ari ng boutique kaya—

Tila nabasa ni Chaos ang nasa isip ko kaya't muli siyang nagsalita.

"According to Ms. De Leon, the one assigned for the attires, just inform her when we want to visit and she'll tell the owner to meet us."

That's Clarita! At kailan pa sila nagkausap?! How the hell can I meet them? 

If he isn't in front of me, I'm already massaging my temples. Good God. 

Marahan kong naibaba ang mga kubyertos at bumaling sa kanyang direksyon. "T–that's scheduled for today, right?" I asked using my soft voice.

"Hmm. But if you're busy, I can go alone—" 

"Yes. Yes. You should," agarang sagot ko dahilan kung bakit naputol ang salita niya. I pressed my lips and calmed myself. "I have an appointment for the whole day. I'm sorry I can't come." Mas kalmadong sagot ko. 

"Alright. I'll inform Ms. De Leon after our breakfast."

I nibbled my lower lip and slowly nodded at him. Alanganin ko siyang nginitian bago nag-iwas ng tingin.

Good thing he didn't ask about where I'll go.

Going with him is a big opportunity to fix our relationship but how can I go when it's me he'll meet? I mean, Marcia? 

The breakfast ended peacefully. Hindi na nasundan ang usapan namin. He informed Clarita and she called me after a few minutes, saying Chaos, the groom, wants to meet me. 

And I agreed. I'll make sure Chaos will meet Marcia later then. 

Nang umalis si Chaos sa condo, ilang minuto lang ay sumunod na rin ako. I'll surely be late. I need to go to Flavio's condo first and be Marcia. I can't use the car I'm using too. I'll probably use Flavio's car or ride a cab.

I'm already inside the elevator of the building where Flavio's unit is in when a call from him came.

I still answered. "Hey—"

"Have you opened your social media?" Bungad niya. There's a hint of worry in his voice. 

I walked out of the elevator the moment it opened. I tilted my head. "Huh? I'm not usually using—" I shut my eyes off when he interfered again.

"You should. Where are you? You should stay—"

"What the hell's happening?" Bahagyang iritado na sambit ko. "Why the hell are you cutting my words?"

I instantly typed in the the code of his condo. Hindi pa ako natatapos ay bumukas na iyon at bumungad sa akin si Flavio. 

I ended the call as my brows creased. "Why are you here? Sinong bantay sa ospital?" 

"I'll go back there. May kinuha lang ako," he muttered though he went inside too, following me when I went in.

"How is he doing?" I glanced at him.

"Just visit him," mariing sambit ni Flavio.

I nodded. "I will."

Bumungad sa akin ang living room at ang tatlo sa mga tauhan ni Dad. 

"Marsh!" They greeted when they saw me. Sumaludo si Emil habang tumango naman ang dalawa sa akin. 

"Sila ba ang nagbabantay dito? When you're not here?" I asked Flavio as I continue walking towards my room. 

Habang si Flavio, nakasunod rin sa akin. "Yes. I'm always at the hospital. That's why we really need them here."

I turned to him and eyed him. "Siguraduhin mong wala silang ginagawang kabalastugan."

He nodded and let out a low chuckle. "We can trust them."

I tsked. "Bahala ka." Dumiretso ako sa aking silid. I instantly went in my closet and picked the kind of clothes I'm comfortable with. 

I shut the door of the walk in closet when I realized Flavio's inside my room. I changed my dress into a beige sleeveless turtleneck top, just tight enough to hug my body and paired it with black high waist trousers and heels.

I went out of my closet and walked towards the vanity mirror and sat in front of it. I started applying makeup I'm usually wearing. But this time instead of bold red, I applied nude lipstick to pair with my neutral black smokey eye shadow. I tied my blonde gray hair in a neat low ponytail and started curling the end of it.

"Where are you going? Why don't you look at this first?" Nakasunod pa rin pala sa akin si Flavio. At noon ko naalalang may sinasabi nga pala siya. 

He handed me his phone. Agad ko namang tinanggap iyon at tinignan ang sinasabi niya. 

I stared at his phone while trying to understand what's in there. Unti unting kumunot ang aking noo. 

It was a post in social media with different photos of me. Hindi naman maipagkakaila na hindi ako 'yon! 

The first two were both inside a club. Magkaiba ang damit na suot ko sa dalawang larawan kaya't masasabi rin na magkaibang araw kinunan iyon. I'm wearing bold make up in those two. Habang ang isa, nakangisi pa ako habang nasa wine glass ang mga mata. 

In the third and last photos, I'm both wearing corporate dress while going inside the Serrano company. Elegantly smiling with my almost natural makeup.

And what's worst is what's written in the caption. "The Serrano heiress is a two faced bitch?"

My eyes darted at Flavio. "Serrano heiress?" I blinked. "A two faced bitch? They're barking at the wrong tree." 

A lot shared the photo and some even created their own post about the pictures! 

"The one on the pictures, it's you, Marcia." Tila pinapaalala ni Flavio na para bang hindi ko naintindihan ang nabasa ko.

I blinked at him. "Obviously," I stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"The more you should stay home and not..." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang aking kabuuan at matapos ay napailing. "Where are you even going?"

"I'll meet Chaos," I stated while tilting my face in front of the mirror, surveying my makeup.

"With that..." Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin.

"He wants to meet the designer at his wedding," I nonchalantly answered as I continued what I'm doing.

"And you'll meet him? How about Rieselle?" 

Napahinto ako. I looked at him through the mirror. He's standing behind me with a frown in his forehead. Halatang tutol sa ginagawa ko. 

"What about her?" I asked with a mockery in my tone. "You think Marcia can meet Chaos when he's with Rieselle?"

He peers into my gaze, still through the mirror. "Yes," mariing sambit niya.

"But not today." The corner of my lip rose for a smirk. "It's just Marcia for now."

I left Flavio's condo and used his car in exchange for mine. I quickly glanced at my phone. I'm not late. Chaos just left early. I slid my phone back in the pocket of my trousers. Pinaglandas ko ang aking kamay sa itim na buhok. 

I bought a wig and wore it when I remembered my hair on my way towards my boutique. 

My hair color isn't usual. I should be Marcia and not Rieselle. It will be too much of a coincidence when even our hair color will look the same.

I tied the black wig in a low ponytail, just the same as my hair earlier. I went out of Flavio's car upon securing my hair. 

My eyes darted at the name of my boutique before entering.

The Estelle. 

I smirked and pushed the door. Bright lighting made the whole place alive. Ilang customer din ang naroon at namimili. One of my staff instantly saw and greeted me.

"Good morning," I greeted back. At tila narinig ng iba pang staff ang boses ko kahit pa hindi naman iyon gaanong malakas, dahilan kung bakit sunod-sunod na ang bati sa akin habang papalapit ako sa counter. 

At the couch near the counter, that's when I saw my manager talking to Clarita and Chaos. But because of the other staffs' greetings, nakaharap na ang tatlo sa aking direksyon at tila naghihintay sa aking paglapit. 

It was Chaos who first met my eyes but my lips remained in a line, pressed unto each other. 

Agad na natabunan ang kanyang mga mata nang sinalubong ako ng manager ko. 

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning," I flatly greeted before I glanced at Chaos and Clarita behind my boutique manager. 

"Shall we go to my office?" I pointed at the door of my office using my palm. 

Chaos nodded a bit while his eyes were fixed on me. I turned my back on them and started walking towards my office.

Sumunod ang dalawa sa akin at hinarap ko sila nang pare-parehas kaming nakapasok sa aking opisina.

This isn't as large as the office in the company but not too small. Just enough to accommodate some visitors and clients.

"You should have waited for me with Mr. Zaldivar here, Rita," sambit ko nang tuluyang maisara ni Clarita ang pinto ng aking opisina. 

"I'm fine outside, Miss..." Chaos trailed off, urging me to continue as he doesn't know how to address me. 

I haven't introduced myself yet. "Oh! Marcia Estelle, Mr. Zaldivar." I stretched my hand in front of him for a handshake.

"Marcia Estelle. Even your name sounds the same with my fiancee," he whispered with his eyes fixed on mine. Para bang hindi niya maialis sa akin ang mga mata. 

There's something in his eyes that I can't explain. 

I blinked. "Sorry?"

But instead of answering, he accepted my hand and shook it a bit. "Chaos Zaldivar."

__________