05

Chapter 05

Habang inaarrange ang apartment kung saan temporary kami titira ni Phinea, we decided to stay with my in-laws.

According to the traditions of both families, two months after the wedding, we would stay at the bride's family mansion for one month and then move to the groom's family.

"Guest room?" I asked again. My mother-in-law said she was preparing the guest room for me. Bakit sa guest room?

"Don't worry, mother-in-law. I'm okay sleeping in the same room with Phinea. We're married," I said and give a glanced at Phinea and asked if I could sleep in her room.

I saw Phinea looking at her parents and then at me. She shyly nodded and I just smiled.

"See? Phinea is okay with it."

I wanted to laugh at my in-laws' reactions; it was obvious they wanted Phinea and me to sleep separately. That wouldn't happen while we were in that mansion kahit wala din kami sa mansion nila magiistay pa din ako sa room kasama ni Phinea.

"Come on, Phinea, help me organize my things," I said, taking her hand.

"There are maids here who can help you organize your things, Victor," Peregrine replied habang naglalakad kami ni Phinea paakyat ng hagdan.

"It's fine; I don't want anyone else touching my stuff," I shot back as I climbed the stairs with Phinea.

Even when Phinea and I were married, I had never been inside her room dahil naalala ko sa guestroom ako ng mansion ng mga Lawson nag-stay after ng kasal namin ni Phinea.

Phinea's room was clean with many books on the bookshelves, a pen and a laptop.

"So... Sorry, I'm just going to tidy up a bit."

Phinea hurried to the bed and picked up the scattered books. I just laughed and sat on the bed and tinanong kung kailangan niya ng tulong.

"You really like books. Can I borrow them sometimes?" I asked, looking at Phinea. She nodded slightly and said she didn’t mind.

I was now standing in front of Phinea's open closet. She had very few clothes, including the ones she brought with her to the resort.

It seemed she wore only one type of dress for both indoors and outdoors.

"Is... Is there a problem?"

I looked over. I saw Phinea looking worriedly at me. I smiled and said there was too much space in her closet for my clothes.

"No need to open the drawer."

I would call my sister soon; I needed her help buying new clothes for Phinea.

—

I woke up in the middle of the night and immediately felt scared because there was someone in my room with me.

That person was hugging me and pressing his body against mine.

"Let's sleep some more, Phinea."

I blinked and slightly lifted my gaze while wrapped in the blanket.

Right— I was married and the guy next to me in bed was Victor Difabio. It was the fourth day I had been with him in the same room and every night— my cheeks flushed as I shyly looked down.

Even at that moment, I still couldn't believe I was married. It all felt like a dream, especially these past few days when Victor had been so kind to me.

I tightened my grip on the white blanket wrapped around me. I wondered to myself if I deserved such treatment from Victor— I wasn't like Peregrine.

"I'm scared," I whispered. I mentioned that when I should have kept it to myself. A moment later, I felt Victor move and pull away slightly.

I froze and looked up. Victor was awake and looking at me.

"What are you thinking? Do you want to talk and share what’s on your mind?" Victor asked. I couldn't speak and held the blanket tightly. Hindi sa mukhang curious siya mukhang nagtatanong siya dahil nag-aalala siya sa akin at sa idea na natatakot akom

"It's fine; I'll wait," Victor whispered, laying me down in his arms. He hugged me tightly and rested my head on his chest.

All my negative thoughts seemed to fly away when I inhaled Victor's natural scent and was overwhelmed by the sound of his heartbeat. He was so warm.

I had never felt comfortable being held by anyone because no one had ever tried to hug me like that but Victor was different. He was the first person to hug me and share his warmth with me.

A moment later, I heard Victor humming and gently patting my back. No one had ever shown me such concern like Victor did.

I was scared because I knew that— this warmth wasn't meant for me.

I didn't want to think of anything else. For now, it was better to enjoy those moments while I still had Victor's favor and he wasn't tired of me yet.

I didn't notice when I fell asleep, and I woke up in the morning. When I opened my eyes, Victor wasn't beside me.

I got up and saw I was still in my pajamas, looking like Victor had dressed me again.

I grimaced as I swung my feet to the floor; my hips ached. My cheeks flushed at the thought that I hadn’t felt that pain during our night activities and now it was torturing myself in the morning. How could that be?

Victor wasn't in my room and I was starting to feel hungry. I opened my bedroom door and held onto the wall as I walked down the stairs.

I paused when I saw Peregrine in the living room and my expression soured immediately when she saw me. I averted my gaze and tried to ignore her.

She probably wouldn't hurt me, right? She was nice when we were in front of Victor. She wouldn't leave a mark on my body that Victor would see. Ayoko iba isipin sa akin ni Victor or mawalan siya sa akin ng gana. Kailangan ko ingatan ang katawan ko.

I headed straight to the kitchen, trying to avoid her.

"You must be so happy? You've caught Victor's attention. Tell me, what did you do?" Peregrine asked. She said that she was underestimating me.

"Probably just good in bed," Peregrine said, laughing. I gripped the fridge handle tightly and look down. Hindi totoo iyon.

I didn't say anything and opened the fridge to find something to eat. In this family, I felt worthless and insignificant.

Peregrine is my twin sister but for some reason, my parents hated me and many people looked down on me. Lagi nila ako kinukumpara kay Peregrine.

Peregrine was the best and everything good went to her, while I— remained in her shadow, hidden in the darkness.

"Don't get too carried away, Phinea. You might forget what kind of person Victor is and who he was before you two got together," Peregrine said and I gripped the glass tightly.

Like Peregrine, Victor was supposed to stand in the spotlight, watched by everyone and adored.

I looked at my reflection in the water in the glass. Victor was so different from me.

Bumalik si Victor at may mga dala na pagkain. He saw me in the kitchen but before siya makalapit sa akin, I left, saying I wasn't hungry anymore.

I trembled as I climbed back to my room, trying to hold back tears after realizing na hindi kami bagay ni Victor.

I didn't deserve Victor and it was wrong for me to be matched with him. On paper, we were married, and that arrangement was decided by our families.

Before the wedding, Victor hated me and had no plans to marry me, let alone fall in love.

When Phinea went upstairs, Victor sensed that something was wrong. He silently stood in the kitchen, putting down the food he had bought for Phinea. Hindi niya sinundan ang babae.

"I'm sorry about my sister's behavior. She can be moody sometimes," Peregrine said as she got up from the sofa and walked toward the kitchen to comfort Victor, but—

"It doesn't mean that just because I’m quiet, I’m not noticing, Peregrine. Take this as my warning— don’t let me catch you abusing Phinea, physically or mentally—"

Victor turned to Peregrine, his expression dark, saying he wouldn't promise to just stand by and do nothing.

Peregrine froze when Victor looked at her with disgust and anger in his eyes.

Carrying the tray of food, Victor went upstairs. Peregrine bit her nails, wondering if Phinea had complained to Victor or said anything about her.

"Phinea," Peregrine said with emphasis, glaring angrily at the stairs. Iniisip ng babae maaari may sinabi si Phinea kay Victor.

When Victor entered Phinea's room, he found her sitting on the bed, pressed against the headboard.

"I know you're hungry. Eat while it's still warm."

Victor asked if Phinea was feeling unwell. Phinea said she wanted to be alone.

Phinea curled up, hugging her knees, turning her gaze away from Victor.

She tightly shut her eyes, sure that Victor would be upset and start pulling away from her. She had a nasty personality.

After three minutes, the only sound she heard was the clattering of the spoon and when she looked over at Victor— he was sitting at the edge of the bed, eating.

He didn't make any noise or try to talk to her after she said she wanted to be alone.

"Don’t try to kick me out of this room. We're husband and wife now; we're supposed to stick by each other's side. If you want to be alone, I’ll stay quiet and just sit here." Hihintayin niya kumalma si Phinea at sabihin nito ano ang problema.

Phinea swallowed hard and gripped the bed sheet tightly. Trembling, she apologized, causing Victor to look at her.

"If you’re calm down now, come sit here and let’s eat. This soup is still hot," Victor said, patting the side of the bed.

Phinea crawled closer to him and got down from the bed. Victor's expression softened as he handed her his share of the food.

One week after Victor and Phinea’s wedding, Victor needed to return to work.

"I'll try to come home earlier, so don’t miss me too much," Victor joked, raising his phone.

"Call me anytime you need something or even if you don't," Victor said, sitting on the edge of the bed while Phinea leaned against the headboard, holding her phone.

Earlier, they had exchanged contacts and Victor had entered his number into Phinea's phone himself. This time sa ulo na ni Victor ang number ni Phinea. Even mawala ang phone niya hindi niya makakalimutan number ng babae.

"W... Will you be going out... on TV again?" Phinea asked. Victor glanced at her and nodded.

"Yes, if I get the male lead in the next drama I plan to work on," Victor replied. Phinea gripped her phone tightly and looked down.

"I... I'm sure you'll get it," Phinea whispered. Victor smiled and thanked her. Sigurado si Victor makukuha niya iyon since si Phinea na din ang nagsabi.

—

"Why do you suddenly want to reduce your workload? One drama for the whole month and seven commercials? Do you think you'll become the best actor with that kind of work schedule!" my manager shouted. I ignored him and looked at one of my scripts that he had recommended. Lahat iyon patapon at iba ay magkakaroon ng issue before and after ng drama.

As long as I had memories from my past life, I would become the best actor. With my talent and the quality of the drama, I could achieve that in just two years.

"If you think I'm lacking in talent and can't do it just with my talent, you can resign," I replied coldly. My manager left in anger, saying I would regret it.

"If it weren't for me, you'd still be one of those actors who just rely on their looks!"

My manager slammed the door and said he was resigning. It was better this way; I didn't have to resort to any bad tricks to make him leave.

Emotionlessly, I stared at the door my manager had exited through. When Phinea was gone and our true relationship came to light, my manager used my downfall to promote the new actor he was managing after resigning as my manager.

That’s when I found out he was an agent paid by Peregrine's boyfriend to keep me in check and all the failed projects were being directed toward me.

Considering my goal of becoming the best actor, I prioritized quantity over quality. To make it work, I took on all kinds of dramas and characters to earn the best actor title.

"The f*ck!"

I blinked when I saw Jack and Dion. Jack asked what happened, looking like I was about to kill someone. Sinabi ni Jack na muntikan na siya mawalan ng malay dahil sa takot. Masyado oa.

"We saw your manager in the corridor and he was crying while talking to some agents. What’s going on?" Jack asked, closing the door.

I explained that my manager had submitted his resignation letter because I wasn't willing to accept only one drama a month and seven commercials.

Jack and Dion sat down on the sofa, saying that was the right move.

"All these years, you’ve focused on your work, and it’s not normal to be working on three dramas in a month," Jack said, laughing, saying he was sure he would win the best actor award now.

"Sorry to tell you, but it's still mine," I said, continuing to check the scripts. Dion just laughed and patted Jack on the shoulder. Wala ako balak baguhin ang goal ko.

"If Victor is still aiming for the best actor award, you have no chance."

When I finished reading all the scripts, I put them down and stood up. I grabbed my jacket, car keys and phone.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Jack asked when he saw me leaving.

"I don't have a manager anymore, so I'm going to the producer I know to ask for a schedule and scripts. Kailangan ko magtrabaho."

With a smile, I walked out of my office. I would get the best drama of the year and give my all to my acting while spoiling my little dandelion.