Chapter 2

Lumabas si Paula mula sa HR office na may malaking ngiti sa mukha. Hindi siya makapaniwala—sa wakas, mukhang nagbubunga na ang lahat ng pinaghirapan niya. Hawak-hawak niya ang schedule at budget na nakuha niya, at ramdam na ramdam niya ang excitement sa buong katawan. Parang ang sarap na magtagumpay, at parang ang lahat ay papunta na sa tamang direksyon. Ang mga plano nila ay may patutunguhan.

She hurriedly waved down a taxi, her heart racing with the thoughts of the upcoming days. The wind ruffled her hair as she stared out the window, thinking of the steps ahead. She would make sure Akihiro Conjuangco fell for her, and Amara’s life would change. In the end, everything would fall into place. All it took was a little charm and a lot of careful planning.

Pagdating sa apartment ni Amara, hindi na siya nag-abala pang kumatok—diretso siyang pumasok at agad niyang niyakap si Amara, na nagulat sa biglaang pagdating ng kaibigan.

“Paula! Oh my gosh!” masayang sigaw ni Amara, tapos bigla siyang tumayo at niyakap siya pabalik. “Ano nangyari? Ikwento mo na lahat!”

Paula beamed, holding up the schedule and budget she had just picked up. “I got the job! I’m officially the secretary of Akihiro Conjuangco!” Her voice cracked with excitement.

“Talaga? Gosh, wala akong masabi, Paula!” sagot ni Amara, halatang tuwa na tuwa. “Alam ko na kaya mo yan, pero ‘yung totoo, hindi ko akalain na magiging ganito kadali!”

Agad silang nagtawanan at nagyakapan ulit, ang saya-saya nila. Nang magkausap sila at humupa ang excitement, biglang nagseryoso si Amara at niyaya si Paula sa sofa.

“Paula,” nagsimula si Amara, tinignan siya ng seryoso, “Alam mo na ito na ‘yung pagkakataon ko. Pag nagtagumpay ka, makakatulong ka sa’kin para hindi matuloy ang kasal namin ni Akihiro. You know how much I want to be with Troy. You’re my last hope.”

Nakangiti si Paula at tumango, alam niyang pareho sila ng goal. “Don’t worry, Amara. I’ve got this. Wala nang atrasan. Si Akihiro, mahirap siyang lapitan, pero hindi ko siya hahayaan. I’ll play my part, sisiguraduhin ko na the wedding will be postponed—or maybe even cancelled entirely.”

“Sana nga, pero,” sabi ni Amara, medyo nag-aalala, “Akihiro Conjuangco ‘yan, Paula. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga babae, ‘di ba? Sobrang lakas ng personality, at ang taas ng wall sa sarili niya. Minsan lang siguro siya mapaibig ng babae. Hindi mo ba iniisip na baka mahirapan ka?”

Ngumiti si Paula at tinapik ang balikat ni Amara. “I understand. Pero kung ako, ako. Alam ko na kung paano ko siya papasukin. I’m a woman of action, Amara. Ako na bahala sa lahat.”

Nag-isip sandali si Amara, pero nakita niyang tapat si Paula sa plano nito. “Sige, sa’yo ako magtitiwala, magtulungan tayo. Alam ko matutulungan mo ako, basta huwag mong kakalimutan ang mahalaga: hindi ka dapat maligaw. Hindi mo dapat mahalin si Akihiro, okay?”

Tumango si Paula, ngumingiti. “Relax, Amara. Wala akong planong mahulog sa kanya, and I won’t. Ang objective ko lang, matapos ang kasal at tulungan ka kay Troy. Yun lang ang focus ko.”

“I trust you, Paula. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Hindi ko alam kung paano kita pasasalamatan. Ang dami mong tinutulungan, at kung walang ikaw, baka magpapaubaya na lang ako sa kasal na hindi ko gusto,” sabi ni Amara na may kasamang tuwa sa mukha.

“Hindi mo kailangang magpasalamat pa, Amara,” sagot ni Paula, “Ito lang ang kaya kong gawin. Hindi lang para sa’yo, kundi para sa atin pareho. We’re in this together. And I won’t fail you."

Nagsimula silang magplano ng mga susunod na hakbang. Kailangang pumili si Paula ng mga outfits na magpapaganda sa kanya at magpapansin kay Akihiro. Kailangan niyang magmukhang classy at confident—puno ng style, pero hindi sobra. Alam niya na kailangan niyang ipakita kay Akihiro na siya ay kaakit-akit.

Si Amara ay nagsuggest na mag-shopping sila ng mga formal attire—mga damit na magbibigay ng impact kay Akihiro. Magaan lang naman kay Paula ito, dahil kung may isang bagay siyang alam, ito ay kung paano maghanap ng mga damit na titigan siya ng mga lalaki. Lalo na si Akihiro, na hindi madaling makuha.

“I’m telling you, Paula," Amara smiled, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. “Pero are you sure, though? I mean, it’s Akihiro Conjuangco we’re talking about. He’s ruthless, cold, and—let’s face it."

“Sa tingin ko, magagawa ko ‘yan. Alam mo naman, kailangan ko lang ng tamang pagkakataon. Akihiro is strong-headed, pero hindi siya immune sa charm ko,” sagot ni Paula na may confidence.

Habang papalalim ang gabi, tuloy pa rin ang kanilang paghahanda. Pati si Amara, tila napapa-isip kung paano siya makakatulong sa plano nila.

“Minsan, nakakatakot pa rin, Paula. Paano kung matuloy pa rin ang kasal? What if we lose? What if paghiwalayin kami ni Troy dahil dito? Ang daming possibilities na mahirap kontrolin,” sabi ni Amara, na naguguluhan.

“Wala tayong dapat ipag-alala, Amara. Kami na lang ni Akihiro ang magiging issue, hindi ikaw at si Troy. I’ll make sure everything falls into place,” sagot ni Paula.

“Let’s just say I’ve done my homework. I know Akihiro. He’s a man who’s used to getting what he wants, but he’s also someone who can’t resist a good challenge. And that’s where I come in.”

The two women exchanged looks, understanding the weight of the plan they were about to execute. Paula could already picture it: Akihiro Conjuangco, the wealthy and powerful businessman, falling under her spell. All she had to do was play her cards right and keep her emotions in check

“But Paula,” Amara continued, her voice tinged with concern, “what if things go wrong? What if you get too close to him? What if you end up falling for him yourself?”

Paula laughed, dismissing the concern with a wave of her hand. “Trust me, Amara, that’s not going to happen. I have my eyes on the prize. All I need to do is keep my focus, and everything will work out just fine.”

Amara sighed, clearly torn. “I just don’t want to lose you in the process, Paula. I don’t want you to get caught up in something that you can’t control.”

“I won’t,” Paula assured her, her eyes firm. “I know what I’m doing. Besides, it’s not like I’m doing this for myself. I’m doing this for you, so you can have Troy and not have to marry someone you don’t love.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Amara, umaasa na ang lahat ng ito ay may patutunguhan para sa kanya at kay Troy. 

“Tomorrow, everything changes,” Paula whispered, her voice full of determination. 

Amara nodded, a hopeful smile on her face. “I believe in you, Paula.”

With a final nod, Paula smiled to herself. She was ready for the game to begin.