Kabanata 1

A week ago. . .

Location: Red Society Main Hideout, 6:45 P.M

The dim glow of overhead lights flickered against the cold steel walls of the Red Society's main hideout, casting long shadows that danced with every movement. The air carried a scent of gunpowder, leather, and faint traces of blood—a constant reminder of the life we lived.

I walked slowly down the long hallway, my footsteps barely making a sound against the polished floor. At the end of it, the main conference room loomed—the place where our urgent meeting would take place. Meast had called for it without warning, forcing everyone to drop whatever they were doing and fly here immediately.

Code Red. That meant only one thing—this wasn't just business as usual. Something bigger was at play. Something that demanded our full attention. Ramdam kong hindi lang basta ang mapaguusapan namin ngayon. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit malakas ang kalabog ng dibdib ko. Sa unang pagkakataon ay nakaramdam ako ng kaba sa hindi malamang dahilan.

I was dressed for the occasion—my signature red bodysuit, concealed beneath a long leather coat that hid the weapons strapped to my body. My tactical gloves fit snugly over my hands, ready for whatever was coming, and my boots made each step deliberate, calculated.

With my hair pulled into a high ponytail, I exuded the discipline, the edge, that this life required. There was no room for hesitation. No space for weakness. Whatever Meast was about to reveal, I knew one thing for certain—it would change everything.

"Finally, Red. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay." Meast's deep voice echoed around the four corners. All the elite members of Red Society greeted me with their glances, and watched me take my seat.

"So, what's the big fish caught in the sea?" I asked, ayaw nang magpaligoyligoy pa, alam iyon ni Meast. . . And as if on cue, Meast swiftly navigated the hologram, bringing the image to life. A man's face emerged in front of us—sharp features, cold eyes, a presence that demanded attention.

But this wasn't just any man. I knew him.

The sight of him sent a shiver down my spine, a cold wave crashing over the carefully built walls of my mind. No. This can't be.

I clenched my fists, my breath hitching for just a second before I forced my expression to remain unreadable.

"Our next mission." Meast's voice cut through the silence.

Draven?

"Is that Draven Monticello?" Tanong ko, hindi makapaghintay sa sasabihin ng leader namin. Meast's lips formed a grin as he eyed me suspiciously.

"Yes. He's Draven Reil Monticello. The heir of the Monticello Empire." Meast's voice was steady, calculated, but every word felt like a strike against my chest.

"As the successor to one of the most powerful families in America, Draven has never known freedom from danger. I received reports that there are eyes and guns trained on his back. He needs protection."

The hologram flickered as more data surfaced—classified files, security footage, blueprints of properties, business dealings, and alliances. The full weight of the Monticello name displayed before us, its influence stretching far beyond what most could comprehend.

Meast's gaze sharpened as he turned to face the room. No wonder, he's our next mission.

"This is not just a case of business politics," he continued. "This goes beyond that—deeper, more dangerous. That's why you're all here. Especially you, Red." The air in the room thickened, every pair of eyes now settling on me. I kept my expression unreadable, but inside? My pulse roared in my ears.

"That's why I want you to infiltrate Draven's life while we work on uncovering the mafia behind the threat." My mind stalled. What?!

I masked my shock, but inside, a thousand alarms were blaring. Infiltrate Draven's life? How the hell am I supposed to do that?

I had spent years operating in the shadows, unseen and unknown. But this? This was different.

Draven Monticello wasn't just a mission. He was a complication I never wanted to face.

"Each of you will have your roles in this mission," Meast continued, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"But the key role—the most critical part—rests on you, Red."

Naramdaman kong lahat ng mga mata'y napunta ang tingin sa direksyon ko. I was sitting across Meast, kaya naman bahagyang nagpalipat lipat ang tingin nila sa aming dalawa, the weight of their expectations settling heavily on my shoulders.

My jaw tightened. Of course it does.

Meast leaned forward, his expression unreadable.

"You are the only one who can get close to him. The only one who can make this work." I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain steady.

"And how exactly do you expect me to do that?" His smirk deepened. Nakakairita talaga ang lalaking 'to. Pasalamat siya marami kaming kasamahan dito.

"By making him trust you, by making him need you. By becoming someone he can't ignore. Becoming the woman in his life."

A cold feeling curled in my stomach.

This was more than a mission.

This was a trap.

And I was walking straight into it.

"Sayo nakasalalay ang kapalaran ng tagapagmana. You will have to protect him and to do that, you'll have to stay close to him." lahat ng mga sinabi niya ay nanatili sa isip ko, kahit tapos na ang meeting at nabigyan na ng gawain ang lahat.

"Mavis," his voice changed. Gone was the commanding one a while ago. Nanatili siya sa likuran ko habang ako'y nakatitig lamang sa larawan ni Draven sa harapan ko.

"Bakit sa dami ng lalaki, siya pa?" hindi ko maiwasang itanong.

"If you really can't do it, sa iba ko na lang ibibigay ang trabaho. You can switch." umiling ako bago tumayo, making up my decision.

"I'll do it." Even if uncertainty clawed at my chest, even if a part of me whispered that this was a mistake.

Meast's gaze bore into mine—sharp, calculating, doubtful. For a moment, it was as if he, too, was questioning whether entrusting Draven's life to me was the right decision.

I held my ground. I had to.

"I won't mess up this time, Meast." The words left my lips with more conviction than I felt.

I had to believe them.

Because this time, I wasn't just fighting to complete a mission. I was fighting to make things right.

To bury the past—the mistakes that still haunted me, the ghosts I had spent years running from.

I needed this mission to be different.

I needed to prove—to Meast, to myself—that I wouldn't fail again.

Mahigpit ang naging kapit ko sa medyo makapal na libro sa architecture. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kumikinang na bagay sa daliri ko at bumalik sa alaala, ang nangyari dalawang araw na ang nakakalipas.

I am married to Draven Reil Monticello.

The thought should have filled me with excitement—joy, even. But instead, an unsettling weight settled in my chest, a creeping unease that drowned out any semblance of happiness.

You have to do this, Mavis. Trying to convince myself, I took a deep breath, steadying the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume me.

Ours was a secret marriage, one orchestrated at Draven's request. As far as I knew, only his closest friends were aware—no one else. On my side, only Tiya Ysabella and Kiara knew the truth. His parents had reluctantly agreed to it, their only concern being to put an end to the blackmail that had ensnared him.

Kahapon lamang ako lumipat sa bahay namin na binigay ng parents niya sa aming dalawa as their wedding gift.

And what happened?

A disaster.

Malalim akong bumuntong hininga at inayos ang makapal kong salamin bago bahagyang nilingon ang mga estudyanteng nakatingin sa akin.

Nakasuot ako ng skirt na doble ang haba kaysa sa required na sukat. Si Tiya ang may kagustuhan nito kaya wala naman akong nagawa. Isa pa ay nakakatulong din naman ito sa akin. I wore black knee-high socks and flat black shoes—heels were required, but I refused. They made walking unbearable. My outfit mirrored everyone else's. . . a crisp white long-sleeve blouse tucked beneath a fitted black coat, finished off with a neatly tied necktie. Except that my skirt was longer that everyone's.

My hair was pulled back into a sleek, perfectly pressed ponytail—so precise, so severe, it made me look like a strict, no-nonsense professor. Or an old maid clinging to discipline.

Ang iba ay tila nandidiri at ang iba ay medyo natatawa, tulad dati. Ngunit hindi ko nalamang pinansin dahil nandirito naman ako para mag-aral, hindi maging fashion model.

"Dedmahin ang mga laitera at irampa ang mukha kahit walang ganda."

Iyon ang motto ko sa t'wing nasa sitwasyon ako na ganito, who cares anyway?

Malakas ang loob na humakbang ako papasok ng unibersidad ngunit hindi pa lang ako nakakaabot ay may kung sinong kinulang sa aruga ang tumisod sa akin na malakas kong kinabagsak sa sahig.

I could hear the loud bursts of laughter echoing around me, but I paid them no mind. I had long since grown accustomed to scenes like this—familiar, repetitive, almost predictable.

If only I had acted sooner... maybe, just maybe, I could have avoided all of this.

"Feeling maganda kasi."

"Bulok!"

"Loser!"

"Stupid kasi!"

As much as it hurt, my first instinct was to reach for my glasses. Without them, everything was a blur. The moment my fingers found them, I slid them back on and stood up as if nothing had happened.

I had thought that by the time we reached college, people would have matured—at least a little. But looking at them now, I wondered if they had somehow lost their way... or if they had simply never received the care and guidance they needed.

What a bunch of immatures.

Hindi ko sila nilingon at derederetsong pumasok, wala naman akong mapapala kung makikipagaway ako sa kanila. We are not young anymore kung sila nakalimutan nila 'yon ako hindi.

Mas maganda na lang manahimik kaysa makipagtagisan ng salita at makipagaway. Education requires manners. Education is nothing without them.

The problem with some people is that they may be studying, but they never seem to learn the right behavior of an educated person.

In my case, I'd rather shut up. If I don't, it would be too easy for everything to fall apart. My plans—everything I've worked for—could be ruined in an instant. Kung wala lang akong mission ay baka napilipit ko na ang mga leeg ng mga palakang iyon.

Habang naglalakad ay pinapagpagan ko ang suot kong namantsahan ng dumi dahil sa pagkabagsak ko kanina. Hindi ako umiiyak sa ganitong bagay, kaya wag niyo nang asahang iiyakan ko ang nangyari. It was just a normal event for me.

"My God! Anong nangyari sa 'yo?" Naglabas si Kiara ng panyo at tinulungan akong pagpagan ang suot ko pababa sa binti ko na napunti na pala ang stocking.

"Wala nadapa lang," kalmadong sagot ko na parang tinanong lang ako kung saan ako nagpunta at sinabi kong 'dyan lang'.

"Pinatid ka nanaman?" alam naman na niya 'yan.

"Normal na 'yon."

"For Pete's sake, Mavis! We should report this! Aba hahayaan mo na lang na araw-araw kang pumasok na may libreng pasa sa tuhod? Dumi sa damit at dapa sa entrance?" Magsasalita na sana ako ng makitang dumaan ang grupo ni Drei, nagtatawanan ang mga kaibigan nito ng aksidente niya akong makita, hindi ako nag-iwas nang tingin, nilabanan ko ang mga tingin niya hangang siya na mismo ang nag-iwas na parang hindi niya ako kilala.

"Mavis!?"

"Hayaan mo na, mahirap magkaroon nang kaaway, lika na?"

"Bakit kasi napakamaunawain mo?" I'm not understanding, Kiara—I never was. There's a reason behind all of this. And because of that reason, I have no choice but to pretend. Baka kapang nilabas ko ang tunay na ako, pati ikaw matakot sa 'kin.

"Hindi ko lang ugaling magpalaki pa ng gulo Kiara, kaya okay na hmm?"

"Naku Mavis ah! Kapag talaga tumaas na ang level ng katarantaduhan ng mga 'yan makakaabot ito kay dean."

"Oo na, oo na, dalian mo na dyan at baka maunahan pa tayo ni Sir Pantaleon eh masaraduhan pa tayo ng pinto." Wala siyang nagawa kundi magpatangay sa akin.

"Andyan na siyaaa!"

"Argh grabe talaga, ano bang tingin niya nasa high school pa siya para magpalda ng super haba?"

"Kadiri talaga, ew!"

"Mukha siyang matandang dalaga."

"No wonder walang pumapansin sa kaniya, ang pangit-pangit na nga ang baduy baduy pa!" Sinundan 'yon ng halakhakan ng grupo nila. Palibhasa mga buhay prinsesa at sunod sa luho, iba talaga ang nagagawa ng pera. 'Yon nga lang, hindi kayang bilhin ng pera nila ang 'utak', kaya wala sila n'on.

Napailing na lang ako at dumeretso sa upuan. Mabuti na lang talaga at kahit papaano pinagpala pa rin ako dahil mabait ang naging katabi ko, hindi laiterang feeling maganda mga wala namang ibubuga, multiplication table nga hindi pa nila kabisa.

Architecture is one of the toughest courses—far from easy. Every late night spent hunched over blueprints, every crumpled draft tossed aside in frustration, and every moment of self-doubt weighs on me. But I push myself to the limit, doing everything I can to pass. Not just for me, but for Tiya. She sacrificed so much to get me here. The least I can do is make sure her efforts aren't in vain. If nothing else, I want to succeed—for her, for everything she's done, and for the future she believes I deserve.

The discussion and quizzes go on. Maya maya lang ay nakaramdam ako ng tila kung anong dinidikit sa likod ko at nang kapain ko iyon ay mga nginuyang bubble gum ng mga lintek na palakang nasa likuran ko.

Sa sobrang pagkainis ay napatayo ako na siyang kinagalit ng instructor naming napakaistrikto.

"Miss Schneider, get out!"

Nakarinig ako ng tawanan sa likuran na hindi ko pinansin at tiningnan na lang si Kiara na halatang naiinis na rin.

This is not the first time na napalabas ako. Pwero bwisit lang dahil nasira nanaman ang kagustuhan kong tutukan ang subject na 'yon. Bwisit! Wala akong nagawa kundi hubarin ang suot na coat dahil sa mga bubble gum na alam kong hindi na matatanggal.

"Dude, type na type ka kaya ni Zaira, 'di ba type mo rin 'yon? Ang ganda na ang sexy pa at dude! Ang bait!" Aksidente kong nalingon ang dumaan at nagulat akong sila Drei iyon. Napatingin sila sa akin at nakita ko ang pandidiri sa expression ng ilan niyang kaibigan at nagbulungan pa saka nagtawanan at binulungan rin si Drei bago tinapik sa likuran na kinatawa rin nito.

My pain returned, but it no longer had the power to make me cry. I just stood there, frozen, staring blankly as they walked away—expressionless, numb. I refused to let the ache consume me again.

Around me, I could hear the hushed whispers, the barely contained giggles, and the longing stares from the girls watching them leave. I could see it—the way their eyes followed every step, the admiration, the desire. It was almost pathetic how easily they were drawn in.

But not me. Not anymore.

Palibhasa kasi mga gwapo ang grupo ni Drei kaya mabilis mapansin lalo na ng mga kababaihan. Kahit sa college, meron paring grabe kung tumili, siguro hindi na talaga maiiwasan ang ganung bagay kahit saan pa 'yan, may mga babaeng obvious. Pero siguro, mas okay na 'yon kaysa sa mga babaeng nasa loob ang kulo, tulad ko.

Ilang minuto pa ako roon na nagantay, pinagmamasdan ang mga estudyanteng daanan att lipasan lamang ako.

They have their own world where I couldn't fit in.

Nang makita ko ang grupo ni Drei na masayang nakikipagusap sa isang grupo ng mga nagagandahang babae ay tila pinokpok ako ng katotohanan sa kung sino ba talaga ako sa lugar na ito. Isa lang naman akong hamak na nerd. Walang nakakapansin at walang nakaka-appreciate.

Kadalasan kinaaayawan, pinandidirihan, at ginagawang katatawanan. May pakinabang lang naman ako t'wing exams at mga reporting activities. After no'n, balewala na ako sa kanila.

Isa lang daw akong walang kwenta, isang basurang hindi nababagay sa mundo nila.

They don't know.

They have no idea that behind these glasses, behind this carefully constructed disguise, lies a hidden identity—one I've spent years perfecting, shielding from prying eyes. Every calculated movement, every quiet moment of endurance, is part of the mask I wear.

And no matter what happens, I won't let them get in my way. I can't afford to.

. . .