Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love Amidst Deceit: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Andrew’s POV“Are you okay?” I asked Selena as I walked up to her. She just froze when she saw me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was stunned because she thought I looked good, or if I just looked off in her eyes. “Y-yeah, I’m okay,” she replied, her voice soft, and flashed me a quick smile. I couldn’t help but smile back, though I was still wondering what had caused her to freeze like that. “You’re so beautiful, babe,” I said, and this time, I really meant it. “Thank you, you’re not bad yourself,” she said, her tone casual, as if she hadn’t just frozen when she saw me.Inaya ko siyang umakyat sa rooftop, kung saan nagpareserba ako ng table para sa aming dalawa, at isang table para kay Theo para kumain siya mag-isa. Kaninang umaga, tinawagan ko siya para tulungan akong bumili ng dress ni Selena. Wala na kasi akong sapat na oras kung gagawin ko pa ito mag-isa. Kinausap ko siya para tulungan akong planuhin lahat ng ito. I wanted Selena to have a wonderful first date with me.Na

Andrew’s POVNasa pool area ako, abala sa pag-paint, nang lapitan ako ni Dad. Sabi niya may house party siya mamaya, and that it would be the perfect time to introduce me to people as his son.“You can’t just tell people I’m your son because you need a successor when you finish your term, Dad," I shouted, my voice barely containing the anger and frustration I felt. "I’m not a robot you can use or dictate what you want. I don’t even want to be in politics!”“If you’re worried about not knowing anything about politics, that’s fine,” he said, leaning back in his chair, calm and collected. “I just need you to run for mayor. That way, when my term is over, I can run as your vice mayor. You won’t have to do any of the work. I’ll handle everything for you. We’ll keep our power in the family.”I stared at him, my stomach twisting with disbelief. Power in the family. That’s what this was all about—an elaborate game to hold on to something that meant more to him than anything else.I shook my h

Selena's POVHindi ako pinatulog ng mga nangyari kagabi. Buong gabi, iniisip ko si Andrew at parang nagsisisi ako sa mga sinabi ko sa kanya. Hindi ko sana sinabi ang mga iyon. Buong araw ko siyang hindi nakita ngayon. Maaga siyang umalis ng bahay, at hatinggabi na, pero wala pa siya.Iniwan kong bukas ang pinto ng kwarto ko magdamag, umaasa na bibisitahin niya ako. Ngunit hanggang hatingabi, wala pa rin si Andrew. Inabot na ako ng alas-kuwatro ng umaga sa patuloy na paghihintay, hanggang sa tuluyan na akong nakatulog.Halos dalawang oras lang ang tulog ko at maaga pa akong nagising, nag-aasam na sana makita ko siya habang nag-aalmusal. Pero wala pa rin siya. Hindi ko na tinanong kay Agustin kung nasaan si Andrew, baka magtaka pa siya. Pinilit ko na lang maging abala sa trabaho upang malimutan si Andrew.Sa makalawa, magsisimula na ang opisyal na campaign period, at abala ako sa mga huling paghahanda—nakikipag-usap sa mga volunteers at sponsors ni Agustin, tinitiyak na ang lahat ng det

Selena’s POVKatulad ng mga nakaraang araw, mas lalong naging abala si Agustin sa kampanya niya, at madalas niya akong isama. Wala akong choice kundi sumama, kahit na hindi ko naman talaga gusto. Hindi ko lang talaga kayang tiisin yung mga kaplastikan niya sa publiko—yung mga ngiti at mga salita na pareho naming alam na hindi totoo. Mga pangako at plataporma niyang alam ko na hindi rin mangyayari.But at least this is his last term. Kawawa talaga ang mga tao. Sulitin na niya ang kampanya, kasi sigurado akong hindi siya mauupo sa pwesto.Matapos ang parade, naghanda naman siya ng mga argumento para sa miting de avance na gaganapin mamayang gabi, kasama ang kaniyang campaign manager. Pinapanood ko lang sila habang nandito kami ngayon sa munisipyo. Nag-hahanda siya ng mga sasabihin mamaya, at wala akong masabi—talagang magaling siya magpanggap at magkunwari. Kung hindi ko nga lang siya kilala, sigurado pati ako ay maloloko niya.I couldn’t believe that Andrew was his son. They were compl

Leonardo’s POVTwo days had passed since the incident at Sylabu—the moment Amanda saw Vania and me kissing in public. I didn’t get the chance to speak with her after that. She was with Agustin, and I couldn’t approach her, not when we had to be so careful. But what really troubled me was the way she looked at me. She didn’t say a word, but her expression—it was like she didn’t care. There was no hurt in her eyes, no shock, nothing. Just… emptiness. A blank stare that I couldn’t stand. What did that mean? Was it indifference, or was she hiding something? I couldn’t figure it out, and it was killing me.I went home with Vania, but nothing happened between us when we got to the condo. We didn’t talk about what happened; the tension was unbearable. We just stayed silent, avoiding each other’s eyes. She went straight to her room, and I did the same. The weight of everything hung in the air, but we didn’t acknowledge it. I tried texting Amanda—over and over—but I got no response. Not a sing