Chapter 35 Unknown sender
Zarya's point of view
It had been exactly two weeks since that night at the beach, two weeks since the moon hung low over the waves, since the air smelled of salt and freedom, since time felt like it belonged only to us.
But looking around the conference room now, with stacks of documents spread across the table and the hum of the city traffic far below, it felt like that memory belonged to a different lifetime entirely.
A week ago, Mr. Henderson had arrived in the Philippines.
He would be staying here until the bidding was finalized, making sure every detail was perfect, every strategy solid.
Since then, my schedule had become nothing kundi puro back to back meetings, site visits, late night reviews, and endless planning.
Parang biglang bumagal ang oras pero mabilis naman lumipas ang mga araw, I thought to myself as I rubbed my tired eyes. Every morning started before the sun rose, and every night ended long after most people had gone to sleep.
Because of this, I had barely had any time for Iris. Our conversations were reduced to quick text messages, short phone calls that never lasted more than five minutes, and goodnight greetings sent when we were both already half asleep.
I missed her, sobra. more than I could put into words, but the pressure was constant. Mr. Henderson expected nothing less than perfection, and with Sterling and Valenti moving their pieces faster than we anticipated, there was no room for mistakes.
"Zarya, let's go over the final figures once more," Mr. Henderson said, his voice steady and professional as he leaned forward, adjusting his glasses.
"Valenti's team has already submitted their preliminary assessment.
They're aiming high, very high. Which tells me they are confident, or perhaps they are trying to intimidate us. "
I nodded, focusing my attention back to the spreadsheets on the screen.
"I've reviewed their numbers. They've factored in future development costs and projected revenue, but I believe we can present a more competitive offer without compromising the project's integrity.
We've secured partnerships with local contractors that will bring our operational costs down significantly. "
"Good," he replied, tapping a finger against the table. "And the land use regulations? Have we confirmed everything with the local government?"
"All documents are in order, and the permits are being processed ahead of schedule," I answered, keeping my tone crisp and formal. "There have been no issues so far."
"Excellent. We have a strong position, but we must remain vigilant. They are formidable opponent. They do not play fair, and have connections that run deep. Do not underestimate him."
If only you knew just how close that connection is, I thought bitterly, but kept my expression neutral. You tell me not to underestimate him, but you don't know that his daughter is the last person I think about before I sleep and the first one I look for when I wake up.
We continued discussing strategies, market trends, and possible counter moves for another hour. By the time Mr. Henderson finally closed his folder and stood up, the sky outside the window had turned a deep shade of indigo, dotted with the first stars of the evening.
"That will be all for today," he said, giving me a slight nod. "We will resume at nine tomorrow morning. Rest well, Zarya, we have a long week ahead of us."
"Thank you, You too," I replied, gathering my things as he left the room.
For a moment, I just sat there, letting out a long, heavy breath.
Ang bigat pa rin ng pakiramdam kahit tapos na ang meeting.
The silence in the office was almost deafening after hours of talking and thinking parang nakakabingi na matapos ang sunod sunod na meeting.
I reached for my phone, unlocking the screen, and immediately felt a twinge in my chest. The last message from Iris was sent almost three hours ago: "Good luck sa meeting.
Text me when you're free, okay? Miss you. "
I Miss you too, Iris. Kung alam mo lang gaano ko kagustong puntahan ka ngayon.
. I miss your smile, miss your laugh, miss the way you look at me like everything else doesn't matter.
Parang ang tagal na rin kahit dalawang linggo pa lang ang lumilipas.
It's only been two weeks, but it feels like forever sa sobrang daming ginagawa, parang isang taon na ang lumipas.
There was another reason we couldn't meet as freely as we used to.
Tita Clara had finally been discharged from the hospital just last week.
She was recovering well, masigla na rin siya kahit kailangan pa rin ng pahinga, but that also meant Iris could no longer invite me over to their house.
With tita Clara being home, the risk of being seen, of being caught, was far too high.
Kailangan mag-ingat, hindi pwedeng magkamali ngayon, delikado kapag may nakapansin. We can't afford to raise any suspicions, not now when everything is so complicated.
I stood up, grabbed my bag, and headed out of the building.
The evening air was warm, carrying the usual sounds of the city, but it felt empty somehow, parang kulang ang paligid kahit maingay ang mga sasakyan at tao.
As I walked toward my car, I made up my mind.
I didn't want to spend another night alone, buried in paperwork and silence.
Ayoko na munang isipin ang mga numero at ang mga plano for the bidding.
I wanted to see her. I needed to see her.
I sat behind the wheel, took a deep breath, and typed out a message:
I sent it, then rested my head against the headrest, waiting. Sana available siya, I silently hoped. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.
A small, genuine smile finally broke through the exhaustion I'd been feeling all day.
The drive back to my apartment felt shorter than usual. My mind was no longer filled with bidding strategies or financial reports. instead, it drifted to Iris, what she might be wearing, what she would say when she saw me, the simple comfort of just being near her again.
Ang tagal ko ring hindi nakakausap nang maayos, sa dami ng trabaho, sometimes I even forgot to take care of myself, lalo na ang oras para sa kanya.
These past two weeks have been so chaotic, it feels like we've been passing each other like ships in the night, parang magkakilala lang sa text at tawagan, hindi naman nagkikita.
When I arrived at my house, I quickly changed out of my formal office attire into something more comfortable, a soft cotton shirt and loose pants.
Mas magaan sa pakiramdam. I checked the kitchen, making sure there was water, drinks, and some snacks, just in case. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto niya ngayon, so I think I'll just cook some steak for us.
I immediately went to my freezer, and picked the best one. Medium rare lang ang gusto niya, so I think I'll do that.
I prepared the steak, pat it dry, and added some seasonings on it. I turned on the stove, and waited for it to reach the suggested temperature.
When all of the sudden....
My phone, placed on the dining table nearby, suddenly buzzed once. I didn't think much of it at first, probably a work message or a reminder. but when it buzzed again, followed by a third notification, I wiped my hands and walked over to check.
The screen showed a message from an unknown number. No name, no contact details, just a blank profile. Curious, I tapped to open it.
What I saw made my blood run cold.
It was a clear photograph taken from a distance, but sharp enough to recognize instantly. Below the image, there was a short, chilling line.
I stood there, frozen, my fingers hovering over the screen. Parang tumigil ang tibok ng puso ko sa isang iglap. My mind raced, trying to process what I was seeing. This wasn't just information, it was a threat. Sino ang nagpadala nito? At paano nila nalaman ang tungkol kay Iris?
Fuck.
Right now, as far as I knew, there were only two major groups competing for the project. My thoughts immediately went to them. There are only two sides in this game, my mind working fast even as panic began to creep in. Valenti... would he do this?
But I shook my head slightly, even though no one was there to see. Hindi. Hindi niya gagawin 'yon. No matter how ruthless Eric Valenti was in business, no matter how much he wanted to win this bid, he would never put his own daughter in danger.
Iris was his only child, his pride. Kahit simula bata kami he would protect her before anything else. It was impossible to imagine him allowing anyone to follow her or send threatening messages involving her. He might be my opponent, but he is still her father. He would never touch her.
That left only one other possibility.
Sterling?
My stomach twisted. May malaking tao sa likod nang 'toS. gumagamit ng pangalan ng kumpanya para manakot. It made sense, they knew I was close to the deal, and what better way to pressure me or keep me in line than to show they could reach the person I loved most?
My hands began to shake, and the phone felt heavy in my grip. Kung kaya nilang sundan si Iris, kung kaya nilang kunan siya ng litrato nang hindi niya namamalayan... ano pa ang kaya nilang gawin?
The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine.
What if they weren't just watching? What if they decided to do something more?
The idea of Iris being followed, of her being in any kind of danger because of me, made my chest feel tight and heavy.
Ayokong mapahamak siya. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya.
Everything I had been trying to build, the peace I felt just moments ago, suddenly felt like it was falling apart.
The warmth in the kitchen seemed to vanish, replaced by a cold, heavy dread.
Parang gumuho ang lahat sa isang mensahe lang.
I looked at the photo again, there she was, unaware that someone had been watching her every move.
Ang inosente niyang mukha... hindi niya alam na may mga matang nakabantay sa kanya.
I quickly deleted the message, though I knew it wouldn't make the threat disappear. My mind was a mess of fear and anger.
Paano ko siya mapoprotektahan? Paano ko matitiyak na ligtas siya? I wanted to call her right then, to tell her to turn back, to stay home, but I stopped myself. If I did that, it would only make her suspicious, and worse, it might make whoever was watching realize I had seen their message.
I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Kailangan kong magpakatatag. Hindi pwedeng makita ni Iris na natatakot ako. But it was hard. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the words on the screen, the image of her being followed. They are watching us. They know.
A moment later, I heard the familiar sound of a car pulling up outside, followed by footsteps approaching the door.
My heart skipped a beat, not from fear this time, but from a desperate need to see her, to make sure she was really safe.
I quickly composed myself, wiping my face and forcing my hands to stop trembling.
When I opened the door, there she was...bright, smiling, and completely unaware of the dark message waiting in the shadows.
"Hi," she said cheerfully, holding up a small paper bag. "I brought some dessert. Hope you haven't started cooking yet."
I stared at her for a second longer than necessary, just making sure she was really there, walang kahit anong bakas nang pananakit o takot. I desperately hugged her, holding her tighter than I usually would.
"Hey," I murmured against her hair, closing my eyes. Buti nandito ka. Buti ligtas ka. "I'm glad you're here."
She pulled back slightly, looking at me with a curious expression. "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
"Just... long day at work," I lied smoothly, stepping aside to let her in. "Come in. Dinner's almost ready."
As she walked past me into the apartment, I glanced back at my phone on the table. The screen was dark, but the feeling of being watched lingered in the air.
Sino ka man, hindi ko hahayaang madamay si Iris. Kahit ano pa ang mangyari, poprotektahan ko siya.
But deep down, beneath the determination, the fear remained. Paano ko siya ipagtatanggol kung ang kalaban ay hindi namin nakikita? puro hinala nalang.
"Wait... what's that smell? Parang may nasunog ah."
I forced a small, awkward smile, closing the door behind her and locking it securely. kailangan kong siguraduhin na ligtas kami dito.
"Ah, nothing," I lied smoothly, scratching the back of my neck. "I... I left the gas on too long and got distracted. Pasensya na, nasunog yung niluluto ko. It's ruined anyway, so we can just order something instead. Is that okay?"
She laughed softly, shaking her head as she set the bag down on the counter. "It's fine, don't worry. Minsan talaga nakakalimutin ka rin kapag malalim ang iniisip. We can order whatever you want. Pizza sounds good, right?"
"Pizza is perfect," I agreed, though my mind was still miles away. I pulled out my phone and placed the order quickly, then turned to face her, my expression probably more serious than I intended.
While we waited, I couldn't stop myself. I walked closer to her, my eyes scanning her face, her clothes, looking for any sign that something was wrong, though I knew she would never tell me even if she noticed something. Wala siyang kaalam-alam sa panganib na nakapaligid sa amin.
"Iris," I started, my voice quieter and softer than usual.
"I really mean it, please be careful when you're driving, okay?
Laging mag-ingat sa paligid. Try not to go out alone too late, and if you see any car that seems to be following you, or anything that feels strange.
.. please call me immediately. No matter what time it is. "
She looked at me, tilting her head slightly with a confused but amused look. "Zarya, you're saying this again?. I told you, I'm fine. I drive this route all the time, I know the streets well. Nothing ever happens."
"I know, I know," I said quickly, not wanting to scare her but unable to shake the feeling of dread.
"I just... I'm just being cautious. Minsan kasi hindi natin alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa atin.
The bidding is getting intense, and there are a lot of people with a lot at stake right now.
I just want you to be safe. Mahalaga ka sa akin, ayokong may mangyaring masama sa'yo. "
She stepped closer, placing a hand gently on my arm, her expression softening.
"I understand you're worried because of work, but you don't have to be this anxious.
Masyado ka lang nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano.
I can take care of myself, you know? You're being so overprotective today, more than usual. "
I gave her a faint smile, but inside, my heart was still heavy. If only you knew, I thought. If only you saw the photo I received, the words they sent. You wouldn't be saying that.
But I couldn't tell her. Not yet. If I told her, she would ask questions, and I couldn't reveal the secret of my identity in the bidding, not now, not like this. It would only complicate things more, and it might even put her in a worse position.
"Old habit, I guess," I said lightly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just... promise me you'll be careful. Para makampante ako."
She chuckled, leaning into my touch. "I promise. Happy now? Sige na, stop thinking too much. Let's just wait for the food and relax, okay?"
We were curled up together on the sofa, the soft hum of the air conditioner filling the quiet space.
Iris rested her head on my chest, her arm draped loosely around my waist, and for a moment, everything felt calm, payapa at magaan, parang walang ibang umiiral sa mundo kundi kaming dalawa nalang ulit.
I rested my chin on top of her head, letting myself breathe in the familiar scent of her hair, trying to push away the heavy feeling that had settled in my stomach since that first message arrived. Sana manatili na lang ganito, sana walang manggulo.
But the peace didn't last long.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, sharp and clear through the silence.
Iris stirred, lifting her head slightly with a small smile. "Ah, pizza delivery na siguro" she said, already starting to push herself up to stand.
But before she could move any further, I gently but firmly placed a hand on her arm to stop her. "Wait, let me get it," I said quickly, my voice coming out a little tighter than I intended.
She blinked, looking at me curiously. "It's just the delivery, Zarya. Ako na, kaya ko na."
"I know, but..." I trailed off, forcing a small smile.
"Just stay here, okay?"
The truth was, I was being paranoid, sobrang kaba ko, hindi mapakali. Para akong may nararamdamang hindi maganda.
After seeing that photo and knowing someone was watching us, I couldn't shake the feeling that anything could be wrong. What if it wasn't the delivery? What if it was someone else? Hindi ko hahayaang mapahamak siya, kahit sa simpleng pagbukas lang ng pinto.
But just as I was about to stand up, my phone, lying face-up on the coffee table lit up again. A notification popped up, and my blood ran cold when I saw it.
Unknown Number.
My breath caught in my throat.Bakit hindi sila tumitigil?
"Wait a second," I said, my voice barely steady. "I'll just check this first."
Before Iris could protest, I stood up and quickly walked a few steps away, my hands already trembling as I unlocked the screen. I didn't need to see the sender's name to know, it was the same one from earlier. The message was short, simple, but it sent a chill straight down my spine.
I stared at the words, my mind going blank for a second. Paano nila nalaman? Paano nila alam? Hangang dito ba sinundan nila si Iris? It wasn't just a message, it was proof.
They knew exactly where we were. They knew what we were doing. They were close, mas malapit pa sa inaakala ko. Parang nasa tabi-tabi lang sila, nagmamasid sa bawat galaw namin.
"Zarya? Ako na lang kukuha" Iris said from behind me, and before I could even turn around, I heard her footsteps heading toward the entrance.
By the time I looked up, she was already opening the door, and moments later, she walked back in carrying the pizza box, smiling as she closed the door behind her. "Here we go, still warm," she said, but her smile faded slightly when she saw my face.
The sight of her holding that pizza, while I was still staring at the threatening message, made my knees feel weak. I stumbled slightly, my hand reaching out to steady myself against the wall, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Alam nila ang lahat. Walang sikreto sa kanila.
Without saying a word, I rushed past her, turned the deadbolt, and slid the security chain firmly into place.
Then I hurried to every window in the living room and kitchen, pulling the curtains shut tight one by one, making sure no gap was left open. Kailangang makasiguro. Walang dapat makakita saamin dito, walang dapat makaalam.
When I turned back around, Iris was standing there, holding the pizza box, her expression now filled with confusion and growing doubt. She set the box down on the table and crossed her arms, looking at me carefully.
"Zarya," she said slowly, her voice calm but firm. "What really is going on? First you're being extra careful about me driving, then you wouldn't let me open the door, and now you're locking everything like we're hiding from someone. May tinatago ka ba sa akin? Bakit parang takot na takot ka?"
I paused, my mind racing for a reasonable explanation, something that wouldn't scare her, something that wouldn't reveal the whole truth. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my shaking hands and force my expression to relax.
"Nothing," I said, though I knew it sounded weak even to my own ears. "It's just... I don't want anyone to see us. Alam mo naman, kailangan nating mag-ingat"
Iris didn't look fully convinced, but she didn't push further...for now. She just let out a soft sigh and nodded, though her eyes still held a hint of worry. "Okay... if you say so. But you have to admit, you're acting really strange today."
I gave her a faint, reassuring smile, though inside I was anything but reassured. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just stress, I guess. Sobrang bigat lang ng mga nangyayari sa trabaho, nadadala ko yata. I'm sorry, let's just eat, okay?"
But as we sat down and opened the pizza box, I couldn't eat a single bite. My mind was no longer focused on who was behind the messages or which company it could be.
That part didn't matter anymore. What mattered was Iris...ang kaligtasan niya.
I sat there, watching her pick up a slice and take a bite, completely unaware of how close danger was. Wala siyang kaalam-alam na may mga taong nagbabantay sa bawat galaw niya. Wala siyang ideya na dahil sa akin, ang simpleng pagpunta niya dito ay nagiging delikado.
Slowly, painfully, my thoughts began to turn away from fear, and toward something much heavier. Paano ko nga ba siya mapoprotektahan? I asked myself over and over again.
What can I do to make her feel safe while she's with me?
I thought of all the things I could do, install better locks, put up security cameras, tell her to change her routes, or...make sure she never went out alone.
But deep down, I knew those things would only do so much. Makakahanap at makakahanap din sila ng paraan. And as long as I am in the picture, as long as I am in the middle of this messy, high stakes bidding war, Iris would remain a target.
And then the realization hit me...sharp, clear, and devastating.
I was the danger.
It was a truth I had tried to ignore, but now it stood right in front of me, impossible to deny. Ang pagiging malapit ko sa kanya ang nagdadala ng panganib.
If I wasn't involved in this project, if I wasn't standing in the way of powerful people, no one would be interested in her.
No one would follow her, take photos of her, or send threatening messages.
Magiging payapa lang ang buhay niya. Walang magbabantay sa kanya, walang magtatanong kung saan siya pupunta o kung sino ang kasama niya.
She would just be living her normal, peaceful life, safe and untouched by all this chaos.
My presence is her danger, and that's the truth I must accept.
I looked at her again, at the way she laughed softly as she wiped a crumb from her lip, at the trust in her eyes when she looked at me.
Gusto ko siyang ipaglaban. I am willing to face whoever dares to hurt her. But how could I protect her when the very thing that made us happy was also the thing that put her at risk? How could I shield her from a threat that was tied directly to me?
A heavy, painful thought settled in my chest. Kung gusto ko talaga siyang maging ligtas... maybe I need to distance her from my world.
Maybe the only way to keep her safe was to separate her from all this...from the bidding, from the secrets, from the people who wanted to use her against me.
Hangga't hindi pa tapos ang lahat,and as long as this mess is not yet fixed.
baka mas makabubuting malayo siya sa akin.
Maybe until everything was settled, until the bidding was over and the danger had passed, the best thing I could do for her was to keep her away from the storm I was caught in.
It hurts... just by thinking that we need to do this again.
I took her hand gently, squeezing it softly, but my mind was already turning over the hard choices ahead. I didn't want to lose her, but I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her either.
Hindi ko kakayanin kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Mas gugustuhin ko pang masaktan ang sarili ko kaysa makita siyang nahihirapan o napapahamak.
For now, I just smiled at her, hiding the turmoil inside. "It's getting late," I said softly. "We can rest here for a while."
But as I pulled her close, I stared at the dark curtains, and my thoughts were clear.
I will find a way to protect you. Even if it means I have to step back. Kahit ang kapalit nito ay ang ilayo ka muna, gagawin ko.