#LoveWithoutTheLie
Three months later.
Tahimik na ang opisina.
Wala nang kape na nagtatalsikan sa mesa. Wala nang pa-high heels na parang laging runway si Angela Hunter. At higit sa lahat — wala na ang tensyon na parang may paparating na bagyo kada papasok si Ryan Santillan.
Nagbago ang lahat. Slowly. Quietly. Without fanfare.
"Guys, may memo from HR," bulong ni Maila habang hawak ang printed paper. "Angela officially resigned. For personal reasons daw."
"Personal scandal, you mean," sabat ni Audrey, rolling her eyes. "May tsismis na may offshore account si madam at ginagamit niya yung expense reports para mag-travel."
"Ang karma nga naman, noh," ani Kim, sabay abot ng tsaa kay Aila. "Tapos ikaw, Aila Briones — ang promoted!"
"Don't start," Aila blushed, looking down at her ID lanyard. Naka-engrave na roon ang bagong posisyon niya: Team Lead, Client Experience Division.
Walang special favors. Walang shortcut. She worked her ass off. Stayed overtime. Took on difficult clients. And most of all, she did it after the bet. After everything fell apart — and slowly, rebuilt again.
"You deserve it," ani John, na ngayon ay madalas na sa opisina nila bilang marketing consultant. "Ian didn't even know you were on the shortlist, remember? It's all you."
Aila smiled. "It's better that way."
She took a sip of her tea, staring out the window. Mula rito, kita ang coffee shop sa kabilang kanto — the same place kung saan siya iniwan ni Ian ng malamig na "thank you." The same place kung saan siya bumalik weeks later... only to find him waiting, holding her letter.
At the same spot where he kissed her — no rules, no bet, just them.
"I'm still in love with you."
That's what Ian whispered that night. No dramatics. No grand gesture.
She didn't need one.
"Bakit mo ako minahal?" tanong niya noon, habang nakapatong ang ulo niya sa balikat nito. "After everything?"
Ian chuckled. "Kasi ikaw yung bet na ayaw kong matalo."
"Smooth."
"Honest."
Ngayon, ilang buwan na ang lumipas, and they're still together.
No public announcements. Walang PDA sa opisina. They still acted professionally — unless magka-lunch break. Doon lang sila nagiging "Ian and Aila." Walang title. Walang pressure. Just learning how to love again, slowly.
"May dinner tayo mamaya, ha," text ni Ian habang nasa kabilang cubicle lang. "Celebrating your promotion."
Aila smiled. He never forgot the little things.
And he never needed 10 days to fall again.
Later that night.
Nasa small resto lang sila, not too fancy, not too cheap. Sakto lang — gaya nila.
Aila wore a simple cream dress, habang si Ian ay naka-blue button-down na medyo kulubot pa rin kahit planchado. Classic Ian.
"Cheers?" alok ni Ian, taas ang wine glass.
"Cheers," she smiled. "To what?"
"To you. For finally seeing what everyone else already saw."
Aila laughed. "What, na worthy ako? Na hindi ako panglaro?"
Ian leaned in. "Na ikaw yung challenge I'll always choose."
Nagkatawanan sila sandali, hanggang sa maging tahimik ang paligid. Doon, sa ilalim ng soft restaurant lights, they didn't feel like office mates. Or ex-opposites. Or casualties of a stupid love experiment.
They just felt like... partners.
The following week.
Aila walked into the office, holding a small pastry box. Ian had a sweet tooth, and he always pretended he didn't.
"Tingin nga," bulong ni Audrey, "akala mo di niya gusto sweets. Pero ayan, every morning, hinihintay niya 'yang box na 'yan."
"Eh paano, special delivery from the girlfriend-slash-team-lead," sabi ni Kim.
Aila rolled her eyes. "You guys tease too much."
"We're proud," Maila grinned. "And happy. Kasi for the first time in a long time... ikaw yan. Not the bet, not the performer. Just you."
Ian's POV, that evening.
While Aila was working late, Ian opened his drawer.
Nandoon pa rin ang maliit na notebook niya. The same one he wrote in during the bet.
Day 1: She's loud. Too loud.
Day 3: I don't get why she keeps asking if I'm okay.
Day 5: She smiled at a client who yelled at her. She still smiled.
Day 7: She didn't laugh at my joke. She just stared. I think she saw something.
Day 10: She's the bravest girl I've met. I'm scared of that.
Day 11: I love her.
Napailing siya. "Dapat pala tinapon ko na 'to."
Pero hindi. Kasi reminder ito — na even when everything was messed up, something real still bloomed.
"Want to make me fall in love again?" Aila suddenly said from the door, smiling.
Ian grinned. "You never stopped."
The End... of the Bet. But Not the Beginning.
Kasi sa totoong love story, hindi lang 10 days ang sukatan.
It's every day after that — every moment na pinipili mong manatili, magpatawad, magmahal muli.
Without rules. Without games.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfdhLQRDPr
Just love.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW4S5z0HkA
