Chapter 4
Sapphire had been through a lot in her life—running a luxury brand, perfecting the art of a composed expression, surviving Megan’s questionable music taste during long drives—but this? This topped all of it.
Which was why she had called an Emergency Meeting. Capital E, capital M.
Megan, blissfully unaware, sat beside her in the car, fiddling with a gold cuff bracelet on her wrist. “Sobrang tahimik mo naman, dear,” she mused, throwing Sapphire a glance. “Don’t tell me na nalaman mong Saphiré Royale’s been secretly funding your mortal enemies.”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be this calm.”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “Totoo, actually. You’d be drafting a press release and strategizing the destruction of everyone involved.”
Sapphire did not deny it.
Legal Lighthouse came into view. Inside, Amber Arceta—corporate lawyer, rational voice of reason, and, for the next hour, Sapphire’s potential savior—was waiting.
They entered Amber’s office, where the lawyer was already sipping coffee like she somehow anticipated incoming nonsense.
“Emergency meeting,” Sapphire declared, placing an elegant black folder on the table. “I’m getting married.”
Megan, who had been mid-scrolling through her phone, snapped her head up so fast she almost pulled something. “ANO?”
Amber blinked. Then, with the composure of someone who had survived years of legal hell, she asked, “To who?”
Sapphire pressed her lips together. Megan, looking a little too delighted by the turn of events, leaned in like she was waiting for a scandal to drop.
Sapphire sighed. “Jade.”
Megan let out the most dramatic gasp known to mankind. “OH. MY. GOD.” She smacked Amber’s arm. “OH. MY. GOD.”
Amber frowned at the contract. “Arranged marriage?”
Sapphire nodded.
Megan? She was still stuck in her telenovela reaction phase.
“So, sinasabi mo sa'min, na after years of you two fighting, throwing shade, making the entire business industry feel the force of your hatred, your parents decided, ‘You know what? Marriage.’”
Sapphire removed the engagement ring from her finger and set it on the table. “Apparently.”
Megan grabbed Sapphire’s hand. “Wait, paanong ‘di ko ‘to napansin kanina?!”
“Because you were too busy trying to figure out which perfume to buy.”
“Huy, mahalaga ang amoy, okay?” Megan huffed before finally taking in the ring, eyes wide. “Puta. Your parents really went all in.”
Amber, having flipped through every page of the contract, set it down. “Okay,” she said, cracking her knuckles. “Let’s find a way out.”
Sapphire exhaled. “Thank you.”
Amber skimmed over the document again, fingers tapping against the edge of the table. Megan, meanwhile, was still staring at the ring like it contained the answers to the universe.
Then, Amber looked up. “Yeah, you can’t do anything about it.”
Sapphire’s eye twitched. “Excuse me?”
Megan whistled. “Bilis ah.”
Amber shrugged, tapping a paragraph in the contract. “It’s airtight. Legally speaking, they trapped you both. You break it, you’re not just pissing off your parents—you’re setting off a disaster. Just finish the year.”
Sapphire stared. Megan looked like she wanted to pull up a chair and enjoy the drama.
Amber took another sip of coffee. “Congratulations, future Mrs. Sevilleja-Robles.”
Sapphire groaned.
Megan, ever the supportive best friend, clapped her hands. “SO. Kailan ang kasal?”
“Next week.”
Megan cackled. Amber, to her credit, had the decency to look slightly apologetic.
Then, Amber did the only rational thing: she closed her laptop, stacked her papers, and stood.
“You know what?” she said, rolling her shoulders. “I’m closing the firm early. Pamper tayo.”
Sapphire sighed. “Amber, that’s unnecessary—”
Megan slammed her hands onto the table. “Pa-Brazilian ka ha!”
~
If Sapphire was the type to conduct emergency meetings with an iron-clad level of control, Jade’s approach was slightly different.
Which was why, after a particularly rage-fueled drive, she stormed into Next Chapter Law Firm and banged her hands onto Margot’s desk.
Margot Lim—divorce lawyer, unfazed, looked up from her paperwork. “Oh no.”
Sania, who had arrived fresh from a brand photoshoot, flopped into a chair. “Oh yes. This is gonna be fun.”
Jade exhaled through her nose. “I’M GETTING MARRIED.”
Margot rubbed her temples. “Jade, did you eat paint again?”
Sania gasped. “Na-wi-witness na ba natin ang downfall ng Manila’s greatest enemies-to-lovers arc?”
Jade plopped into the seat across from Margot, removing the ring from her finger. “Hindi. Kasi kay Sapphire ako ikakasal.”
Margot stared. Sania shrieked.
“Putangina.”
Jade threw the contract onto the table. “Ilang beses ko na 'tong binasa, but you’re the expert. Baka may makita kang loophole. A clause. A technicality. Kahit ano.”
Margot, still processing, leaned forward and scanned the documents. Sania was too busy zooming in on the ring.
Margot flipped another page. Then another. Then…
She sighed. “Yeah. No. You can’t do anything about it.”
Jade sat up. “Excuse me?”
Margot tapped the contract. “It’s bulletproof. On the bright side, a year will go by fast.”
Jade groaned.
Sania beamed. “So kailan ang kasal?”
“Next week.”
Sania clapped. “Excited na ‘ko pumunta!”
Jade glared. “You’re not supposed to be excited about this.”
Margot shut her laptop. “Okay. You need to let off some steam.”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Ano?”
Margot stood, stretching. “Bowling. Tara.”
Sania gasped. “Ooooh, yes! Nothing says ‘coping mechanism’ like violently throwing a ball.”
Margot grabbed her keys. “Jade clearly needs to hit something.”
Jade sighed. “Sige na nga.”
~
After an entire spa session filled with Megan’s relentless teasing, the three of them were glowing—in both post-facial radiance and deep emotional exhaustion.
Before they left, Megan stretched, exhaling dramatically. “May idea ako.”
Sapphire and Amber turned to her.
Megan grinned. “Dinner and drinks. Sa Vertex.”
Amber raised an eyebrow. “The newly-opened restobar?”
Megan smirked. “Owned by Ralph.”
Sapphire rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
Amber shrugged. “I’m down.”
Megan clapped her hands. “Perfect. We are dining in style.”
~
Meanwhile, at that exact moment, Jade, Margot, and Sania had already arrived.
Margot, looking out at the city skyline, nodded. “The view’s nice.”
Then she turned to Sania. “But are you sure the food and drinks are good here?”
Sania waved a hand. “Oo, okay naman sabi sa Tiktok.”
Margot stared. “Tiktok’s your source?”
Sania grinned. “Reliable naman ah.”
Margot sighed. “If that’s true, then I’ll take Amber here next time.”
By the time Sapphire, Megan, and Amber reached the establishment, Sapphire was already regretting every life decision that had led to this moment.
Vertex was all glass and steel, perched at the very top of a high-rise with an unobstructed view of the Manila skyline. It is a place where cocktails cost the price of a decent meal and influencers flocked for that golden-hour lighting.
Unfortunately, the moment they stepped inside, a pleasantly apologetic front-of-house (FOH) staff greeted them with the words no Manila socialite ever wanted to hear:
“Sorry, ma’am, but we’re already full. We’re not accepting new customers at the moment.”
Megan blinked. Then flashed her most charming, I’m-hot-and-I-know-it smile. “Miss, I know the owner. ‘Di ba talaga kami pwede pumasok?”
The FOH staff, clearly unimpressed, smiled politely. “Nako, ma’am, ang dami nang nagsabi niyan, pero ‘di naman talaga nila kilala si sir.” She gestured vaguely to the packed restaurant behind her. “Wala pa rin po siya dito ngayon eh, mamaya pa po dadating.”
Sapphire exhaled through her nose. Hard. She could already feel a migraine creeping in.
“We’re not that desperate for a table,” she muttered, already turning away. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
Amber nodded. “Good idea. I don’t think I have the patience for Megan’s theatrics tonight.”
Megan placed a dramatic hand over her heart. “Wow. Betrayal. Wala talaga kayong vision. SMH.”
Before Sapphire could snap back, fate—or possibly just sheer coincidence—intervened.
From somewhere inside the restaurant, a very familiar voice called out:
“Babi!”
Sapphire turned just in time to see Margot waving enthusiastically.
Amber’s face lit up in a way that was honestly kind of unfair to the rest of them. “Babi! You didn’t tell me you were going here?”
Margot shrugged, all innocence. “Sorry, babi! It was a last-minute thing. Sania recommended the place.” Then she looked past Amber and noticed the rest of them. “Oh, hi Sapphire. Hi Megan.” Her gaze flicked to the FOH staff, then back to them. “Why aren’t you coming in?”
Megan huffed. “Eh kasi naman, ayaw kaming papasukin ni ate. Puno na raw.”
Margot didn’t even blink. “Oh. We have vacant seats at our table. Just join us.”
Amber turned to the FOH staff, who suddenly looked very stressed. “Is that alright, Miss?”
There was a pause.
Then, with the visible resignation of someone who was not paid enough for this, the staff nodded. “Ah, sige po, ma’am. Pasok na po kayo.”
Amber turned back to Sapphire expectantly.
Sapphire pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course, this was happening. Of course,e she was being pulled into an unplanned group dinner when all she wanted was a stress-free night.
“Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s go.”
~
Inside, Vertex was every bit as pretentious and expensive-looking as Sapphire expected. Dim lighting, velvet chairs, minimalist aesthetic. The place was packed, but sure enough, Margot and Sania’s table had empty chairs.
Margot, ever the diplomat, turned to the table. “Hey, is it okay that I invited them? No tables na raw available eh.”
Sania, who was already clearly enjoying the impending drama, grinned. “Of course!” She waved at them. “Hi Ate Amber, Ate Megan… and Sapphire.”
Sapphire forced a polite smile. “Hi, Sania.” She slid into a seat and scanned the table. “You and Margot were the only ones here?” She gestured toward the one remaining vacant chair.
Sania opened her mouth to answer—
Then immediately froze.
Which was never a good sign.
A second later, Jade appeared.
“Sorry, ang haba ng pila sa toilet.”
Sapphire felt her soul leave her body.
Jade did a double take. Then a slow, too-satisfied grin spread across her face.
“What, ikaw na naman? Miss me already?”
Sapphire, who had neither the patience nor the energy for this, scowled. “Excuse me? Ang kapal ng mukha mo.”
Jade did not look the least bit remorseful. Instead, she slid into the only available chair—right next to Sapphire.
Sapphire gaped at her, offended on principle. “Don’t sit beside me. Doon ka nga sa far away!”
Jade smirked, leaning back like she owned the place. “Upuan ko talaga ‘to noh!”
Sapphire glared. “It doesn’t have your name on it!”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Edi ikaw ang lumipat! Admit it. You just want me to sit somewhere else because you can’t handle being this close to me.”
Sapphire nearly launched her water glass at her. “The audacity!”
Their entire table exchanged glances.
Amber sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea that we’re at the same table.”
Margot, completely ignoring the imminent disaster in front of her, picked up the menu. “Let’s order na, girls.”
~
The dinner had been...surprisingly civil so far.
Which, considering the cast of characters at the table, was an actual miracle. Conversations bounced from work drama to the latest blockbuster film When Stars Align , then somehow to the moral dilemma of pineapple on pizza. Sania was passionately in favor. Amber argued that personal taste was subjective. Megan, naturally, instigated chaos by saying, "Okay, but what about durian on pizza?"
Predictably, that set off a five-minute discussion-slash-horrified outcry.
Sapphire, meanwhile, had been strategically ignoring the human nuisance beside her. Jade was right there—close enough that their elbows almost brushed—but Sapphire had resolutely kept her eyes on her plate, her water glass, the deeply fascinating texture of the restaurant table.
And then it happened.
Both of them reached for the last baby potato at the exact same time.
Their forks clashed with a metallic scrape. Sapphire blinked, staring at the food now speared by both of them. Then she scowled and tugged the fork toward her side of the plate.
Jade yanked back.
Sapphire narrowed her eyes. "Let go."
Jade smirked. "No. Ako ang nauna."
"Excuse me?" Sapphire let out an incredulous laugh. "You literally didn’t."
Jade cocked her head. "You think you did?"
"I know I did."
"Well, I know you didn’t."
"Seryoso ka ba?!"
"Deadly."
The baby potato, poor thing, was being ruthlessly pulled in two directions like a hostage to their egos.
Margot, without looking up from her plate, sighed. “I swear to God, you two can’t be normal for five minutes.”
Sania, who had been sipping her drink with great amusement, suddenly perked up. “Actually, speaking of you two—”
And just like that, every fork in the vicinity paused midair.
Sania grinned, far too pleased with herself. “So, how’s the wedding planning going?”
Silence.
Sapphire froze. Jade slumped back into her chair with an exaggerated groan.
"Ugh. Lumabas ako to forget about that. Bakit mo pa ipinaalala?"
Sapphire scoffed. "Wow. Parang lugi ka pa. It’s me you’re going to marry."
Jade gave her an unimpressed look. "Exactly."
Sania cackled. Amber pinched the bridge of her nose.
Margot shook her head and picked up her glass, muttering, "This dinner was a mistake."
Megan, completely ignoring the tension in favor of what truly mattered, cheerfully announced, "Basta ako, excited na 'ko mag- Sharon ng shanghai."
Sania gasped, placing a dramatic hand on her chest. "Sa'kin yung cordon bleu!"
The two high-fived like they had just won a championship game.
Amber sighed. "I swear, it's like babysitting five-year-olds."
Margot sipped her drink. "Five-year-olds have more self-control."
Sapphire, still fuming, was about to reply when someone approached their table.
"Hi, Megan. Hi, Megan's friends."
Megan sat up a little straighter. "Ralph! Hey!"
It was Ralph, the owner of Vertex—and, more importantly, Megan’s current crush. He looked effortlessly put together like he always did.
"How's the food? Everything good?" he asked, directing the question at Megan but acknowledging the rest of them with a polite nod.
Megan, with the speed and efficiency of a woman who had practiced this moment in her head, flashed her most charming smile. "Oh, it's amazing. The spaghetti alla puttanesca? Perfection."
Ralph smiled. "I’m glad to hear that. By the way, my cousin's performing tonight. Hope you guys enjoy the set."
Sania, never one to let an opportunity slip, leaned forward. "Ooooh, cousin? Sinong cousin?"
Ralph glanced toward the stage, where the lights had just dimmed. "You'll see."
Right on cue, a voice rang through the speakers.
"Hi, everyone! I'm Coral Vergara. Hope you're all having a good time!"
Sania immediately turned to Jade like a woman who had just received divine confirmation of a prophecy. "Jade! 'Yung idol mo na naman! I think this is destiny. Kausapin mo na this time ha!"
Jade snorted. "Baliw ka talaga."
But her grin? Blinding.
Sapphire rolled her eyes so hard she saw another dimension.
Coral continued, "So, my first song is my new single, 'Lagi.'" Then—subtle, but not subtle enough—she glanced at Jade before singing, "Pag-ibig nga naman 'pag ika'y tinamaan, aatras pa ba?"
Megan let out a low whistle. "Damn. Ang galing niya talaga."
Margot and Amber murmured their agreement. Sania nodded enthusiastically.
Sapphire, refusing to be part of this fan club, sniffed. "Meh. Not really."
Jade turned to her, affronted. “Seryoso ka ba? She’s insanely talented.”
Sapphire leveled her with a look. “I’ve heard better.”
Jade gasped like Sapphire had just personally insulted her entire bloodline. “Blasphemy.”
After the set, Ralph returned to their table, this time with Coral in tow. "Hey, I wanted to introduce you guys properly. This is my cousin, Coral."
Coral gave them a friendly wave, but there was a particular warmth in her gaze when it landed on Jade. "Hey, everyone."
Jade sat up slightly. "Hi, I'm Jade."
Coral smiled. "Alam ko. Nakita ko kayo ni Ms. Sapphire magsagutan during the charity event. That was...intense."
Margot, completely unbothered, nodded. "Oh, that? That was just a normal day for them."
The entire table laughed—including Jade.
Sapphire did not.
In fact, she barely reacted at all, apart from a slight tightening of her jaw. Then, without a word, she grabbed her purse and pushed back her chair.
"I'm tired. I'm going home."
Amber blinked. "You sure? It's still early."
"Yeah. Had a long day." Sapphire turned to Megan. "Ride with Amber."
Megan, ever the supportive best friend, blew her a kiss. "Bye, dear! Drive safe and have your beauty rest!"
Sapphire muttered a goodbye and walked away.
Jade, for reasons she did not care to examine, found herself watching her go.