Chapter 2
It had been an ordinary night out that spiraled into something much worse. Despite her composed and poised image, Justine struggled with control—especially with alcohol. Raised under her mother’s strict gaze, she rarely drank, but tonight, she was tipsy before she even realized it. Her laughter echoed a little too loudly, her words slurred, and before long, she was knocking over drinks, stumbling into other tables, laughing far too hard at things that weren’t even amusing, drawing unwanted attention.
Gabrielle’s chest tightened with panic, her mind racing through the worst-case scenarios. The thought of their parents finding out sent a wave of dread through her. It wasn’t just about two sisters making a mistake—it could escalate into something far worse. The Villafrancas and Rivamontes weren’t just rival families; they were empires, their names and reputations tied together in a complex web of politics and power. If Justine’s mother discovered what had happened—just seeing her daughter passed out, especially with a Rivamonte—it would be catastrophic.
As she stared at Justine’s pale, unconscious form, Gabrielle’s hands trembled. She thought of all the consequences they would face if anyone found out about this. Desperate, she unlocked it and dialed the only person she could think of, her stomach in knots.
Mia was deep in sleep when her phone rang. She groggily answered on the fourth ring, her voice sharp and annoyed. "Gab? Bakit ka tumatawag ng ganitong oras?"
Mia’s voice was laced with irritation, but beneath it, there was something else—concern.
"Sorry, Ate Yen," Gabrielle mumbled, her voice shaky with tears. "I messed up big time. Justine’s passed out, and I don’t know what to do. Her mom’s gonna kill us if she finds out."
Mia froze for a moment. "Justine? Please don’t tell me you’re with—"
Gabrielle choked back a sob. "Ate Yen, I can explain—"
"Mag send ka ng location. I’m on my way," Mia interrupted, already getting out of bed. She threw on a jacket over her pajamas and grabbed her keys. Her mind raced with the urgency of the situation, running through all the possible scenarios as she rushed out to pick them up.
When Mia arrived, the sight before her was far from what she had expected. Justine was slumped against the wall, unconscious, while Gabrielle hovered nearby, her face pale and filled with panic.
"Gabrielle what the hell were you thinking?" Mia snapped as she approached, her voice sharp with anger but her eyes betraying her worry.
Gabrielle barely managed to meet her gaze. "Hindi ko alam, Ate,' Gabrielle muttered, her voice trembling. 'Lumabas lang kami para mag-aliw. Justine couldn’t handle it.”
Mia sighed, frustration bubbling up as she ran a hand through her hair. "Tell me everything. May nakakilala ba sa inyo? Sino pang kasama ninyo?"
"Kami lang. Nakabasag si Justine ng baso tas nasukahan niya yung nasa kabilang table,” Gabrielle admitted, guilt written all over her face. "Pero parang hindi naman kami nakilala." she said, unsure.
"May nasaktan ba?" Mia asked, her tone softening just a bit.
Gabrielle shook her head quickly. Mia let out a relieved sigh, her gaze shifting to Justine. "We need to get her out of here. Tawagan mo si Maco."
Gabrielle grabbed Justine’s phone but groaned in frustration. "Deadbat na yung phone niya Ate."
Mia cursed under her breath, trying to think. She pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Mia? Bakit?" Yana’s groggy voice answered after a couple of rings.
"Sorry kung nagising kita," Mia said hurriedly. "Do you still have Maco’s number?"
There was a pause before Yana spoke again, now fully awake. "Anong nangyari? Are you okay?"
Her voice carried a mix of surprise and concern. Hearing Mia ask for Maco’s number felt strange—unnatural, even. Their families had once been close, and as kids, Mia and Maco had shared a kind of camaraderie, attending the same events, running in the same circles. But as their families’ political ambitions diverged, so did their paths. Over the years, their conversations faded—first into polite nods, then into complete silence. As their families' rivalry intensified, subtle jabs turned into outright clashes, creating a palpable tension that lingered in every interaction. For Mia to bring up Maco now, after all this time, hinted at something urgent, something neither could ignore.
"I’m fine, pero si Justine hindi. She’s drunk and unconscious. I need Maco to pick her up."
Yana immediately responded. "San kayo? Oo, I still have her number."
"V. Biker’s Pub. Mangrove Street," Mia replied. "Actually, pwede ba ikaw na ang tumawag kay Maco?"
"Got it," Yana said. Just walk me through all the details of what happened”
Mia quickly explained what happened to Yana so she could relay the details to Maco. A couple of minutes later, two cars pulled up—a black Jeep Wrangler and a white Toyota GR Supra.
Maco stepped out of the Jeep, shutting the door a little too hard. The loud sound betrayed the tension simmering beneath her composed facade. Her jaw tightened for a split second, a telltale sign of the frustration she tried to mask. Gabrielle flinched at the sound, her nerves on edge. Maco strode over without a word, her expression unreadable, followed by her cousin Gene.
“Ate Maco—” Gabrielle started nervously, but Maco held up a hand, cutting her off. She handed Gabrielle a bottle of Pocari Sweat, her voice clipped. “Hydrate,” she said curtly.
As Gabrielle hesitated, Maco’s eyes softened momentarily, a flicker of concern surfacing before her stoic mask returned. Without another word, Maco and Gene lifted Justine and carefully placed her in the backseat of the Jeep.
Mia stood by her car, arms crossed, watching the scene. Not a single word passed between her and Maco.
"Gab, sumakay ka na," Mia ordered her sister, who immediately obeyed.
Maco stopped Gabrielle before she could get in. "Yana told me what happened, pero gusto ko marinig sayo mismo ang nangyari."
Gabrielle hesitated, looking at Mia for approval. When Mia gave a small nod, Gabrielle explained everything.
Maco listened intently, her face unreadable. When Gabrielle finished, Maco stepped aside and made a call, her voice low and firm as she walked out of earshot.
Gene approached Mia’s car and casually leaned against it, standing beside her. Both of them tilted their heads upward, gazing at the starry night sky.
After a moment of silence, Gene spoke, breaking the quiet. "What a night, huh?"
"Mhmm," Mia murmured in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the stars, her mind elsewhere.
“Wag ka mag-alala. Alam ni Maxx ano gagawin.” Gene said gazing at Maco who was a few steps away, still on the phone, her tone calm but commanding. Without missing a beat, Maco directed her next question at Gabrielle, who stood nearby, fidgeting nervously.
"Yung mga naabala ni Justine—nandiyan pa ba sila sa pub?" Maco asked, her voice sharp, though her focus remained on her call.
“Di ako sure Ate Maco” Gabrielle said.
“Samahan mo ko sa loob.”
Her authority was final, and neither of them dared to object. Gabrielle instinctively moved toward Maco, still trembling, while Mia stood her ground, arms crossed but her eyes betraying a flicker of tension.
Maco’s gaze never wavered. She was assessing the situation, calm and calculating, her mind already running through the steps needed to control the damage.
Inside the pub, Maco’s presence was enough to draw attention—people instinctively stepped aside, recognizing the weight of who she was.
Without missing a beat, she approached the manager. Her smile was cold and polite, but the message beneath it was clear.
Before entering, Maco had already placed a call to the owner of the pub, her tone smooth and confident.
“Alam kong tinawagan ka na ng boss mo tungkol sa sitwasyon kaya i assume na alam mo na ang pakay ko” Maco said, her voice lower than before but just as commanding. “Gets mo naman siguro kung gaano kalaki ’to. Sabihin mo na lang kung magkano ang damage, ako na ang bahala.
The manager nodded quickly, too eager to comply, and Maco gestured at Gene before she swept through the pub with calculated ease. Gene then asked the manager to take her to where the CCTV footage was.
“Saan diyan” Maco asked Gabrielle, about the people Justine disturbed.
Gabrielle nodded towards the direction of the table of a group of loud bikers with pints of beer.
“Stay here” Maco commanded the younger.
Maco approached the table where Justine’s mess had landed, her posture composed, her expression calm but purposeful. She leaned slightly forward, offering the group a polite smile that carried just enough warmth to disarm. Gabrielle stood at a distance, watching as Maco spoke with the bikers. Despite the gravity of the situation, it was as if Maco had stepped into her element—confident, controlled, and completely in charge.
Gene appeared beside Gabrielle, following her gaze with a small, knowing smile. "Still amazes me," she said, her tone light but laced with admiration. "She just knows how to lock in, doesn’t she?"
Gabrielle glanced at Gene, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Palagi ba niyang ginagawa ’to?"
Gene chuckled. "Hindi naman. But when she has to, she handles it. No hesitation."
Maco stepped back from the table after a few more words, giving the bikers a nod of thanks. Her expression remained steady as she turned and walked toward them. The situation inside had been contained, but she knew the work wasn’t over.
Back outside, Maco wasted no time. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number, her voice firm and focused as she spoke. "I need a sweep of any social media posts from the V. Biker’s Pub tonight. Flag anything about the incident. Siguraduhin mong walang kakalat."
She turned to Gene, her mind already a step ahead. "CCTV footage?"
"Handled," Gene replied smoothly. "I talked to the manager. No photos or videos are getting out."
Maco nodded, satisfied but still alert. Every loose end needed to be tied.
As they made their way to the parked cars, Maco and Gene gave each other their car keys.
“Mauna na ako sa inyo,” Gene said, nodding toward the Jeep where Justine lay slumped in the backseat. Without further delay, Gene got into the vehicle and drove off, leaving Maco standing beside Gabrielle.
Noticing the puzzled look on Gabrielle’s face, Maco explained, her tone steady, “Hindi pwedeng umuwi ng ganon si Tin sa bahay. She’ll stay at Gene’s place tonight until she recovers.”
“I see…” Gabrielle murmured, guilt evident in her voice as they approached Gene’s car.
Out of the corner of her eye, Maco spotted Mia leaning against her car, waiting with an air of impatience. She could feel the tension radiating from her even at a distance.
“Ingat kayo pauwi,” Maco said, her voice calm but firm.
Gabrielle hesitated, the weight of the night catching up to her. She looked down, shame clouding her expression. “Ate Maco, I’m really sorry,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maco placed a reassuring hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder, her grip gentle but grounding. “Okay na yun, Gab. Magpahinga ka na. Yung Ate mo kanina pa naghihintay, naiinip na yan,” she said with a soft, understanding tone.
Gabrielle gave a small nod, her gratitude clear in her eyes, and quickly climbed into her sister’s car.
Maco leaned against Gene’s car, her gaze flickering to Mia, who stood leaning against her own vehicle. The silence between them was heavy, charged with years of unspoken tension.
“Thanks,” Maco said finally, breaking the quiet.
Mia didn’t move, her tone cold. "Don’t thank me. You’re the one who handled the damage control."
“You stayed with Tin. You called for help,” Maco pressed.
Mia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Alangan namang iwanan ko kapatid mo sa ganung kalagayan.”
“I know,” Maco replied, her voice softening just enough to sound sincere. "Kaya nga ako nagpapasalamat. And just so you know, everything’s taken care of. Wala kang dapat ipag alala."
Mia’s laugh was sharp, cutting through the tension. "Yeah, binalaan mo ba na sisirain mo buhay nila pag sumuway sila sa utos mo? diyan ka magaling diba?’ Maco’s eyes darkened, a flicker of offense crossing her face. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Mia shot back, her voice sharper now.
Maco straightened, her composure cracking slightly. "Wow. Grabe. I stepped up to fix this, and ngayon ako pa masama?"
"It’s not my problem to fix," Mia retorted, her tone biting. "Kapatid mo ang gumawa ng problema.”
The words hung in the air, stinging like an open wound. Both women stared at each other, their faces flushed with anger and frustration.
“Unbelievable,” Maco muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
Mia didn’t respond. Instead, she turned on her heel and climbed into her car. The engine roared to life, and with a screech of tires, she sped off, leaving Maco standing alone under the dim streetlight.
For a moment, Maco just stood there, her jaw clenched as she tried to rein in her emotions. Then, with a sharp exhale, she turned toward Gene’s car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she slammed the door shut and drove off without another glance at the now-empty parking lot.
Unbeknownst to them, a stranger in the shadows had been watching the entire exchange. Hidden behind a parked vehicle, they raised their phone and snapped a few pictures, their eyes gleaming with a mix of intrigue and amusement. The spectacle of two powerful women locked in such a heated confrontation was too tantalizing to ignore. With a sly smile, they disappeared into the night, the images safe on their phone.