The Temporary Wife (BongLeni)

Chapter 11

As Leni and Bongbong walked along the beach, their laughter mingled with the sound of waves lapping at the shore. They couldn't quite believe how, in the span of just a few hours, everything between them had shifted. It felt like a dream, the kind of lightness that came when the weight of expectations faded away. There were no wedding plans looming over them, no interruptions from Camille; it was just the two of them, reveling in a moment free from pressure.

"I can't remember the last time I felt this relaxed," Leni said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. She kicked at the sand playfully, feeling as if all her worries were washed away with the tide.

"Me too," Bongbong replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "We should do this more often. Takasan lang natin yung mga responsibilidad natin."

Leni nodded in agreement, her heart warming at the idea. They were in a bubble of bliss, far from the chaos that usually surrounded their lives. It was as if time had paused just for them.

But as the evening began to settle in, their phones suddenly buzzed in unison, cutting through the serene atmosphere. They exchanged concerned glances, sensing that something was off. Leni picked up her phone first, glancing at the caller ID. It was Leslie.

"Ugh, I wonder what's wrong now," she said, her brow furrowing as she answered the call. "Hey, Leslie."

"Leni," Leslie's voice crackled through the speaker, urgent and tense. "Camille is in the tabloids. She was spotted in a club, nakiki pag away dahil sa lalaki."

Leni's heart sank. "What? Why is she always getting into trouble?"

Meanwhile, Bongbong was also on the phone, his expression hardening as he listened to Irene's voice. "Kuya, you need to know that this can really damage your reputation. The public sees you two together, and this kind of scandal isn't good for your image."

"I'm not concerned about that," Bongbong replied, his voice steady. But deep down, he knew this was more than just Camille's actions—it was about how he was perceived, how it could affect his business. "What does Grandma think about it?"

"I'm not sure what to tell you," Irene said. "She hasn't said anything yet, but she will definitely want to discuss this."

As the calls ended, Bongbong rushed over to Leni, their eyes locking. In that moment, they both understood that something serious had just unfolded. "What did Leslie say?" he asked, his tone serious.

"Camille's in the tabloids again," Leni replied, her voice low. "She got into a fight over a man."

Bongbong felt a surge of irritation mixed with concern. He couldn't allow anyone to tarnish his name, especially not Camille. "We need to handle this. You take care of the media, and I'll talk to Grandma."

"Okay," Leni agreed, though her mind raced with what they had to do. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was spiraling out of control.

Bongbong dialed his grandmother's number, and she answered almost immediately. "apo?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.

"Camille is in trouble again, and it's making headlines. What should I do?" he asked, feeling a weight pressing on him.

"Maybe it's time for you to decide what you want," his grandmother replied, her tone guiding him. "You need to fix this like a man."

Her words resonated deeply with him. Was she hinting that he needed to take control of his own life, to stop letting Camille dictate his future?

After the call ended, Leni walked over to him, her expression serious. "I've got the media under control for now, but we can't keep doing this. Sooner or later, people will talk, and we won't be able to stop it."

Bongbong wasn't really listening. He was too busy watching Leni, the way her brow furrowed in concern, the way the light caught her hair. His mind raced with possibilities, and suddenly, as if the thought had materialized out of nowhere, he blurted out, "Marry me, Leni."