POV
Cassie
People think I have the perfect life.
Yun ang nakikita nila sa TV. Sa social media. Sa mga magazine covers kapag kasama ko si Daddy sa charity events o political gatherings.
"Congressman Madriaga's beautiful
daughter.
"The pride of the Madriaga family."
"The next generation of influence."
Minsan gusto kong tumawa kapag naririnig ko yun. Kung alam lang nila kung gaano kabigat ang pagiging perfect daughter.
Hindi sila yung gigising araw-araw sa isang bahay na parang palasyo pero pakiramdam mo kulungan.
"Miss Cassie, your breakfast is ready."
Mahinang kumatok si Liza, isa sa mga house staff, sa pinto ng kwarto ko.
I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before answering.
"Okay."
My voice sounded flat even to my own ears.
Pagbangon ko, automatic na gumalaw ang katawan ko. Routine na kasi. Same schedule. Same life.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng kwarto ko, agad kong nakita ang dalawang bodyguards na nakatayo sa hallway.
Same as always.
Black suit. Earpiece. Serious face.
"Good morning, Ma'am," sabay nilang sabi.
I forced a small smile.
"Morning."
Minsan iniisip ko kung bodyguards ba talaga sila… o jail guards.
The Madriaga mansion was quiet that morning too quiet.
Our house stood in one of the most exclusive subdivisions in the city.
Big, elegant, impressive but also suffocating.
Marble floors, high ceilings, expensive paintings and crystal chandeliers.
Everything looked perfect, everything felt cold.
Habang naglalakad ako pababa ng grand staircase, ramdam ko na naman yung pakiramdam na parang may nakamasid sa akin hindi na bago yun.
Because there were cameras everywhere.
Hallways, Living room,Entrance, Garden.
"Security," sabi ni Daddy noon.
Pero minsan pakiramdam ko… surveillance.
Daddy was already at the dining table when I entered.
Congressman Alejandro Madriaga.
Powerful, respected and feare
Sa TV, he looked like a man who cared deeply about the country.
At home?
He looked like someone who controlled everything. He glanced at me briefly.
"You're late."
I sat down quietly across from him.
"Seven-thirty pa lang, Dad."
His expression didn't change.
"Your schedule starts at eight."
Of course it did.
My life had schedules to Classes, social appearances meetings with "friends" chosen by him.
Even charity work had specific instructions.
"Eat," he said.
I looked at the food on the table. Eggs, toast, fresh fruit, coffee. Everything perfectly arranged but everything's tasteless.
"You have an event tonight," Daddy continued while reading the newspaper.
"Another one?"
"Yes."
I sighed softly.
"Dad, I have exams tomorrow.
"Your presence is important.
You don't have a choice.
I pressed my lips together.
"Who's hosting it?"
"Senator Villanueva."
Of course another political ally.
Another room full of powerful men pretending to care about the future of the country while secretly calculating power.
"Wear something appropriate," he added.
I almost laughed.
Appropriate meant elegant.
Elegant meant expensive.
Expensive meant presentable to the people who mattered.
Not to me to them.
After breakfast, I headed toward the garden.
One of the few places in the house where I could breathe.
The morning air felt cool against my skin as I walked along the stone path.
For a few minutes, everything felt peaceful.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I frowned but answered.
"Hello?
"Miss Madriaga.
Male voice. Formal.
"Yes?"
"Reminder from the office. Your driver will take you to the university at nine. Please don't leave the campus grounds."
I closed my eyes.
Even my movements outside the house were monitored.
"Okay."
The call ended
I stared at my phone.
Sometimes I wondered what it would feel like to just walk somewhere without anyone watching.
To ride a jeep, to eat street food,to go somewhere without informing five different security teams.
Normal things. Things I had never done.
"Ma'am."
I turned and saw one of the guards approaching.
"Your driver is ready."
Of course he was.
My life moved like a machine.
Precise, controlled, predictable.
I nodded and followed him toward the car parked outside the mansion.
Because apparently being a congressman's daughter meant you had enemies.
University was the only place where life almost felt normal.
I stepped out of the SUV and instantly felt the difference.
Students laughing.
Groups talking loudly.
Someone playing music from a phone speaker.
Freedom.
I watched them for a moment before walking toward the building.
"Cassie!"
I turned and saw my friend Mira jogging toward me.
Well… one of the few people Daddy allowed me to be friends with.
"You look tired," she said.
"Because I am."
She laughed.
"Late night again?"
"No. Just… life."
We walked together toward the classroom.
"Are you coming to the party tonight?" she asked.
"What party?"
"The one hosted by the student council."
I shook my head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Family event."
She groaned dramatically.
"Cassie, your family has too many events."
I smiled weakly.
"You have no idea."
Classes passed slowly.
Too slowly.
My mind kept drifting somewhere else.
Somewhere far from politics, expectations, and surveillance cameras.
I was packing my books after my last class when Mira spoke again.
"Hey, we're planning to grab dinner later. Come with us."
For a moment, I considered it.
Then I remembere
Security.
Curfew.
Permission.
"I can't," I said quietly.
She frowned. "You always say that."
Because it was always true.
By the time I arrived home that evening, the mansion was unusually busy.
More security than usual.
More staff moving around.
Something was happening.
I stepped inside and immediately felt the tension in the air.
One of the staff approached me.
"Miss Cassie, your father is in a meeting."
"Now?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
I nodded slowly.
Political meetings at night weren't unusual.
But something about this felt… different.
I walked toward the staircase when I heard voices coming from the direction of Daddy's private office.
The door was slightly open. Which was strange daddy hated interruptions.
I was about to continue upstairs when a word stopped me. Weapons
My heart skipped.
I slowly stepped closer.
The voices inside were low but clear enough.
"…shipment will arrive next week.
"Payment already transferred through the encrypted accounts."
Another voice spoke.
"What about the police?"
Then my father answered calmly.
"They won't be a problem."
A cold feeling spread through my chest.
Weapons.
Encrypted payments.
Police.
My hand slowly tightened around the strap of my bag.
Something about this conversation felt wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
I glanced down at my phone. My fingers hesitated for a second.
Then I opened the recorder just in case.
Slowly, quietly, I moved a little closer to the door.
Inside the office, the voices continued.
And with every word I heard…
My perfect life began to crack.