Kenzie‘s POV:
“Have you already finished the files, Jho?”
I asked my personal secretary in front of me after I spoke with my business partner on the telephone. She didn't answer my question so I gestured for her not to continue because I already know her answer.
God, I want to fire her! I gave that work to her last week! Yet, she's not done? Oh God, this company is stressing me!
“C-Coffee po?” she asked me.
“Yes please. And please, don't add sugar. Thanks.” Paalala ko pa dahil alam kong malalagyan niya ’yon ng asukal kung hindi ko naman ipapaalala.
Tumayo ako para sana kuhain ‘yung isang envelope, pero hindi natuloy nang mag-ring ang phone ko. I don't want to answer any call from anyone, but I will answer this one.
Because it's her. It's Eli.
[Hey!” I started when I answered her call. This is so very not her. Hindi niya naman ako tinatawagan nang ganitong oras, or kung tatawag man siya, it's just all about our set-up. No more than that.
[Mama mo, hey!] she answered. Nag-echo pa ang boses niya kaya bahagya akong natawa para ilayo sa tenga ko ‘yung phone. She's mad at me? Oh my God, why? Wala akong naalala na may ginawa akong bagay na ikakagalit niya.
Does she doesn't like my performance last night?
“Why are you mad? Are you okay? May ginawa ba akong mali?” Sunod-sunod na tanong ko sa kaniya. God, I sounds like her boyfriend! Why are you like this, Kenzie?! You're so fcking asshole!
[Oo meron! Sino ba may sabi sayong ibili ako ng necklace?!] Ramdam ko sa boses niya ang galit kaya napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko. Ewan ko ba. She's the only woman who makes me nervous!
She's just... She's just my fck buddy, but why do I always feel this when she's talking? God, kahit galit siya ang sarap pakinggan na bahagyang nakakakaba. Why am I like this?
“It‘s just a necklace,” I answered before I sat down to my swivel chair.
[Ha?! Anong it's just a necklace?! Yung price! Fcking five million, Enzie?!] Sabi niya. Hindi ko pinakinggan lahat ’yung sinabi niya dahil mas tumatak sa isip ko ‘yung pagtawag niya sa’kin ng Enzie. I hate it when other people make a nickname for me, or not calling me by my name. But I really don't know myself.
Because I love hearing her voice, saying that nickname she made for me. It's just... Cute.
“What‘s wrong with that? It's just a gift.” Sagot ko pa habang hawak ang ibabang labi ko, nakangiti.
[Gift?! Really?! Akala ko pa naman, 5k lang ‘to!] She said. [Inamo, ano ka sugar daddy?! Magkano lahat ‘to?! Umamin ka na!] Sabi niya pa. Wala talaga akong balak ipaalam sa kaniya ‘yung totoong presyo kasi alam kong eto magiging reaction niya. Hindi ko alam kung sino ba nagsabi sa kaniya nito.
“It‘s... Mura lang,” I answered.
[Magkano nga?] tanong niya ulit. Oh my God, this woman is so cute. She's so fcking cute.
“Mura lang nga.” Sagot ko, nagpipigil ng ngiti.
[Isa! Sasaoli ko ‘to kapag hindi mo sinabi!] she threatened me. [Hindi naman ako golddigger, kaya sabihin mo na!]
“No.” I shook my head even if she doesn't see me. Alam ko namang hindi siya ganoon. Nakikita ko kaya never kong inisip na golddigger siya. But, I don't want to tell her the real price because, I don't want her to feel guilty just because I gave her an expensive gift.
[Enzie kasi, bilis na!]
Fine. She call me that name. My fcking weakness.
“It‘s... 12 million.” Sagot ko.
The next thing I know, my phone was already a little bit far from my ears because of her loud voice. She's freaking shouting!
[Mamatay yata ako sa pinaggagawa mo! Alam mo bang wala akong five thousand ngayon?! Tapos tangina, 12 million ‘tong suot ko?! Enzie?! Are you being for real?!] She asked, damn freaking mad.
“You don't have five thousand? I'll give you fifty thousand per week, then.”
[Enzie! Ayoko!]
“Okay, fine. Don't get mad at me, hm? ‘Wag ka ma-guilty. It's my choice. I wanted to gave you that necklace, so you don't have to worry about anything.” Sagot ko, pinapakalma siya.
[Jusko Lord] She sighed heavily.
Before she ended our call, I told her to come to my penthouse tomorrow. She agrees with it naman agad. Actually, I wanted to celebrate this day with her because it‘s her birthday, but of course I know she wanted to celebrate her birthday with her family and friends so I didn't ask her to come.
After ng meetings ay umuwi muna ako sa mansion just to check my Lola and my parents. I also came here to report everything about my work for the whole week. Actually, hindi naman na need but I still wanna earned their trust kahit alam kong may tiwala naman na sila sa ’kin. Pero syempre, iba pa rin ’yung nami-maintain ko ’yung tiwala nila. Especially, I am the only tagapag-mana of this family.
“Hello my dear baby boy! Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?” My mother asked me. “Gosh! I missed you so much baby! How are you? Bakit ang payat mo? Look at you!”
“Mom, stop treating me like a child. I'm fine.” I held her hand, laughing a little.
“Yeah, He's not a kid anymore mommy. He's CEO now, yet you're treating kuya like he's still a baby.” My teenage sister laughed.
“Because he is! He's still my baby even if he's the CEO!” My mother said.
“He’s not a kid anymore, Mari.”
Napatigil kami sa pag-uusap ng makitang palapit na si Angkong, my grandfather.
“He is, papa!” my mother said, laughing a little.
“No he's not, he's getting married next week right? So basically, he's not a kid anymore.” He looked at me so I smiled.
“Hi, lolo.” I smiled at him.
“Itutuloy niyo po talaga ‘yon? He's too young to get married with someone he doesn't know, Papa.” My mother said.
“Yes. We already talked about this, right?”
“But-”
“It‘s okay, Mom. I'll do it, no worries lolo.” Sagot ko.
Wala naman akong magagawa.
If I don‘t follow them, they will get mad at me.
Because, I'm nothing. I'm just their dog.
But still, I really want to prove myself from them. Kahit kay Mommy.
So I'll do it. Magpapakasal ako.
Being married to someone I don't know for a year, wouldn't be a problem, right?