A LOVELESS MARRIAGE

CHAPTER 3

(Louise's POV)

Pumasok ako sa office ni Mr. De la Vega nang hindi kumakatok.

Umangat ang ulo niya oara tumingin sa ak8n. Alam kong, hindi niya inaasahan na babalik ako. Pero siya lang ang makakatulong sa akin sa sitwasyong ito.

"I-I have a condition too, sir." he leaned on his chair when I said that. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko.

"Aside from having a stable job... What else do you need?"

"Apartment." He's raised his eyebrow.

"Apartment?"

"Y-yes, sir." I sniff trying to hold my tears from falling.

He was silent for a seconds while staring at my eyes.

"Okay... I will look for a nearest apartment, so you can move in next week. What else?." he garb his pen from his table.

"Tomorrow." Napalingon siya sa akin. Kailangan na may malipatan na kami simula bukas.

"Tomorrow?" I nodded and looked down. My thumbs is scratching my other hand. Medyo nakakahiya na ang dami kong demand pero kailangan ko siya at alam kong kailangan niya ako.

"I-Im begging, s-sir." I failed to compose my voice as my voice cracked.

I heard him sighed.

"Okay. Tomorrow." Napaiyak ako habang nakayuko. I wipe my tears flowing down to my nape at tuwid na tumingin sa kanya.

"T-thank y-you, sir." I have to control my voice but I stammer while holding the tears escaping from my eyes.

"Is something wrong?" nag-aalangan niyang tanong. Ayokong magkwento sa kanya dahil mas nakakahiya.

"N-nothing s-sir." Nag angat ako ng tingin and looked at him. "I-I will come b-back tomorrow, sir. To d-discuss about... about the m-marriage. I'm sorry for barging in."

He stared at me a seconds, tumango na lamang siya at naglakad na ako palabas ng opisina niya.

Habang mag-isa akong nakasakay sa elevator ay doon na ako napahagulhol ng iyak.

I know. I really look desperate at this moment. Pero siya lang ang matatakbuhan ko sa sitwasyong hindi ko na kayang maresolba ng mag-isa. Ayokong pag-alalahanin and aking ina at kapatid dahil sa nangyayari sa buhay namin.

Kailangan ko siya at kailangan niya rin ako.

***

Nagising ako sa isang malakas na kalabog sa pintuan. Isang malakas na katok.

"Lena! Louise!" Si Mrs. Gomez!

Agad akong bumangon para pagbuksan siya ng pintuan.

"Ano na? Nakapag impake na? Oh sya! Umalis na kayo at may bagong uupa dito!" Kunot noo niyang singhal sa akin.

Maya-maya ay bumangon na rin si Mika at Inay.

"Pwede po bang hayaan nyo muna kaming makapag impake. Kahit hanggang tanghali lang po." Pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya.

"Hindi pa kayo nakapag impake? Sana ni ready niyo na lahat kahapon pa lamang!" Binuksan niya ang kanyang pamaypay. "Nako naman Louise! Akala ko ba nakapagtapos ka? Bakit ang hina ng kokoti mo? Oh siya, bigyan ko kayo ng sampung minuto para maialis lahat-lahat na mga gamit niyo." Sampung minuto?

"Pero--" she shot me a glare. Halos magsasanib pwersa na yung peke niyang kilay sa pagka-inis.

"Are you done?" Pareho kaming napalingon sa likod ni Mrs. Gomez.

Oh God!

Mr. De la Vega!

Anong ginagawa niya dito?

"Ha?" Mrs. Gomez looked at me then to him.

"I'm here to fetched my fiancee." Namilog ang aking mata sa sinabi niya. F-Fiancee??

Lumingon ako kina Mika at Inay. Gulat din sila. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila.

"Ha? Siya?" Tinuro naman ako ni Mrs. Gomez, pagkatapos ay tinitigan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa. Lumapit sa akin si Mrs. Gomez. "May jowa ka pa lang mayaman, pinapahirapan mo pa ang sarili mo, hmmm." Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

I looked at him. He's wearing a casual attire, not his usual suit. He looks... handsome.

"And mind you..." He glared at Mrs. Gomez. "You can't pack up all your belongings in 10 minutes. Lalo na't pinapalayas mo sila." May diing pagkasabi ni Mr. De la Vega.

"Oh c-cge. Take your time, Louise." Unti-unting naglakad paalis si Mrs. Gomez.

Tinignan ko ang paligid. May mga marites na naman sa labas. Hinila ko papasok sa loob ng bahay si Sir.

I closed the door ngunit pagharap ko ay nasa harapan ko si Inay at Mika. May mga tanong sa kanilang pagmumukha.

"Mika, mag impake na kayo. Lahat ng gamit dalhin niyo." Tinitigan ko si Mika hudyat na inwan muna kami dito at pumasok na muna kayo ni Inay sa kwarto.

Agad namang na gets ng kapatid ko kaya hinila niya papasok sa kwarto niya si Inay at isinara ang pintuan.

Tinignan ko si sir. He looked around the house. Alam kong hindi kami marangya at hindi perpekto ang aming pamumuhay.

"Sir, bakit po kayo nandito?" Napalingon naman siya sa akin.

"I want to send the apartment address to you but I guess you need help to move out since biglaan ang paglipat mo." He looked down.

"Maraming salamat po." He looked at me. Nginitian ko lamang siya dahil laking pasasalamat ko sa kanya. "Mag-iimpake lang po kami. Pasensya na po kung maghihintay kayo."

"No. It's okay. I'm not busy. Take your time." Ngiti ang aking itinugon sa kanya.

(Harris's POV)

I guess, I'm on time. Medyo nakakairita na kasi ang boses ng matabang talaba na iyon.

How dare she insult a woman who has a higher degree than her? Hindi ba siya nahiya sa mga pinagsasabi niya?

Should I ask her name to Ms. Sandoval? To teach her a lesson.

Umupo ako sa bakanteng stool. I looked around. Wala masyadong gamit. The place looks so dull and empty. Is this how she lived all her life?

I saw it earlier, her father is not here. As far as I've know based on her resume, her father is still living.

Puro sila babae na nakatira dito. Who will protect them in case of emergency? Lalo na sa nangyari kanina, kulang nalang sampalin na ng talaba na iyon si Ms. Sandoval.

A girl came out of a room holding a box. I run towards her and snatched the box from her. Maybe that's her little sister.

I walk outside until I reached my car. I open the trunk of my car and placed the box inside. I was about to tell her to get the important things only, since there's no moving company at this time to help carry the heavy things. But I guess, I don't need to tell her that. Wala naman sila masyadong gamit.

Bumalik na ako sa loob when Ms. Sandoval came out of the house and placed the box outside of their door.

I picked up the boxes and walks back to my car. I looked at my surroundings. Bakit dumadami na ngayon ang mga marites sa mundo. Tsk tsk.

I was about to pick up the other box when I heard a gasp. Napalingon ako sa harap.

"S-sir, ako na po. Kami na po bahala diyan." She was about to snatched the box away from me but turn myself on the other side so that she won't touch the box.

"It's okay. Para mas madali." I walk back to my car.

***

We are in my car now.

Not talking.

I can sense the tension inside the car.

Yeah. Sino bang hindi magugulat na may biglang nagpakilala na fiancee ako ng anak niya where in fact it's my first time to meet Ms. Sandoval's mom.

I glance at my mirro in front of me. But I automatically looked away. She looks scary. No, not her mom, but the girl beside her mom, Ms. Sandoval's little sister.

I glanced at Ms. Sandoval in the passenger seat. She's just quiet. Nakasandal ang ulo sa bintana habang malalim ang tingin sa daan.

I sighed. I put too much pressure on her. Dapat pala hindi nalang ako pumunta.

Nang makarating kami sa Albany Luxury Residences. Actually it's a condominium. Lumabas na ako sa sasakyan. I looked at Ms. Sandoval sa upuan niya. She is staring at the building.

Napakamot naman ako sa aking leeg. Should I bought a small one? Apartment lang kasi ang hiningi niya. There's no vacant apartment near at my house and at my company.

I walk at the other side para pagbuksan ng pinto si Ms. Sandoval. Agad naman siyang napalingon sa akin habang inaalis ang seatbelt.

Bumaba siya and looked at her back kung nasaan ang ina at kapatid niya. Nakita niyang bumaba sa kabila ang dalawa ay lumapit siya sa akin.

Her scent. She really smells so good. It's so addictive. She smelled so sweet like an innocent that it's hard to break her into pieces. She also has this innocent features which I was captivated from the moment I laid my eyes on her. I could smell and see this everyday because she made my day in good mood.

"Sir, sabi ko po apartment. Bakit dito po?" She whispers at me. Even her breathe smells refreshing.

"Ms. Sandoval, I can't find a vacant apartment--" I smiled at Ms. Sandoval's mom and sister when they both looked at our side. "Near at my house and my company. Only condominiums are available. I just grab it since you urgently needed to move out." I whispers back at her.

I lightly touched her waist to move and walk at the sidewalks.

I heard her sighed. "Just accepts it Ms. Sandoval." She just smiled at me and walks towards her mom and sister.

Her smile is so genuine. I just love it.

I walk inside the building and ask the staff to help me take out my things in my car.

"Ms--- ahmm... Louise, let's go." I almost called her Ms. Sandoval in front of her mom and sister.

We headed inside the elevator together with the staff who has carrying the boxes using a trolley.

When we reached the 5th floor, we headed inside their unit.

A single light burned, casting light on a chintz couch and an antique Quaker chair. Improvised kitchenette off to one side. Walls and ceilings were covered with mirrors, a high-tech bordello. Furnishings were white-painted.

Velvet drapes framed the windows, the lace inner curtains remained drawn, allowing daylight to enter while rendering the heart-stopping view over the city a blur. A table with a solid hold upon the floor, a broad cloth-covered surface, and numerous easy-sliding doors, a few well-cushioned chairs, and a thick carpet or rugs at the center of the living room.

"Wow!" Louise sister gasps as she was amazed by the interior designs and furniture. I looked at her mother. She's scanning the whole room without emotions.

I sighed. I waited for the staff to finish pack up the boxes from the trolley until he left the unit.

The place is huge. Ok na siya sa dalawahang tao na titira dito. I should have choose a place that is very more comfortable for them but since this is urgent for them specially in their situation, O just pick randomly a empty condo unit that is near from my house and workplace. Sana maging komportable ang kanyang ina at kapatid sa bago nilang bahay.

Tiningnan ko ang kapatid niya na takbo ng takbo para testingin lahat ng gamit, she's jumping in the sofa, does she think that's a trampolin? She runs from there to here like a 5 year old kid being excited whatever she sees. Until she touched the remote at the glass table to open the tv.

"Mika, ano ba!" Bulyaw ng ate niya sa kanya. Kinuha niya ang remote and off the tv. "Baka makabasag ka." Mahina at may diing babala ni Ms. Sandoval sa kapatid niya.

Napatingin ako sa gilid ko. Her mother is scanning the whole place with her narrowed eyebrow and empty eyes. She looks... Not happy.

Maybe she was just shocked by their situation earlier, kicking out of their house. How are they living in that kind of environment?

Did Ms. Sandoval told them about me? About us, getting married? Should I introduce myself?

I extend my hand in front her mother. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier tita. I'm Harris Kin Dela Vega." She reached my hand to accepts mu handshake.

"Louise's fiancee."