NO CHOICE /r18

FIRST DATE

They arrived at Kristine's a little over 7 that evening. This private restaurant was a very cozy and  they serve the best steak in the city. Isa ito sa may pinaka romantic na ambiance na restaurant na napuntahan ni Mylene.

"I hope you like steaks," Alex said as he offered his hand for her to hold.

"Don't worry, I'm not a picky eater so anything will do. Steaks are so fine as long as its well done." sagot ni Mylene nang papasok na sila sa restaurant.

"Ok, I will remember that". Sabi naman ni Alex. He circled his hand around her and rested his palm on her waist as he guided her inside the restaurant, to a spot where he personally chose.

"Hmmmm... Nice place. It's my first time here." she said trying to feel comfortable, kahit pa naiilang sya sa kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang bewang.

Ilang babae na kaya ang nadala nya dito??? Mylene thought.

"Glad you like it. I carefully chose this place. It's owned by dad's associate. Alam ko you don't want public attention. Well, not that I want other people to see you this gorgeous but gusto lang din kitang masolo tonight." pabulong na sabi ni Alex malapit sa tenga nya na nagbigay ng kakaibang sensasyon sa naramdaman nya.

Pilit na umiwas si Mylene dahil alam nya na nagmumula na naman ang mukha nya. Pero napansin pa rin yun ni Alex at nginitian sya.

Narating na nila ang pina reserve na area ni Alex. Silang dalawa lang sa booth na ito. Alex pulled her chair for her to be seated, and then a waiter approached them at inabot kay Alex ang bouquet of a hundred roses na para sa kanya!!! 

Nagulat sya. Never pa syang nakatanggap ng bulaklak kahit pa nung sila ni Juancho.

"Flowers for you. I don't know what kind of flowers ang gusto mo but the florist suggested this, so I hope you like it." he charmingly said.

"Thank you, pero sana di ka na nag abala pa."

Nginitian sya ni Alex nang tinanggap  nya ang bulaklak. She hated to admit it pero very impressive ang gestures na pinapakita ni Alex sa kanya tonight. May unting kilig.

Pero she keeps on reminding herself , syempre alam na alam ni Alex ang mga ganito way.

He wouldn't be labeled as playboy kung di sya magaling mang charm ng babae.

Duh!!! Not me!

"Why not? I want to impress my future wife." sabay kindat sa kanya.

Wala nang masabi sa Mylene kayat nginitian nya nalang ito ng bahagya at umirap.

Galawang playboy talaga!

Dumating ang waiter dala ang kanilang order. T-Bone Steak for Alex at Lamb Chops for Mylene. Umorder din sila ng Moscatto wine.

Bago pa sila magsimulang kumain, kinuha ni Alex ang kanyang plate at pinaghiwa nito ang kanyang Lamb Chops into bite size.

Sa isip ni Mylene, kung meron lang syang check list para sa pagiging gentleman ng lalaki, malamang naka ilang puntos na si Alex. Nagpapa impress talaga!

But then again, galawang playboy nga yan.

She reminded herself

Tahimik silang nagsimulang kumain. Di alam ng isa't isa paano simulan ang pag uusap.

Sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang dinner,  biglang tumikhim si Mylene and nagsalita.

"Eherm.. So Alexander... Or shall I call you Alex instead?" she asked.

"Alex will do, or we can start calling each other endearments. Love, maybe?" mala charming na sagot sa kanya at makaramdam na naman sya ng init.

Hmmm, she's cute when she's blushing at kahit ang hot nya tignan sa red lipstick nya, para pa rin syang teenager pag nagba-blush.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Mylene sa sinabi ni Alex about sa endearment.

"Look, let us get this straight, so I want to lay here my conditions sa situation nating dalawa. Pareho nating ayaw sa ganito but at the same time, I don't wanna cause trouble too. Ayokong mag inarte. I would like to think you're a man of words, so I didn't bother to put it on paper legally. Can we make ourselves a deal, Alex?"

Seryoso na si Mylene at parang nasa business deal lang sya.

Naisip tuloy ni Alex kung ganito din ba sya sa kama. Seryoso pero hot and wild, or cute na inosente at conservative.

Tangina Alex, yan ka na naman!!!!magseryoso ka muna and listen to her!

"Ok, spit it out. I'm listening." pa pormal din na sagot ni Alex para itago ang kalaswaan sa kanyang isipan.

"Ang kasal natin ay sa papel lang. Alam nating pareho na para lang ito sa merger ng companies natin, so I want us to respect each other's personal lives and spaces. Di kita pakikialaman sa mga gusto mong gawin, so dapat di mo rin ako pakikialaman sa personal kong buhay. Do you have idea what is included sa kasunduan nila Daddy at ng ama mo?" tanong ni Mylene.

"My dad will be your future father in law too, so you better start calling him dad na rin. Well, as far I know, masaikatuparan lang ang buong merging ng companies if and when mabigyan natin sila ng tagapagmana. I know my father wanted this kasi gusto nyang makasiguro na may susunod na generation sa amin na magmamana.

For the meantime, habang di pa nangyyayari yun, half of our company and half of yours will merge after the wedding. The other half na maiiwan, after we give them a child."

Nagulat si Mylene sa sinabi ni Alex kahit expected nya naman ito, but then, she was hoping that the consummation of marriage will not be part of the deal. If this is so,  parang matatagalan pa bago mangyari ang plano nya.

Natural na hihingi ang Montreal ng tagapagmana, knowing na mas makikinabang ang Rivero sa deal na to, so ang anak ay parte ng kasunduan.

Tumikhim si Mylene at pilit na tinatago ang totoong nararamdaman.

"What if isa sa atin is not capable to give them a grandchild?" she asked.

"That's the reason kung bakit meron tayong schedule sa fertility doctor tomorrow. Didn't your mom tell you that?" Alex relied as he took a sip on his wine.

"No but ok, whatever. Shall I proceed?"

Alex nodded his head.

"I know what kind of lifestyle you have Alex. It is all over the internet. I won't meddle on it pero I expect you to respect me as your wife. Wag na wag mong ibalandra sa public ang mga laruan mo and better yet, don't ever dare to show it to my face. I have trust issues over men, and I am sensitive pagdating dyan. But don't worry, I will never be a jealous wife, as long as you just keep them out of my sight."

"Puro chismis lang yang narinig mo. Di kaya yan totoo. Rumors lang.  People just enjoyed making things up, especially that I am involve in the business world din. Fake news. Hahaha." pabirong sabi ni Alex sa kanya.

"Whether it's true or not, I've stated my opinion here. Anyways, I also want to be informed about sa major information, decisions at pangyayari sa company. I don't wanna be a flower vase. I wanna be involved, I wanna be aware of what is happening in the company. Whatever we acquire after we are married will of course be a conjugal property, so I also want to be informed. I'm pretty sure our parents have set a prenuptial agreement regarding our personal trust funds and inheritance, haven't they?" patuloy na sabi ni Mylene.

"That was what they talked about over lunch kanina and I believe, naplantsa na nila lahat yun. Di ka pala nakikinig sa usapan nila." sagot naman ni Alex, smirking.

Ewan pero parang nag aagree lang sya sa lahat ng sinasabi ni Mylene.

"As if I care. And the last one that I really wanna emphasize here, we can't fall in love with each other. I know you don't want to commit to love and so do I, and its a good thing because it will benefit us both. Is that clear, Alex? Is there anything you wanna add?"

"Everything you said is so loud and clear, wifey. Pero may gusto lang akong idagdag sa mga conditions mo. As much as hindi ko rin pakikialaman ang personal mong buhay, I just want you to know na territorial akong tao,  mataas ang pride ko. I'm very possessive of what's mine. Malalaman mo yan pag nagsama na tayo but dont tell me I didn't warn you."

"To be fair to you for agreeing with me, I can compromise. So, can we close this deal and consider it done?" she offered her hands to Alex to seal it and Alex gladly accepted it but instead of just shaking it, he stood up and bended a little and planted a kiss on her hand.

Matapos ang dinner nila ay hinatid na ni Alex si Mylene sa mansion ng mga Rivero.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow, say 10 am for our medical check-up. Is that fine with you?" he said softly.

"It is fine but I can drive. Don't bother." wika ni Mylene.

"No, I  will pick you up. At pakidagdag nalang pala sa mga condition natin na anything that involves us or our marriage or family, magkasama tayong aalis at uuwi ng bahay." Alex firmly said. "I have to go now. Pasok ka na."

When Mylene was about to turn away from him, hinawakan nya ito sa kamay at hinalikan sa nuo.

Ramdam nya ang pag iinit na naman ng katawan nya.

Bakit madalas na akong nakakaramdam nito??? Ang init kasi sa Pinas!

"Take a rest, wife. See you tomorrow."

******

Kinabukasan, nasa dining na nila si Alex kausap ang parents nya nang bumaba sya. Nagpa schedule na sila sa doctor ng 10 am.

"Good morning dad, mom, Alex" bati nya sa kanila.

"Good morning ija. Come join us muna for breakfast. 10 pa naman ang schedule nyo. You need to eat first. " sabi ni mommy nya and she obliged.

Pagkatapos nilang mag breakfast, umalis agad sila papuntang St. Lukes.

Nang makarating sila sa clinic ng mag-asawang fertility/ob gyne doctors na sina Doctors Cortez, agad silang pinapasok sa loob ng medical secretary.

"Alex iho! Kamusta???" pagbati ni Dra. Cortez kay Alex. "Wait for your ninong, sya ang mag che check up sa'yo."

Bumaling ng attention ni Dra. ky Mylene. "And you should be the unica ija of Ramon!!! What a pretty lady here. Ang swerte mo Alex. Oh, actually, ang swerte nyo sa isa't isa. Look at your genes. Ang ganda at ang gwapo!!! I cant wait to see little kids of your own!" malambing na sabi ng Doctora sa kanilang dalawa.

"Sana nga ninang! hahahaa" rinig ni Mylene ang sabi nito kayat inirapan naman sya.

"Ok, let's do your test and ultrasound first ija. Have you done this before? I will do a trans vaginal ultrasound. Is this your first time?" tanong ng Doctor.

Tumingin muna si Mylene kay Alex at parang nahiya sya so she just nodded her head.

What first time?? Virgin??  tanong ni Alex sa isipan. Talaga??

"So, we will not do the trans-vi procedure. Ultrasound nalang but I will still do Internal Examination." the doctor smiled at her.

Ah, first time sa check up pala. Sagot ni Alex sa tanong nya sa isipan. Akala nya kung ano yung first time.

Nakita ni Alex na parang tensed si Mylene habang chini check ni Doc ang sa ibabang bahagi ni Mylene so hinawakan nya eto sa kamay. Meron dalawang beses na napa- grip ni Mylene ang kamay nyang nakahawak habang nagpe perform si Doc ng Internal Examination sa kanya.

"Relax Mylene. This won't hurt if you will just relax your muscles." ani ng doctor habang may kinakapa at sumisilip kay Mylene.

Hmmmm... Parang gusto ko rin sumilip sa sinisilip ng doctor. For sure magugustuhan ko ang view.

Pagkatapos ng internal examination ay ultrasound naman. Nakahawak pa rin sya sa kamay ni Mylene habang sinasagawa ni Doc ang ultrasound.

Maya't maya, tinawag na sya ng lalaking doctor na ninong din nya pra sya naman ang iche check up. Pumasok sya sa kabilang room.

Makalipas ang halos isang oras ng check up nila, kina usap sila ng mga doctor nila.

"You're both healthy and strong and very capable to have a child!"sabi ng Doctora matapos silang ma check.

"In fact, di si Mylene mahihirapan kasi maganda ang results ng mga test nyo and maganda din ang hugis ng pelvic bone nya. Madali kayong makakabuo, bastat panatilihin lang na healthy ang body. A good exercise will be a great help. Depende nalang sa inyo kung gano nyo kadalas pagagawin yun. Hahahah.!" tawang sabi ni doctora sa kanila.

"Sa honeymoon na agad!" sabi naman ng lalaking doctor.

"Kelan na pala ang kasal? Sinabi na ni mom mo sa amin pero I forgot the date."

"Next weekend na po." sagot ni Alex.

"Oh well, congratulations sa inyong dalawa!!! We will be there!"