My Double Identity Husband

Kabanata 8

KABANATA 8

IZARIA’S POV

“W-What?!” gulat si mommy pagkatapos kong sabihing pumapayag ako sa kasal. “Kakasabi ko lang na may ibang motibo ang mga Bernaville! Bakit ka papayag sa kasal?”

“It’s the only way to take back the company, right? Ayaw kong tumunganga lang kung alam kong may paraan naman para mabawi iyon. It doesn’t matter if they have hidden motives. There’s only one way to know the truth. Let’s keep in mind that Asunscion Company is the pride of our clan.”

Even though I hate being exposed to the business world, I’ll risk everything just so I can’t disappoint myself, lolo, and my parents. I can find ways to get away from Grand after I take back the company.

“Are you saying that you’ll let yourself dance in the palms of the Bernavilles?” mommy said almost hysterically.

“Not totally. I can always find my way out.”

Umiling-iling si mommy para ipakitang hindi siya pabor sa kagustuhan ko. Pero determinado na ako ngayon. Buo na ang plano sa aking isipan.

“Your daddy will not agree to this and I also refuse to let you marry anyone from that family!”

Napabuntong hininga ako. “Mommy, I have my own plans. Mas pabor pa sa atin ito dahil makukuha ko agad ang kompanya pagkatapos ng kasal. Hindi naman sila sisira sa usapan pagkatapos ng kasal. Kaya pupwede akong humanap ng paraan para maipawalang bisa ang kasal.”

Silence enveloped us for some moment. Nakatitig lang sa akin si mommy na para bang malalim ang kanyang iniisip. A few minutes passed, and I saw how her expression changed from being worried to a mixture feeling of relief and confusion.

“Hanggang ngayon ay maraming tanong ang gumugulo sa isipin namin ng daddy mo sa kung paano ka ba pinalaki ng lolo mo. Pero kahit kailan ay hindi namin iyon isinatinig. He hid everything from us but we know that it’s for your own good sake so we never dare to ask him anything. Ngayong pinagmamasdan kita, hindi isang sakitin at mahinang babae ang nakikita ko kundi isang matapang at matalinong dalaga,” aniya sa mababang tono.

Naitikom ko ang aking bibig. Lolo taught me three taboo words or facts in our family. First is the La Enigma Sicarius which is only known for a selective member of the Asunscion Clan. Second, I am a member of an underground organization in Japan led by Samshin. Lastly, I am a martial artist, trained by my grandfather and his colleagues. All was arranged by my grandfather that I must hide everything that I learned in Japan. Ngumiti ako para ipakitang wala namang dapat pang isiping ibang bagay si mommy. I should never give any hints.

“Hindi ba ay dapat lang na pairalin natin ang utak natin sa mga ganitong sitwasyon? I learned it from lolo,” nakangiti kong sagot.

Saka pa lang lumiwanag ang mukha ni mommy. She nodded to show that she agreed with me. I feel relieved because of that.

“Let me talk to your father first about your decision. Ayaw kong magpadalos-dalos tayo,” ani mommy.

“Okay, po.”

Our conversation ended there. Muli akong nagkulong sa kwarto para mas makapag-isip nang maayos. I researched again about the Bernaville family. Pero wala akong mahanap na impormasyon tungkol sa mga magulang ni Grand. I even tried to use my skills in hacking in order to infiltrate the core system of their company, the data of their transactions with other people. Pero wala akong makitang mali. They have been dealing with great investors and customers.

I was astonished to see the full data of their retention rate. Hindi ako makapaniwala na pataas nang pataas ang retention rate nila kada isang taon. Simula sa umpisa hanggang ngayon at sigurado akong sa mga susunod pang taon. Ganoon ba talaga kagaling ang mga naging chairman nila para mapanatiling nasa pinakatuktok ang Bernaville Group? For some reason, I become curious of the secret of their clan. It’s impossible to believe that their company has never experienced failure!

“Sa yaman at galing nila sa larangan ng pagnenegosyo, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nakipagkasundo si Mr. Bernaville kay lolo para sa kasal. Mas mainam pa nga na pumili sila ng pamilyang mas nakakaangat kaysa sa aming pamilya. Kung may motibo man sila, ano naman kaya iyon? Mas mayaman sila kaya imposibleng kayamanan ang habol nila sa mga Asunscion.” I’ve been pacing back and forth as I brainstorm with myself about the Bernavilles.

“What if they are after the Tomb of Knowledge?” Napatigil ako nang sumagi sa isip ko ang tungkol sa pinakatago-tagong kayamanan ni lolo.

Hence the name, Tomb of Knowledge is the hidden treasure of my grandfather containing all the information about some certain techniques, facts, cases, etc. Because lolo is a mixed martial artist, he has all the copies of different techniques in martial arts. Are they after it? Pero imposibleng iyon ang magiging motibo nila. Sa yaman nila ay pwedeng-pwede nilang bilhin at makuha ang ano mang impormasyong gugustuhin nila.

“Then what could be their motive?” I impatiently tapped my finger on my cheek as I thought of another possible hidden motive they could have.

“What if the Bernavilles are no ordinary people? Are they some kind of dangerous clan showing their angelic faces on the surface of the business world but deep down, they are beasts, ruling the underworld?”

My face become serious when that idea crossed my mind. Dumagundong ang puso ko nang maisip ang dalawang posibilidad. Una, alam nila ang tungkol sa La Enigma Sicarius. Maaaring tama si lolo na nais nilang gamitin ako. Pangalawa, alam nilang myembro ako ng grupo nina Samshin. Paano kung nakabangga ko pala ang isa sa kanila noon kaya gusto nilang maghigante sa akin gamit ang kasal? I gasped. Oh my god! That’s the closest possible motive they could have!

Kahit ano pang mangyari o rason, kahit pa maghigante sila sa akin, kung alam nilang myembro nga ako ng organisasyong iyon ay hindi ko ito dapat palagpasin. It’s part of our rules that we must hide our identity and if anyone finds us out then we are obliged to silence that person despite their social status. Pero paano kung mali pala lahat ng mga naiisip kong ideya? What could be their true motive? Malalaman ko rin ang lahat kapag nasa loob na ako ng kanilang teritoryo.

*knock* *knock*

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang marinig na may kumatok doon. Agad kong pinatay ang laptop ko bago ako tumungo ako sa pinto at buksan ito. Bumungad sa akin si daddy.

“Nakapag-usap na kami ng mommy mo. Kung gusto mo itong gawin ay susuportahan ka namin sa desisyon mo. Alam kong gagawin mo ito para sa kompanya natin. Pero isipin mo na mahirap makabangga ang mga Bernaville. Kung may plano ka mang linlangin sila pagkatapos mabawi ang kompanya ay binabalaan na kitang huwag mo na lang ituloy,” diretsahang untag ni daddy.

I can see that he is only worried. But I am doing this because I have my own reasons too. Kahit alam kong delikado ay kailangan ko pa ring gawin.

“Daddy, isipin niyong tayo rin naman ang makikinabang pagkatapos ng kasal. Ang kailangan ko lang gawin ay hindi makipagkasundo kay Grand tapos siya na ang magdedesisyong ipasawalang bisa na ang aming pagsasama. As simple as that!”

Pinagtaasan niya lamang ako ng kilay. Pero tumango na lang din pagkatapos ng ilang Segundo.

“Fine. I will contact Senyor Aguncillio Bernaville and let him know about our change of mind.”

I nodded at him to agree. Kaya sa araw na rin iyon ay kinausap nilang ulit ang padre de pamilya ng mga Bernaville. Nagulat kami kinabukasan ay pumunta ang buong pamilya nila sa mansion namin para mamanhikan! I never thought their family is quite traditional. Both families agreed that the wedding will happen next month. Hindi nakapagsalita sina mommy at daddy nang sabihin ni Mr. Bernaville na sila na ang bahala sa lahat.

Ni hindi ako makapaniwala na napapatunayan lang na may ibang motibo talaga sila dahil tila hindi sila makapaghintay na matapos agad ang kasal. The next day, they prepared a banquet for me and Grand but there are only selected guests. It’s like an engagement party but rather one-sided. I feel uneasy every now and then. Pakiramdam ko ay hinahayaan kong mahulog ang sarili ko sa isang patibong.

Sa mansion ng mga Bernaville ginanap ang piging. I used that opportunity to check if they are hiding something in their mansion. Sa laki ng mansion nila ay imbes na pumabor sa akin ang swerte ay naligaw pa ako. Hindi ko na alam kung paano bumalik sa mga kasama ko. Their mansion is like a maze! Medyo Kinabahan ako nang maramdamang may sumusunod sa akin. Kaya naman ay lumiko ako. I didn’t expect that it’s a dead end and this corner is full of unusual paintings. Ang pinakamalaking painting sa gitna ang nakapagpatalon ng puso ko. It’s a painting of a mythical dragon devouring thousands of people, while the houses are set on fire. The painting is semi-realistic and it is very detailed.

“Are you lost, little bunny?”

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang isang malalim na boses ng isang lalaki. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bumungad sa akin si Grand. I don’t see any emotion on his eyes. The way he stares at me sent shivers down my spine. He looks like he just cornered his prey.

“Y-Yeah. I was looking for the r-restroom earlier but I got l-lost,” I replied nervously.

He glanced at the painting behind me. I saw a cold smile on his lips. Mas lalong nadagdagan ang kabang nararamdaman ko. We didn’t interact with each other earlier because I never let mommy leave my side.

“How coincidental for you to be lost here, of all places. Did you know that behind that huge painting is a hidden room?” he said languidly.

I was caught off guard. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sa kanya. Papaano niya nakumbinse ang sarili niyang isiwalat ang sekretong iyon? He just revealed that there is a hidden room behind that painting!

“Are you spying on my family?” he asked frankly.

Paulit-ulit akong umiling. Kinakain na ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Ni hindi pa ako nagtatagumpay sa mga plano ko tapos mabubuking na agad ako?

“Naligaw lang talaga ako. But I must admit that while I was looking for the restroom, I got carried away looking and admiring the exceptional designs and decorations of the mansion. Until I ended up h-here,” pumiyok ang boses ko.

“Really? We have CCTVs here. If I ask someone to review the video footage, that will prove your innocence or that will reveal your true intention. Should we check it?”

Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. Paulit-ulit akong napalunok para ibsan ang kabang nararamdaman ko. Hindi dapat ako magpasindak ngayon. He stepped forward. Agad akong umurong kahit malayo naman ang agwat naming dalawa. At dapat ay hindi ko ginawa iyon dahil nacorner niya lamang ako. Nanginig ang kamay ko pati ang tuhod ko nang mabilis na nakalapit sa akin si Grand. I constantly regretted executing my plan. I am screwed!

“Why do you look afraid, hmm?” he asked in his low tone.

Muli ay hindi ako nakapagsalita. He raised his hand which made me automatically close my eyes and tilt my head a little to avoid contacting his hand if he plans to slap me or something. I jolt when I felt his hand on my face. But I was forced to open my eyes when he caressed my face gently. Bumungad sa akin ang natatawa niyang mukha.

“Did I scare you? I was just teasing you a while ago. There’s no need for you to feel afraid,” he confessed and chuckled.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Kung alam niya lang na tama naman siya sa pang-aakusa niya kanina ay baka hindi na siya makatawa pa. I pushed his hand away from my face. He showed me his amused reaction as if he didn’t expect I would do that to him.

“Are you happy now?” I asked with an irritated tone.

Akala ko buking na ako! Pero mas lalo akong nairita nang tumango siya.

“Seems like my future wife is quite interesting. I look forward to our interactions in the future, my little bunny.” He grinned.