The Temporary Wife (R-18)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1:

SEBASTIEN NIGHT

"These areas were clear and can provide your company with a good supply of water, fresh air, electricity, good views and most especially is a good signal. Mr. Night, spending a million dollars to invest for this project will never be your loss..."

I rested my temples on my fingers, staring at the screen of my phone, waiting for the next message from Calbio, my private investigator.

Sa kaliwang banda ko ay tumikhim ang Chinese investor ng kompanya na si Mr. Lee. He's looking at me as if expecting me to say something, ganoon din ang ilang board members na kasama ko sa long table na nakikinig din sa pitch ng babaeng nakatayo sa harapan, sa likod niya ay ang malaking monitor screen kung nasaan ang presentation niya. Magkasalubong ang kilay na nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya, sumusulyap pa siya sa marketing manager na kasalukuyang nagpe-present tungkol sa proposal ng kompanya nila. Of course, I'm the CEO they need my final decision. Ilan beses nang sinubukan i-pitch sa amin ang project na ito. And here I am again in the conference room, with them. They're trying to close the deal.

I made a heavy sigh as I cleared my throat. I studied their proposal, so I have an idea of what she was saying, but honestly, wala akong naintindihan sa mga sinabi niya ngayon. Okupado ang utak ko sa huling napag-usapan namin ni Calbio. Ang sabi niya ay may info na siya kung nasaan na ang nawawala kong asawa, unfortunately, hindi pa rin siya nagbibigay ng bagong update hanggang ngayon.

"Miss Lopez, I don't need a comfortable place; we're talking about business, not my home. I already have a stable mentality; I don't need your good views to relax. What I need is the money that can be returned to me once I invest in your company. Tell me, investing in a bankrupt company wouldn't be a loss for me, would it?"

The woman hesitated, seeming unsure of how to respond. I rolled my eyes. I was just wasting my time if even their marketing staff couldn't sugarcoat enough to convince me that their company still had hope.

"I'm sorry to inform you that I'm now officially declining your offer. Dismissed." One last glance at my phone before I stood up.

"Mr. Night, are you sure?" Mr. Gonzaga asked.

"I'm sorry," pagkasabi ko niyon ay mabilis na ang hakbang ko palabas ng conference room, hindi na nila ako sinubukang pigilan pa. Kilala na nila ako, alam nilang hindi na mababago ang isip ko sa oras na magdesisyon ako. Muli kong tiningnan ang cellphone ko, muli akong nakaramdam ng inis at pagkainip dahil wala pa ring message si Calbio.

"Mr. Night, your next meeting in 20 minutes will be with-"

Hindi ko nilingon ang sekretarya kong si Sanya. Tuloy ang mabilis kong lakad sa hallway na alam kong halos takbuhin niya base sa dinig kong ingay ng sapatos niya.

"Postpone it."

"Po? Pero Sir-"

"You heard me. Postpone everything today, Sanya."

Muling nag-ring ang cellphone ko. Mabilis ko iyon sinagot nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Calbio.

"Calbio, give me an update."

"Mr. Night, I still can't give you an update, relax. I'm still making sure if the woman is really your wife."

"Give me the location then and I'll fly there now. I want an update right now, Calbio. Complete details."

Nakarinig ako ng buntong hininga bago niya ibigay ang location. "I'll send you the whole details of the location, Mr. Night."

Pagkamatay ng tawag ay binalingan ko si Sanya. "Call my pilot and tell them to ready the private plane."

"But Sir, how's your meeting with-"

Huminto ako sa paglalakad. Naramdaman ko ang pagkakabunggo niya sa may braso ko bago ko siya lingunin.

"I told you to postpone everything, my appointments, meetings, everything."

"Sir-"

"Just do what I said, Sanya, or else." Hindi ko na itinuloy ang sinasabi ko at nagtuloy na sa paglalakad papasok sa lift na saktong bumukas paakyat sa floor office ko.

"Relax, Seb. 'Wag mong takutin ang sekretarya mo," anang pinsan kong si Martin, as if hindi siya nito naririnig na nakabuntot pa rin sa akin. Si Martin ay kasama ko kanina pa sa meeting at nakasunod din sa akin hanggang ngayon. Alam niya rin kung bakit hindi ako mapakali kanina pa.

I massage my temples. "I just need to fly to Bohol."

"Can't you just wait? Hindi ka pa nga sigurado kung si Meghan nga ang nasa report. Paano kung hindi, edi nasayang lang ang oras mo."

"It has been a month, Martin, a month! I can't just sit here and wait for further information without doing anything."

"You're doing exactly what you have to do, Bro. You are paying for their service, searching for her themselves is their job."

"Worrying for her will never be enough to say that I'm doing my job as a husband."

Bumukas na ang lift at bumungad sa amin ang opisina ko na binubuo ng mamahaling materyales na wooden theme. It was Meghan's design.

"Sir, need anything?"

"Just do what I told," sabi ko lang kay Sanya bago dumiretso sa opisina ko. Hindi na siya sumunod at tanging si Martin lang ang sumunod sa akin saka prenteng umupo sa couch sa tapat ng desk ko.

Dumiretso ako sa malaking bintana sa likuran ng desk ko at tumanaw.

"But Seb, napaisip lang ako. Paano kung hindi talaga siya nawawala? Paano kung nagtatago lang siya? I mean, we both know that she doesn't want this marriage, her family just arranged everything."

Hindi ko sinagot si Martin at nanatiling nakatingin sa tanawin kung saan kitang-kita ko ang mga mas maliliit na building sa paligid ng kompanya, ang halos hindi na makitang mga tao dahil sa liit ng mga ito. Kung gaano kaimposible na makita ang mukha ng mga tao sa ibaba, ganoon kalaki ang posibilidad na maaring tama si Martin.

A month ago, when I had to go to France for an out of the country meeting, my private investigator told me that he found Meghan's Mom and twin sister at the Bohol. I searched for them, hoping that I can get my wife's heart with that sweet gesture. Our marriage was made of an arranged marriage, we both didn't love each other, but I would. I want to have a family, son, my heiress, but Meghan isn't ready yet and I understand why. She never seems so happy with me, sa loob ng anim na buwan naming pagsasama ay hindi ko pa siya nakitang totoong masaya. Once she opened up to me that she misses her mom and her sister, hoping that I can finally make her happy, I took Calbio's service to look for them. I want them to reunite as a gift to my wife.

I was in France when Calbio found them, but I can't leave for the meeting. So instead, I told her about the information I got. Without me, she flew all the way to Bohol to see them. Wala pang isang linggo nang bigla na lang siyang nawalan ng komunikasyon sa amin, kahit sa Dad niya na pinaka-closed niya. Nang ipahanap ko siya ay tanging ang sasakyan na lang na nirentahan niya sa Bohol ang natagpuan nila, sa ibaba ng bangin. Ang sabi ay may aksidente raw palang nangyari, at tanging ang driver na lang ang nakaligtas. My wife is missing. I also just found out that she never made it to see her mom and sister.

I tried to find her body but we couldn't find her anywhere. For the whole month, hindi ako tumigil sa pagpapahanap sa kaniya, but there's none, not until this morning. Calbio called and told me that she received a report about a woman who has been in an accident recently. She has amnesia so she still can't identify herself, which makes it hard for her to know who she is and her family.

Tumikhim siya nang mukhang nailang na siya sa katahimikang namayani sa aming dalawa.

"But of course, that's impossible, right? She wouldn't do that," pagbawi niya sa sinabi niya na kanina lang ay nasa tono niya ang bawat posibilidad na tama siya, na may punto siya.

Napabaling ako sa may desk ko nang mag-ring ang telepono. Sinagot ko iyon. Muntik na akong mainis nang marinig ko ang boses ni Sanya. Akala ko ay ipipilit niya na naman ang appointment ko. Buti na lang ay mabilis siyang magsalita.

"Mr. Night, everything is on the board in just 30 minutes, I also postponed your appointments today. Do you want me to call your driver to pick you up now, Sir?"

"Please do." Binaba ko na ang telepono at tiningnan si Martin na pinapanood lang ako. "I'm going to Bohol. Are you coming?"

"Bro, as much as I want to show my support, but I have a lot of things to do here. Saka na ako sasama kapag sigurado nang si Meghan na nga ang natagpuan ng private investigator mo. But good luck, Seb."

Hindi ko na siya pinilit dahil hindi rin naman siya roon kailangan.

Lumipas ang ilang oras ay nakarating nga ako sa Bohol at dumiretso sa isang opisina kung nasaan si Calbio. He gave me the whole details about the woman. Tumawag lang daw ang isang babaeng nakapulot daw sa nasabing babaeng may amnesia. Ang sabi ay hindi raw nila alam kung sino ang babae, at tinangay lang daw ito ng ilog galing sa kung saan. Ngayon lang daw nalaman ng ginang na may naghahanap pala sa babae kaya ngayon lang nag-report.

"What are we waiting for? Puntahan na natin and find out if she's my wife."

"No need, Mr. Night. Sila na raw ang pupunta rito."

Nang sabihin iyon ni Calbio ay tahimik akong naghintay sa kaniyang opisina. Ngunit hindi pa rin ako mapakali, naiinip na ako. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay iyong naghihintay.

"Mr. Night."

Mula sa bintana ay natigilan at napalingon ako sa may pinto nang tawagin ako ni Calbio. Hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita ay may pumasok nang isang babae na sobrang pamilyar sa akin.

Her long curly brown hair, fixed on her shoulder. She seems skinnier than the last time I saw her, and her eyes. It seems different. Did I just miss her so much? Why am I having these strange feelings while I'm looking at her?

Nakita ko ang pagkakadiin ng pagkakahawak niya sa sarili niyang kamay, saka napatungo na tila hindi kayang salubungin ang mga tingin ko.

Doon lang ako nagising sa katinuan ko at napahakbang para lapitan siya. She looks different, pero walang duda, siya ang asawa ko. Her beautiful face, I can never forget that.

Nang maabot ko siya ay hinawakan ko siya sa isa niyang pisngi, habang ang isang kamay ko ay nasa balikat niya. Dahil doon ay napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin. Nakita ko ang paglunok niya at pagkagat sa mapupula niyang mga labi.

"Where have you been, Meghan?"

She only parted her lips, but no voice came out. I didn't know why I felt this way. For the whole 6 months of our marriage, our relationship wasn't that good, maybe because we only got married for our family companies' merger. But looking into her eyes now, I felt something inexplicable inside me. All I could think of was how much I wanted to kiss her.

Before she could step away, I kissed her on the lips. I could feel her shock at her soft lips. She pulled away from me, looking confused as she backed away.

"I-I'm sorry..." she said before running off.