SEVEN
1282 Words
“Ma’am, it usually takes three to five days to finish the kind of document you’re requesting.”
I rolled my eyes for the hundredth time. Does this person not understand the word rush?
“Three days? That’s already your minimum?” I asked sharply.
“Yes, Ma’am. We have a lot of customers, so we need to finish their documents first before we get to yours,” he explained.
I let out a loud sigh and leaned back on my bed. “So you’re telling me you won’t prioritize me because you have many customers. Is that it?”
“It’s not like that, Ma’am. Our policy here is first come, first serve,” he reasoned.
“Well, whatever. I need a marriage contract by tomorrow morning. Five A.M.”
“But Ma’am, we really can’t—”
“I’m willing to pay a large amount. Name your price,” I cut him off. I waited several seconds before he finally answered.
“Twenty thousand, Ma’am.”
I rolled my eyes again. Wow. He really is money-hungry.
“Fine. Send me your bank details and I’ll send the 50%. I’ll give the remaining half once you finish the document,” I said.
Just then, I looked up when Mamang Ichi entered the room with a glass of milk. She placed it on the side table while listening to my conversation.
“Okay, Ma’am!” the guy said enthusiastically.
“Just make sure I have the marriage contract by five in the morning. We’ll pick it up at your shop. If you have nothing for me at that hour, that’s your problem, not mine,” I said seriously.
“No problem, Ma’am. You’re now our VIP client. We’ll make sure to have it ready by tomorrow,” he assured me.
I nodded. “Good. Send me the bank details after this call, and I’ll send the information you need for the marriage contract. Ciao.” I didn’t even wait for his reply. I hung up immediately.
I yawned and glanced at the clock. Almost midnight already?
“Did you find someone who can prepare the marriage contract?” Mamang Ichi asked.
I nodded lazily. “I just need to use some money and voila... Mrs. Fontanilla by tomorrow morning,” I said and yawned again.
“How much did you pay?”
“Twenty thousand pesos,” I answered, opening my banking app and sending the ten thousand pesos deposit to the account he sent me.
“That’s expensive…”
“Mamang Ichi, it’s rush work. I need to pick it up at 5 A.M. because we’re leaving early for Batangas—oh, right. Why are you still awake? You should sleep. We’re leaving early tomorrow and the trip is long,” I said.
She sighed. “I can’t sleep unless you sleep. Now go drink your milk and rest. I’ll sleep too. Your day was too busy.”
I nodded. “I’ll drink it right away.”
She nodded back and left my room. I stared at the glass of milk before drinking it.
Leaning against the headboard, glass in hand, I let out a small sigh. Today was such a long and exhausting day. I shook my head as I drank. Tomorrow will definitely be longer.
I went back to typing on my phone while finishing my milk. I sent my name, Dwayne’s name, and our supposed “date of marriage”—which never actually happened. I chose a date during my Manila vacation so Lolo wouldn’t get suspicious.
Once I finished my drink, I placed the glass back on the table and lay down immediately. I need energy for tomorrow.
***
“Nellie girl, you’re so early. Your call time is ridiculous,” Isaac complained, which made me raise an eyebrow.
“As far as I know, you slept earlier than I did, Isaac. Don’t act spoiled with me,” I snapped.
“It’s too early and you’re already high blood, Nellie girl. Chill! You’ll get wrinkles and turn ugly, then your husband will fall for me instead since I’m prettier,” he teased.
I shot him a deadly glare. “You really think he’d fall for you? Are you awake? You still seem half-asleep.”
“Oh yeah? Fine. I won’t drive you back to Batangas,” he threatened, but I only raised an eyebrow.
“Go ahead. You won’t survive to see tomorrow,” I replied coldly.
Eventually, Mamang Ichi scolded us because we’d been arguing forever and it was almost five in the morning, we weren’t even out of the condo yet. Isaac had no choice but to shut up and start the car. I handed him the address so he’d stop bothering me.
After a few minutes, the car stopped. I raised my eyebrow at Isaac again.
“What? Why’d you stop?”
“Nellie girl, are you floating? We’re here! Wake up. You seem half-asleep,” he answered sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes at him. When I looked outside, he was right... we were at the shop.
I got out of the car without waiting for them. The shop was still open at this hour, so they probably worked on my document all night.
“Good morning, Ma’am. The shop is still closed,” one of the shop girls said.
I lifted a brow. “I am Nellie Ongpauco.”
“Oh! Ma’am, it’s you. You’re here for the marriage certificate?” she asked.
I nodded. I wanted to mess with her, but she looked pitiful. I still have a heart—sometimes.
“Andy! VIP is here for the marriage certificate!” she yelled loudly. I winced. Why does she have to scream like we’re in a market?
A man came out from a room carrying a brown envelope... definitely my fake documents.
“Good morning, Ma’am. Here is the marriage certificate you requested,” he said, handing the envelope to me.
I opened it to check. It wasn’t just random bond paper, it was real… or at least convincing.
“Good. If there’s anything wrong with this and I get found out, I won’t hesitate to come back and take my money,” I warned.
Both the man and woman nodded quickly. “Rest assured, Ma’am. It looks very authentic. No one will notice it’s fake,” he said.
“It better be,” I replied, pulling out my wallet.
“Here’s the remaining payment,” I said, giving him the last ten thousand pesos.
“Thank you so much, Ma’am!”
I smirked. “Don’t thank me yet. If this is a failure, I’ll ask for double in return,” I warned before turning away.
I walked out of the shop and got back into Isaac’s car.
“So? You have it already?” Mamang Ichi asked.
I nodded lazily. “Let’s go to Dwayne’s house,” I said to Isaac, who started the engine again.
I yawned repeatedly inside the car. I only slept four hours because of the stupid paperwork. If Mamang Ichi hadn’t given me that milk, I probably wouldn’t have slept at all.
“Did you check what’s inside the envelope?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Dwayne can deal with it,” I said, bored.
“Are you sure you can trust him?”
I let out a deep sigh. “He seems… nice,” I said.
“What I’m asking is: do you think that young man is trustworthy?” she pressed.
I looked away, gaze fixed on the window. “I don’t trust strangers, Mamang Ichi.”
She exhaled harshly. I kept staring outside.
I shouldn’t trust anyone.
Not even him.
- Writer
