The Billionaire I Married By Mistake [Filipino]

9. TIME

|Katherine|

Gianna arrived in the middle of the night. Nabulabog ang mansion sa pagdating niya. But then, to be honest, I was pleased to see her here in our mansion.

“I’m sorry, hindi na kita napuntahan sa airport,” I said to her matapos naming magyakapan. She smiled at me.

“Okay lang, Kat. Biglaan rin naman ang pagpunta ko dito, so I understand.” aniya. “Pasensiya na rin po sa abala.” Then she glanced at Manang Lolit and the other housemaids. I followed her gaze and looked at our mayordoma.

“Manang, pakihanda po ang guest room para sa kaibigan ko,” sambit ko.

Tumango naman si Manang at agad na umalis kasama ang ibang kasambahay. I escorted Giana at our dining area dahil baka inuuhaw siya or ano. May sumunod din sa aming kasambahay in case na may bigla akong iutos sa kanya.

“Kamusta ka?” she started as soon as we reached the dining area. Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. Kinuhanan ko siya ng tubig bago ko siya hinarap, na ngayon ay nakaupo sa stool ng island counter. I placed the glass of water in front of her at hindi niya man lang iyon sinulyapan. Titig na titig siya sa akin. I looked back at her but my gaze didn’t last long. I sighed deeply as I sat beside her.

“I…I don’t know what to do, Gie,” I started. “Para na akong mababaliw sa tuwing iniisip ko ang mga dapat kong gawin.” Then I told her what had happened to me in the past days, kung bakit hindi ako nakadalo sa kasal ng isang kaibigan namin, kung bakit hindi ako ma-contact, kung bakit ngayon…nandito siya sa mansyon namin dahil gusto ko ng kausap and someone who could give their opinion to me of what is the better thing to do with my situation.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto ang inabot ko sa pagsabi sa kanya sa mga nangyari sa akin. She was silent the entire time and I was grateful for it. When I finished, somehow, the heavy feeling inside me lessened.

“And after what Noel had said, pakiramdam ko, kailangan ko muna ng space para pag-isipan ang lahat,” I said.

I was waiting for Giana to say something ng bigla niya akong hinila para sa isang yakap. She hugged me tightly and her hand gently tapped my back.

“Hindi ko ba alam kung may maitutulong ba ako sa mga problema mo ngayon, but I know na malalampasan mo yan, Kat. You’re the strongest woman I know,” she genuinely said. And I couldn’t help but sobbed. Hearing those words had somehow lessened my worries.

Kaya kinaumagahan, wala man akong naging plano, she suddenly pulled me out of my bed saying that I should tour her around the area. She seemed excited to see the town. At nang malaman niya na malapit lang bayan sa dagat, mas lalo siyang na excite nang malamang may mga iilang beach resort sa karatig bayan. She even asked if we have a beach property nearby. Nasabi ko naman na meron. Akala ko nga gusto niya kaming mag-stay doon pero mas pinili niyang magpunta na lang kami sa malapit na resort dahil mas mabuti daw na marami ang tao sa paligid kung gusto ko ng distraction. I quite like the idea dahil iyon din ata ang kailangan ko.

So, in the next three days, we in a beach resort in the next town. Noong una, hindi na muna namin iniisip ang mga problema ko. We were busy touring around, partying, interacting with some foreigners whom Giana would approach out of nowhere. Dahil magaling din naman ako sa pakikisabay, ay nakisabay na rin ako. Pero may mga times din na napag-uusapan namin ang mga problema ko, especially on the marriage part.

Katulad ngayong gabi. This is her last day here at babalik na siya sa Manila. Her leave is only for three days. Nakakalungkot man, but I was also thankful that she’s here with me as I tried to think of ways how to solve my problems.

“In the end, I don’t really mind if I marry someone in return to save our company like yours, Kat.” she said after she took a sip of her martini. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya ng dahil doon.

“I thought you were against the marriage, Gie,” pabiro kong sabi dahil pareho kami ng opinion three days ago. Ayaw niya ring magpakasal ako dahil marami pa namang paraan. But now, it seems that she changed her mind.

Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga at hinarap ako. “I mean, we’re living in a modern time now. If in the end, your marriage won’t work out to the man whom your grandfather had chosen for you, may annulment naman. At…siguro, fair share of sacrifice mo na rin. I hope you don’t get offended, ha?” she then gave me a sorry look. Nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi at napatitig sa kanya. She continued to share her opinion though.

“Hear me out ha. Kasi ganito ba’t ko nasabi na magpakasal ka na lang muna. In my opinion, you need momentum to get your company back on its feet. Right now, it’s on the brink of sinking. Kaya, naisip ko na siguro, magpakasal ka na lang muna until you’re company could already handle all of your problems. Kapag maayos na, then you can just annul your marriage to your soon-to-be husband. Like what I said, it’s your fair share of sacrifice for your company and for your grandpa. At malay mo rin naman kasi, mag work out ang marriage mo sa lalaking pinili ng grandpa mo, diba? Edi may instant asawa at lovelife ka na!” then she squealed as if she didn’t say something serious earlier.

Natawa na lang din ako. Nawala na din ang focus niya tungkol sa pagpapakasal ko ng may nagpakilala sa kanyang lalaki.

I drank my remaining vodka as I think about what Giana had said. May point siya. At masakit isipin para sa akin na parang maganda ang suggestion niya.

Kinaumagahan, hinatid ko siya sa airport. At kahit na nakaalis na ang plane niya, nanatili akong nakatunganga sa airport para pag-isipan ng mabuti ang mga sinabi niya.

My thoughts were only interrupted when I received a call from Noel. Noong una, ayaw ko pang sagutin. Pero dahil baka tungkol sa kalagayan ni grandpa ang tawag niya, sinagot ko din sa huli.

And I was…fvcking right.

“Miss Kat! Si sir Anton po, muling na cardiac arrest!” he announced.

Lumukob ang takot sa akin at agad akong nagpahatid sa driver namin patungong hospital. And when I arrived there, halos takbuhin ko ang daan patungo sa hospital room ni grandpa. When I opened the door of my grandpa’s room, nakita ko na nakatayo sa paanan ng kama si Noel at isang nurse na minomonitor ang kalagayan ni grandpa, with his hands crossed against his chest. Napatingin sa akin si Noel ng mapansin ang pagdating ko.

“Noel! What happened?” I called out and rushed toward him. He sighed heavily as he dropped his hands on his side.

“Thankfully, he’s saved once again,” aniya. Napatingin ako kay grandpa as the nurse stepped away for a bit. I swallowed the lump on my throat as I looked at him. My heart ached again and again at the sight. And in the end…I cried.

I heard someone’s deep sigh beside me. Naglakad siya patungo sa akin at niyakap ako. Niyakap ko pabalik si Noel habang umiiyak.

I…almost lost my grandpa again. At pareho din na wala ako sa tabi niya ng mangyari iyon. Damn.

How long am I going to be selfish? How long am I going to be hard-headed and stubborn? Nasa bingit na nang kamatay si grandpa and all I think about is my…welfare! My feelings! Does it even matter when…everything is too late for me?

‘Magpakasal ka na lang muna until you’re company could already handle all of your problems. Kapag maayos na, then you can just annul your marriage to your soon-to-be husband. Like what I said, it’s your fair share of sacrifice for your company and for your grandpa.’

Giana’s words rang inside my head.

Siguro nga…tama rin siya. Marriage is my fair share of sacrifice for the company…and for my grandpa. If this is the easiest way to save the company that my grandfather cherished, then maybe…this is the right thing to do.

My beliefs won’t matter. My feelings won’t matter. Everything about it would be useless…if my grandpa ended up…dying… because of my stubbornness. I should stop running away from it and face it. Dahil kahit anong takbo ko dito, sa huli, sa pagpapakasal din naman ang bagsak ko.