ENCROACHING WHAT’S MINE [Billionaire Series 1]

Chapter 6

KATAHIMIKAN. Iyan ang namutawi sa loob ng malaking opisina ng mayor. Namilog na parang letrang 'o' ang mga mata at bibig nina Nathaniel at Mikael. Napatakip pa nga si Mikael sa kanyang bibig para ipakita ang gulat niya kahit pa nga nangingislap ang mga mata niya, puno ng kapilyuhan.

Ang suspect naman sa 'aksidente' na si Lourde ay nanatili lang sa pagkakatayo habang pabalik-balik ang tingin sa kanyang relo pambisig. Sa itsura pa lang niya ay sinasabi niyang wala siyang oras sa ganoong mga cheesy scenes.

While the two unsuspecting victims were still in shock, as their lips were still plastered on each other. Kung hindi lang siguro dahil sa malalim na pagtikhim ng k*lljoy na si Lourde na talagang apurado na ay hindi pa matatauhan si Raphael.

Acting like it was a normal instance for a married couple like them, Raphael stood up again, releasing the lips of his wife. A very calm expression was shown in his handsome face. Kung hindi lang titingin sa namumulang mga tainga niya na natatakpan ng ilang hibla ng buhok ay aakalain talaga ng lahat na hindi naapektuhan ang lalaki.

“Best wishes!” natatawang bati ni Mikael para putulin ang awkwardness ng dalawa.

With that being said, Claudette, who was still in a daze because she couldn’t process what happened, was finally back to her senses. Agad na namula ang kanyang mga pisngi na kumalat na sa buong mukha niya. She could feel her face getting warmer, so Claudette could only use her hands to cover her flustered face.

Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na nahalikan siya, by accident man or not. Pero hindi malaman ni Claudette kung bakit grabe na lang ang pag-iinit ng kanyang mukha. And she wasn’t supposed to be that embarrassed and awkward with just a simple kiss on the lips, but she couldn’t help it.

She had been faced with different situations. She had treated indifference with cold eyes. Had been treating violence with calmness. And other difficult situations with composure and countenance. Pero iyon ang unang beses na makaharap niya ang ganoon ka-intimate na sitwasyon at hindi niya alam kung paano iyon haharapin.

Gusto mang kastiguhin ni Claudette ang sarili dahil sa nakahihiyang ikinilos pero ayaw naman niyang mas lalong mapahiya pa kaya naman tahimik na napatakip na lang siya sa kanyang mukha habang hinihintay na kumalma ang pag-iinit ng mukha niya at ang mabilis na pagtibok ng kanyang dibdib marahil dahil sa hiya.

Napapalakpak naman si Nathaniel na para bang gusto niyang kuhanin ang atensyon ng dalawa. “Congratulations! Mr. and Mrs. Mortiz. Now we may proceed to the processing of your papers.”

Unti-unting nawala ang hiya at pamumula ng mukha ni Claudette ng marinig ang sinabing iyon ni Nathaniel. Kumalma na rin ang naghuhurumintado niyang dibdib. So she stood straight, and her face was full of calmness, like she had always been.

Pasimpleng tiningnan ni Claudette si Raphael na nauna nang naupo sa nakahandang upuan para sa kanilang dalawa. Isang walang tunog na buntonghininga muna ang pinakawalan niya bago sumunod ng upo sa katabing upuan ni Raphael.

“Now, can I go and leave?” tanong ulit ni Lourde while looking at Nathaniel, who nodded at him with a smile.

“Sige na, lumayas ka na at tumungo sa date mo! Kanina ka pa apurado r’yan eh!” singit ni Mikael. bago pa man makapagsalita si Nathaniel.

“I said it’s not a f*cking date!” Matalim na tiningnan pa ni Lourde si Mikael na hindi naman nagpasindak at nginitian lang ang kaibigan na parang lalong nang-iinis.

“Oh sure, Mr. in denial.”

A scowl was plastered on Lourde’s face, but he did nothing or said nothing to refute it. Lumapit na lang siya kina sa bagong kasal at kinamayan ang dalawa bago tuluyang umalis.

“Let’s get to business, our dearest newlyweds. Can we start the serious discussion now?” Katulad ng tanong ni Nathaniel ay nagseryoso na rin ang mukha nito na naupo sa sariling swivel chair.

Napatuwid ng pagkakaupo tuloy si Claudette habang nakatingin sa seryosong mukha ng mayor. Alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito kaya naman naalala niya ang case na dala-dala kanina pagpasok niya sa loob ng office. And before she could go look for it, inunahan na siya ni Mikael na bigla na lang lumapit sa kanila, putting two different attaché cases on the table.

One was familiar with Claudette since it was her attaché case, while the other was also familiar as she had already seen it with Raphael when they had their first talk and meeting.

“Thank you,” mahinang pasasalamat ni Claudette kay Mikael at inilapit sa sarili ang case.

Hindi niya tuloy nakita ang malawak na pag-ngiti sa kanya ni Mikael at ang masamang tingin ni Raphael sa kaibigan s***h assistant. Makahulugang nginisihan muna ni Mikael ang kaibigan bago umatras para hayaan ang dalawa sa mga kailangan nilang gawin.

“Since this is only a marriage for convenience, you can prepare your own version of contracts and the clauses. But first, let’s sign your marriage certificates and other legal papers for the legalization of your marriage. Here.”

Nathaniel put four papers in front of Claudette and Raphael, samantalang naglabas naman ng dalawang ballpen si Mikael at binigyan sila ng tig-isa. Naunang pumirma si Raphael at bawat papel na pinirmahan niya ay iniaabot niya kay Claudette pa pirmahan naman ng huli.

Nakangiting kinolekta ni Nathaniel ang mga pinirmahan nilang papel, tsaka tumayo. “It’s settled now. Ako na ang bahalang magpasa nito sa Civil Registry. For now, you can focus on making your personal contract.”

“Thank you, Nath,” seryosong pasasalamat ni Raphael na napatayo pa para makipagkamay sa kaibigan.

Ikinaway naman ni Nathaniel ang isang kamay sa ere bago naglakad palabas ng kanyang table. “No problem, bro. At isa pa, trabaho ko rin naman ang mga ganito. Kapag sina Mikael at Lourde rin naman ang humingi ng tulong, I will also officiate their marriage, right?” pilyong binalingan naman ni Nathaniel ang kaibigang si Mikael.

“Don’t jinx it, bro! Ayoko pang maitali sa kasal, bruh!” may pagka-exaggerated na deny ni Mikael na itinulak pa ang kaibigan palayo sa kanya ng akbayan siya nito.

“Beware of what you wish for. Baka sa ating apat ay ikaw ang mapag-iwanan at tumandang binata r’yan,” pang-aasar pa ni Nathaniel na akay-akay na palabas si Mikael.

“Tangina. Bruh! Magdilang-anghel ka lang talaga, ipapa-m******e ko buong angkan mo!”

And before the door closed, they could still hear the evil laugh of Nathaniel, who seems to love teasing people. Very different from his face when it comes to the public. Tahimik na ipinagdasal na lang ni Claudette si Mikael at ang mga susunod nitong lahi.

“So,” Raphael dragged his words as he seriously looked at Claudette.

Medyo nagulat si Claudette dahil sa biglang pagsasalita nito kaya bahagya siyang napahaltak. Pilit na kinalma na lang ulit ni Claudette ang sarili at napatingin din kay Raphael na seryoso pa ring nakatingin sa kanya.

“Since this marriage is more convenient for me, I will give you the chance to settle some clause and the content of the contract. But I have to give you my only demand in this contract. Would you like to hear mine first?” tanong ni Raphael.

Napatango naman si Claudette, naghihintay sa susunod na sasabihin ng lalaki. Hindi na rin pinatagal pa ni Raphael ang paghihintay ng asawa at agad nagsalita.

“My only request in this marriage is to act like a real married couple in front of other people, including our son. I don’t want anyone to question our relationship, especially Claudio. That’s not too hard for you to do, right?”

Agad na tumango si Claudette bilang tugon. It wasn’t really that hard to consider. Although she hadn’t experienced any relationships, she had some knowledge about these kinds of relationships.

“Good,” said Raphael with a small smile on his lips.

And it caught her off guard. Hindi malaman ni Claudette kung bakit palagi na lang siyang nawawala sa sarili kapag kaharap ang lalaki. Sa kahit anong kilos yata na gawin ni Raphael sa kanya ay palaging mahuhulog si malalim na pagkakatulala si Claudette. And what’s worse is that she did not know why she fell into a trance or what she was thinking while in a daze.

Claudette shook her thoughts away before she could think deeply about it. At para tuluyang maitaboy ang kung anumang isipin ay binuksan na lang ni Claudette ang dalang attaché case. Kailangan niyang bigyan ng focus ang usapan nilang iyon dahil maraming nakataya sa gagawin niyang kasunduan kasama ni Raphael.

Isa-isang inilabas ni Claudette ang mga naihanda niya ng mga papeles na isang linggo niya ring pinag-isipan.

Dahil maraming naisip si Claudette na gagawing rules nila sa kasal na iyon ay nahirapan siyang mamili kung alin ang lamang at mas makikinabang siya. Hindi naman kasi puwedeng damihan niya ang rules na puro lang convenient sa kanya. Gusto man niyang makalamang, but she couldn’t be unfair with the other party.

It was a marriage after all. Alam niyang may magawa lang siyang isang mali ay maaaring masira na ang buong kontrata. Ayaw naman niyang masayang lang ang effort na ginawa.

“Here’s mine,” sabi niya sabay abot ng isang papel kay Raphael.

Tiningnan lang muna ni Raphael ang papel na iniaabot niya bago dahan-dahang kinuha. She did not know if she would just let him read the contents or if she would also explain while he was reading them.

In the end, nanatiling tahimik si Claudette at hinayaang tapusin na muna ng lalaki ang pagbabasa. And maybe she could let him ask questions first so it would be easy for her to explain.

Raphael did not take long when reading. Ilang minuto rin matapos nitong mahawakan ang papel ay ibinaba na niya ito at napatingin kay Claudette. Nakipagtitigan naman si Claudette, naghihintay sa itatanong nito sa kanya.

“So. What can you say?” tanong ni Claudette nang isang minuto na’y hindi pa rin nagsasalita ang asawa.

Doon lang napaiwas ng tingin ang lalaki. He calmly interlocked his fingers together as he put them on the table. Ang mukha nito ay mas lalong nagseryoso dahil sa bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo na nakatingin sa kawalan. His lips were in a thin line, na para bang nasa malalim siyang pag-iisip.

And while staring at the man, Claudette suddenly remembered the first time she met the man. Although it was only in a magazine. Ganoon na ganoon kasi ang itsura ng lalaki sa cover ng isang business magazine. At hindi mapigilan ni Claudette na maalala kung paanong nakaramdam siya ng intimidation kahit sa harap lang ng isang magazine cover.

If her memory serves her right, it was when she was under the pressure after being the boss of the Bernabe Enterprise na naka-focus lang noon sa apparel at isa pa lang na clothing brand. Gusto niyang palawakin pa ang sakop ng kompanya bilang unang hakbang niya as the new CEO. But Claudette couldn’t find any inspiration either for new designs, or other hype that could boost the company’s substantial revenue.

Gina, her secretary gave her different magazines about other clothing brand for some inspiration. At nasama na doon ang ilang magazine tungkol sa business. And there, while scanning each magazine, Claudette saw a business magazine where a very handsome man is in the cover. Obviously, dahil baguhan sa business world, hindi niya pa kilala si Raphael.

What made her wonder and interested in the magazine is the way the man looked at the camera. Para kasing tumatagos ang tingin na iyon at tumama mismo sa mga mata ni Claudette. And just like a wake up call, a flood of ideas emerged in her mind. Before she could remember who the man was, Claudette set the magazines aside as she started drafting a plan.

Naging busy siya dahil sa pagpasakatuparan ng mga plano niya. And when she remembered the man in the magazine, it was already three months ago. Naalala niya ulit ang lalaki dahil kailangan nila ng bagong ambassador ng ire-release na apparel. Hindi na kasi nila puwedeng gamitin ang current ambassador dahil nga gusto ni Claudette na mula rin sa bagong tayo niyang modeling agency.

Iyon kasi ang naisip niyang plano ng makita niya ang magazine cover at ang lalaki. She thought of creating her own modeling agency and making Bernabe Apparels become an enterprise. And when she opened it to the public including their new apparels, she wanted to create a fashion show where models under their agency will do the ramping wearing the apparels that she and the company’s designers worked hard to create.

And for the promotional magazines with the new ambassador, ads, and billboards, Claudette already wanted to have the man in the magazine. Since the moment she had visualized her plans, the man had been the key factor of their success.

Unfortunately, hindi rin nagtagal at nalaman niyang hindi lang pala simpleng modelo ang lalaki. While trying to look for the man, isang malaking LED billboard ang nakita niya kung saan isang maikling video na pinapakilala ang sinasabing biggest and strongest business rookie na si Raphael Mortiz. Ilang segundo pa nga siyang nakanganga at nakatulala sa may bintana habang nakatatlong ulit ring pinanood ang video na iyon. Nasaktuhan kasing traffic kaya nagawa niyang panoorin ang video ng ilang beses.

There was a bit disappointment in Claudette’s heart when she realized that her plan couldn’t be perfect anymore like she had dream of it. Pero mas nanaig noon ang conviction at determination sa kanya dahil sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay muli na naman siyang na-inspire sa lalaki. Since then, Claudette became a secret fan of Raphael Mortiz.

And now, she couldn’t contain her emotions when she remembered those memories again. Para kasing nagbalik ulit ang paghanga niya sa lalaki. At ang isipin na kasal na siya sa idol niya habang may anak na sila ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Claudette.

“I guess, I have no say against these clauses. Should we start signing the contract?” Raphael asked, dragging Claudette back.

Pasimpleng napaiwas ng tingin si Claudette at napaayos ng pagkakaupo. Alangan siyang napatango dahil hindi niya masyadong narinig ang unang sinabi ng lalaki.

Napahinga ng maluwag si Claudette ng abutan siya ng ballpen ni Raphael kasama ang kontratang hinanda nito. Mabilisang binasa niya ang ilang parte ng kontrata bago pinirmahan ang pangalan niya. Pag-angat niya ng tingin ay tapos na ring pirmahan ni Raphael ang kontratang hinanda niya.

He took the paper from her and left her with another copy. Ibinalik din sa kanya ni Raphael ang isang kopya ng kontratang ginawa na na lahat ay parehong pirmado na nilang dalawa. Then he stood up while collecting all the papers and returned them to his attaché case.

Nagmamadali ring inayos ni Claudette ang sariling gamit at napatayo. Medyo nagulat pa siya ng makitang nasa tabi na niya ang lalaki.

“Let’s go?” tanong sa kanya ni Raphael.

“Saan?” wala sa sariling tanong naman ni Claudette.

“Let’s fetch Claudio together. So we can go home together. By the way, have you gathered your things? Although I suggest you to only brought important things and papers from your mansion since I already prepared your necessities in our house—”

“What?” malakas na bulalas niya.

Natigilan tuloy si Raphael sa sinasabi at nagtatakang napatingin sa kanya. Mukhang nagulat sa biglaan niyang pagsigaw. Pero hindi na niya iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin at nagtatanong na tiningnan si Raphael.

“What do you mean by our house? Are you talking about me moving out?” tanong ni Claudette.

Nabigla kasing talaga si Claudette sa laman ng sinabi ni Raphael. Ang akala niya lang kasi ay kasal lang sila sa papel kaya naman karamihan ng inilagay niyang kondisyon sa kontrata ay tungkol sa peke nilang relasyon. But she never thought about living together in one roof!

What she thought was that Claudio would be living in Raphael’s house and if she wanted to, Claudio could also live back with her in their house.

“What? You think I would let my wife be separated from me and our child?” Raphael catechized which left Claudette dumbfounded.

to be continued…