Signed Wife

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Pinagkatitigan kong muli ang lalaking nasa harap ko. He doesn't look like 40. Maybe 33.

He has the most appealing nose I've ever seen. It has a perfectly straight bridge that lacks any curves. He has that long curly eye lashes too. And that thick eyebrows give more impact on his face as well with his beard. Whenever our eyes met, it gives me something I don't understand. There is really something behind his stare and gaze.

"So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much will you rate my face?"

"Ha?" Gusto ko sanang lamutakin ang mukha ko. I was unaware that I am literally staring at his face.

"I know I'm a 10." Sagot niya sa tanong niya.

"Look at you. You're so full of yourself."

"We know that I'm a 10. So, are we done here? You didn't even bother to answer me. So, I'll take that as a yes my wife."

"Hey! Hindi pa ako pumapayag. 6 months ng buhay ko ang pinag-uusapan dito."

"Okay. I think I cannot force someone as close headed as you. Well, I'm gonna say goodbye and it's really nice meeting you..."

Nilahad niya ang kamay niya at naghihintay na abutin ko 'yon. Oo nga pala, hindi pa nga pala ako kilala ng lalaking ito.

"I'm Summer. Summer Flores. The third child."

"Again, it's nice meeting you."

"Thank you. And you really have a nice offer though. I just want to try my luck and risk it all."

"I understand."

"Thank you. Nabusog ako. Pero teka, lowbatt kasi ako. And I cannot contact my friend kung na saan ako. I'm not sure kung na saan tayo to be honest."

"I have a spare phone. Do you know the number of your friend by heart?"

"Alam kong mayaman ka, pero charger lang sana haha hindi spare phone if ever."

"Ah yes. I'll let you borrow my powerbank."

"Thank you,"

"If you're done eating, we should leave. malayo pa ang byahe mo pabalik ng Manila."

"Kaya nga e. Thank you for saving me a while ago. Your car is really a life saver."

"May utang ka pa rin sa 'kin." Sabi niya noong palabas na kami ng restaurant.

Bago kami tuluyang makalabas ay lahat ng crew maging chef ay nag bigay galang kay Gregory sa papamagitan ng pagyuko.

NANG MAKABALIK kami sa kotse niya ay una niyang inabot sa akin ang powerbank na hinihiram ko.

"Here," aniya tsaka sinimulang imaneho ang sasakyan.

Mabait naman pala talaga siya. Hindi niya ako kilala, knowing na influential siya sa business industry pero hindi man lang niya ko kinasuhan.

"Hanga din ako sa'yo e 'no. Pa'no, hindi mo naman ako kilala. Hindi mo alam kung spy ako or whatever pero talagang binaba mo yung guard mo sa 'kin."

Ngumiti siya. Hindi rin siya madamot sa ngiti. Hindi gaya ng mga mayayamang nakilala ko na matumal pa sa matumal ang ngiti.

"To be honest, I saw you jump in my car. Nakita ko rin 'yong lungkot sa mukha mo kanina. I have the idea all those time, I just wanted to hear the story from you. Nakita ko rin yung lalaking sabi mong gusto mo. At 'yong babaeng kasama niya. The lady you said was his ex is actually my secretary."

Sa di ko alam na kadahilanan, ramdam ko na kinakaawaan niya ako. Kaya ba nag-offer siya na asawahin niya ako ng 6 months? Kaya ba hindi siya nag dalawang isip na tulungan ako?

"Don't give me that look. Ayokong kinakaawaan ako."

"I don't. I just don't understand how you think. You saw it with your very own eyes, and just turn a blind eye. Why didn't you confront him? Ah, 'cause you don't what him to know because it might affect your engagement. Idiot."

"Hindi mo ko maiintindihan kasi sabi mo nga, hindi ka pa nagmamahal. Hindi mo alam ang nararamdaman ko."

Ngumisi siya sabay hinto ng sasakyan sa gilid.

"Exactly. I want to understand. Which is why I am offering you a 6 months contract to be my wife and I want to feel how you feel. 'Yong nagmamahal kahit alam mong hindi ka mamahalin. It thrilled me. I guess I'm a masochist, like you."

"Stop. Stop it. Hindi ako sanay. Hindi ako sanay na pinapakialaman ang mga nararamdaman ko."

"That's another, sarili mo lang ang naririnig mo. Pwede bang hayaan mong ako nalang ang magkamali sa'yo. As I can see, you endure too much of pain already."

Our eyes met. Pero hindi ko mabasa kung seryoso ba siya. Bakit ako ang pag-e-eksperimentuhan niya sa feelings niya?

"I want to go back."

"I'll let you go, that is for sure." Huling sabi niya tsaka muling pinaandar ang sasakyan.

Hindi na ako sumagot at nanahimik nalang sa tabi ng driver's seat.

Nang mabuhay ang cellphone ko at ni-check ko agad ang mga messages ko. Ni isa wala man lang naligaw na message galing kay Teo.

"Are you busy? I haven't heard anything from you since morning. Let me know if you're not. Kape tayo."

Basa ko sa text ni Tau, ang nakababatang kapatid ni Teo. Best friend ko since high-school.

Hindi ba't napaka perfect dahil sobrang malapit na ako sa family ng future husband ko. Sa husband nalang hindi.

"How about some beer?" reply ko.

Ni hindi bumilang ng minuto ay naka receive agad ako ng reply.

"May problema ba?"

"Gusto ko lang gumawa ng problema. Haha." Reply ko.

"Crazy. I'll see you tonight." Basa ko sa reply niya.

Hindi na ako nag-reply at ni-save nalang ang energy ko sa view sa labas ng kotse.

"Did I mention that I'll keep you a hostage tonight, right?"

"Seryoso ka ba? You can't do that!" Hindi ko alam pero medyo hindi na ako natutuwa. Kasi umaasa ako na makaka uwi ako ngayong gabi. I already set plans with Tau and I very need him right now. I badly need a hug.

"Sino'ng nagsabi sa'yo na ikaw lang ang pwedeng gumawa ng mga hindi pinag-iisipang mga bagay? Ibabalik kita bukas ng buong-buo. O kausapin ko nalang din kaya mga magulang mo, baka I-reconsider nila ang engagement niyo. Sabihin ko, one sided. I just fell in love with you. Would that work?"

"Don't you dare!" Naiirita kong sigaw na dahilan ng mahina niyang pagbungisngis.

"What's wrong with that? I'll give you a big bonus you didn't expect you can earn from being my wife. You can tavel the world. Buy anything you want. Be the person you dreamed of. Anything is possible being my wife. I know and I believe that it would be a lot of work for me to understand how irritating it to be to earn someone's love. But I guess, you'll be worth it. "

Ngayon, lalo kong hindi maintindihan ang gusto niyang mangyari. Did he mean na gusto niyang ma-earn ang love ko? Tapos? Tapos ano? Once nahulog na ako, ano ng gagawin niya?

"I just want you to be clear with your intention. So what's your plan if I fall in love with you?"

Hindi siya agad nakasagot at hininto muli ang sasakyan sa tabi.

"The very first question, will you fall in love with someone like me?"

Our eyes locked. D+mn. He's serious that he didn't even statter when he delivered that question. And is that even a question?

"Bakit? Are you not confident how good looking and how nice are you? I-I mean, I doubt if there's really no one fell in love with you given how charismatic and successful you are."

"Now you really mean I'm a 10. I know I am." Ngumiti uli siya sa akin at sinimulang paandarin ang kotse.

"Did you set that trap para lang ma-confirm mo na nag-a-agree ako na 10 ka?"

"How childish, right?"

Hindi ako makapaniwala. Natawa nalang ako habang ngingiti-ngiti din siya.

"Again, I wanted to keep you as my companion tonight. Did your parents announce already your engagement with the guy you love? I guess not. Because this is not even the first time I saw that guy."

Tama bang ipamukha sa 'kin na pinupuntahan lagi ng fiance ko 'yong ex niya.

"And I doubt if it is really his ex. Because as I can see, he is still into her. Did the two of you already been in a romantic date before?"

"Now, I wonder why you are not in a relationship."

Bakas ang pagka-alarma niya. He didn't stop the car for the third time but I know he's all ears.

"Because you're insensitive. You're blunt. You don't care how others feel towards your words. Did you not know that words are the most powerful thing in the world?"

Now, he stopped the car.

"What did I say?"

"You're rubbing it in my face. Oo na nga, di ba sinabi ko na nga kanina na hindi nga ako gusto."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I keep on trying hard to convince you. Didn't think you might be offended. Yeah, I guess I'm trying so goddamn hard for you to agree and be my signed wife. I am really desperate."

"Sorry kung hindi ako nasisilaw ng yaman mo."

"That's why I like you." He mouthed.

"Women tend to seduce me because I am Gregory Kahli. But you were different. How many times did you ever reject me today?"

"Kung sakali ba na kailanganin ko ng tulong mo in the future, pag bubuksan mo pa rin ba ako ng pinto at patutuluyin mo pa rin ba ako?"

"Oh. If you mean that you want me to be your back up... Hmmm how long will it take? Nah. I'm kidding. Yes, I'll welcome you anytime."

"That's a relief. But I hope I won't be needing you in the future." Bulong ko. At hindi ko na gusto pang marinig niya 'yon.