His Secret Wife

Chapter 1

Reminisce

"Please, daddy," pagmamakaawa ko sa harap ni daddy. I was already down on bended knees. "Mahal ko po si Sean at alam na alam ko po sa sarili kong siya ang lalaking para sa akin."

"Sandra..." nahihirapang pagsambit ni Daddy sa pangalan ko. Alam kong konti na lang ay bibigay na siya at susundin ang kagustuhan kong mangyari.

"Daddy, please..." I begged him, teary eyed. "Ngayon lang po ako humiling sa inyo. I never asked for anything when I was still growing up. Please, Daddy... Just this once, huh?"

When he sighed, I immediately smiled. I knew that I already won. It was a sign of his defeat.

"Okay... I'll arrange a meeting with Mr. Sarmiento. I'll try, princess," he assured me before he held my hands that were placed on my lap. "Now, can you please stand up?"

I smiled wider and stood up to hug him. "Thanks, Daddy!" I cheerfully exclaimed. "You don't know how happy I am."

Daddy patted my head as he hugged me back. "I'll do anything just to make my princess happy."

I was impatiently waiting for Dad to come home dahil ngayon siya nakipag-usap kay Mr. Sarmiento, who is Sean's father. I just hoped that everything went well in their rendezvous.

Nang marinig ko na ang pagbukas ng pintuan ay agad ko iyong nilingon. Dad stepped inside the house while loosening his necktie and removing his coat.

"Daddy!" Masayang salubong ko sa kanya. I even held his suitcase for him. "What happened? Ayos na po ba?" I excitedly, but nervously asked him.

He looked at me with an expressionless face that made me tremble with fear. Ngunit nang ngumiti siya ay halos magtatalon na ako sa tuwa. I knew it was a success.

"Yes, Sandra," he said. "Pumayag si Mr. Sarmiento. Sean and you will meet the day after tomorrow dahil kakausapin niya pa ang anak niya tungkol dito. I still need to wait for his call or message about it."

I squealed and jumped because of excitement and happiness. I was finally one step closer to my dream.

Nakita ko naman ang pag ngiti ni Daddy. "Glad that you're happy, my princess."

Mas lumaki ang ngiti ko saka inangkla ang aking braso sa kanya.

"Uhm... Daddy?" I bit my lower lip before I continued. "I actually have another request."

He looked at me with his eyes full of uneasiness. "What is it, Cassandra?"

"I want to work at their company," I simply stated.

"What? No!" Dad declined my favor right away. "I can't let that happen. Ikaw ang magmamana ng kompanya natin. You're my only daughter."

I pouted. "Hindi naman habang buhay, Daddy," sabi ko. "Hangga't kayo pa po ang nakaupo as CEO then doon po muna ako sa company nila. At least, parang training ko na rin po yun. Please, daddy... Pumayag ka na po." Inalog-alog ko ang braso niya, just like when I was still a child.

"Okay..." And again, he let out a big sigh. "But as soon as I want to drop out of the position, you will immediately take over and no buts." 

Tumango ako at sumaludo pa sa kaniya habang ngiting-ngiti. "I understand, Daddy." Lumapit ako sa kanya upang halikan ang kanyang pisngi. "Thanks, Dad!"

Nang dumating na ang gabing magkikita kami ay halos hindi na ako makapili ng isusuot na damit dito sa walk-in closet ko. Parang feeling ko ay kulang ang mga damit ko dahil hindi ko alam ang isusuot ko. Ganoon naman ata minsan ang mga babae if they're trying to impress someone.

In the end, I ended up wearing a simple light blue dress, up to my mid-thighs and a white stilettos. I just put on face powder and lip gloss to enlighten my face. I just let my slight wavy hair flow.

"Sandra... Princess?" Daddy knocked on the walk-in closet's door before I saw him enter the room.

Dad smiled when he saw me all dressed up. I turned around gracefully to give him a good look at my dress.

"You're very beautiful, Sandra..." Daddy said as I saw a twinkle in his eyes. "Just like your mother." he even added.

Lumapit naman ako kay Daddy upang yakapin siya. Whenever he's mentioning mommy, I tend to get slightly teary-eyed. The longing that I'm feeling gets deeper every time.

Mom died when she gave birth to me. I didn't get a chance to know her or to spend time with her. Ang tanging panahon lang na nakasama ko siya ay noong siyam na buwan akong nasa loob ng sinapupunan niya. Hindi ko rin makakalimutan ang ikinuwento ni daddy na before mamatay si mommy ay pagkarinig niya ng iyak ko nang ipinanganak ako ay ngumiti siya ng isang ngiting hindi pa nakikita ni Daddy ang ginawa ni mommy.

"Daddy, come on,” sabi ko sa kanya at umiling si daddy saka ngumiti. “It's not the time to cry."

"Let's go down. Nakahanda na ang sasakyan," sabi ni Daddy at hindi niya ako binitiwan hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan.

When we arrived at the private room, I smiled when I saw a familiar figure of a man's back. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. Sa kakatitig ko pa lang sa kanya noon ay malabong hindi ko makabisado ang bawat kurba ng muscles ng katawan niya, ang lapad likod niya, ang height at pati na rin ang pagkilos niya minsan ay kilalang-kilala ko na.

"Mr. Talavera, you're here!" A middle-aged man stood up from his seat when he saw us enter the room. He must be Sean's father. Kahawig na kahawig niya ang daddy niya.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Sarmiento," paghingi naman ng paumanhin ni Daddy. "Oh! By the way, my daughter, Cassandra Talavera," agad na pakilala sa akin ni Daddy.

Sean's mother also stood from her seat just to offer her hand to me as she smiled. "Napakagandang bata," she commented. "Kamukhang-kamukha mo ang mommy mo."

"Sandra, she was a close friend of your mom when they were still in college," Daddy gave me a fact.

I couldn't believe that my Mom's close friend is Sean's mother.

Ngumiti ako at tinanggap ang kanyang kamay na nakalahad. "Thank you po for being a friend of my mom while she's still alive," pagpapasalamat ko sa kanya.

"Lagi siyang ganyan sa unang pagme-meet sa mga naging kaibigan ng mommy niya. Pinapasalamatan niya sila," sabi ni Daddy.

Natawa naman ang mommy ni Sean. "Well, you're welcome and you can call me Tita Rose, Cassandra."

"Sige po, Tita Rose."

"Ako naman ang Tito Simon mo,” sabay singit ng ama ni Sean at nakipagkamay rin sa akin.

"Hello po, Tito Simon," I politely greeted him.

Pagkatapos ng kamayan ay lumingon siya kung saan nakaupo ang anak niyang pinakahinihintay kong humarap sa akin. "And this is our son, Sean Sarmiento." pagpapakilala niya kay Sean.

Napalunok naman ako nang makita ko siyang inayos ang kanyang coat bago tumayo upang harapin ako. He's wearing a smart casual attire.

"Hi," simpleng pagbati niya sa akin bago inilahad ang kanyang kamay. “I’m Sean.”

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakangiti sa akin ang isang Sean Jacob Sarmiento. Pakiramdam ko'y para akong nasa panaginip lamang. Dati ay lagi lang siyang nakasimangot at mukhang masungit kapag nakikita ko ngunit ngayon ay nakangiti pa siya sa akin.

Agad kong tinanggap ang kamay niya ng nakangiti. "Cassandra Talavera," pagsambit ko ng aking pangalan. "But you can call me Sandra."

"Okay, Sandra," he said, letting go of my hand before he turned his head to my father. "Hi, Sir. I'm Sean Sarmiento po," pormal at magalang niyang pagbati at pakilala kay Daddy.

Tumango si daddy sa kanya at ngumiti. "You'll handle your dad's company in a month. I'm anticipating your performance."

"It'll be exciting then, Sir," he cooly accepted Dad's indirect challenge.

Daddy shook his head with a smile. "Drop the sir. Call me Tito Fred."

"Yes, Tito Fred."

Nang matapos ang batian ay agad na kaming nagsiupo. Kasalukuyang nasa harap ko ngayon si Sean at tahimik na kumakain. The dinner's already fixed and it's already here when we arrived kaya agad din kaming nagsimulang kumain.

"Well, I think na dapat bigyan natin ng quality time ang dalawa para makilala ang isa't isa," sabi ni Tito Solomon. "Kaysa silang dalawa ang nag-uusap ay tayo-tayo lang tatlo ang nagsasalita."

"Yes, I think so too since ikakasal na naman na ang dalawa," pagsang-ayon ni Daddy habang tumatango-tango.

"So, you two get out first for a while. Have a talk and enjoy the night. Get to know each other," Tita Rose encouraged me and Sean.

Pinunasan naman ni Sean ang bibig niya gamit ang table napkin. Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumayo agad at lumapit papunta sakin saka inalok ang kanyang kamay. "Come on, Sandra, let's go?" nakangiting tanong niya sakin.

I looked at daddy, he nodded and smiled. Bumalik ako ng tingin kay Sean at hinawakan na rin ang kamay namin. Puro kantyaw ni tita ang narinig namin bago kami makalabas sa garden ng restaurant at binitawan ng marahas ang kamay ko.

What just happened? I was shocked by his sudden harsh move.

"Don't be so shocked," he said. "I'll be like this when I'm only with you."

"W-What do you mean?" naguguluhang tanong ko kahit na may nahihinuha na akong sagot sa sarili kong katanungan.

"The way I acted earlier... pinakiusapan lang ako ni mommy at daddy," walang pag-aalinlangang pag-amin ni Sean at umupo sa bench. "Do you think that I'm really okay with the thought of marrying you? Marrying someone I don’t know?" he sarcastically asked.

So, hindi niya pala ako napapansin. Magkaklase kami for three years at hindi niya ko kilala. Nagkasama rin kami noon sa isang national Chemistry competition sa may Cagayan de Oro pero hindi niya ako kilala. Am I that easy to forget? Really?

"Sa tingin mo, masaya ako dahil matatali ako sa'yo?" he continued and laughed. "Hell no!" 

I didn't know that it would hurt that much to be vocally rejected by someone you love.

"Once you marry me.” Lumapit siya sakin at bumulong. "You'll experience hell. You will never be happy."

Halos napatalon naman ako sa paghampas na ginawa ni Nikki sa braso ko. That made me stop from reminiscing the past.

"Connect to earth, Sandra!" she said while shoving her hands in front of me.

"S-Sorry. May naalala lang," sabi ko at bumalik sa pagliligpit ng gamit.

"Naalala?" she asked, irritated. "Eh nag storytelling ka ata sa utak mo ng isang nobela eh. Tagal naman niyang naalala mo, kasing tagal din ng pagputak ko dito na wala ka naman palang naiintindihan."

I sighed. "Pasensya na. Marami lang talaga akong iniisip."

"Well, kung ano man 'yang iniisip mo, wag mo munang isipin. Spare all those thoughts for tonight. It's my birthday! We'll party!" masayang sabi niya.

Ngumiti ako at lumingon sa kaniya. "Saan ba tayo kakain?"

"Kakain?" She narrowed her eyes. "We'll not eat, we'll drink."

"Drink? Anong drink?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Magba-bar tayo! Let's taste every liquor na afford ng bulsa ko dun sa bagong bukas na club." sabi niya at biglang nagtaas ng kilay sa akin. "Well, kung gusto mong kumain ay meron atang light foods dun or..." 

I creased my forehead. "Or what?"

"Let's find you a guy to eat—Aray!" she shouted in pain when I slightly smacked her head.

Minsan talaga ay kung ano-ano ang pinag-iiisip ng babaeng 'to. I know that we are old enough but I will never do that. Hindi pa nga namin 'yon nagagawa ng asawa ko pagkatapos ay gagawin ko na sa iba? I'm not like him.

Napairap ako sa kanya. "Wala pa akong balak ma-devirginize.”

"I'm just suggesting!" nagkibit-balikat siya.

Bigla namang nagsitahimik ang mga ka-officemate namin at natanaw ko na lang ang lalaking nagngangalang, Sean Sarmiento na CEO ng kompanyang pinagtatrabahuhan ko, papalabas na siya ng kanyang office.

I was working at my husband's company as a normal employee dahil si daddy pa ang naghahandle ng company namin ngunit walang nakakaalam dito sa opisina kung ano kaming talaga. Being his wife is my biggest secret at para sa kaniya ay isang malaki rin akong sikreto. Isa 'to sa mga kondisyon niya bago kami ikasal—ang walang makakaalam tungkol sa status namin. Pumayag na lang din ako dahil wala na akong magagawa. I'm willing to obey all his orders basta ba'y pakakasalan niya ako.

Oo, ganoon ako katanga.

"Good evening, Sir!" bati ng mga ka-officemate ko sa kanya ngunit para lang siyang walang naririnig at patuloy lang sa paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas na siya ng office.

"Naloka ang beauty ko sa grand exit ni Sir!" biglang singhal ni Nikki. "Napaka-awkward ng office tuwing lalabas at papasok siya sa opisina niya."

"Ang hot ni Sir no!" biglang sabi ng isa pa naming officemate.

"Hot nga, sungit naman,” pagkontra ni Nikki. "Wala sigurong girlfriend kaya ganyan o kaya menopaused."

"Gaga ka talaga, Nikki!" sabi ng ka-officemate namin. "Menopause? Babae lang ‘yon at walang girlfriend? Sa ganyang ka-hot na nilalang, walang girlfriend?!"

"Eh sa ang sungit niya eh.” Nikki said as she shrugged her shoulders. “Malay ko ba."

Pinilit ko na lang ang sarili kong hindi makisali sa usapan nila. As much as possible, ayokong mapag-usapan si Sean. Baka madulas pa ko o kung ano pa ang masabi ko.

"Hay, nako! Nasisira talaga ni Sir ang beauty ko," sabi ni Nikki at inayos ang buhok.

Nilingon ko naman siya. "Tara na, Nikki," aya ko para maiba naman ang topic nila.

"Oo nga pala!" excited niyang sabi at sinukbit na ang bag. "Tara na, tara na! Let's party!" she shouted at nauna na sa paglabas ng opisina.

Here we go.