Programmed Wife

Chapter 36

"Everything was amazing!" Leyla blurted out as soon as she finished her last piece of perfectly toasted garlic bread. The whole morning was wonderful. They enjoyed a nice breakfast out of the office for the first time. Although there were some instances where Leyla had to threaten strangers by her death glare, she loved every second of it.

Same goes for Rui. It has been a while since he experienced a nice meal out, usually it ends terribly. With an attack or some sort of a problem.

"Do you like anything else?" he asked.

Leyla was surprised to hear him ask that question, "Let's see," she pretended to think while looking at their table filled with a bunch of cleared out plates.

"Oh, are you full?"

She nodded with a smile on her face. "I'm so full, I don't know if I can still move-"

"I can carry you out-"

"Oh wow suddenly my legs are so strong!" bawi ng dalaga na mabilisang tumayo para iwasan ang naisip na paraan ni Rui.

Natatawa na hinarap siya ni Rui, "Are you ready to go?"

"Sandali, samahan mo ako sa C.R." he was shocked with her request. "Dali na, gusto kong umihi," bulong pa nito.

"Leyla, hindi ako puwedeng sumama sa'yo sa C.R."

"Mabilis lang, tara na. Hindi naman kita puwedeng iwanan mag-isa."

"Just go, I can wait for you outside. I'll wait for you in the car, yeah?"

"Sige tara, ihahatid muna kita sa kotse-"

Mabilis siyang hinatak ni Rui para ikutin at paharapin sa daan patungo sa may C.R. "Come on, I can manage. Just go, mabilis lang naman na makalakad pabalik sa kotse, walang mangyayari sa akin."

There was a moment of hesitation seen on Leyla's face, "Sure ka? 'Wag kang titingin sa mga babae doon tapos tumakbo ka pabalik sa sasakyan!"

"I got it, just go."

Leyla nodded and rushed to the back where she found the sign for the rest room.

Rui was about to exit the restaurant. Just as how Leyla instructed, he covered his face with his hood and walk fast just looking down, he did not try to take any risk. But something blocked his way. All he saw from below was a expensive pair of men's black shoes.

"Long time no see son," the man spoke.

He had a deep typical old man voice with a hint of an American accent. And that was enough for Rui to step back. He did not dare to look up, he froze right where he's standing. He was terrified.

"Come on my boy, aren't you going to give dad a hug," the old man laughed.

Rui wanted to punch him as hard as he can straight to his nose. How can a man like him just laugh like that? As if he just delivered an insane out of this world joke. But he's the only one amused by it.

"You're eating out alone? How brave of you."

Sapilitang hinila ng matandang lalaki pabalik sa table nila si Rui. Nagpumiglas ang kan'yang anak pero alam na alam nito kung ano ang magpapasunod sa lalaki.

"I just want to talk to you about your mom, don't you want to?" and that was enough to make him sit back down on his own.

The moment that he sat down on that seat, he saw his father face to face after all those years. Tumanda na ang itsura nito, pero hindi maikakaila ang gandang lalaki na napasa sa kan'yang anak.

He grinned looking at Rui's face, "My son has grown up to be a handsome bachelor, I see."

Pinupuri siya nito, pero walang ibang maramdaman si Rui kung hindi galit at pagkamuhi.

"I knew you wouldn't want to talk to me, but I came here to see you for something," the old man said. He signaled someone by the door. And a middle aged man with a suitcase walked straight into their direction.

"Good morning Mr. Andrews," bati nito.

"Rui, this is my lawyer. Attorney Bobby."

Doing his best to be polite, Rui greeted the man with a nod.

"I assume that your mother has told you what we talked about?" the old man asked. "Hmm, let me take your displeased expression as a no."

"What the hell did you say to my mom?"

"I just talked to my loving wife about your future my dear," he knew what he's doing. He's very much aware of his effect on his son. He's doing everything to make him even angrier.

"Arturo! What did you tell my mother?!"

"Arturo? Come on, where's the respect in that?"

Rui had enough. He slammed the table as hard as he can. The loud thud even caught the attention of the workers in the restaurant.

"Okay, calm down... go on, tell him," the old man told his lawyer.

"Mr. Andrews over here have talked to your Mother about this agreement," Attorney Bobby slipped him a copy, "It stated here that the annulment will only happen if you marry a girl that your father has chosen. If not, your mother has to live together with your father again-"

"Are you out of your d*mn mind?!" hindi na napigilan ni Rui ang galit. "You have your new family! A younger partner and other children! Why do you have to keep my mother dragged into your doomed life?"

The old man smirked, "I miss my wife, kid."

"I would never agree to this kind of arrangement! You keep on tormenting my mother as if her wasted years on you weren't enough!"

"Don't be silly, you know she misses me too. If not, why hasn't she pushed through with the annulment yet? Huh?"

Rui clenched his jaw, stopping himself from creating a scene, "We both know why. You're holding on to her, threatening her. For what? Money? Ngayon na successful na ako at walang wala ka na sa kung ano ang naabot ko, you plan to drain our money? You know you don't deserve anything, not even a cent!"

"Feisty," his dad commented with a tone of sarcasm in his voice. "If you decide to not listen to me, wala na ring matitira sa'yo. You should be thankful! Kahit papaano tinatago ko pa kung ano ang sikreto mo!"

"You're out of your mind."

"Ah, I did not expect that you have been this difficult to talk to son, luckily I brought someone that may help you a bit."

Just as he said those words, a beautiful well built middle aged woman opened the door of the Restaurant. Leyla was just in time to witness how the woman flipped her long curls to reveal her well exposed curves.

"Huh? May kausap si Sir?" she asked herself. Kaagad na tumakbo sa isip niya na malamang ay nakilala ito ng mga business partners niya.

"A good looking elderly man that has an angry look in his face, cunning too... his eyes and nose are the same as Mr. Rui's- his father?" she thought. "The one sitting beside him must be a lawyer..." Then her eyes examine the middle aged lady standing beside them, she's quite beautiful but with an unsettling gaze and a knowing smirk. "She's looking at Mr. Rui as if she's someone to him, but she's too old and Mr. Rui's terrif- the bad aunt?"

Rui sat still on his chair. Not looking at the woman who's standing beside the two seated men in front of him. The final vacant seat was the one beside him. And he silently prayed for him to wake up from this nightmare.

"What an impolite kid. Say hello to your Aunt Anje, " tukso pa ng kan'yang ama. He knew that his son developed this sort if trauma because of his disgusting sister, Rui's aunt, Anje. Yet he brought her in this unwanted meeting just to make him suffer, forcing him to move towards the direction that he wanted him to go.

Rui did his best to toughen up. He managed to pull of his best stunt yet and calmly glare at his aunt. Deep inside he's dying, the memories from his dark past came rushing in.

Hindi makapaniwala si Anje na nakukuha na siyang tignan ng lalaki. Arturo was in shock, seeing his son have no reaction at all. But in reality, he was almost ready to break down in front of the three until he smelled the familiar scent come closer to him.

He looked behind Anje to find his savior, wearing her bright smile, nodding as she walk closer to him. She confidently faced the older woman who was about to walk towards the chair beside Rui.

Leyla smiled and sat beside him. "Ay, hello po," she politely greeted them. Then turned towards Rui. She can hear his breathing slowly getting faster.

"What are you doing! Get away from him!" sigaw ng tatay nito. Alam na alam nila ang mangyayari kapag nalapitan siya ng babae kaya naman sinubukan niya itong paalisin. He's not done with him yet, he can't afford him to pass out instantly right now.

Anje was about to pull Leyla's hand to keep her away from Rui but she waved it off, "Uhm, excuse me?" mataray niyang sumbat dito.

Leyla placed her right hand on top of Rui's back to start calming him down secretly with her touch.

"The hell lady! Leave my boy alone!" sigaw ni Anje.

"Your boy?" Leyla asked. She raised her brow and it successfully intimidated Anje. "Babe, you should have introduced us," she giggled. Rui was surprised by the way she's acting. But he focused on her scent, on her gorgeous face. He kept on reminding himself that Leyla's beside him. And that could only mean one thing, everything will be okay.

"Babe?" gulat na sigaw ni Anje. Maging ang matandang lalaki ay halos lumuwa na ang mga mata dahil sa narinig. Because of Leyla's sudden appearance, the grand plan of threatening Rui just burst out into nothing.

"Uhm... yes po. I'm his girlfriend, Leyla Ayasya Cruz."

Arturo was amused. He took a deep breath, shaking his head, "Girlfriend," he repeated. "I did not know my son has a girlfriend."

"Oh, you're his father... Mr. Arturo Andrews, if I remember it correctly?" Leyla offered to shake his hand. "I want to say I've heard a lot of good things about you, but I'm so sorry Sir... I don't lie like that."

Hearing her talk to his father that way, bahagyang natawa si Rui sa kapilyahan nito. Kaya naman mahina siyang tinapik sa balikat ni Leyla para bawalan ito.

"And you are?" she smiled at Anje who's nose could emit fire any moment now.

Anje raised her brow, "Anje Falco, Rui's aunt."

Leyla bit her lower lip, "Oh... geez, " she whispered. She made sure to say it loud enough for them to hear.

Kaya naman lalong nag-init ang ulo ng babae na nasa harapan niya, "And what's that supposed to mean?!"

"Hmm, let'ts just say that some stories really... they... they're not usually in favor of you. You know," she cheekily said.

"What a little b*tch," Anje whispered.

Rui pulled Leyla's hand and held it tightly on top of the table, "Babe, don't shake her hand. It's disgusting."

"Ohhh, got it babe!"