Programmed Wife

Chapter 37

- Leyla Ayasya's POV -

I never expected that a situation like this would happen today. I heard about Sir Rui's dad holding his condition above his head to painfully push him and his mother into this evil man's plans. But this is a bit too far. Using his aunt to traumatize him even more? I couldn't believe that a man this evil became a father.

And now the sit in front of us like this is a happy coincidence. As if nothing happened and they were just here to talk some business? Kung hindi pa pala ako kaagad na nakalapit malamang kung ano na ang nangyari kay Sir Rui.

Poor guy, he's with his family but instead of love all he could feel is fear. I've been holding his hand on top of the table to convince the evil siblings over here. Parang inaaral pa nila kung totoo nga na nakakalapit na sa babae si Rui.

Based on his father's face, with his eyebrows raised like that and his mouth a bit open ever since he saw me sitting down here, he's not processing the full information yet. And the disgusting aunt is staring at me as if I stole something from her. She's been acting a little too possessive of Sir Rui, yuck. Does she really have a thing for him? What a disgusting piece of sh*t. When my dad warned me about protecting Sir Rui from these types of people, I did not expect it to be this intense.

Now I understand everything. Wala pang sampung minuto kong nakasalamuha ang mga ito pero halos kumulo na ang dugo ko dahil lang kaharap ko sila. I couldn't believe he had to live his life with them before. That must have been hell, no wonder he grew up to be that sad.

I don't blame him, being exposed to this environment, it will really change you for the worse. Maybe this is the reason why he was so scarred to be immune to me from the start, he saw it to be something different. It became his hope. And nothing hurts more than finding the hope you needed the most and losing it again.

"So tell me, you were a man right? How was the transition?" narinig ko ang nang-aasar na tono ng boses ni Anje sa harapan ko. Ngayon ay nakuha pa niyang patayuin ang kawawang abugado na nadamay sa kadumihan nila para siya naman ang umupo sa harapan namin.

I gave my best with an evil laughter, "Oh gosh, that might have been the best compliment told to me yet. Do I really look that good? Mukhang retokada?" I giggled.

"Huh, pretty good liar too."

"I'm sorry Miss Anje, but no. Everything is natural. I could help you out with the skincare I use if you're interested. Botox like that don't look natural at all, kinda freaky looking for you actually." If she thought that only her can do this bad mouthing attack to me like that, she's f*cked. This is one of the most useful things that I learned from the academy.

Sir Rui smiled right beside me, I know that he's freaking out just being close to Anje right now. But I couldn't take him to leave. Alam kong nanghihina ang mga binti niya. At kung makita nilang hindi siya makatayo ng maayos, out bluff would be caught. And that will just make things a little bit messier.

"Sir, would you like a cup of coffee?" I politely asked his dad. I felt Sir Rui's squeezed my hand a little bit. He must be wondering why I would say that. Making the unwanted meeting last a little longer. But there's no better way out of it right now.

"Sure," sagot ng lalaki na minamata pa ako. "Waitress!" kusa nitong tawag sa babae 'di kalayuan. He's sitting right in front of Rui. And if the waitress comes... oh sh*t he's about to check it isn't he?

I need to distract him a bit more, "Let's stay for a bit hmm? Listen to what they have to say and then continue with our plans later?" I started to talk to him. His eyes were fixed at mine, but I could see fear and uncertainty. Nagsisimula na rin ang panginginig ng kamay niya at pagpapawis nito. They should not see him this way. Mabibigyan lang sila lalo ng dahilan para i-black mail siya.

When he started to nod as a respond to me, I pulled his hand holding mine and have it rest on my thigh. Kita ko na bahagya siyang nagulat sa ginawa ko. And instead of him noticing the waitress standing right beside him, he focused on his hand touching my thigh over my long dress. I could see him ask me "What are you doing?" with just the way he looks. Mukhang nagustuhan naman niya ang ginawa ko, bakit siya namumula nang gan'yan kalala? Dahan-dahan pa siyang napapapikit kasabay ng pag-iling para itago ang pag ngisi niya.

Seems like my research all night did not go to waste. Tama nga si Mr. Shawn. Kung dumating na sa pagkakataon na bibigay na siya, kailangan ko lang siyang I-distract gamit ang sarili ko. I did not expect this to work. He told me to maybe hug him or hold him closely to me, but why did a perverted act like that not only make him more distracted, but also smile like an idiot?

Oh gosh, Sir. Rui is a naughty guy? Pretty sure this is what the people from that R rated film Mr. Shawn made me watch does. He's into that? I need to ask him about this later, maybe this way he would be easier to help.

"So, magtatawanan nalang ba tayo rito?" putol ng tita niya sa pagtatawanan namin ni Sir Rui sa sarili naming mundo. Huh, she's mad because he's acting like a normal happy individual? What a b*tch, I have to stop her.

"Uhm, is there anything you want to say Miss Anje? Sorry, may pinag- uusapan po ba kayo? Hindi ko narinig, itong si Rui kasi," sinadya kong artehan ang tono ng boses ko at marahang hinampas ang balikat ni Rui.

"Miss Leyla, right?" tawag sa akin ni Mr. Arturo habang iniimon ang bagong gawa niyang black coffee. Hmm, I see, he's the total opposite of his son.

"Yes sir?"

"How much did my son pay you?"

"Starting wage palang po ako, bagong pasok palang kasi. Almost two months?" I casually said. Pagkatapos kong magsalita ay biglaang nagtawanan ang dalawa. But I don't understand why? What's so funny?

Anje took a sip of her coffee and crossed her arms, "So you admit. You were hired by him to act as his girlfriend huh? Let me tell you, when you told me that it's all natural, you had me for a second."

"I'm sorry?" I asked. Ano raw? Hindi ko naiintindihan kung ano ang iniisip nila.

Rui sighed. I was about to talk to keep him from answering. Ayaw ko naman na marinig nila ang pangaba sa boses niya. But I was wrong.

"You got it all wrong, I know what you are thinking. But Leyla's a girl and if you're thinking that you could still hold my condition against me, it's not going to work," he confidently said in a straight face. His voice sounded so firm and powerful. But as he talks... he kept on brushing his warm palm up and down my thigh. Maybe this is his way of distracting himself? I mean... it worked, I guess.

"What's with all these gender thingy questions? Do I have to show you my government I.D. or birth certificate?" I tried to joke around. Pero si Sir Rui lang ang natawa.

"They were just shocked that they couldn't hold me or my mom against our will right now," that moment, he looked at me seriously, full of sincerity. He's somehow thanking me with his eyes. So I gave him a smile and a hopeful nod. Ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa kamay niyang nandoon pa rin sa may hita ko. This feels so warm, a feeling that tickles my heart, I like it. A lot.

"She already admitted to working for you. No, you can't fool us!" pasigaw na sabi ni Mr. Arturo.

"Oh yeah I work for him. I'm his new secretary, after Mr. Albert left the country. Is that not what you mean?" I asked. Mukhang hindi 'yon ang inaasahan nila dahil lalong nagdilim ang paningin ng dalawa.

"But- your mother-"

"Right, you know she's been enjoying her vacation with her amigas in Guam. She did not meet Leyla yet. Thanks for reminding me, I will for sure tell her right away."

Anger and fear is written all over Arturo and Anje's loser faces. Kitang-kita kung paano gumuho ang plano nila. Good, at least now Sir Rui will have one less problem.

Nakita ko ang abugado na paulit- ulit ang pagdungaw doon sa papeles na nasa lamesa. Is this what they wanted from him? Dali-dali ko itong binasa at inusisa.

Living together with his mother or making him marry a girl that they want him to marry? Sounds like a trap from any angle. Mukhang balak nilang huthutan talaga ng pera si Sir noong simula pa lang. This is so wrong. This is not what family is defined as.

"What kind of an agreement is this? Is this even legal to do? You're basically forcing Rui to an edge just for what? Money? That's so pathetic, are you that desperate?" I voiced out. I knew I hit a sore spot when his father almost slapped me across the table but he stopped himself. Anje almost started cursing at me but I just smirked.

"By the way, this line on the second page, "Failure to did this will means that-" come on Attorney Bobby, did you really write this one? Did that sound right to you? I highly doubt that." The lawyer snatched the paper as fast as he could. Kaagad niya itong binasa at kita sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala at biglaang tinignan si Anje na hindi makatingin ng diretso sa amin.

"I see, so Miss Anje wrote it and hired you just to supervise the signing? I don't think that's write. Plus the grammatical errors... really? Not to b*tch about it, but you know... so unprofessional. Grade level unprofessional, " pabulong ko pa na sabi.

Rui started to laugh with what I said. Seems like he enjoyed me being mean to the people that he despises the most. Finally I could feel that he calmed down.

"You want to go?" he asked. I nodded.

"Nice meeting you," I said as I wave goodbye. Sir Rui wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked towards the door. Pinapanood kami ng mga trabahador na halatang kinikilig habang pinapanood kaming dalawa. I even saw one that I think was sneaking a picture of the two of us, too bad I didn't have time to deal with her.

"Are you okay?" I asked once we're inside the car. Him sitting on the driver's seat.

"I-I think I am okay, and that's weird-"

"You did really well out there Sir, you did not have any attacks!" masaya kong sabi sa kan'ya.

"I thought I would get triggered. Lalo na noong dumating 'yong babaeng 'yon. Pero hindi ko inasahan na-"

I proudly winked when his eyes landed on me. Bilib na bilib siya at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin, "Sabi ko naman sa'yo Sir. 'Di ba simula pa lang, ang sabi ko I gotchu!"

"I gotchu," he laughed. "I remember that, during your interview."

"Yes-oh?"

"Hmm? Why?" tanong niya sa pagkabigla ko.

"Come here quick," hinatak ko siya palapit sa akin at ngayon ay nakatalikod siya sa dashboard habang malapit na nakaharap sa akin. Hawak niya pa ang balikat ko bilang suporta.

"Ley-Leyla?"

"Shush, tinitignan nila tayo mula sa pintuan, gan'yan ka lang," I whispered.

I felt his warm breath brush against my cheek, "Hmm, witty," he commented. "But I'm not a fan of fake acting," he said right before I felt something soft and warm touch my lips.e