Instant Marriage: The CEO's Bride

"Do you want an iced drink or something hot?" Mr. Tomo, the assistant of the tagged hottest CEO of the nation asked. He turned to look at his boss who's currently in daze, staring at the newly opened branch of their convenience store right next door. The two of them have been sneakily watching how their newest employees handle the first day through the clear glass window. This has been their usual routine. To spy and check if their business is headed to success, also to check if they should pick out new employees. Jaero Aoki Aghero, the CEO of Ikoa Corporation, thought of this many years ago. Just when he started to do big things such as approving new branch locations. This is what he does to see if his decisions went right. Usually, he does this for a while. But after being completely pro at his job, he only does it at the opening day, just for good measures and as an unspoken ritual of him and his dear assistant too. "I'd like something hot. A cappuccino would be nice," Jae answered, his eyes still glued on the clear windows. "Got it," the man in his thirties answered. "Please wait a second, Mr. Jaero," he said. "Cassie, 'wag kang masyadong masigla. Baka mahalata niya, nakakahiya!" the CEO's attention was caught by a woman's voice. "Ang guwapo! Tignan mo naman kasi," hindi masyadong narinig ni Jae kung ano ang sinabi ng isang babae na kasama no'ng tinitignan niya. He was surprised to see the two girls turn quiet immediately after he turned to directly look at them. They avoided his gazes and focused on their laptops with serious looks on their faces. Jae watched the cute girl with space buns, pout and hit her friend, Cassie, on the arm, using her elbow. She then grabbed the tall, clear, plastic cup and sipped on her extremely bright green drink. The look on her face after shows how much she hated it. But still, she continued to sip it. "How is it going?" his assistant sat across from him, he failed to notice. "Is the new place popping?" "Popping?" Jae raised his brow and repeated. "What did you just ask?" "Is the place popping?" ulit ng lalaki. "Hindi mo ba alam 'yon? Ganoon ang uso ngayon. Kung gusto mong itanong kung patok ba, gano'n. Mas magandang pakinggan, 'di ba?" dagdag niya pa. With his boss not answering and staring at him as if he's some sort of relic that appeared out of nowhere, he decided to repeat himself. "So?" he asked while smiling brightly. "Is it popping?" "Please stop trying to use words like that ever again," Jaero said. "You know how much I hate looking for new employees." "Huh?" "Ah! Oh my God! Irene, I'm so sorry!" naputol ang usapan nila nang marinig nila ang malakas na sigaw ng babae sa kabilang table. Pati ang waitress na hindi pa nakakalayo sa lamesa nila ay napatakbo pabalik upang tulungan sila. Cassie is yelling like she was the one being scorched by the hot coffee on Irene's lap. She hurriedly grab the whole box of tissue and proceeded to wipe on Irene's thigh. "Cassie, okay lang. Promise," pilit na pinapakalma ng dalaga ang kaibigan kahit na kitang- kita naman ang pagppipigil niya ng luha dahil sa sakit. "I'm fine, Cassie. I promise, okay? Mabuti nalang din at hindi pa tayo naka- uniform. 'Wag ka ng masyadong mag alala. Pupunta lang ako sa banyo, ha?" Mr. Tomo shook his head, "Kawawa naman 'yong babae," bulong niya. "Siguradong lapnos ang balat no'n. Nako po, iniisip ko pa lang kung gaano kainit, nangingilabot na ako kaagad!" "Hmm," tipid na sagot ni Jae habang nakatuon ang buong atensyon sa daanan patungo roon sa may banyo. Their drinks and snacks both came in. Tomo kept on yapping and yapping, but still, Jae's attention wasn't focused on him. "Narinig mo ba 'yong sinabi ko, Bayani?" mabilis na nawala ang maloko niyang ngiti nang mapansin niya na masama na ngayon ang tingin ni Jae sa kan'ya. Alam na alam talaga niya kung papaano asarin itong boss niya. Matagal na rin kasi silang magkaibigan, magsimula pa noong magkasama sila sa basketball team noong high school students pa sila. "I told you to stop calling me that," he hissed. "Also, repeat what you said. I heard none of it." "Does your ears shut completely as soon as I open my mouth or something? Cause this sure happen quite a lot, to be honest with you," Tomo crossed his arms and sighed. When the emotionless man nodded, all he could do is roll his eyes. "I said, you have ten blind dates scheduled for today. Are you ready to find your future bae?" Huminga nang malalim si Jaero, "I am looking for a wife. I need a wife, Arnold. Not a bae, whatever that is." "Ang hina naman nito," bulong ni Tomo. "Puwede ba, 'wag mo na rin akong tawagin sa first name ko? Nakakasukang pakinggan, ang tanda!" As if he was proving a point, Jae sat back, crossed his arms and gave him the most irritating smirk in the world. "Stop smirking!" Tomo grunted. "Ipapaalala ko lang sa'yo na malapit ka ng mawalan ng kumpanya. Give it a little more time, and Mr. Zada will for sure give the ownership to your stepfather. Tignan lang natin kung makakaya mo pa na ngumisi nang gan'yan!" "Irene! Kumusta? Sobrang lala ba ng paso mo?" nawala na naman sa utak ni Jaero ang kausap niya dahil napalingon na naman ito roon sa babaeng kakabalik lang sa kabilang lamesa. "Okay lang naman," sagot ng babae na may malaking ngiti. "She cried," Jae whispered. He even bit his lips as he watched Irene put on a weak smile. "Why can't she just say that she's not okay? Why does she have to pretend?" "Ha? Anong sabi mo?" puno pa ng brownies ang bunganga ni Tomo nang mapatanong siya. "Pretend? As in pretend wife? 'Yon ba? Hindi ko kasi masyadong narinig. Kaya lang alam mo, imposible 'yon. Alam na alam ng lolo mo kung papaano ka mag isip. Aalamin niya kung nagkukunwari lang kayo." "What the f*ck are you on?" "Bakit? Aren't we talking about your future bride? Paano ka makakapili kung sa thirty na babaeng nasa listahan, wala kang kahit na isang nagustuhan? Dagdag pa 'yong mga mamaya naka- schedule." Jae sighed, "They are all too plain and boring. I don't see myself wanting to be with any of them. I always want to leave each date while we're one minute in. That says a lot," he said. "Hindi mo man lang nga sinusubukan na makipag- usap man lang sa kanila." "I already know my decision once I heard them say one line. What's wrong with that? I am just decisive." "Hala, mali yata 'tong ginawa ko- Oh my gosh! Irene, sorry. Sinimulan ko palang gawin 'yong part mo sa report! Paano 'to? Ang bilis pa naman ng oras, mas lalo ko pang pinatagal ang trabaho natin!" Kitang- kita ni Jaero kung papaano nanlaki ang maamong mga mata ni Irene. She softly sighed and said, "Okay lang." For some reason, every single time she says that line, Jaero could find himself a little bit troubled. He didn't like how hard she tries to hide that she's feeling bad. It's making him want to lash out for her. "Cassie, ito pa oh, kunin mo na itong mga nakuha kong information para makadagdag d'yan sa part na sinusulat mo. Ako na ang bahala sa ibang mga pointers na hindi pa natin nagagawan. Don't worry, I think I can finish it. No problem," Irene assured her dear friend. "Matatapos ba natin? We have to present this at one, nangangalahati pa lang tayo." "Oo naman," sagot niya. "Sorry ha? Hindi ko rin masyadong natutukan kagabi kasi ang dami ko ring ginagawa. Kaya sisiguraduhin ko na matapos 'to lahat." "She's about to cry again," napalingon si Tomo dahil sa bulong ni Jaero. "Ano ba ang sinasabi mo d'yan? At saan ka nakatingin?" "Tomo," tawag sa kan'ya ni Jae. "You can cancel all of my blind dates from now on." "Ha? Nababaliw ka na ba? Paano ka magkakaroon ng asawa sa lagay na 'yan? Hindi kita pakakasalan hoy!" "Stupid!" Jae leaned back once again. He grinned while watching Irene's eyes burning while doing her report. "Talk to that girl, I want to marry her." Tomo spit out the cookie he's chewing, "Nababaliw ka na nga! Sino 'yon? 'Yong napaso?" The CEO nodded and said, "I want to marry her."