The Billionaire I Married By Mistake [Filipino]

7. CONSIDER

|Katherine|

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed as soon as I was able to process what Noel had just told me. Talagang napatayo pa ako sa kinauupuan ko. “What do you mean I need to get married? And why do I have to get married just to save the company!”

Noel’s shoulders sagged when he saw my reaction. He then leaned against his seat, as if he had lost his strength for her reaction. He smiled at me wearily.

“Iyan ang paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi sa mga nakalipas na linggo, Miss Kat. Simula nang nagkaproblema ang kompanya anim na buwan na ang nakakaraan, sinubukang maghanap ng maayos na paraan si Sir Anton para maibalik sa dati ang kompanya. Pero sa mga problema na kinakaharap nito, unti-unti nang nawawalan ng tiwala ang mga board members at isa-isa nang nag w-withdraw ng kanilang mga shares. Ang iilang natitira na lang ay halos ang mga kaibigan ng lolo mo, Miss Kat,” mahabang paliwanag niya.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. My body knees started wobbling at the truth I was hearing from Noel. Alam kung totoo ang sinasabi niya dahil…bakit pa siya magsisinungaling sa akin, hindi ba? Napaupo akong muli sa kinauupuan ko, natutulala habang nagpapatuloy si Noel sa kanyang sinasabi.

“May nagsuhestiyon kay sir Anton na makipag-merge sa ibang kompanya na siyang makakatulong sa inyong kompanya. Sir Anton considered that. He found an investor pero ang suhestiyon nito para ma-close and deal sa pagitan nila, ay ang ipakasal ang anak nitong lalaki sa ‘yo, Miss Kat,”

I exhaled a deep breath at the last thing he had said. The thought of marriage horrified me.

“Did grandpa…really a-agree to that?” my voice cracked as I asked that.

Noel heaved a deep breath. “Oo, Miss Kat. Nasabi niya ang lahat ng mga ito sa akin. At plano niya rin itong sabihin sa’yo kapag tuluyan ka nang umuwi dito. Kaya, nangahas na akong sabihin sa’yo ang mga plano niya sa nangyayari sa kompanyan ngayon. At para na rin…mapag-isipan mo ito,”

Frustration bubbled up inside me. The hope, conviction and eagerness to help our company has instantly disappeared as soon as I heard grandpa’s plans from Noel. I suddenly felt so…disappointed in him.

Bakit kailangan niya akong ipakasal sa iba para lang masalba ang kompanya namin? Can’t he…find another investor who doesn't offer any marriage proposal to seal their deal? For sure, marami diyan!

Hindi ko kailangang magpakasal para lang sa anak ng magiging business partner niya para lang masalba ang kompanya namin! Marami pang ibang paraan!

I can’t…accept this!

Muli akong tumayo sa kinauupuan. Napatingin si Noel sa akin dahil doon. I gave him an apologetic look before I left my seat. I glanced at my grandfather who was still unconscious. Biglang gusto kong umiyak dahil sa inis.

Ayokong…magpakasal.

Yes, I may be a tease to men, or sometimes, I flirt back with them. But I still believe in the sanctity of marriage. Masaya ang mga magulang ko sa relasyon nila. I experienced their love for me. Also…granpa loves grandma so dearly. Palagi niyang kinukwento sa akin ‘yon dati pa man. Kaya, kahit na mapaglaro ako, naghahangad pa rin ako na maikasal sa taong mahal ko.

I bit my lower lip. I suddenly feel so frustrated.

Nilingon kong muli si Noel. His attention was focused on me, waiting for what I had to say. Mukhang inaasahan niya na ring…aalis ako para makapag-isip-isip.

“Please make sure that the nurses look out for grandpa, Noel. I need to be away…for a few days to think this out,” sambit ko.

Noel nodded his head with understanding. “Huwag kang mag-alala, Miss Kat. Ako na muna ang bahala kay sir Anton. Gawin mo ang gusto mong gawin sa ngayon. Babalitaan kita sa kalagayan ng lolo mo,”

I genuinely said my gratitude to him before I left my father’s room.

Talagang kailangan kong pag-isipan ang sinabi ni Noel sa akin. Masyadong mabigat ang pagpapakasal para sa akin. Lalo pa sa lalaking…hindi ko kilala!

I need someone to talk to about this. I need someone’s opinion for this matter! Mababaliw ako kapag wala akong mapagsasabihan nito!

And so…I called my Giana, my best friend. Three rings and she immediately answered my call.

[“Hello, Kat! Finally, you called!”] she exclaimed. I can hear the worry in her voice. [“What happened? Nagpanic kami ng hindi ka nakadalo sa kasal. Then we saw the news! We tried reaching you out but your not answering our calls! Binisita ka din namin sa condo pero Manang Pasing said you might have come home to your province for what had happened to your grandfather. Kamusta ka? Si Lolo Anton? Are you alright? Do you want me to visit you there? I’ll file my leave right away!”] sunod-sunod niyang sabi.

I bit my lower lip. For some reason, I felt a bit fine knowing that someone is worried about me. Nagyong sinabi niya iyon, naiiyak din ako dahil sa nangyayari. First, my grandpa had a heart attack, our company is suffering. And then now, in order to save our company and lessen my grandpa’s burden, I need to get married!

Ang bigat sa pakiramdam kaya kailangan ko talaga ng kausap. Nakaka-frustrate na gusto ko na lang tumakbo at kalimutan lahat ng nangyayari.

But I also know that…I can’t run from this.

“Yes, I’m here in I-Iloilo.” may voice cracked and I heard her sharp inhale in return.

[“Do you want me there? Mag b-book agad ako ng ticket.”] she said.

I swallowed the lump on my throat. As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, at makita ang buwan sa langit, doon na ako muling…napa-hikbi.

Fvck. It was tears of frustration and guilt. At hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang pigilan ang mga luha ko.

“Giana…” I called her name as my voice trembled. I couldn’t tell her what I wanted to say. And in return, I heard her panic on the other line at agad nang nagdesisyon na luluwas siya ng manila papuntang Iloilo.

[“Wait for me there, Kat.”] she said. Agad niya ring in-end ang tawag.

Ilang segundo akong nakaupo sa labas ng entrance ng hospital bago ako naghanap ng taxi pauwi. It was a good thing that she let me borrow some money dahil hindi talaga ako makakaalis dito sa hospital ng walang…pera.

When I managed to find a cab, agad kong sinabi ang address ng bahay namin. It’s an hour drive from the city where my grandpa is admitted. As I leaned my head against the windows and looked at the scapes and lights of the city, everything suddenly felt nostalgic.

Hindi ko iyon nabigyan ng pansin kanina ng papunta sa hospital. Pero ngayong…pauwi na ako sa amin, hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapansin ang mga nagbago. It wasn’t the same in the past where there are only few buildings around. Ngayon, madami na ang nagsisi taasang mga buidling. It suddenly made me realize how fast the years had gone by. Marami na ang mga nagbago.

After an hour, naglalakad na ako patungo sa aming mansion. Seeing the large pillars of our mansion and its classical style. I looked at the corners of our garden and remembered my childhood. Agad kung iniwas ang tingin at naglakad papasok sa aming mansion.

“Mam Kat!” agad tumakbo ang mga kasambahay namin patungo sa akin. May ibang ay nagagalak na makita ako habang ang iba ay naiiyak.

“Mam Kat! Na miss ka namin! Ilang taon din ang lumipas!” naiiyak na sambit ni manang Lolit sa akin. I couldn’t help but stare at her. She already has gray streaks on her hair. My heart ached at the sight. Ilang taon na ba ang lumipas simula n’ong umalis ako dito sa amin?

It’s…more than a decade ago.

Isa-isa akong tinanong ng mga matagal na naming kasambahay. They even asked if I knew my grandfather’s situation. Of course I told them that it was the reason I went home. Matapos ang ilang sandali, ay nagpaalam na ako na magpapahinga.

Sinamahan ako ni Manang Lolit patungo sa aking…dating kuwarto sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay. Seeing the hallways that never changed, everything really felt nostalgic. Naalala ko bigla ang pagkakadapa ko sa mismong hallway na to matapos malaman ang…pagkawala ng mga magulang ko.

“Araw-Araw naming nililinis ang kuwarto mo kaya, pwede ka doong magpahinga,”

I smiled at her and whispered my thanks as soon as we arrived in front of my room. She gave me a small smile before she turned her back. Pumasok naman ako sa kuwarto ko pagkatapos n’on. And as soon as I turned on the lights and saw my room, wala ding halos pinagbago ang kuwarto.

I bit my lower lip and suddenly felt teary again and my heart ached for what was happening in my life. Nagalakad ako patungo sa kama ko at nahiga roon. I closed my eyes as put my arms over it to cover my eyes.

“Sana…panaginip lang ang lahat ng ‘to,”