The Surrogate Mother

Chapter 6- The Search Begins

Raphael POV

"Architect Castellares dumating na po ang construction supplies from our supplier. Do you want to check it for yourself?" It's my secretary.

I put down the papers I am reading. "Yes, I will come down after this. Thank you Dave " I scanned the paper once more before I stood up.

Since our marriage, I have been managing our Architecture Firm and their Engineering Company. I always make sure that all the supplies are of the best quality. Especially now that we have a big project.

Ilang araw na din pala ako hindi umuuwi sa bahay after that night. I used to go home to get some clothes, but now I just shop at the mall. I don't want to hurt her. I also get annoyed with myself when I make her cry. She was like a sister to me before we got married but I have to be mean to her because if I do good things it will be difficult for her to forget me.

I went down to check the supplies. All is well except for one thing. The arrived supplies are incomplete. "We can't start the project if that's what we have." I hissed at my employees. We found out that our supplier is providing materials to different companies. There is always a shortage of our supplies, which is the reason why there are delays in projects. We have an exclusive contract with them so clearly, that is a breach of contract. "Inform the legal team about this. We will have a meeting tomorrow" I told Dave and returned to my office.

I massage my temple as soon as I sit on my swivel chair. Kung tutuusin problema ito ng Engineering Company nila Ivah, but why i am stressing myself too much?

'Because you aim to return the glory of their company so that you'll feel less guilty after the divorce ' sabi ng utak ko. I guess that's right.

I've never met her dad before but I heard that their Engineering Company was doing well 10 years ago. I remember on my first day here, I changed and fixed a lot. I don't even know why Mom got interested in this company. She said the company will be given to me if I can save it from bankruptcy and when I marry her but I have no intention of owning it. I will return it to them after we get divorced.

I just returned my focus to work. After I finished reading the details of the condominium building lot, I started to lay out the design. I worked first in the basement1 and basement2 as parking lots. Next is the ground floor which is more crucial because some amenities are located here, such as the gym, mini-mall, and function hall. Also the lobby.

Tumunog ang alarm ng wall clock ko. 5pm na pala. I was too focused so I didn't notice the time. I opened the drawer para ilagay sana ang layout na hindi pa tapos pero isang layout ng bahay ang tumambad sa akin. Kinuha ko ito bago iligpit ang layout ng condominium.

"Ito yung dream house ko para satin."I said to myself. I made this layout when I was still in college after she said yes. I plan to propose to her after she graduates and when she passes the board exam. Then I will start building this house and raise our children here.

Pero hanggang pangarap nalang sya. SA NGAYON. It's time for me to find her and fulfill this dream that I started. I left the office and met Dave who was also on his way to my office.

"Architect Castellares may ipapagawa pa po ba kayo?" Tanong nya sa akin.

"Wala na Dave. You can go home" I turned and was about to leave when I suddenly remembered something. "By the way Dave, can you look for a lot for me? Approximately 300sq. meter or bigger than that." I tapped him on the shoulder three times and left.

I went to my car and started the engine. Pupuntahan ko yung mansion kung saan ko sya hinahatid sundo dati nung kami pa. Dun ako mag uumpisa sa pag hahanap sa kanya.

It took more or less 45 minutes before I arrived at their mansion. I got out of the car and looked at the gate to see if anyone was inside. I saw a woman in a maid's uniform. I rang the doorbell to get her attention.

"Sino po hanap nila?" She asked whe she opened the gate

"Magandang araw po. Andyan po ba si Andrea?" I peeked inside the gate just in case I could see her.

"Wala po akong amo na Andrea ang pangalan sir." I frowned and looked around because I might have gone to the wrong place. But I'm definitely sure ito yung bahay kung saan ko sya sinusundo at hinahatid.

"Miss hindi po ako pwede magkamali. Ito yung bahay ng hinahanap ko. Andrea Manuel po."

"Ah yung mga Manuel po ba? Naibenta na po nila ang mansion na ito nung nakaraang taon. Hindi na po sila ang may ari nito"

"Alam nyo po ba kung saan sila lumipat?"

"Hindi po eh. Wala na po kaming balita sa kanila." I thanked her and turned back. My shoulders slumped as I walked back to my car. Next, I went to Castellares International School. I went straight to the registrar's office where the files of students and former students were kept.

"Good evening sir, ano pong maitutulong ko?" She stopped on what she was doing and assisted me.

"Is Andrea Charlotte A. Manuel still enrolled here?"

"Sya po yung scholar diba? Wala na po sya dito sir. Hindi nya na po natuloy ang 4th year nya dahil natanggal po sya sa scholar."

"What? How did that happened?" Galit na tanong ko.

"Naalisan po sya ng scholarship because of cheating" She got closer to me and whispered. "Pero balita ko po sinet up lang sya, nilagyan ng kodigo ang bag nya during finals. After that incident wala na pong school ang tumanggap sakanya." If this is true, I have a suspicion as to who did it. "Simula po nung umalis kayo palagi ko syang nakikitang umiiyak. Dumame ang mga nambubully sa kanya. Lalo na po si Stacy, binalik po kasi sya ng mommy nyo dito. Pati nadin yung mga babaeng may gusto sa inyo, sinasabi nilang nilandi kayo ni Andrea." I clenched my fist in anger. What I did was useless all along. I regretted my decision even more, if I hadn't left her maybe she wouldn't have suffered.

I signaled her to continue what she was talking about "Hanggang sa isang araw nakausap ko po sya. Hindi ko po makakalimutan ang itsura nya. Halatang sobrang stress at namayat din sya. Hindi na din daw sya makakapag aral talaga dahil may sakit ang nanay nya kaya kailangan nya mag trabaho"

"Pwede ko ba makita ang records nya?" maybe she has a contact # there that I can call..

"Sandali lang po sir." Binalikan nya ang computer at nag type. Shortly after, ay inabot nya sakin ang hard copy ng details ni Andrea. Kinuha ko yun at umalis na. Binilin ko na wag nya sasabihin sa iba na nagpunta ako dito dahil ayokong makarating kay mommy na hinahanap ko si Andrea. Idunno but i have a feeling that once my mom knows about this she will do something bad..

Pagpasok ko palang sa sasakyan sinubukan ko agad tawagan ang numero sa details ni Andrea.

'the number you have dialed is out of coverage area. Please try your call later'

Naka ilang ulit ako ng dial pero puro operator ang nadidinig ko. Inis kong naibato ang phone ko sa upuan ng passenger seat. San pa ba kita hahanapin?

Kinabukasan

Nagiseng ako sa sunod sunod na doorbell dito sa condo unit ko. Tinignan ko ang oras sa bedside table. 7am palang ng umaga sino naman kaya ang pupunta ng ganito kaaga?

Halos pikit mata pa kong nagtungo sa pintuan para tignan kung sino mang nang iistorbo sa pahinga ko.

"What took you so long?" My eyes widened when I realized whose voice it was

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Bakit hindi ba ako welcome dito anak?"

"That's not what I mean." I opened the door widely to give way. "Come in," I said. She went straight to the living room and sat like a queen on the single sofa. I picked up the robe I passed

"At bakit hindi ka na umuuwi sa asawa mo?" Deretsyang tanong nya. Kahit kailan napaka prangka.

"Do I really need to answer that question? Mom, you know the real score between me and her."

"I know you don't love her but can you just give her a chance? Just like me and your dad. We also don't love each other at first but look at us now, we're madly in love. That's why you and your ate are existing."

"Not all fixed marriages can end up like yours" tumayo na ako and excuses myself. I left mom there, I know she feels at home even if I don't say it. I just prepared to go to work.

Medyo masakit ang ulo ko dahil pagka galing sa CIS nagtungo pa ako sa bar para mag inom. Hindi ko na nga alam kung paano pa ko nakapag maneho at nakauwi. Basta ang alam ko lang gusto ko mag inom at mag isip ng paraan kung paano ko sya mahahanap.

Natapos ako magbihis at mag ayos, pagka labas ko ng kwarto nandun pa si mommy nanonood ng tv habang sumisimsim ng red wine.

"How rude of you to leave me here." I ignored her and continued walking. We might argue kapag nag stay pa ko dito "stop right there." She said with full authority. I turned to face her. Her right hand is holding a paper. "This document says, you will be disinherited if you pursue a divorce."

"You're kidding."

"Sorry to burst your bubbles but i am serious." Tumayo sya at nilapag ang papel na hawak nya sa center table. Lumakad sya papunta sa harap ko. "I leave it here, please take a look when you have time. "

Before she even left I asked her questions. "Why did you do that to her?" She doesn't look surprised. She seems to know what I am talking about. Lalong lumalakas ang hinala kong sya ang may pakana ng pagkaka alis ni Andrea sa CIS.

"I did what's right anak. Tinanggal ko lang sya sa picture. Hindi kayo magiging masaya ni Ivah with her being around."

"Pero hindi nyo dapat sya tinanggalan ng scholarship." I couldn't stop screaming out of anger. "Her only dream is to study and become an Engineer. She endured all the bullies to protect her scholarship, she studied during the daytime and worked at night to cover all her educational expenses, she stayed up late and worked hard to maintain her good grades. Tapos isasabotahe nyo lang sya. Do you know because of that wala ng campus ang tumanggap saknya?" My tears kept falling, I was hurt by all her suffering. She wanted nothing more than to fulfill her dreams.

"It's not my fault if she can't afford the tuition fee." Napailing ako sa sinabi nya. Is this my mom? It's like I'm facing a different person now. "Stop crying and be a man. She's not worth your tears. I'm doing everything for you because you're too blinded by your love for her. Ivah, she's the one who can help you in business. Their company might be on the edge of bankruptcy, but it still has potential. Many investors are willing to invest again because their reputation has been good in the past decade. When their Engineering Company grows, your Architecture Firm will rise also. I do everything on purpose and that's all for you." Ayun ang huli nyang sinabi bago ko nadinig ang tunog ng takong nya papalayo.

If this is all for my sake bakit hindi nyo nalang ako hayaan maging masaya sa piling nya. Negosyo lang mahalaga sa inyo, not my feelings

Ivah POV

"Don't worry iha, my son won't divorce you anymore" Mommy Lian, Raphael's mom, said over a phone call. "Ginawan ko na ng paraan." He may not divorce me now, but what if they find out that I wouldn't be pregnant anymore? Maybe mommy Lian herself made a way for us to separate.

Thanks Mom, but you don't have to do this. That's just how husbands and wives are, right?, Nagkakaron ng tampuhan. For sure one of these days he'll come home." But who am I fooling? Myself or the person I'm talking to? Alam ko namang hindi ito tampuhan lang, sadyang ayaw nya lang sakin.

"He is looking for her." I stood up in my swivel chair. No! "The guard told me he went to CIS and looked for her details. I don't know his plan but we don't want them to cross paths, right? Ngayon palang na hirap kang makuha sya, paano pa kung matagpuan nya ang babaeng yun? Lalo syang hindi magkaka interest sayo iha." I got offended but everything she said was true. "But don't worry. I still think of a way. All I want you to do is relax and wait for your husband to come home and please work on getting pregnant. I already want a grandchild."

Kung alam nyo lang. Hindi ko na mabibigay ang bagay na yan.

Raphael's mom hung up. It's lunchtime but I still have a lot of work piled up. I called my secretary on the intercom and told her to buy me lunch, I'll eat here in my office instead.

Maganda ang takbo ng negosyo at may mga nagsusulputan na din na gustong mag invest. Since we have an additional budget, magagawa ko na yung naisip kong pet friendly park at playground at kung may sosobra pa sa budget ay magbubukas pa kami ng food court.

My food arrived. I invited Claire to eat with me because I know she can't leave her job either. She is very dedicated to her work. She's not taking a break if I am here because she said I might need help so she can go to me right away. I admire this kind of employee.

Speaking of employees, I have not seen the woman I saw at the department store last time. I took the folder full of resumes and looked for hers. I immediately saw it, so she's Andrea Charlotte A. Manuel. What a lovely name!

"Claire please prepare me a casual cloth. I'll walk around the mall again later after I finish what I'm doing." I prefer to go around with a simple look. I want to know my employees better. I want to see things that I can't see inside the office. Wala pang nakakakita sakin na empleyado tanging mga head of department palang and ofcouse si Claire.

Natapos ang trabaho at nakapag palit na ako ng damit. "Claire, you can leave once you're done with it. Take care."

As I did, I just walked around the area. There are more people now compared to the first time I went around here. We added decorations to make it a selfie spot for those who go for a walk here.

I went to the department store to look for the girl. If I remember it right her name is Andrea. Malayo palang ako nakikita ko na syang pinapagalitan ng isang babae. "Ano ka ba naman Andrea, kabilin bilinan ko sayo ito ang irerecommend mo sa mga bumili? Bakit ba ang hilig mo silang alokan ng mga mumurahin na damit eh kokonti lang ang makukuha nateng kumisyon dyan."

"Pasensya na po, naghahanap po kasi sila ng kakasya sa budget nila. Hindi ko po iniisip ang kumisyon, ang mahalaga lang po sakin ay ma satisfy ang mga customer."

"Aba't. Sumasagot ka pa. Ang sabihin mo hindi ka nag iisip." Dinikit dikit pa nya ang hintuturo nya sa sintindo ni Andrea. "Ayusin mo yang trabaho mo" Andrea lowered her head and the woman left. I approached her. She quickly changed her expression from being sad to smiling when she saw me.

"Welcome po ma'am." Her smile was so sweet as if she had never been scolded seconds ago. I didn't answer her but I smiled back at her. I just walked through the racks there and looked at the clothes. I felt that she was just following me. I don't look at the price when I go shopping so I didn't notice last time that the ones on display are expensive. The same goes for the other rack, the price of the clothes ranges from 3,000 to 5,000.

"Miss talaga bang ang mamahal ng mga damit nyo dito?"

"Meron din po kaming mga mura, ano po bang style ang hanap nyo? Ikukuha ko po kayo ng pagpipilian."

"Saan mo kukunin?"

"Sa stock room po."

I nodded and she headed into the stock room. I told her to bring me clothes that she thought would suit me. I remembered the dress she offered me. My husband complimented me when I wore it. I was thinking that maybe that's the style of clothing he wants for a woman.

Bumalik syang halos matakpan na ang muka nya sa dami ng kinuha nya. Napatawa ako ng kaonti. Nilapag nya yun lahat sa isang sofa. "Dami mo namang kinuha." Natatawang sabi ko habang papalapit ako sakanya.

"Sabi nyo po kasi kunin ko kung anong sa tingin ko ang babagay sa inyo. Sa ganda nyo pong yan halos lahat ng nasa stock room ay bagay sa inyo kaso hindi ko po madala lahat." My smile widened because of what she said. "Ayan! Mas maganda po kayo pag nakangiti." Pahabol nyang sabi.

"Ang galing mo pala mag sales talk noh?" Balik na biro ko sakanya. I looked closely at the clothes she brought, particularly the price. Its prices are far cheaper compared to those on display, but the design and quality are not far apart. I think the clothes Andrea brought out are even better.

"Ma'am isukat nyo po ito." Inabot nya sakin ang isang violet formal dress na 3/4 ang sleeve. Ruffled ang collar nito na white tulle fabric. Kinuha ko iyon at sinuot sa fitting room. Lumabas ako ng fitting room at tinignan ang sarili sa salamin. "Wow ma'am, sobrang bagay sa inyo." Mas maganda pala ang dress kapag nakasuot. Fitted ito at mataas ang split sa kanang hita. It can make you look sexy in a decent way.

"Sige kukunin ko na to, pwedeng ipili mo pa ko ng mga lima?" Tinignan ko ang dress at 750 ang price. Malayo sa price na naka display sa mga rack. Hindi ko na sinukat ang mga nabili ko at sinabihan ko nalang syang ibalot na yun.

"Andrea!" I heard the woman's voice earlier calling her, it's almost a whisper but you could hear her anger. She suddenly pulled Andrea and talked to her alone. I noticed that Andrea was sad and seemed to cry when they returned. One by one, she unwrapped the dresses that Andrea had prepared.

"Excuse me?" Nakataas na kilay kong puna sakanya ."I'm going to pay for that."

"Sorry ma'am pero sold na po ito lahat. Dito na lang po kayo pumili sa mga naka display." She's referring to the dresses on the rack. Yung mga over price.

"Ma'am sorry po," Nawala ang mga ngiti sa muka nya, I'm sure that this woman said something to Andrea to make her react like this.

"It's fine. Diba may kumisyon kayo dito pag nakakabenta?" Tumango sya. "Bigyan mo ako ng 10 dresses or terno. Ikaw na bahala basta yung bagay sa akin."

"Yes maam. Naku sobrang thank you po." Para syang nabuhayan sa sinabi ko.

Habang inihahanda ni Andrea ang mga bibilin ko napatingin ako sa sinasabi nilang stock room. Something's off and I have to find it.