Be My Wife

Chapter 4

“Good morning. Take your seat and eat.” Sabi nito kay Venice na hindi man lang nag-abalang tumingin sa kanya mula sa binabasa nitong newspaper. Umismid siya. Arogante!

Dumulog naman siya sa hapag at kumuha ng pagkain bago tumingin sa katulong.

“Kain na po manang.” Ngiti niya rito pero umiling ito.

“Sige lang iha at mamaya na lang kami nila Rico.”

Hindi na rin siya nag-abala at kumain na rin kahit ang totoo ay sobrang naaasiwa siya sa presensya ni Tyler. Natural dahil bahay niya ito.

“Napansin kong wala kang cellphone kaya binilhan kita.” Bigla itong nagsalita at ibinigay ang isang mamahaling cellphone sa kanya. iPHONE to ah. Ganito ang mga cellphone ng schoolmates niya noon.

“Wag na. Di na kailangan.” Sabi niya at siya naman ang hindi tumingin dito.

“Don’t be so hardheaded Venecia Panganiban. You won’t like me when I am pissed.” Hindi na lang siya umimik at kahit na naiinis ay kinuha niya ang box at inilagay sa katabing upuan.

“Rico, you’ll be driving my fiancé today. Be careful or else ikaw ang ipapalapa ko sa aso.” He instructed Rico and he just nodded with a grin on his face. Nasa loob pa si Venice at nagpapalit ng damit.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Wala po boss. Masaya lang.”

“Dahil sa bago mong iPAD?” Taas-kilay niyang sagot.

“Hindi po.”

“Eh ano. Wag mo sabihing nababading ka na at nagwa-gwapuhan ka sakin?”

“Naku di po. Masaya lang po kasi kasama ko si Ma’am Ecia ngayon.” Nahihiyang sabi nito.

“What the f**k, Rico! Gusto mo bang maghanap ng bagong trabaho?” Singhal niya dito at bigla naman itong napaatras.

“Boss joke lang po. Hindi po ako masaya. Si Lando po ang masaya.” Depensa naman nito.

“Don’t mess up with me, Rico.”

Napakamot na lang ito ng ulo at umiling.

“Alis na tayo, Rico.”

“Aye aye Ma’am.” Lumabas na ito ng penhouse at dumeretso sa lift pero pinigilan siya si Tyler.

“What?” tanong niya dito sa malamig na boses.

“Use your phone.”

“K.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“Are you insulting me?”

Yun lang at umalis na siya at naiwang nakatunganga si Tyler.

“Argh! This is bullshit.” Kanina pa bad trip si Tyler dahil sa pagiging sarcastic ni Venice sa kanya kung kaya’t lahat ng tao sa company niya ay nagpapanick dahil kanina pa siya bad mood. Araw-araw naman eh.

“Sorry po Sir. Gagawan na lang po naming ng paraan para maayos to.” Hinging-paumanhin sa kanya ng babaeng nasa mid 30s na.

“Natural! Or do you want me to settle that thing when in fact I am the boss here at empleyado ka lang! Empleyado lang kayong lahat! Get out!”

Umalis namang nakayuko ang babae umiyak pagkalabas ng CEO office.

“Anong nangyari Matilda?” Tanong ng isang empleyado sa kanya.

“Wala, okay lang.” sagot naman niya sabay punas sa mga luha niya.

“Napakawalangya talaga ni Sir Ford. Kung hindi lang Malaki ang sweldo ay matagal na akong umalis dito.

“Tama na. Ayusin na lang natin to.”

"Hindi eh. Simula ng siya ang nagtake-over dito sa kumpanya ng daddy niya ay parang araw-araw ay may lamay dito. Parang bawal pa ngang ngumiti eh."

"Sige na, tama na at baka marinig pa tayo."

Inis na inihagis niya ang mga papeles na kanina pa nasa mesa ng marinig niyang nagri-ring ang cellphone niya. "Hello? Yes. I am here in my office. Great because I need you." 

Kahit mainit ang ulo ay pinilit niyang kumalma.

"This is not a bad day after all." He grinned.

"Excuse me, Sir Ford, Ms. Ching is outside." My secretary informed me over the phone and I smiled widely.

"Let her in," I said and ended the call. "This is not a bad day after all." Tumayo ako at inayos ang tie ko.

"Hello baby!" Isang boses babae and narinig ko at maya-maya ay naramdaman ko ang ang mainit nitong katawan sa likod ko. Ahhh goodness!

I pushed the button on my table and heard a tick on the door. Door locked!

"Sorry for disturbing you. I am just too desperate to see you!" Pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya. I don't want to see her or anyone else. I just want fun. Pure fun at alam kong hindi siya aayaw kahit may lakad pa siya.

"No no baby. It's okay. Alam mo namang hindi kita matatanggihan eh." She said in her seductive voice and felt her tongue on my neck.

"Wait." I pushed her slowly and dialed my secretary outside. Isa pa to. Kung single lang sana at walang mga anak ay matagal ko nang pinatos ito. My secretary is so sexy and naïve that I want to devour her when she comes in my office but I am firm with my stand not to f**k someone who is already attached to someone. At hindi ko ugali ang manira ng buhay ng iba. "Carla, wag kang magpapasok na kahit sino, maliwanag?"

"Okay, sir." I know Carla is not that naïve not to think that I will have a session with this random girl. She knows me enough not to ask questions hereafter. Malaki rin ang sweldo ko sa kanya dahil she knows how to pacify my other women when I am busy inside.

"Ready?" This kitten asked me as soon as I put the phone down. I forgot her name pero ang alam ko ay Chin gang family name niya.

"I can't wait." I smiled at her and almost whim when I felt her below. "Damn s**t!"

Sobrang init na ang naramdaman ko. She is now playing with my thing. I can't believe how women forget their composure when having a session. Para bang nagta-transform sila into someone they are not just to please their partner. At kahit ayaw na ayaw ko sa mga ganitong klase babae ay sige pa rin ako. For the sake of this goddamn urge.

"Ah, you're so great, baby!" She whispered to my ears as soon as I stopped thrusting her from behind.

Hingal na hingal ako at gusto ko pa ng isang round when my personal phone rings.

"Rico calling.." Agad kong dinampot ang cellphone ko not worrying about me naked.

"Hot." Narinig ko pang sabi ni Ching but I just gestured her silence.

"Yes, Rico?" I said in a cold tone.

"Sir, excuse po. Pero pinapatanong ni Ma'am Venecia kung pwede raw po ba siyang magpaiwan dito at balikan na lang daw po bukas?"

"What? What is she thinking? No!" I immediately responded.

"No raw po ma'am." Narinig kong sabi ni Rico. Seems that she is just listening huh.

"Where the hell is Venice's phone?" Damn girl. Kay bago ng cellphone eh bakit si Rico pa ang pinatawag?

"Hindi po niya ginamit eh."

"I don't care! Just give her your f*****g phone." Sigaw ko sa kanya at nagulat si Ching sa inasal ko. Whatever.

"Hello." Sagot niya sa mahinag boses.

"What the hell are you thinking, Venecia?" I shouted at her. No way I will let her. Nakapangako na ako ng dinner with the family.

"Bakit ka ba nagagalit?" tanong niya. She sounds annoyed.

"Go home! Right now!"

"No way! Sino ka ba para utus-utusan ako?" She shouted and I felt humiliated once again. Bakit ba hindi natatakot ang babaeng to saken?

"Look, kung hindi ka uuwi ngayon din ay tatanggalan ko ng trabaho si Rico. Just choose, my love." I said in my serious tone.

"Don't do dare blackmail me!"

"And don't you dare use your stubborn mind when you are talking to me!"

"You're impossible!" She wailed. Damn it.

"I miss you, too, my love." I ended the call and called her on her number.

"What?" she sounds pissed. I smiled in success. No one can resist me. Not even you, Venecia.

"Go home or I'll forget about what we had agreed."

I ended the call and placed it on my table.

"So your new toy?" Ching asked me. I just raised a brow.

"What is it to you?" I said in a sarcastic way.

"What the f**k, Ford! You are my boyfriend!" She's beginning to be hysterical.

"Boyfriend my ass. You know that I won't tie myself into a relationship. So you better change and go."

"You can't do this to me, Ford."

"Trust me I can do this!"

Tumigil siya at akmang sasampalin ako when I stopped her.

"Don't you dare or I'm f*****g sure you will regret knowing me."

 "Carla," I called my secretary and she appeared immediately.

"Yes Sir?"

"Send this woman away. Immediately."

"You're such an ass, James!" Mariing sabi niya. Parang anytime ay iiyak na siya. I don't care anyway. I've made myself clear before that I don't do more than love. Hindi na ako kailanman maloloko ng salitang yan.

"Okay, Sir. Let's go, Ma'am."

"Isa ka pa. Get lost!" Sabi niya sa sekretarya ko. Napailing na lang ako. Such a behavior. Kaya ayokong matali at baka mas malala pa diyan ang masaksihan ko.

I went back to my table and sat at the CEO's chair and closed my eyes. Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang init ng katawan ko but it's much more tolerable than earlier. 

Binalikan ko ang mga papeles na kanina ay naiwanan ko. I carefully read all the details about this month's financial reports and even the head's accomplishment reports. I scanned through the tiniest detail because I don't want to miss a single transaction. Mahirap na at baka kung may ano nang kakaibang nangyayari sa kumpanya ni dad. Ako pa naman ang CEO. I can't afford putting my name in to shame.

"Hello, Buddy!" s**t! Para akong nabuhusan ng mainit na kape dahil sa nakita ko. 

"What are you doing here, Tyler?" Agad kong tanong habang tuwang-tuwa ang gago.

"Ganyan ka na ba ka-busy at kahit ang pagdalaw namin ay hindi pwede?" Napakunot ang noo ko. Ibig sabihin marami sila?

"Namin?" Tumayo ako and then I saw the gang grinning, some are holding paperbags na may nakasulat na Stabucks.

"Hello, Playboy!" 

"Yow, dude!"

"What the heck. Bakit hindi ninyo sinabi na pupunta kayo?" I punched them lightly nang makalapit ako. They are my clost friends. Minsan lang kaming magkita dahil lahat busy sa mga trabaho nila except Tyler who is now very busy with his family.

"Bakit, kung nagsabi ba kami about our plan ay hindi mo papatusin si Ching?" Oh s**t! Napaface-palm na lang ako sabay iling. 

"Dude, hindi ka pa rin nagbabago. You are the same womanizer that we knew years back." Justin Drew said. Ang pinakamatinik sa lahat pagdating sa babae. Naging pangalawa na lang ako when he met  Vanessa, ang babaeng nagpaiyak at nang-iwan sa kanya dahil sa kagaguhan niya. 

 "Bakit ikaw, Justin, okay na ba ang puso mo pagkatapos kang iwan ni Van?" Biglang nagbago ang timpla ng mukha niya at agad namang nagpagitna si Tyler. 

"James Tyler, stop it. Ayan na naman kayo!" Awat niya kasabay ng mahinang pagtawa. 

"Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, Justin. You're still the same, JD who always look like a chick when you hear the word Vanessa." Sabi ko sabay tap sa balikat niya. Agad naman niya akong sinikmurahan enough to make me hurt.

"s**t! Baka nakakalimutan mong nasa teritoryo kita?" I threw him death glare habang tumatawa lang ang iba.

"At baka nakakalimutan mong hindi pa dumarating si Karma sa buhay mo?" He said, grinning.

"Damn you. Takot si Karma sakin."

"Dahil ikakama mo?" Agad naman silang nagtawanan.

"Shut up, Jayden!"

"Okay okay, Mr. James Tyler Ford of Ford Companies!"

Agad kong pinaayos ang receiving room ko at doon kami naglagi. Mabuti na lang at agad kong natapos ang mga papeles na pipirmahan kanina. I missed these bastards. College pa lang ay kilala na namin ang isa't-isa. We're like brothers and we used to hang out na para bang kakatayin na kami kinabukasan. We always go to different bars almost everynight and hook up with different girls. We are definitely partners in crime.

 "How are you, James?" Tyler asked me. They call me James dahil na rin sa dalawa kaming Tyler.

"I'm fine. Single and always ready to make out." I said confidently and they all screamed na para bang nanalo sa lotto.

"That's my boy!" Nag-appear pa si Jayden at Justin sabay inom ng Cali.

"Next time bro, pag pumunta kami dito, please tell the guards not to check anymore our bags. Ayun at naiwan sa baba ang beers." Ungot ni Jayden.

Mahigpit na ipinagbawal ko ang pagdala ng firearms at alcoholic drink sa lahat ng businesses ko except restaurants na may wines at iba-ibang drinks. I even made it as a policy and whoever insist to come inside na may dalang alcoholic drinks ay mananagot.

Napatawa na lang ako. "Let's just hang out okay. Sa Bar ko. Libre ko." Sagot ko.

"Yun oh. At kahit hindi ka mag-offer ay doon naman talaga kami maglalagi. There are so many big butts out there ya know." Sa wakas sumagot na rin si Lance na kanina pa parang tuod.

"Don't mind him, James. Nag-away lang ng girlfriend kaya ganyan. Eh parang hindi iyak ng iyak kanina."

"You're such a d**k, Altamira."

"I'm not gay, Ford. Kahit patunayan ko pa yan sayo mamaya sa bar mo." He said baostfully.

"Ah ganun ba, okay teka lang." Tyler got her phone and dialed something. "Hello, Rina? Sabi ni Lance na-------" 

"What the hell are you doing?" Agad na nakuha ni Lance ang cellphone ni Tyler at mukhang takot na takot. "Damn you." Agad niya itong tiningnan ang he let out a deep sigh. 

Tawa ng tawa naman si Tyler dahil sa nakitang reaksiyon nito. "Chill bro. It was just a prank."

"Prank yourself. Siguraduhin mo lang kung hindi ay I will kill you using a needle." He gave his phone pero hindi pa rin mawala sa mukha nito ang pagkakunot. I am just looking at them with drifting thoughts.

"Under sa girlfriend pre?" Jayden asked.

"Itanong mo yan sakin pag nakakita ka na ng babaeng mamahalin." Lance said sincerely at hindi ko mapigilan ang maubo. Mamahalin? 

"Kailan ka pa natutong magmahal? Wala sa bokabularyo mo yan noong college ha?"

"Trust me, you will swallow all your words about not having a girlfriend or not doing romance the moment that you will meet the right girl for you. Ask Tyler."

I felt like I was poured by thousands of tons of sand dahil sa sinabi niya. No way! What he said was not cheesy at all. It was gross! Like who the hell is he trying t scare? Me? Ni wala nga kahit sa preface ang salitang love eh. Not until I met her but she was a slut. Stupid w***e. Sana hindi ko na lang siya nakilala. 

"Shit." Sabay pa kaming sumagot except Tyler who is now busy drinking his Cali pero agad namang nag-agree.

"I agree to that. Living witness here." He raised his right hand and smiled. What a gay bunch of friends.

Riiinnnngggg...

Agad akong umayos and then grabbed my phone on the table when I heard it rings.

Venice calling..

Agad na napakunot ang noo ng mga barkada ko the moment they saw the name on the screen. I forgot to tell you that they are nosy.

"Who is that?" Tyler asked.

"None of your business," I said and answered the phone. They just looked at me with grins in their faces.

"Hello." 

"Hello Sir?" Napakunot ang noo ko. This is not Venice. The voice clearly says na lalaki ang sumagot.

"What the hell. Who are you?" I said in a firm voice.

"Sir si Rico po ito." Agad na sagot nito. Why on earth he is using Venice's phone? Napakatigas talaga ng ulo ng babaeng yun.

"What the f**k, Rico. Why are you using Venice's phone?"

"Sorry po. Nag-CR lang po muna siya. Andito po kami sa isang convenience store sa malapit sa building niyo at inutusan po niya akong tumawag sa inyo." I sighed in frustration. s**t. 

"At bakit raw?" I tried to sound calm.

"Pwede raw po ba kaming kumain muna bago umuwi? Gutom na raw po siya eh. Ayaw niya naman po kayong magalit kapag matagal kaming nakauwi."

"Damn! Dumeretso na kayo sa bahay. Magpaluto na lang kayo kay Manang. Understand?"

"Pero Si--"

"Sino ba ang boss saming dalawa, Rico? Do what I say and don't f*****g use her phone again!" Yun lang at pinutol ko na ang tawag.

I am about to put my phone back in my pocket when I saw all of them looking at me with curiosity.

"What?" I asked.

"Who's that girl?"

"At bakit may, "diretso na sa bahay."

"At bakit may, "don't f*****g use her phone again?"

"Sabay pagalit na end call?"

Damn. What will I say?

"And don't f*****g think that you can hide that thing from us, James. You know us very well. More than you know yourself." Tyler said and laughed.

"Tumigil kayo. There's nothing going on about me." I said defensively.

"We are not asking about yourself. We are asking about your thing about that girl?" Justin said.

"Is she wild in bed?" Jayden happily exclaimed.

"Shut up, Jay!" I dismissed him and he shut up.

"Sabihin mo na kasi. Maaasahan kami, bro." Tyler convinced me. It's not that I don't trust them. Pinagkakatiwalaan ko silang lahat but I think it's just too early to tell them about my plans.

"Go!" Lance supported Tyler.

In the end napilit nila akong sabihin ang lahat. 

"Don't you think it's unfair?" Tyler asked me.

"It's not. I will pay here and I will give her the lot."

"But it's not about the money or the lot. Paano siya?" 

"Anong paano siya, Tyler?"

"What if she will fall for you?" Jayden asked and Lance nodded.

"I've made myself clear that I don't do love. That's bullshit."

"Just forget about her, James. Move on. Antagal na nun."

"Stop mentioning that thing, Lance. That fucker."

"Fine."

"Sana siya na ang katapat mo, James." Justin joked and I just shook my head.

"No way. Maghihiwalay rin kami after 8 months." I am very confident na magtatagumpay ako sa mga plano ko. I f*****g need my wealth. Afterall, I've worked so hard for these.

"James, magda-dalawang oras na kaming andito. We better go." Justin stood up tap my shoulder.

"Thanks for visiting."

"And for delaying your works?" Lance joked and I laughed. 

Riiiinnnggg...

"Wait," I said and answered the phone without checking the caller.

"We're here at your place." Narinig kong sabi ni Venice and I sighed. Good thing she's home. I need to discuss a lot of things about this f*****g marriage.

"Good thing. Uuwi na ko. See you."

"Hmmm.. Yan pala ang sinasabi mong hindi ka tatablan ha. Let's see." Tyler said and they finally went out.

"Trust me I won't." Pabahol na sabi ko and then the door shut.

"Carla, I will go home now. Take care of the things here." I said to my secretary at sumakay na rin sa elevator.