3. The First Three Months

Tatlong buwan.

Tatlong buwan na mula nang pirmahan ko ang kontratang magpapanggap akong asawa ni Sebastian Monteverde.

At sa loob ng tatlong buwan na iyon, wala akong ibang ginawa kundi alamin ang buhay, ugali, at pamilya ng lalaking napilitan akong pakasalan. Hindi dahil interesado ako.

At least, iyon ang paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa sarili ko.

Kailangan ko lang malaman kung paano gagalaw sa mundo ni Sebastian. After all, hindi simpleng buhay ang pinasok ko.

Being Mrs. Monteverde meant attending business dinners, family gatherings, charity events, and other occasions where I had to smile beside a man who could barely smile at me in private. Pero habang mas marami akong nalalaman tungkol sa kaniya, mas napagtatanto kong hindi pala simpleng masungit na boss si Sebastian.

He had a very sad, exhausting, and unfair childhood. Anak siya sa labas. At imbes na tanggapin at alagaan siya ng sarili niyang pamilya, he was treated like a mistake.

His father's family never made him feel that he belonged. He grew up surrounded by people who had the same blood as him but never treated him like family.

They should have protected him. Instead, they broke him. Yan ang dahilan kung bakit siya ganto ngayon.

Nagtayo siya ng mga nagtataasang pader sa paligid niya na ni isa ay walang makaabot o makatibag sa kaniya. Habang iniisip ko iyon, hindi ko namalayang matagal na pala akong nakatingin sa kaniya.

Nasa dining room kami ngayon. Si Sebastian ay tahimik na kumakain habang si Lucas naman ay nasa high chair nito, abala sa pagkain. Or at least, sinusubukan niyang kumain.

"Mama, eat."

Naputol ang pagtitig ko kay Sebastian nang marinig ko ang boses ni Lucas.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Mama?" He pointed at my plate. "Eat na ikaw."

Napangiti ako. "Okay, baby." Nagpanggap akong hindi ko nakita ang tingin ni Sebastian at bumaling sa mga putaheng nasa harapan ko.

Pero nang ibalik ko ang tingin ko kay Sebastian, nakatingin pa rin pala siya sa akin.

His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Just take a picture, Thea."

"What?" Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Para may souvenir ka." 

I looked at him, still questioning. "Nang ano?" He leaned back against his chair.

"Ng mukha ko. I guarantee you, it I'll last."

Napairap ako.

"Di naman ako nakatitig sa'yo." Pagtanggi ko.

His smirk widened. "Really?"

Di ko siya pinansin at patuloy na lang kumain.

"I'm too handsome to handle, I get it." Umiling-iling siya habang nakangisi.

Napailing din ako.

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo." In this three months I learned to talk back. Asawa niya ako, might as well use it as my advantage.

"Thank you." Natawa pa siya.

"That's not a compliment." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Oh Coming from you? Definitely."

I rolled my eyes and he just smiled.

At doon na naman parang biglang tumalon ang puso ko.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang ilang segundo. Damn... Did he really smile?

I had seen Sebastian smile before ibang iba hindi kagaya ngayon. Hindi yung parang wala siyang pakialam sa buong mundo.

This smile was different.

Relaxed, natural and honestly, annoyingly attractive.

Mabilis kong inalis ang tingin ko hindi pwede itong nararamdaman ko.

Contractual marriage lang ito. I promised myself na walang feelings, walang attachment. Even a hint of crush, hindi pwede. 

"By the way." Naging seryoso ulit ang boses niya. "Get ready for a family event later."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Family event?"

He took another sip of his coffee. "Make sure you knew everything. First impression lasts."

Tumango ako.

"Sir." Tinaasan niya ako ng isang kilay. Oo nga pala dapat sanay na ako. Hindi na siya simpleng boss ko.

"I mean..." Huminga ako nang malalim. "Sebastian."

Bahagya siyang ngumiti. "Better."

I ignored him. "Can I ask something?" Tumango siya.

"Bakit kailangan mo ng legal custody ni Lucas?"

Napansin kong biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya.

He placed his glass down. "I need an heir. I don't want to get married with feelings involved."

"So when my half-brother and his mother died..." Tumigil siya sandali. "I needed Lucas as much as he needed me."

Napatingin siya sa bata. "He's family." His jaw tightened. "At hindi ko hahayaang mapunta sa mga sugapa na 'yon ang kompanyang pinaghirapan ng tatay ko."

I nodded slowly. I finally understood.

Kaya pala ganoon siya ka-overprotective kay Lucas. The little boy wasn't just his nephew. He was Sebastian's responsibility.

His family. Maybe the only family he had.

"I understand."

Tumayo ako. "I'll get dressed." I told him as I picked up Lucas's empty plate. "I'll do my best to pretend."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't pretend too much."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Why?"

"Cause you're my wife tonight." His voice was low and commanding. "Act like it."

Napakurap ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang uminit ang pisngi ko.

---

Pagdating namin sa party, agad kong naramdaman ang bigat ng mga matang nakatingin sa amin.

It was an extravagant family event.

Crystal chandeliers.

Expensive decorations.

Live music.

People dressed in designer clothes.

At sa gitna ng lahat ng iyon, nandoon kami.

I was wearing a stunning midnight-black halter gown adorned with delicate golden constellations and a crescent moon at my waist.

Simple but elegant. Hindi ko ikakaila na bumagay ito sa makeup ko. But despite the compliments I received, one thing made me conscious.

Sebastian's eyes.

Every time I glanced at him, nahuhuli ko siyang nakatingin sa akin.

Eventually, hindi ko na napigilang tanungin siya. "May dumi ba ako sa mukha?"

He looked at me.

"No." He paused. His eyes traveled over me before returning to my face. "You just look..."

I waited.

He suddenly swallowed.

"Stunning."

Napakurap ako. Agad siyang umiwas ng tingin.

Ramdam kong nag-init ang pisngi ko. Kailan pa siya naging vocal sa naiisip niya? Mababaliw na ata ako.

Throughout the night, hinayaan ko lang siyang makihalubilo sa mga bisita.

He introduced me to several people. And every single time he said—

"My wife."

May kakaibang pakiramdam na bumabalot sa dibdib ko.

Actually... It felt nice.

Hearing Sebastian Monteverde introduce me as his wife. Kahit alam kong pagpapanggap lang ang lahat.

---

Nang lumalim na ang gabi, napagtanto kong masarap din palang mapag-isa.

The music from the party became distant as I sat beside the swimming pool.

I needed air. I didn't know I needed this silence.

At higit sa lahat, kailangan kong ayusin ang isip ko. I was staring at the reflection of the lights on the water when a strange man suddenly approached.

"Stephen Monteverde." I saw him smiling as I looked up. "Sebastian's cousin." He offered his hand as if he is asking me to get up. "I mean, half cousin. You get it." His tone was mocking.

Tinitigan ko ang kamay niya ngunit hindi ko iyon tinanggap. Instead, I looked away.

He chuckled. "Drop that act." 

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Excuse me?"

"Alam ko namang pera lang ang habol mo sa kaniya."

My expression hardened. "That's none of your business."

He laughed. "How much did he give you?" I remained silent. He leaned closer while I'm trying to keep distance with this jerk.

"Tell me. How much did he give to a whore like—"

Hindi na niya natapos. Isang malakas na suntok ang tumama sa mukha niya.

Napasinghap ako. "Sebastian!"

Parang biglang nagliyab ang paligid. Sumulpot si Sebastian at sinuntok si Stephen.

"You son of a—" Gumanti si Stephen. Pilit ko silang pinaghihiwalay.

Nagsuntukan silang dalawa hanggang sa agad na dumating ang mga bouncer at security.

"Sir! Please!"

Hinawakan ng dalawang security guard si Sebastian. Pero inalis niya agad ang kamay ng mga ito. His eyes were burning with anger. "Don't you ever call my wife a whore!"

Nanahimik ang paligid. Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas nakakagulat.

Ang suntok niya... O ang paraan ng pagtawag niya sa akin bilang asawa niya.

Hinawakan niya ang braso ko. "Come." Hinigpitan niya ng bahagya ang hawak a braso ko.

"Sebastian—"

"Now." Hindi na ako nakipagtalo. 

Dinala niya ako sa isang private room. Pagkapasok namin, agad akong naghanap ng emergency kit.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng sofa. May maliit na sugat sa gilid ng labi niya. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya at dahan-dahang nilinis iyon.

"Bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" Tanong ko habang ginagamot ang sugat niya. Di siya umimik. "Dapat hindi ka na gumanti. Nasaktan ka tuloy." I carefully dabbed the wound. "Could've handled it myself."

"But you didn't." Tumingin siya sa akin. "And you don't get to decide when I defend you."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Pero hindi mo naman siya kailangang suntukin."

Inismiran niya lang ako. "He insulted you."

"Sebastian..." My gaze softened.

Mariin niya akong tinitigan. "He insulted my wife."

I froze.

Mabilis kong ibinalik ang tingin ko sa sugat niya. Pero bago ko pa maipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko, bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.

His fingers closed firmly around my wrist, not hurting me, but enough to stop me.

Tumingin siya sa akin. His eyes were intense. "Answer me first."

His gaze didn't leave mine.

"These past few days..." Lumunok siya. "You suddenly changed. Bakit parang hindi ka na umiiwas sa akin?"

I couldn't answer. His thumb moved slightly against my hand. "Why do you care if I'm hurt?"

My heart began pounding.

"Thea."

I looked at him.

His voice dropped into a whisper. "Are you falling in love with me?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. At sa isang iglap, parang nawala ang lahat ng tunog sa paligid.

Yan ang katanungang kinatatakutan kong sagutin.

And I didn't know how to lie to him even to myself anymore.