CHAPTER 1

“What the fuck is the meaning of this, Emman?” I shouted angrily when I saw my dearest boyfriend kissing another woman outside his condo.

He looked at me lazily. Nakuha pang ngumiti sa akin nung babae. Saan niya kaya kinukuha ang kakapalan ng mukha niya? Ni hindi man lang nahiya?

“Let's break up, Amelia,” walang buhay na sabi nito.

After three fucking years?

Dinalaw ko siya sa condo niya ng walang pasabi tapos ito ang madadatnan ko? May kalampungan siyang ibang babae?

Sampal sa magkabilang pisngi ang inabot ni Emman sa akin bago ako umalis sa harapan nila. Hinding-hindi ako maghahabol sa ganong klaseng lalaki.

Pagod na pagod ako dahil galing pa akong ospital. I just want to rest in his arms that's why I decided to visit him. Stress lang pala ang inabot ko sa kanya.

On my way back to the hospital, the doctor called. I just heard the most devastating news, my grandmother needs to have a surgery. My heart sank.

Saan ako kukuha ng pera?

I quickly walked to the doctor's office to talk to him.

“Good morning, Dr. Benitez,” bati ko sa kanya.

“Amelia, please have a seat,” she said, glancing at me briefly before returning her attention to the papers on his desk. I sat across from him. Mabilis na ang tibok ng puso ko.

“Dear, I’ll get straight to the point, okay?” her voice was gentle but firm. My breath caught in my throat. Ang malaking problema ko dito ay alam kong malaking pera ang kakailanganin ko. Hirap na hirap na nga akong maghanap ng pera pambayad namin dito sa bills. Halos paubos na ang mga inipon kong pera habang nagtatrabaho ako.

“Your grandmother needs surgery. She has an atrial septal defect, or ASD. It’s a hole between the upper chambers of her heart. It’s been causing her some strain.” Tumigil ito sa pagsasalita at tiningnan ako nang mariin. “And it’s… getting worse.” I was stunned by what I heard. Umawang lang ang aking labi at hindi ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya.

As Dr. Benitez continued to explain other things, I couldn’t understand it anymore.

I left his office feeling completely numb, my mind is still racing, trying to make sense of everything. My tears started to fall the moment I was alone in the bathroom. Ngayon lang bumuhos lahat ng emosyon ko na kanina ko pa pinipigilan sa loob ng office ni Dr. Benitez. Where am I going to find the money for my Lola’s surgery?

I reached out to everyone na pwedeng magpahiram sa akin ng pera. Dr. Benitez said that Lola’s surgery needed to happen as soon as possible. I felt like I was going insane. Kung saan-saan na ako nakikihiram ng pera. I sold everything we owned, even the smallest things. I even sold my jewelry which is very important to me. Pero hindi pa rin iyon sapat. Kulang pa rin.

Only one person came to my mind. I hadn’t seen him in ages. Kailangan kong lunukin ang hiya ko dahil buhay ng lola ko ang nakasalalay dito. Nagpasiya akong puntahan siya sa bahay niya.

The maid recognized me, which was a relief because I was quickly shown inside. My heart was pounding as I stepped inside his house. Madalas ako rito nung bata pa ako, sinasama ako ni papa kapag nakikipag-inuman siya sa kumpare niya. I stopped coming back here when my mom and dad passed away.

“Hintayin n’yo lang po siya, ha? Nasa taas pa si sir at naliligo.” Nakangiti akong tumango sa kanya. Mas pinili kong maagang pumunta rito dahil alam kong may trabaho rin ang pakay ko.

A maid brought me a glass of orange juice as I waited for him to go down. The house was beautiful, malaki na ang pinagbago simula nang huli kong punta rito. Everything was sleek and stylish, all modern lines and a calming white and brown color scheme. Ang kanilang sofa na inuupuan ko ay kulay brown din. Sa gilid ng mataas na hagdan ay makikita mo ang nag- iisang litrato niya na nakadikit sa pader. Wala siyang kangiti-ngiti, kahit ang mga mata niya ay walang emosyon sa litrato. Nagsusumigaw iyon ng kapangyarihan. There is an aura of confidence in that picture of him.

I straightened my back when I saw him coming down the stairs. He didn’t notice me because he is fixing his wrist watch.

The first thing you notice is his eyes, deep, dark, and captivating. His dark hair, slightly wet, refined and strong jawline, and the hint of stubble adds a touch of danger. He is undeniably handsome, I can’t deny that. His clothes are expensive, partially unbuttoned revealing his tanned skin. Forty years old ba ‘to?

My jaw dropped, kulang na lang tumulo ang laway ko. It had been so long since I last saw him, eight or maybe nine years? I felt a sudden rush of something… so intense. Hindi ko maiwas ang mga mata ko sa kanya at sinundan ko lang siya ng titig hanggang sa makababa na siya.

Aligaga akong tumayo. Nalanghap ng aking ilong ang mamahalin nitong pabango.

“Good morning, N-ninong,” I stammered. Bakit kinakabahan ako ngayon?

“Amelia? What are you doing here?” he asked. Ramdam ko ang gulat niya sa pagpunta ko.

“I need your help, Ninong,” diretsong sabi ko. Ayaw ko ng magpaligoy- ligoy pa. Tinuro niya ang sofa sa likuran ko at sumenyas sa aking maupo ako. Magkaharap kaming nakaupo sa kanilang pang- isahang sofa.

“Si Lola Myra po kasi ay nasa ospital ngayon. May surgery po siya at wala akong perang ibabayad. Kailangan ko po ng tulong n’yo.” Pinagsiklop ko ang aking daliri sa kandungan ko at bahagyang yumuko.

“You need my help, but I also need your help, Amelia,” Inayos ko ang aking pagkakaupo at kunot-noo siyang tiningnan. Lumunok ako ng ilang beses. Tutulong ako kung ano ang maitutulong ko sa kanya.

“I need to convince this person to invest in my company. But he’ll only do it in a condition that I will get married first.” Walang asawa ang ninong ko. Masyado yata siyang naging focus sa pagdadami ng pera niya kaya nakalimutan ng mag- asawa.

“I’d be happy to help you, if you’d consider marrying me.”