Kabanata 2

“Did I hear it right? You want me to marry YOU?" Kumurap nang ilang beses si Lia. Nasa bisig pa rin niya si Leon.

“Yes para matigil na ang pangungulit sa akin ni lola. I need someone who can marry me and I thought, it will be good if you become that someone. Lola loves a young woman in white uniform with a stethoscope on her shoulders. You will definitely surpass her standards an—”

"Wait. Stop talking.” Marahang ibinaba ni Lia si Leon. Natulala siya ng ilang minuto. "I can't believe this is happening to me. I thought it only happens on tv. After being buried, now, some stranger is offering me a flash marriage,” she murmured.

Umupo nang maayos si Leon sa sahig at tumingin nang diretso sa mga mata ni Lia. "Ayaw mo ba? If you have conditions, just tell me. I'm a billionaire and I don't mind spending a fortune with my lady. I—”

“Shut. Your. Mouth, old man.” Windang na windang na si Lia sa mga nangyayari. Pansamantala niyang nakalimutan ang kaniyang ama dahil sa sinabi ng lalaki.

"I'm not that old. Mas bata ka lang sa akin ng pitong taon,” natatawang sabi ni Leon. Huminga siya nang malalim. ‘I think, I need to use that CARD.’

"Look, old man, I'm in a hurry. Just. Just find someone who’s hungry for money and a flash marriage. I'm not a gold digger bitch who loves unlimited spending using her sugar daddy’s money. I am more than that. So if you don't mind, I'm having my way out. As I have said, I need to do something.” Tatayo na sana si Lia nang biglang hinawakan ni Leon ang kaniyang kamay.

"Let me go, old man,” Lia said in a serious tone.

"Not that fast.” Dahan-dahang tumayo si Leon kasabay ng pag-alalay niya kay Lia. "Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung bakit kilala kita?”

Kumunot ang noo ni Lia. "Oh yes. Bakit mo nga pala ako kilala? Stalker ba kita?” masungit na sambit niya.

Natawa si Leon. Namewang siya at saka muling tinitigan ang babae nang mata sa mata. “I heard my niece betrayed you."

Umawang ang bibig ni Lia. ‘Is he talking about Owen? No way! Nasa 60s na ang kinatatakutang uncle ni Owen. This guy is younger and fitter and groomed than that old guy!’

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Leon. “Cheating behind your back with your adopted sister, one week before your wedding, is unethical and fuckér than fúck. That kid really pissed me off and pissed me even more when I learned how he mistreated a beautiful and skilled woman like you. He obviously picked trash over a diamond. Now, if you want to get bac—”

“Let's go to the city hall after I'm done with my thing, my ex-fiance's uncle. I will marry you but…”

‘So, she has some conditions,’ Leon thought. Ngumiti siya. "Go ahead. Tell me your conditions." He crossed his arms.

“Okay and oh, we need to sign a contract. Deal?" nanghahamong turan ni Lia.

“Okay. Deal. Tara na sa city hall," mabilis na sambit ni Leon.

“Wait. Before I marry you, p'wede bang puntahan ko muna si daddy? I also need to save him from my sister's evil plan," ani Lia.

"Sige walang problema. Anything for my wifey." Kinindatan ni Leon si Lia. Natawa naman siya nang simangutan siya nito.

"Oo nga pala, regarding our contract marriage, we don't need to love each other, right? We just need to pretend that we are in love in front of your grandmother. May I add, I don't want to be known as your wife in public. Gusto ko munang kumilos ng ako lang ang nasa harapan. Sa likod lang muna kita. Don't worry, ipapakilala rin naman kita sa pamangkin mo bilang asawa ko sa tamang panahon. I have plans against them. Lastly, don't interfere with my life. I value privacy," litanya ni Lia matapos niyang ilatag ang mga kondisyones niya kay Leon.

"Sounds good but, you don't mention anything about money and..."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Lia. "And?"

Ngumuso si Leon. "Bagay na ginagawa ng mag-asawa kapag sila lang dalawa. Kalimitan ay sa gabi ni---" Naudlot ang sasabihin niya nang agad na sumabat si Lia.

"No séx. I value my purity more than anything. I respect myself and my future husband. I mean, the one whom I will marry out of love and not out of something else. And regarding money, I already told you that I don't need it. I can earn it myself." Nag-iwas ng tingin si Lia matapos niyang sabihin ang mga iyon.

“As expected from an independent woman. Okay, fine. Let's put all of your conditions into papers. I'll tell you my conditions before we sign the contract." Mabilis na hinagip ni Leon ang isang kamay ni Lia. "It's nice to become your contracted husband, Miss Lia Reed."

Namula ang mga pisngi ni Lia sa hindi niya mawaring kadahilanan. Mabilis siyang bumitiw sa kamay ni Leon pero laking gulat niya nang bigla siya nitong binuhat.

"Let me carry you to my car. Hindi pa lubusang magaling ang mga sugat mo at halatang nanghihina ka pa."

Aangal pa sana si Lia pero mas pinili na lang niyang tumahimik kaysa masayang ang laway niya. Alam din naman niyang wala siyang magagawa sa isang makapangyarihan at nakakatakot na family head ng mga Ashton.

Napangiti si Leon habang nakatingin sa ilang na mukha ni Lia. ‘I can't believe that the woman who caught my attention is now going to marry me. Contracted or not, marriage is a marriage. You assholé! Shame on you for wasting this kind of woman.’

Habang binabaybay ni Leon ang daan patungo sa parking lot, habang buhat-buhat siya, ipinikit ni Lia ang kaniyang mga mata. Ayaw niyang magtama na naman ang mga mata nila. Isa pa, nakakaramdam siya ng pagkailang dito.

‘Owen Ashton, this is the beginning of your nightmares. You and Kiana, I will never let you live in peace and happiness. Pagsisisihan niyo ang lahat ng mga ginawa niyo sa akin at sa pamilya ko. Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi kayo humihimàs ng rehas. I will take everything away from you like how you took everything away from me,' sigaw ng isip ni Lia.