Chapter 3 Stubborn (Yuri’s POV)

AGE RANGE between twenty-two and twenty-five, middle class with stable job, and single—these are the list of women Paul and Fred prepared for me. Anim na taon na ang lumipas mula nang ihayag sa debut ko ang huling habilin na iniwan para sa akin ng adopted father ko na si Alfonso. The condition is effective until I turned twenty-eight. It was said that if I didn’t comply, all of his wealth will be bestowed and divided to Milady’s sons.

I have no intention of doing this. But for some reason, in the whole month, AJ’s face was flashing nonstop whenever my mind is empty. Or should I say, she made it empty so she could fill it with her face?

What am I even saying?

But if I were to marry a girl, I want someone who is simple and easy to get along with. Gusto ko rin ang hindi maarte sa mga bagay-bagay at malumanay lang sa pagsasalita kahit na galit. Well, wala naman akong balak na mang-away. I will cherish my wife—if I find one.

Isa-isa kong tiningnan ang mga profile ng mga babae sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

“It’s a long list,” reklamo ko.

They are beautiful at their age, and are in the peak of their elegance. Halatang piling-pili ng dalawa ang mga dalaga sa listahan—malaporselanang balat, matangos na ilong, mapulang labi, halos lahat ay tila kandidata sa Miss U dahil sa angking ganda at talento. Not to mention their curves and body measurements.

“Master, you have to date those ladies. Malay mo, may pag-asa ka pa na mapalapit sa babae.”

Kinuha ni Paul ang isang larawan at pinakita sa akin.

She is an IT graduate and currently working in one of the biggest telecommunication company in the country. Disente namang tingnan at tila hindi maghahabol kung sakaling magkagipitan.

“Mica Sandoval, let’s start with her.”

Kinuha ko iyon sa kanya at pinagmasdan.

“Did you interview all these women?” nag-aalalang tanong ko.

Pakiramdam ko, nagmumukha kaming stalker o scammer na naghahanap ng bibiktimahin na mga babae.

“O-Of course!” labas sa ilong na sagot ni Paul.

I knew it. I should stop now. I can already imagine that they just picked random profiles, and Paul, with his stalking skills, come to a handy.

“Galing iyan sa dating sites,” saad ni Fred at inilapag sa harap ko ang dark chocolate flavored chiffon cake at hot chocolate drink.

Binigyan niya rin ng snacks at iced tea si Paul, saka naupo sa tabi ng anak.

“We follow human laws, Yuri. You don’t have to worry about feeling perverted. Act like a master, that is all that matters,” Fred continued.

Paul clapped after. “So as to how you will act during dinner dates, I prepared some lessons for you,” he said and winked. “Of course, I don’t need such things, they are all for a beginner like you.”

I balled my hands into fist. Kahit gusto ko nang paulanan ng suntok ang pagmumukha ni Paul, nagtimpi ako. He has a point, I never had a girlfriend. Ang huli kong pakikipag-usap sa babae, nauwi sa matinding lagnat at pagsusuka.

Hindi rin. That AJ is something. Baka nga hindi siya babae kaya wala akong maramdaman na paghalukay sa sikmura ko nang makausap ko siya.

“Master, are you ok? Tulala ka na naman,” nag-aalalang tanong ni Paul.

I shrugged. “When are we going to start?”

“We need to practice first.”

I KNEW FROM the start that everything will be a joke when it comes to Paul, lalo na kapag sinasabayan siya ng tatay niya sa kalokohan.

Wearing a cap-sleeved red dress, red ankle boots, and blonde wig, Paul walked out of the front door and head straight to the garden. Nag-set up kami ng candlelight dinner dito sa fountain, may mga fairy lights pa sa palibot ng fountain, ang iba ay nakasabit sa mga halaman na unti-unti nang namamatay.

“Why me?!” Irritation was written on Paul’s face, though things like these are no longer a question.

Everything in this household is weird with us—three grown-up men—living together.

Si Fred ay nakaporma bilang waiter ng isang restaurant, at isa-isa niyang binubuksan ang mga nasa mesa. Hindi naman halatang sineseryoso niya ang role.

“Only you can do this, unless you want to see me in that outfit.”

I frowned. I will lose my appetite if I try to imagine it.

I might as well try to be serious about this practice.

Nakasuot pa man din ako ng tuxedo, nakasuklay nang maayos ang makapal na buhok ko, at nagpabango rin ako—ayon sa lesson na binigay sa akin ni Paul.

I filled my lungs with air, and took a quick shot of Paul.

“You look great.” Pilit kong nilabas ang mga salitang iyon sa bibig ko.

Inalalayan ko pa si Paul na makaupo. I need to nail the character of a gentleman dating for the first time.

“Delete that shȋt from your phone, Master.”

“Let’s enjoy the night, Miss?” tanong ko na hindi pinapansin ang nauna niyang sinabi.

“Paulina.”

“So, how do you do, Paulina?”

“I’m doing great.”

“That’s good to hear. What is your work?”

“I’m the assistant of the CEO’s Secretary.”

“How much do you earn?”

Paul glared at me as if I did awful. Marahas niya ring tinanggal ang suot na wig. Tumayo siya at malakas na hinampas ang mesa.

“Anong pinanood mong sample? Bakit parang naghahanap ka ng bubuhay sa iyo, hindi ng mapapangasawa?”

“You should have kept the wig. You look like a decent human in that,” I said full of sarcasm.

“This guy—“

Narinig na lang namin ang mahinang tawa ni Fred sa gilid na tila natutuwa sa napapanood.

“Alright, that’s enough. Kumain na tayo.” Yaya niya pa at naupo na rin sa mesa. “It’s good to have this once in a while.”

“Tsk!” Padabog na naupo si Paul, hindi alintana na nakasuot pa siya ng dress.

“This won’t do,” sabi ko at sinimulan na rin ang pagkain.

“I agree. Practicing with Paul is not a good idea. You have to talk to the real deal.”

And so we begun the operation search for a wife. Two weeks passed after we started the blind dates, I encountered different types of women.

“You’re handsome and all, but you don’t know how to treat a woman!”

“Creepy!”

“What the heck?!”

“You’re my type, shall go to the hotel after dinner?”

“I wonder how you will do in bed…”

And an hour dealing with them was draining my energy that may cost a day of my life. I was bed-ridden for almost a week now.

Matapos ang dalawang linggo ng pakikipag-usap sa babae, inatake ako ng allergies ko na nauwi pa sa matinding lagnat. Namumula na rin ang buong katawan ko, pati na ang pilat sa likod ko ay tila mga bagong sugat—nagtutubig at namamaga. Hindi ako makahiga nang maayos at nakaaapekto iyon sa pagtulog ko.

Naapektuhan din ang pagkain ko dahil wala akong gana, dumagdag pa ang mental shock mula sa mga sinabi ng mga babaeng iyon.

Kinailangan ko pang mag-file ng isang buwan na leave sa trabaho, at hinayaan na si Paul ang umako ng mga naiwan ko.

At ngayon nga ay narito si Dr. Tatad, ang personal physician ko.

“This is not good!” the doctor exclaimed. “Fred, alam mo na ang lagay ng pasyente ko sa harap ng babae. Why did you force it to this extent? Hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang makakagamot sa kanya so refrain yourselves from exposing him to danger. Who knows, he might die!”

I don’t why I am being stubborn, but I can’t let it end here.