CHAPTER 4

“Yeah,” bulong ni Clyde. “Business.”

“Sir?” tanong ng abogado.

Clyde nag-clearing throat. “I’ll handle it. Just… prepare the paperwork. If I find someone, you do your job.”

“Understood,” sagot ng abogado. “And one more thing—about your son.”

Naging matalim ang tingin ni Clyde. “What about him?”

“Your grandfather’s investigators,” sabi ng abogado. “They left a note. They know. The will’s first condition, as stated, is to bring him back.”

Clyde napapikit. “I already plan to.”

“Good,” sabi ng abogado. “Call me tomorrow. We need a plan.”

Click.

Pagkababa ni Clyde ng phone, hindi agad siya humarap. Parang biglang bumigat ang hangin.

“Plan,” bulong niya. “I need a plan.”

Sa likod niya, may mahinang kaluskos.

Akala niya ay nakatulog na ang lasing na lasing na dalaga.

Pero nang lumingon siya, nakita niyang nakaupo na ito—nakabalot ng kumot, gulo ang buhok, nanginginig nang bahagya. Dilat ang mata, bagama’t halatang hilo pa.

Narinig niya.

“Marriage?” tanong ni Athena, mahina pero malinaw. “Kailangan mo… ng mapapangasawa?”

Nanigas si Clyde. “You were asleep.”

“Hindi,” sagot ni Athena. “Half-asleep lang. But I heard… everything.”

Clyde huminga nang malalim. “Look—”

“Pakasalan mo ako.”

Nabingi si Clyde sa bigat ng sinabi.

“…Excuse me?” napasabi siya.

Tumayo si Athena, pero muntik na naman matumba. Mabilis siyang nilapitan ni Clyde, pero umatras si Athena, nakataas ang kamay.

“Don’t— I can stand,” sabi niya, pilit.

“Athena—”

“Pakakasalan mo ako,” ulit niya, mas matapang. “Para matapos na ‘yang problema mo.”

Clyde tinitigan siya na parang nagbibiro. “Are you hearing yourself? You’re drunk.”

“Hindi na ako ganun ka-lasing ano ka ba,” sagot ni Athena, ipinipilit ang dignidad kahit nanginginig pa ang tuhod. “And I’m not joking.”

Clyde napatawa, pero walang itong humor. “Lady, you don’t even know me.”

“Alam ko, but I heard enough,” sagot ni Athena. “You need a wife. I need a husband.”

“Wow,” sabi ni Clyde at napailing. “That’s… romantic.”

“Hindi ‘to romance,” biglang seryosong sabi ni Athena. “Survival ‘to.”

Tumahimik si Clyde.

Sa unang pagkakataon, nakita niya sa mata ni Athena yung takot na hindi kayang itago ng kahit anong tapang.

“Why?” tanong niya, mas mahinahon. “Why do you need a husband?”

Lumunok si Athena. Halatang nahihiya, halatang galit din.

“Because my parents,” sabi niya, nanginginig ang boses, “they’re trying to marry me off.”

Clyde’s eyebrows shot up. “To who?”

“Sa matandang negosyante,” sagot ni Athena, mabilis lumabas ang luha na pilit niyang pinupunasan. “Kapalit ng utang ng kumpanya. Para masalba sila.”

“Jesus,” bulong ni Clyde.

“Exactly,” sabi ni Athena with bitter laugh. “So… if you need a wife… and I need a husband… then why not? Be practical, diba?”

Tumingin sa kanya si Clyde mula ulo hanggang paa—hindi para husgahan, kundi para unawain kung gaano siya kaseryoso.

“Okay,” dahan-dahan niyang sabi. “Let’s say… hypothetically, pumayag ako. Anong gusto mo?”

“Protection,” sagot ni Athena. “I need to get out of this situation. I need a marriage that my parents can’t break. Yung legal and as soon as possible.”

Clyde napasinghap. “And kapalit?”

“Help my family’s debt,” sabi ni Athena, diretso. “Not because I love them—” huminto siya, kumuyom ang kamay. “But because ayoko maging dahilan ng pagbagsak nila. Ayoko rin magmukhang… masamang anak sa mata ng mundo.”

Clyde tumawa nang mahina. “You’re kind. Too kind.”

“Don’t compliment me,” mabilis na sabat ni Athena. “I’m not kind. I’m desperate.”

Clyde naglakad papunta sa mini table, naupo sa silya, parang kailangan niyang humawak sa isang bagay para hindi tuluyang mabaliw.

“This is insane,” sabi niya.

Athena lumapit, pero nag-iwan ito ng distance. “Insane? Mas insane yung ipakasal ka sa matandang hindi mo kilala.”

Clyde sumandal. “You realize, if we do this… it’s not just paperwork. It’s my life. Reputation. Family.”

“Same,” sagot ni Athena. “It’s my life too.”

Tahimik ulit.

Tapos biglang nagtanong si Clyde, halatang nag-aassess: “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two,” sagot ni Athena, matigas ang boses. “Legal age, right?”

“Okay,” sagot ni Clyde, “Good.”

“Anong ibig sabihin mong good?” singhal ni Athena.

“Means at least I’m not committing a crime,” sagot ni Clyde using a dead serious tone. “Athena, I’m not that kind of guy.”

“Hindi rin ako,” sagot ni Athena.

Clyde napabuntong-hininga. “You’re doing this because you’re scared.”

“Yes,” amin ni Athena. “At ikaw? Hindi ka ba takot? You’re literally about to lose your inheritance.”

Napatigil si Clyde, Athen hit the bulls eye.

“Fine,” sabi ni Clyde. “Let’s talk terms. If you want a business marriage, then we do it clean.”

Athena tumango, mabilis. “Sige.”

Clyde nagtaas ng isang daliri. “First: this stays between us and our lawyer. No interviews. No social media drama. No leaking.”

Athena nagtaas din ng daliri. “Agreed.”

“Second,” dugtong ni Clyde. “You don’t touch my son’s situation.”

Nagulat naman si Athena. “May anak ka?”

Clyde nanigas. Tapos tumango. “Yeah. I have a kid.”

“Wait—” Athena blinked. “Akala ko… playboy ka.”

“Exactly why it’s a secret,” sagot ni Clyde. “I protect him. That’s non-negotiable.”

Tinitigan siya sandali ni Athena, tapos dahan-dahang tumango. “Okay. I… I won’t hurt your child.”

“Good,” sabi ni Clyde, mas lumambot ang boses. “Third… and pinaka-importante.”

Athena humigpit ang hawak sa kumot. “Ano?”

Clyde tumitig sa kanya, seryoso, walang biro.

“Don’t fall in love with me.”

Parang may sumampal kay Athena.

“Hah?” natawa siya, pero bitter. “Excuse me, sir? Feeling mo ang pogi mo?”

Clyde napangiti nang konti. “I’m serious.”

“Ako pa talaga?” Athena crossed her arms. “Hindi kaya ikaw ang mahuhulog sa’kin?”

Clyde nagtaas ng kilay. “Don’t get cocky.”

“Then don’t get cocky too,” balik ni Athena. Pero matapos ang ilang segundo, huminga siya nang malalim at tumango—parang pinapatay ang sariling pag-asa bago pa man mabuo. “Fine. No feelings. Pure contract.”

Clyde tumango. “Good.”

Athena nagtaas naman ng sariling kondisyon. “My turn.”

“Go.”

“Una,” sabi ni Athena, “you make it official fast. I need this before my parents finalize their deal.”

Clyde: “How fast?”

Athena: “This week.”