Chapter 3

Ysabelle’s POV

Our parents looked pleased, at kami naman ni Aldrich ay parehong nanginginig as we felt our toes touching under the table, trying to avoid our gaze. 

Dad officially started the discussion, “so we are gathered there to clearly discuss the terms and conditions of the contract and it will be signed by soon-to-be wedded couples, Ysabelle and Aldrich.”

I slightly bit my lower lip, slightly shocked once more as I heard that phrase soon-to-be wedded couples. 

Kahit nakayuko lang ako, nakikita ko si Aldrich na hindi maipinta ang mukha, hindi pa rin makapaniwala na ipagkakasundo siya ng kasal sa akin. Ano ba yan, hindi pa nga kami nakakarecover sa nangyari sa amin kagabi, pinatungan pa ng unexpected marriage deal. Parang gusto ko na lang mag-time machine at bumalik sa mga panahong masaya pa ako at hindi ko pa nakikilala ang asungot na ito. 

“The contract will expire when the time comes that your company goes back to its normal pace, that's why I thought of an idea to make a package deal in collaboration between your company and our company since we are also travel-related.” 

I sighed silently, realizing that we will be together until maging stable kumpanya nila. Meaning to say, this is not only good for 1 year or how many years or whatsoever. Kailangan ko rin siguro ng isang supply ng cetirizine dahil isa siya sa mga allergy ko.  

“Good thing, lumapit kami sa inyo and we thank you for your genuine help in order to save our company from loss,” yes, pasalamat kayo sa akin dahil ako na ang freebie ng inyong anak para maisalba ang problema niyo. Nice. 

“Another thing, the contract also states that the couple should act as one especially in public appearances, expecting that our companies are one of the highly demanding corporate industries in the Philippines. Maybe in some other time, they will be hailed as the power couple.” Power couple, my ass. Power rangers lang alam ko. 

“But also the couple should always remind themselves that there will be no personal entanglement with them. This is only a contract, not an eternal commitment.” Okay, that's what I like. 

“Hold up, so that means she's not allowed to fall in love, right?” I raised my eyebrow, thinking that he had an interest in asking on that part dahil parang naninigurado siya sa puntong ito. 

Before our parents answered his question, sumapaw na agad ako. “Yes, that includes you.” 

His lips parted, looking at me and just nodded. Mukhang nainsulto yata sa tono ng pananalita ko, pero bakit ba siya dapat mainsulto? Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo, tutal inaral ko na iyong kontrata noong nasa United Kingdom pa ako. 

“This time, let's ask our kids baka may angal sila sa pinagusapan natin. Ikaw, Ysa? Any insights?” mom asked me in a soft voice while smiling. As much as I want to back out, huli na ang lahat. Bakit pa ba ako aangal? Nakakahiya naman iyon sa puder nila Aldrich pag gumawa pa ako ng eskena.

“None so far,” I said in a bored tone and expression. Tumango naman siya at tumingin kay Aldrich, “ikaw, hijo?”

He whipped his hair backwards and sighed, “same goes with Ysabelle.” Hesos, gaya-gaya puto maya. 

Aldrich’s father smiled at us jokingly saying, “mukhang hindi tayo mahihirapan nito especially kilala na nila ang isa’t-isa tapos they look too good together. Hindi ko lang alam kung type ba ni Evan si Ysabelle pero darating din siguro ang panahon, depende na lang kung papayag kayong magkatuluyan sila.” 

Nabilaukan ako habang umiinom ng tubig dahil sa hindi ko inaasahang komento ng daddy ni Aldrich tungkol sa aming dalawa. Tapos ano? Magkatuluyan? Tito, red flag po anak niyo, iniwan ako sa ere. 

My mom concernedly asked, “Ysa, are you okay?” I sighed and nodded quickly while wiping my mouth because of the spill. Kita ko naman si Aldrich napahawak sa sentido niya. 

“Honey naman, wag mong pini-pressure ang mga bata, remember, no personal entanglements,” mapanuksong sabi ng mommy ni Aldrich at napangiti naman sila mommy at daddy. Aba, baka magbago isip ito at gawin kaming permanent couple. God, please help me. 

Minutes later, I thought of going out to take some fresh air because I felt like I'm suffocated with the atmosphere that surrounds me and also, facing him for a very long time disgusts me. 

Nagpasya akong magpaalam sa mga magulang ko, “excuse me, mom, dad, uhh…Labas lang po ako saglit, magpapahangin.” 

They absent-mindedly nodded though they were busy talking on the table and proceeded to walk outside. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay narinig kong nagpaalam din siya sa mga magulang niya upang lumabas so I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes as I headed outside the hall. 

“So you're my mysterious wife, huh? What a coincidence. Kaya pala you slept with me last night,” I heard him talking behind me. When I was shocked at his statement, I quickly turned around and looked at him in a mocking look ngunit hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko dahil ramdam kong namumula ang aking tenga. 

“Ano?! All over my dead body! Feeling mo naman papatulan talaga kita wholeheartedly.” He chuckled and stared at the floor for a moment, parang pinipilit niyang alalahanin ang nangyari sa amin kagabi. 

“Talaga ba? Eh bakit nagising tayong—” 

“Shut up!” Nilingon ko ang paligid dahil medyo napalakas ang aking boses, muntik pang umalingawngaw. 

Nilapitan ko siya habang nakapameywang upang kami lamang ang tanging makakarinig sa usapan namin. Alangang magsisigawan kami dito tapos super private pa ang usapan. 

“Paano ba ako napadpad sa apartment mo kagabi?” Dahil sa sobrang diring-diri ako sa nangyari sa akin ay hindi ko na mapigilang klaruhin ito ulit. Kailangan ko ng maliwanag na sagot dahil hindi ako makapaniwala, sobra ang pagkakalat ko. Kumusta na ang pagiging very demure, very cutesy? 

He didn't answer yet. Instead, he is looking at me with a big question mark on his face, para bang wala siyang ideya sa mga nangyari and he defensively spoke, “anong malay ko? Hindi ko nga alam na ikaw pala iyong nakatabi ko kanina— at bakit, bakit ba doon ka sa apartment ko natulog?”

“Probably because you brought me there para pagsamantalahan mo ako dahil sobrang lasing ako noon, hindi mo na lang aminin.” 

“Wala nga akong maalala, Ysa—”

“And don't you dare call me by my nickname, masakit sa tenga.” 

He sighed, “okay, Ysabelle. Wala akong maalala.” 

I scoffed, “as if paniniwalaan kita? And another thing, ang kapal naman ng mukha mong pumayag dito sa setup na ito.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Setup? What setup?”

I rolled my eyes and said, “this setup. This stupid fixed marriage.”

Nanlaki ang mata niya, dinepensahan ang sarili, “malay ko rin ba na ikaw pala ang pinagkakasundo sa akin ng mga magulang ko. Napapayag lang naman ako rito for the sake of our business. Isa rin ako sa namamalakad dito.” 

“At pumayag ka naman?”

“No choice. This is only for our business and besides, why would I dare to marry you? Wala pa naman akong balak magpakasal eh.”

I chuckled sarcastically, “talagang walang balak kasi ghoster ka, baka sa mismong kasal takbuhan mo pa iyong bride.”

He was about to do the rebuttal when the door opened and our parents were here, checking on us. Inayos din namin ang aming sarili upang hindi kami mahalatang nagbabangayan na kami na parang aso’t pusa. 

“Nagpapahangin pa ba kayo? Malamig ba masyado iyong aircon? Pwede naman tayong magrequest na pakihinaan—”

I stopped mommy from talking when I spoke, “hindi mom, ayos lang. We just want to uhh take time for ourselves para mag…Kamustahan.” Pumilit akong ngumiti sa mga magulang namin at napatingin na rin kay Aldrich upang sabayan niya ako and he quickly nodded in front of our parents.

Oo, magkamustahan. Dahil ilang taon na itong hindi nagparamdam sa akin. 

My father spoke this time, “nga pala, we agreed that starting tomorrow you both will stay in a shared apartment right after your appointments tomorrow.” 

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Aldrich, parehong nabigla. However, when he said that, flashbacks started to go back inside my head especially on what happened that night. 

“U-uhm, don't mind me asking but how many bedrooms are there in that apartment?” paninigurado kong tanong kay dad ngunit ramdam ko na kung anong sagot, hindi ko lang iniisip iyon.

“There is only one bedroom in that apartment tutal kayo lang naman ang nakatira doon,” sabi naman ni mommy.

Napatingin na naman kaming dalawa, looking disgusted at each other, screamed altogether in front of our parents, “What?!”

“Yes, why? Is there going on between the two of you? May tampuhan ba?” pagtatanong naman ng mommy ni Leo. 

“W-wala naman.” 

“Sus, iyon naman pala eh. Ayos lang yan tutal magkakilala naman kayo, I believe that magiging sanay kayo sa isa’t-isa na magkatabi in some other time, hindi ba?” ngiting sabi naman ni mommy. 

Hindi na kami umangal, baka kung ano pa iyong masabi namin. Pero seryoso, isang kwarto lang? Hindi naman kami legal na magasawa ah. 

Hanep talaga, parang sinusubukan ako ng mundo eh. Epekto ba ito ng Mercury retrogade?