CHAPTER 5: The Promise

Weeks later, I received a call from my secretary but I was in the middle of the meeting so I deny the call and put it in a silent mode. After the meeting ended, I wait for them to leave first then dial my phone to call my secretary.

“Tell me.”

“Boss… Ms. Perez’s mother…she’s gone.”

“What about her?”

“Nasa HR siya ngayon para mag-file ng leave for months.”

“Give her more time to rest. Call the Human Resources.”

“How long sir?”

“Give her six months.”

“Yes sir.”

My business trip extended to another month then finish it at exactly three months since I left the country. Paglabas ko ng airport ay naroon na ang secretary ko na nag-iintay sa labas ng sasakyan. Tumingin muna ito ng relo at ng makita ako ay dali dali itong tumakbo papalapit sa akin at kinuha ang maleta na dala ko.

“Deretso na po ba tayo sa villa niyo?”

“How about her? “

“Her? Sino po?”, saglit na nag-isip ang secretary ko kung sino ang tinutukoy ko habang tinitigan ko naman siya ng sobrang seryoso. Tsaka niya lamang ito naalala na para bang nananadya. “Ah! She’s back.”

“What do you mean back?”

“It’s been two months na rin simula ng bumalik siya ng trabaho”

“Anong ibig mong sabihin? Di ba I told you to give her a plenty of rest before coming back to work?”

“I did sir. Pero ang sabi ng HR, hindi daw niya need ng ganun katagal para mag-pahinga. One month lang daw ang hiningi niyang leave. Pero wala pang isang buwan bumalik na din siya.”

“I never thought she was this strong? How can she move on to her life after losing her parents twice?”

“B-Boss?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

“Your villa boss?”

“No. To the company.”

“P-pero, wala pa kayong pahinga.”

“I can rest there. I had to check something first before going home.”

After I arrive at the company, I open my computer to see the real-time CCTV footage that place to the office floor where len len was working. I saw her so busy in front of her computer. I can’t see her face clearly but she looks normal for me. Like she’s not been experienced a big setback in her life lately. Or she’s been only trying to look strong so that she can continue living for her brother.

Another year had passed and it’s already been five years now. Month before our marriage at City Hall. I receive a call from someone but I’m still in the middle of my meeting in the company. I put my cellphone in silent mode and forgot to put it back in normal after the meeting. I never saw len len came by in that place to eat again. I was so worried so check the CCTV on my computer again. She’s not in the office and there’s no sign she came for work. I called my secretary to check on her and he said, she take a leave for one day. I ask him the reason and it’s just an emergency.

“Is there anything wrong with her?”

The time passed so quickly and I had to leave already. I turn off my computer and ready to leave the office then get my phone in my pocket to check for any message. That’s when I realized someone has been calling me with unknown number. I check my phone history and saw the same number has been calling me. I look at the number and somehow it looks familiar to me. I think I saw it somewhere.

I dial it and after few times of ringing someone answer it.

“Ito ba ang apo ni lola Nenita?” wika ng may-ari ng number sa kabilang linya. Medyo familiar ang kanyang boses pero hindi ko mabanggit kung saan ko narinig.

“Yes. Who’s this?”, cold kong sagot.

“Hindi na importante kung sino ako, pero nasa ospital ang lola mo. Nawalan sya ng malay sa sobrang init kanina. Kaya naman idinala ko siya sa malapit na emergeny center. Nandito siya ngayon sa emergency department ng L’Vida Main Hospital ---”

Hindi ko na pinatapos pa ang nagsasalitang babae sa kabilang linya at ibinaba ko na ang tawag para bumaba ng building at pumunta ng hospital ng biglang ay naalala ako. Binuksan ko ang unang drawer ng aking mesa at inilabas ang copy ng resume ni len len. I search her contact information then saw a familiar combination number written on it. It was her number. She’s the one been calling me. Kaya ba siya hindi nakapasok?

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng office at hiningi ang susi ng sasakyan sa secretary ko.

“I’ll drive be myself today. You can go home now.”

I already drive faster to get there quickly so I can finally meet her face to face but she’s already gone by the time I arrive.

Three days before we registered our marriage. I saw my grandma sitting in the couch in my living room, smiling at me. She ask me to sit beside her. She hold both of my hands and smile to me like she was up to something.

“You told me last month, remember? If ever I ask some favor to you in the future you will grant it no matter what, right?”

“Yes~ I said that. But it depends on your request.”

“It’s simple. There is someone I know that I care so much that needed a little help. And I want you to help her.”

“What kind of help?”

“You only need to meet her once. Just have a simple meal together then know each other.”

“Bakit hindi niyo na lang sabihing blind date.”

“Pag sinabi ko ba, papayag ka kaagad?”

“No.”

“Ito naman. Nakalimutan mo na agad ang pangako mo sa akin?”

“I can grant you anything but not like this.”

“I already gave her my promise. At ito lang ang paraan para matulungan ko siya. Para na din palagi ko siya makita.”

“Sino ba yan at parang hindi niyo kayang tanggihan?”

“Remember the day I was sent in emergency room after fainting from the heat last month?”

“Yes.”

“The girl who saves me back then, she needed someone to help her in getting the housing loan. So I suggest here to have a blind-date and I recommend you to her. I think you will like her if you meet her.”

I looked like normal outside after listening my grandma say those sentence but inside there is something like running ang flying inside my stomach. And I feel like my ear is turning red. I think my grandma saw it.

“What is happening to your ear? Why is it red? Do you feel cold?”

“No. Just occasionally turning red without a reason.--- Is she the one who called me that time?”

“Yes.”

I paused for a moment then look at my grandma who was waiting for my answer.

“After this ---”

“Don’t worry, just ten minutes of your time and It’s already enough. But after meeting with her and both of you can’t like each other, I can’t force you anymore. No more blind-date and you can finally decide on your own in the future. Hindi na kita pakikialaman.”

“Deal.” Looks like I’ve been forced into it but I’m very thankful my grandma did this.

The next day we met at the agreed meeting place. I arrive earlier than the agreed time and wait for her to come. Just a few minutes till the agreed time I checked on my wrist watch and look outside the glass window near the entrance. I saw a her standing there wearing a simple but elegant looking khaki color of blouse and above knee skirt. She was still standing there after two minutes looking at the signboard of the restaurant until the guard came to her and after they talked for a seconds, she finally walked in. That’s when I act like I’m not waiting for her.

I heard her footsteps getting louder and louder as she was about to reach our table. She was shocked seeing me as her blind date that day. But of course I didn’t make it obvious that I know she’s the one I’m going to meet that day also and act like shocked too.

She was shy to start a conversation so I start asking her with the answers I already know.

“So where are you working?”

She put down her knife and fork and look so hesitated to answer but then she shyly answer me.

“S-sir? I was working po in your company. Almost five years na po. Sa ibabang palapag ng office nyo kami naka-pwesto. Mall Department po.”

“So you’re one of my employee? --- Then how do you know my grandmother?”

“Just one time. When I help her last month then I saw her again yesterday. I’m the one who called you last month. Para ipag-bigay alam ang nangyari sa lola niyo at kung saan ko siya dinala.”

“That was you then. So why I didn’t saw you when I arrive?’

“I had to go to my other part-time job---”

The conversation between us became more comfortable and that’s when I ask her, “So you want to find someone who can help you to get a housing loan?”

She frozed.

“Grandma already told me all about it. And I want to say to you that I agree to it. You can say that I also benefit from it. I already know you and my Grandma likes you. If I reject you, she will introduce someone again and it’s hustled to do it often. If you agree, let’s finalize our agreement tomorrow morning before getting our marriage certificate in the City Halls.. I can pick you up to your home address.” I said to her so that she feel less nervous. And I think it works when her face became to lighten up.

“No. It’s better kung mag-kita na lang tayo malapit sa City Hall.”

“Okay. It’s a deal.”

So the next day we saw each other again in front of the City Hall. My Grandma ang my Secretary are the only one present that time. They’re present as our witness. After checking the required documents were good to go now as we reserve this day in City Hall in private. The Mayor in the City were acquainted to our family almost 30 years now and that’s why I choose him to performed the Civil Wedding for us.

We both held and stare at the certificate we receive after coming out from the office. I still can’t believe it and secretly look at her. She was smiling looking at the certificate. She must be thinking she can finally buy the house she likes for her and her brother.

“M-Mr.Montenegro thank you po ng marami ulit.”

“Don’t call me that outside. We are now a legally married couple and we must act like a one.”

“So, anong dapat kong itawag sa inyo, M-Mr. Montenegro??”

“Just call my first name, Ethan. No more Mr. Just my name.”

“Yes M-Ethan.”

“Are you free today? If not let’s go to your place and pack your things. We have to go in my place. My grandma still waiting there.”

“Why packed my things?”

“I thought my Grandma already told you this. Even were only just having a contractual marriage for one year, you will be living in my house together with my Grandma. But in exchange for that you will no longer going to take a housing loan. She already bought a house for your brother to live here in the City and you can also live there after our marriage contract expires. It’s here gift for you for agreeing in marriage with me. So that your earning now can be saved for your future. That’s what she said to me. You can talk to her after we arrives at the Villa.”

“Pero --- It is too much for a gift…”

“Don’t worry. Before our official wedding ceremony, we are still living in different rooms. After that we can only pretend sleeping together when grandma was home. I will not forbid you to do what you want and you just need to play as my wife in front of my grandma and my other acquaintance who will attend in our wedding. My parents will also come that day, but they will go back again in America after that day so don’t worry about it.