Chapter 2

“Magkakilala na kayo?” tanong ni Andrea.

“No.”

“Yes,” sabay nilang sagot.

Mabilis na nilingon ni Mireya ang lalaki. “Excuse me?”

“We met yesterday.” Umupo ito sa kabilang side ng mesa at iniabot ang kamay sa kanya. “Darius Valmonte.”

Saglit iyong tiningnan ni Mireya bago tinanggap. Firm ang handshake nito at kontrolado ang bawat kilos, dahilan kung bakit hindi siya komportable rito.

“So you're the intended father?”

“Yes.”

“Meaning you're married.”

“Yes.”

“Nasaan ang asawa mo?”

“Abroad.”

Walang paliwanag ang sagot, kaya napatingin si Mireya kay Andrea.

“You can ask me directly,” sabi ni Darius.

“Fine. Did you know yesterday that I was one of the applicants?”

“Yes.”

Hindi niya inaasahan ang mabilis na pag-amin. “You knew?”

“I had already reviewed the shortlisted candidates.”

“At hindi mo sinabi?”

“We were standing in a hotel hallway. It wasn't the place to discuss a confidential program.”

May punto ito, pero hindi iyon ang bumabagabag kay Mireya. “So when you saw me, alam mo na kung sino ako?”

“Yes.”

Hindi niya nagustuhan iyon. Mas maraming alam ang lalaki tungkol sa kanya kaysa sa alam niya rito.

“I don't think this will work.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't like you.”

“Fortunately, liking me isn't part of the medical requirements.”

“That attitude is exactly my point.”

“You're considering surrogacy, not marriage.”

Napairap siya. “Thank God.”

May bahagyang amusement sa mukha nito. “Listen to the terms first. If you still want to leave afterward, no one will stop you.”

Ayaw ni Mireya sa paraan ng pagsasalita nito. Para lang itong sigurado na makikinig siya.

Umupo siyang muli. “Fine.”

Ipinaliwanag ni Andrea ang arrangement—medical screening, hormonal preparation, embryo transfer, regular checkups at complete pregnancy-related medical coverage.

“Can I continue working?”

“Yes, unless your physician advises otherwise.”

“My apartment?”

“You can stay there,” sagot ni Darius. “For now. If the pregnancy becomes medically sensitive, your living arrangements may need to change.”

“Decided by you?”

“By your doctor.”

Nang mapunta sa compensation, mas naging seryoso si Mireya. Hindi isang bagsakan ang ten million; may signing payment, monthly allowance, pregnancy milestones at final payment pagkatapos ng delivery.

Malaking pera iyon, pero siyam na buwan din ng buhay niya ang kapalit.

Paminsan-minsan ay napapatingin siya kay Darius. Ilang beses niya itong nahuling nakatingin sa kanya imbes na sa documents.

“Why me? I'm sure hindi lang ako ang healthy applicant.”

“You're twenty-five. You don't smoke. You rarely drink. You have no significant medical history, and you performed well in the psychological assessment.”

“Which probably describes several women.”

“Yes.”

“So why me?”

Bahagyang natagalan ang sagot nito. “You scored highest overall.”

Makatwiran ang sagot, pero pakiramdam ni Mireya ay hindi iyon ang buong dahilan.

“Your wife agreed to this?”

“She agreed to surrogacy.”

“Does she know you personally selected me?”

Doon ito bahagyang nag-atubili. “No.”

“Shouldn't she?”

“My marriage is my responsibility.”

“If she suddenly decides she doesn't like me, magiging problema ko rin iyon.”

“It won't. I don't enter agreements I'm not prepared to handle.t

Napailing siya. “That's such a billionaire answer. Parang business transaction lang lahat sa 'yo.”

Ngumisi si Darius. “This is a legal arrangement, Ms. Sarmiento.”

“I know. Pero tao pa rin ang magdadala ng anak mo.”

Naging seryoso ang mukha ni Darius. “I know exactly what I'm asking from you.” Mas mabigat ang dating ng sagot nito kaysa sa inaasahan niya.

Humingi siya ng oras para makausap ang independent lawyer. Nilinaw nito ang rights niya at sinabing maaari pa siyang umatras hangga't hindi final ang contract.

Pagkatapos, nakita niya ang message ng mama niya.

Anak, huwag mong akuin lahat. Makakahanap tayo ng ibang paraan.

Matagal iyong tinitigan ni Mireya. Maaari nilang ibenta ang property o magsimulang muli, pero baka mauna pang kunin ng bank ang pinaghirapan ng mama niya.

At hindi naman masama ang gagawin niya. Tutulungan niyang magkaroon ng anak ang isang couple na hindi kayang gawin iyon nang natural. In return, maililigtas niya ang property ng mama niya.

Pagbalik niya sa consultation room, naroon pa rin si Darius.

“Before I sign, may conditions ako.”

“I'm listening.”

“I keep working unless my doctor says otherwise. You don't show up at my apartment without permission. At hindi mo puwedeng kontrolin lahat ng ginagawa ko just because I'm carrying your child.”

“Agreed.”

“And your wife? If she has a problem with me later, ikaw ang haharap doon. Hindi ako sasali sa marital problems ninyo.”

Tahimik itong tumingin sa kanya bago tumango. “Agreed.”

Kinuha ni Mireya ang pen. “Last chance. Is there anything about this arrangement that I should know?”

“You know everything relevant to the agreement.”

Hindi agad gumalaw ang kamay niya. Napansin niya ang wording nito. Relevant to the agreement. Hindi nito sinabing alam niya ang lahat, pero baka nag-o-overthink lang siya.

Huminga siya nang malalim bago pumirma.

Sampung milyon. Sapat para mabayaran ang utang at mailigtas ang property ng mama niya. Kapalit noon ay siyam na buwan ng buhay niya at isang responsibilidad na hindi magiging madali.

Itinulak niya ang document pabalik kay Darius. “Congratulations. You have a surrogate.”

Bumaba ang tingin nito sa pirma niya bago bumalik sa mukha niya. “Yes. I do.”

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, umalis si Mireya kasama si Andrea.

Naiwan si Darius sa consultation room kasama ang abogado nitong si Nicolas Herrera.

“You had other candidates,” sabi ni Nicolas. “Candidates with equally strong profiles. You specifically asked the agency to include her.”

Doon lamang ito tumingin sa abogado. “Careful.”

“I've represented you long enough to know this wasn't just about medical scores.”

“She was qualified.”

“That wasn't what I said. Does Celestine know who you picked?”

“No.”

“And when exactly are you planning to tell your wife?”

Tumayo si Darius at kinuha ang folder mula sa mesa. “When I need to. This is a dangerous game, yeah, but I know what I'm doing.”

“That,” sagot ni Nicolas, “is exactly what worries me.”

Hindi na sumagot si Darius. Sandali niyang tiningnan ang pangalang nakasulat sa folder bago tuluyang lumabas.

Mireya Sarmiento.

Sa lahat ng babaeng maaari niyang piliin, siya ang pinili nito.

At si Darius lamang ang nakakaalam kung bakit.