Chapter 5:

Let's say, hindi siya chismoso...

Pero gano'n ba talaga kahalata sa mukha ko ang pagiging dukha para masabi niya 'yon?

"What do you mean... po?" Naguguluhan kong tanong.

Iyan lang ang tanging naibuka ng bibig ko. Kailangan kong mag-ingat sa pagsasalita dahil baka ikasama ko pa kung hindi.

"You need money..." he leaned forward, his gaze unwavering, "And I need a wife. You'll get everything you want in exchange for playing the role of my wife. It'll be a marriage of convenience. You'll live the life you've always dreamed of, and I'll have the perfect partner in the public eye."

"Excuse me?" I asked, barely able to believe what I had just heard.

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled by my reaction.

"You heard me. Marriage. A business deal, if you will."

Umalingawngaw ang katahimikan sa paligid, pilit kong pinapasok sa utak ko ang mga narinig. Hindi nagtagal ay hindi ko na naiwasang hindi humalaklak, hindi dahil nakakatawa talaga ang kaniyang sinabi. But because the situation was so absurd.

"You can't be serious."

But he was serious. Every line of his face, his cold gaze that seemed to see right through me, was proof of that.

"Do I look like someone who jokes about things like this, Ms. Reyes?" sabi niya sa malamig na tono.

Tinikom ko na lang ang bibig at hindi na nagsalita pa. Halata naman kasing hindi siya nag-jo-joke. Pero ano ba'ng nangyayari? Bakit may paganito bigla?

Ano, nagandahan siya sa'kin?

Bumuntong-hininga ako at pinakalma ang sarili, saka siya tiningnan sa mata.

"Why... why me? I mean, out of all the women you could choose, why someone like me? I'm broke, jobless, and basically a nobody."

Totoo naman kasi. Ang dami niyang puwedeng pagpilian. Kahit na sinong nababagay bilang asawa niya, kayang-kaya niyang mapa-oo. Posible kayang tama 'yong hinala ko na konektado ito sa party kagabi? Na ako talaga ang tinitingnan niya?

"Don't you have... girlfriend?" halos pabulong ko nang tanong. "Nevermind. Huwag mo na pala sagutin," biglang bawi ko nang makita ang hindi maipaliwanag na reaksyon galing sa kaniya.

"So, why me?" sunod kong tanong.

He stayed silent for a moment before answering.

"You're perfect for what I need. No attachments, no complications, and no ulterior motives. You won't demand anything more than what this arrangement offers."

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis o dapat ko bang ikatuwa ang naging sagot niya kasi finally, after so many rejections, e, I am finally seen.

"What exactly are you offering?" I crossed my arms.

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Security, financial stability, and the chance to rebuild your life. In return, you'll be my wife for the sake of convenience and appearances."

Convenience and appearances...

Muntik ko nang maibato sa kaniya ang walang laman kong wallet. Pero syempre hindi ko 'yon puwedeng gawin. Sa estado ng buhay ko ngayon, just hearing the words financial stability felt like music to my ears.

Pero seryoso... kasal? Wife? Alam kong wife material talaga ako, pero seryoso talaga?

"Ano'ng kapalit?" I asked, trying to find a loophole. I knew it couldn't be this simple.

Saglit siyang ngumiti, pero hindi 'yong ngiti na masaya. Iyon bang parang inaasahan na niya ang tanong ko.

"No catch. Except that you'll need to play the role convincingly. And once the agreement ends, we'll go our separate ways. No strings attached."

Kaya ko ba 'yon? Ang madikit na nga lang sa pangalan niya, e, nakakalula na. Ano pa kaya ang magpanggap bilang asawa niya?

Si Riel Alcantara na 'yan, oh! Again, bilyonaryo, CEO, laging laman ng billboard, magazine at sa lahat ng media. Higit pa doon, e, hindi rin maitatanggi ang angking kaguwapuhan niya. At oo... ang hot din.

Mas natatakot pa ako sa katotohanang baka sa huli, ako pa ang ma-fall at maiwan sa ere. Mas gugustuhin ko pang mamatay na lang sa gutom kaysa maging bruhang broken-hearted.

"You don't have to decide now," he said calmly, as if reading my internal struggle. "But I expect an answer soon. Opportunities like this don't come twice, Ms. Reyes."

I stared at him, a hundred questions running through my mind. But despite all of them, the only thing I could say was:

"What's in it for you?"

He smiled, and for the first time, there was a trace of mystery in his expression.

"Let's just say I have my own reasons. And they're none of your concern."

Sumandal ako sa aking inuupuan at pinagkrus ang mga braso. Seryoso talaga siya sa pinagsasabi. Ito na ata ang pinakamalaking plot twist na naranasan ko sa buong buhay ko.

My life was in shambles, and yet here was Riel Alcantara, offering me a way out. Kaunting kumbinsi pa niya, e, baka um-oo na ako dito ng walang oras.

"I need to think about it," I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended. "This is a lot to process."

He nodded, his expression never changing. "Of course. Take your time. But like I said, I expect an answer soon."

Tumayo ako na dala-dala ang mga salitang binitawan niya sa akin.

Grabeng plot twist, hindi ko kinakaya. Kailangan kong pag-isipan nang mabuti ang lahat. Hindi puwedeng basta na lang ako ma-a-attempt sa kaniyang offer.

"I think I have to go," paalam ko na hindi hinihintay ang kaniyang reaction.

Mabilis kong inayos ang suot ko at naglakad papunta sa may pintuan, pero bago pa ako tuluyang makalabas ay naalala kong wala nga pala akong pamasahe pauwi. Kaya nahihiya man, e, napabalik ako sa harap niya.

"Is there a problem regarding the deal?" malumanay ngunit kuryoso niyang tanong sa akin nang makita ulit ako sa harapan.

"Uh..." bahagya akong yumuko upang itago ang nahihiyang mukha. "I know this is going to sound weird, but... do you have any spare change? I mean, barya o kahit ano? Wala kasi akong pamasahe pauwi." Nakapikit ang isa kong mata habang sinasabi ang pakay.

Nakakahiya.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Ms. Reyes. It's not every day that someone like you asks me for money."