CHAPTER 4: Terms & Conditions

“You have questions?” tanong niya sa malamig at mahinang boses.

Bumuntong hininga ako. Saglit akong hindi nakapag-react kanina dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Mayamaya, sinalubong ko nang napakaseryoso ang seryoso niya ring mga mata na nakatingin sa akin.

“Just one,” sagot ko.

“Go ahead. Ask me anything.”

“Are you out of your damn mind?” walang atubili na tanong ko sa kaniya.

Hindi nagbago ang ekspesiyon ng kaniyang mukha. He didn’t even blink. “No, I’m not, but if you are, I’d suggest you think twice before signing that contract.”

“Do you honestly believe marriage is something that can be bought, Mr. Del Rosario?” may pang-uuyam na tanong ko.

“I know it is.”

Napatiim bagang ako sa sinabi niya. “Kapag pinirmahan ko ang kontrata, you think ten million makes you entitled to my life?”

“No. Just your time. Your name, and your public cooperation. The rest remains yours, Ms. Olivar,” wika niya. “Ten million is more than enough to take your mother’s medical bills off your mind and secure your sister’s education.”

Well, he had a point. Ten million is a huge amount, and I hated that a part of me felt tempted—not because of the money, though. Sure, it was enough to save my family twice over, but what really pulled me in was the challenge in his gaze. He didn’t look at me like a helpless case or someone beneath him, but like a chess piece he could rely on.

“Why now?” hindi ko mapigilang tanong. “May emergency ka ba? Bakit bigla-bigla? Hindi man lang puwedeng ipagpabukas o sa susunod na linggo o bigyan mo man lang ako ng pagkakataon na makapag-isip—”

“My board is threatening to remove me,” he answered without hesitation. “They believe a stable public image is necessary after recent . . . events. A wife implies permanence. Integrity. Control.”

“So magiging prop ako?”

Of course, Reeyah. Kaya ka nga babayaran, ’di ba? Ano ang gusto mo? Maging totoong asawa?

“You’re a professional stand-in. This shouldn’t be new to you, Ms. Olivar.”

Ouch.

Well, he was right. It wasn’t new to me, pero hindi ko lang maiwasang hindi masaktan sa katotohanan.

“Besides, why would I give you time to think it over when the hospital’s deadline for your mother is tomorrow?”

Hindi ako nakapagsalita sa muli niyang mga sinabi. He was right again.

Mayamaya, bubuka na sana ang bibig ko para magsalita, but Jason, his lawyer, entered then, carrying a folder.

“Everything’s ready,” sabi nito, saka inilapag sa mesa ni Mr. Del Rosario ang folder na dala nito.

Muli akong tiningnan ni Mr. Del Rosario. “Review it. Clause by clause.”

Napabuntong hininga akong muli, pagkuwa’y saglit na tinitigan ang folder na nasa mesa. Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas, wala na rin akong nagawa kung ’di ang lumapit sa mesa niya at dinampot ko ang folder.

Section 1: Duration

Twelve months. No early termination unless both parties agree.

Section 2: Compensation

Five million pesos upon marriage registration. Five million upon contract completion.

Section 3: Living Arrangements

Must reside in the same household. Separate bedrooms permitted. Public appearances required twice a week.

Section 4: Boundaries

No sexual relations unless initiated by both parties with consent in writing.

No romantic entanglement with third parties during contract period.

No media leaks or unauthorized interviews.

Napataas ang isang kilay ko dahil sa nabasa. “Consent in writing?” Sinulyapan ko rin siya mayamaya. As I expected, seryoso pa rin siya.

“I like clarity.”

“You mean control.”

“I mean protection. For both of us.”

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at itinuloy na ang pagbabasa ng kontrata. The final clause stopped my cold.

Section 7: Confidentiality

Any violation will result in legal consequences, including repayment of full compensation and potential defamation charges.

Pakiramdam ko bigla kong nalunok ang aking dila at nanikip ang lalamunan ko. This isn’t just a job. This is a cage with golden bars.

Muli ko siyang sinulyapan. Ugh! I’m starting to hate his serious face. Guwapo nga, parang hindi naman marunong ngumiti at napakaseryoso lang ng mukha. Simula nang pumasok ako sa kaniyang opisina, iyon at iyon lamang ang nakita kong hitsura niya.

“Gusto mong i-give up ko ang pangalan ko, ang reputation ko, ang privacy ko . . . ng isang taon?!” Maging ako sa sarili ko, hindi sigurado kung tanong ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

“Yes,” he said, unflinching. “In exchange, your mother lives. Your sister finishes school. You walk away rich and anonymous, just like you prefer.”

He knew too much, and I hated that he was right.

Muli kong pinasadahan ng tingin ang hawak na folder, at mayamaya, isinarado ko na iyon at inilahad ko ang aking kamay. “Pahinging ballpen.”

Mr. Del Rosario didn’t smile, but something in his eyes flickered.

Napatingin ako kay Mr. Navarro nang lumapit ito sa akin para iabot ang ballpen na hinihingi ko.

And just like that, I signed away my freedom to become Mrs. Reeyah Del Rosario for just a year.

“Here.” Matapos kong pirmahan ang kontrata, inilapag ko iyon sa kaniyang mesa—itinulak ko sa mismong gitna ng mesa niya. “Kailangan ko ng pera para sa ospital bukas. Hindi ako makakapaghintay sa marriage registration.”

Bahala ng magmukha akong pera ngayon, iyon naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito ngayon sa opisina niya. I need money.

“Jason will transfer three hundred fifty thousand to your bank account,” sagot niya. “Thank you for considering my offer, Ms. Olivar.”

Wala akong nagawa kung ’di tanggapin ang pakikipagkamay niya sa akin.

LATER THAT NIGHT . . .

I stood alone in the guest bedroom—no, my bedroom now. Everything felt sterile. Too white. Too clean. Nothing like the chaos of our house, pero maganda. Even the queen size bed, nababalot iyon ng puti at makapal na comforter at may apat na malalaking unan sa tabi ng medyo mataas na headboard ng kama. May dalawang nightstand sa magkabilang gilid ng kama at parehong may lampshades sa ibabaw niyon.

Wala akong makitang cabinet o closet, pero sa isang sulok ng kuwarto, I saw a door. Siguro walkin closet ang mayroon itong silid at naroon na rin ang bathroom at comfort room.

Mayamaya, naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone sa loob ng shoulder bag ko. Kinuha ko iyon. It was a new phone. Binigay sa akin ni Mr. Navarro kanina para daw sa personal contact namin sa isa’t isa ni Mr. Del Rosario.

Oh, dapat ko rin pala na sanayin ang sarili ko sa pagtawag sa pangalan niya.

Nang buksan ko ang screen ng phone, nabasa ko ang message galing kay Mr. Del Rosario—kay Gabriel.

GABRIEL: Press conference tomorrow. 10 AM. Wear something you want the nation to remember.

I stared at the message.

I used to playing doubles, hiding behind someone else’s name, but this time, the spotlight was real. My part is to play the role of Mr. Del Rosario’s wife—for one entire year.