5

"BAKIT?" Aiah asked. Hindi makapaniwala sa mga lumabas na salita sa labi ni Rodrigo. "Care to tell me why I should take orders from someone like you?" Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan at inihampas sa dibdib ng lalaki ang folder. Anger rose from within, hindi nakapagpigil si Aiah. "Is my situation some kind of joke to you?"

"Mukha bang laro ang lahat sa'yo?"

"I don't play silly games, Aiah. And as far as I am concerned alam mo ang bagay na ito," Rodrigo said, unfazed. "Hadn't your grandfather told you that you'll work under my supervision as my personal secretary?"

"This is bullshit!" She spat in his face. Iniitsa niya sa ere ang laman ng folder. Papers are now everywhere on the floor. "I'm going to see my grandfather now. Ikaklaro ko ang lahat!" Aiah walked out of his room, fuming mad.

Rodrigo sighed while staring at the closed door ahead. Halos ibalibag na ng babae ang pinto sa sobra nitong galit. This is another matter he meant to discuss with Vincente Villegas. Alam niyang magmamarakulyo ang babae dahil sa probisyon nito. This is also the matter he wanted to convey that last night with Aiah hadn't they set on the wrong foot.

Hindi niya nais mabigla ang babae but he needed a secretary dahil nag-resign si Ofelia. Ofelia was his secretary since he assumed thr position of the CEO. At di hamak na malaki ang tanda nito sa kanya but still very efficient with her work. Kung hindi lamang ito kailangan mag-alaga ng apo sa Laoag ay hindi ito magbibitiw. Why he offered more compensation and benefits but Ofelia still resigned.

"I've been in this company since forever, Rodrigo," parang anak na ang pagkilala nito sa kanya. Nagsimula ito bilang sekretarya ng kanyang lolo at the age of twenty three. She's one of the pioneers of the main office. "Panahon naman na para alagaan ko ang aking pamilya." With a knowing smile, niyakap siya ng mahigpit and bid him farewell.

Ofelia was gone for months now and there's struggle to hire another competent secretary. Nariyang ayaw niyang pumili ng babae dahil sa kalaunan ay hindi ito efficient. They tend to focus on him and lose track of work. Rodrigo hate inefficiency. At masasabi niyang ganun din kapag lalaki in another matter.

Vicente Villegas suggested to make Aiah his secretary. Ayon dito'y graduate ng Business Administration ang babae na kanyang ikinagulat. He just knew a bits of her, at isa na doo'y walang working experience si Aiah.

"Try her at hindi ka magsisisi, Rodrigo. Kilala ko ang apo ko," Vicente seemed proud the last time they talk. Sa isip niya'y what a doting grandfather.

"Bakit ba ako naghahanap ng batong ipupukpok ko sa sarili ko," Again Rodrigo sighed as he sat back on his swivel chair again. There's a lot of work to do. A lot of papers to deal with. Maiging maikasal sila agad at nang maayos na ang kanyang schedule. "This is bothersome..." At nagsimula siyang magbasa ng mga business proposal na may isang linggo na sa kanyang table. He may act like he had control over things but it's actually slowly slipping away.

Hindi niya kayang magtrabaho magisa with all the paperworks and meeting. He could play the superhuman however Rodrigo knew a human body can only do so much. He needed his goddamn secretary.

~•~

"Lolo, what is the goddamn meaning about what Rodrigo told me?" Aiah came in his office like a raging storm. Vicente was reading some business periodicals when she out that aside abruptly and make him face her. Hindi maipinta ang mukha sa inis ng kanyang apo. "Ano't sinasabi niya na matapos naming ikasal ay magiging personal secretary niya ako?"

"Haven't I told you? Ah, tumatanda na siguro ako," nasabi niya at natawa. Nawala sa isip niya ang bagay na iyon. Alam niyang ikagagalit iyon ni Aiah but he cared less. He wanted to make her learn about the scope of business. Even the secretarial job is fundamental for the role. "Yes, you heard him right..."

"You'll be his secretary right after your marriage. Why can't you? Asawa ka ni Rodrigo. Bakit pa maghahanap ng iba kung nandiyan ka naman..."

"But still..." Para bang naupos na kandilang napaupo si Aiah sa isang sette doon. "Do I have to endure all of this?"

"Hindi pa ba sapat na ikakasal ako sa lalaking iyon tapos magiging sekretarya pa ako. Ako, si Aiah Villegas, sekretarya?"

"You see, Aiah, you are more capable that what you think?" Aniya sa apo. "This is a challenge, apo. Make him see your worth not just a wife but as a competent secretary. Alam kong kaya mo iyon."

"Why would I?" Aiah retaliate. "Bakit ko pa kailangan i-prove ang sarili ko sa mga taong nahusgahan na ako ng tuluyan."

Napatango-tango si Vicente. Point taken. Mukhang una pa lang ay hindi na magkasundo ang dalawa. Well, this is an opportunity for Aiah to cross the bridge.

"Aiah, Rodrigo may act like high and almighty but his a logical man. Make him see who really is Aiah Villegas behind the headlines," he urged her. "Make him acknowledge you as a person. Mas mabuti din kung mapaibig mo ang asawa mo."

"Lolo!" She looked flabbergasted. Halos mangamatis ang buong mukha ng apo sa hiya. How innocent! He tried not to laugh hard kung hindi'y mababaling muli sa kanya ang inis nito. "Why would I kung mag-asawa lang kami sa papel?"

"Call it whatever, apo, but you two are still married. Try it," he sipped on his already called tea. "Challenge him. Make your husband fall in love with you. At kapag walang nangyari within six months then you are free to get divorce."

Aiah took a moment of silence, clearly thinking everything through. Ilang saglit pa'y napabuntong-hininga ito. "I am counting on your words, Lolo. I should probably get myself ready to get married." Noon di'y nagpaalam na ito para makipagkitang muli kay Rodrigo. He assumed they'll be talking about marriage.

Church or civil wedding, it doesn't matter. So long as makasal ang dalawa ay ayos na kanya.

-•~

SHE'S the most strange woman he ever met.

She's a predicament that he hadn't figure out. While it's too early for that, ang pagbabalik nito sa office niya matapos umalis kanina ay hindi niya lubos maintidihan. Any woman would have got a cold shoulder at the thought of being manipulated. Maaaring palipasing pa ang ilang araw bago makipag-ayos. But Aiah Villegas, she's different. Ito mismo ang lumapit sa kanya para maisa-ayos na ang kanilang kasal.

"I want a civil one," Aiah talked to him while having dinner on this Italian Restaurant. She's the one who wanted to eat at the place that night, for a change. "Lolo ko lamang ang dadalo sa side ko. How about you?"

Sabi nito'y it's one of her favourite restaurant and would want the reception exclusive to this place. Wala naman kaso iyon kay Rodrigo. She could have whatever she want, the simplest to grandiose wedding a woman could ever imagine. Money will never be a problem.

Tama si Aiah. Masarap ang pagkain doon. He sipped on his wine and said. "No one. Ako lang mag-isa."

He saw her brows furrowed then shrugged her shoulder. "Well, ikaw ang bahala. But it would be nice if there's other witness to this marriage. Don't you have any friends or relatives?"

"Why I'd like to ask the same? Bakit ang lolo mo lang ang dadating?" A question not to belittle her. Just curiosity got the best of him.

Aiah wiped the side of her mouth. Doon napatingin si Rodrigo. "Can't trust anyone fully, can you? A few is better than a crowd full of masks. And it's my wedding..."

"I only want my favourite person to witness it. Nothing more---" bago pa man matapos nito ang sasabihin ay inabot ni Rodrigo ang labi ng babae.

He wiped the side of her mouth she forgot to do earlier. There's a smudge of pasta sauce on the lower right side of her lips. It's bothering him somehow at di niya napigilan ang sarili. On instinct, he wiped the sauce with his thumb.

"That's uncalled for," Aiah pulled him from his terrain of thoughts. "Hindi na sana ito maulit."

"I doubt that," Rodrigo pulled back, gaining a little bit of self control. "I'm having a beautiful wife soon. Was I not permitted to even touch my own wife?"