Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tahimik ang buong parking lot, pero ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya niya. Kahit malamig ang hangin, pakiramdam ko ay parang kinukulong ako ng init na nagmumula sa katawan niya. O baka epekto lang ‘to ng kaba na bumabalot sa dibdib ko.

I stared at him, waiting for him to take it back. Na sana, isang biro lang lahat ng ‘to.

Pero hindi.

Walang halong pag-aalinlangan ang mukha ni Leon Monteverde habang nakatitig sa akin. His sharp eyes held mine, unwavering. Para bang sigurado na siya sa gusto niya, at ako na lang ang hinihintay niyang humabol.

A wife. Gusto niya akong maging asawa.

Napasinghap ako, pilit kinakalma ang sarili ko. “Sir… seryoso po ba kayo?”

Mr. Moteverde tilted his head slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. His sleeves were still rolled up, his watch glinting under the dim parking lights. Bakit napaka-kalmado niya lang?

“I don’t make jokes about business, Miss Callisto,” he said smoothly.

Business.

Biglang bumigat ang loob ko. Kahit kailan, hindi naging madali sa akin ang usapang pera. Lalo na ngayon na halos hindi na ako makahinga sa dami ng bayarin. Pero kahit pa desperado ako, hindi ko pa rin kayang tanggapin ‘to ng basta-basta.

“Bakit ako?” tanong ko. Halos bulong na noong tinanong ko ‘yon.

His lips curled into a small, unreadable smile. “Why not?”

Napakagat ako sa loob ng pisngi ko. “You’re a Monteverde. You can have any woman you want. So why offer this to me?”

His expression didn’t change. Pero nang magsalita siya, his voice was even, calculated.

“Because I don’t need just any woman,” he said. “I need someone who understands a deal when she sees one. No complications. No emotions. Just an agreement that benefits both parties.”

No emotions.

Napalunok ako. Bakit parang ang bigat ng salitang ‘yon?

Mr. Monteverde took a slow step forward, closing the distance between us. My breath hitched as his expensive scent wrapped around me. His presence was overwhelming, at hindi ko alam kung paano ako tatayo nang maayos habang ganito siya kalapit.

“My grandfather is stepping down soon,” he continued, voice low and steady. “He wants to see stability before he does. That includes me settling down. Having a wife.”

Stability. A wife.

I tried to process his words, pero parang ang bilis ng mga nangyayari. Parang may malaking bato na bigla na lang bumagsak sa harapan ko, hinihintay akong magdesisyon kung kakayanin ko bang buhatin ‘to o hindi.

“A contract, Miss Callisto,” Leon added, eyes never leaving mine. “A marriage that serves its purpose. And in return, you get exactly what you need.”

I swallowed hard. “At pagkatapos?”

Leon’s eyes darkened slightly. “We go our separate ways.”

Just like that.

Napatingin ako sa lupa, forcing myself to breathe. Parang gusto kong tumawa, pero hindi ko magawa. The situation was too absurd. Too insane.

Pero bakit parang… may part ng utak ko na gustong pag-isipan ‘to?

I clenched my fists. “Hindi ba’t may ibang paraan pa para mabayaran ko ang utang ko?”

Leon let out a low chuckle, his tone almost amused. “Do you have two million pesos lying around?”

Napasinghap ako, napalunok ng hindi oras. Hindi ko na kailangang sagutin ‘yon. The answer was clear.

And he knew it, too.

Leon exhaled, checking his watch before looking at me again. “I’ll give you time to think about it.”

I stared at him, my pulse still erratic.

“Ayoko ng sagot na pabigla-bigla,” he continued, voice smooth as ever. “But don’t take too long, Miss Callisto. Your loan sharks don’t seem like the patient type.”

He took another step closer, at hindi ko maiwasang umatras, ang likod ko tumama sa lumang kotse ko. My breath hitched. He was too close. Too near that I could see the way his dark eyes gleamed under the lights, how the corners of his lips lifted into a smirk.

“You’re staring,” he murmured, his voice deep and teasing.

Namilog ang mga mata ko. Hala!

Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin, pero huli na. Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa niya. “Cute.”

Napalunok ako. “A-anong cute?”

Leon chuckled again, this time stepping back. As if he had already accomplished what he wanted.

“I’ll see you soon, Miss Callisto,” he said, voice smooth and confident. “And when I do… I expect an answer.”

Then, with one last lingering look, he turned around and walked toward his car. I watched as he casually opened the door, slid inside, and drove off. Like he didn’t just flip my entire world upside down in a single conversation.

I was left standing there, gripping my bag so tightly that my fingers started to hurt.

Ano ‘to?

Ano itong pinasok ko?

Leon Monteverde just offered me a way out. A lifeline. A dangerous, life-changing offer.

At ang hindi ko maintindihan? My heart is still racing.

And I am not sure if it was from fear… or something else entirely.