Kabanata 9

Contract

"Be my wife, Krizza..." he whispered again seductively at the back of my ear when he blew a hot breath which made my fur stand up.

Napatiim bagang ako at pilit na nilabanan ang pamilyar na sensasyong lumulukob sa kaibuturan ko.

Umatras ako at agad ko siyang naitulak palayo sa akin nang nakabalik sa sariling huwisyo.

"And why would I?" nautal na singhal ko.

I just saw him smirking as he intently stared at me from head to foot. Tumango-tango pa siya na para bang pinaghandaan niya ang lahat ng ito.

"Why don't you like it, Krizza? Have you forgotten? I already took you twice..." He whispered again, huskily.

Biglang kumakabog ng mabilis ang dibdib ko na para bang sasabog ito.

There's a part of me that wants to slap him, beat him, hurt him. But I couldn't. Seeing him right now in front of me it's like I felt something exhilarating inside of me.

Nakaramdam ako bigla ng sobrang kahihiyan dahil sa mga sinabi niya kaya dahan-dahan akong napayuko.

"A—Alis na ako wala na raw ho pa lang bakanteng posisyon, S-Sir..."

Gusto kong kastiguhin ang sarili dahil sa pagka-utal ko. 

I was about to go out when he suddenly grabbed my hand so I looked at him and there was a trace of ghost grin on his lips.

Napalunok ako sa sariling laway at napaangat ng tingin sa kaniya. 

"B-Bakit?!"

But instead of answering me he handed me a folder but I didn't accept it right away so he opened my palm and placed the brown folder there.

"A-Ano 'to?"

"Read that and let me know what your decision would be."

“Does it make sense?” tanong ko.

“Maybe?” he laughed. “Hindi naman siguro masama kung papanindigan kita lalo na at ako ang nakauna sa'yo?” another smirk let out from his lips.

Napatiim bagang ako at mabilis na kinuha ko 'yon at tuluyan nang lumabas ng office niya ng hindi lumilingon sa kaniya.

Eto na yata ang pinaka nakakahiyang nangyari sa tanang buhay ko. 

Ngunit paglabas ko ng kanyang office ay nagtaka ako nang napansin ang bultong tahimik na nakasunod sa akin pasakay ng elevator kaya agad akong napalingon sa taong iyon.

It's him.

Diretso lang ang tingin nito sa unahan habang seryoso ang mukha at nakapamulsa pa ang dalawang kamay.

Gusto ko sanang magsalita upang magtanong subalit naunahan ako ng hiya kaya nanahimik na lang ako.

Hanggang sa makababa na ako sa lobby, nakasunod pa rin si Trevious sa akin na seryoso lang ang ekspresyon ng mukha, walang bahid ng ngiti ang labi habang diretsong nakatingin sa daan. 

Napatingin naman ako sa paligid ng may narinig akong nagbubulungan at nandoon pa rin ang mga masamang tingin na ipinupukol sa akin. 

Biglang nangatog ang mga binti ko sa hiya nang narinig ang sunod-sunod nilang pagbati kay Trevious.

Sabagay, sino ba namang hindi sasama ang tingin sa akin kung makasabay ko sa paglalakad ang isang CEO pala ng isang sikat na kompanya. 

"Good morning, Sir."

"Good morning, Sir Trevious."

Masayang bati ng mga empleyado kay Trevious subalit puro tango lang ang naging tugon nito.

Tuluyan na akong nakalabas ng lobby at hindi na sinundan pa ni Trevious. Ayokong mag-assume pero parang hinatid niya ako hanggang sa makababa. And those thoughts made my face heatened.

Paalis na ako ng building ng mapansin ko ang hawak kong brown folder. Ano kaya 'to? Takang tanong ko sa sarili.

Akmang bubuksan ko na sana ito ngunit may aksidente akong nabangga at hindi sinasadyang napalakas iyon kaya napaupo ako sa sahig.

The girl gasps. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry, Miss!" agad naman niya akong tinulungan makatayo.

I can feel her soft palm touching my wrist.

"O-Okay lang..."

Eksaktong pag-angat ko ng tingin sa babae nakabanggaan ko ay para akong nakakita ng isang anghel.

Her clear gorgeous tan skin, her long curly hair up to her waist. With her narrow eyes, long eyelashes, and curvy pinkish lips. 

Oh, she's damn stunning with her looks.

"Miss, you okay? Are you hurt?" 

Even her voice is pleasant to listen to. The tenderness of it is like music to my ear. Not until I didn't realize that I was stunned by her magnetic looks.

"Miss?" kaway niya sa harapan ko.

"A-Ang ganda mo… Ma'am." biglang usal ko.

Nakita ko pa siyang namula at nahihiyang ngumiti sa akin. Omg! Magkakasala yata ako nito. Oh God! Forgive me in advance.

She then smiled widely at me. "Ikaw rin miss ang ganda mo," nakangiting sabi niya pabalik at lumitaw pa lalo ang mapuputi at pantay-pantay na mga ngipin.

Pwede ng model ng toothpaste... 'W—Wait, model?'

Agad naman akong napatitig sa diyosang kaharap ko at kung hindi ako nagkakamali—

"Omg! Missy Aviola?" namimilog ang mga mata kong sambit.

I saw her blushing her cheeks and quickly nodded and smiled at me.

"Hala! Sorry po Ma'am nabangga ko kayo!" 

"Nah, it's fine. Hindi rin naman ako nakatingin sa dinaraan ko eh."

"Miss? Pwede po mag pa autograph? Idol na idol po talaga kayo ni Gino eh." Nahihiyang sinabi ko.

Pero naalala ko bigla na resume lang pala ang dala ko. Agad akong napakamot ng ulo at nahihiyang napatingin sa kaniya.

"N-Next time na lang po pala, Miss Missy..."

"Sure, okay lang. By the way, You look familiar," nakangiting aniya. 

"Ah—"

"Missy!"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses na pagmamay-ari ni Luke.

Mabilis kong inayos ang sarili bago humarap sa modelo. "S-Sige po miss Missy, mauna na ako, next time na lang po..."

"Wait—"

Akmang magsasalita pa ito ngunit mabilis na akong naglakad papalayo.

Nakakahiya kay Luke. Baka alam na nila ang inalok sa akin ni Trevious. Lalo pa sa klase ng trabaho ko ay baka isipin nilang sinasamantala ko ang kaibigan nila.

Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng dalawa kong pisngi habang iniisip ang bagay na 'yon. Sana naman hindi dahil sobrang nakakahiya! Lalo pa't dalawang beses may nangyari sa amin at ngayon…

“Oh, self. What have you done this time?!” sermon ko sa sarili.

***

"Good Morning." 

I greeted Gino cheerfully when I saw him in the living room while holding his head tightly.

"M-Morning," he greeted back languidly.

I was immediately anxious to approach him when I saw him beating his head.

"Hey, a-are you okay? Are you in pain?" I asked worriedly.

He gasps. "M-My head..."

After he mentioned it he abruptly hit his head again and again as if he was trying to get rid of the pain. 

Nanikip ang dibdib ko.

I immediately hugged him to stop him from hurting his head.

"Stop it! Gino!" 

"It hurts, Krizza..." sabi niya habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa ulo niya.

My heart ached more while looking at him in pain. "Hey, Gino. I'll call Dr. Castor Suarez. Wait for me here..."

Mabilis akong tumakbo patungo sa gilid ko at aligaga kong hinanap ang cellphone sa loob ng bag at mabilis na tinawagan si Dr. Castor Suarez. 

Ngunit ring lang ito ng ring at walang sumasagot. Oh! Please Doc! Answer your phone! Halos maluha na ako dahil sa frustration. 

No, please. Not now.

Maya maya lang ay may narinig akong bumagsak na kung ano sa sala kaya mabilis akong tumakbo papunta roon.

Agad kong nabitawan ang cellphone na hawak at namimilog ang mga mata ko sa gulat habang patakbong lumalapit sa nakahandusay na katawan ni Gino sa sahig.

"Gino!" 

"Let him rest. When he wakes up the pain will temporarily disappear but any time, anywhere, it will strike again."

My eyes instantly watered. "A-Ano ang dapat kong gawin, Doc?"

The Doctor breathed out heavily. 

"You already know the answer to your question, Mae." He said pointedly before he ended the call.

Dahan-dahan kong nahilamos ang dalawang palad sa mukha ko kasabay nang sunod-sunod na pagbuhos ng butil ng luha mula sa mga mata . 

I can't lose you, Gino. I can't!

Tuluyan na akong napahagulhol at unti-unting napaluhod sa sahig habang sapo-sapo ang sariling mukha. 

Maya-maya lang ay pilit kong kinakalma ang sarili ko hanggang sa napansin ko ang folder na brown. 

Mabilis kong pinahiran ang takas ng luha sa mga mata ko at dahan-dahan itong inabot kahit na nanginginig pa ang mga kamay.

"Contract." 

Nabasa kong mga letra mula sa harap ng folder. 

Even though I already know what was written inside, I still opened and read it undoubtedly for what exactly was written in the contract.

The agreement, the rules, and the amount that I could receive after accepting the offer.

Malakas ang talahib na kabog ng dibdib ko habang binubuksan ang folder kasabay ng panlalaki ng mga mata ko. 

I—Is it true?!

***

Gino was staring at me intently as he went back observing the surroundings.

"Honeybee, where are we going?" he asked curiously.

"Cebu."

"Woah! Really?!" he exclaimed.

I knew it. He really loves Cebu City.

I just smiled and nodded at him. But my smile suddenly faded when I spoke again. "C-Cebu Perpetual Hospital..."

I could see how his eyes slowly widened in shock. "What?!"

I sighed. "Gino, listen. I talked to Dr. Castor Suarez yesterday when you fainted."

Humugot ako ng hangin bago tumingin sa labas ng sinasakyan naming taxi papuntang airport. 

"He said… You need to undergo treatment as soon as possible before everything worsens."

I saw how his jaw massively moved as soon as he sighed deeply.

"But, we don't have—"

"Sshh. Don't worry, I've already found some way..." I smiled to assure him that everything was fine.

Nabalot kami ng katahimikan sa loob ng sasakyan hindi na kami nag-usap pa hanggang makarating kami sa airport.

Pagkababa ng taxi mabilis na kaming sumakay sa airplane at mabuti na lang hindi kami nahuli sa oras.

Nakita ko namang nakapikit si Gino, mga ilang minuto bago tuluyang lumipad ang sinasakyan naming eroplano.

Agad naman akong nagtipa ng mensahe para kay Dr. Castor Suarez.

To: Dr. Castor

We're already on the plane. Thanks, Doc.

He's the one who booked our flight when I called him. Kaya hindi na kami nahirapan pa ni Gino at nakaalis na agad.

From: Dr. Castor

Okay, you guys take care. See you later.

Mabilis kong tinago ang cellphone ko sa loob ng bag dahil nag announce na bawal daw gumamit ng gadgets habang lumilipad ang eroplano.

While carefully watching Gino fall asleep, I could not help but feel pity for him.

We've been through a lot since we were young. But here we are, still fighting for our lives to survive. I know all the hardships we went through and it was not easy at all but we never thought of giving up as long as we were together.

I didn't notice the tears dripping down from my eyes. I immediately wiped it as I sighed heavily. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa payapang natutulog na mukha ni Gino at umikot ang paningin sa loob ng paliparan na sasakyan. 

After a couple of minutes passed. I suddenly remembered the contract. I know I brought it with me. So I immediately dug it inside the bag and took it out.

When I opened it as I read again what was written there.

Even though I already know what was on the inside, I still read it over and over again to confirm that everything was true.

The agreement form was offered by Krizza Mae Cloropio.

"Be my contract wife for the whole year in exchange for 50 Million."

“The first down payment would be 10 million for assurance and the remaining total balance, which is 40 million, would be deposited in your bank account after signing of the marriage contract.”

If you're interested. You can visit me personally at my office, or you can call me at this contact number. 091********.

If it's only a contract marriage, so does it means… hindi talaga siya seryoso sa pagpapakasal.

He might have a deep reason for offering this kind of contract.

I gulped while slowly getting my phone inside my bag while my bare hands were massively shaking. 

I took a deep breath as I slowly typed a message while whispering to myself…

“There's no turning back.”