Kabanata 4

Stavros’ POV

“Aviona…” Himbing na himbing pa rin siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan. Ganoon ba siya kapagod at naging tulog-mantika na siya? “Aviona, wake up. We’re here.”

We just arrived at my mansion’s garage.

Ilang beses ko pa siyang tinawag ngunit hindi pa rin talaga siya magising. Kaya naman wala akong ibang pagpipilian kundi ang muling lumapit sa kaniya.

Hindi ko talaga maiwasan na mapatitig sa kaniyang mukha. Sa itsura niya ay parang wala siyang problema o isipin na pinagdaraanan. Para siyang isinilang para lamang magpalaganap ng kabutihan sa mundo.

Hindi nakaligtas sa aking mga mata ang mga labi niyang bahagyang nakaawang. Naalala ko tuloy ang pinagsaluhan naming halik kanina. It was just a quick one. But it was enough for me to feel how soft her lips were.

I was awakened from my thoughts.

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses. At napabalik ako sa aking pagkakaupo at napahilot sa aking noo.

What were you thinking, Stavros?

Napakamot ako sa aking kilay at napapikit nang mariin. Bumuga ako ng hangin.

It was just our first day. But this woman was already triggering my curiosity. Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi ko natanong si Anthony tungkol sa detalye ng pagkatao nito.

Nang mahimasmasan ako sa pag-iisip ay muli akong dumukwang upang tapikin nang marahan ang pisngi ni Aviona. This time, I made sure that her face would not affect me.

Makalipas ang ilang tapik ay gumalaw na siya sa wakas. Unti-unting gumalaw ang kaniyang mga talukap hanggang sa naimulat niya ang kaniyang mga mata.

Nagulat ako nang nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata at bigla akong itinulak palayo sa kaniya.

“What the heck is your problem?” bulyaw ko.

Napalunok siya at napayuko. “I-I’m sorry. Ma-masyado ka kasing… malapit,” mahinang sagot niya.

Dahil lang doon? Was she allergic to men? Then why did she marry me?

“Tss.” Tinanggal ko ang aking seatbelt. “Fix yourself. We’ve arrived at my mansion.” Hindi na ako nag-abalang hintayin ang kaniyang sagot. Lumabas na ako mula sa kotse.

I walked towards the other side of the car and opened the door for her. Napatingin ito sa akin. Ngunit agad niya rin iyong binawi at muling yumuko.

She’s such a weirdo.

“Good afternoon, Sir Stavros,” the maids greeted and bowed their heads. They looked at Aviona, who was beside me, then they also bowed. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”

Tinanguan ko sila.

Umalis na ang iba at bumalik sa kanilang mga ginagawa maliban na lang kay Manang Eba, ang mayordoma ng mansyon.

“Manang Eba, tour Aviona around the mansion. Make sure she’ll familiarize everywhere since she’ll be staying here from now on. Then, accompany her to her room,” I ordered.

She nodded at me before she looked at Aviona.

I walked my way upstairs.

“Halika, Ma’am Aviona. Ipapasyal kita sa mansyon,” rinig kong aya ni Manang Eba habang paakyat ako ng hagdan.

I took a shower right after I entered my room. I just walked out from the bathroom and was drying my hair with a towel when my phone rang. I hang the towel on my shoulder before picking up the phone.

“What?” I hissed.

“Wow ha. Wala man lang hi or hello, bro?” sarkastikong tanong ni Anthony.

“Just tell me what you need, Madrigal,” asar na wika ko.

Ano na naman bang kailangan nito?

“So last name basis na tayo ngayon, Bienvenelo?”

“Sasabihin mo ba ang kailangan mo o ibababa ko ‘tong tawag na ‘to?” I walked towards my closet. I took out a plain white shirt and cargo shorts.

This was a tiring day.

“Chill, man. Ang init ng ulo mo. Kukumustahin ko lang naman ang asawa mo. Is she alright?”

Napakunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. “Do you like my wife?” I asked him seriously.

Kanina ko pa napapansin na lagi niyang binabanggit si Aviona sa usapan.

Napahalakhak siya. “Woah! Woah! Ano, Stavros? Kumalat na ba agad ang kamandag ni Aviona sayo?” muli niyang asar.

“Isa—”

“Init ng ulo mo, p’re. Kinumusta lang, may gusto na agad? I have a girlfriend, remember? At isa pa, kung may gusto ako sa asawa mo, I wouldn’t recommend her to be your wife. Kinumusta ko lang naman siya dahil sa kagaguhan mo. Talagang wala kang pinapakinggan. Pati araw ng kasal mo, ‘di mo pinatawad,” mahabang paliwanag niya.

Tapos na akong magdamit. Kinuha ko ang aking pabango at pinisikan ang aking damit.

“Hoy, Stavros! Nakikinig ka ba?” sigaw niya.

“Yeah,” I answered boredly as I returned my perfume to the table.

“Ewan ko sayo. Gago ka talaga. Just make sure na aalagaan mo si Aviona dahil ako ang nagreto d’yan!”

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang makapagsalita pang muli. Pinatay ko na ang tawag. Inihagis ko ito sa kama.

Was he really a man? He’s so talkative. If only he hadn’t said that he has a girlfriend, I would think that he was really a gay.

I went to my working table, opened my laptop, and started to read some files.

I would rather choose to work all day long than talking with Anthony.

I didn't notice that it would make me fall asleep. When I opened my eyes, it was already dark. And the only source of light in my room was my laptop.

Binuksan ko ang lampshade sa ibabaw ng aking mesa. Pagkatapos ay dinampot ko ang telepono.

"Hello, sir?" tanong ng nasa kabilang linya.

“Where’s Aviona?”

“Nailibot ko na po siya sa mansion, sir. Nasa kwarto niya po siya ngayon.”

"Alright. Prepare dinner now. And call Aviona in her room."

Hindi ko na hinintay na sumagot pa ang katulong. Ibinaba ko na ang telepono.

When I arrived at the dining room, Aviona wasn't still there. I sat on the seat on the edge and waited for her to come. The food was on the table already.

What's taking her so long?

A minute had passed before I heard light footsteps towards the dining room. It didn't take so long to reveal who was coming.

It was Aviona with her black shirt and cotton shorts on.

My lips rose because of the sight.

The clothes I bought fitted her well. She looked simple yet beautiful.

I watched how she moved delicately. It was all calculated. She looked like she was afraid to make mistakes. She even sat two seats away from mine.

My forehead creased.

I was waiting for her to put food on her plate. But she was just sitting there, playing and looking at her hands.

"Let's eat." I broke the silence between us.

I thought that she was just waiting for those words. But she didn't move even a bit.

My blood was starting to boil inside of me.

What did this woman want?

I glared at her even though she was not looking at me. To my irritation, I ignored her and filled my plate with food instead.

Ngunit nabigla ako nang pagkatapos kong kumuha ng pagkain ay saka siya kumilos upang kumuha ng kaniya.

Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magsalita. Tahimik kaming kumain. Binuhos ko ang aking atensyon sa aking pagkain at paminsan-minsa'y sumusulyap ako sa kaniya.

"May dapat tayong pag-usapan. Mauna ka na sa living room. Susunod ako. May kukunin lang ako sa itaas," sambit ko nang matapos kaming kumain.

Nang makuha ko na ang kontrata ay nagtungo na ako sa living room at sinimulan ang diskusyon.

"I am not planning to keep this marriage for too long. This will only be a one-year contract. And this paper also contains the rules for this one-year marriage." Iniabot ko ang isang kopya ng kontrata. Nasa kabilang sofa kasi siya. Ngunit hindi niya ito tinanggap. Napapikit ako nang mariin at napahilot sa aking sentido.

This woman was stressing the shit out of me!

Bumuga ako ng hangin.

"Alright. I'll just read it for you then. Tell me if you're okay with these." Tumikhim ako. "First of all, there must be no strings attached. Second, I will give you the benefits that I promised to your family in exchange for fulfilling your duties as my wife outside this mansion. And that will be pretending that we're married out of love in every business meeting that I will take you with me. Don’t bother to speak to people when it is not needed. And the last one is, mind your own business, and I will mind mine. Do you have any more suggestions?" I lifted my eyes on her. “Don’t worry because this is a legitimate contract. I have my attorney who made this. Just a year and you’re free.”

Napatayo ako. "What the fuck is your problem, woman?!" angil ko.

Paano ba naman? Salita ako nang salita ngunit parang hindi siya nakikinig dahil nanatili lang siyang nakayuko.

Nagkamali ba ako nang napiling pakasalan?

Sa wakas ay umangat ang tingin niya sa akin. Ngunit may nasasalamin akong takot sa kaniyang mga mata. Nangilid ang luha sa mga ito. Kita ko rin ang panginginig ng kaniyang mga labi. At ang palihim niyang pagkurot sa kaniyang braso.

God! Pakiramdam ko ay aakyat lagi ang dugo ko sa aking ulo dahil sa babaeng ito.

I laid down the paper violently on the table. "Just sign those papers and we're done!"

Nakapamewang kong pinanood ang nanginginig na pagdampot niya sa ballpen at ang kaniyang pagpirma sa kontrata. Nang matapos siya ay hinablot ko ang papel at saka madaling naglakad paakyat.

Did I just marry a crazy woman?