Chapter 4

Naiwan silang dalawa ni Vanessa sa study at umalis na ang abogado. They have three days to decide. Kung ano'ng gusto ni Vanessa ay 'yon ang gagawin niya. She's angry. Ramdam niya ang galit nito. Kanina lang sa libing ng ina ay umiiyak ito pero ngayon, Vanessa looked like she's about to explode.

"Let me know what you want to do and I'll support you."

She scoffed. "Funny how you could say that. We won't be in this stupid room having this conversation if you—" Hindi itinuloy ni Vanessa ang sasabihin. But Kons knew what she was going to say.

If he showed up to their wedding day, walang magiging ganitong kondis'yon si Valya.

"I just don't understand why we need to get married," frustrated nitong wika. Hindi alam ni Kons kung siya ang kinakausap nito o hindi. Maybe he is just voicing out her frustrations.

"If she's here, I'd ask her," wala sa loob na sambit ni Kons.

Sinamaan ni Vanessa ng tingin si Kons. He was out of line and Kons knew it. Gusto lang naman niyang pagaanin ang lahat ngayong oras na ito. He was too young when his mother died so Kon's don't really remember the pain of losing someone dear to him. Valya was the closest to him at hindi lang siya showy, pero masakit para sa kaniya ang pagkawala ng babae. The regret that he failed her is weighing him down. Kaya nang marinig niya ang will ng kaniyang ninang, gusto niyang gawin ang magpapasaya sa kaisa-isang anak nito. Even if it means marrying her.

"Look, I'm just trying to lighten the conversation. We have three days to decide if you're going to give it all away to charity. The lawyer did not say we have to get married in three days. As far as I can understand, we have to get married within a year. So what do you want us to do?"

Before Vanessa could answer, they heard a knock on the door at narinig nila ang boses ni Damien. Kons had a feeling Damien is the reason why Vanessa couldn't go through the wedding. Well, that and her grudge with Konstantin. Siguro ay mahal na ni Vanessa ang lalaking 'yon kaya hindi nito magawa ang gusto ng ina.

"Let's talk some other time." Tumayo ito at naglakad patungo sa pinto. She stopped halfway and turned to look at him. "Hanggang kailan ka rito?

"You need three days to decide. I will be here until then." Tumango lang si Vanessa at tuluyang binuksan ang pinto nang malapit doon.

Nakita ni Kons si Damien na sumilip sa loob ng study at nang makita siya ay saglit na kumunot ang noo nito. He heard him asking Vanessa why he needed to be there. Hindi narinig ni Kons ang sagot ni Vanessa, but he can't wait to see his reaction when Vanessa tells him about the will conditions.

Kons stayed a bit in the study and looked around. Hindi naman siya nagmamadaling umuwi. Maybe he'll find clues here too. Fifteen minutes later, he received a call from his informant and decided to leave.

***

Three days passed and Kons is preparing to leave Russia. He needs to do some business in the Philippines and it cannot wait. Wala siyang natanggap na tawag mula kay Vanessa simula nang basahin ang will. He thought maybe she has decided to give it all away. Hindi naman niya kailangan dahil malaki ang kita nito sa pagiging sikat na singer at endorser. Hindi siya maghihirap kung hindi tanggapin ang mana mula kay Valya. It just meant everything that Valya worked hard for will go to waste.

Kons just zipped his carryon when his phone rang. It's Vanessa. She was asking for them to meet at Turandot. It's a high-end restaurant in the city. He agreed and decide to arrive ten minutes early but Vanessa still beat him to it. Naroon na ito at umiinom ng wine. Napangiwi si Kons nang makitang walang pagkain sa mesa. She didn't even order any appetizer before drinking. And what's with the wine? Maalaga ito sa boses kaya hindi umiinom ng alak. But this afternoon, she did.

He sat down on the chair across from her. Lihim siyang natuwa na hindi nito kasama si Damien. It would suck if they won't be able to talk freely. Alam niyang tungkol sa will ni Valya ang pag-uusapan nila, at hindi siya sigurado kung sinabi ni Vanessa sa nobyo nito ang tungkol doon. She should have because it involves marriage and it will affect their relationship. On the other hand, hindi alam ni Kons kung ano ang pwedeng maging pakay ni Damien.

Nang lumapit ang server nila ay binigyan sila ng menu at tinanong kung ano'ng gusto niyang inumin. "I'll have what she's having." Magalang na tumango ang lalaki at iniwan sila saglit.

When the server returned, Vanessa let him order for the both of them. Alam niya ang mga paborito nito and he was hoping it hasn't changed yet. Nagpakiramdaman sila habang naghihintay sa pagkain. And that's when he noticed the ring on her finger. That didn't sit well with Kons. Iba pala kapag nasa harapan na niya.

"If you wanted to tell me you're giving everything to charity, we could have skipped the formalities and this lunch," malamig na wika ni Kons sa babae.

Kumunot ang noo ni Vanessa at napatingin sa suot na singsing. "Is it because of the ring?"

Kons brought the wine glass to his lips and took a sip. Hanggang sa hindi na niya ibinaba at inubos na ang laman. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit naaapektuhan siya sa kaalaman na ikakasal na ito sa iba.

"I haven't answered him yet, but he did propose," matapat nitong wika sa kaniya.

"When?"

"After my mom died." Pagak itong tumawa. "I know— it wasn't the best time. Kaya nga hindi ako nakasagot kaagad. But he slipped the ring on my finger and said he will wait. Damien joked it's to repel the other men." She hasn't accepted his marriage proposal. The timing was just too convenient— kung kailan vulnerable si Vanessa ay saka aayain na magpakasal. What a tool, Kons thought. "I've decided to... tie the knot." Kumunot ang noo ni Kons. "With you."