CHAPTER 2

Maaga akong umalis ng bahay para pumasok. Hindi ko alam kung tulog pa ba si Ivan o umalis siya. As far as I know, he’s working already sa family company nila. His dad trains him how to manage the company, and soon to manage our company as well. 

Walang may alam na married na ako, except kay Corrine na best friend ko. Kinakabahan nga akong harapin siya ngayon kasi for sure she’ll ask me so many questions about what happened after the wedding ceremony. 

Mabilis kong natapos ang Final Exam at heto na nga ang pagkikita namin ni Corrine. Nakikita ko na ang expensive bag and shoes niya sa malayo na agaw atensyon lagi. She’s a freaking fashionista.

“Hey,” I called her.

“There you go! Sasama raw sa’tin ‘yung dalawang monkey. And while we wait for them…” she paused. Umupo kami sa bench dito sa SEC. Nagsimula na nga akong kabahan dahil magsisimula na ang pagiging chismosa niya. “How’s the honeymoon?”

AS expected.

“Umasa kang may honeymoon?” sarcastic kong tugon.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me nothing happened? As in NOTHING?!” maarte niyang singhal.

“NOTHING. You know it’s contracted marriage. No strings attached.”

“Sa kanya. Pero ikaw meron. Mahal mo, remember?” pang-aasar niya.

Inirapan ko siya at hindi nakasagot dahil totoo naman. Kung alam lang niya anong nangyari baka umuusok na ilong niya ngayon sa galit. I can’t tell it to her dahil super protective niya sa’kin na ultimong susugurin niya talaga ‘yung taong nanakit sa’kin.

She’s a law student. Whenever she argue with someone, lagi niya nilalapagan ng mga law jargons na hindi ko maintindihan. Kaya ‘yung kaaway niya wala na lang masabi kasi tinatakot niyang kakasuhan niya ayon daw sa Article whatever number it is. 

She’s scary and intimidating as fuck. But her personality was opposite dahil napakaingay at kalog ni Corrine. She’s actually friendly. Ayon nga lang, patibayan na lang ng loob kung gusto mo siya maging kaibigan.

"Anaaaaa!"

"Corineeeee!"

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Corrine sa dalawang unggoy na kumakaway sa amin. Tapos na ang Final Exam a.k.a Hell week kaya naman ang ingay rito sa campus. Kasama na ro’n ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Ayan na sila. Kung ‘di lang galante ‘tong si Zack uuwi na ako, e." Natawa naman ako sa binulong ni Corrine. Panigurado kasing mag-aayang kumain at uminom sa labas ‘tong si Zack dahil tapos na nga ang Finals.

"What's with that face, Corrine?" Kiel asked her. Magtatalo na naman ‘tong dalawang ‘to.

"Ingay nyo." Then she rolled her eyes. "Oh ano Zack saan ba tayo?" tanong nya agad dito.

Nasanay na kaming lumabas after class. Hindi lang natutuloy kapag busy kami and hectic ang schedule. But usually, after exams and semester ay umiinom kami. Pa-congrats kasi namin sa sarili iyon.

"Sa Tomas Morato na lang muna. Nakalimutan ko card ko, e," sagot ni Zack habang chini-check ang laman ng wallet niya.

Masaya kaming naglakad palabas ng gate nang biglang magring ang phone ko.

Mom is calling.

This is unsual for her dahil napaka-busy na tao nina Mom and Dad. So for sure napakaimportante ng sasabihin nito kapag ganitong biglang napapatawag.

I answered the call at lumayo muna kaunti sa kanila.

"Hello, mom?"

"Are you done with your class?" deretso niyang tanong.

"Yes po. I'm with my friends right now. We're going to–"

"Go home already. We will have dinner with the Gray Family," she cut me off.

Nagtaka naman ako sa sinabi nya. Why so urgent? Katatapos lang ng kasal namin, ah?

"What’s the matter?"

"I'll tell you later. Just go home para makapag-prepare ka pa," and she ended the call.

I sighed. I'm sure this is about the company na. Ivan’s family is our long-time business partner kaya naman magkapatid na ang kumpanya namin sa kanila. 

Bumababa kasi ang sales ng company namin kaya napilitan na sina Mommy na ikasal ako sa anak ng mga Gray. That will serve as my punishment daw for insisting my dream course. But little did they know that Gray's heir, which is Ivan, is my one true love.

Bumalik ako sa pwesto ng mga kaibigan ko na kinakabahan at nahihiya dahil hindi ako makakasama ngayon. Mukhang napansin naman ni Zack ang itsura ko.

"What happened? Bakit ganyan ang mukha mo?"

Ano ba yan nakakahiya naman, paano ko ba ‘to sasabihin? Excited na excited pa naman sila tapos biglang ‘di ako makakasama.

"Mom called me and we have an urgent gathering." Sabay yuko ko dahil sa kahihiyan. They don’t know about my contract marriage. Si Corrine lang talaga nakakaalam. Tiningnan ko nga siya nang makahulugan at mukhang na-gets naman niya.

"Hala sayang naman. Si tita naman panira ng lakad!" She bursts out.

"I'm sorry, guys. Hindi ko rin alam, eh," I sincerely apologized.

Zac pats my head. "It's okay. Gusto mo ihatid ka muna namin?"

Napatingala naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Nako, huwag na! I'll call our driver to fetch me. You guys should go now. Baka anong oras na naman kayo umuwi niyan, eh." Noong first sem kasi ay madaling araw na sila umuwi. Ang lalakas uminom!

"Fine, fine. Take care, okay? Just call me if something happens," he replied. Among the four of us, he's the sweetest and most responsible. Opposite na opposite sila ni Kiel kaya nagtataka rin kami ni Corrine paano nagkasundo ‘tong dalawang ‘to.

Napasabat naman si Corrine sa sinabi ni Zack, "Anong if something happens? e si Kuya Rodel naman ang kasama niya."

"Kahit na. Paano kung may mangyaring masama diba?" See? Ang caring.

"Duh! How could Ana call you if something bad happened?"

"Stop it, Corrine. It's annoying." Kiel pulled her and they start to walk away.

"Bitawan mo ko! .... Ana, mag-ingat ka ha!" sigaw ni Corrine sa malayo habang pumipiglas kay Kiel. Natawa na lang ako dahil mambubugbog na naman ang babaeng ‘yon.

Sumunod na rin si Zac sa kanila at naiwan ako rito mag-isa. Hihintayin ko na lang si Kuya Rodel para sunduin ako. Ayaw kasi ako bilhan ni Dad ng kotse as part of the punishment for insisting my dream course. 

Like really? Hindi ko ba pwede kunin ang gusto ko? Pero ‘di na lang ako nagreklamo.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating si Kuya Rodel at agad kaming umuwi sa bahay. Matagal din ang huling uwi ko rito sa mansion. Lagi kasi akong nasa condo noon tapos ngayon naman may sarili na kaming bahay ni Ivan.

Sinalubong ako ng mga aligagang maids na nag-aayos ng bahay. Mukhang dito gaganapin ang dinner at hindi sa pamilyang Gray.

Mom saw me as I taking off my shoes and gave me a soft kiss on the cheeks. Maging siya ay aligaga sa pag-aayos ng sarili nya.

"You only have 30mins. Go to your room and fix yourself. Wear an elegant dress, okay?" Iniwan nya akong tulala at nagsimula na uli siyang mag-ayos.

I forgot to ask why the Gray family will have dinner with us. Ayoko naman mag-assume sa conclusion ko. And if this is about the company, bakit kailangan pa maghanda ng ganito kaganda? They almost turned our house into a five-star hotel.

Wala na akong nagawa kaya umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko at naglinis ng katawan. After that, I wear a white fitted dress, black stiletto, and paired it with a silver necklace. I sprayed a Louis Vuitton perfume after I do my simple makeup for this night. Maya-maya lang ay kumatok na sa pinto ang isang maid namin para pababain ako dahil dumating na raw ang pamilyang Gray.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin bago ako lumabas ng kwarto. Ang lakas ng kabog ng puso ko habang bumababa. I made sure that I look gorgeous tonight para mapansin ako ng asawa ko.

"Welcome to my house, Maxwell," dinig kong bati ni Mommy sa mga bisita. The Gray family is here kaya naman mas lalo pa akong kinabahan. Napalingon naman sa akin si Mommy kaya pinapunta nya ako sa pwesto nila.

"Nice to see you again po, Mr. Gray." Ngumiti naman ng malapad ito sa akin.

"You can call me Dad, young lady. No need for formalities. You’re already married with my son." Natuwa naman ako ro’n kaya napangiti na lang ulit ako.

Dumeresto kami sa Dining table nang dumating na si Dad. We eat quietly. Sanay na sanay naman na ako na ganito katahimik kumain kapag kasabay ko sina Mom and Dad.

But I'm thankful that someone breaks the silence.

"So obviously, we are here to plan about our companies." I turn my gaze to Dad when he said that. I mean... I'm expecting this but why so sudden? Ang alam ko after three months pa ng marriage namin kasi nga ite-train pa si Ivan and may mga dapat din daw kasi akong matutunan as wife kahit daw hindi ako ang hahawak.

"My daughter, Aloha, was supposed to inherit our company at the age of 18. But due to her stubbornness, she rejected it," he paused. Everyone looked at me like I did a big mistake except HIM.

Naiyuko ko na lang ang ulo ko sa kahihiyan dahil sa sinabi ni Dad. It sounds like I have no freedom to decide on my own. My happiness. My dream.

"She's our only child and she's the only one who will inherit the company. But since she rejected it, no one will manage the company. So, I asked for your help in order to continue the legacy of our family. And I want to say thank you for accepting my offer." He smiled at Tito Maxwell.

"Now, to continue the success of our both families, my daughter Aloha Anastacia married Maximon Ivan Gray." And now, he looked at the gorgeous man in front of me.

"Thank you so much, Ivan. I will entrust to you our company and my daughter. Congratulations on your wedding, by the way."

"Thank you for trusting me, Sir. Rest assured that I will manage your company very well and also your lovely daughter." He turned his face at me and gave me an intense look. Nailang ako sa tingin niya kaya iniwas ko na lang ang paningin ko at uminom ng wine.

We never had a serious conversation ever since we met. I don't even know his behavior since I'm just admiring him from afar. I'm attracted to his looks and intelligence. So I got so curious about him since then until I found myself always looking for him every day.

Corrine knows that I like him. Siya ang tumutulong sa akin para i-stalk si Ivan. Dahil sa pinaggagawa namin, I didn't notice that I'm already falling without his knowledge. I fell not because of his looks and intelligence, but for his love for the poor children. He's so generous and helpful to other people which makes my heart flutter.

Bumalik ang diwa ko sa kasalukuyan nang tawagin ako ni Tito.

"Aloha, is Ivan doing good as your husband?" Mukhang mas may malasakit pa siya sa’kin kesa sa sarili kong magulang. Hindi nga nila ako tinanong noon kung okay lang ba sa’kin magpakasal.

Tumingin naman ako kay Ivan but he’s not looking at me. "Yes po, Dad. But... ahm, bakit po  pala pinagpaplanuhan na ngayon ang pagpasa ng company?" I asked shyly. 

"Why? Don’t you trust me, wife?" nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang magsalita. Buti na lang at sanay ako sa social interactions. Thanks to my course. Kaya nagawa ko pang sagutin ang tanong niya ng maayos.

"No, it's not like that. I mean... we need to prepare for that."

I saw Tito smile after hearing that.

"She's right, son.” Baling niya sa malamig niyang anak at tumingin muli sa’kin. “Well, it’s your father’s decision.” 

"You’ll manage both our companies starting next week." Si Mommy naman ang sumagot. Ngayon lang uli sya nagsalita mula kanina pa.

"If you don't mind me asking, why does it seem like you're rushing it? I don’t mind at all, but my wife and I still need to adjust and familiarize everything.” 

Gusto kong kiligin sa paraan ng pagsabi niya ng ‘my wife’ pero alam ko naman na palabas niya lang ‘to.

"We're sorry for this, Ivan. But your Tito Axel needs immediate treatment for his heart complication. We already discussed this to your parents that after your wedding, we will depart to America for his operation," Mom said.

But what?! Ooperahan si Dad? Bakit wala akong alam?!

Balak ko sana sumabat pero naunahan ako ng tingin ni Mommy. Senyales na wag na akong sumagot.

Natapos ang dinner namin at wala kaming nagawa ni Ivan kundi sumunod sa plano nila. 

Naunang umalis ang pamilya ni Ivan. Siya naman ay maghihintay na lang daw sa labas para sabay na kami umuwi. Mukhang alam niya agad na gusto kong kausapin sila Dad. 

So when everyone left the dining room, I immediately approached them.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"It's none of your business, Aloha. Just be a good wife to Ivan," Dad said in a monotone voice, a sign that he doesn't want to argue with it so shut up.

But yeah, it's none of my business. They're my parents and I am a member of this freaking family but it's completely none of my business. Just wow. I'm so sick of this. 

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at umalis na. 

Paglabas ko ng dining room ay nandoon lang din pala si Ivan na seryoso ang mukha. He probably heard everything.

“Let’s go. We’ll discuss many things,” he sternly said.