Chapter 7

LEV'S POV

"Are you gonna be married or not?" My sister asked.

I woke up with a terrible headache. Pagkabukas ko pa ng mga mata ko, mukha na ng mga kapatid ko ang bumungad sa akin. They opened the curtains which light made its way to my room. They know the pin to my condo unit so they can barge in any time they want.

"Good morning too," I replied. "Anong oras na?"

"It's ten in the morning, Lev. Uminom ka ba kagabi?" One sister asked.

"Oo," I replied.

Kaya pala masakit yung ulo. I did drank last night. Pero ang sabi ko naman na hindi ako magpapakalasing. I ended up doing otherwise. I let mysel carried away with the emotions I was feeling.

Come to think of it, someone did helped me last night. Paniguradong hindi ko kayang umuwi na ako lang mag-isa. Knowing my condition, I would end up lying on the streets if I were left alone. Sino nga ba yung kasama ko kagabi?

"You are a potential wife," I heard my voice.

Kumunot yung noo ko. Eh? Potential wife? Sino naman ang pagsasabihin ko nun? I tried to remember who I was with until I only saw one face. It was Kaia.

No. It was a different Kaia. Sobrang bait niya and that Kaia wouldn't even care just a bit about me. Nakakapanibago lang. Is she really soft-hearted from the inside? Kasi kung hindi, pinabayaan na niya ako kagabi sa party. But then again, I will be her groom. Siguro iniisip din niya yung reputation naming dalawa if I made a scene. Fair point.

"Ano? Are you gonna stare down the floor the whole day?" My sister asked kaya napatingala ako sakanya.

"Oh. I'm sorry. It's the hangover," Iling ko. "What was your question again?"

They both sighed. "Did you find your bride? Kung wala pa, may gusto kaming ipakilala sa'yo."

"Mga ate, I can perfectly handle myself. Ako na ang maghanap. Huwag na kayong mag-abala pa," I said.

"Are you sure? We actually found someone who would be good for you," said one. "Mayaman, mabait, at maalaga. A perfect wife material, Lev. Just like what you wanted."

Kumunot yung noo ko. "Since when did you know my ideal type?"

"Let's face it. We raised you and we know everything about. You should know that by now, bunso."

Pati siguro crush simula elementary ay kilala nila. They are like my second parents. Kung protective si Mommy sa akin, mas protective sila. They want what's best for me, as their youngest, and as their only boy.

"Sino ba 'yan?" I asked. "Do I know her?"

The both nodded. "Yup! You've met her a couple of times."

"She's Ms. Santos."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Ano daw? Santos? The woman who used to be my tutor? A family friend? An older woman?!

"What?!" I shouted.

"Look, age doesn't matter, okay? Ang importante maalagaan ka niya. We know that you're in good hands. Besides, you used to say that you liked her," Sagot ni Ate.

"Yes! I like her when we were younger kasi para ko na siyang kapatid. Ate naman! Why would you let me marry to a 40 year old woman?!" Iling ko.

"40 na nga si Ms. Santos but she looks younger than her age. Lev naman. We couldn't find anyone who could do everything like what Ms. Santos could offer," They argued.

"But she's like a mother! Halos magkasing-edad na sila ni Mommy."

"That's the point, Lev! Someone who will take care of you like a mother. Isn't that what you want?"

"No!" Madiin kong sagot. "Parang sugar mommy ko na din 'yan, ate. Hindi ba kayo naaawa sa akin?"

"If you're so good, how come you haven't introduced someone to us, huh? Magpasalamat ka pa nga kasi we did the hard things for you," One argued.

"Kaya nga I've been going to parties, diba? I am looking for a bride at labas na kayo sa kung ano ang choice ko," I fired back. "At wala naman akong sinabi na hindi pa ako nakakahanap ng bride to be."

Kumunot yung noo nila. "Are you saying you found the one?"

I nodded. "Yes. And I am planning on pursuing her. Gusto ko baby steps lang muna para hindi siya mabigla."

I lied. It's one of Kaia and I's agreement. Dahan-dahanin lang namin yung proseso para hindi kahina-hinala. Well, I guess it's the right time naman na sabihan ko sina Ate tungkol dito bago pa nila ako ipakasal sa matanda.

"When can we meet her?" One Ate squinted her eyes at me. "Are you sure this is not one of your tricks to make us believe that you did find someone and that you can avoid to marry to Ms. Santos?"

"Gaya nang sabi ko, ayoko siyang biglain. I will introduce her to you once she's ready. As of this time, I want her to feel comfortable with me." I replied.

"We will wait for that day, Lev," One of my sister said.

"And we will be the judge for that," Said the other.

"You're gonna love her," Sagot ko. "You won't believe how I found somebody like her."

I'm being honest. It's true that Kaia is one unbelievable woman. Sino ba naman ang babaeng lalapit sa lalaki and offer a ruse. Si Kaia lang. She doesn't involve her emotional attachment to anyone. I doubt if she also have a heart. Pero nang makita ko siya kagabi, she became a whole new different person. Posible kayang ibang tao yun? Pero hindi 'e. I saw Kaia with my very own eyes.

Bigla nalang tumunog yung phone ko kaya napalingon dito ang aking mga kapatid. We stared at my phone on the table top, revealing Kaia's name.

"Kaia?" Tanong nung isa. "Kaia Dorchner?"

I nodded. "You know her?"

"Her Auntie and Mom are good friends. I only heard about her not until we held a party. Doon namin siya nakilala but we never had the chance to know her better," Sabi ng kapatid ko. "Siya ba? Siya ba ang tinutukoy mong babae kanina?"

"Yes."

Tumaas ang magkabila nilang kilay. "Be careful, Lev. No one knows her."

"Kaya nga I'm trying to get to know her better. I'm curious about her," Sagot ko.

"I'm just saying. If you're not so sure about her, you can always have Ms. Santos as your wife."

Umiling ako. "I'd rather marry someone who I'm interested in, rather than someone I know but older."

KAIA'S POV

Lev texted me to meet up this afternoon. Hindi ko alam kung para saan. There is no party that we'll be attending kaya nagtataka ako. I was doing my job when I received his text. Actually nasa trabaho ako ngayon. So I told him to meet me here in my workplace.

Casa de los Desiertos.

I owned the place. Ako din mismo ang gumawa ng menu. This is how I practice my profession.

Ilang minuto pa lang ay nakita ko nang pumasok si Lev. He found a vacant seat and roamed his eyes all over the place. The customers started turning their heads towards Lev. He's one fine man. I took off my apron and chef hat, fixed myself, and approached him. Hindi pa nga niya ako napansin agad. I stood behind him and cleared my throat.

"Do you want something to drink?" I asked.

Lumingon siya at agad ngumiti nang makita ako. I was taken aback. How can he smile with the situation he have?

"Kaia!" He exclaimed. "So you really own this place?"

I nodded. "Oo."

"Wow! I thought you'd be working in an office or something," He said excitedly. "So you make the food too?"

I nodded.

"Ang galing!"

"Stop being overdramatic," Irap ko. "It's not something you should be excited about."

"I don't know about your opinion but that is an achievement," He said. "And you should be proud of yourself."

Napatitig ako sa kanya. No one told me that it was an achievement. I have always been the black sheep of the family. I am a disappointment. Someone who wouldn't reach something in life. But this man, just appear out of nowhere, made me feel how huge this is.

"Kaia?" He called kaya napabalik ako sa ulirat.

"Hmm?"

"Could you give me the best drink that you have," He smiled. "It would be an honor to try some of your masterpieces."

And again, I was taken aback.

"S-Sure," I stuttered. "I'll have the waiter get it for you."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at tumalikod na. I don't know what to say. Bago sa akin ang lahat. Kali would always praise me but she never did talk about my achievements. So I believed that whatever I have right now were just the bare minimum.

Lumapit ako sa waiter at sinabi sa kanya kung ano yung order ni Lev. I also told him to get me something too. Tumango siya saka siya tumalikod. Naglakad na din ako papalapit kay Lev and sat on the seat across the table with him.

The door opened and a bunch of girls started entering the premises. Nagbulong-bulungan sila habang na kay Lev ang tingin. Napailing nalang ako.

"You should visit this place often," I told him.

Napangisi siya. "Why? You missed me?"

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "You should know by now that emotional characteristics is not in my vocabulary."

"Okay. Okay. Alam ko na yun. It was worth the shot." He chuckled. "Anyway, why would I visit you often then?"

"You attract customers," turo ko sa mga kababaihan.

Napalingon siya sa mga bagong dating. Nagulat ang mga babae nang biglang lumingon si Lev sa kanila. They then avoided eye contact.

"Am I really that attractive?" Ngisi niya. "Ang swerte mo naman sa akin."

I nodded. "You're right."

"Na ang swerte mo sa akin?" He asked.

Umiling ako. "Na gwapo ka. It would be more believable if I had fallen for your looks. One factor that I chose you."

"Wow. So you're actually admitting that I am handsome?" Turo niya sa sarili.

"Oo. It's not a lie though. Gwapo ka naman talaga."

"You don't know how much you made my heart skipped," Ngiti niya.

Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "Kinikilig ka?"

"It's flattering!"

"Well you shouldn't be. I'm only stating facts. Hindi ko intensyon ang pakiligin ka. I don't want you to get the wrong idea," I replied flatly.

"Ang harsh mo naman," Nguso niya. "I thought that you'd be soft-hearted."

"I'm not that kind of person," Iling ko. "Anyway, bakit nga pala gusto mong makipagkita sa akin? May nangyari ba?"

He snapped his fingers. "Bingo! May nangyari nga."

"Ano?"

"My sisters wouldn't believe that I have found a bride. Maybe one reason why they wouldn't believe me is that they want me to marry an older woman," He said.

Kumunot yung noo ko. Older woman? That's absurd.

"Then let me meet them," I suggested. "We'll say that we've grown interested towards each other."

"Yun nga. I told them na dahan-dahan muna tayo. I don't want them to meet you wherein we're still knowing each other," he replied.

"So?"

"Let's have a date tomorrow," He suggested.

"A date?"

"Pupunta kasi sa parke ang mga kasali sa Marriage Season. There would be a picnic. I think it's a great opportunity for us to show them that we are really going out."

I nodded. I see. Mas kapani-paniwala nga kapag makita kami ng marami. Gossips will spread like a wildfire. Makararating ito sa mga kapatid niya.

"Okay," I nodded. "It's a date then."