Prologue

“Rise and shine, Sunny. It’s already nine in the morning.” A half-naked man approached me in the bed and kissed me on my forehead.

“Good morning, Francis?” I said while half-asleep.

“Francis? Mrs. Silvestre are you really calling your husband by another man’s name?” Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig niya mula sa akin.

“Shut up Mon! Huwag kang umasta na hindi mo rin ako tinatawag ng ibang pangalan kahit na nagtatalik tayo.” Nagtabon ako ng kumot pero agad niya rin itong tinanggal para tingnan ang itsura ko.

“Oooh! What’s this? Are you jealous? Naghihiganti ka ba sa akin? It’s unfortunate though. That won’t work. After all walang lalaki ang nakahihigit sa akin." He said with confidence.

You and your narcissism. "It makes me sick," mahinang sabi ko.

"Ano? Nasusuka ka ba? Are you okay?" alalang-alala siya.

"I'm fine as long as I don't see your face."

"You and your savage words. I know you're just saying that to hide your feelings for me."

"Dream on, Mon."

 “So who’s Francis? Have you really found a lover like I told you so?”

  

Bumangon ako. “Anong pinagsasasabi mo? Hindi ako katulad mo! Tsaka hindi mo ba talaga naaalala si Francis? He’s my boyfriend back when we were in highschool."

“Oh! That Francis!" He snapped his fingers. "Francisco Luciardo. Pangalan pa lang, bagay na bagay na kayo, Maria Asuncion Padua. Pero mas bagay tayo, you’re Sunny and I’m Mon. Araw at buwan. We complete each other.”  He held my face as he said so.

I didn't know he could be this cheesy. 

I got up from the bed and sat in front of the vanity mirror. There in the reflection shows a beautiful woman with wavy long black hair wearing a burgundy lingerie dress.

I say Mon is a narcissist but I'm also full of self-love myself. I combed my hair that's been a mess because of how rowdy we are last night.

 “Oh please Mon! Stop acting like you wanted for this marriage to happen. Aren’t you supposed to marry that Sabrina who’s an actress?"

  

“Yeah. But I don't really care whoever the two of you I marry. I’ll still see you kahit na kasal ako kay Sabrina.” He said shamelessly.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Ahh. Kaya pala panay ang paglabas ninyong dalawa kahit kasal na tayo.”  

Sinundan niya ako sa harap ng salamin. “It's not what you think, Sunny. Nagagalit ka ba? Pinagtataasan mo ba ng boses ang asawa mo? Ginaganyan-ganyan mo na ako? I thought you loved me," wika niya habang hawak ang balikat ko.

“Love?" Lumingon ako sa kanya at binaba ang suklay na hawak ko. "Sinong hangal ang nagsabi sa’yo niyan? I didn’t marry you for love. I married you because of the child in my stomach. I married you because of a stupid mistake we both committed. I married you because your family will handle my mom’s hospital bills.I married you because my dad offered me as pawn to the debt of our family to yours.  I married you because of money. And you married me because your dad told you so. Isn’t that right, asawa ko?” I looked back at him straight in the eyes. I must admit I got heated for a moment.

“You got it perfectly. Ang talino talaga ng asawa ko." He gently patted my head. "Pero pumapangit ka kapag nagagalit ka, so smile my dear.” He tucked the hair in front of my eyes behind my ears.

I brushed his hand off my face. “I will. Gagawin ko iyon sa harap ng publiko. Magpapanggap akong masaya tayo. Kaya galingan mo. Mangaliwa ka man sa gusto mo pero ‘wag na ‘wag kang magpapahuli sa iba. Dahil hindi lang ikaw kundi ako ang malilintikan.”   

“Sure, my dear. Looks like I married a better actress than Sabrina."

"I'm far better than her in more ways."

"Ofcourse you are, dear. Now then, shall we get down for breakfast? Never mind. I shall have YOU as my breakfast.” He kissed me on my nape as he slowly wrapped his arms around my body.

Tumayo ako at hinarap siya. Ipinulupot ko ang braso ko sa leeg niya. 

"We don't have time for this. We have a big event this evening. There'll be a party for the newly opened branch of our mall in Makati."

"Let's have our own party here before we leave." He held my waist as he kissed me and his hand find its way to my butt. I can feel he's hard down there.

"No. Let's eat. How do you like your eggs in the morning? Sunny side up or scrambled? " I asked him as I bit my lips while looking at his.

"You know that I like it beaten. Do you really have to ask?"

"As you wish, then," I kneeled down before him and get to cooking.

After breakfast, he went for desert. He licked me like an ice cream while I keep dripping and melting because of how hot he is.

Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari ito pero naging routine na namin ang mag-make out imbes na mag-make up pagkatapos mag-away. This is a bad habit considering I'm not really sure if what I'm feeling for him is lust or love.

Bumaba na kami ng kwarto namin para kumain ng totoong pagkain. Ipinaghanda kami ni Manang Lily ng masarap na agahan. Puno ang mesa para magbigay-sustansya sa amin dahil kakailanganin namin ng enerhiya para sa araw na ito.

As we sat in the dining table, I asked Monroe if all the preparations were ready.

"By the way, saulo mo na ba ang speech mo para mamaya?"

"I skimmed through it. I can just read it out later."

"You should pay more attention on how you'll deliver it. I know how you're charismatic and all but sometimes you mispronounce words."

"Huwag mo kasing lagyan ng  mahihirap na salita, love."

"Make your own speech then."

Natahimik siya sa banat ko. Ako na halos gumagawa ng trabaho niya. Well, it's part of the deal and one of the reasons he agreed to marry me but seriously,  he's being too carefree. 

We made lots of calls the whole day. After inspecting the venue for the last time, we started getting ready for the big event.

I wore a backless gold silk dress while Monroe sported a classic black suit. My hair is put in a low bun while Mon's got a side part haircut and styled with good quality pomade. We went to the venue riding a black limousine and walked the red carpet like movie stars.

The party is held at 'N Hotel which is a property owned by the Natividad Family and the catering is provided by Romualdez Catering Services. This just means we're gonna be meeting Felicity and Francis tonight for sure.

Binati namin ni Monroe ang mga bisitang dumalo sa kasiyahan. Lahat sila mga importanteng tao dito sa Buencamino. Lahat rin ng may-ari ng negosyo na nasa loob ng Silver Star Supermall ay dumalo.

Umupo sila sa mga upuang nakatalaga para sa kanila at nakiisa ng magsimula na ang programa. 

Malapit na magbigay ng talumpati si Monroe pero kailangan ko munang pumuntang restroom para umihi.

"Love, I'll just go to the restroom real quick," paalam ko kay Mon.

"Gusto mo samahan kita?" He held my arm as he asked me and his eyes turned gentle no matter how sharp it is.

"Hindi na love, I'll be fine. Malapit ka na rin umakyat sa stage. You might miss it. Don't worry,  I'll be back by then."

I left my seat then went to the restroom. Pabalik na sana ako ng hall nang may biglang humigit sa akin sa loob ng storage room.

"Francis, what are you doing?" Gulat at lito na nagtanong ako nang mamukhaan ko siya, hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko.

"I wanted to have a time alone with you tonight but you were always with that dumb CEO."

"Francis, huwag mo siyang tawaging gano'n." I'm the only one allowed to call him like that.

"Bakit? Gusto mo ba siya? Hindi ba ako ang mahal mo?" Nanlilisik ang mata niya at hinigpitan pa niya ang paghawak sa akin. Mukhang nakainom na rin siya.

"Francis,  teka lang, bitawan mo ko. Nasasaktan ako." Pilit akong kumawala sa kanya.

"Sunny, I love you. Leave that jerk and come to me."

Why does he keep insulting Mon like that?

Hindi ko namalayan pero halos magtagpo na ang kilay ko dahil sa mga salitang naririnig ko kay Francis.

"Pero Francis, may asawa at anak ka na." I need to get him back to his senses.

"Huwag kang mag-alala. I'll file for annulment.  I'll leave them so we can be together.  I love you, Sunny." He tried to force a kiss on me so I pushed him.

"Francis,  tumigil ka. Hindi tama 'to. It's true that I loved you and you loved me before but our circumstances now doesn't allow for that love to happen. Hindi tayo pwede. Go back to your wife and son, I have to go back to Mon." Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

Umalis ako ng storage room at nagmadaling bumalik ng hall.

That's right. This isn't where I am supposed to be. Monroe is making a speech tonight. He needs my support. Paano na lang kung mabulol siya o hindi kaya makalimutan ang sasabihin niya? Kailangan niya ako sa tabi niya.

Pagbukas ko ng pinto, agad kong tiningnan si Mon sa entablado. Pero ano 'to bakit may basag na itlog sa buhok niya si Mon? Bakit parang dumudugo rin ang noo niya?

"Walang puso! Maninira ng tahanan. Dapat sa'yo mabulok sa kulungan," sigaw ng isa sa tatlong lalaking nakasuot ng t-shirt at shorts na mukhang nakalusot sa seguridad. Mukhang miyembro sila ng mga nagpoprotesta na nawalan ng tahanan dahil sa pagpapatayo ng kumpanya ng mall at iba pang establisyemento. 

"Mga ganid sa kayamanan, sama-sama kayong mabaon sa pagguho ng gusaling ito." 

Mukhang balak nilang pasabugin ang gusaling ito. Nagkagulo ang mga tao sa loob.

What a mess!

Tumunog ang fire alarm at agad nagsilikas ang mga tao papalabas samantalang ako ay papunta sa direksyon na kabaligtaran nila. 

"What the hell is the security doing?" I ran towards the stage. Natapilok pa ako kaya inalis ko na lang ang heels ko. 

They keep throwing raw eggs at Mon. I saw one of the three of them is planning to throw some stone again to Mon so I quickly ran up to him and shield him. Natamaan ako sa ulo. Even so, I didn't really cared about it.

"Mon, okay ka lang ba?" I looked over his wound and tried to look all over if he was hurt anywhere else. "Anong tinatayo mo pa dito?  Bakit hindi ka umilag? Engot ka ba talaga?" I scolded him. 

"Sunny, anong ginagawa mo dito? Get behind me. You're gonna get hurt pati na rin si baby," alalang tanong niya sa akin.

"Halika nga rito." I held his hand then took shelter behind the podium. 

"You're a lost cost. Just what are you gonna do without me?" Umiling-iling ako.

"That's right. I don't know what I'll do without you, so don't leave me." Niyakap ako ng mahigpit ni Mon. 

Was he pressured to face the public again tonight? I know he has his shortcomings but they don't know that he's really trying his best to run the company and make this marriage work.

He may be a dumb CEO but he is still my husband. I won't let anyone bully him because only I, his wife, is allowed to do that.

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa kamay niya. Sinisigurado ko na makakalabas kaming tatlo ng ligtas sa gusaling ito ngayong gabing ito.