2.1

“Can you repeat that again?” Valentine asked. Her eyes became narrow, looking and listening intently at him. She might have mistaken her voice for someone else’s.

A grin pulled on his lips. “Yes, I was the one who called you earlier.” His eyes went back to Billy’s annoyed expression and cleared his throat. “Valentine, let’s talk outside for a moment. I do think your father is annoyed by our presence.”

In return, Billy gave them a scoff. And in respect for her father, Valentine went outside the room with the unknown stranger. All she thought was they’ll speak only outside of the room but, he led her to the elevator.

“Where are we going?” she inquired.

“I just thought you’ll need a breather,” he simply answered. A simple answer Valentine thought it was hard to figure out. What was he going to do? What was he going to say? What did he mean by her needing a breather? Questions ran inside her mind as the elevator rose up. The beats of her heart just randomly shifted to a fast pace. She’s inside the elevator with a man she never met in her entire life.

As the elevator did a quick ding, it opened and revealed them a garden. They were in a rooftop.

“I thought we’re restricted from coming here?”

“I had permission. My brother owns this hospital.”

Whatever this man standing beside her was, whatever name he held and profession he took… he’s wealthy and fed up of power.

Flowers of almost all sorts were there, blooming beautifully. In the middle of the garden, there were two chairs and a table in between. A glass roof in green towered over to give shade. The man sat first and he gestured her to sit.

Tired from all the running and walking Valentine did, she sat down on the vacant seat and leaned her back, letting herself melt. It wasn’t that sunny and now that they’re at the very top, it was windy. He was right, she undoubtedly needed a breather. But the thought of him wanting to talk to her resurfaced.

“Who are you?” She whipped her face to look at him. He didn’t face her. Instead, he got his eyes stuck on the road where vehicles from two-wheeled ones to 10-wheeled trucks were crossing.

“William Fajardo.”

Valentine took time to process everything. She dug deep into her memory. The William Fajardo name sounded ridiculously familiar to her. She was certain she met a William Fajardo back then. And, it hit her. William Fajardo was the boy she met in school, a year older than her, who used to bully her at high school. He called her names, bullied her by her appearance and her outfit preferences.

“You!” She stood up abruptly. The chair moved slightly backwards, scratching against the floor.

“Yes, me,” William looked at her.

She found it hard to read what expression he was holding. He couldn’t be upset, worried, surprised or even happy.

“What do you want from me? Humiliate me again?! Will, it’s been seven years! I have been living peacefully without you in my life for seven years! And now, you’ll just come back then hurt me once more? Is that really how you play your games, William? You know I don’t want to take part in it. I don’t know what kind of prank you’ll be playing on me again now but just get out of my sight!”

“I told you–you needed a breather,” William muttered. “Please hear me out, Valentine,” he begged.

“Oh, sure, go ahead.” She crossed her arms over her chest and avoided his eyes.

“Just sit first.”

She pulled the chair back to its former spot and sat down cautiously.

“I need your help.”

“Oh, so you need my help now? What can I help you with, sir?” she mocked and pushed a brow upwards.

“More like… a deal.”

“A deal?” Her eyes perked at his words. “What do you mean by a deal?”

“You help me with my personal matters and I’ll help you pay your father’s hospital bills.”

She scoffed. “Hospital bills? Who said about his hospital bills? I can manage paying his bills with my job. He only passed out, anyway.”

“Your father requires treatment. He’s diagnosed with a Coronary Artery Disease caused by smoking. That treatment would cost thousands… money that I know you can’t fully pay for a year. If you want your father back, then let’s make the deal.”

Valentine couldn’t believe what she just heard. She hated her father; despised him from his face, voice skin and deep into his bones. She didn’t want near him either. But he was the only one left in her life. Maybe… Maybe by helping him would eventually have his mind and choices changed. She exhaled a long, deep sigh and nodded. “Okay. So, what am I going to do?”

“This would only be a contractual agreement. All you need to do is marry me and once my problem is all settled, we can call it off.”

“Marry you?” she laughed. “You’re serious, right?” Valentine immediately had the thought of choking herself to death of what William spoke. Marrying the man who used to be her high school bully was the last thing she wanted to do now before she dies.

“Yes, I’m serious. So, are you in?”

“Yeah, sure… not a problem…” she dozed off. What was she getting herself into? She looked up as William stood from his chair, looking down at her with a sweet smile.

“Now that we’ve agreed, I need to go. The contract will be brought later this afternoon. I will have to ask someone to bring it to you since I have far more matters I needed to take care of. See you, Valentine.” William’s voice has changed since she last saw and heard him. He had gotten serious and gladly responsible. That would mean she won’t have a hard time handling him.