Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Pinagmamasdan ko ang ballpen sa harapan ko. Maliit na bagay lang ito, pero parang may dalang napakabigat na desisyon.

A year. Ten million pesos.

Isang pirma lang, at matatapos na ang bangungot ng utang na iniwan ni Papa. Wala nang pananakot. Wala nang habol. Wala nang masisindak sa akin sa labas ng opisina.

Pero kapalit nito? Isang kasal. Isang kasal na walang pagmamahal.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin kay Leon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero sa titig pa lang niya, parang alam na niya ang iniisip ko.

“You have questions,” he said smoothly, watching me with amusement.

Tumango ako, kahit parang kinakain ako ng kaba. “Opo, sir. May ilang bagay lang po akong gustong linawin.”

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lazily against the table. “Go ahead.”

Nilunok ko ang kaba ko at sinimulan ang unang tanong. “Sa set-up po ng marriage natin… magkasama po ba tayong titira sa isang bahay?”

Mr. Monteverde tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “Of course. It would be suspicious if we didn’t.”

Napalunok ako. Magkasama sa bahay? Isang taon?

Parang biglang nag-play sa utak ko ang imahe naming dalawa sa iisang bubong. Hindi ko alam kung anong mas nakakatakot. Yung magiging ‘asawa’ ko siya, o yung katotohanang masyado siyang… nakaka-distract.

He must have sensed my hesitation because his lips twitched slightly. “That’s a problem for you?”

Umiling ako agad. “Hindi naman po, sir. Nagtatanong lang po ako para malinaw.”

He nodded approvingly. “Good. What’s next?”

Nag-inhale ako nang malalim bago tinuloy. “P-paano naman po sa… sa ibang aspeto ng marriage?”

Mr. Monteverde raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “What do you mean?”

I felt my cheeks heat up. Lord, bakit ko ba tinanong ‘to?!

“I mean…” Napakagat ako sa labi. “W-wala naman pong ano… yung…” Hindi ko magawang sabihin ng diretso.

He smirked. “You’re asking if we’ll be intimate.”

Napalunok ako at halos gusto kong maglaho sa kinauupuan ko.

He leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “Are you worried about that, Miss Callisto?”

“N-no, sir! Hindi naman po!” Napabilis ang sagot ko, kahit na ramdam kong nag-iinit ang mukha ko.

His smirk deepened. “Good. Because the contract states that no romantic involvement is required.”

Pakiramdam ko dapat akong makaluwag ng hininga, pero ang lakas pa rin ng kabog ng puso ko.

Mr. Monteverde, however, wasn’t done.

“Unless, of course,” he added smoothly, “you want there to be.”

OH. MY. GOD.

Muntik ko nang maibagsak ang ballpen na hawak ko.

“A-ano po?”

He chuckled. “I’m kidding.”

Hindi ko alam kung gusto kong maniwala. Mukha ba siyang nagbibiro?!

But before I could recover, he sat back and casually gestured to the assistant standing by the door. The man stepped forward and placed a small velvet box on the table.

Napatingin ako sa kanya, nagtatanong ang mga mata. “Ano po ito?”

Without saying a word, Leon opened the box. Inside was a diamond ring.

A breathtakingly elegant diamond ring.

My breath caught in my throat.

“This is yours,” he said simply.

Napalunok ako. “Sir…”

He reached for the ring and held it between his fingers. Then, he looked at me.

“Give me your hand.”

Pakiramdam ko tumigil ang mundo.

“H-ha?”

His expression was calm, but there was something undeniably firm in his tone. “Your hand, Miss Callisto.”

OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero automatic na sumunod ang kamay ko.

Gently, he took it.

His fingers were warm, firm against mine.

HALA. BAKIT ANG INIT NG KAMAY NIYA?!

I watched in frozen silence as he slid the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly. His touch lingered for just a second longer than necessary before he finally let go.

“Looks good on you,” he murmured, his voice dipping slightly.

Pakiramdam ko aatakihin ako sa puso.

“S-salamat po,” I managed to say, trying to ignore how my hand still tingles from his touch.

Leon smirked. “So? Do we have a deal?”

Tumingin ako sa kontrata, sa singsing, at kay Mr. Leonidas Dame Monteverde. Sa lalaking nag-alok sa akin ng kasal na hindi ko kailanman inakala na mangyayari sa buhay ko.

I took a deep breath. Then, with steady hands, I picked up the pen. 

And signed my name.

Mabilis ang pangyayari matapos ‘yon. Paglabas ko sa restaurant, pakiramdam ko parang nasa ibang mundo na ako.

Kasal. Monteverde. Isang taon.

At habang tinititigan ko ang singsing sa daliri ko, hindi ko maiwasang isipin. 

Ano ‘tong pinasok ko? Pero kahit may takot, kahit may kaba, alam kong wala na akong atrasan.

Nakaharap ko si Leon sa parking lot bago siya sumakay sa sasakyan niya.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable. “I’ll have the rest of the documents sent to you tomorrow.”

Tumango ako. “Opo.”

He smirked slightly. “You’re awfully formal.”

Nagkibit-balikat ako. “Eh, boss ko pa rin naman po kayo.”

His smirk deepened. “Not for long, Miss Callisto. Soon, you’ll be my wife.”

Pakiramdam ko uminit ang buong mukha ko.

And before I could even react, he got into his car and drove away. Leaving me standing there, heart racing, as reality truly started to sink in.