3- Neil

Kakauwi ko lang galing Thailand, at nagdire-diretsyo ako sa loob ng bahay ko sa Pilipinas. I locked into my room at habang ako ay nagsa-shower ay tumunog ang phone ko kaya kinuha ko ito na nasa gilid lang ng bathtub and seeing the caller ID ay napaisip ako kung sasagutin ko ba ang tumatawag o hindi.

Why Dad is calling me now? It’s been what—7 years since the last time we talked. Well, hindi talaga ako nagparamdam sa kanila dahil I know that they will just tell me to go back to Dubai which I really do not like. At iyon ay dahil ayaw ko pa bumalik sa Dubai kung saan ako nakagawa nang isang pagkakamali na alam ko kahit kailan hindi ko na malilimutan. 7 years ko sila iniwasan kahit nakailang tawag at text na sila sa akin, kahit si Ate Lorainne na kinukulit talaga ako kahit sa chat pero I never read it and because I know na she will just talk about Francis.

I put down my phone and let it ring as usual. I enjoyed my bath when I heard a pop from my phone so, I looked into it and read the message.

Answer the phone. We have to talk. It’s emergency.

Emergency? What emergency?

And my phone ring again, and because it’s emergency just like they said to me I answered it sa kaliwang tenga ko.

“Hello, son?” unang bati ni Mom sa akin na may pag-aalala sa kaniyang boses na napansin ko.

“Hi. What’s going on? What’s the emergency about?” tanong ko directly without going around the bush anymore.

“Son, it’s about your Dad. He is sick. We need you,” naiiyak na sabi sa akin ni Mom sa kabilang linya.

I know her voice.

“Sick? Or, you just want me to go back there? Mom, I’ve told you already that I don’t want to go back. Okay? I have to go now. Stay safe always, bye,” walang gana kong reaksyon dahil alam ko na umaarte lang si Mom to get my attention at para umuwi na ako.

But sorry not sorry, hindi nila ako mapapauwi.

And with that ay tumayo na ako at lumabas ng banyo with a white towel only sa ibaba nang katawan ko. Naghahanap ako nang maisusuot when I heard a pop from my phone so, I opened it and read the message from Ate Lorainne.

Neil, we’re in the hospital now because Dad had a stroke. You have to come home.

Stroke? She should’ve said it a while ago. Ang galing kasi umarte ni Mom kaya hindi ko na alam kung nagsasabi pa ba siya nang totoo or nagda-drama lang.

I texted back and said, ‘Okay, I’m coming home’.

I had no choice but to go home, and because I still care for our family.

I walked down the stairs to get something to eat when I see someone moving so, I halted. She must be the daughter of Mang Danny. What’s her name again?

Wait. I have an idea.

How about I bring a woman to the palace and introduce her as my girlfriend so, Ate Lorainne wouldn’t suspect me? I need to prove to her that I have already moved on from what happened between me and Francis. But of course she wouldn’t believe immediately. And so, I need proof to make them believe that I’ve already moved on.

How about marriage? For sure if I told them that I am already married they will stop bothering me. Ate Lorainne will stop questioning me. I just need to convince this woman to be my wife for at least one month and when we get back here we will terminate our contract right away. And in return, I will give everything she wants.

That’s a good idea.

I approached the woman slowly and when I stood at her back ay kinalabit ko siya nang mahina lang ng tatlong beses, na ikinagulat niya kaya mabilis siya lumayo sa akin at tinitigan niya ako na parang nakakita siya nang multo. For starter, I asked her kung siya nga ba talaga ang anak na babae ni Mang Danny at sumagot naman siya nang oo for confirmation but she also questioned me na kaagad ko sinagot. And before anything else ay kumuha ako nang isang baso nang tubig at ininom ko ito nang isang tungga lang dahil somehow ay kinakabahan ako na tanungin siya at yayain siya to get married kahit na we just met for the first time.

Well, ayaw ko na kumuha lang ng kung sinu-sinong babae sa tabi. At saka may tiwala ako kay Mang Danny kaya for sure pinalaki niya nang tama ang anak niya. Narinig ko nga from him mismo na kahit hikahos sila sa buhay ay nagawa niyang mapagtapos ng college ang iisa niyang anak na babae, and that is something. And, I think she is the perfect fit for the role since her father is sick. She needs money para lang ipagamot ang Tatay niya na I am willing to give if she will just cooperate with me. But for the record, this is purely business only and no string attached.

After deliberating inside of my head ay hinarap ko ulit siya na hindi ko pala nakuha ang name niya.

“Can you do me a favor?” asked ko na hindi ko na inalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya. And just staring at her ay somehow I found her pretty kahit na wala siyang makeup and anything in her face.

Her face is just plain, and simple but very beautiful.

Napansin ko na kumunot ang noo niya na sign na may pag-aalinlangan siya. “And what is that, Sir?” asked niya pabalik na may galang sa tono nang boses niya kahit iba ang pinapahiwatig ng mukha niya.

“Be my wife,” aniya ko na lumabas na lang sa bibig ko kahit na it’s not what I meant to say.

Napataas ang dalawa niyang kilay dahil sa tanong ko na ang ibig sabihin ay nabigla siya sa sinabi ko. “What?” sambit niya at paulit-ulit siyang kumurap na parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa mga narinig niya from me.

“Look, I know we just met and it’s really inappropriate but I need you. I need your help. But do not worry we will just get married so, my family will stop bothering me and in exchange for that I will pay for your father’s hospitalization. You won’t have to think where to get the money because I will help you all throughout. All you need to do is to come with me in Dubai and we will act as a married couple in front of my family so, they will stop bothering me. But so you know, for clarification, okay, I won’t do anything bad to you. I swear,” I explained with a swear to make her believe sa akin kahit na some of it was just a lie.

Well, I cannot tell her that I just want to get married to get over my past na dapat hindi talaga nangyari. Isa pa, ayaw ko bumalik sa Dubai na ako lang mag-isa. I need someone with me to make them convince that I am doing great and I am very much fine.

“Hold on,” maikli niyang wika na itinaas pa niya ang kanan niyang kamay like she is telling me to stop and let her analyze things first before answering me.

“Please, have a seat,” alok ko at naupo ako sa gitna where the bar stool is, while I am waiting for her to speak.

Mga ilang minuto rin kami natahimik at nakailang tingin siya sa akin like she is composing her sentence first before spitting it out. “Wait. Do you speak Filipino, or English only?” paunang tanong niya to make things straight.

“Both,” maikli ko’ng sagot at dahil alam ko na marami siyang gustong sabihin in her native language.

“Mabuti naman kung ganu’n dahil marami akong gustong sabihin. Unang-una sa lahat, mawalang galang na po sa inyo, ano po, we just met for the first time and you want me to immediately agree to what you want? Pangalawa po, yes, kasambahay niyo po ako at ang Tatay ko rito, nakikitira po kami rito nang libre pero that doesn’t give you the right to do whatever you want to us. At pangatlo po, I have integrity and dignity. Kahit mag-offer pa po kayo nang malaking amount of money, hindi po ako papayag sa gusto niyong mangyari. Kahit 1 million pa ‘yan, or 1 billion. Hindi po. Okay?” galit niyang banggit sa akin.

“Listen— what’s your name by the way?” Magsasalita na sana ako to address her but then, I didn’t know her name so, I asked her.

“Name’s Wendy, Sir,” magalang pero may inis na tugon ni Wendy sa akin. She is also glaring at me like she is digging something down to my soul.

“Okay. Listen, Wendy, this is just temporary. We will just stay in Dubai for one month or less, and once we’re done and get back here, we will file for annulment. You’ll get to have half of my properties and everything after our contract. You can do whatever you want, I don’t care. After all, I’m a Prince so, I’m richer than the millionaire,” deklara ko para ipaalam sa kaniya na she is dealing with no other than but to the royal Prince of Dubai.

I hope she agrees.

But even after I told her about my title as the Prince of Dubai her face didn’t change at all. She is not surprise or stunned to what I just mentioned which confused me.

“And so if you have a royal blood as the Prince of Dubai? We’re both human so, what’s makes the difference? We both breathe the same air, we both eat, poops, and we both get angry. I don’t see any differences at all,” mataray niyang sabi in my face.

Wow. This woman have guts to talk to me like this. Hindi ba siya natatakot for her life? I can actually tell my men to kill her. But based on her face it seems like she doesn’t give a fvck about my title as the Prince of Dubai. And that amused me. This is the first time na may trumato sa akin ng ganito. Just wow.

I cleared my throat as I washed off the thoughts out of my mind and I focused to the only woman who don’t give a fvck about my title. “Fair point. Nonetheless, think about it first. Okay? Think about your father. I will see you again tomorrow and I hope you give me your answer. Have a good day,” sabi ko na hindi ko na pinahaba pa ang usapan at mukhang hindi ako hahayaan ng babaeng ito na manalo.

I can see in her facial expression na wala siyang inaatrasan na away even though she has an angelic face.

I, then, stood and started walking upstairs to go back to my room.

“Wait,” she called at my back.

Napatigil naman ako sa paglalakad at lumingon ako ulit sa kaniya to see that her face became serious.

“I already gave you my answer and that will not change,” she told seriously at binitawan niya ang hawak na vacuum sa sahig, at saka siya naglakad paalis.

Samantala ako ay napa-smirk dahil it’s my first time na makatagpo nang isang babae na sobrang taas ng pride kahit na I know na kailangan na kailangan nila nang pera.

Fine. Okay. Let’s see how far can you go, woman.

And I, resumed walking upstairs.

“She’s unbelievable,” bulong ko under my throat.

— — —

“One s€x on the beach nga, pare,” order ng customer na naupo sa harap ko.

“Coming right up, Sir,” replied ko while wearing mask so, no one would recognize me, and I started making his preferred drink.

“Come on, Wendy, just one drink at after nito ay uuwi na tayo,” a female voice said.

Kaagad ako napatingin sa kaliwa ko dahil I heard the name of a woman who dumped me for the first time. Who would’ve thought na makikita ko siya rito?

“Diana, alam mo naman na hindi ako umiinom. Bakit ba tayo pumunta rito? I just told you my problem tapos dadalhin mo ako rito? Eh, ang ingay-ingay rito. Hindi ako sanay sa lugar na ganito. Umuwi na tayo,” reklamo ni Wendy at hinatak ang kasama niyang babae palabas ng bar kung saan ako nagtatrabaho na hindi niya alam.

They must be friends. What a coincidence at nagkita kami ulit ngayong araw. I smirked on the thought kahit na tinarayan niya ako kaninang umaga. I, then, give the glass of drink sa lalaking kausap ko kanina.

“Girl, kaya nga tayo nandito kasi may problema ka. Masarap ang mga drinks dito kaya it’s the best place para magkwentuhan tayo. ‘Wag kang mag-aalala dahil lahat ng tao dito ay may sari-sariling mundo. They don’t care about you. They mind their own business. Ngayon, you have to let it out,” rason naman ng kaibigan niyang babae that I assumed have the name of Diana, na nagpa-nod sa akin dahil she have a point.

“Let it out? Dito? No way. Paano makakatulong sa problema ko ang pag-inom?” sagot ni Wendy na may asar na sa tono nang boses niya.

She is currently pouting that I found cute of her. Teka nga, matanong nga sila.

“Hi, ladies. What can I get you?” asked ko while wiping the wine glasses that I’m going to use if they want something to drink.

Sana hindi niya ma-recognize ang boses ko, or I’m doom.

“Oh, hi there. Pahingi nga kami nang frienny ko nang malakas na inumin. ‘Yung al… Ay, nakalimutan ko na name. Basta ‘yung malakas,” pakiusap ni Diana na halatang walang alam sa mga drinks kahit na mukhang heavy drinker siya.

“Alright,” aniya ko at napangiti ako dahil mukhang hindi ako namukhaan ni Wendy.

“Thank you, Kuya,” sambit ni Diana sa akin at lumingon siya ulit kay Wendy. “Maupo ka, girl, do not worry ako ang bahala sa ‘yo. Oo nga pala, ano na next sa kwento mo? Anong sinabi ni Prince of Dubai after mo tanggihan offer niya na instant marriage?” tanong niya.

Habang ako ay lumapit ng kaunti sa kanila para marinig ko ang buo nilang pag-uusap without them knowing na nakikinig ako, ang main topic nila.

“Sabi niya pag-isipan ko raw muna. Sabi niya isipin ko raw ang Tatay ko at ang kalagayan niya,” Wendy told just like I’ve said, na may pag-aalinlangan sa boses niya.

“Kita mo binigyan ka pa pala nang pagkakataon na mag-isip ni Prince. Girl, kung ako sa ‘yo sunggaban mo na ang pagkakataon. Nandiyan na sa harap mo ang grasya, oh, tatanggi ka pa ba? At saka, isang buwan lang naman ang pagpapanggap niyo. Wala akong nakikitang mali kung after ng isang buwan magiging mayaman ka na. At least, you work hard for it bago ka naging mayaman. Isa pa, girl, Prince na ang nag-aya sa ‘yo, oh, kung ako ‘yan sasagot ako kaagad ng oo. Imagine, pretend lang pero mahahalikan ko ang isang Prince of Dubai sa wedding namin. That’s once in a lifetime experience,” excited at tuwang-tuwa na komento ni Diana na nagpangiti sa akin kasi go kung go siya.

Siya na lang kaya alokin ko?

I must say na pusher itong kaibigan niya dahil mukhang kumbinsido si Wendy that I can tell sa itsura niya. Baka mamayang gabi marinig ko na ang sagot niya kahit na binigyan ko siya nang palugid na oras hanggang bukas.

“Well, may punto ka. Pero still, Diana, marriage ang gusto niya just to get away from his family. Samantala ako naniniwala na ang marriage is a commitment to the person you love. Ayaw ko magpakasal para lang magpanggap sa harap ng family niya. Hindi ganu’n ang nai-imagine ko’ng marriage na gusto ko maranasan. Isa pa, gusto ko ikakasal ako sa taong mahal ko and not just for the sake of money or whatsoever,” paninindigan ni Wendy na mukhang buo na ang desisyon niya.

I was stunned sa sinabi niya na naging dahilan kung bakit napatitig ako sa kaniya. Ito kasi ang unang pagkakataon na nakatagpo ako nang isang babae na hindi pera, fame or pleasure ang hanap from me, but she wants a REAL LOVE. And because of that ay mas gusto ko siya kumbinsihin na ituloy ang pagpapanggap namin kasi sigurado ako na hindi niya ako lolokohin at hindi niya ako gagawing katawa-tawa sa mata nang maraming tao. It’s just me who is, but I’m gonna make sure that this woman won’t get hurt once she get married to me. I will protect her at all cost dahil she’s for keeps. I can say na maswerte ang lalaking mapapakasalan niya in the future, her future husband.

Okay, now, I feel guilty. Pero, I have to do it, I have to tell my family that I am definitely fine, and because I want to forget about my past. Maybe when there’s a chance, I will explain everything to her kung bakit niyaya ko siya magpakasal. But not now. Just no.

And honestly, it’s not impossible to fall in love with her kung ganito siyang klase nang babae. I can see that she’s an honest and pure person. Hindi siya mahirap mahalin sa totoo lang, and if there’s a chance, maybe our feelings bloom for each other. I can’t see why not.

“That’s what I like about you, girl. You’re incredibly pure,” puri ni Diana sa kaibigan na may kasamang ngiti, but then I saw her sadden. “Pero, girl, this is real world. At kung magpapaka-praktikal ka, girl, I am telling you love is not enough. ‘Yang pagmamahal na tinutukoy mo? Gagawin kang pulubi niyan, at ikaw pa lagi ang talo kasi pinairal mo ang puso mo. Gently reminder lang, ha, money is the thing that keeps this world spinning at ‘yung pure love na gusto mo some people don’t like it. I hate to say this but, maraming mga bagay ang dapat i-consider mo before you get into a relationship or marriage. First, your status, kasi sooner or later you have to meet his parents at makapasa sa kanila. At para makapasa ka sa kanila titingnan nila kung ano ba ang status mo sa buhay, kung may pera ka ba, may kaya or, isa kang pulubi. Kasi titingnan nila kung kaya mo ba alagaan ang anak nila or hindi. Pangalawa ay ang income mo, or pera, kasi magastos pumasok sa isang relasyon. Example na lang kapag every monthsary or anniversary dapat may gift ka. Or, kung ayaw mo ng gift, sabihin na lang natin ‘yung dates niyo sa labas. Syempre mapapagastos ka, hindi pwedeng hindi kasi celebration ‘yun. At pangatlo na higit sa lahat, your capability. Capability to provide. And when I say provide, I meant to say everything. Money, clothes, love, etcetera. Capability to take responsibility sa mga bagay na ginagawa niyo. And I am telling you this kasi naranasan ko na ‘yun. Remember, Caleb, my ex? Alam ko na mahal niya ako at mahal ko rin naman siya pero still, we broke up kasi I am poor at hindi approved ang parents niya sa akin so, yeah,” mahabang sabi ni Diana na binigyan ng two cents of advice ang kaibigan based on her experience, at sa totoong galaw ng mundo unlike sa alam ni Wendy.

“Diana, if he truly loves you ipagtatanggol ka niya sa parents niya. Sinabi ko na sa ‘yo ‘to dati, at ngayon uulitin ko ulit. True loves conquers everything. ‘Yung ginawa sa ‘yo ni Caleb ay isang malaking pagkakamali. Duwag siya kung ako ang tatanungin mo dahil hindi niya kaya tumayo sa sarili niyang mga paa. Naka-depende siya sa parents niya, sa sasabihin ng ibang tao, at higit sa lahat ayaw niya mawala sa kaniya ang marangyang buhay na nakasanayan na niya kaya nakipaghiwalay siya sa ‘yo. Yes, mahal ka niya pero kitang-kita how he let go of you so easily kasi nga mas pinapahalagahan niya ang sinasabi nang ibang tao kaysa sa sarili niyang nararamdaman. At mas pinahahalagahan niya ang mga materyal na bagay kaysa sa ‘yo. Kasi kung totoo ka niyang mahal he will give up everything for you, kahit ang parents niya at lahat ng mga bagay na marangya sa mundo just to be with you. Pero hindi ‘yun ang ginawa niya. Ginawa niya ang exact opposite,” contradicted na banggit ni Wendy na pinaalalahanan ang kaibigan that true love does exist, but not for Diana and her ex.

“Alam mo, I hate you kapag nagsasalita ka nang totoo,” naiiyak na tinuran ni Diana at pinunasan niya ang mga mata niya as she was touched sa mga sinabi nang kaibigan niya, but then niyakap niya ito. “At kaya naman mahal kita kasi ikaw lang ang totoong tao na kilala ko,” aniya emotionally.

Napangiti ako just watching them kasi these two women made me realize that they have a lot of differences but still, they can work together and work with their differences. And that’s a real friendship over there.

“Two worth drinks for you two, ladies,” I announced and I served them two wine glasses of drinks with my charming smile.

Naghiwalay ang dalawa sa pagkakaakap at tumingin sila sa akin to get their drinks.

“Okay, one drink lang, ha,” sambit ni Wendy na tumingin sa kaibigan niya na tinanggap na ang alcohol na alok nito, not paying attention to me.

“For true love,” cheered ni Diana at itinaas niya ang hawak niyang wine glass.

And Wendy clicked her wine glass to Diana as sign na she agreed with her, at saka nila sabay na ininom ito.

Itutuloy…