chapter 1

“Sir, Ready na po ang viewing room kayo na lang po ang hinintay” sabi ng secretary ni Kenneth pero walang sagot mula sa binata. He was so focus looking out on his window wondering about his plan.

He hates it, but he has no choice. According to his father’s will, he needs to marry at the age of 30. He doesn’t like the idea of his father as well as his stepmothers to control his life but according to the will. If in any case, he could not abide his fathers will. His inheritance will be divided to his father’s long-time charity and to his beloved stepmother.

He is not against the idea on giving it to the “Angel of Hope “the charity he also supports. But the annoying truth of giving half it to his witch stepmother. No! he won’t let that!

“Sir, do you like me to ask Martin to take over the viewing or do you want me to adjust he time o asks the applicants to come back tomorrow instead” suhestiyon ng kanyang secretary.

Maganda ang kanyang secretary,Sexy at hndi man nito aminin ramdam at halatang halatang may lihim itong gusto sa kanya. Single ito un nga lang hindi niya type.Minsan na niyang naisip na ito na lang ang pakiusapan total  kabisado na nito ang ugali niya.

Pero alalm niyang hindi yun kakagatin ng kanyang papa. At dahil sa kumpanya pa rin ng ama ang pinagtatrabahuhan nila kaya ayaw niyang madamay ang secretary sa poot ng kanyang madrasta.

 "Sir?" Ulit ng secretary. Still silence filled the room.

“Sir?” ulit ulit nito.

“Ah, yes, I mean no. I will be there in 5 mins. Let the viewing proceed" sagot ni Kenneth na bumalik na sa kasalukuyan matapos ang malalim na pagiisip kanina.

This is it! After a month of searching. This is it! Sa isip isip ni Kenneth. Kenneth Dela Serna. Kilalang masungit at seryosong bachelor sa kanyang panahon. Womans are crasy over him but Kenneth remains aloff and distant. Masisisis ba siya kung ganito siya lumaki. Being his father puppet is difiicult.Lumaki at anginta si Kenneth na anino ng yumaong ama.He has a brother named Ethan but they run aways together with his mother after learning that his father is again seeing another woman.

At ang babaeng iyon ang nakatira sa mansion nila ngayon while he stays in his condo to avoid seeing that witch. But he tried to go home at least 2 times a month to visit his supposed to be mansion and all their staff. Siya pa rin kase ang nagpapasahod sa mga eto. As his father last request. Kenneth spends time looking for his stepbrother and help them in a way he can.

After finding Ethan and help him with his rare illness. He and Ethan become closed yet Ethan didn’t come home. He stayed in his stepfather who raised him so well. So now his alone, with half-brother yet rarely see. May stepmother nga pero evil naman. May mansion hindi naman niya matirahan at may kompanyang sa kanya na nga pero palagi naman nkailangan niyang patunayan ang sarili. Kenneth felt so alone and tired.

“Why does living need proving? Why does people always wanting” tanong ng guwapong binata sa hangin habang naglalakas sa pasilyo patungo sa viewing room katabi ng conference room.A

This is it!

Ngayon ang opisyan na araw sa itinakdang mission ni Kenneth at lihim iyon sa lahat. Siya, si Martin at ang kanyang secretarya lamang ang nakakaalam. It should be well kept. Lailangan walang maamoy ang bruhildang kabit ng kanyang papa. Kabit pa rin ang tawag niya dito kahit legal naman ang relasyun ng dalawa since biyudo ang ama before he died.

That woman is claiming her marriage to his father with he objected so much. His father was married to his mother. Been widowed for 1 year before he met Ethan’s mother then 5 years later, he met this witch. His father and his tita Martha, Ethan’s mother has never been married. His father was blinded by his grandfather that time. And didn’t trust Ethan’s mother for being poor.

Personally, he like his Tita Martha, She seems nice and pure not a gold digger like the one living in his mansion. It been a hell if Kenneth will go back in time. Gladly everything is going smoothly as he plans. After his father’s death. And after settling his mission with his half-brother Ethan. Kenneth tried to live the ways he wants until Atty. Policarpio visited his office 2 months ago.

Kenneth opens the door, nagulat ang ilan niyang staff sa bigla niyang pagsulpot.  And he heard the awe of the crowd. Kenneth sits on the chair prepared for him by his Secretary. Mabel is very attentive to him and he knows why.

“Good morning, Sir Kenneth, here are the applicant profile. You can choose from there to select the top 30.

“What? top 30?  How many of them?"

Takang tanong ni Kenneth.

"I thought this is suppse to be a secret audition, Mabel?”

 "Yes sir, it is confidential, they sign a waiver is just happened that few of them ring their sister and even relatives to take part of this opportunity sir”

Kenneth sigh…

Kung ang ilan dito ay magkakamag anak malamang magkakakutsaba. Naiinis siyang kailangan pa niyang salain kung sino ino Ang magkakamaganak.

“Mabel, arrange their profile by suname, compress them then give it to me.” Utos ni Kenneth a natarantang secretary. Pinagsama sama nga nito ang mga magkaka apilyedo.

Then Kenneth picks one name I each in every set of files.Sa isip isi niya magakamag anak yan so malamang magkakatulad ng ugali at baka magkakapareho pa ng motibo. Out of more than 50 candidates. Kenneth run it down to top 15, Pinauwi na ang iba at sinabing sa profile pa lamang ay hindi na pumasa. Rinig ni Kenneth ng mga kuro kuro at ang ilan ay reklamo ng mga pinauwi. Para sa mga ito ang oprtunidad na nilatag niya ay isang gintong dapat na sunggaban.

He hates his idea but he has no choice.

Matapos pasadahan ng basa ang lahat ng information sa mga files na binigay sa kanya ni Mabel ang 15 folder na iyon ay nauwi sa limang folde na lamang.

Umiling iling na laang ang kanyang secretarya.  Anong magagawa ni Kenneth If they don’t fit his ideal type beside almost all of them graduated from A good school. Sa palagay ba nila magpapasakop sa akin yun. Baka imbes na paikutin ko sa mga kamay ko yun ay ako pa ang mapaikot. Ang matatag na limang natira ay pinili ni Kenneth dahl sa particular na bagaymaganda ito sa picture. He requested for a whole-body picture.

Another factor he considers ay mga galing sa probinsya ang mga ito so less And here it is. Kenneth secretary move to the other side of the room, adjourning door lamang ang nakapagitan kay Kenneth at sa mga babaeng pumasa.

Isa isang pinapasok ng kanyang secretary ang mga pumasa sa kanyang preliminary. Pero hindi niya alam na magugulat pa rin pala siya.

“Eh sir sana po ako ay inyong mapili para naman po mabigyan ko ng kaginhawaan ang aking pamilya” inaasahan sa amin ng aking mga kapatid sir.

Halos hindi na pinakinggan ni Kenneth ang ilan pa nitong sinabi simula palang ng storya. So, he needs to hurry kailangan unahan niya ang kilos ng kanyang madrasta. He knows his evil stepmother is doing her moves now. Kailangan may makuha na siya sa round two he will be 30 years old 4 months from now.

“Miss Palanca, right?” tanong ni Kenneth. Naniniguro lang siya na baka naligaw lamang ang babae. Malayo kase ang hitsura nito sa picture sa files nito.

“Have a sit Miss and Relax. This interview could be done by my personal but since I’m looking for my future behalf. I’d rather do it personally.

“Tell me about yourself Miss…. Miss Emma. Things you haven’t written here” sabi ni Kenneth na itinuro ang files ng babae.

“Ay ala eh sir ako po ay masipag eh at saka matulungin eh ako lamang po ang inaasahan ng mga kapatid ko. Ang sabi po sa akin sa pagaaply ko dine ay asawa nyo raw po ang gagampanan ko pero yaon ay kunwa kunwarian laang eh"

"Dear Lord.." yun lamang ang nasabi ni Kenneth.