The Exiled Duke

TORI Time is running out for me. Siguro sa iba, mahaba ang anim na buwan. Pero kung katulad kita na kailangan ng fifty million, napakaikli ng palugit na 'yon. This is why I am here right now at Blush Dating  Services, I need a husband for hire -- just for six months. After that, I can get my full inheritance and pay the bank loan in full. Hindi na maiilit ang farm namin. Alas diyes ang usapan. Anong petsa na? Kinse minutos na akong nakatanga dito sa conference room. Binuksan ko ang folder na ibinigay sa akin ng agent kanina. His name is Karlos Dipasupil. He is thirty years old, pretty tall for a Filipino and tanned. He looks okay. Not exactly my type, but he will do. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng type ko, tutal for convenience lang naman ang lahat. When I looked at my watch again, it is half past ten. Damn it! Anong klaseng kausap ang husband for hire na ito? Blush Dating Services is not cheap. I had to pay six million to the agency to secure a contract for six months. Ang ipon kong sampung milyon sa bangko ay nabawasan pa, at ngayon ay apat na milyon na lang -- and this Karlos is f*cking late! You would think for the large sum they charge, the husband for hire would be at least punctual. Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko. That's it! I waited long enough. I need to find Sir Xean about the contract I signed. Hustong pagtayo ko ay kasabay na bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa ang bulto ng isang lalakeng kaytagal ko ng gustong kalimutan. Napaawang ang labi ko at bigla akong napipi. "Fancy meeting you here," nakangiting bati nya sa akin. "What the hell are you doing here? You can't just barge in. This is a private meeting." Inis kong sabi sa kanya. Ang pesteng puso ko ay pabilis ng pabilis ang pintig. Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi nya. "I was sent here by the agent." "Well, you probably heard her wrong. I am here to meet Karlos. Not you." Diniinan ko ang salitang you. "Then I am definitely in the right room, I came here to replace Karlos. He is sick." Naupo s’ya sa silya sa harap ko. "Take a seat. It's hard for me to keep looking up while talking to you.” "If he is sick, then I will wait. He should be able to recuperate in two days, no? Hell, he can even take three or four days as long as it is not five." Padaskol akong umupo sa silya. He smirked. "I don't think he can recuperate that fast." "Why?" Pasulimpat ang mga mata ko na tumingin sa kanya. "He has chicken pox. He should be feeling better in about ten to fourteen days." Napapikit ako ng wala sa oras sa sobrang inis. Damn it! Pakiramdam ko ay nananadya ang pagkakataon. Una, maiilit na farm. Pangalawa, dumating ang mana pero may kundisyon na kasal. Pangatlo, may mapapangasawa na ako — nagkaroon pa ng bulutong! Pwede namang ibang sakit, like urinary tract infection. Kahit ano -- basta hindi nakakahawa! I have to get married in less than seven days for crying out loud. "Thanks for letting me know. I am going to see the agent if she can give me another file." "Why? Didn't I tell you I am here to replace Karlos? You don't have to find another one. I am right here -- in the flesh." Nakakaloko ang ngiti nya. I gave him an eye roll. "No, thanks. I need a husband who can stay for the whole six months." Napaismid ako at mahinang bumulong, "baka mamaya kinabukasan ng kasal, mawala ka na namang parang bula." "I heard that."  "Good for you. But I bet you didn't understand the language I used, so -- goodbye, au revoir, ha det." Tumayo ako saka kinuha ang bag at folder sa gilid. "Hindi ako mawawala. Tutuparin ko ang nasa kontrata." "Nagtatagalog ka??" gulat na bulalas ko. "Karlos is a friend of mine. Tinuruan nya ako." Kampante pa rin syang nakaupo sa silya nya. Sometimes I wonder what industry he is in. Diretso palagi ang likod at kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa nakitang nawalan ng kumpyansa sa sarili ang lalaking ito.  "Oh? That's good, but I still need to find someone else." I took one step and the agent walked in. "My apologies, I just got here. I had to tend to an emergency. Where are you going?" Tanong ng babae sa akin. "I was actually going to find you." I handed him the file she gave me earlier. "I need another one. Karlos is sick with chicken pox. He will get better in two weeks and I don't have that much time. I need to get married in less than five days." "Okay, have a seat first so we can talk." Naupo ako. "You are able to give me another one, right?"  Biglang nalaglag ang balikat ng agent. "Unfortunately, I don't have anyone else available." Gusto ko ng magmura. "Walang wala na talaga?" Umiling ito pero saglit lang at ngumiti. "But Karlos has been replaced, so you don't need to worry. Philip is available and he is ready to take the job." Nalukot ang mukha ko. "I don't like him. I want another one." Nakita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Philip at ngumisi. Inirapan ko sya. "I am very sorry, Miss Vega. He is the only option we have right now." "Can I have the money refunded then? I will just go to another agency." "I am afraid you can't do that. The only way you will be refunded is if we cannot give you a husband for hire. Granted that Karlos is sick, but Philip was able to replace him. If he did not show up, your money will be refunded." "But he is not my first choice!" Nangatwiran ako sa kanya. Although she does make sense, I am still irritated that this man is the only choice I have. That would mean I have to rely on him. "I know he is not your first choice, but we don't have any other solution to your problem. If you don't want his services, you will lose your six million." F*ck it! I can't lose any more money. Hinarap ko ang agent. "Fine, I'll take him and let me be clear on this while we are at it. I am only taking him because you have given me no choice." Bumaling ako sa lalakeng kanina pa malawak ang ngiti. "And you -- you better not bolt." or you will never hear the end of it. Gusto ko sanang idugtong pero baka mapansin ng agent at mapa-trouble pa ako.  "Great, it's settled then. I will ensure all the documents are ready and we will see you here in three days for the wedding. Have a good day." Tumayo na ang agent at lumabas ng conference room.  "What do you need a husband for anyway?" Pinili kong huwag sagutin ang tanong nya. Tumayo ako at hinagip ang bag ko. Malapit na ako sa pinto ng magsalita s’ya muli. "I came back for you that morning, but you already left." What he said rendered me speechless and stopped me dead in my tracks. I waited for him to continue but he didn't say anything more than that. Not that it matters. What's done is done and it's all water under the bridge now.