CHAPTER 1
1588 Words
"What do you mean you are married?”
“I don’t know!” Mabilis na tumawag si Angelique sa kanyang nobyo upang ibalita ang kanyang nalaman.
Kasalukuyan silang nagpaplano ng kasal at kinakailangan niyang kumuha ng papeles na magpapatunay na siya ay wala pang asawa. Ngunit ikinagulat niya ang naging resulta nito!
She is MARRIED to a man, that she doesn’t know. FELIX WILDER!
“What do you mean you don’t know? Come on, Angelique. This is not funny at all so, please kung pina-prank mo lang ako. I’m telling you now! It’s not a good prank!”
She doesn’t know what to say. Kung maaari nga lang talaga na sabihin niyang siya'y nagbibiro lamang. Dinig na dinig niya pa sa kabilang linya ang inis sa tinig ng nobyo.
“Pupunta ako sa office mo upang makapag-usap tayo.“
Nagbuntong hininga naman ang kanyang nobyo. “Okay. I’ll wait until you're here, hun. I love you!"
She went straight to her car and drove to her boyfriend’s office building. She can’t help but to reminisce.
'SHE met her boyfriend in his own company. He was successful at his young age. Oscar is only 30, but he is already a CEO of his own shipping company. He also owns a restaurants, bars and hotels.
She applied there as his secretary, and they fell in love with each other. She’s only 23 back then, and now they've been together for almost 3 years. They were planning to get married that year.'
SHE drove for 30 minutes. She parked her car then went inside. Kilala na siya ng mga tao roon. Dati siyang secretary ng boss at ngayon ay soon to be the boss’ wife. Bumati sa kanya ang lahat at ganoon din naman siya. Agad siyang pumasok sa elevator.
“Good afternoon, Ma’am Angelique. Kay Boss Oscar po ba?”
“Ate Wena, sabi ko naman sa'yo na Angelique na lang. Wala naman pong nabago.“
“Naku ma’am, hindi po pwede. Mapapangasawa na po kayo ni Boss Oscar kaya dapat, ma’am, na rin ang tawag namin sa inyo.“
Ngumiti pa ito kay Angelique. Wala na rin siyang magawa. Lahat ng narito sa building ay pulos MA'AM ang tawag sa kanya.
Ang awkward lang, dahil dati rin naman siyang empleyado roon.
Bumukas na ang elevator.
“Salamat, Ate Wena.“
Naglakad lamang siya nang kaunti at nakita na niya ang bagong secretary ng nobyo. Medyo matanda na ito.
“Hi! He is expecting me," she said.
“Oh yes, Miss Ramos! Mr. Navarro is waiting for you inside.” Tumayo ang sekretarya at iginaya siya sa opisina ng boss.
Kumatok muna ito nang tatlong beses bago binuksan ang pinto. Sumilip lamang ito.
“Sir, your fiancé is here." The secretary opened the door widely.
Mabilis tumayo ang nobyo at lumapit sa kanya. Humalik ito nang mabilis sa kanyang labi at yumakap.
Narinig na lamang niya ang pagsara ng pinto. Hinawakan ni Oscar ang kanyang kanang kamay at iginaya sa isang sofa na naroon sa opisina nito.
“Tell me. What were you saying a while ago?” Oscar asked her.
Angelique took a deep breath before she started. Iniabot niya sa nobyo ang brown envelope na hawak.
Oscar took it and opened it. He read the paper silently.
“F*ck!” Then he stood up. Itinapon nito ang brown envelop sa sariling lamesa.
“Paano nangyari ito?!” Oscar faced her.
Angelique is just sitting and looking at
her boyfriend. She saw the dismay on his face. “I wish I knew, Oscar. But I don’t. Nandiyan ang name ng lalaki na 'yon, and I’m planning to meet him.”
“Meet him?”
“Yes! Isa itong pagkakamali, okay? Hindi ko kilala ang lalaki na 'yan. Kaya kailangan kong malaman kung alam ba niya ito o may kinalaman ba siya.”
“Felix Wilder is one of the richest businessman in whole Asia. Kailan lang din siya nakilala dahil lang sa ama nito. Pero mabilis umusbong ang negosyo niya kaya naungusan niya ako! His dad’s business territory is around the West. Kaya nag-concentrate siya sa Asia."
“You mean, you know him?”
“Not personally, just his name.”
Sumandal si Oscar sa kanyang lamesa at nakatingin lamang kay Angelique.
“When do you plan to meet him? I’ll go with you."
“I’ll update you as soon as I get the chance.”
Oscar walked towards Angelique and kneel. He held her hands. “Hun, asikasuhin na natin ito agad-agad. Gustong-gusto na kita maging asawa.”
Angelique smiled. Kinuha niya ang mga kamay ni Oscar at kinulong sa mukha ng lalaki. She kissed him quick.
“Me too!”
MATAMLAY na nahiga si Angelique sa kanyang kama. It was 4pm. Sandali lamang siyang nag-stay sa opisina ng nobyo dahil mayroon daw itong importanteng meeting. Then she remembered the calling card he gave to her. It’s about her stranger husband. Nais sana ng kanyang nobyo na ito na ang gagawa ng appointment, but she insisted to do it. Besides, it’s her problem.
She hesitated to call because it's already 4pm. But she needed to try it. She took her phone and dialed the number. It’s just ringing. She’s about to give up when someone answers it.
“Hello, this is Mr. Wilder’s office, how may I help?”
Napaunat siya nang upo sa kanyang kama. “Hi. This is Angelique Ramos. I just want to make an appointment with Mr. Felix Wilder, please.”
“May I know the reason for your request?” She is very polite.
Angelique doesn’t know what to say.
Sasabihin ba niya about sa pagiging married nila or magsisinungaling na lang siya na tungkol ito sa business.
“Miss Ramos, still there?”
“Y-yes I’m still here. It’s about, ahm...
-- Just a personal matter.”
“Okay Miss. Ramos, can you hold on for a second. I’ll contact Mr. Wilder about this.”
Mabilis nitong iniligay siya sa on hold mode.
She’s kinda nervous and she doesn't know why. She stood up at pabalik-balik na lumakad habang kagat ang kanyang kuko. She does this when she’s tense.
“Miss Ramos?”
“Yeah! I’m here."
“Next week, he is free at any time and willing to meet you here in his office.”
She sighed for relief.
“...But Mr. Wilder said, he wants to meet you alone. He said, if ever you are accompanied by someone, you are not allowed to see him.”
She frowned. But why? Ngunit hindi na niya ito tinanong. Ang kailangan lang naman niya ay makausap ito.
“I understand. Thank you.” At ibinaba na niya ang telepono.
At least maayos niya nang maagap ang problema at makakapagpakasal na sila ng kanyang nobyo.
She went straight to her bathroom and took a shower.
Who’s this guy? His name sounds familiar. Well! Sabi nga ng kanyang boyfriend ay one of the richest businessmen in whole Asia. Malamang ay naririnig na niya ang pangalan nito.
It took 20 minutes when she finished her shower. She pats herself dry using her towel then put her robe on and went out.
She didn’t bother to put on some clothes because she lives alone in her house. Ang kanyang parents ay kasalukuyang nasa states upang magbakasyon. Deserve ng kanyang mga magulang ang bakasyon dahil sa sakripisyo ng mga ito nang siya ay maaksidente. Hindi umalis ang mga ito sa kanyang tabi.
Dati ay marangya ang kanilang pamumuhay at maraming negosyo. Ngunit isang araw ay bigla na lamang itong nalugi. Hindi na sa kanya na detalye ng magulang kung paano nangyari. The last thing she know nang magising siya mula sa coma ay binenta na lahat ng kanyang ama ang mga negosyo nito.
She took her laptop and turned it on. While still loading, she sat on her chair in front of her vanity mirror and blow dried her hair. Nang matapos ay kinuha niya ang laptop at dinala sa kanyang kama. She searched for her stranger husband.
FELIX WILDER.
Mabilis lumabas ang information nito sa screen. She read it.
Felix Wilder, illegitimate son of Randolph Wilder with his mistress. They didn’t mention his mother's name. 35 years of age, 187.96 cm in height.
'Woah! He is tall. She is 5’5 but 6’2 is too much for her.'
Single and never been seen with a woman.
People think he is gay.
GAY? Well it’s easier if that’s the case.
She smiled. “Now, I can sleep well. I Just wish that he really is gay so it will not be complicated.”
“I can’t go with you?”
Kasalukuyan silang na sa coffee shop ni Oscar.
“That’s what he wants, hun. Kung hindi ako sa sang-ayon, maaaring hindi na makipag-usap iyon. Lalo lang tayong mahihirapan.” Nabanggit na niya sa nobyo ang kondisyon ng kanyang kikitain.
“I don’t trust that guy!”
“I think he is gay! Nabasa ko kagabi sa isang article, na hindi raw nakitaan ito na nakipag-date sa isang babae"
“Fabricated! Malamang bayad 'yang article na iyan. Marami akong naririnig sa mga co- business owners ko na iba-iba raw ang babae ng lalaki na iyon!Hun, walang lalaki na hindi mabibighani sa'yong ganda. Kaya hindi ko hahayaan na mag-isa kang pupunta ngayon.”
“Hun, please. Baka hindi tayo papasukin kung malalaman na may kasama ako.”
She held Oscar's hand. “Don’t worry I can do this! Hindi matatapos ang araw na ito na hindi maayos ang lahat.”
- Writer
