Husband For Hire Series:Jude Sebastian Celerio-The Hunky Bus Attendant

Chapter 6

MUNTIK nang matawa si Jude nang tapunan niya ng tingin si Ricardo. Mataman nitong sinisilip ang pagpirma niya sa kontrata bilang opisyal na husband for hire. Siguro iniisip nito na manggogoyo uli siya. Yes, he closed a deal with him. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa opisina nito sa RnJ Services Head Office para opisyal na pag-usapan ang deal. Sa isa sa mga conference room sila nagpirmahan.

Right after that meeting last week ay pinadalhan siya nito ng financial reports ng RnJ Services at draft of contract. Pinag-aralan niyang mabuti ang proposal. It was indeed true; malaki ang kinikita ng RnJ Services. At kung tungkol naman sa pagiging husband for hire, wala naman siyang nakitang ikapapahamak niya. May clauses sa contract na nagbibigay ng assurance na inaalagaan ng RnJ Services ang mga husbando na parang mamahaling kotse. Binigyan rin siya ng bagong pangalan at identity para ma-preserve ang tunay niyang pagkatao at pribadong buhay. Iyon daw ang identity na gagamitin niya habang nasa RnJ siya at habang siya ay deployed sa kung sinumang mag-hire sa kanya. And all in all, the deal was good. In fact, he might enjoy the job being someone who loved women.

Gaya nang offer nito sa kanya, tatlong contracts lang ang kailangan niyang tapusin nang malinis at walang palya. After that, matatapos na rin ang kasunduan nila ni Ricardo at mapasasakamay na niya ang additional shares sa Viajero Travel and Tours at RnJ Services.

He closed the folder and handed it back to him.

Binuklat nito ang folder to check. Ricardo then offered his hand to him for a handshake. “Welcome to RnJ Services. Enjoy being a husband for hire.”

Jude accepted his hand kahit pakiramdam niya may something behind that word ‘enjoy.’

May kumatok sa office at isang lalaki ang pumasok.

“Meet my brother in crime, Johnny,” pagpapakilala ni Ricardo sa dumating.

The guy with Caucasian features approached Jude and offered his hand. “Welcome to RnJ.”

“Thank you,” tugon niya. It was his first time to meet this guy though Ricardo used to talk about Johnny once in a while. All Jude knew, this guy was Ricardo’s best partner in business.

“He will tour you around and will guide you throughout your training process. It’s your time to know a lot more about RnJ, my friend,” litany ani Ricardo.

“Okay, let’s get started,” sambit niya.

The two men nodded. Few seconds more he was following Johnny’s way going to what they called RnJ Facilities.

Aminado si Jude na nagandahan siya sa interior ng head office. It had a cozy receiving area at the lobby na puwedeng humilera sa high-end international hotels ang itsura at ambiance. In fact, every part of the head office had touch of luxury. Halatang malaki ang kinikita ng company for them to be able to build this high-end place. Dumoble ang pagka-amaze ni Jude sa RnJ nang tumawid sila sa isang connecting building.

“This is RnJ’s Information Depot. This is actually the largest facility we have here. All information, confidential data, online transactions, and all information technology matters are being processed here. We also have call center agents here, some sort of hotline to call if the husband is in trouble or if you have other concerns while deployed.”

Tumango lang siya sa sinabi nito. Pumasok sila roon at may kinausap si Johnny. Few seconds more, a staff gave Jude a folder. Lumabas na rin sila pagkatapos.

“That’s your RnJ husband profile. You have to know every single detail in there by heart,” sabi ni Johnny.

Jude just nodded again. Siya ang nag-suggest na ang identity niya bilang simpleng konduktor ng Celerio Bus ang gagamitin niya. It would look legit. And at least, he didn’t have to make adjustments on his fake identity. He knew Joseph Reyes so well.

They went to another building. This place was way better than the look of the head office. The receiving area had huge elegant space. It also had a relaxing ambiance.

“Welcome to the place where you will spend more hours for the next coming days, The Husband’s Hero Training Arc.”

They passed through a hallway. May mga conference rooms doon at gym. “So, this is the place where you mold the perfect husband.” Hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Jude na may ganitong klaseng negosyo. At lalong hindi siya makapaniwalang naroon siya bilang husband for hire. This is crazy!

“Certainly.” Johnny threw him a look. “We have world-class calisthenics gym here with professional trainers. You know, being a husband, you also have to be physically and sexually enticing. After all, clients will pay for that. Here also, we offer martial arts training.”

“For what?”

“Self-defense, in case you and the client need it or you need it against the client. Though we screen clients well, what will happen to you upon deployment is still uncertain. Be prepared than sorry.”

Nagkibit-balikat siya. “I think, I don’t need to undergo much of the training. Gym is my second home and I have a black belt in Taekwondo.”

“Good then. Just attend the seduction class spearheaded by La Diva.” Nagpatuloy ito sa paglalakad at sumunod lang siya.

Seduction class? Pinigilan ni Jude na matawa. Everything in that place sounded like a joke but he knew nothing was. If he would fail in this work, Celerio Transit Corporation would be in great danger. Ano ba itong pinasok ko? All because of investments?

Huminto sila sa paglalakad sa tapat ng isang malaking double door entrance. “The Domain of Lust.” Johnny opened the door.

Bumungad sa kanila ang isang malaking opera house na Greco-Roman ang istilo. Every corner of the opera house spoke two words: luxurious and sensual. Hindi alam ni Jude kung bakit ngunit may ganoong ambiance ang lugar na iyon. And why the hell they have this in the first place?

“You’ll know what’s the purpose of this place later,” sambit nito as if he was able to read Jude’s mind.

Sa kaliwang bahagi ay may papasok na hallway. Doon sila dumiretso. Huminto sila sa tapat ng isang double door entrance.

“This is the office of the Council of Gigolo. My personal task ends here. Look for Council JC inside.”

“Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Johnny,” sambit niya.

“The pleasure is mine.”

Iniwan na siya nito. Kakatok na sana siya sa pinto nang mag-ring ang cell phone niya. Kinuha niya ang nag-iingay na phone sa bulsa. Numero ni Manong Jun ang nakarehistro sa screen.

He answered the call. “Yes, Manong Jun, kumusta po?”

“Mabuti naman. Eh, Boss Jude, may naghahanap sa ’yo.”

“Naghahanap sa akin?”

“Oo. Si Miss Byutipol. Iyong babaeng sinabi naming abutan mo ng rosas no’ng National Women’s Day. Type ka ata, hijo. Hinahanap ka rito sa terminal.”

Kagya’t siyang napangiti nang biglang rumehistro sa isip niya ang imahe ni Jibelle na nakangiti habang pinagmamasdan nito ang rosas na ibinigay niya noong araw na iyon. Hinahanap niya ako?

Hindi niya ito tinawagan o pinadalhan ng text message. Nawala sa isip niya iyon dahil sa pag-aasikaso ng negosyo. Na-misplace din niya ang business card nito. But that didn’t mean that he already forgot about her. Oo, madali sa kanyang makalimot ng mga babaeng random niyang nakakasama. But Jibelle case was way different. She was someone he couldn’t easily take away from his senses. Palagi niyang naaalala ang mga ngiti nito at kung paano ito nakipagkuwentuhan sa kanya in just short period of time. In fact, napanaginipan pa niya ito noong nakaraang gabi lang. In his dream they were in front of a bonfire and the topic of their conversation was about life and future plans together. Napakasaya nila sa panaginip na iyon kaya ang gaan din ng pakiramdam niya nang magising siya.

“Bakit daw po niya ako hinahanap?” Na-curious tuloy siya. Posible kayang hindi rin siya nito makalimutan?

“Hindi naman niya sinabi, hijo. Aba, nakailang balik na siya rito. May number ka naman daw niya. Tawagan mo na lang. Kawawa naman. Nalulungkot siya kapag nalalaman niya na wala ka naman dito.”

Hindi alam ni Jude kung bakit ngunit may hatid na kakaibang saya sa puso niya ang malamang hinahanap pala siya ni Jibelle. She must be really into me.

“Sige po. Nasa Cubao Terminal po ba kayo?”

“Alabang South Terminal, boss.”

Sinipat niya ang kanyang relo. May dalawang oras pa bago ang huling byahe ng bus papuntang Batangas. “Good, hintayin n’yo ako sa huling byaheng pa-Batangas. Sasama po ako pagkatapos ng meeting ko.”

“Areglado, boss!” Call ended.

Hindi alam ni Jude kung bakit bigla na lang niyang naisip pumunta ng Batangas. As if, gusto niya ring makita si Jibelle. Alam naman niya kung saan ito makikita pero hindi siya sigurado kung pupuntahan ba niya ito o hindi. Siya nga ba ang dahilan o gusto ko lang makipag-inuman sa mga inspector mamaya? Napatawa siya sa sarili. Sa inuman kasi madalas ang ending niya at ng mga empleyado niya kapag napapasama siya sa last trip.

He texted his secretary and informed her to ready his uniform. Dadaan muna siya sa opisina bago pumunta sa Alabang Terminal.

***

AFTER knocking, Jude smoothly entered the office of the Council of Gigolo. May isang taong naroon. He presumed he was JC. Abala ang lalaking ito sa pagta-type sa laptop habang nakaupo ito sa working table nito na napapaggitnaan ng dalawang bakanteng working table. May mga nakapatas na folders sa magkabilang side ng mesa nito.

Jude was about to approach him when he suddenly uttered, “Twenty seconds!” habang tuloy-tuloy ang pagtipa nito sa keyboard ng laptop na kaharap.

Napakunot ang noo ni Jude. But he preferred to shut up and wait for the guy to finish his twenty productive seconds.

Eksaktong pagkatapos ng dalawampung segundo ay huminto sa pagta-type ang binata at bumaling sa kanya. “Ano’ng atin, brad? Pasensiya ka na. Nang-away pa kasi ako ng mga buraot na ilegal na nagbebenta ng softcopies ng novels ko.”

“You’re an author?” tanong ni Jude habang palapit dito.

JC motioned him to sit down on the vacant visitor’s seat. “A full-time author of one of the most prestigious online reading platforms all over the world. I’m a novelist.”

“Nice,” he commented. Hindi naman kasi siya reader kaya ’di siya interesado. Ibinigay niya kay JC ang folder na galing sa Information Depot.

“Ah, I see.” Ini-adjust nito ang suot na eyeglasses habang binabasa ang front page ng folder pagkatapos ay ibinalik nito ang folder sa kanya. “I received a recommendation letter from Mr. Milosa regarding your training.” Ibinalik nito sa laptop ang paningin, kumunot ang noo, at saka nag-type nang nag-type.

Jude let JC took his time as he thought this guy was just doing something regarding his training. Ngunit nang sampung minuto pa ang lumipas ay inabala na niya ito.

“Are you supposed to discuss about Rnj Services to me, brad?”

Kumunot ang noo nito nang balingan siya. “Oo nga pala. Pasensya na. Naghahabol ako ng word count, e.”

Bumunot ito ng isang papel sa side drawer ng mesa at ibinigay iyon sa kanya. It was a list of training process. Pinasadahan niya iyon nang basa habang nagsasalita ito.

“You have to talk to Council Xean for legal matters and Council Nathan for your Psychological assessment. And you have to attend seduction classes of La Diva. Lahat ng training pagdadaanan mo. From physical improvement to development of your emotional state, to enhancement of your sexuality, to mastering of husband duties.”

Nabasa ni Jude sa papel na ibinigay nito na may training din tungkol sa basic household chores. “Why do we have to know household chores? Mayayaman ang market ng husband for hire. For sure may mga kasambahay ang mga client.”

Ngumisi si Council JC. “It has something to do with seduction. La Diva will teach you how to master the art of seduction—while mopping the floor, washing the dishes, and especially while doing the laundry—in her intensive seduction class.”

Are you dead serious?! Gusto sana niyang itanong. Paano makase-seduce ng babae ang paghuhugas ng pinggan? “I don’t get it. What’s the seduction class for? It is stated in the contract that we shall not fall in love with the client.”

“Good question. The art of seduction is a tool. You have to know how to seduce for you to know how to resist from seduction. At saka, gets mo na iyon, brad. A perfect husband shall possess the characteristic of being seductive to people. Remember na kapag deployed ka, you are your client’s trophy husband.”

And being seductive adds to that charisma. Okay, he got it. Kaiinggitan ng lahat ang kliyente kung ang asawa ito ay umaapaw sa s*x appeal.

Kumuha uli si JC ng isang papel. May isinulat ito sa papel at saka pinirmahan iyon bago iniabot sa kanya. “This is your application form for husband license. You need to secure signatures of the other three. May tanong ka pa?”

“Why do you have a big opera house here?”

“The Domain of Lust? For Adonis Gala.”

Napakunot ang noo niya. “What’s with Adonis Gala?”

Muli itong ngumisi sa kanya. “Bidding of husbands. It is a charity event of RnJ. Proceeds of the event usually go to both government and non-government charity institutions.”

Auction? Auction ng mga lalaki para sa mayayamang babae?

“Ah, sabi pala ni Mr. Milosa, kasama ka na sa Adonis na Gala next week kaya dapat madaliin na ang training mo.”

“What?!” bulalas niya.

“It’s written here.” Iniabot nito ang recommendation letter mula kay Ricardo. Indeed, nakalagay nga roon na kasama siya sa Adonis Gala at dapat makakuha na siya ng unang client sa event na iyon.

Nagkibit-balikat siya. “Okay then.” Nasabi na lang niya para matapos na. He just had to focus on his goal: to finish three contacts.

“Anything else?” Bumalik na uli ang mata nito sa laptop at nagsimulang mag-type.

“Wala na. Thank you for your time, Mr. Novelist.” Tumayo na siya. He’s about to leave nang maalala niyang bakante pa ang dalawang mesa. “Nasaan si Council Xean?”

His question was answered nang pabalandrang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina at pa-catwalk na pumasok ang isang lalaki na may blue mermaid color na buhok. May hawak itong purple vanity mirror na may led light sa kanang kamay at isang folder na may tatak ng RnJ sa kaliwa.

“Siya si Council Xean,” sambit ni JC nang hindi inaalis ang paningin sa laptop.

Biglang bumirit ang bagong pasok ng kanta ni Lady Gaga, Rain On Me. Huminto lang ito sa pagkanta nang makita siya nito. “Oh, Fafa Jude! Kapa-process ko lang ng contract mo.” Xean waved the contract to Jude. “Doon tayo sa mesa ko.” Pagkasabi noon ay bumalik ito sa pagkanta ala-Lady Gaga papunta sa working table nito sa kaliwang bahagi ng opisina.

Sinundan lang ito ni Jude. Pagkaupo nito sa mesa ay sinilip muna nito ang buhok sa hawak na salamin bago sa kanya bumaling.

“I’m in charge of all the legal matters of the company. At gaya ng nakalagay sa pinirmahan mo, tatlong contracts lang ang kailangan mong tapusin.” May kinuha ito sa cabinet na parang isang libro. Inilapag nito iyon sa harap niya. “Keep this and read.”

Binasa niya ang cover ng libro. RnJ Husband Rulebook. Okay lang naman sa kanya ang magbasa kaso two inches ang kapal ng rulebook na iyon. Napailing na kinuha niya ang libro.

“Wala man lang ba itong summary?” tanong niya.

“Brilliant question!” Naglapag ito ng dalawang papel.

Kinuha iyon ni Jude at binasa. RnJ Commandments. May summary naman pala, pahihirapan pa siya.

“Basahin mo na lang din. It’s better to read than to be sorry,” makahulugang sambit nito.

Iniabot na lang niya dito ang application form para mapirmahan nito. “Okay.”

Agad naman nitong pinirmahan ang document. “Payo lang. Kung gusto mong matapos ang tatlong contracts mo nang maayos, pigilan mong magmahal ng kliyente. Iyon lang naman ang puno’t dulo ng rules.”

“I’ll take note of that. Salamat.” Walang problema sa kanya ang major rule. He didn’t mix business with pleasure. Big no din iyon sa kanya. “Where’s Council Nathan?”

“I’m here!”

Napalingon si Jude sa nagbukas na pinto. Pumasok ang binata na may kinakaing corn . . . Japanese sweet corn to be exact.

“’You want corn, Xean?” tanong nito.

Umiling si Xean. “Auto-pass.”

“How about you, JC?”

“Sa gabi lang ako nagko-corn. Maaga pa,” tugon naman nito.

Agad lumapit sa table ni Xean si Nathan, hinablot ang ballpen, at basta na lang pumirma sa document.

Bumaling ito kay Jude. “Mr. Milosa called and told me that I no longer need to conduct Psychological assessment on you because he already knows you well. Just go straight to La Diva.” Itinuro nito ang isang separate room sa bandang dulo ng opisina.

“Pero wala ang seduction queen diyan, Fafa Jude,” sabad ni Xean sabay abot ng isang business card. “Magpa-schedule ka na lang sa kanya. Basta kailangang bago mag-Adonis Gala, may husband license ka na.”

“Okay, I’ll go ahead.”

Agad siyang nagpaalam sa mga ito. May byahe pa siyang aasikasuhin. Pagdating niya sa opisina ay agad siyang nagpalit ng damit at nagpahatid sa Alabang Terminal. He was excited for a reason he’s not totally sure of. And that excitement was doubled when his phone beeped. He got a notification from a dating app. Jibelle Arella pinned his Joseph Reyes account on Pinder. Napabukas tuloy siya ng app. He found himself smiling sweetly as he browsed Jibelle’s profile and photos.