One-night Stand with the Billionaire

Chapter 3 - Inah

Georgina

Chapter 3-Inah

I couldn’t find my right position on my seat. I feel hot and at the same time feel cold. I couldn’t bear to look at the man I had slept with, though I wanted to.

Sa isang iglap ay gusto kong kunin ang smartphone ko at tawagan ang best friend ko. Why the hell in this world? I grabbed a man who happens to be the uncle of my soon to be husband…in papers? Klaro ko lang yun, sa papel lang kami magiging mag-asawa ni Nico.Why couldn’t it be another man from a different world? At ano naman ang gusto ko, alien?

“Georgina,” Mommy scolded me, “Will you stay still? Para kang pusang di maihi.”

Ora mismo akong napatigil. Ipinatong ko ang mga kamay ko sa kandungan pero ang sama pa rin ng tingin ni mommy sa akin. What the freak? Wala na ba akong gagawing tama? I just followed her rule. She said , "Stay still, and that’s what I did." Galit pa rin siya.

Brando Araneta, the youngest sibling of Hector Araneta, looked at me. I suppressed my breathing when our eyes met.

“The girl must be uncomfortable,” he said.

Girl?

Kamuntik na malaglag ang bagang ko.

There’s a sudden echo in my mind, and I don’t know if it’s real. Did this man also call me a girl last night?

“Do you want to pee or something?” asked my mother, but I shook my head.

Hindi ako naiihi. Ang gusto kong gawin ay ilibing si Nico sa Mt. Everest.

“She must just be anxious and affected by my charm,” Nico said with a grin of boastfulness, so I nearly dilated my eyes.

Napakayabang wala namang bayag! Kumakapit lang ito sa bayag ng Daddy ko para sa pangarap. Sana, may improvised na bayag at pakakabitan ko si Nico sa noo, kahit na bente pa.

Charm daw!

Not a chance. Brando, though a bit old, is more gorgeous than Nico, even compared to Hector Araneta. If Hector didn’t introduce this man as his younger brother, I wouldn’t think that the two were blood related. Brando has a different charm and a different face. If one thing about these men is the same, it’s the height. They’re all tall, and Brando is the tallest.

“Maybe I can start signing the papers so that I can go inside and rest. If you don’t mind?” I managed to say, looking at my father.

“No,” he said to me, and so I just sighed, “We’ll have a celebration here until tonight.”

Celebration is not the correct term. I am not celebrating anyway. It’s such a boring event and I want to yawn. These people are too old-fashioned. They only talk about business and politics, and it sucks, especially since I know that these people aren’t genuine. Nakakairita ang mga pagmumukha nilang dinaig pa ang rebult9 ng mga bayani sa sobrang pagkatigas.

Hindi sila marunong ngumiti, kung oo man, peke!

Why can’t my parents be offended by the prenuptial agreement? I know that it is normal and necessary nowadays, but I was the one signing it, and it’s offensive for me because I am a woman. If Hector and Ariela only knew how much I hated their son, they would never give me such papers. I am not interested in Nico, and so as to their wealth.

I eyed Brando again, and he also eyed me. Diyos ko, ang puso ko. I wanted to retract it, but I couldn’t until he said something.

“She looks sick,” he said, so my eyes widened a bit.

My parents looked at me, and I also looked at them.

Ngising demonyita ako. Parang kakampi ko ang Brando Araneta na ito. I so love him na talaga.

Gaga!

“A-Are you feeling unwell, Inah?” Mommy asked.

I pressed her lips together and nodded. Pinatamlay ko ang mga mata ko.

“Oh my God! Why haven’t you said so? Sign the prenup and go to your room before you spread any viruses to all the around people here,” galit na sabi niya, tumaas ang mga pinatattooed niyang mga kilay.

Ewwws. Ang baduy din ni mommy. Kahit kilay niya makaluma, pang Josephine Bracken ang style. Uso ngayon ay bushy, katulad ng akin.

Hector shakes off the arm of his coat as if trying to eliminate any virus there. I wanted to laugh because they seemed so very afraid.

Nagkatinginan pa ang mag-asawang tupperware.

“I think I will cough. I…think my CoVid is coming back,” I tiredly said, but it’s just my drama.

Nagka-covid na kasi ako kaya lang nagkulong lang ako at nagpagaling mag-isa. Hindi nalaman ng mga magulang ko na Covid na pala ang tumama sa akin. Binibeso ko pa sila pero hindi naman sila nahawa. Lucky for them, mahirap silang tamaan ng sakit dahil makakapal na rin ang mga balat nila dahil sa sobrang kapalastikan. Baka kahit na immune system nila ay made of plastic na rin.

“Covid?!” exclaimed Ariela, grimacing.

How would I become the best actress of our drama club if I don’t know how to act perfectly?

Ako yata ang gumanap na Mama Mary sa eswkelahan.

“Jesus!” her father exclaimed.

The Araneta's stood up and moved away. The only one who didn’t bother to take a step far from me is Brandon. The man is still casually sitting on his chair, as if out of this world and doesn’t mind if I have CoVid.

Kumuha siya ng fries at isinubo. He even licked his fingertip.

Napalunok ako.

I faked a cough, and my mother stood up, “My God, Inah. Just go back to your room and I’ll just send the papers to you!”

I never minded my mom's tone and just stood up, coughing again. I intended to cough on my mother’s face, who abruptly covered her own face.

Agad itong kumuha ng alcohol at nagpahid. Arte. As if naman tatablan pa ito ng sakit. Mommy is not a typical mother who will take care of her child when she gets sick. Namuhay kami ni ate na puro yaya ang nag-aalaga. She sent us away when we came to be near them, wanting to hold them because we’re not feeling well. Ang rason, baka mahawa si Daddy, bawal um-absent sa session.

“Hurry up, Georgina!” aniya pa.

“S-Sorry…” I mumbled and almost ran away, giggling in my mind.

Thanks to Brando, my one-night stand partner. He just helped me escape. Without thinking, I looked back and saw him staring at me. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination that he smirked because when I blinked, the smirk was already gone.

Weird Brando Araneta. Perhaps I’m just so overwhelmed by his presence. Who will even get some peace of mind and courage to face her night-stand if it happens to be the uncle of her soon to be partner? Thank God he doesn’t remember me. Thank God he was also drunk and alcohol took his memories for a while, and thank God I was the first one to wake up early this morning.

On my way inside the mansion, the housekeepers are pushing carts towards the door. They’re about to go to the gazebo for sure, but I coughed at them. Sinadya kong lakasan ang ubo ko na iyong tatalsik pa ang laway ko nang kaunti.

“Agh, covid!” I barked, and the two hurriedly puId the carts away, laughing.

“Señorita!” they screeched, but I covered her mouth and giggled.

Tumatawa sila at nagpapagpag.

I am also laughing, but somebody coughed behind me, so I immediately looked back. s**t! My heart raced when I saw Brandon Araneta. He’s walking towards me, hands in his pockets.

I mentally prayed and crossed my fingers, hoping that he really doesn’t remember anything about last night.

He's eyeing me, but I raised my chin, “Yes?”

“You aren’t sick,” he said, so my eyes widened.

Aba at bwisit na matandang ito. Kung alam ko lang sana pumili-pili naman ako ng batang one-night stand.

“Ah no, don’t tell them. I just really want to escape. You’re a member of their family, but you helped me earlier. Huwag mong itanggi. Kampi ka sa akin, alam ko.” Duro ko sa kanya.

“I know. I can see how much you hate that traditional f**k they just prepared.”

My eyes widened again. He just cursed yet it fits his beautiful mouth perfectly.

“And besides,” he looked deeply into my eyes, “You seem so sleepy, kid.”

Agad kong nahawakan ang mga pisngi ko. Susko.

I immediately rubbed my eye bags using my fingers, trying to hide them away from him. I feel so embarrassed. He doesn’t have eye bags and it made me feel so insecure. I feel so ugly. And why does I worry about it that I look ugly because of my puffed eyes?

“I’m…I’m just tired, U-Uncle Brando,” I stammer but he chuckled, scratching his brow.

Bakit parang peke rin ang pagkamot niya?

He chuckled yet his expression is still sad. Well, Hector told them that Brando is still mourning for the loss of his wife. Apparently and sadly, his wife’s name is also Georgina…Georgina Araneta. When I get married to Nico, I’ll also be Georgina Araneta.

“So, your name is Georgina?” he asked her and I nodded with a thumping of my heart.

He averted his gaze and looked forward, “Where’s the bathroom?”

“T-This way,” I answered.

Damn! Why stammer again? I’m a good conversationalist but I'm lost for words with this man. I inhaled deeply but discreetly. I’m trying to calm myself.

He doesn’t know you. He doesn’t remember you so relax, George.

“Here,” I twisted the knob and opened the door of the men’s room for him.

I blinked again and couldn’t help but glance at his face.

“Have we met?” he asked but I abruptly shook my head.

Medyo kunot ang noo niya at shocks, bagay iyon sa kanya. Lalo siyang gumugwapo.

“I believe…no,” I nearly croaked, trying to evade his gaze.

My insides start to panic because of his question. He must not remember anything. That night must be buried and must not be remembered at all. Brando is just a person who just passed by and should never be remembered as my night-stand. If my father finds out about it, I’ll be literally dead. It will only happen once I tell him, but I’m not crazy yet to expose my greatest secret.

Brando nodded and licked his lips, “You may go upstairs now and continue pretending you’re sick, Miss Covid 2023.”

Oh s**t.

I walked past him, and without looking back, I went straight to the stairs, counting her steps. Para naman siyang tanga. Covid 2023 daw. Ano ako bagong variant? Why does it feel like we will see each other more often after the marriage? Of course. I can’t run away from the truth and reality. What’s important is that Brando doesn’t know that I was the girl who grabbed him to break my hymen.

My cheeks heated, and I paused. That wasn’t bad for a first experience, I have to admit it. I was drunk, yes, but I couldn’t deny that he made me feel like a real woman that time. Ramdam ko pa iyon hanggang sa mga oras na ito. Ramdam ko na masakit pa rin ang ano ko, pusang gala!