Make Her Mine in 50 Days

Chapter 1

“Bro!” Kiel enthusiastically greeted me when I saw him waiting for me at the terminal. “Looking good, huh? Was LA that fun?”

I told him that I was already coming back home for good, and he volunteered to pick me up at the airport.

“You’ve already been to LA before, Kiel. I’m sure you already know the answer,” I said and went inside his car.

“Yes, I did... When I was still in high school,” he said before he slid inside the driver’s seat. “So where do you want me to drive you today?”

“Home,” sabi ko naman at binabaan ang back rest ng upuan upang makapagpahinga ako matapos ang mahabang flight galing Los Angeles.

After what happened two years ago, I went home to Davao and stayed there for a few months, only to find different fragments of my memories with her that we’ve spent together in Davao for five years.

I just decided to live in Los Angeles for almost two years with Kuya Vince and his wife to unwind and heal myself. But since they planned to come home next month, I decided to come home first and be responsible enough to perform my duties that I ignored, due to the fact that I was hurt.

Daddy agreed to let Kiel act as the acting CEO while I was gone. It was also a great training for him once he started handling their chain of hospitals.

“Anyway, there’ll be a party later. My name’s on the guest lists and a VIP room is reserved for me,” he informed me when we were already near. “Two of our college friends will be with me later. It’s a shame that you won’t be able to come.”

“Who says I’m not coming?” My brows shot up.

“Well, I just thought that you’re tired from a long non-stop flight.” He shrugged. “Does this mean you’re coming?”

“I’ll be wasted after drinking, anyway. Pagsabay-sabayin ko na para isang pahinga na lang,” dahilan ko.

“So, you’re going?” muli niyang pagkukumpirma sa akin bago inihinto ang sasakyan sa harap ng aking bahay.

Bumaba rin si Kiel ng sasakyan nang bumaba ako at sumunod sa akin papasok sa loob ng aking bahay.

“I will come,” I confirmed.

“I thought bars are not your thing. What happened to you now, man?” natatawang sabi ni Kiel at saka ako inakbayan.

“I just want to break free for a while, Kiel,” sabi ko. “And we should just treat this as a celebration for my homecoming. Minsan lang naman tayong lumabas.”

“Well, you should probably take a bath and change your clothes into something that would make the girls turn around,” paghamon naman sa akin ni Kiel.

“I don’t need to put effort in order to do that,” nakangisi kong sabi.

“Fucky you, dude!” Kiel said and showed me his middle finger.

I just laughed before I went upstairs to go inside my room and took a quick bath.

When I was still in Los Angeles, I always found myself inside a bar or club, living a shitty motto, “I drink to forget”. You can find me drinking and having fun at The Viper Room, Winstons’ and other exclusive clubs. But no matter how expensive they were, they couldn’t make me forget.

“Brendt, you’re here!” masayang bati sa akin ng isang kakilala ko. “You’re finally back, man!”

Binalingan niya ang babaeng nakakapit sa kanyang braso. Bumulong siya rito at agad ding umalis ang babae na kasama niya upang maiwan kaming dalawa at mag-usap.

“I’ll just check our friends at the VIP room, Brendt,” paalam naman ni Kiel at tinapik ang aking balikat bago umakyat kung nasaan ang mga VIP rooms.

Nilingon ko naman ulit si Jethro at ilang tanong din ang kaagad niyang binato sa akin habang umiinom ng iilang shots. Bawat pagguhit na ginawa ng alcohol sa aking lalamunan ay ginhawa ang pakiramdam na kapalit sa akin.

“Babe...”

Napalingon ako sa kaninang babaeng kasama ni Jethro na bumalik na at agad na yumakap sa aking kaibigan.

“Maiwan ko na kayo,” sabi ko na lang. “Entertain your girl right, Jett. Para hindi ka iwan.”

I decided to just join my friends in the VIP room. Feeling the alcohol inside my body, I slightly closed my eyes.

“Come on, Xy!”

I heard someone shout that made me open my eyes to see where it came from.

I saw a girl whose lips were curved while shaking her head as a sign of disagreement.

Because of the dark ambiance of the club, I can’t see her face clearly, but her white skin’s opposing the darkness that surrounded her. It was making her look like shining. My eyes travelled to her thin lips up to her crystal-like eyes that were reflecting the lights.

I bit my lower lip. I suddenly had the urge to look closer.

I carefully moved closer to their table and decided to sit with some strangers who were girls that were shocked as I sat with them, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I kept my ears close with the conversation of the two girls beside their table.

“Kung ayaw mong sumayaw, just go and do my dare,” I heard her friend say, and my eyebrows automatically rose.

I wondered what kind of dare. It made me more curious.

“I need some entertainment, Xy!” giit pa ng kanyang kaibigan.

One side of my lips suddenly curved. So, Xy is her name, huh?

“Dare?” Her angelic voice managed to create music in my ears.

“Oo. Maglakad ka papuntang dance floor.”

“That’s all?” she asked.

“Nah! Meron pa. You need to drop your shoes while walking. Kung sino man ang pumulot ng sapatos mo, entertain him. Ask for his name, age and number,” paghamon ng kanyang kaibigan sa kanya.

I bit my lower lip and tried to stop myself from smiling wider. I finally found the right role for me tonight. This night’s going to be interesting.

“Okay. ‘Yon lang naman pala, eh.”

Her confidence made me wonder if she had done a lot of reckless things. Parang wala siyang pakialam kung sino man ang makakuha ng sapatos niya. What if it’s a pervert?

Hinawi niya ang kanyang buhok, making her neck looked more visible. Napalunok naman ako at bahagyang umiwas ng tingin.

 “Hindi pa tapos!” pahabol ng kaibigan niya.

There’s more?

“Ano pa?”

“And make him yours…” Her friend added. “You only have 50 days to do it. If you won’t succeed, you’ll give me 500 thousand. Deal?”

I won’t let a stranger get her shoes. Kailangan ay ako ang makapulot ng kanyang sapatos. Yes, I’m a stranger, too, but I have good intentions unlike other guys. Hindi ko siya ipapahamak.

“Then vice versa.” She also had her own conditions. “If I succeed within 50 days, you’d be the one to pay.”

“No problem, Xy,” sagot naman ng kanyang kaibigan matapos ang pag-iisip.

“Let’s start this little game of yours,” she announced.

When I saw her stand up, I immediately followed her.

She effortlessly and naturally removed her shoes and left them on the dance floor. That’s it, Cinderella. I’m gonna be your Prince Charming for tonight.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang kanyang sapatos at hinawakan ang kanyang balikat upang matigil siya sa paglalakad. My rough and calloused palm against her delicate and soft skin made me shiver. Pakiramdam ko’y puwede kong magasgasan ang kanyang balat.

She was about to turn when I kneeled down in front of her. Hinawakan at inangat ko ang kanyang paa upang isuot ang kanyang sapatos.

“Your shoes...” I trailed before I raised my gaze at her. “Naiwan mo, Cinderella...” I grinned at her and saw her lips parted, but still managed to look so beautiful.

After slipping the shoe onto her foot, I stood up to face her.

I caught myself heavily breathing while staring at her straight into her eyes. Mas malinaw na sa’kin ngayon ang mala-anghel niyang mukha na hindi nagawang takpan ng kanyang medyo makapal na make-up.

My heart suddenly clenched when I sensed some familiarity in her eyes.

Her eyes reminded me of someone else’s eyes.

She suddenly flashed a sweet smile and offered her hand. “Hi, you must be new here.” she greeted me enthusiastically. “I’m Xylia. You are?”

“Well, yeah, it’s my first time in this bar,” sabi ko naman. “I’m Brendt,” pakilala ko at saka tinanggap ang kanyang kamay.

“It looks like we're the same age,” she said. “Mind asking how old you are?”

“Maybe, not...” I shook my head because she looked younger than me. “I’m already twenty nine.”

“I’m twenty five,” sabi niya. “Anyway, are you married or… engaged?”

My mood instantly dropped with the word ‘married’. Well, I was supposed to get married before... but it didn’t happen.

“Hmm... Is there something wrong?” she suddenly asked in a concerned way.

“Nothing…” Ngumisi na lamang ako at saka umiling. “Hmm… I’m not married,” sabi ko. “Does it look like I’m married?”

“Well, I just based your status on your age. Anyway, thanks for answering,” she said. “So… would you mind if I get your number?”

I slightly raised my eyebrows when I remembered that was a part of their deal. She needed to get my number.

Hiningi ko ang kanyang cellphone at binigay niya naman ito sa akin. Mabuti na lang talaga at ako na ang umaktong maging prinsipe na makakapulot ng sapatos niya.

I wondered if some other man has the opportunity to get her shoe, will she also give any stranger an access to her phone?

Mabilis kong tinipa ang aking numero sa kanyang cell phone bago ito binalik sa kanya.

Sakto namang tumunog ang aking cell phone kaya naman agad ko itong kinuha upang tingnan kung sino ang tumatawag.

It was Kiel who’s calling me. Paniguradong papapuntahin na ako no’n sa VIP room upang makipagkita sa mga kaibigan namin.

Muli akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya at agad naman siyang ngumiti kaya napangisi na lamang ako.

“I gotta go now, Miss Cinderella. I still have some important things to do,” paalam ko sa kanya.

Without a word, I leaned forward to give her a soft kiss on her cheek that instantly blushed because of my sudden action.

“I’ll wait for your message or call,” I whispered before I left her at the dance floor to go upstairs.

Muli ko siyang binalikan ng tingin bago tuluyang umakyat sa taas. Nakita kong napako pa rin siya ng pagtayo kung saan ko siya iniwan.

I smiled and grabbed my phone tightly, wishing that she would call or text me. She made my first night back home fun.