Chapter 4 AJ (Yuri’s POV)

AFTER ALMOST two weeks of laying on my bed, I finally get my strength back. Paunti-unti ay bumabalik sa dating sigla ang katawan ko. Nasabi na rin ni Fred na alam na ni Miss Erlinda Villanueva, o mas kilala sa tawag na Milady, ang tungkol sa plano ko na tanggapin ang kondisyon ni Alfonso at magpakasal.

At sa loob din ng dalawang linggo na iyon, napansin ko ang pagbabago kay Paul. He’s been saying and encouraging me to stop this nonsense. His reason is that I already established my name in the business world and I don’t need a single penny from my adopted father.

Pero iba ang rason ko.

Gaya niya, lalaki rin ako.

But if I say it out loud, he will only laugh at me. So in the past few days, I’ve been thinking of a reason to counter Paul’s. And finally, a reasonable one came to mind.

Sa harap ng mahabang dining table na kaming tatlo lang ang gumagamit, tanging mga pagtama ng kubyertos lang ang maririnig. Hanggang sa basagin ni Paul ang katahimikan.

“Please, Master. Let’s stop this. Madala ka na sa nangyari. Baka ikamatay mo ito kapag nagpatuloy ka pa!”

This is it!

“There is something I want to know, Paul. Answers I will find if I sit there, the place he left for me.”

The CEO of the A&M Corporation—whatever really is in there, I no longer care.

I just want to live like a normal person. I hope, I can find someone who can cure these allergies. I hope I can have someone to hold in the cold nights and days. It’s a good decision to do it even before the will expired. Kailangan ko ng tulong nilang dalawa, dahil hindi ko ito kaya nang mag-isa.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang paglukot ng mukha ni Paul. I knew it, he’s not convinced.

“Mas importante pa ba iyan kaysa sa buhay mo?”

I bit my lower lip and heave out a sigh.

This is important because it is about my life. “Yes.”

Fred clapped once, indicating that the discussion should be done. “Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s go with plan B.”

Umagaw ng atensyon namin ang pagtunog ng phone ko. Binasa ko ang message.

“Still no luck, huh?”

“May nag-text na naman?” Tango lang ang sagot ko sa tanong ni Paul. “O ano? Itutuloy mo pa ba? Baka nga magulo pa ang buhay—“

“Ignore it.” Putol ni Fred sa sinasabi ni Paul.

He’s right. I will ignore it.

We have been ignoring these messages from unknown numbers and social media accounts. Nagsimula ito noong mailabas ang tungkol sa huling habilin na iniwan para sa akin. Tumigil lang kung sino ang taong ito noong nakaraang taon kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit nag-message na naman.

Is this person related to Milady?

But I have no intention of getting their wealth. It’s just an excuse I needed to convince Paul.

“Master, palagi ka na lang natutulala. In love ka na, ano?”

Wala sa sariling nakagat ko ang ibabang labi. Nang makahuma ay tiningnan ko siya nang masama.

Confusion and bullshȋts are written all over his face. Hindi na lang ako sumagot at tinuon ang atensyon sa pagkain.

“Balik sa topic! We will start with my plan,” sabi ni Paul pagkaraan nang ilang sandali na pananahimik ko.

Ang tinutukoy niyang plano ay kung hindi madala sa maayos na usapan ang babae, idadaan na lang sa paraan na parehong manginginabang ang dalawang partido—look for a woman in need of money, in exchange of her service, simply posing as my wife.

“But—“ he paused.

I looked at him, he is grinning as if he is waiting for me to do so before he continue.

“We will start in Catanduanes.”

I gulped a few times, and try to calm my excitement. “What a bright idea, but it’s far,” I said in a monotone.

“Master na reklamador, hindi mo ba naiisip? Mas malayo sa lugar na ito, mas ligtas kung sino man ang mapapangasawa mo.”

He’s not getting my point. He is focused about me getting the inheritance. But I just want a wife!

CRAMBELL’S COLLEGES, a prestigious school for middle class to high class families. This is a small private school. Iilan lang ang natatanggap na estudyante dahil sa mataas na standard nito na nakikisabay sa tuition. At kahit ganoon pa man, may mangilan-ngilan din na nasa mababang estado ang sumubok dito. At sila ang target namin.

“Mr. Katakori, good to have you here. And what’s with the sudden scholarship program? My students don’t need such things,” ani George Crambell, ang may-ari ng paaralan.

“Crambell, you don’t need to know. You will benefit from this after all, so why bother with reasons?”

“Alright, you win, Fred. I already have the student assistant prepared what you asked for. Please proceed with your interview.”

“Bear in mind that this is confidential,” Fred said before George left.

“Mysterious as ever? I got it.”

And afternoon came, exactly one, we started the interview. Almost fifty students were on the list, according to Paul. I let them do the interview while I sit comfortably on George’s seat. May isang professor sa loob na tagatawag.

Hindi pa umaabot ng isang oras ay isa na lang ang natitirang estudyante.

“Well, this will be the last student. I really appreciate this, gentlemen. Allow me to thank you. May klase pa ako, kaya maiwan ko na kayo,” paalam ni Mr. Garcia.

Lumabas na ito ng pinto at tinawag ang huling estudyante sa listahan.

“Allyah Jane Fernandez?”

I bit my lower lip when I heard the name.

Allyah Jane Fernandez, the owner of the keychain I picked on the road. She could have the initials AJ as her nickname, too. Is she the same AJ with the big boobs?

There is no such things as coincidence, this is the fact I always believed in. Pero nang sumilip ang mukha niya sa pinto, kumpirmado ang unang hinala ko.

The longer I stare at her will only bring me big trouble.

Gaya nang mga nakaraang buwan na siya lang ang laman ng isip ko.

Nagulo ang mapayapa kong buhay sa villa.

Maging ang pananahimik ni Milady ay naapektuhan at nagsisimula nang umalboroto.

Allyah Jane—kung pwede ko lang ibalik ang oras, sana hindi kita tinitigan.

Tumagilid ako ng upo, nagbabakasakaling hindi niya ako mamukhaan. Sa gilid ng mata ko, kita ko ang tuluyan niyang pagpasok sa opisina. Malayong-malayo ang histura niya maging ang tindig niya.

She’s wearing a pair of thick glasses, thicker than the last time. Her hair was braided into a messy one, red lips, a plain violet fitted T-shirt that emphasizes her curves and big chest; ripped jeans, and white sneakers.

She is simply stunning.

I diverted my eyes before she could feel me staring.

After a long silence when she stepped in the room, I felt chills. Is she staring at me?

All the other students before her never did it. Namumukhaan niya ba ako?

Dαmn it!