"How's my wife?"
"Mrs. Montilla already went inside. I have already assigned someone to attend to her needs " –Percy
"Good."
Gusto man ni Lance na personal na asikasuhin ang asawa ay hindi niya magawa. Dahil kasi sa biglaang kasal nila ni Elizabeth ay maraming trabaho ang isinantabi niya para sa araw na iyon. He was supposed to have a meeting with a prospective business partner. Matagal din nila ito niligawan bago mapapayag na makipagsosyo sa kanila. It took them a month before they were able to set a date, only to have it cancelled in the end.
I'd rather lose a business partner than to lose the chance of marrying this woman.
I won't commit that same mistake.
"Sir, I think you should take some rest now. You still need to attend the anniversary of your father-in-law's company later."
"Thanks Percy. I almost forgot about that. It's almost 12 midnight. Please make sure to contact our people. I want to make sure my wife will be comfortable during the event. Anything that she might need must be here before she wakes up."
"I have already taken care of that Mr. Montilla. The stylists would arrive 10 AM sharp."
Kaya naman si Percy ang napiling kanang kamay ni Lance. Bago pa man niya kasi maiutos ang isang bagay ay nagawa na nito. Ganito na kakabisado ni Percy ang boss niya.
"Go ahead. Magpahinga ka na. You've done enough for today. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Sumunod naman agad si Percy. Naiwan si Lance sa may ship deck. Gusto niya munang magmuni-muni bago magpahinga. Pinagmasdan niya ang suot na singsing.
I still can't believe that you are mine now Elizabeth. You just don't know how you made me happy today.
Kahit pa nga may prenuptial agreement sila ng asawa ay hindi iyon nakabawas sa kaligayahang nararamdaman niya. He knew from the very first time he saw her that he wanted no one else but her. Kahit mismong siya sa sarili niya ay hindi makapaniwala sa nararamdaman niya para kay Elizabeth.
It was something new. Something strong.
Gone were his playful bachelor days!
Noon kasi ay iba't-ibang babae ang ka-date niya bawat linggo. Bawat araw pa nga kung minsan.
Models.
Socialites.
Actresses.
Kahit beauty queen pa. Foreign or local, name it!
Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay kahit sino ay pinapatulan niya. He would only date a woman he wants to get to know better.
He has his needs as a man pero hindi naman siya katulad ng iba na lahat nalang ng babae ay ikinakama. He was taught how to respect and how to treat a woman well. He has principles too when it comes to sex.
Sa twing naaalala niya tuloy ang ilan sa mga kundisyon ni Elizabeth sa pagpapakasal sa kanya ay hindi niya maiwasan ang mapangiti.
"First, I want to be clear that I'm marrying you because of the company."
"Second, after the wedding we won't consummate the marriage."
"We should not interfere with each other's business. Walang pakialamanan."
This woman is literally driving me insane. Nahanap ko na nga yata talaga ang katapat ko.
*****
Flashback...
"Are you telling me that she rejected you? Totoo ba tong naririnig ko? Tinanggihan ang isang Lance Miguel Montilla ng isang babae. And to top it all she even asked you one billion pesos. Are you serious?" Natatawang tanong ni Zac habang nagsasalin ng alak sa baso.
"Wow, she must have hated you so much to ask for one billion in exchange of marrying you." Komento naman ni Ian.
Pagkaalis ni Lance sa bahay nila Elizabeth ay tinawagan niya agad ang mga kaibigan. Masyado siyang nastressed sa sitwasyon nila ng dalaga. Naiintindihan naman niyang masyadong mabilis ang lahat at hindi pa siya nito lubos na kilala kaya natural lang na magdalawang isip ito sa napagkasunduan nila ng papa nito. Ang hindi niya maintindihan ay kung bakit ganoon na lamang kainit ang dugo nito sa kanya.
Ganon ba katindi ang pagkadisgusto nito sa kanya para humingi pa ito ng isang bilyon kapalit ng pakasalan siya.
"That's right. She said she would only marry me if I buy her for one billion pesos."
"Grabe naman yan. Ginto ba ang ano nun at napakataas naman ng presyo niya."
"Quit it Zac kung ayaw mong samain ka sa'kin." Napipikong banta ni Lance.
"Whoah chill bro. Relax lang. Masyado ka naman atang sensitive. Ikaw naman Zac tigilan mo yang kamanyakan mo." Awat ni Ian sa dalawa bago pa magkapikunan ang mga ito. Kung tutuusin ay hindi naman pikon si Lance. Madalas ngang tinatawanan lang nito ang mga ganoong side comment ni Zac.Mukhang sobrang naapektuhan lang talaga ito sa rejection nung babaeng gusto niyang pakasalan.
"Seriously, if I were you Lance, don't marry that kind of woman. Pera lang habol sayo nun."
"Zac, I don't think so. She's from a wealthy family. Hindi naman basta basta lang ang pamilya niya."
"Then why did she ask you to give her that humongous amount?" –Zac
"Simple. She wants me to think she is the kind of woman you are telling me she is right now, so I would back out. But believe me, she's not like that. I can see through her façade."
"Listen to me bro, just move on. Ang dami pang babae dyan oh. Ang daming babaeng nagkakandarapa at naghahabol sayo. Kalimutan mo na yan." –Ian
"Ang daming babae pero siya lang ang nakikita ko. Siya lang ang naiisip ko. You know what the weird thing is? I don't even feel turned off with what she did. It only made me want her more. Mababaliw na yata ako."
