Marrying The Abandoned Bride ✔

PANGATLO: Enchantress

Square Cafe. Dito pinapapunta si Dos ng nakausap niyang tao. Hindi niya kinailangang hanapin pa si Skylight Ong dahil tumawag na mismo sa kanya ang assistant nito. He was directed to meet her at the said cafe, kaya nagpunta siya ng hapon.

Hindi siya nakatulog nung nagdaang gabi. Pinatuloy siya ng bestfriend niyang si Gian sa bahay nito, pinatulog sa guestroom, pinakain, ngunit hindi ito nagpahiram ng kahit isang piso. Dahil nakausap na pala nito ang parents niya and Gian was told not to lend him any amount. Isa iyon sa bumagabag sa isip niya kaya hindi siya nakatulog ㅡ wala siyang kapera-pera. Buti na lang dala niya ang kanyang sasakyan kaya nakarating siya sa Square Cafe.

He parked his gray SUV beside a shiny black Audi S8 which, he noticed, seemed to be guarded by a man in black suit. Curious siya ngunit inignora na lamang niya iyon at pumasok na sa loob ng luxury cafe. That cafe offers the most expensive coffee in the country ㅡ oh, yes ㅡ therefore, naisip niyang hindi basta-bastang tao ang kakaharapin niya sa loob ng shop na iyon.

She must be a rich businesswoman na kaibigan ng Mama niya, she might also have illegal businesses like those personalities he knew. She must be an aged woman in silk dress, gold jewelries, heavy-colored face, and permed hair. She must be a sugar mommy-typed.

Sad to say, nagkamali siya ng inisip nung sandaling ituro sa kanya ng isang crew ang kinauupuan ni Skylight Ong. Naroon ang babae, nakaupo ng maayos. Likod pa lang nito, alam na ni Dos na hindi pa ito matanda.

He walked confidently towards where she sat. He had no idea what is happening, nor what will gonna happen, but he is determined to settle the mess he did. Even if it means selling his body.

Katapat lang ng Audi S8 na may bantay ang table kung saan nakaupo ang babae. Tumikhim siya upang makuha ang atensyon nito.

She looked up at him. At ang unang-una niyang napansin ay ang malungkot nitong mga mata. But they're still beautiful no matter how sad they were. They're still alluring. They can still bewitch any man or anyone. And that was what exactly happened to him right there and then ㅡ he was instantly mesmerized by that enchantress.

"Dylan Eros?" Kung gaano kaganda ang mukha nito, ganundin kaganda ang malamig na boses nito. Siguradong kahit na sinong lalaki ay mabibihag agad nito at agad-agad siyang pagpapantasyahan. He also noticed that the woman looks still young but already have a well-developed body figure. Kahit nakaupo ito at nakatakip ng shawl, alam niyang napaka-sexy nito.

Umawang ang bibig ni Dos subalit tango lang ang kanyang naisagot. The woman signaled him to sit, so he obeyed gently. Nung magkaharap sila, lalo niyang nakita ang angking ganda nito. Nagniningning ang maputi nitong mukha kaya kahit patayin siguro ang ilaw, makikita at makikita pa rin niya ito. Kasimputi at kasing kinis ito ng labanos.

Sa kabila ng pagkahumaling niya sa pisikal nitong kaanyuan, naalala niya ang tungkol sa pera. He didn't go there to see her beautiful face, he was there to talk to her about his debts, right? Therefore, he didn't waste the time.

"Pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit mo binayaran yung utang kong sampung milyon? Kilala ba kita? Kilala mo ba ako?" Sunud-sunod niyang tanong habang isini-serve ang in-order ng babae, na dalawang coffee macchiato at chocolate bread.

"Kilala kita. Ikaw si Dylan Eros Madrigal, the 22-year old son of the Mayor and Vice-mayor of this town, yet not so popular. I've known you since ten months ago." She elegantly answered. Nakakamangha pati pananalita nito. It looked like she was trained to talk like a queen. Hindi ito gumagalaw sa pagkakaupo, nakababa lang ang mga kamay nito sa ibabaw ng mga hita. Nakalugay ang buhok nito ngunit wala ni isang strand ang nakatikwas. It was properly straightened and combed. Lahat ng detalyeng nakikita rito, napaka-perpekto. Isa lang ang hindi ㅡ ang malungkot nitong ekspresyon.

"Then who are you?" Dos asked once again. Kahit gaano niya isipin, hindi niya maalala kung saan niya ito nakita, although she looked so familiar.

"You once saw me crying beside a light post at Love Street in Barangay Apple. If you can't remember, I was wearing a wedding dress and I have told you twice to marry me, but you walked away..." Unang linya pa lang nito, naalala na niya ito kaagad. Paano niya makakalimutan ang gabing una siyang nakakita ng napakagandang baliw? Oo nga, ito nga iyon!

"You don't know me so let me introduce myself... I am Skylight Ong, a 19-year old student with a two months old baby."

What? She's just 19 but she already has a baby?

Hindi agad siya naniwala so he scrutinized her properly. Mukha naman itong walang anak. Then if it's true, napakaganda naman nitong Ina. Then if it's true, what does she want from him?

"I cleared your gambling debts for you to owe me something. Pay it by being my husband and stand as the father of my son."

Nalaglag ang panga niya.

That woman is mentally retarded, he thought. Baka naman mayaman nga siya pero may problema sa pag-iisip? He's just 22, so why would he tie himself to someone so early? Sa hindi pa niya kilala? No way! Hanggat maaari, i-enjoyin pa niya ang pagiging binata.

"You must be kidding me." He uttered, smirking. "Hindi nga kita kilala, bakit kita pakakasalan? Nasa'n yung Tatay ng anak mo? Hindi pa ngayon, pero babayaran ko yung 10 million pesos, ng pera din. I'm sorry but I won't marry anyone anytime soon."

The beautiful woman kept a serious-melancholic visage. "Then give me back the 10 million pesos, in cash, right now. I'll wait." She awfully answered like one powerful person.

Dylan Eros instantly became hopeless.

Patay! Saan pa siya gagapang upang makahanap ng sampung milyon?