The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Four: Entangled

[Two weeks later.]

Halos 'di ako magkandaugaga dahil sa dami ng bitbit ko paglabas ng library. I was on my way to my next class with my backpack, books, and a cup of coffee on one hand. I was wearing a loose hoodie paired with faded jeans, and my trusted two-year-old Converse shoes.

I wore my hair, which I haven't washed for two days now, in a messy bun. I adjusted my large-framed eyeglasses before I ran down the steps of the main library building. I was on the last step when I felt my phone vibrate. 

I stopped walking, transferred my coffee on my other hand --- which is not an easy task considering the books I was carrying --- and grabbed my phone from the back pocket of my pants with my now free hand. 

It was my mom. 

"Hola!" I said as soon as I picked up her call.

"Where have you been? Why aren't you picking up my calls? I've been trying to call you since this morning!" She sounded distressed.

"Relax, ma. I'm fine. I was in the library. What's the matter?"

"Pano kayo nagkakilala ni Alexander?" She was practically yelling from the other end of the line.

"Alexander who?"

"What do you mean Alexander who? Alexander del Rosario! Louie Alexander del Rosario!"

"Louie who?" Then it suddenly dawned on me. "Oh, wait. Did you say Louie? How did you know him?"

It has been two weeks since that fateful incident but how can I forget about that brute?

"Anong how did you know him? Ikaw ang tinatanong ko, pano kayo nagkakilala niyang si Alexander?" 

Alexander. Alexander del Rosario. Louie Alexander del Rosario.

The sudden realization got me stupefied.

Before I knew it, books started slipping off my hand. One by one, the books fell down to the grass-covered ground I was standing on. And just when I squat down to pick them up, I saw a pair of brown, expensive looking leather shoes approach me. 

I looked up and was startled to see James. He bent down to help me pick up the books from the ground. 

'Di ako nakagalaw. Nakatunganga lang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. 

Anong ginagawa niya dito sa university?

Dahan-dahan itong nagtaas ng tingin. He smiled at me the moment our eyes met. 

"How are you, Aerabella?"

I found myself sitting on a bench under a huge oak tree five minutes later. Kausap ko si James.

"What did you say?" I asked.

Narinig ko naman ang sinabi niya, 'di ko lang ma-comprehend nang maayos.

"Louie wanted to see you again," anito.

So tama nga ang pagkakarinig ko. Hindi ako dinadaya ng aking pandinig.

"But why? I kept my end of the bargain. I kept my mouth shut. Wala akong pinagsabihan kahit na sino tungkol sa nangyari."

"Yeah, we know. But that's not the problem here," anito. 

"Then what seems to be the problem?" I asked.

"Your photos are all over the internet. It even made its way to the first page of a local paper back in the Philippines," he said.

"Wait. Wait. I don't think I follow," sabi ko.

I have so many questions.

"You don't really know him?" James asked, looking me in the eyes.

"I got a call from my mom earlier and she asked me how I know Alexander del Rosario. There's only one Alexander del Rosario I know..." My voice trailed off.

"Yup, you're right. Louie's the first grandson of the former president, Alexander del Rosario. His full name's Louie Alexander del Rosario," James said, confirming my hunch.

"Ohmygod." Bigla kong natutop ang sariling bibig.

Yeah, of course. Who doesn't know former president Alexander del Rosario? One of the most, if not the most, controversial presidents of the Philippines.

The del Rosarios are known for being a political dynasty. 

"What do you mean by my photos all over the internet?" I asked again.

"Unfortunately, someone saw you that night. Someone took a photo of Louie dragging you from the elevator to the hotel room."

I gasped. "Really?"

He nodded. 

So he wasn't exaggerating when he said that someone's always following him.

"But I assumed hindi naman kita ang mukha ko?"

"Unfortunately, yes. We're not talking about some amateur photos here taken from a phone cam. We're talking about high definition photos taken by some high powered cameras owned by some professional paparazzi."

"The fuck." 

"Yeah, I know. It sucks." 

Katahimikan. Pilit kong ina-absorb ang mga naririnig ko.

"Wala ka bang klase?" tanong nito pagkuwan.

"I have. It doesn't matter. I'm already late." 

And I think that's the least of my priorities right now. 

I saw James check his phone. 

"Louie will be here in twenty minutes."

"Here? In the university?"

"Nope. In Barcelona."

"Bakit? Nasaan ba siya ngayon?"

"Beijing."

"China?"

"Yup. Our main office is in Beijing, China. He's flying here just to see you."

"That's crazy."

"Well, everything about Louie's life is beyond normal."

"What if I don't want to see him?"

"You have no choice but to see him."

"And may I ask why?"

"Because sooner or later, the media will find you. And trust me, those people are ruthless. They'll do anything to get something out of you. They'll manipulate you, they'll even fabricate stories if they have to. Guguluhin nila ang tahimik mong mundo."

"Are you scared that I'll tell them the truth? That your boss tried to harass me that night."

"I'm sorry to say this but you don't want to involve yourself in such a circus. Louie's family would do anything to twist the story. Ikaw lang ang lalabas na masama. Hindi sila magdadalawang-isip na sirain ka, malinis lang ang pangalan ni Louie. You don't want to do that, trust me."

I don't want to admit it but he has a point. Sino ba naman ako para kalabanin ang isang del Rosario? 

"What do I get if I talk to your boss? I mean, what assurance do I get na hindi ako madadamay sa gulong ito? My life has already been crazy. I don't think I need another complication."

"That's for you to find out," ani James bago ito tumayo. "So? Let's go?"

I had no choice but to slowly stand up. Who would've thought that I'll be seeing that man again. 

Arghhhh.