The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Twenty-Four: Back to Reality

[Beijing, China]

"Here." May nilapag si James na envelope sa harapan ko.

Nasa penthouse kami. Sa may home office ni Louie.

"What is this?" sabi ko.

"Take a look," ang sabi nito.

We were alone. Wala si Louie, nasa Shanghai may dalawang araw na. Lumipad ito doon pagkauwi na pagkauwi namin galing Bali.

Dumating si James ngayon lang din dahil may ibibigay daw ito sa akin.

I took the envelope to check what's inside.

It's a bank book in my name. I checked the balance. Fifty thousand US dollars.

That's approximately 2.5 million pesos!

Parang bigla akong nanginig sa reyalisasyon na 'yon sabay lapag nung bank book sa ibabaw ng mesa.

"That's for the down payment," sabi ni James. "As stated in the contract, you will receive another 50,000 US dollars after the first year of the marriage, and another 50,000 US dollars after the second year. Plus an additional 50,000 US dollars as alimony after the divorce."

Hindi ako sumagot.

I don't know why but hearing him say those things suddenly made me uncomfortable.

Everything felt surreal. Ta's bakit parang hindi ako masaya?

Girl, that's 2.5 million pesos!

"May problema ba?" ani James. Napansin yata ang bigla kong pananahimik.

I shook my head and tried to smile.

"No, wala naman," sabi ko.

Tumitig ito sa akin. It was as if he was trying to read what's on my mind.

"You don't look okay," ang sabi nito.

I force a chuckle. "No, I'm good. You don't have to worry about me. Pagod lang siguro sa byahe. Either that o hindi lang talaga ako sanay na walang ginagawa."

He heaved a deep sigh. "If you need anything, anything at all... please don't hesitate to tell me or Mei."

"I will, thank you," sabi ko.

"By the way." He picked up the envelope and took something from it. Mukhang may iba pa itong laman maliban dun sa bank book. "If you need to buy anything or if you want to go shopping, you can use this."

Naglapag ito ng isang credit card sa ibabaw ng mesa. It has my name on it, as well.

"No, no, I can't take this," I said as I slid the card back to him. "I can't spend money which is not mine. Saka may pera naman ako, I will be fine."

Inusog nito ang card pabalik sa akin.

"This is yours," anito. "When Louie said that he will take care of you during the marriage, this is included."

"But ---"

"Take that or I will get in trouble with him," ang putol nito sa sinasabi ko.

I heaved a deep sigh. "Alright," sabi ko sabay dampot nung card. "I'm taking this. But that doesn't mean that I'll be using this."

"Louie is a very rich man, don't worry. Hindi niya ikakahirap 'yan," anito bago tumawa nang bahagya.

I chuckled.

"That was just a joke," he continued. "But I know he knows what he's doing."

I just smiled.

"So how was your trip in Bali?" anito.

"Okay naman," sabi ko. "Nag-enjoy naman ako kahit na papano. Medyo nagulat nga ako. I thought he was all boring but as it turned out, he can be fun and talkative at times. He even went parasailing with me."

Bahagya itong natawa. "Yes, there's still a lot that you need to know about Louie. But believe me, he's not really that bad. He can be fun at times, too."

"Oo nga. It looks like I misjudged him."

"I can understand why, though."

"Though he seems to be back on his old intimidating self now," sabi ko.

"That's how he normally is, especially when he's working," he said. "Masasanay ka din."

"It looks like I don't have a choice. I'm stuck here for the next two years."

"It won't be that bad, trust me."

"Not when there's 10 million pesos at stake," sabi ko.

He just laughed.

Ta's umalis na din ito pagkuwan. Leaving me alone in this spacious penthouse apartment.

I went back to my room after he left. Nilapag ko sa ibabaw ng bed ang bank book at credit card. I kept staring at it for a while.

Bakit ganun? Getting these was suddenly making me sad? Para akong sinampal ng katotohanang ang lahat ng ito ay isang ilusyon lamang.

Oo inaamin ko, nakalimot ako. I had so much fun in Bali that I somehow forgot the reason why I was there.

Dahil bayad ako. And I was merely doing my job.

Lahat ng nangyari sa Bali, lahat iyon ay ilusyon lamang.

Nakakahiya mang aminin pero umasa ako ng very, very slight. Noong nagkapalagayan kami ng loob ni Louie, when he started opening up to me, and most especially after he did that marriage proposal... umasa ako. Nakalimot ako.

Pero dahil sa down payment na natanggap ko kani-kanina lang, para akong nagising sa katotohanang ang lahat ng iyon ay ilusyon lamag.

That's 10 million pesos, girl! Aarte ka pa ba? ang sabi ng kontrabidang bahagi ng aking utak.

Not that someone forced you into this. Ginusto mo 'to, 'di ba? Ta's ngayon magda-drama ka?

Tumayo ako ng bed at saka nagpaypay ng mukha gamit ang sariling mga kamay kahit malamig naman.

"You can do this, Aera," ang sabi ko sa sarili ko. "You were just swayed because of that marriage proposal. 'Yon lang 'yon. But no, you are not falling for your boss. Definitely not."

"I was just bored," sabi ko pa. "Yes, I was just bored."

Papano, 'di talaga ako sanay na walang ginagawa. Dati, pinapangarap ko lang ang makatulog nang buong araw. Pero nakakapraning din pala 'yong wala kang gagawin at nakahilata ka lang buong araw.

Napanood ko na ang lahat ng mga movies na matagal ko nang gustong panoorin, wala lang akong time. Nakatapos na din ako ng isang libro.

It may sound funny but I miss being too busy to the point na feeling ko minsan, babagsak na ako sa sobrang pagod.

I suddenly heard a notification bell from my phone. I went to pick it up from my bedside table.

Binuksan ko ito at pakiwari ko'y nabuhay bigla ang lahat ng dugo ko sa katawan nang makitang galing iyon kay Louie.

Akalain mo 'yon? He'd been away for two days now pero ngayon lang nito ako naisipang i-text?

I know he had no responsibility to update me or whatsoever but still... maano ba 'yong magtext man lang sana para alam ko namang nakarating siya doon ng matiwasay?

I'll be back in Beijing tonight. Don't prepare dinner, we're going out.

Saka ko lang na-realize na abot tenga pala ang ngiti ko habang binabasa ang message nito.

Gawd, this is bad.