The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Thirty-One: Someone to Lean On

Nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid. I think I’m lost. Sa laki ba naman kasi ng resort na ‘to, mawawala ka talaga. 

Nagpalakad-lakad kasi ako kanina pagkatapos kong mag-breakfast. I wanted to explore the place. 

Masyado akong nawili kaka-picture, hindi ko namalayan na napalayo na pala ako sa grupo.

Everyone was having a great time. Masaya silang naglalaro noong umalis ako kanina.

Wala naman akong ibang kilala dito maliban kina James at Mei kaya ‘di na lang ako nakisali. Busy din yata ‘yong dalawang 'yon, I haven’t seen them since I woke up today. 

Medyo late na ako nagising. Napasarap kasi ang tulog ko. Ang tagal ko din kasing nakabalik ng tulog. Parang inabot din siguro ako ng dalawang oras kakatitig sa natutulog na si Louie. 

Gagalaw lang itong konti, maa-alarma na ako. Feeling ko magkaka-nightmare na naman ulit ito.

Na hindi naman nangyari, thank God. Mukhang naging mahimbing na ang tulog nito pagkatapos.

I had a hard time going back to sleep kaya matagal din ako nagising. When I woke up, I was alone. Wala na si Louie sa tabi ko.

Nakita ko ito sa malayo kanina, he was talking with some of his employees. 

Hindi ko na inabala. This is the only time where he gets to bond with his people. 

I got bored so nagpalakad-lakad ako. At ‘eto nga at tila nawawala na ako. Hindi ko na alam kung paano bumalik doon.

May nakita akong staff. Lalaki. I approached him. 

Smiling, he asked me something in Mandarin. 

I told him, in my broken Mandarin, that my Mandarin is not that good. 

“That’s okay, I can speak English,” ang mabilis nitong wika.

“Oh, that’s a relief!” I said. 

“Yi Chen.” He showed me his name tag which was written in Chinese characters.

“I’m Aera,” sabi ko. “I’m with ThinkSoft team.” 

“Ohh. Yeah, yeah, ThinkSoft.”

“I think I’m lost. I don’t know how to go back to our cottages.”

“Okay. Okay. No problem. I’ll take you back. Let me just get a golf cart,” anito bago umalis. 

At noong bumalik ay may dala ng golf cart.

“You’re from where?” anito habang pinagmamaneho ako. 

“I’m a Filipino,” I said. 

“Ohhh, Filipino. My girlfriend is a Filipino, too,” ang tila excited nitong sabi.

“Oh, really?”

Talagang itinigil pa nito ang golf cart na minamaneho pata ipakita sa akin ang picture ng girlfriend nitong wallpapper ng phone nito.

“She’s pretty,” sabi ko. 

“Yes, she is. Very nice, too,” anito bago itinuloy ang pagmamaneho. “Her name’s Candice. She works here, too.”

“Oh, really? Nice, nice.” 

Ako naman ang na-excite sa narinig. Ewan ko ba, masaya talaga akong nakakakita ng mga kabayan sa ibang bansa. 

“She teaches me English,” ani Yi Chen. "I speak better English because of her."

Madami pa itong sinabi. Medyo makwento kasi ito. Pero hindi naman nakakainis. Samakatuwid ay agad na napalagay ang loob ko dito. He seemed nice. 

“How about you? You have a boyfriend?” ang tanong nito habang abala sa pagmamaneho.

“Uhmm, I’m married,” ang nahihiya kong sabi.

“Ohhh, you’re married. You don’t look like you’re married. You looked too young to be married,” anito. Nambola pa. 

Ngumiti lang ako. 

“Is your husband with you now?” ang muling tanong nito.

Sakto namang papalapit na kami sa lugar kung saan naroroon ang mga tauhan ng ThinkSoft. Masaya pa ring naglalaro ang mga ito. 

I could see Louie from afar. With his height, it was very easy to spot him. Plus nagsa-stand out talaga ito kahit na ihalo mo sa madaming tao.

“Yup,” I said, my eyes were fixed on Louie. “That guy right over there, the one wearing white polo and khaki shorts, that’s my husband.” I sounded like some proud wife. 

“Ohhh, you’re Mr. del Rosario’s wife,” ani Yi Chen.

Gulat ako. “You know him?”

“Who doesn’t know him? He owns ThinkSoft. They always come here every year,” anito.

“I see,” sabi ko. 

Inihinto nito ang golf cart malapit sa pinagdarausan ng parlor games. 

“Thank you, Yi Chen. It was very nice meeting you,” sabi ko.

“It was my pleasure to meet you, too, Mrs. del Rosario.” Halos ‘di na kita ang mga mata nito dahil sa lapad ng pagkakangiti.

I said goodbye. Umalis na din ito agad.

“Hey, where have you been?” 

I turned around and saw James standing right behind me. 

“Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Louie,” he continued. He looked worried.

“Ohhh. I just went for a walk. Medyo napalayo kaya ‘di ko na alam pano bumalik dito. But a staff was kind enough to bring me back here,” sabi ko. 

“Did Louie get mad at you yesterday?” ang biglang tanong nito.

“Ha?”

“Hindi naman nagalit si Louie sa’yo dahil sa nangyari sa office kahapon?” ang pag-uulit nito. 

“Uhmm, we’re good,” ang sabi ko na lang. 

I believe okay na naman kami ni Louie. Kahit hindi pa kami muling nagkausap ngayong araw na ito.

“That’s good to know,” anito. “I don’t want you to get in trouble with him because of me.”

I smiled at him. “We’re good, don’t worry.” 

“Aera!” anang isang pamilyar na boses sa aking likuran.

I turned around and saw Louie walking towards us in long strides.

“I gotta go,” ani James sa akin bago bahagyang tumango kay Louie at saka umalis na. 

“I have been looking for you since this morning,” ani Louie nang makalapit. 

He’s back to his intimidating self again. Iyong nakakatakot biruin o inisin.

“I’m sorry. I explored the palace and got lost,” I explained.

Lumapit ito sa akin at saka hinawakan ang aking siko.

“Stop wandering around. I want you to stay by my side while we're here.” He then led me to where everyone was. 

At ramdam ko na naman ang mga titig ng mga tauhan nito sa akin. 

Ewan ko ba, hindi naman ako kinulang sa confidence pero kapag kasama ko si Louie, pakiramdam ko’y nawawalang lahat ng bilib ko sa sarili. I always felt like I needed to prove something. I wanted to be good enough for him.

Hindi ko alam kung naramdaman ba ni Louie ang pagiging asiwa ko dahil bigla na lang ako nitong inakbayan. It was as if he was telling me to stop worrying because he got me. 

At for the very first time in my life, naranasan ko ‘yong pakiramdam na may isang taong pwede kang sandalan.

Kahit panandalian lang.