The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Forty-Two: Meeting the del Rosarios

The dinner table was surprisingly quiet at first, making it almost unbearable to stay there.

Nasa mansion kami ng mga del Rosario, nagdi-dinner. Everyone was gathered around the very long table. I basically met everyone tonight.

Louie's dad, his mom, his two younger brothers and one younger sister, his titos and titas, and his cousins. It was like a mini-reunion.

"Kung hindi pa isinugod sa ospital si Mama, 'di ka pa magpapakita sa amin," said one of his titas.

"I was busy with work," ang pasimpleng sagot ni Louie dito.

"Busy? O ayaw mo lang talagang harapin ang gulong ginawa mo?" ang sagot naman nung isa pang tita nito.

Nag-iisang anak na lalaki ang daddy ni Louie. He has two younger sisters na may mga asawa't anak na din. And everyone is involved in politics, one way or another.

"Please. Kakabalik lang ni Louie dito sa Pinas," ang sabat ng mommy ni Louie.

"Ayan. Kaya ang lakas ng loob niyang anak mong gumawa ng gulo kasi kinakampihan mo," ang sagot nung naunang tita.

"Is this still about my engagement with Monica? Because as far as I know, you didn't even ask me before you made that hilarious announcement," ang biglang sagot ni Louie.

I looked at him. Halatang nagpipigil na ito sa galit.

"You're talking like you didn't know," ang sagot nung pangalawang tita. "Eh, nasa elementary pa lang kayo, alam ni'yo nang ipapakasal kayo balang araw."

Louie chuckled. "That's ridiculous."

"Will you please stop talking about Monica? You're making Aera uncomfortable," ang sabat ni Francine, Louie's cousin na sa tingin ko ay halos kaedad ko lang.

Sa lahat ng pinakilala sa akin tonight, siya ang pinakatumatak sa akin. Mukha kasi itong mabait.

"I'm sorry, Aera, dear," ang agad na baling nung unang tita sa akin. "Please know that this is not about you."

"I... I understand po," ang nahihiya kong wika.

Naramdaman ko ang biglang pagagap ni Louie sa aking kamay sa ilalim ng mesa. Pinisil nito iyon.

I looked at him and smiled. I wanna tell him not to worry about me. I'm fine. Kinakaya ko pa naman.

"Can we, at least, enjoy our dinner in peace? There's a lot of time to talk about those matters," ang biglang saad ng daddy ni Louie.

According to my research, he's an incumbent senator of the country and was rumored to run for presidency in the next election.

"Then the next thing we knew, tinakasan na naman tayo niyang anak mo," ang pabulong na sagot nung pangalawang tita.

Nakita kong pinandilatan ito ng mga mata nung lalaking nasa tabi nito, as if telling her to shut up. It must be her husband.

"By the way, Aera, may susuotin ka na ba para next week?" ang muling sabat ni Francine.

It looked like she was trying to lighten up the mood.

"Ha? For next week?" Napabaling ako kay Louie.

He looked clueless, too.

"Oh, you didn't know? We're celebrating Lola's 90th birthday next week," an Francine. "Matagal na naming pinaghandaan yun bago pa ma-hospitalized si Lola."

"Ohhh..." I, once again, glanced at Louie.

Nagliwanag ang mukha nito na tila ba noon lang naalala ang tungkol doon.

"Don't worry. I know the best couturiers in the country. I'm sure we can find you something to wear," ani Francine.

"T-thank you," ang nahihiya kong sagot.

"By the way, how did the two of you meet?" ang biglang sabat nung isa pang cousin ni Louie.

Babae din. Feeling ko halos kaedad lang din ni Francine.

I couldn't remember her name. At hindi ito kasing-friendly ni Francine.

Actually parang lahat naman sila sa pamilya hindi friendly. They all looked intimidating.

Which is not surprising. Ganoon din naman si Louie.

"H-ha?" sabi ko.

Narinig ko naman yung tanong niya. I was just buying myself some time to process my thoughts.

Okay, I know I was ready for this. Pinaghandaan ko 'to. Ilang beses kong prinactice sa utak ko ang sagot sa katanungang ito.

Pero sa kadahilanang hindi ko mawari, tila biglang nag-hang ang utak ko. I suddenly do not know what to say.

"You and Louie. How did the two of you meet?" ang pag-uulit nito.

"Uhmmm... we actually met in an event. I was... uhmmm..."

C'mon, Aera, think. Pinaghandaan mo 'to, 'di ba? You were paid to do this.

Ngunit bago pa ako nakasagot ay muli na naman itong nagtanong.

"Is it true that you work as a chambermaid in a hotel in Barcelona? And that the two of you met there?"

"H-ha? Uhmm..."

"No, that's not true," ang biglang sabat ni Louie. "Not that it matters if that's actually the case."

Napabaling ako dito. I saw his jaw move as he glared at his cousin.

"By the way, I received a lot of invitations from local TV programs," ang biglang saad ng mommy ni Louie.

Napabaling si Louie dito. "Invitations for what?"

"For an interview. From you and your wife. Everyone's fighting for exclusive interviews from the both of you," anang ginang.

"It seems like everyone's curious about your story," said one of his titas.

"They wanted to hear your side of the story. That's only fair after everything Monica said in her interviews," anang isa pang tita. "Isn't that good? Nang maipagtanggol mo naman ang sarili mo?"

"I don't think there's any need to explain my side," ani Louie. "I don't owe anyone an explanation. They can think whatever they want. I really don't care."

"Don't you think you owe it to our family, at least?" ang sabi pa nung unang tita. "Kailangan mong linisin ang pangalan natin, Louie. You owe that to our family. You need to clean up the mess you made."

"As far as I know, hindi ako ang nag-announce nung engagement," replied Louie. "So technically speaking, I created no mess."

"You owe it to your wife, at least," ang biglang sabat ng mommy nito.

Surprised, napabaling ako dito.

Bakit biglang nasali ako sa usapan?

"People are talking trash about your wife, hahayaan mo lang bang ganun?" anang mommy nito. "I guess it's best that they get to know your wife, too. Share her story to everyone. She needs to win the public's empathy. Everyone loves Cinderella stories."

It took me a while bago ma-process ang sinabi ng mommy ni Louie.

"No," ang mariing saad ni Louie. "Aera and I are not doing any interviews. Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to show her something."

Pagkawika'y biglang tumayo si Louie. He then grabbed my hand and pulled me up as well.

Dali-dali akong humingi ng paumanhin sa lahat bago pa ako tuluyang mahila ni Louie paalis sa hapag kainan.