The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Sixty-Three: The Bad News

[one week later]

I woke up to some loud ringing. With one eye still closed because I still had to adjust my vision to the darkness, I blindly searched for my phone on the nightstand. I could hear Louie snoring beside me.

I had to squint my eyes against the cellphone's brightness. It's past two in the morning, iyon ang una kong napansin. It was a little later that I realized na hindi sa cellphone ko nanggagaling ang ingay na gumising sa akin.

It was from Louie's phone. It stopped ringing, though. But the moment I picked it up, to check who called him at this hour --- because nobody really calls him, especially at this hour, all business related calls go straight to either James or Mei --- it started ringing again.

It was James.

Yes, of course. Si James at Mei lang naman ang nakakaalam ng personal phone number nito. Aside, of course, from me.

I don't usually answer Louie's phone. In fact, I have never done it before, not even once. But this time is different. I felt like this is urgent yet I don't want to wake Louie up. He had a hard time sleeping as always so, as much as possible, I didn't want to wake him up. Maybe I can tell James to call him back later, iyon ay kung hindi emergency ang dahilan ng pagtawag nito.

"I'm sorry for calling at this hour, Louie ---" James said as soon as I answered his calls.

"Si Aera 'to, James," I said, cutting him off. "I'm sorry but Louie is still asleep. May problema ba? Hindi mo ba pwedeng ipagpabu ---"

"I'm sorry, Aera, but this is an emergency," he said from the other line. "I don't think this can wait until tomorrow."

"Who is that?" It's Louie. Apparently, he was awake already.

"It's James." I handed him his phone. "I'm sorry for answering his call. I was just about to tell him na tulog ka pa."

He took the phone from my hand and brought it to his ears. "Hello, James. What's the matter?"

I couldn't really hear James but watching as shock registered on Louie's face, I instantly knew that something's really bad. I felt the nervousness crept in in my whole system.

I didn't realize that I was holding my breath for too long until I ran out of breath. I gasped for air as I watched Louie end the call. He looked shocked as he slowly put the phone down on the mattress. His eyes were fixed at nothing in particular.

Mas lalo akong kinabahan. "Anong nangyari?" I asked.

He turned to me. But for a moment, I don't think he can see me. Parang tumagos lang ang paningin nito sa akin.

I brought my trembling hand to his face. "Hey," I whispered. "What happened?"

Noon nagtama ang aming mga paningin. It was as if he only realized my presence. He was crying. I saw as tears started to roll down his cheeks.

"Lola passed away," he mumbled in a very low voice.

And that's all I have to hear. I grabbed him into a strong embrace.

The next hours went by like a blur. Hindi na kami nakabalik ng tulog. James came with his things. He's flying with Louie to the Philippines first thing in the morning.

Buti naka-empake pa ang mga gamit ni Louie dahil nga sa hindi natuloy na pagpunta naming Japan. Still, James double checked everything para masigurong wala siyang nakalimutan.

"H-hindi ba talaga ako pwedeng sumama sa inyo?" I asked Louie once again, hoping na magbago ang isip nito.

We were alone again. Bumaba si James ng opisina, may kukunin lang daw.