"Wake up," Leni groaned as someone spoke while she was still sleeping. She covered her ear with a pillow, but suddenly, harsh brightness shone through her entire room. "Ano ba!" she exclaimed as Bongbong opened her curtains.
"I said wake up," Leni opened her eyes and saw Bongbong fully dressed in a suit. "Bakit ba?" she asked, rubbing her eyes that were still adjusting to the light.
"I have a business meeting, and I need you there." Leni did not respond immediately, but then she laughed. "That's not part of the deal," then she lay down again.
***
"Tigilan mo nga yang pag-simangot mo," Bongbong said as he noticed Leni not smiling during the entire ride to the airport. "Binuhat mo ko papunta sa CR, then you opened the shower to forcefully make me take a bath! Sinong di sisimangot?! Sige nga!" she screamed. Bongbong smirked at the memory of Leni screaming when he turned on the cold shower.
"This is not even part of the deal. Bakit sinasama mo ako sa business meeting mo?" she asked again.
Bongbong sighed heavily, "The owner of Plaza Hotel is family-oriented. Gusto nyang ka-business partner ay someone na may maayos na pamilya. I've been wanting to get this deal for a very long time pero hindi nya gina-grant ang request ko since ayaw nya ng bachelor. Now, I think he heard that I'm married. He arranged a meeting with me but he wants you to be there with us."
They were both silent as they got on the private plane heading to Healdsburg, California, a small town where the owner of Plaza Hotel lives. "Bakit ba hindi ka pa mag-asawa for real?" Leni asked when they finally settled down inside the plane.
Bongbong immediately remembered Macy. He was about to ask Macy to marry him. If not for Leni, he would be married for real and living the life he always wanted, but then she died. Instead of answering the question, Bongbong took his AirPods, put them on both sides of his ears, covered his eyes with an eye mask, and pretended to be asleep.
Leni thought that he's just avoiding the question, so she did not say anything. She opened her Kindle and started reading her book.
***
"Welcome to Healdsburg, California," the stewardess said. Bongbong was the first to step out of the plane, extending his hand to assist Leni. She removed her sunglasses to take in the beauty of Healdsburg, her first visit to the small town.
"Careful," Bongbong whispered to Leni as they descended. "Bakit ka kasi naka heels?" he asked in annoyance. "Wala kang pake," she retorted.
Their butler opened their limousine and they hopped inside. "Sino ba itong ime-meet natin?" Leni asked while powdering her nose.
"Mr. Michael Andrews and his wife Mrs. Adeline Andrews. I know a lot of things about you, I studied your profile, Joey will give you mine. Make sure you know things about me." He said coldly.
"When are we going to meet them?"
"Tomorrow"
Leni wanted to throw something at Bongbong if they were only alone. "Pag-aaralan ko yung mga bagay na gusto mo within 24 hours?! Nababaliw ka ba?" she exclaimed.
"There is nothing much to memorize. Kailangan lang swak ang story natin dalawa on how we met, where we met, our endearment, the dates, and so on."
Leni smirked, finding their situation really ridiculous. "So what do I call you?" she asked sarcastically. She knew Bongbong always calls her sweetheart, but she doesn't have any endearment for him.
"Love, that's our endearment, but I also love calling you sweetheart." Leni frowned at the cheesiness of Bongbong's choices, but she just shrugged, knowing how trapped she is in this situation.
