HIS LOVELESS PROPOSAL

EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

“How long will we wait for you to give us an heir, my dear? Hindi na kami bumabata ng daddy mo. You are at your right age to build a family but then work is all you do.” My mom, for the ninth time, told me again about giving them an heir or should I say grandchildren. Damn.

I took a long pause and sigh silently; afraid they might hear me in the other line. My parents are in London, enjoying their time and moment since I took over with the company.

“Dad, Mom, how many times do I have to tell you that I’m not going to give you an heir nor build a family. Besides, my most priority right now is expanding the company. I have a huge project soon if I get the inheritance you promise me.”

“Tatanda kang mag-isa kapag puro kana lang trabaho, anak.” My dad interjects. Obviously not agree at what I said. “ikaw lang ang isa naming anak, sana maintindihan mo naman kami. Baka kapag nagkaroon ka na ng anak ay wala na kami dito sa mundo. Enjoying your life to the fullest is better, but it’s more way fulfilling when you find your love and build a family with her.”

His poetic words sent shivers down my spine. This is what I hate about dad, him being so flowery with his words. Kaya siguro nakuha niya si mommy.

Love? Is that even existed in this generation? That is bullshit and many young people don’t take that seriously. They even normalize cheating. What a joke.

“You can’t change my decision, dad and mom.” I said, trying to dismiss this topic. “How are you two there by the way?”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I distracted my parents from questioning me even further.

But I thought it all ended there. Kinabukasan ay nakatanggap ako ng text galing kay mom na alam kong sisira sa tahimik kong buhay. Yes, I admit that I always do is work but I’m still a bachelor, of course I also enjoy my youth. Kung hindi lang talaga ako mabait at mabuting anak ay baka marami ng apo si mom at dad. But of course, that’s not going to happen since my beloved mother just texted me that they won’t give my inheritance if I can’t give them an heir. Akala pa nila ay baog ako.

“This is insane.” Napahilot ako sa aking sentido. Umagang-umaga ay ito agad ang bubungad sa akin. Akala ko pa naman ay pangangamusta galing sa kanila.

Damn it. How should I do this? Should I just pay a woman, make her pregnant, and then inform my parents about it and then voila, I have my inheritance?

Napailing ako sa naisip. Kalokohan. Hindi ito magiging madali kung anak at babae ang pag-uusapan. I need to be careful, especially that I have the reputation to protect. Ang tanong, may babae kaya akong mahanap?

Overthinking too much is a pain in the ass. Binalewala ko ang text at nag-ayos para pumunta sa kompanya. This is going to be difficult for me but I always find my way. Mas may importante pa akong aasikasuhin.

“Good morning sir, here’s the reso po para sa OJT’s na mag a-apply next week. Pirma niyo na lang po ang kulang.” My secretary informed me as I get inside my office. Agad kong pinirmahan ang reso para makapagsimula agad ang HR sa kanilang trabaho. Accepting interns are the best way to recruit a capable employee soon. Now that I’m planning to expand my company internationally.

But damn it. How could I do it if mom and dad won’t give me the remaining inheritance? ‘Yon lang ang tangi kong pag-asa. Ayokong basta-basta na lang tatanggap o maghahanap ng babae sa tabi-tabi.

Araw-araw ay palagi akong nakakatanggap ng text kay mom para alalahanin ko ang sabi nila. If she isn’t my mom, I would block her a long time ago. Dumadagdag lang sa stress ko.

I plan to give up the inheritance and just make my own way to achieve my objective for my company but who could have thought that I will met her? Those innocent smile and sparkling eyes full of determination. I don’t know why I was captured by her beauty.

Her name is Nice Siranny Rose Billones. What a long name but I don’t care, I find it cute. Isa siya sa mga intern na hindi natanggap dahil sa limit ng applicants. She was really sad that time when I found her leaning on my car so I offered her something unique that I know she can’t refuse. Besides, kasalanan ko rin kung bakit na sprained ang paa niya.

She accepted my offer and damn, I think I’m the luckiest man alive. But then I remembered it was all an agreement. A loveless proposal. What an absurd name.

Hindi ko agad sinabi kay mom at dad ang tungkol dito dahil ayokong mabuko at hindi makuha ang pamana na matagal ko ng gusto. I want to make sure that everything is according to my plan.

“Dear, we’re planning to visit you there in the Philippines. Until now, we don’t have an update about your love life that’s why we decided with your dad na baka i-donate na lang naming ang mana na dapat para sayo.”

Naibuga ko ang iniinom na kape dahil sa sinabi ni mom. Akala ko matagal na nila ‘yong kinalimutan kaya nga hindi na ako nakakatanggap ng text o email. Is this what they planning all along? Pero hindi pa p’wede ngayon.

“Are you for real, mom?” My forehead creased as I look at them in the screen. “Dad? Wala kayong sinabi tungkol dito.”

“It was your mom’s decision.”

Pinigilan kong mapabuntong hininga ng malalim. Hindi p’wedeng mauwi sa wala ang matagal ko ng pinaghahandaan. I need to do something.

“Give me time.” I said. “there was this girl I am meeting with and I’m interested with her. Kailangan ko lang ng sapat na panahon para mas makilala pa siya.”

“Alright.” My mom nodded with a smile. “Give us an update, okay? So that we can visit you there, son. I’m looking forward to meet my daughter in law.”

The call ended and it gives me a freaking headache. I know what my mom is planning. She is pressuring me into marrying someone. But I know if I won’t do it, she will definitely donate the inheritance.

But I won’t let her do it. Since I’m already planning to settle everything. Yep, I’m going to marry Nice, not because of the agreement but because of what I’ve felt for her.

“Hey, kanina ka pa dito. Hindi ka pa ba papasok?”

I was out from my deep reverie when my wife approaches me. Agad ko siyang niyakap sa likod at hinimas ang malaki niyang tiyan.

“I was about to get inside.” I said and kiss her head. “Malamig dito, hindi kana sana lumabas.”

“Paanong hindi kung kanina ka pa dito? I was calling you out earlier, hindi ka nakikinig. Masyado bang malalim ang iniisip mo?”

“Sorry, I was just reminiscing something.”

“At ano naman ‘yan, ha?”

“Everything. From the moment of offering you the contract to falling in love with you.”

“Hmm.” Niyakap niya ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kanyang tiyan. “I wasn’t expecting na magiging asawa kita. You were just my boss, pero ngayon ako na ang boss mo.”

I chuckled. “Pag lumabas na itong prinsesa natin, dalawa na kayong boss ko.”

Hindi ka naman siguro papahirapan nitong prinsesa natin. Sigurado akong mabait ito katulad mo.”

“Huh, sinabi ko ba sa’yong muntik ng atakihin si mom dahil sa kakulitan ko?”

“Seriously?” Hindi makapaniwalang nilingon niya ako. “Bakit ang bait-bait mo ngayon?”

“Kasi malaki na ako? But anyways, makulit man o hindi ang anak natin, alam kong kakayanin ko parin maging mabuting ama sa kanya. I promise in front of God that I will be a good father and husband.”

“Yes, you are, Elijah. Kaya gusto ko sa’yo mag mana ang anak natin.”

“Alright. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, gusto kong sayo mag mana ang anak natin.”

My wife groaned in annoyance. Natawa na lang ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. We stayed in the terrace for a couple of minutes. We are both silent, just enjoying the cold breeze of December and staring the city lights.

Throughout my life of being a businessman, I was really sure that I’m not going to marry or have an heir. Nakatatak na sa isip ko na palalaguin ko lang ang kompanya dahil alam ko namang iba talaga ang motibo ng mga babae sa akin. Maybe my mom’s offer is a blessing in disguise. Because of it, I met Nice which now become my wife, my life, my anchor, my everything. Ngayong biniyayaan kami, mas lalong lumalim ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya, sa kanila ng anak namin.

I know marriage life is difficult, but with understanding and communication, I know we can make it through everything.

Due month ni Nice ngayong December kaya as much as possible ay nananatili lang ako sa tabi niya. Pumupunta lang ako sa kompanya kapag talagang importante at kailangan ang presensya ko, sinisiguro ko namang may kasama si Nice dito dahil ayokong mag-isa lang siya sa bahay pag wala ako.

She is really doing a great job. From taking care of herself for our baby to preparing our baby’s arrival. Talagang deserve na deserve lahat ng asawa ko ang saktong pahinga pag nanganak na siya. I intend to keep my promise to be a good father and husband. That’s why when the day came, I didn’t expect it could be this scary and nerve wracking that I almost fainted.

“Baka hindi lang si Nice ang ma-confine dito sa hospital sa ginagawa mo anak. Asawa mo ang nanganganak pero dinaig mo pa siya. Calm down, will you?” my mom reminded me again for I don’t know how many times.

Kanina pa ako pabalik-balik ng lakad at sigurado akong nahihilo na sila sa akin but this is my way of calming down. Nandito si mom, dad and Nice’s family, patiently waiting for the delivery.

Marami pa akong naririnig na pag papakalma nila sa akin pero wala iyong epekto. I was really preoccupied and worried at the same time, my baby and wife are safe, right?

Hindi ko alam kung paano nila ako napa-upo pero ang atensyon ko ay nasa pintuan lang ng delivery room. Waiting for someone to come out and when one did, I immediately stood up.

“How’s my wife and baby? Are they alright?” Agad kong tanong sa babaeng nurse na lumabas.

Hinubad niya ang suot na mask at ngumiti. “Congratulations, sir. Your wife and child are safe. Sa ngayon ay nagpapahinga na sila.”

Sa buong buhay ko ay ngayon lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. I can hear from my family that they are really happy and congratulated me. They even hug me and I almost cried in happiness. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na makita ang dalawang importanteng tao sa buhay ko.

Nice Siranny Rose Billones-Ramirez, my wife. Ellodie Cassia Ramirez, my princess.

WAKAS

A/N: I know this seems so short but stay tuned for the special chapters! Thank you for your support readers! 💜