Bite The Bullet | Vicerylle

Chapter 1

Jose Marie “Vice” Viceral, 35 years old. Considered as one of the youngest and top engineers in the country. He also owns the foremost engineering company in the Philippines, and in some parts of Europe. Dad passed away when he was a child, has 4 other siblings and a mother who means the world to him. He loves his family more than anything. He also enjoys singing, dancing, drifting, and playing basketball.

//

Vice’s house, the afternoon of the first ceremony.

“Jose ‘Vice’ Viceral… the first ever Filipino Bachelor. It’s quite a title. Gaano kataas ang pressure ngayon, bro?”

“Ang weird pala kapag sa ibang tao nanggagaling.” sabi ni Vice at napasandal bigla sa likod ng couch nya, “Hindi naman sa nagmamayabang ako Billy, pero I’ve achieved in everything na sinubukan ko. I accepted this title, The Bachelor, with open arms and an open mind, dahil alam kong di ko naman bibiguin at lolokohin ang sarili ko, at yung mga babaeng makikilala ko. Ako kasi yung tipo ng lalaki na di kinokonsidera ang failure o pagkatalo as an option. Lahat naman kasi ng gusto mong makamit or gawin ay posible eh, depende na nga lang sa’yo kung ano yung resulta nun. Syempre depende yung kung gaano mo talaga subukan para makamit yung bagay na yun… And para sa’kin… Pag-ibig na lang talaga ang bagay na di ko makamit-kamit. Sumubok naman ako eh…” napatawa si Vice ng mahina, “Hindi naman lihim sa marami ang relationship at dating records ko, alam kong I made mistakes in the past, pero sa mga oras kasi nun, alam kong hindi pa ako ready to commit, I was having fun. I think most guys my age will go through that.”

“And you think, now? Now, you’re ready for that commitment? Ready for marriage? Children? A family?” tanong ni Billy na naka-smirk kay Vice na parang nananakot.

“Walang takot, walang alinlangan… Gusto ko ng magka-asawa, magkaroon ng maraming anak. I’m more than ready to take that step, Billy.”

“What changed?”

“Nung nagpunta akong France a couple of months ago, I went to the beautiful city of Marseille, tapos may airshow akong napanood, It was a guy proposing to his girlfriend, tapos may sign na naka-attach dun sa plane which was a phrase in French, which translates to ‘Love is a risk’ in English… Ayun… Bigla lang nag sink in sa’kin na tama nga naman. Nung mga panahon kasi noon, parang napagiisipan ko na rin na paano ba kung mag settle down na ako. Tumatanda na rin naman ako… Then this offer came up, wala na atang mas lalaki pa risk na tinatake ko ngayon to find love.”

“Good. Mukhang ready ka na nga… Are you ready to meet your future wife tonight?”

“Oo naman.” sagot ni Vice at napangiti.

“I’ll see you tonight bro, along with the twenty five women who have been dying to meet you.” Billy went to shake his hands.

//

Mga 7:00 PM ay dumating si Vice sa Bachelor’s mansion kung saan maninirahan ang 25 ladies na susubukang makuha ang puso nya. Dito rin kasi gaganapin ang first ever rose ceremony kung saan magbibigay si Vice ng 15 roses sa mga babaeng matitipuhan nya ngayong gabi. Meaning, sampung babae din ang pauuwiin nya.

He got out of the black limousine na sumundo sa kanya at huminga ng malalim. He saw Billy na nakatayo sa may tapat ng staircase patungo sa pinto ng bahay at nakangiti sa kanya. He adjusted his pink tie and ran his hands through both sleeves of his grey blazer as if brushing off any dust. Lumakad sya palapit kay Billy ng nakalagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng grey tight-fit trousers nya.

“Gandang gabi, Vice.”

Tumango na lang si Vice at nakipag handshake kay Billy.

“How are you feeling?”