The Billionaire's Surrogate

Chapter 2

Lucia's POV

"Wait?! Are you freaking kidding me?! Okay ka lang?!" tanong ko, halos ma-dislocate na yata yung panga ko sa pagkagulat.

As in, kaharap ko ngayon yung may-ari ng pinakasikat na ospital sa buong Asia. As in buong-kalaparan-ng-kontinente level. At ang sabi niya... pakakasalan ko siya?!

PWEDE BANG PAHINTO MUNA NG SANDALI ANG BUHAY?!

"Miss, you already met my parents and you have no choice but to marry me," he said with a straight face. Grabe. Ang confidence ng lalaking 'to, parang hindi pa niya natitikman ang salitang 'NO'. Okay lang siya?! Baka may lagnat. Check ko kaya temperature niya gamit yung ID ko.

"Pinagti-trip-an mo ba ako ha?!" galit kong tanong. "Late na ako sa interview ko tapos ngayon, eto ka?! Gets ko na mayaman ka, pero sorry, ha? Ikaw lang naman yung nag-declare sa magulang mo na ako ang buntis mong girlfriend! Nagkaroon na sana ako ng trabaho, ng sweldo! Sinayang mo oras ko!"

Porket mayaman, akala mo lahat pwede mong bilin?! Ha! Hakdog ka!

"How much is your time?" tanong niya, seryoso pa rin.

Wait lang. Did he seriously just ask me magkano oras ko? As in parang sine-sale ako sa palengke? Ganito ba talaga ang mayayaman—may wallet pero walang boundaries?

Pero syempre, gutom na ako. May utang pa ako. Rent pa lang, two weeks na akong ninja kay Ate Consing.

Hindi pa ako nakasagot, nang bigla siyang kumuha ng wallet, at iniabot sa akin ang 10,000 pesos.

"Here. Take this. I'm sorry if I wasted your time. Consider this compensation," sabi niya habang nilalagay sa palad ko ang cash.

Itong kamay ko naman—walang hiya! Biglang kinuha. Wala man lang pasabi!

"Makakabayad na ako kay Ate Consing," bulong ng kaluluwa ko habang naka-straight face pa rin ako sa kanya. Pero deep inside: Thank You Lord!

"This is enough. Thank you," mahinahon kong sabi. Paalis na sana ako pero bigla niya akong hinawakan sa braso.

"Uhmm... we're still not over, Miss," sabi niya.

WUT.

"Wait lang! Binigyan mo ako ng 10k para sa... SEX?! Nako ha! Hindi ako prostitute! Ibabalik ko nalang 'tong pera! Walang katumbas ang virginity ko, Sir!" galit kong sabi habang inaabot pabalik ang cash.

"Do you really think I want to f*ck you?" sagot niya, sabay cross legs. Tinalbugan niya pa ang mga kontrabida sa teleserye sa pagka-kalmado.

"Malay ko ba?! Di ba sa mga pelikula ganyan ang peg?! Bibigyan ng pera kapalit ng—alam mo na!"

"So ano ba talaga ibig mong sabihin sa 'we're not over' ha?" tanong ko, kumukulo na ang utak ko sa dami ng sabog na eksena ngayong araw.

"I mean, do you really have no idea what will happen after meeting my parents? Are you deaf? You heard them. Wedding. Baby. Girlfriend. Soon-to-be-wife. Is it that hard to process?"

Napaupo ako sa silya. Lord, baka naman prank show 'to? San ang camera?

"You think tatanggapin ko 'yang offer mo?" tanong ko, tas bigla siyang ngumiti ng pang-McDo commercial. Nakakainis, pero pogi talaga siya. Bwiset.

"Let's see," sabay dial ng number. After a few seconds, may kumatok sa pinto. Pumasok ang isang babae at lalake na parang models ng SM Corporate Attire section.

"Hello Ma'am, I'm Diane and this is Erik. We're Mr. Oliver's secretaries. We're here to discuss the proposal."

WHAT IS THIS? BUSINESS TRANSACTION NA 'TO?

"So ma'am, the deal goes like this," simula ni Erik. "You will marry Mr. Oliver in Tuscany, Italy. All expenses on him. You will be paid five million pesos. You'll get a new house, a car, food, and two maids. Everything provided."

Ha?!

FIVE. MILLION. PESOS.

Bakit parang bigla akong napa-praning?

"Oh! And one more thing," dagdag ni Erik. "You also need to bear his child."

LITERAL NA NAPANGANGA AKO.

"Wait, so bubuntisin mo ako?!" tanong ko kay Oliver, parang gusto kong manapak.

"Yeah," sagot niya casually, like he's asking what kind of pizza I want.

"So... magse-sex tayo?!" tanong ko, mas malakas ang boses.

"GOD, WOMAN! HELL NO! Do you really want me to f*ck you?!" bulyaw niya habang nagfa-facepalm.

"Then paano ako mabubuntis?! Magic?!"

"Are you really a nurse? Did you really pass the board exams? Ever heard of surrogate pregnancy? Or do I need to conduct a lecture?"

Wow, sarkastiko na. Pero may punto.

So... mabubuntis ako through science. As a virgin. Para akong si Mama Mary 2.0. Hindi ko ata kaya 'to.

"No. Hindi ako papayag," tumayo ako, ready to bolt. Pero bago pa ako makalakad...

"After the wedding, you will receive ₱200,000 per month as salary. Once the baby reaches one year old, we'll get divorced. That's the deal. Think about it."

Napapikit ako. Lintek. Kung magpa-practical ako, that's life-changing money.

Pero... kaya ko ba 'to?

"I'll think about it. One night. Just one night. Please respect that," sabi ko and I walked away. Kailangan kong mag-isip. Ng sobra.

Oliver's POV

"Sir, are you really sure about her?" tanong ni Diane, pang-ilang beses na.

"Diane, ilang ulit ko bang sasabihin? I have no choice. My parents accepted her. They think she's the one. And she saved my ass."

Yes, I said it. She saved me. If my parents didn't believe I was finally getting married and having a child, I would've lost my position to my younger brother. And that is NEVER going to happen.

"Investigate her background. I need a full report by 5 PM," utos ko. Tahimik silang nag-nod, then umalis.

Ako naman, humawak sa phone ko, nag-text sa group chat:

"Hey. I'm getting married next week."
Replies came flooding in:

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"SO THE GREAT OLIVER FAJARDO IS GETTING MARRIED?!"
"WHO'S THE UNLUCKY GIRL?!"
Napangiti ako. I hate to admit it... but that girl—Lucia—she's not bad. Cute, palaban, unfiltered. Not the usual socialite type I see every week. And she's... different.

"You'll meet her the day after tomorrow," I texted.
I shoved my phone in my pocket and leaned back.

She doesn't know me. She has no idea what she just got into.

Psh. Is she a boomer or what?

I closed my eyes.

Damn it. Why the hell am I still thinking about her?

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Thank you for reading! Please do like and comment!

Oliver on the multimedia!

Krisha xoxo