A Wife for a While

Chapter 2

PAVLO

I woke up lying next to Cerena—my so-called girlfriend.  We don’t have a formal relationship.  Ours is more of an open relationship.  We sleep together and hang out but no commitments—no strings attached.

At thirty, I still don't give a damn about commitments.  Pareho kami ng mga kaibigan ko—the Philippine’s most sought bachelors:  Ivo dela Rosa, Iñaki Torres and I.  We are all single, unmarried and don’t want to be tied up.  We don’t give a damn about love nor serious about it.

Well, do I really wanted a wife?  I am a commitment phobic.  I am not ready to settle down—I  don’t want to be trapped.

But my beloved yiayia does.

Maraming pinapablind date sa akin ang lola ko.  Pero wala akong nagustuhan ni isa sa kanila.  Gusto raw niyang makita ang apo niya sa tuhod sa akin.  Pangarap rin niyang makapag-asawa ako bago siya mamatay.  How could I marry if I am afraid of commitments?  Buti na lang hindi na niya ako pinipilit makipagblind date sa ngayon.  Maybe she has just realized that I will be—destined to be bachelor for life.

Marriage has a lot of complications.  Nakita ko ang pinagdaanan ng mga magulang ko.  Mahirap pumasok sa isang relasyon, lalo na sa buhay may-asawa.

Naghiwalay sila noong bata pa lang ako.  Si Mommy nasa Canada at nasa Australia naman si Daddy.  Ang lolo at lola ko ang nagpalaki sa akin.  Sila ang naging pamilya ko.  Paminsan-minsan lang ako binibisita nina mommy at daddy.

“Good morning, babe,” bati ni Cerena.  Pumupungas-pungas pa siya.

“Good morning.  Do you want breakfast?”

“Yeah, that would be lovely.  But I should watch what I eat.  May fashion show kami next week.  I need to maintain my size.” She gave me a peck on the cheek.  I hate girls who don't like to eat.  She is great to sleep with.  We are very much compatible in—bed, but that’s that it.

I like to cook.  It is one of my specialties.  I like to be with a girl who likes to eat.  A girl who like to savor the food that I spend time cooking.

Another thing, I want someone I could hang out with at the end of the day.  Sometimes even tell her how my day was—but doesn 't want to be a wife—like Cerena.  She understands our relationship and she doesn’t nag me when I don’t call or show up to our dates.  We co-exist in our so-called relationship.

“Babe, are you all right?”  She sweetly asked me.  “That tousled look of yours is very sexy and it makes me want to—”

I pulled her and whispered to her ear. “Come here, you sexy thing.

***

Yiayia called me.  Kailangan niya raw akong makausap.  Alam ko na ang magiging agenda.  Marriage.  I sighed while I drove to the mansion.

The Vera-Perez mansion is one of the finest property in the Philippines.  My grandfather was the one who designed it.  It has Grecian influence on it’s architecture.  Mayaman ang family ng mga Vera-Perez.  Kasama sa top 100 sa Forbes 500 ang Vera-Perez Shipping.  Now lola is preparing her will dahil nalalapit na raw ang pagpanaw niya.  I hate it when she talks like that.  But I know death is inevitable.  Ayoko pang isipin na buwan o taon na lang ang hihintayin niya.  I am not ready to lose her yet.