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Chapter 5

A Business Proposal

Valerie started living in with me and the three boys in my condo. We did grocery shopping kasi siya na raw magluluto ng food namin sa bahay. We also bought things like clothes and other necessities for the kids. Wala kasi talaga silang gamit. Dinala na rin namin ang mga bata sa doctor, as Valerie suggested also. To check on their health.

Mukhang mahilig din talaga si Valerie sa mga bata. Or like what she said sanay siya dahil sa mga kapatid niya na nasa province. And she takes care of Achi, Ashi, and Shin like their mother...

The doctor checked the kids. And then we bought them vitamins and milk. Palagi rin talagang masarap ang mga luto ni Valerie sa condo kaya magana rin kaming kumain ng mga bata ng luto niya. So it just took a few weeks para magkalaman na rin ang pangangatawan ng mga bata. At hindi na ganoon kapapayat. My family also mentioned it and Valerie just reasoned na mas'yadong pihikan sa pagkain ang mga bata...

I thought of what my mother had told me last time. About marriage...or marrying the mother of my children. Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Valerie. At ang usapan lang namin noon ay ang pagpapanggap niya na mother ng mga anak ko raw. I don't know if she'll accept another offer from me but I'll just try...

"Magpapakasal?" Nagulat naman siya nang sabihin ko sa kaniya ang naisip ko base na rin sa gustong mangyari ng pamilya ko.

"You don't have to worry about anything. Ako na ang bahala sa lahat. We can fake our marriage, or have a divorce after and I'll just tell my family that it didn't work." I said.

"Are you serious?" She asked.

Tumango naman ako. "Hindi ako titigilan ng pamilya ko..."

She remained looking at my face for a few more while that I felt awkward later... "Hindi ka ba kinakabahan sa mga kasinungalingan mo sa pamilya mo?" She asked me.

I let out a sigh. "I have no choice... At nasimulan ko na rin 'to."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Valerie pagkatapos.

"Hey, don't worry about me, I mean ako naman ang gumagawa ng lahat ng 'to. I am paying you and you're just doing your job. I think I'll just accept the consequences after this..." I smiled faintly. Sa totoo lang ay masakit na rin talaga ang ulo ko sa kakaisip ng problema ko pero nasimulan ko na rin naman ito kaya... I'll just deal with the consequences later on...

Tumingin ako kay Valerie. "Just think of this as a business proposal... And you'll get paid in anything that you do for me." I tried to smile at her.

Hindi naman ngumiti si Valerie pero tumango na rin siya at nagbuntong-hininga. I sighed, too. And it was settled. Pumayag na rin siya na magpakasal kaming dalawa...

When I look at Valerie I'm thinking that she really needs the money. She said that her family lives in the province and she's supporting them... And I live a different life from Valerie... I have no idea how much she deals with... I was like born with a silver spoon... I swear I'm gonna give Valerie more money as payment to her efforts and for helping me out in this.

And today we're here again with my family to discuss about my wedding with Valerie. Of course we brought the kids kasi wala namang maiiwang mag-alaga sa kanila sa bahay.

"They don't have a nanny, Gus?"

Umiling ako kay mommy. "Uh," Nagkatinginan kami ni Valerie. "Kukuha pa lang po ng nanny, Mom." I said. Nga pala kailangan din pala ng mga bata ng yaya.

Mommy sighed. "Kung ganoon ay hinahayaan mo lang pala si Valerie na siyang lahat ang mag-asikaso sa mga bata?"

I shook my head right away. "No, Mom. I help her." Which was true. I helped with the kids, too. I'm helping Valerie at home. Hindi ko naman siya pinapabayaan at napupuyat na nga rin ako sa pag-aalaga kay Shin. At nahihiya rin naman ako kay Valerie kung pababayaan ko lang siya. After all I only dragged her in my own mess...

Mom sighed again. "Make sure that you don't let Valerie do all the work."

Tumango ako kay Mommy. "Yes, Mom."

Tumango na rin si Mommy at binalik kanila Valerie ang atensyon niya. Nandoon din si Ate Alia at ang fiancée ni Kuya Austin to talk about our marriage, too. Gusto nina mommy na kami na ni Valerie ang maunang magpakasal this year dahil nand'yan na raw ang mga bata. At pumayag naman sina Ate Beverly. And she also helps now with the planning for my marriage. Hinahayaan ko na lang ang pamilya ko at si Valerie who seemed to be getting along well with my family to decide on the wedding...

"I'm sorry about my family. I bet they've drained your energy today." I said to Valerie. Because my family was a real handful. Nakauwi na kami galing sa bahay ng parents ko.

Umiling lang naman si Valerie at ngumiti. "Ayos lang. Gusto ko nga ang pamilya mo, eh. Ang bait nila sa akin..." Nagkatinginan kami pagkatapos ng sinabi niya.

I nodded. "Yeah... Just tell me when you're in trouble with them. Lalo na si Mommy at Ate Alia na ang daming pinapagawa sa 'yo." I sighed.

And Valerie just shook her head. "Ayos lang para sa kasal naman natin 'yon..." Muli kaming nagkatinginan.

"Uh, sige, check ko lang ang mga bata at pagkatapos magpapahinga na rin..." paalam na niya sa akin pagkatapos.

Tumango naman ako. "Uh, sure."

And then after that I was left alone standing in the middle of the living room...

"You're really getting married, huh." Nakuha pa akong asarin ni Bray.

I just shook my head.

"Good luck, bro." The jerk laughed.

Tinapik naman ni Ben ang balikat ko. Tumingin ako sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay nagbuntong-hininga na lang ako sa dalawa kong pinsan.

When I lay down my bed at night I would think about all these things I'm doing now. And what I did in the past that led here.

Minsan parang hindi pa ako makapaniwala sa mga nagawa ko ngayon. And I feel guilty and feel like a real bad person for lying to my family and using other people. I feel guilty for dragging Valerie and the innocent children in my mess. And I thought that hindi ako nag-iisip.

I was just a happy-go-lucky bastard. Wala akong ibang iniisip noon kung 'di ang sarili ko lang, babae, bagong sasakyan, and just having fun. So this was still a shock to me even though I'm totally a part of this or the mastermind even... And now I'm thinking that I can't continue my old life and have to be responsible enough for the little children and for Valerie...

Pinagbuksan ko ng pintuan ng condo si Valerie. Nakangiti pa ako dahil galing lang sa pakikipaglaro sa mga bata. Nakakatuwa rin pala ang mga bata kasama kahit kami lang apat dito sa bahay. Pero napalitan ng kunot-noo ang mukha ko nang makita si Valerie na mukhang wala yata sa ayos...

"Are you all right?" I asked her worriedly. She doesn't look okay to me now...

Tipid naman siyang ngumiti sa akin at tumango. "Oo, ayos lang ako. Hi!" Pagkatapos ay naging busy na siya sa mga bata.

I crossed my arms as I watched Valerie greeting the kids. "The food's ready. I ordered out." Umalis kasi si Valerie kanina dahil may kailangan daw siya gawin. I even offered na ihatid siya sa pupuntahan niya but realized na wala palang maiiwan sa mga bata dahil kakasabi ko pa lang din kanila Ben na hanapan sila ng nanny. "Let's eat dinner and then rest early." I said because I noticed that Valerie seemed tired.

I don't know what happened to her day today but I'll make sure she can rest well tonight. "Ako na ang bahala maglinis after nating kumain. Ako na rin ang bahala sa mga bata." I said. At parang nasasanay na rin naman ako sa pag-asikaso sa mga bata.

I don't have work yet so I stay at home to take care of the kids. While I rented Valerie indefinitely so wala na rin siyang ibang trabaho sa agency nila but may pinuntahan lang siya kanina kaya naiwan muna kami ng mga bata.

And that night I thought to myself before I fell asleep that I should start working my ass off for real now. Nabanggit din kasi sa akin ni Valerie ang tungkol sa pagtatrabaho. And I realized that I should start working to provide well for my family...

Is this really serious, Augustus? Damn it.