Marriage and Maintainability

Chapter 16

"We should help them," nag-aalalang wika ni Claire pagkatapos ay tumingin kay Leon na diresto at suwabe ang paglalakad.

"No, it's their job. They are generously paid for that," sagot ni Leon at inilipat siya sa isang gilid nito nang may dumaan na kabataan na nasa grupo ng anim na takbo-lakad ang ginagawa. Kung hindi siya nito inilipat ay marahil natapilok na siya ngayon sa suot na takong at napahilata sa sahig.

"Careful," ani Leon at ipinagsiklop ang kanilang mga kamay pagkatapos ay dismayado na tumingin sa grupo na lumampas sa kanila. "High schoolers. You could have been run by those groups."

"T-Thank you," wika ni Claire, tinanggihan ang pagtama ng kanilang mga mata.

"No need to say thanks. It's my duty to protect my wife," sagot nito at iginiya na siya sa paglalakad. "About the two of them. Their effort will not be wasted because I'll pay them each ten thousand for assisting us."

Hindi na naiwasa ni Claire ang pagkamangha. "Wow, kung alam ko lang na ganoon ka kalaki magpasahod, nag-apply na lang sana akong tigadala ng mga pinapamili mo."

"Funny, Claire. I don't do my own shopping," sagot nito at sumipat sa kanya. "It's my first time to go into the mall."

Gulat na napatingin siya kay Leon. "Really?"

"Yeah, I don't have time for shopping. It's also my first time to take half-day in the company," pagbibigay-alam nito para mapatango-tango na lamang siya sa natuklasan. "I work in the company on weekdays. On weekends, I work in my studio in the house brainstorming and designing clothes."

"It must have been so hard for you to not try at least some relaxation, isn't it?" she said, her voice gentle. "That's why you eat outside because you have no time to cook or even learn how to do one."

"Nah, my relaxation is when I get to design my own apparel in the studio," sagot ni Leon at ngumiti. "It's enough for me."

"Well, now that I'm going to be your wife, I will asked your presence every weekdays. You need to take a day off," wika ni Claire para matigilan si Leon at tumitig sa kanya nang ilang segundo. Nang mapagtantong kulang ang kanyang nasabi ay pilit siyang napangiti. "Pretend wife, rather. That's what I'm trying to say."

"Okay," sagot ni Leon at binuksan ang limousine at hinudyat ang kamay.

"Okay what?" pagkumpirma ni Claire dahil hindi niya agad na naintindihan kung para saan ang sagot nito.

"Okay that I will be with you every weekend once we got married," paglilinaw ni Leon para mapangiti siya sa harap nito pagkatapos ay tumango rito. "Now, get inside the car. The chemistry examiners are waiting for us in our house."

Kumunot ang noo ni Claire. "Examiners?"

"Klaus and Carol," sagot ni Leon para malaglag ang kanyang panga.

---

"CLAIRE, I know I didn't tell you beforehand about Carol, but I invited—"

Hindi na naituloy ni Leon ang sasabihin nang paghinto ng limousine sa tapat ng bahay ay dali-daling lumabas si Claire at tinakbo ang loob.

"...her to be the examiner," dugtong ni Leon nang makapasok sa loob ng bahay si Claire at naiwan siyang nakatayo sa labas ng sasakyan.

"It must have been so hard to be the husband of a woman who is opposite to your attitude, isn't it, young master?" tanong ni Butler Lemuel habang iniipon nito ang kanilang mga pinamili.

"I can say so, yes," sagot ni Leon at tumingin sa pinagpasukan ni Claire na pinto. "But it's harder not having the company I worked so hard to be mine ever since college. Besides, Claire is not a boring person, so it's not that bad. She's a good person and has a clear intention."