Ang Proxy

Chapter one

Ang PROXY © 2015 by Jeni Ronato. All Rights Reserved.

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"Angela, you can't do this to me. Dadating na ang mommy ko from US." sabi ni Liam sa girlfriend niya. Gusto kasi nitong magpakasal na sila as soon as possible.

"Liam, you know what I want right? If you can't give that to me, we might as well cool off for a while. It can give us time to think if we really want each other." Sabi ni Angela sa kabilang linya.

"Babe, we're engaged. What more do you want? We'll get married sooner or later. I just need more time. Ngayon ko pa lang muling makikita ang mommy ko. Can't you at least try to understand?" sabi naman niya.

"Liam, you're so full of excuses. Look at it this way, it's either you want me or you don't. Now, I'm sorry but I can't meet your long lost mom, I'm flying to Indonesia on business."

'But babe-" hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin dahil ini-off na nito ang cellphone. Sinubukan niyang tawagan ulit, ngunit out of coverage na ang kanyang naririnig. Ini-off na nga niya ang cellphone niya. Nagulat siya nang biglang mag-ring muli ang phone niya. Mommy niya pala.

"Liam, darling, I'm just reminding you I'll be in Manila next week. Your uncle Roger and I will be in Boracay for two weeks. Do you think you can be there?" tanong ng mommy niya. Hala!

"Er...yes, mom. I'll be there. Don't worry." Wala siyang masabi.

"Don't forget to bring your fiancée with you okay?" excited na dagdag nito.

Paano na 'to?

"Jules, can I have a word with you?" tanong ni Liam sa babae. Nasa opisina na siya at kausap ang isa sa matagal na nilang empleyado.

"Sure, sir. What's up?" sabi ng babae sa kanya.

Tumingin ito sa paligid na tila nag-iingat na may makarinig ng sasabihin niya. "Let's go outside. Come on." Aniya sa babae.

Lumabas sila ng office unit at dinala niya ang babae sa may lobby ng floor nila kung saan walang tao. Open space ito kaya walang mag-iisip ng masama sa kanila.

"May gagawin ka ba sa forced break natin?" sabi niya, tinutukoy ang dalawang linggong walang pasok.

"Wala pa po. Bakit?" Naku. Mukhang may trabahong iuutos ito ah, isip ni Jules.

He felt relieved with Jules answer. Then he sighed before replying. "I have a favor to ask."

Napakunot-noo si Jules. What could be so serious na ang palabirong si Sir Liam eh magmukhang ganito? "Shoot." Sabi niya.

"Well, do you want to take an all expense paid trip to Boracay for a week?"

Napataas ni Jules. Anu daw?

"I'm serious." Sabi niya. "Are you interested?"

"Maybe." Sabi niya.

"Ok, can we go somewhere after work to talk about it? Please Jules. I really need help." Sabi niya.

"I don't understand-"

"I will explain to you later, OK?"

"uuhmm.. okay."

oOo

"So you mean to say, magpapanggap ako na si Angelang fiancé mo sa harap ng mommy mo?" shocked na tanong ni Jules kay Liam. Naka-drugs ba 'to?

Tiningnan ni Liam ang kausap. Maganda pala si Jules kapag tinititigan. Liam, focus! "Yeah, ganun na nga. You see this meeting is important to me, ngayon ko lang makikita ang mommy ko for so many years." Sabi niya.

"Tapos lolokohin mo siya?" ani Jules.

He sighed "I have no choice, I'm running out of time. Besides, having a fiancée would convince my mom na capable akong sa ipamamana niyang business. It would give the impression that I'm a man with goals. What if I tell her that my fiancée and I had a tiff before she came? Hindi siya maniniwala may fiancée ako in the first place."

"Ok, fine. So let me summarize this. You want me to go with you to Boracay and pose as your fiancée for one week. Along with that I must act like your devoted fiancée 24/7 in front of your mom and stepdad, correct?"

"Yes."

"In turn, I will get a free vacation and be paid for a week for my time."

"That's right."

"Well, I just have one question."

"Sure."

"Why me?"

Why indeed? Nung malaman niyang hindi talaga sasama si Angela sa kanya para i-meet and mom at stepdad niya, si Jules talaga ang naisip niya.

"Alam ko kasing mapagkakatiwalaan kita. I know you won't fall for me." seryosong tanong niya.

"Wow, I didn't know you had modesty issues." She joked.

"So, will you do it?" tanong nito.

She sighed. "Okay."

Jules, ano ba 'tong pinasok mo?

Itutuloy..