~ ALEX~
[Situation: What do you have?]
After the visit with Brielle's family, I went out to explain myself to my friends.
"Alex bro, akala ko nag-jojoke lang 'tong si Aries nang sabihin niyang nag propose ka last weekend. Tang'na totoo pala," Aaron laugh.
I know Aries gave them a heads up on what went down last weekend, but I don't know how he managed to take a video of the whole proposal.
"I'm still shocked beyond belief. Akala ko si Ace ang unang ikakasal sa inyo,'' Aileen commented.
She was the first one to contact me when she found out. She even asked if it has something to do with the scene that happened at the lake house.
"Teka lang Aileen, bakit naman ako ang una? Hindi ba dapat si Aries?'' Ace defended himself.
Honestly, I thought he would be the first to get married as well. Compared to the three of us, he has more or less planned out his life.
"Bro, why do you think I'll be the one to get hitch? Alex is expected," Aries answered.
"Sa kahahabol ng mama mo sa'yo, hindi ka pa rin ba nakakapili ng mapapangasawa?"
"I also think that Aries will go before me, due to his mother's request," I added to Ace's comment.
Since we were in college, Aries has been running away from potential marriage partners and until now, he's still in this wild goose chase.
"Teka lang, bakit parang walang nag-eexpect sa 'kin na makasal?"
We look at Aaron with a doubt.
"Grabe naman mga bro, kaduda-duda ba talaga ko? I am hurt." He held his chest and gasped dramatically as if he's about to die.
"Huwag ka nang magtaka. Naisip mo bang ikasal?" Ace poured him a drink which he gladly accept.
"Nope. I love casual sex," he answered proudly.
"Exactly. You're not the commiting type," Aries pointed out.
"Makasalita Aries, committing ka? Mas madalas ka ngang magsawa kaysa sa akin," Aaron answered back.
There's nothing good between this two when they starts talking about sex and relationship. It's always a disaster.
"Anong plano mo Alex?" Aileen asked with concern.
"I already talked to Brielle. We already had an agreement regarding this."
"Contractual Marriage?" Ace asked.
I nodded. There's no other way to take on this relationship other than a contract marriage, besides the both agreed.
"Hanggang kailan?"
"Until one of us said so," I shrug. "Wala naman akong planong ikulong si Brielle sa kasal, kung gusto niyang makawala after, then I would not complain. I will sign the divorce papers," I respond to Aileen's question.
Hindi pa namin napag-usapan ni Brielle ang lahat ng nakapaloob sa kontrata. Hindi pa kasi namin nakaka-usap si Annessa tungkol sa kabuuan ng kontrata.
"I just wish it would turn out well, Alex. You're both important to me."
"Don't worry Aileen, we are both adults, we know when to stop and let go."
___
Time Check:17:05
Where is she? It's already late.
"Save!" Brielle announced the moment she entered the office while raising both her hands like a performer who's about to take a bow after a performance.
"You're late."
"Grabe naman Alexander, 5 minutes lang naman, mas malala ka pa nga eh, pinaghintay mo ko ng isang oras noong interview para sa City Scoop."
Tch. This woman. Kailangan bang paulit-ulit na ipamukha 'yon?
"Just sit down, so we can start."
We're at my company to discuss the full scope of our marriage contract. We have Attorney Annessa Perez-Villafuente to serve as our lawyer, and Aries who will be our other witness.
"Sigurado ka bang kailangan natin si Aries dito?''
''Brielle naman, I'm your witness," nakangising sagot ni Aries
Brielle just rolled her eyes before sitting down.
"Sketchy," she mumbled.
We did a few introductions and the start of the meeting.
"Nasabi na ni Aries sa 'kin ang buong kwento. Honestly, nagulat ako nang malaman ko kung sino ang cliente. Hindi ko akalain na ang isang Alexander Montreal ay kinakailangang sumailalim sa isang arranged marriage," komento ni Atty. Annessa.
"Naku Attorney, 'wag ka nang magtaka. Sakit na ng mga mayayaman yang arrange marriage. Mas magtaka ka kung bakit walang pumapatol sa kanya."
I frowned. What is this woman talking about?
"Oh, ano nanaman yang tingin na 'yan? Hindi ka naniniwala?"
"I'm wondering where you are getting these words coming out of your mouth."
"Tss, inggit ka lang kasi may sense akong kausap, anyway attorney, let's continue."
Attorney Aneessa just laughed. "So in this clause, it talks about the legal rights property. You said you purchased land two weeks ago, under your name, but you said you wanted to do a transfer to Miss Ibanez?"
She's talking about the farmland owned by Brielle's family. I just bought it two weeks ago and I wanted to include that on our contract in case the bank ran after them again.
"Yes. As much as possible I want it to look like a gift before marriage, that way the bank won't chase or question them about the ownership," I explained.
"I understand, but the full transfer for that will take at least 5 years, since you have to provide to the court that you do have a good running marriage. Also, to avoid suspicion from your side of the family."
I already know that. It was in the agreement from the bank that the land will be in my care for at least 5 years before I sell it or return it. They probably get suspicious if I buy it and transfer it immediately to Brielle's name, but five years with Brielle? I'm not sure about tha-
"Ayos lang. Hindi naman siguro ganun katagal ang limang taon na kasama itong si Alexander. I mean, kailangan lang naman naming makasal para mas mapadali ang paglipat ng titulo ng lupa, 'di ba?" Brielle answered.
"Yes, that's the gist of it," Annessa replied.
"Oh 'yon naman pala. No problem. Agree na 'ko d'yan."
"Are you really sure about that?" I asked.
"Oo nga. Limang taon lang 'yan Alexander. Mabilis lang. Next na attorney."
Annessa looked at me, waiting for further comments, but I just nodded.
"Divorce and Termination. Now, let's make this clear. Divorce and termination of contract are two different things. If the two of you decide to have divorce, the contract will still stand. All properties before marriage will be owned respectively by the original owner. All gifts and joint property listed in this contract will be divided to each of you, as follows. Agreed?"
"Agreed," we answered in unison.
"Moving on. In terms of termination of contact, Aries told me you don't have a deadline, is there any particular reason?"
"No, but I was wondering if we could break it off when one of us decided to live a separate life or divorce."
"Wait if we divorce, saan na mapupunta yung lupa?" Brielle interrupted.
"If you divorce before 5 years, then Alexander will have the land," Annessa answered
"Ay hindi pwede 'yan. Ilagay mo after 5 years."
"Are you sure? What if you found someone you love five years later?" I asked.
"Maghintay siya. Importante ang lupa.''
I should have known.
''How about I'll put until both parties renew their vows," Annessa suggest
"Anong ibig sabihin noon?" Brielle asked.
"It means, if you both decided to renew your vows, then this contract will be null and void. Normally that's the deadline for most cases who do not reach the set date, in your case five years, so if you want we can put that in the clause."
"What if we don't renew our vows?"
"Then, the contract stands."
"Let's do that. For safety," I answered.
"Wala ka bang bilib sa 'kin na tatagal ng limang taon ang kasunduan natin?" Brielle looked at me with doubt.
"I do, but we still have to put an option in case we break it off before the five years."
"Tch, whatever," she rolled her eyes, "Gusto mo lang makasal sa iba eh," she mumbled.
Annessa continued to discuss the rest of the contract, until we printed it and signed.
"Finally done!"
For now. It took longer than expected.
"Alexander, gutom na ko."
I frown, "Why are you telling me?"
"Para alam mo, at ilibre mo ko," she casually said.
"Go eat, I have other things to do."
"So you're saying, I go buy and you will pay, right? Salamat Alexander, ang bait mo talaga, kunin ka na sana ni Lord."
What is this woman saying again? I just grabbed my stuff and left the office. Bahala na siya doon.
"Alexander! Wait lang. Uuwi ka naman na, sabay na 'ko," pasigaw na habol nito.
"I'm going somewhere Brielle."
"Oo nga, sasabay ako."
"Opposite to where you live."
"Oh 'di, hatid mo muna ako tapos punta ka na sa kung ano mang lugar ang pupuntahan mo."
Seriously, her logic is getting worse and worse. Is her brain still functioning or her sense of awareness has gone down the drain?
"Sige na Alexander, promise behave ako."
I stared at her dubiously. I'm weighing the benefits of her presence here. If I take her home, she won't bother me until the weekend, but I will be late for my dinner meeting and that would be a headache since it's mom and gramps.
On the other hand, if I don't take her home, I won't be late for the meeting and I won't be invited by my family to stupid gatherings I'd rather not attend, but Brielle will definitely bother me for the rest of the week and annoy me to death. Either one of the choices were bad.
Tch. Bahala na.
"Let's go, you better keep your promise and don't bother me, unless it's life and death."
"Yay! Very good choice Alexander, daan tayo sa Magic Autumn ah, tutal madadaanan naman natin."
"Yeah- yea. Just behave yourself after."
"Ofcourse!," she said with glee, "I'm most behave kaya sa school dati, ako nga laging nagsusulat ng noisy list, and never akong nalista doon."
I heard. She's an active child but troublesome at the same time. Makes me wonder how her Good Manners and Right Conducts at school.
"You want?" She offered after I bought her favourite volcano ice cream from Magic Autumn.
"Just eat it."
"Okay sabi mo eh," she shrugged. " Alexander, slambook question."
"What is it?"
Since we had an interview we've been doing Q&A or as Brielle calls it, Slambook Question. It is our script to make our act believable to our audience.
"How do you describe your amazingly lovely wife?"
"Tch. Kailangan ba yung 'amazingly lovely'?"
"Oo naman. Part of the interview 'yon."
"Who would have asked that?"
"Si Max, babayaran ko para tanungin niya. Sige na answer."
"So demanding," I whispered.
"Narinig ko 'yon."
Of course she did.
"I think my wife is amazing and lovely as you said," I said nonchalantly.
"Iyon lang? Wala man lang ka-amour-amour?"
"Does it matter? I'll answer it better when it is asked."
"Naku, kung ganyan ang sagot mo sa interview, wala na. Hindi na sila maniniwala. Lagyan mo naman ng drama or intensity. Passion, honesty, respect, ganoon."
Seriously? Why do I have to answer this question when I know no one will ask anyway. This is ridiculous.
"My luv. She's my pride, my sword and armor. She's of many things, and those many things were the ones that fill me up in this world of nothing."
[Conclusion: You have a body that protects, a heart that loves and a soul that lives. You are who I needed to survive in this world full of the unknown.]
xx