Naglakad siya papunta sa study table ng silid at kinuha ang ilang mga papeles doon.
"By signing this, you officially and legally become my wife." Nilahad niya ang kasulatan sa akin at tinuro ang linya kung saan ako maglalagda dapat.
"Walang panulat."
Akmang natigilan siya. "Right." Tipid na sagot na tila nakalimutan at tumungo sa likod ng mesa.
Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang paligid at napagtantong opisina ito. The floor was wooden and varnished along with the other furniture that seemed old and antique.
May grandfather clock sa tabi at isang oblong na salaming isang metro ang haba. It was vintage and aesthetic. May isang bintana sa likod na tinatakpan ng itim na kurtina. In the middle lies the table and swivel chair.
Binuksan ng lalaki (dahil hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan niya) ang drawer doon at naglabas ng panulat.
Kinuha ko iyon. The pen seems personalized. It was black with golden letters on its handle-Guillermes.
Wait... This name sounds familiar.
"Can I read the file?" I asked.
"No."
My jaw dropped. "I do think I should read it so that I know what I am getting myself into, plus, I can also say no, I have the ri-"
"I bought your rights. Sign the paper, Miss Lucent, so I can finally stop calling you Miss." This... this man is such a pushover!
But when his words sunk in and when I've processed it, hindi ko maiwasang mamula.
"I won't sign the paper unless I read it." Siningkitan ko siya ng aking mga mata. Nagsukatan kami ng tinginan.
He seems to give up. "I give you one minute."
One minute? Magrereklamo sana ako ngunit binaling na niya ang kanyang mukha sa orasan.
Binuksan ko ang folder at nagsimulang pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga kasulatan.
Mostly were just agreements and marriage related things, some legal terms and conditions. Nothing essential. Just me and him being legally bound by the law.
"One minute is finished. I'd like you to sign the paper now, Miss Lucent."
If I sign the paper, I'll be married. It seems like I had no choice-which I really did not have. I just signed it. Kinuha naman niya agad ang kasulatang pinirmahan ko na.
"Now, I can't have my legal wife looking like that." He gestured my look.
Tumingin ako sa salamin sa tabi upang tingnan ang ibig niyang sabihin. He was right. My hair was greasy and my skin was no longer glowing and my face was oily. I lost some pounds too.
All in all, mukha akong hindi naligo ng maraming araw.
Which was true... I guess.
Bigla tuloy akong namalayan sa aking itsura at amoy. Nababantutan ba siya sa akin? It's not like I give a damn.
I secretly smelled myself-I smelled fine.
He snapped his fingers and the door opened automatically in anticipation, napatingin ako roon at nakita ko ang tatlong babae na pumasok.
They were wearing a housemaid's uniform-black laces and seemingly apron dress with a white headband on their head. They curtsied to the cold guy and looked at me with a measured smile.
"Prepare her for tonight." Utos ng lalaki, nang hindi kumilos ang mga babae ay dumilim ang mukha niyang malamig pa rin, "now."
With that, he stormed off the room.
Yumuko sila at agad na hinawakan ng dalawa ang magkabilang kamay ko, "ma'am, sundan mo po kami." Saad nila, nauna ang pangatlong babae at pinagbuksan kami, lumabas na kami sa silid.
"Saan niyo ako dadalhin?" Tanong ko sa mga babae, naguguluhan pa rin ako sa mga nangyayari.
Sa halip na sumagot ay tahimik lang sila habang ginigiya ako papunta sa kung saan man, dumaan kami sa pasilyo hanggang sa nasa may malagintong berindilya na kami ng pangalawang palapag, tumanaw ako roon at nakita ang unang palapag mula sa itaas.
Ang matingkad na aranya rin sa dingding ay hindi nakatakas sa aking paningin. Tila yari sa totoong dyamante ang mga nakasabit sa tsandelyer na kumikislap-kislap sa tuwing tinatamaan ng ilaw depende sa posisyon.
Bukod doon, napansin kong maraming mga lalaki. May mga hawak silang armas.
They seem to be on patrol and on guard duty.
For a mansion with a lot of men, they sure were silent. Their footsteps were faint with no traces of thumping at all. It felt like watching a silent movie all of a sudden.
We passed by and kept walking. Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang kuwarto, binuksan nila ito at hinintay akong pumasok, nang nasa loob na ako ay pinagmasdan ko ang paligid, it was a bedroom.
"Do you know where I am?"
Nagkatinginan silang tatlo ngunit hindi nagsalita.
"Please, I want answers."
"Magagalit po si Young Master kapag sabihin namin sa iyo." Saad ng isang babae, yumuko siya nang ibaling ko ang aking tingin sa kanya.
"Young Master? Who is that man?"
I can't believe I'm married to someone whose name I don't even know!
"Please undress so we can clean you." Saad ng isa imbes na sagutin ang aking tanong, completely ignoring my sentiments. I gasped.
Mabilis akong lumayo sa kanila, bigla kong naalala ang nangyari sa auction, how I was almost naked and a lot of eyes were looking at me like a bitch, my breathing became heavy and rapid all of a sudden, halatang nag-alala ang tatlong maid dahil dito.
"Young Mistress, patawad!" Saad ng tatlo at yumuko nang nakita nila ang pagpapanik sa aking ekspresyon.
Young Mistress? Me? Mas lalo akong naguluhan, nasaan ba ako?
Who is this man they were calling Young Master?
Nang nakahinga na ako nang maluwag ay seryoso ko silang tiningnan, these girls seem to be harmless, perhaps I can befriend them and just put my guard down.
"Can I ask your names?"
Since I can't ask where I am, I'll just ask some things to distract my mind. And maybe I'll try to get them on my side, and befriend them.
Ngumiti sila at tumango.
"Ako po si Chastity, this is my second sister Charity, and my youngest sister, Charla." Sagot ng isang babae, she looks like the oldest.
"Wala na tayong oras." Tiningnan ni Charity ang orasan, "Young Mistress, please, you need to take a bath now so we can prepare you."
"Prepare me?" I asked, confused. Why would they prepare me?
For what?
Naguguluhan ako sa lahat ng nangyayari. Wala akong maintindihan.
Tumango silang tatlo, "for tonight, Young Mistress." Sagot ni Charla.
"For tonight?" I asked again, unable to see what they meant, ano ang mangyayari ngayong gabi?
Why do they need to prepare me for tonight?
"You will have a honeymoon with Young Master."