Jose Marie “Vice” Viceral, 35 years old. Considered as one of the youngest and top engineers in the country. He also owns the foremost engineering company in the Philippines, and in some parts of Europe. Dad passed away when he was a child, has 4 other siblings and a mother who means the world to him. He loves his family more than anything. He also enjoys singing, dancing, drifting, and playing basketball.
//
Vice’s house, the afternoon of the first ceremony.
“Jose ‘Vice’ Viceral… the first ever Filipino Bachelor. It’s quite a title. Gaano kataas ang pressure ngayon, bro?”
“Ang weird pala kapag sa ibang tao nanggagaling.” sabi ni Vice at napasandal bigla sa likod ng couch nya, “Hindi naman sa nagmamayabang ako Billy, pero I’ve achieved in everything na sinubukan ko. I accepted this title, The Bachelor, with open arms and an open mind, dahil alam kong di ko naman bibiguin at lolokohin ang sarili ko, at yung mga babaeng makikilala ko. Ako kasi yung tipo ng lalaki na di kinokonsidera ang failure o pagkatalo as an option. Lahat naman kasi ng gusto mong makamit or gawin ay posible eh, depende na nga lang sa’yo kung ano yung resulta nun. Syempre depende yung kung gaano mo talaga subukan para makamit yung bagay na yun… And para sa’kin… Pag-ibig na lang talaga ang bagay na di ko makamit-kamit. Sumubok naman ako eh…” napatawa si Vice ng mahina, “Hindi naman lihim sa marami ang relationship at dating records ko, alam kong I made mistakes in the past, pero sa mga oras kasi nun, alam kong hindi pa ako ready to commit, I was having fun. I think most guys my age will go through that.”
“And you think, now? Now, you’re ready for that commitment? Ready for marriage? Children? A family?” tanong ni Billy na naka-smirk kay Vice na parang nananakot.
“Walang takot, walang alinlangan… Gusto ko ng magka-asawa, magkaroon ng maraming anak. I’m more than ready to take that step, Billy.”
“What changed?”
“Nung nagpunta akong France a couple of months ago, I went to the beautiful city of Marseille, tapos may airshow akong napanood, It was a guy proposing to his girlfriend, tapos may sign na naka-attach dun sa plane which was a phrase in French, which translates to ‘Love is a risk’ in English… Ayun… Bigla lang nag sink in sa’kin na tama nga naman. Nung mga panahon kasi noon, parang napagiisipan ko na rin na paano ba kung mag settle down na ako. Tumatanda na rin naman ako… Then this offer came up, wala na atang mas lalaki pa risk na tinatake ko ngayon to find love.”
“Good. Mukhang ready ka na nga… Are you ready to meet your future wife tonight?”
“Oo naman.” sagot ni Vice at napangiti.
“I’ll see you tonight bro, along with the twenty five women who have been dying to meet you.” Billy went to shake his hands.
//
Mga 7:00 PM ay dumating si Vice sa Bachelor’s mansion kung saan maninirahan ang 25 ladies na susubukang makuha ang puso nya. Dito rin kasi gaganapin ang first ever rose ceremony kung saan magbibigay si Vice ng 15 roses sa mga babaeng matitipuhan nya ngayong gabi. Meaning, sampung babae din ang pauuwiin nya.
He got out of the black limousine na sumundo sa kanya at huminga ng malalim. He saw Billy na nakatayo sa may tapat ng staircase patungo sa pinto ng bahay at nakangiti sa kanya. He adjusted his pink tie and ran his hands through both sleeves of his grey blazer as if brushing off any dust. Lumakad sya palapit kay Billy ng nakalagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng grey tight-fit trousers nya.
“Gandang gabi, Vice.”
Tumango na lang si Vice at nakipag handshake kay Billy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Kinakabahan ako eh, pero syempre excited naman.” sagot ni Vice at napahinga na naman ng malalim.
“Should we get started then?” Billy placed a hand on his shoulder bago tinuro yung limousine na papasok sa gate. Umalis si Billy leaving Vice to stand on his own in front of the staircase papasok sa bahay.
Vice watched the limousine, sa isip nya ay slow motion lahat ng nangyayari dahil sa sobrang pagka nerbyos nya. Nilagay na lang nya ulit ang mga kamay nya sa bulsa nya dahil hindi sya mapakali. Tumigil yung itim na limousine a few metres kung saan sya nakatayo at bumaba yung driver para pagbuksan kung sino man yung unang babae na baba mula sa sasakyan.
“Goodluck, sir.” binigyan si Vice ng maliit na tango yung driver at nginitian naman sya nito.
Pagbukas pa lang ng limousine ay natawa na ng konti si Vice dahil rinig na rinig nya ang mga tawanan at pag-uusap ng mga babaeng nasa loob tungkol sa kanya.
Vice held his breath ng makita nyang may black heels na bumaba mula sa limo. He watched as the first girl revealed herself to him. Automatic naman na napangiti si Vice ng makita ang unang babae, Great start, sabi nya sa sarili habang palapit sa kanya yung babaeng naka black slacks at white lace top.
“Kamusta?” sabi ni Vice at nakipag beso sa babae, “My name is-“
“Vice.” Sabi ung babae na parang di parin makapaniwala sa nangyayari, “I’m Liz… It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You look great.”
“Thank you, ikaw rin, ang gwapo mo pala talaga noh?”
Napatawa naman si Vice.
“Uhm, I think I need to go inside na, I’ll talk to you more in there?”
“Of course.” sabi ni Vice na tinanggap yung aya ni Liz na yakap.
Liz Uy, 33 years old, Stylist
Vice watched Liz go inside with a smirk on his face. He turned his attention back to the limo kung saan ay binubuksan na naman nung driver yung door to reveal the second girl.
The second girl came out wearing a midnight blue lengthy gown with a deep neckline and she had her hair in curls.
“Hi Vice!” sabi nya at bumeso kay Vice.
“Hello beautiful.” Vice replied while pulling away, “What’s your name?”
“My name’s Ruffa and I’m a single mom.”
“Ah talaga?”
“I hope that won’t be a problem for you? I know naman na you want kids of your own—“
“Ano ka ba? You’re right, mahal ko ang mga bata.” Sagot ni Vice sincerely which made Ruffa smile.
“I gotta go inside, I hope to spend time with you later.” Kinuha ni Ruffa yung kamay ni Vice to give it a little squeeze.
Ruffa Gutierrez, 35 years old, Editor-in-Chief
Sa dami ng mga babaeng na-meet ni Vice ay medyo brief lang na lang ang naalala nya. The next set of girls he made brief conversations with before sending them in.
Maja Salvador, 25 years old, Professional Dancer
Bea Rose Santiago, 28 years old, Corporate Lawyer
Angeline Quinto, 24 years old, Club Singer
Denise Laurel, 27 years old, Entrepreneur
Jessy Mendiola, 23 years old, Student
Iza Calzado, 34 years old, Fitness Instructor
“We’ve actually met before, sa isang party, two years ago I think…”
“Kaya pala you look familiar.” sagot ni Vice at na-feel ang pagka comfortable nya with the girl.
“Oh my God, I haven’t given you my name yet..” sabi ng babae at napangiti naman si Vice dahil nacute-an sya sa pagka conyo nung babae, “I’m Solenn, but you can call me Sos.” sabi ni Solenn at napahawak sa forearm ni Vice.
“A beautiful name for such a beautiful lady.” Vice took her hand from his forearm at hinawakan ito, “Come find me.. Mamaya dun sa loob ha.” Vice smirked before letting go of Solenn’s hand para papasukin ito sa loob.
Solenn Heusaff, 27 years old, DJ
//
As the first limousine got emptied, Billy came back at nakagrin lang na nakatingin kay Vice.
“Grabe. Ang gaganda nilang lahat.” sabi ni Vice kay Billy na hindi makapaniwala na first limousine palang yun at may dalawa pa.
“From the first 9 ladies, did you feel any strong attractions yet?”
“Hmm, it’s hard to say… Pero attractions, definitely.” sagot ni Vice na tumingin sa malayo na parang nag iisip.
“Well then, iiwanan na ulit kita to meet the rest of the ladies… Have fun.”
Pag-alis ni Billy ay nag pull in naman agad ang pangalawang limousine na sakay ang next 8 ladies na ma-meet ni Vice. Again, he tucked his hands in his trouser pockets at nag sway backwards and forwards habang hinihintay ang susunod na babae.
Vice looked down for a second para tanggalin yung dumi sa shoes nya, pero once he looked up ay naramdaman nyang namula yung pisngi nya dahil sa ganda ng babaeng nasa harapan nya. She was wearing a simple white dress which reached just above her knees, her hair was in an updo bun pero may loose hair na nag f-frame sa shape ng mukha nya.
“Hey…” Vice managed to say at kinuha yung kamay nung babae para alalayan ito palapit sa kanya.
“Magandang gabi, Vice.” She leaned forward para yakapin si Vice tightly and then pulled away laughing slightly, “Grabe, kanina pa ako kinakabahan.”
“Wag kang kabahan.” His voice was soft at nakakatunaw ang tingin na binibigay nya sa babae.
“Salamat ha… Alam mo, excited na excited talaga akong makilala ka.”
Tumango na lang si Vice pero hindi parin nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi nya.
“Paano ba yan? Papasok na ako, sana makausap kita sa loob, kung hindi ka busy sa ibang babae mo, joke!” sabi nito na hinug ulit si Vice at pumasok sa loob.
Vice’s eyes followed habang papasok yung babae sa loob, his smile still not disappearing from his face. He turned to the limo to focus sa next girl, pero may biglang nag click sa utak nya.
Tumakbo sya ng mabilis papasok sa bahay kung saan nakita nya ang iba sa mga girls na nag uusap at inuman na. Nagulat din naman ang mga ito nung makita sya, they all said their hello’s at nag smile kay Vice. Tumango naman si Vice at ngumiti as if to say na he acknowledged them bago ito lumapit sa babaeng kaninang kausap nya lamang.
“Miss, nakalimutan kong kunin ang pangalan mo.” Ngumiti si Vice at napakamot sa batok.
“Ay!” sabi nito at tumayo from her seat, she gave her hand to Vice, “I’m Kaye.”
Vice squeezed her hand at ngumiti, “Nice to meet you, Kaye.”
Kaye Abad, 32 years old, Psychiatric Nurse
//
Lumabas ulit si Vice to meet the other ladies. Again, he was impressed dahil sa variety of beauty and personalities ng mga nakilala nya.
Laureen Uy, 22 years old, Blogger
Divine Lee, 31 years old, Real Estate Agent
Sarah Geronimo, 26 years old, Singer
Cristine Reyes, 25 years old, Waitress
“Wow.” sabi ni Vice when the next girl came out of the limousine, “Hi, kamusta?”
Inabot naman nung babae yung kamay nya kay Vice na parang nahihiya pa. Tumango ito kay Vice nung nagkamay sila, “Hi Vice.”
“Hi.” sabi ni Vice na napangiti instantly dahil he found her so adorable already, “Pwede ba akong makabeso?”
“Ay, oo nga pala.” agad namang bumeso ito kay Vice, which almost caused them to bump heads dahil sa biglaang pag move nito, “Sorry…”
“Charming.” bulong ni Vice.
“Ano yun, Vice?”
“Anong pangalan mo?”
“Ako pala si Angel, from Bulacan.”
“Angel?” Vice’s smile grew wider, An angel indeed, Vice thought.
“Vice, okay ka lang?”
“Oo… Sorry, nakaka mesmerized ka kasi.”
Bigla namang nag blush si Angel sa sinabi ni Vice at pinalo nya ito lightly, “Bolero… Paano ba yan? Papasok na muna ako sa loob.” Tumango na lang si Vice at nakipag beso ulit kay Angel bago ito pumasok sa loob.
Angel Locsin, 30 years old, Wedding Planner
Nung nakita ni Vice yung susunod na girl, he thought na she looked like one of those girls that came out of a magazine. “Drop dead gorgeous”, he whispered to himself habang papalapit yung girl sa kanya.
“How you doin’? I’m Georgina, but you can call me Mrs Viceral.” Georgina said with a confident smile.
“Ooh, I like you already.” sagot naman ni Vice sa kanya at pinull si Georgina sa bewang para yakapin ito.
Georgina Wilson, 27 years old, Model
Sa bright yellow dress palang na suot nung kasunod na babae ay naka-agaw na ito sa atensyon ni Vice.
“Hiiii Vice, my name is Kris.” sabi nito at excited na nakipag beso at hug kay Vice.
“Yes, the Kris Aquino…”
“You know, you look so gwapo in your suit tonight, I’m sure na all the ladies have told you that already, pero it’s so true naman kasi.”
Vice couldn’t help but laugh sa pagsasalita ni Kris. He just nodded dahil tuwang tuwa lang sya at walang masabi dito.
“Ay sorry, masyado na ba akong madaldal?” tumawa ito at napahawak sa braso ni Vice, “It’s so nice to meet you Vice, I’ll go inside na ha.”
“It’s been interesting to meet you rin, Kris.” sabi ni Vice sa naglalakad na papasok na sa loob ng bahay na si Kris.
Kris Aquino, 36 years old, Talk Show Host
//
Habang nag d-drive palayo yung second limousine ay sumulpot ulit si Billy para kamustahin si Vice. This time, mas mukhang seryoso ang itsura ni Vice.
“Bro, okay ka lang? Medyo seryoso na itsura natin dyan ah.”
“Paano ko ba gagawin ‘to? Paano ako pipili ng labing lima at pauuwiin ang sampu sa kanila?”
“Just trust your instinct, through that you’ll find the one.” pag-advice ni Billy before pointing at the incoming third and final limousine bago ito umalis ulit.
//
A/N: You'll meet the rest of the girls in the next chapter. ;) P.S. Thank you for the overwhelming support already!