Blind Love

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

"WE want you to pretend to be his fiancée." My mouth parted in shock.

"Po?" ulit ko.

Baka nabibingi lang ako! May pakakasalan na siya? At magpapanggap ako?

"I know this is absurd," ani Sir Ejercito. "But we really need someone to pretend to be her right now..."

"P-paano pong..." napalingon ako kay Nanay na hindi naman umiimik.

"Dash was supposed to be engaged right now but was postponed because of his accident..." aniya.

"Ano pong nangyari sa kanya?" tanong ko dahil sa gusto kong malaman ang nangyari sa kanya, kung bakit siya nawalan ng paningin.

"It was a car crash," panimula niya. "Galing siya sa bahay noon at galit na umalis, he got drunk and got into an accident and unfortunately," humina ang boses niya. Nakita ko ang paglamlam ng mga mata ni Ma'am Lena at mabilis namang hinawakan ni Sir ang kamay niya para kumalma ito.

"The glass from his car broke and got into his eyes..." Bumagsak ang balikat ko at nakuyom ko ang mga kamay ko. I can feel my heart throbbing in pain, animo'y parang may pumipiga sa puso ko dahil sa kalagayan niya.

"W-we really need someone to take care of him, l-lalo na ngayon. He... He doesn't want us to feel any pity for him..." nanginginig ang boses na sabi ni Ma'am Lena.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at pinagmasdan ko ang pagluha niya. Nakita ko ang pagpunas ni Sir sa kanyang luha at ang paghawak sa mga kamay nito para tumahan.

"We can't find anyone to pretend to be her but you, nag-usap na kami ng Nanay mo tungkol dito..." sabi ni Sir.

Hindi naman ako kaagad nakasagot at nakagat ko lang ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

"P-pero paano po ako magpapanggap? Malalaman niya po kung sino ako..." sabi ko. "Paniguradong magkaiba po kami ng boses at ng pagsasalita. Hindi ko po alam..." Napatungo ako.

"Hindi, hindi, hija," sabi niya at umiling. "He didn't even see her or even talk to her."

"Po?" gulat kong sabi.

"You two almost had the same voice and the feature. You're a bit alike."

"Pero paano po silang magpapakasal kung—"

"You know how business works right?" Marahan akong tumango. "It's actually a set-up, to help his company..."

Hindi ako nakaimik, naghihintay ng sunod na eksplenasyon.

"When we left the airlines under his care, he was so focused on it. Ni ayaw niyang humingi ng tulong sa amin ng mom niya. He said he wanted to be independent and do his best for it until he encountered a crisis. Then, I know someone in business who could help us. My son wasn't even dating anyone and so I thought I could set him up with the girl."

He sighed.

"I know this is absurd, mali akong hindi muna namin ikonsulta sa kanya. It was probably my desperation to help him but that night when he got into the accident, doon din niya nalaman na ipapakasal siya. He got mad, ran away, got drunk and that's what happened..."

"We just want to help him in building and strengthening his company but ito pa ang nangyari..." mahinang sabi niya.

Business? 'Yon lang iyon? Pilit kong iniintindi kung bakit kailangan ng mga tao na magpakasal para lang sa negosyo. Oo, isa na siguro na para umunlad ito pero hindi ba kalayaan ng lahat ng tao na pumili ng mamahalin at pakakasalan?

"Bakit n'yo po kailangang gawin 'to kung—" I hesitated. Nakagat ko ang labi ko nang makitang nakatitig ang mag-asawa sa akin.

Maling tanong, Reah!