Help Me

Chapter 7

"Gracie, alamin mo kung saan nakatira si Timothy ngayon. Find him as fast as possible. Kailangan ko siyang makausap."

"On it."

"I can't believe I'm gonna do this. This is pure stupidity." Binuksan ko ang phone ko at nagscroll sa newsfeed ko. In case I find something that could lead me to him. Hinanap ko din ang account niya. "Ano ba 'to? May pictures nga, wala namang address." I guess I'll have to wait for Gracie and the team.

"Ma'am." Pumasok ulit siya sa office. "We found him. Nandoon padin siya sa nasunugang lugar, but different house. Nakatira siya sa isang relative nila."

"That was fast. Thanks Gracie. Ready the car, pupunta tayo doon."

Here we are again in this stinky town. Pero kailangan kong tiisin dahil para ito sa kompanya namin. "Dito na po tayo ma'am." Bumaba kami sa harap ng maliit na bahay na may kulay dilaw at puting pinta.

"This is where he lives right now?" She nodded. "Tara, tignan natin kung nandito siya." Kumatok si Gracie sa pinto nila.

"Tao po? May tao ba?"

"Oo, sandali." Okay, that was him. I'm sure. Binuksan niya ang pinto at nandito nga siya ngayon nakatira. "Anong ginagawa niyo dito?"

"Just visiting you. Nothing else."

"Alam kong may kailangan kayo. Ano yun?" Isn't he gonna let us in?

"Hindi mo ba kami papapasukin?"

"Tsk. Pumasok kayo." He widely opened the door and let us sit on one of their sofas. "Ano ba talaga ang sadya niyo dito?"

"My parents asked me if we are still together. Gusto ka nila. And there's this LA guy na gustong makilala ako. If I told them na wala naman talagang tayo, maeengage ako sa lalaking hindi ko kilala. Our company needs a new CEO and it is our tradition na dapat may partner na ang susunod na mamamahala sa kompanya. Which is me. If I don't have a partner, mapupunta sa sakim kong tita ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ng pamilya ko."

"Ano ang gusto mong sabihin?"

"Pretend as if you're my boyfriend."

"Tch, sandali. Akala ko ba hindi ka manggagamit? Bakit pumayag ka?"

"You're the one who started this. Quits na tayo ngayon kung papayag ka."

"Ano naman ang mapala ko dito?"

"I accept your offer. I'll pay Tess's expenses. Ako nang bahala sa lahat ng kakailanganin niya para gumaling." I never wanted to do this but I have no choice. "Diba ang sabi mo, 'Kahit ano' para lang sa kanya?"

"Pumapayag ka na? Sigurado na ba yan?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding? I'm serious about this and like I said, I accept your offer. All you have to do is pretend that you're my boyfriend. I'll give you the money after my parents leave."

"Sige."

"Sige. We have a deal?" Inabot ko ang kamay ko.

"Deal." Kinamayan niya ako.

"And another thing. Sa bahay ka titira."

"No problem."

"Now that we're good, see you tomorrow."

-end-