One Chance For Redemption

Kabanata 4 - Second Lead's Fiancee

Kabanata 4

Second lead's Fiancée

It's been a week mula ng nakausap ko si Duke Crescendo. Until now, wala pa din akong natatanggap na mensahe mula sakanya.

Napakalumbaba ako sa sa bintana ng kwarto ko. Isang linggo nalang bago magsimula ang timeline ng kwento ng novel na to. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong improvement sa plano. Hay nako.

"May problema ba, Miss?" I heard Joanne spoke as she arranges the tea set sa kwarto.

Napanguso ako at saka humalukipkip sa dibdib. She gasped and marahan na tinanggal ang kamay ko na nasa dibdib.

"Miss! Hindi ka ganyan kumilos! If your father saw you acting that way mapapagalitan ka na naman." She warned me but her voice was full of concern. Maybe she did care about me, this Amaury, after all.

"It's fine." I waved my hand at her, "Tayo lang ang nandito oh? Hindi mo naman ako isusumbong kaya hindi nila malalaman."

My father wasn't very strict to me because I am not the one who will inherit our house. So as long as hindi ko dudumihan ang pangalan namin, I can do whatever I like. Even marrying the duke...

Damn! Naalala ko na naman si Duke Cresendo na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring mensahe o balita para sakin! Pitong araw na akong naghihintay! When I remembered our agreement on that day... Sa tingin ko naman ay naging maayos ang pag-uusap namin, so bakit ngayon ay wala pa rin akong natatanggap na confirmation sakanya?!

"I need you to marry me."- I said seriously na ikinatawa lang niya.

"That's your proposal? To marry you in exchange for your information about the royal seal?" He said as if mocking me.

Pinagsawalang bahala ko ang tono niya at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "I need you to act as my fiancé for a year. Kapalit ay ang pagtulong ko sa paghahanap ng royal seal. And even other information that you might need. You see, I'm kind of knowledgeable about sa mga tactics and strategies."- na nakuha ko sa novel. Dahil alam ko kung anong mangyayari sa flow ng novel, that makes me a very valuable person to him.

Tumaas ang kilay niya, "Hindi ba tila dehado ako sa usapan na yan? I'll give you my title, much higher than your father's title. What's in it for me kung papayag ako? Just some random information? Yun lang? And where do you get that information anyways? Doon mo rin nakuha ang impormasyon kung nasaan ang crescent wolf hideout at kung sino ang pinuno? Is that it?" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya. Ang malapusa at malamig na tingin niya sakin ay nagpakilabot ng balat ko.

He's trying to corner me!

Umubo ako at umayos ng upo, "Duke Crescendo, I am only asking you to act as my fiancé for a year or less, then after that we will call off the engagement. If it is necessary then we will get married and divorce after, I won't cling to you after that or even ask for compensation for our broken engagement or marriage. Sa parte na iyan hindi ba ako ang mas dehado? Wag kang mag-alala. Kung saan o kanino ko man nakuha ang mga impormasyon na alam ko ay natitiyak kong ako lamang ang nakakaalam ng mga iyon. That person is the least of your concern."

Tumitig siya sakin habang bahagyang nakangiti. Tila ba sinusubukan na basahin ang nasa isip ko. I know that expression so well. That is his defensive smile, his Duke Crescendo's smile. He uses that when he is suspecting something. Well, I don't care kung ano pa ang iniisip mo, Dale. What I need is for you to agree on my terms! On my plan!

Tumikhim akong muli at taas noo na nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "My proposal is easy, Duke Crescendo. Be with me for a year, I'll help you find the royal seal and claim your royal title as a prince. We'll divorce after then act as if we never met each other."