The Gold-digging Mastermind

Simula

Olga Millaray Perfecto’s

“Oh, Gustav, my love! Bakit mo ako iniwan?!” sigaw ko.

Halos mag-walling ako pero walang wall.

My cries were heard all over the hall where the funeral was happening. Sunod – sunod ang patak ng luha sa aking pisngi. Inalalayan naman ako ng mga tauhan ni Gustav.

The first day of the funeral… I fainted.

Isinugod ako sa hospital. They monitored my health condition for a day. Pero nagpumilit akong bumalik sa lamay upang ipakita naman ang baon kong acting skills.

Of course, it was an act. Duh?!

I was overacting.

To be honest, I was glad that he was dead.

Gustav was old. A lot of health complications arose at his age of eighty-three. Mas mabuting patay na siya para hindi na siya mahirapan gayong halos machines na lang ang sumusuporta sa kanyang buhay.

We were married for three years. I met him when I was twenty-eight.

At agad akong nagpakasal sa matanda nang nalaman kong malaman ang kanyang wallet. He was a business tycoon. Mayroon siyang kompanyang nagsu-supply ng cement and steel para sa construction works.

People can call me a gold-digging bitch. Hindi ako masasaktan… dahil totoo naman.

In this economy? Respect the hustle.

Sibuyas na nga lang, ang taas nang presyo. Pati iyong skin care ko.

Gold-digger lang ako na diyosa, hindi naman ako masamang tao. Hindi ko naman siya pinatay para makuha ang aking mana. Matanda na si Gustav at talagang bilang na ang kanyang araw.

Old people wanted companion, I guess.

Bukod sa maganda ako at maalindog, ni hindi ko nga alam kung nakita man lang ba niya ang kagandahan ko sa labo ng kanyang mata, mas kailangan nila ng kasama sa pagtanda at mag-aalaga.

I was previously working at a club. I was a dancer there trying to secure a wealthy client to dance for a night. Maayos naman iyong kita. S’yempre, sa ganda kong ito… isa ako sa mga hinahanap ng madla.

Iyon ang minana kong trabaho sa aking ina. She was a prostitute and she had me with one of her clients. Hindi niya raw alam kung sino ang tatay ko, sa totoo lang, wala rin naman akong balak alamin.

But I was thankful for the genes I got, mestiza ako. S’yempre, a Filipina mixed with another race would result into a gorgeous-looking daughter, oh ‘di ba, lavern na lavern.

Siguro kung ibang buhay ang kinagisnan ko, nasa Miss Universe stage ako ngayon imbes na nasa club at gold-digger.

Wala rin namang masama sa pagiging gold-digger, kanya – kanyang diskarte lang ang buhay dahil hindi naman pare-pareho ang pribelihiyo ng tao. Tumatanggap lang ako ng panghuhusga sa mga taong perfect…

Kaya ako lang ang may karapatan dahil ako si Olga Millaray Perfecto. Oh, ‘di ba, perfect?! Bongga!

Anyway, I was hired by his team. Inaasahan kong sasayaw ako sa isang party ng mayaman pero ibang trabaho ang nakuha ko. I became a caregiver instead… who happened to bag the prize money.

“Paano na ‘ko nito mabubuhay?!” Hinga, girl. Dala niya oxygen sa kabaong? I cried even harder. “My love, you said you won’t break my heart, but you did! How can I fix it?! I need you!” Your money will fix it, don’t worry about me.

Mas lalong lumakas nang lumakas ang hagulhol ko. Umakto akong nahihirapan sa paghinga. I inquired acting classes with Ogie Diaz, charot.

Awang – awa naman sa akin ang lahat ng tao roon. Maybe, after this, I must audition for a role in a movie or a teleserye. Mukha namang mayroon akong ibubuga rin sa acting-an. Saka mas maraming pogi na p’wede kong landiin!

Hindi man lang ako nadiligan sa aming pagsasama ng ilang taon. Wala siyang lakas upang romansahin ako. No one could know that. Baka ma-invalid ang aking mana dahil hindi kami nagkaroon ng sexual intercourse.

Sinayawan ko na lang siya ng pangmalakasan, doon naman ako magaling. Sometimes, I would touch myself in front of him… ang ending, hindi pa ako nakakapaghubad, tulog na siya.

Pinakasalan niya lang siguro ako… dahil kailangan niya ng kasama. Mayroon siyang isang anak, pero kahit minsan hindi man lang ito dumalaw. It was sad that they weren’t close.

I’ve been with him for the last three years. Inasikaso ko lahat ng kanyang pangangailangan, inalagaan ko siya…

It seemed genuine, but of course, it should be paid afterwards.

Iyong mana ang aking suweldo sa lahat ng paghihirap sa kanya. Lahat ay mayroon ng bayad. There was no such thing as free in this world.

I kept that act until the last day of the funeral. Mas lalong sumidhi ang pag-iyak ko nang ilibing na ang aking asawa sa papel. I cried all the way to the cemetery, he still got a huge space on his grave.

Mas malaki pa iyon sa dating bahay namin ni mama. P’wede na rin ako doong tumira. But of course, I have his mansion for myself.

“I wish we had m-met for a long time… mas m-matagal sana tayong nagkasama. But I…” Huminga ako nang malalim. “I would always cherish the time we were together. Mahal na m-mahal kita, Gustav,” sinabi ko sa aking speech.

Pakiramdam ko lahat ay umiyak sa narinig nila mula sa akin.

Muli akong nahimatay nang tuluyan na siyang mailibing. Agad akong dinala sa mansyon upang makapagpahinga.

I spent most of my days in my room after his death. Kailangan ko pa ring panindigan ang pagda-drama ko. Nakamasid pa ang lahat sa bawat galaw ko. The maids were just delivering the food to my door. Hindi ako nagpapasok sa k’warto.

Katatapos ko lang maligo nang makarinig ako ng doorbell sa kuwarto naming mag-asawa.

“Ma’am Olga, dumating po ang lawyer…” Maricel said to the intercom. “Hinahanap po kayo.”

Nagmadali akong naglagay ng make up sa aking mukha… to enhance my eyebags.

Tanging roba lang ang suot kong bumaba sa living room. Indeed, Gustav’s lawyer was waiting for me. Binati ako nito at pinaabot ang kanyang pakikiramay. I cried again with the thought of my deceased husband.

Pero iyong dibdib ko sasabog sa excitement.

“Hindi pa ba tayo magsisimula?” tanong ko sa lalaki.

It was obvious that it was for the inheritance.

“I’m still waiting for someone… oh, there he is…”

Tiningnan ko ang direksyon ng kanyang mata. A tall figure entered the living room, such man exudes confidence, charisma and arrogance. Suot niya ang isang mamahaling suit.

Pogi ang lalaki… at mukhang mabango.

Mukha ring nantatali sa kama habang bumabayo… ay, pakyu! Bow!

Who’s this gentleman, anyway?

“Olga, this is Daxiel Gustav de Clemente Jr., your late husband’s only son. And Daxiel, this is Olga Millaray Perfecto-de Clemente, your late father’s wife. Let’s start. Allow me to read the last will and testament of Gustav de Clemente Sr.”

Hindi nito ako pinansin. He ignored my presence. Sa ganda kong ‘to?! Are you kidding me? Well, mukha akong walang tulog, but still…

I wasn’t paying attention to the lawyer, I was more in awe of my late husband’s son. Halos magkasing-edad lang kaming dalawa. I haven’t seen a picture of him in the house. Hindi sila maayos ng asawa ko simula pa noon kaya alam kong sa akin lahat mapupunta ang mana.

I smiled and thanked the lawyer after detailing my husband’s wishes.

Iniwan niya sa akin lahat ng kanyang yaman. All my hard-work and gold-digging skills paid off, I was about to cry.

“I will contest the will…” Na-shock ako nang magsalita si Daxiel Gustav Jr.

What? Tumaas ang aking kilay. Hindi ko narinig ang lahat ng sinabi niya.

Pati ang kanyang boses ay malagom. That was worth an orgasm.

He can contest the will… paano ba iyon?

Anong klaseng contest? Gusto niyang sumayaw? Kumanta? Hindi siya mananalo sa akin kung sayawan lang din ang labanan. I can dance to Ariana Grande’s Fantasize or even Tyla’s Water. Make me sweat, make me hotter…

Bring it on, pogi!

All I’m seeing is an opportunity.

A new prospect…

A new plan…

A new lover…

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