The Gold-digging Mastermind

Kabanata 29

“Marry me.”

I said no, of course. Duh!

Sinabi ko kay Daxiel ang gusto kong proposal, hindi lang iyong sa kama sa susunod na alukin niya ako ng kasal. Isa pa, hindi pa rin ako handang mag-asawa ng panibago. I really never really had a husband.

Hindi naman asawa ang trabaho ko kay Gustav dati.

I was more of a care giver than a wife. Kasal lang talaga kaming dalawa sa papel. At kahit patay na siya, mayroon pa siyang pagsubok sa akin bago ko makamit ang mana.

It would be different with Daxiel with involved real feelings and the possibility of having children on our marriage. Mas gusto kong i-enjoy muna ang relasyon naming walang halong echos.

Ayoko munang dumeretso sa kasal, gusto ko munang tamasain at lasapin ang pag-iibigan naming dalawa.

Pag-iibigan.

Daxiel understood what I wanted and he respected it.

Hindi naman ako tumatanggi sa alok niyang kasal, hindi pa nga lang sa ngayon. Masyado pang maaga para pumasok kami sa ganoong parte, siguro sa susunod na buwan p’wede na niya ulit akong tanungin.

Imbes na bumalik siya sa mansyon, mananatili muna siya sa penthouse. Ayos lang naman sa akin, halos araw – araw pa rin kaming magkasamang dalawa. S’yempre, nasa akin din si Gustav the Third.

He didn’t use him against me anymore.

When our furbaby was brought home, a plan had already formed in his mind if the time came that the relationship became rocky for us. Alam niya kung gaano ko kamahal ang aming alaga.

Bigla ko na lang siyang kinurot sa tagiliran nang maalala ko iyon.

Humalakhak siya. “Hm, what did you remember, huh?”

We were enjoying a swim on the pool of the penthouse. Yumakap ako sa kanya mula sa likuran, pumulupot ang aking binti sa ibaba ng kanyang abs. My head rested on his shoulder.

“You were planning ahead of time pala, ha. Well, you can’t outdo the mastermind.” I stuck my tongue out.

“The mastermind didn’t even trick me, I knew it from the start.”

Umikot siya at humarap sa akin. Bahagya naman akong bumaba bago muling pumulupot sa kanya. His hands were supporting my ass. Hindi ko siya nilumbayan ng tingin.

Nahulog ako sa malalim na pag-iisip. Mas lalo siyang ngumisi.

“Did I trick the mastermind to fall for me?” seryoso niyang tanong.

I stared at him for a minute.

Tinampal ko naman ang kanyang dibdib nang mapagtanto kong ganoon nga ang nangyari. It was no surprise that I was using him, but it surprised me more that his intentions were clear.

I was so skeptical.

Ginamit niya ang pagkakataon upang paibigin ako. I was worried of his actions before, but I still fell for him nonetheless what my mind was telling me. He had no bad intentions of me, only wanted to sway my heart.

As I was using him, his plan was to make me fall for him.

Disaster sana ang inabot ko kung hinayaan niyang umabot at lumabas sa media ang naging problema sa kompanya ng namatay kong asawa.

He saved me from the harm that might happen if it wasn’t resolved. Ni wala akong ideya sa posibilidad na mangyari noon. He could’ve let me suffer without batting an eye.

It was a tie.

I pinched his nipple. “You tricked me!”

“What can I say? The mastermind got masterminded.” He winked at me.

Umirap naman ako sa ere.

“I still won, though.” I told him and flipped my hair. “Your wealth will eventually be mine. What’s mine is going to be yours. Mas malaki naman ang ari-arian mo kaysa sa iniwang pamana ni Gustav.”

“No, I won. I got my girl. I got you.”

Binigyan niya ako ng ngiting makalaglag panty, inayos ko naman ang suot kong bikini. Baka matanggal iyon ng wala sa oras.

Siguro ang lakas talaga ng tama sa akin ni Daxiel para magpagamit siya sa akin ng ganoon. He was right. Dudang – duda ako sa kanya dahil ako ang hindi malinis ang intensyon, kaya hindi ko kayang paniwalaan ang kanyang sinseridad sa akin.

It was a projection coming from me.

“I stopped taking pills,” sinabi ko sa kanya.

His eyes twinkled with happiness.

“Get ready, Millaray. Buntis ka sa akin.” He wriggled his brows.

Malakas naman akong humalakhak. Ayoko pa ng kasal, pero ayos na sa akin kung mauuna ang anak. Hindi na kami bumabata ni Daxiel. For others, age beyond thirty is too old to get pregnant.

Complications and risks are possibly higher. Kaya balak ko naman kumonsulta sa eksperto bago ako magbuntis. It was one of my dreams that was achievable — to be a mother.

But I didn’t just want to do it with anyone.

Pangarap kong maging isang inang kayang ibigay ang buong pamilya sa aking munting supling na may pagmamahal.

Hindi man ako nabigyan ng magandang impluwensiya nang nagluwal sa akin, nakita ko naman iyon mga bagay na dapat kong iwasan kapag biniyayaan ako ng mga anak. Daxiel and I would aim to be a better parents than our parents were.

“Ilan ba ang gusto mong anak?” I asked Daxiel.

Namahinga ako sa kanyang bisig pagkatapos nang mainit na tagpo sa pagitan naming dalawa.

“It depends on you, baby. How many kids would you like to give birth? You should be the one deciding, Millaray. Ikaw ang magbubuntis. You’re going to carry it for nine months, it would be hard and painful, they say. It’s up to you how many you want.” He smiled.

Hinawakan niya ang aking mukha at marahang hinaplos.

“I want two or three kids. Para mayroon silang kalaro.” Ngumiti ako.

“Then, we’ll try to have two or three kids,” Hinalikan niya ang tungki ng ilong ko.

“Sigurado ka na bang gusto mo akong maging ina ng mga anak mo?”

He nodded.

“I want you to be the mother of my child… or children.” Sunod niyang dinampian nang masuyong halik ang aking noo.

Napangiti lang ako.

Hinayaan ko ang sarili kong higupin ng antok. Mas lalo akong nagsumiksik sa kanya, kinabig naman niya ako ng yakap.

I went to the clinic for my check up.

Sumama rin sa akin si Daxiel upang magpa-check up.

I confided our plans to be pregnant with the doctor and I wanted to make sure it would be safe for me and my future babies. Kung sakaling hindi naman, advance na naman ang medisina.

Mayroon ng iba’t ibang paraan para magkaroon ng anak.

I was happy to know my reproductive organs are healthy to nurture a baby in my womb. Daxiel had a positive result as well.

We were just happy with the results of the check up.

Hinatid naman ako ni Daxiel sa mansyon. Agad kaming sinalubong ni Gustav the Third na kumakawag pa ang buntot. I invited him inside the mansion before he went back to the penthouse.

Nagpaluto ako ng merienda kay Maricel kaya sabay kaming kumain. May dala rin kaming paboritong milk tea na pasalubong para sa dalawa.

“Wow, umuwi pala ang gala naming amo!” Maricel joked. “Mabuti naman umuwi pa siya at naalala kami!”

Daxiel and I laughed.

Tinawag namin sila upang kumain kasabay namin pero nauna pa raw silang kumain sa amin.

Madalas na wala ako sa mansyon at nakatambay sa penthouse ng boyfriend ko. Hindi nga siya umuwi sa mansyon para makapiling ako, dumayo naman ako sa place niya para doon siya landiin.

I told Daxiel my plans for our marriage in the future.

Gusto kong kasama ko pa rin sina Maricel at Jemaima sa bahay kung gusto pa nilang magtrabaho sa amin, ire-respeto ko naman kung sakaling gusto na nilang bumalik sa kanilang pamilya.

Kailangan ko ng tulong lalo na kapag nagsimula na kaming magkaroon ng pamilya. It would be helpful having someone I trust.

Of course, hindi naman namin pinipilit na magkaroon ng anak.

We were just enjoying the process without pressuring ourselves. Pero handa ako kung sakaling pagbibigyan.

His mother was silent.

I didn’t know where she was staying at.

Sigurado akong hindi pa tapos ang engkuwentro naming dalawa. She was like me for sure with more morbid characteristic, but not so cunning. Madaling hulaan ang sunod niyang hakbang dahil iisa lang kami ng hulma.

She already lost to me a couple of times. Ako ang nakinabang sa pamana ng una niyang asawa. Pangalawa, patay na patay sa akin ang kanyang anak. Hindi niya iyon nagawa.

I could smell a gold-digger like me when I see one. She was an attempted one. Hindi naman siya nagtagumpay sa kanyang pakay.

I was waiting for her new antics for me to laugh. She was funny without trying.

“Why do you have to go?” I asked, pouting.

“Baby, I’ll come back tomorrow, I promise.”

Mas lalo akong ngumuso.

Sometimes, I missed him when he wasn’t around. Bukas naman ang mansyon para bumalik siya. Hindi naman siya nagtatampo na pinalayas ko siya noon, pero mas pinili niyang manatili muna sa penthouse.

I just let him with that decision.

Feeling ko may supresa siya sa akin. Malakas ang aking kutob.

Muli niya akong niyakap at binigyan ng halik sa labi. Pinaulanan niya ng halik ang aking mukha at ngumiti.

Pinanood ko siya habang nagmamaneho paalis ng mansyon. I was waving my hand at him until the car wasn’t on sight. I went back to the house to play with our furbaby.

***

I received a message from Daxiel’s mother to meet at a high-end restaurant alone. She seemed like she was on the move again trying to snatch the crown on my head for being the gold-digging mastermind.

Yes, I agreed.

I was curious about her plan this time. Ilang linggo din siyang nawala sa senaryo bago muling bumalik para bulabugin ako. Sigurado akong pinaghandaan niya ang pagkikita naming dalawa.

Marami namang tao sa restaurant kung sakaling may balak siyang hindi maganda. Maricel and Jemaima knew. Hindi ko pa iyon nabanggit kay Daxiel, siguro pagkatapos nang pag-uusap namin ng kanyang ina.

I carefully chose my outfit. Iyong hindi papakabog! Pakak kung pakak! Laban kung laban!

A red sultry dress hugging my curves perfectly with decent amount of skin showing was the chosen one, paired with a high stiletto and some jewelry to annoy her even harder.

Konting ayos lang ang ginawa ko sa aking mukha para mukha akong inosenteng tingnan na mas lalong ikakainis ni Daniella.

Isang oras akong late sa usapan naming dalawa. She was already fuming as I arrived at the restaurant. Malaki naman ang ngiting iginawad ko sa kanya.

“I’m so sorry, I’m late. Traffic!” She knew I was lying, I made it so obvious for her. “Did you order food? Order anything you want. Don’t worry I’ll pay.”

She snorted, I just smirked.

The waiter asked for our order. I scanned the menu and just ordered anything my eyes landed. It was just salad.

Sayang naman ang pagkain kung bago pa dumating ang pagkain tapos nang pag-uusap naming dalawa. Hindi rin naman ako gutom.

Napansin ko ang phone niya sa ibabaw ng mesa.

“What do you want to talk about?” tanong ko sa kanya.

Tiningnan ko siya, nagtama ang aming mata. Her eyes didn’t lie how much she loathed my existence.

“How much do you want to stop seeing my son? I’ll pay you. Ten million? Twenty? Name your price.” Mariin ang kanyang boses.

My eyes widened.

“Afford mo?”

She gritted her teeth.

Ramdam ko ang pagkapikon niya sa akin pero pinipilit niyang supilin para sa natura niyang plano.

We were given complimentary bread I snacked on.

“This offer is only exclusive for now. Layuan mo ang anak ko, I’ll make sure to pay you twenty million.” Seryoso niyang saad.

It caught my attention. “Hm, higher please, and maybe, we can have a deal. I want it transferred to my bank account right now after we make a deal.”

“Twenty-five million. Take it or leave it.”

Hindi niya ako madadaan sa tawaran. The price is already fixed.

Pinagmasdan ko siyang mabuti. Akala niya yata makukuha niya ako sa mga patibong niya. Even up to now, she was still underestimating me.

I shook my head.

“Ganyang halaga lang ba ang anak mo, Daniella? It’s unacceptable for me.” I smiled sweetly. “That amount would be doubled, tripled even, once I marry your son. So, why would I accept such horrendous offer from you?”

Our ordered food arrived in our table.

Nagpasalamat naman ako sa waiter bago muling tumutok ang mata sa kanya.

I ate a few leaves from my salad bowl. She watched me as I did.

“Daxiel is a bigger investment than the twenty-five million you’re offering to me. He has it already, more even. I just have to marry him.” I said tauntingly.

That’s what she wanted to hear, I’ll give her that.

Tumayo siya.

Umaliwalas ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha, ngumisi siya sa akin. Kinuha niya ang telepono sa mesa.

“Thank you for cooperating with me, Olga Millaray.” She stopped the phone recording and showed it to me. Inilayo niya iyong nang subukan kong hatakin mula da kanya. “You’ve just created evidence out of the words from your mouth. Oh, poor dear.”

I was shocked and tried to snatch the phone again from her. Ipakikita niya iyon kay Daxiel…

So, what?

“I thought you were smarter than that. I thought wrong, obviously.” Tuwang – tuwa siyang pagmasdan ang ekspresyon ko sa mukha. “This is going to be your downfall with your gold-digging scheme. I still have the last laugh, Daxiel wouldn’t to marry someone like you.”

“Hindi maaari!” pag-arte ko. “Trust me, he does. You’re a fool, Daniella. Lunatic fool. Go on, send your little evidence to him.” I switched my tone to an unbothered one.

I continued eating my meal without a care in the world.

“I will. The next thing tomorrow, you can no longer use him for your benefit.” She said before leaving the restaurant.

I just shrugged and texted my boyfriend with my encounter with his mother. Inubos ko ang salad na in-order ko. Kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina, sagot ko na ang meal naming dalawa.

She was so predictable. I was getting bored playing with her.

In that span of weeks she was missing in action, that was the only plan she can come up with? Gosh, pathetic.

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