CHAPTER TWO
KANINA PA nakatitig si Noah sa marriage certificate ni Victoria. It's really true. It has his name on it!
"So? Anong pwede ikaso sa kaniya—I mean, sayo? You married me without my consent! Isn't that ra pe?" Mataray nitong sagot.
Napantig ang tainga ni Noah. "Teka lang. Sandali lang po. Hindi po ra pe ang nangyayari. Hindi ko rin naman po alam na kasal ako and you can't sue me. Legal ang dokumentong ito. It means we are legally husband and wife. Maliban nalang kung iaannull natin ang kasal."
Victoria's eyes widen with glint. "That's it! You're smart. Ipaannul natin ang kasal."
Napangiwi si Noah. "Ngayon na? I'm working..."
"No! Ngayon na. I want it now. I want to annul our marriage right now." Giit nito.
Noah breathed heavily before standing up. "The marriage certificate was a civil one. We need to visit the same office who approved our marriage." Ani Noah.
Victoria rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about but let's go." Bumaling ito kay Aqua. "Tell the driver to ready our car."
Aqua nodded and left the office.
When Victoria turned to face Noah, masamang tingin ang pinukol nito.
"What?" Noah asked.
"Alam mo bang hindi ako tinatanggap sa trabaho dahil sayo? Why did you marry me? I don't even know you." She scoffed.
"I don't know you either—"
"Say that again?" Victoria asked.
Pasimpleng hinawakan ni Noah ang librong patungkol sa mathematics. "I said, I don't know you."
"Unbelievable! You don't know me? I'm Victoria Danica Salvador. The most famous model in Asia."
Noah furrowed his eyebrows then he opened the book to read. "If you're famous, bakit hindi kita kilala?" He asked while reading. He needs to calm down.
Just facing a stranger alone gives him anxiety.
"Seriously? Tagabundok ka ba?—and why are you reading a book while talking to me? That's being disrespectful."
He ignored his "wife" and continued reading the book.
Sakto namang pumasok si Aqua at the same time ay pumasok din si Aeign. They both stopped halfway through at masamang tingin ang pinukol ni Aqua kay Aeign. Ganun din si Aeign na mataray na tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa si Aqua.
Aqua rolled her eyes and walked towards Victoria. "The car is ready, Miss Victoria."
Victoria nodded and stood up. "Okay, let's go—"
Aeign spoke, "Atty. Alegre, you have a hearing to attend. Your client is waiting for you in court."
Victoria looked at him, horrified. "Don't tell me you'll go to that hearing. You need to come with me!"
Tumayo si Noah. "I'll make this one quick. Kailangan ko lang asinasuhin ang hearing na 'to." Aniya at lumabas.
Victoria and Aqua followed him. Kasama niya si Aeign. "She's coming with you?" Victoria asked.
Noah nodded. "She's going to be my witness. Siya ang nakakaalam na wala akong inasawa."
Victoria raised her eyebrow and pointed at Aqua. "Then she's gonna be my witness too. She knows that the last thing I want is to get married."
Aqua rolled her eyes at Aeign who did the same.
Nang makalabas, sinalubong sila ng driver na abalang-abala sa makina ng kotse. "Johnny, what's happening?" Victoria asked. Johnny is their personal driver.
Johnny nervously gulped and scratched his bald hair. "N-Nasiraan po ang kotse, Miss Victoria. Ipapark ko lang sana pero biglang nasira ang makina. Pasensiya na po."
Sumama ang mukha ni Victoria. "Johnny, we pay you one thousand every day and you can't even get the car fixed?"
Johnny just looked down and scratched the his head.
"Can you stop scratching your head and just answer me? Wala namang ikakamot sa ulo mo!" Mataray na sambit ni Victoria.
"Pasensiya na po, Miss Victoria."
Agad na may tinawagan si Aqua."I'll call for another car." She said.
Victoria stopped Aqua. "No," she faced Noah, "we'll use your car instead."
Noah crossed his arms and winced. "I don't own a car."
Victoria's eyes widen. "What?! You're a lawyer and you don't own a car?!"
"Miss Victoria, the car will arrive in an hour. Are you willing to wait that long?" Tanong ni Aqua.
Victoria breathed heavily to calm herself. Si Noah naman ay hindi mapakali habang tinitignan ang orasan. "Hintayin mo nalang kami sa office. Kailangan ko nang pumunta ng hearing." Noah said and turned to wait for a jeepney.
Nagpapadyak na nagsalita si Victoria. "Hey, we need to come together! Iiwan mo kami dito?"
"Miss Victoria, I suggest we come with Atty. Alegre to buy us some time. After his hearing ends, the car will arrive and we can use it to go to the office for your annulment." Ani Aqua sa likod ni Victoria.
Victoria breathed heavily and spoke, "okay. We'll come with you."
"Magj-jeep lang tayo. Dalawang jeep at isang trycicle." imporma ni Aeign kay Victoria.
"Jeep? I thought we're gonna go on a bus?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Victoria.
"Mahal ang bus. It costs forty five per person. If we go for a jeepney, it only costs eight pesos and fifteen pesos. In total you only spend twenty three pesos." Ani Noah.
Magsasalita pa sana si Victoria nang pumara si Noah ng jeep. "We're gonna ride that?" Nandidiring sambit ni Victoria.
Sumakay na sina Aeign at Noah pero sina Victoria a Aqua ay natulos sa kinatatayuan. Sumigaw ang jeepnery driver, "hoy! Tatayo lang ba kayo diyan?" Galit na sambit nito.
Sumama ang mukha ni Victoria. "Don't shout at me—"
"Miss Victoria, we have to go." Hinila siya ni Aqua papasok ng jeep.
"Ouch!" Victoria exclaimed. Tumama ang ulo niya sa bubong ng jeep habang pasakay siya.
Hindi pa siya nakakaupo nang umandar na ang jeep dahilan para masubsob siya sa kung kanino.
She is basically sitting on that someone's lap but when she turned to see who it is, it was Noah, his cheeks were red and avoiding eye contacts with her.
Nang tumigil ang jeep. Galit na tumayo si Victoria at umupo sa gilid ni Noah. Nasa pinakadulo si Victoria na nasa likod lang ng driver. Sa tapat niya ay si Aqua. Katabi ni Aqua si Aeign at katabi ni Victoria si Noah.
"What's that?" Tanong ni Victoria nang inaabutan siya ni Noah ng thirty two pesos.
"Bayad namin. Apat na terminal lang." Noah said and continued talking to Aeign about the hearing.
Victoria rolled her eyes at inabot ang bayad sa driver. "Excuse me, this is our payment. Four people arriving in terminal."
The driver didn't hear her so she raised her voice. "Mr. Driver, this is our payment! We'll be arriving at the terminal."
Thankfully, the driver heard her and took the money. When she faced Aqua, she was chuckling so is Aeign who is trying hard not to laugh.
Using her feet, she nudged Aqua's feet. "What's funny?" She asked.
Aqua cleared her throat. "Nothing, Miss Victoria."
Victoria just frowned and played with her phone. Makalipas ang ilang minuto, tinapik ni Noah si Victoria. "Tell the driver we'll stop at the terminal." He said while smirking.
Clueless, Victoria shouted, "Mr. Driver, stop at the terminal. We'll go down."
Victoria frowned again when Aqua was laughing so is Noah and Aeign.
The driver didn't hear her so Aqua shouted, "sa tabi lang po."
Much to Victoria's surprise, the driver heard Aqua and stopped the car. They all went down.
Bababa sana si Victoria nang nadulas ang suot niya stilletos sa hagdan ng jeep dahilan para mahulog siya pero sinalo agad siya ni Noah.
Victoria went down and punched Noah on the arm. "Don't touch me!" She shouted.
Noah just shrugged. Sumakay na sila ng jeep at hinihintay pang mapuno iyon.
"Miss Victoria, I'm sorry I didn't bring any fan." Sambit ni Aqua habang pinupunasan ang pawis ni Victoria.
"Bakit kasi nakafur coat ka?" Tanong ni Noah na katapat lang ni Victoria.
"It's the latest fashion." Simpleng sagot ni Victoria habang pinupunasan ni Aqua ang pawis nito.
"Tanggalin mo kaya ang jacket mo?" Aeign suggested.
Victoria raised her eyebrows at Aeign. "Excuse me, you do not tell me what to do and this is not a jacket."
Aeign just shrugged at kapagkuwan ay nagring ang phone niya. When Aeign checked to see who's the caller, her eyes widen and gave her phone to Noah. "Si Tita." Aniya.
With furrowed eyebrows, Noah answered the call. "Nay." He called.
"N-Nak, nasaan ka?" Noah's mom stuttered.
"Nasa jeep. Bakit po?"
"Eh kasi, pwede ka bang umuwi?" His mom asked.
"Bakit? May nangyari ba?" Nagaalalang tanong ni Noah sa ina.
Sina Victoria, Aqua at Aeign ay nakatingin lang sa kaniya.
"Wala, anak. M-May bisita kasi tayo. Kailangan ka namin dito."
Noah heaved a deep sigh. "Sige, ma. Pupunta na agad ako diyan." He ended the call.
Binigay niya ang phone pabalik kay Aeign at hinilamos ang palad sa mukha. "May nangyari ba?" Masuyong tanong ni Aeign.
Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong, Noah faced Aeign and spoke, "Can you cancel my hearing today? May natitirang ten minutes pa naman bago magsimula. Kailangan lang ako sa bahay."
Hindi na kailangang magtanong si Aeign. Dali-dali nitong kinuha ang tablet at may kinausap.
Victoria spoke, "what's happening? Hindi ka pupunta sa hearing mo?"
Noah shook his head. "No. I need to go home."
Victoria raged. "Bakit? Bakit ka uuwi? We need to annul our marriage. Fast!"
Hindi sumagot si Noah sa halip ay bumaba ito ng jeep. Sumunod si Aeign na sinundan din nina Victoria at Aqua.
Nilapitan ni Aqua si Noah. "Miss Victoria's car will be here in five minutes. I suggest we wait so we can drive you to your house."
Noah nodded. "Thank you, Aqua."
Aqua grimaced. "Please stop calling me Aqua. Alexana is my real name."
Noah slightly chuckled and nodded.
Si Victoria naman ay inis na lumapit kay Aqua. "Do we really have to drive him to his house? Nauubos ang oras natin dito." She ranted.
"Miss Victoria, it is an emergency." Aqua affirmed.
Victoria just rolled her eyes and waited until her car arrived. Another driver named Luigi was there.
The Salvador household has ten drivers with eleven cars and also fifteen vacation houses.
Pumasok na sila sa mamahaling kotse ni Victoria. Noah stated his address and the driver agreed to drive them there.
"So, what's this problem you have? Why did you reschedule your hearing?" Victoria asked.
Dahil van ang sinasakyan, magkatabi sina Aeign at Noah at katapat nila sina Aqua at Victoria.
"My mom sounded nervous and scared when she called me. May bisita raw sa bahay namin. I'm worried." Noah answered.
Victoria casually flipped her hair. "It's just a visitor. Who would visit your mom that could scare her?" She commented.
Aqua interferred. "Probably someone so powerful and scary that can scare the hell out of Atty. Alegre's parents."
Victoria just rolled her eyes and sighed. "I don't care. Let's just finish this quick and annul our marriage." She said then closed her eyes to take a nap.
KINAKABAHANG pumasok ng bahay si Noah. He thought that their visitors are somewhat "torturing" his parents but much to his surprise, tumatawa ang mga ito habang umiinom ng kape kasama ang bisita.
"Nay." He called.
Lumingon sa kaniya ang ina nasayang sinugod siya ng yakap. "A-Anong nangyayari? Who's that?"
"Makikilala mo rin sila mamaya." Inayos-ayos nito ang suit niya. "Ang gwapo ng anak ko. Mabuti nalang ay nandito ka." Bumaling naman siya kay Aeign na nasa likod lang ni Noah. "Oh, nandito ka rin pala Aeign."
Kumaway si Aeign sa ginang. "Magandang araw po, tita."
Mrs. Alegre smiled. "Magandang araw din."
Giniya sila ng ina paupo sa sopa. "Ito nga pala si Noah. Ang anak ko." Pakilala sa kaniya ng ina sa mga bisita.
"At ito naman si Aeign. Ang inaanak ko at kaibigan ni Noah."
The woman probably in her thirties smiled. "You have a very handsome son, Tess and his friend looks pretty too—well of course, I'm prettier." She chuckled.
Bumaling si Tess kay Noah. "Anak, siya si Rita Salvador." Turo nito sa ginang na nagsalita kanina.
Sunod na tinuro nito ang katabing babae na mukhang bata pa. "That is her eldest daughter. Vincenzia Salvador."
Huling tinuro ni Tess ang matandang babae na katabi ni Rita. Seryoso itong sumisimsim ng kape. "That is Ophelia. Ang ina ni Rita."
Tumatango-tango si Noah. Rita then introduced. "Nice to meet you, Noah. I'm Rita Almera Salvador. CEO and founder of Almera Beauty Clinic. Wife to a very sexy attorney and mother to three beautiful daughters and one handsome son."
Noah was analyzing the three's facial features. It somehow reminds him of someone...
"Mom, can we go now? This place is suffocating me. Alam mo bang ang buong bahay nila ay salas lang natin?" Mataray na sambit ni Vincenzia.
Oh. Are they Victoria's relatives?
Mukhang magkaugali ang dalawang magkapatid.
Rita playfully slapped Vincenzia's thighs. "Don't say that, Zia. Kanina ko pa yan iniisip pero di ko sinabi. That's insulting." Parangal nito.
At last, Ophelia spoke. "Rita, call Victoria. Kung present si Noah, dapat ay nandito din siya."
"Yes mom." Rita answered and was about to call Victoria when they heard voices coming from outside the house.
"Miss Victoria, please do not enter. It's a family matter—"
"Don't stop me, Aqua! I don't care if it's a family matter or not. We need to annul—"
Victoria stilled when she got inside the house and saw her mom, sister and grandma. "What..."
Masayang tumayo ai Rita mula sa kinauupuan. "Oh, Victoria! How did you know we're here?"
Victoria was still shocked. "No..I didn't..." she uttered, confused.
Nanag makabawi sa gulat, Victoria asked, "what are you doing in this small house?" she asked.
Rita slightly chuckled. "Sit down, dear. We are going to explain about you and Atty. Alegre's sudden marriage."
Sa narinig, Victoria suddenly pointed at Noah who's innocently sitting while sipping from the glass of milk. "Mom, that man took advantage of me and married me without my consent! We need to sue him with dad as my attorney when he gets back from the US with Kero and Vivienne." She ranted.
Vincenzia snorted. "What are you talking about, Victoria? Noah doesn't have anything to do with this. If you're mad at suddenly being married, then be mad at mom. She was the mastermind of it all."
Naguguluhang tumingin si Victoria sa ina. "What..."
Rita winced. Giniya niya si Victoria paupo sa sopa. Si Aqua ay nasa likod at nakatayo.
Rita heaved a deep breath before speaking. "Ako ang may pakana kung bakit kasal na agad kayong dalawa."
"Mom!" Victoria shouted. "How could you do that? Ikaw itong may gustong alagaan ang reputation ko then ikaw din pala ang sisira. Alam mo bang hindi ako tinatanggap sa trabaho kasi they want someone who's single!"
"Victoria, Tess here, Noah's mother owes me one million pesos. She used it for Noah's college fees. Who am I to say no to such a dear friend? Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin niya binabayaran ang utang na iyon. I understand her and her family's financial well being so in exchange, I have his son and you to marry each other!"
Galit na nagpadyak ng paa si Victoria. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew you would say no. Tsaka, gwapo naman si Noah. He's an attorney just like your father. I'm sure you two will click well."
Vincenzia laughed. "Your face is so funny, sister. Don't worry, I'll tell the public that you won't work anymore because you're married bitch—"
"Shut up!" Victoria snapped.
Galit na tumingin si Victoria sa ina. "Noah and I decided to annul our marriage. Right now."
Napangiwi si Rita. "Baby, you need to be in a civil partnership for at least 12 months to get annulled."
"And?"
Ngumiwi ulit si Rita. "The marriage was approved 2 months ago, Victoria."
And Victoria just fell into silence as she process what her mother just said.