THE nervousness that Bernadatte felt just a few minutes ago slowly disappeared. Mrs. Raymundo told her that her appointment with her husband was four o'clock in the afternoon. She was at the same restaurant where she first met her.
Bernadette glanced at her wristwatch; it was quarter past four but there was still no sign of Mr. Raymundo. She called the waiter and asked for another iced tea; that was actually her third glass since she arrived at the restaurant. It was really hard to wait for someone you barely know. There was no assurance if he would come or not because she had not received any communication from him.
DANIEL tapped his fingers vigorously on the steering wheel. He was not approved of meeting that Ms. Bernadette Polintan. Jasmin told him earlier to come to a certain restaurant fifteen minutes before three o'clock to meet the woman who would give them a child. But if he was to be asked, they didn't need to see and get acquainted to each other. If it would only be possible, he wanted to be blindfolded by the time they execute the plan but that was far from what his wife told him to do. Her plans were truly unbelievable.
From the parking lot of the restaurant, he could clearly see the woman from inside the car where he was. He couldn't deny to himself that she was beautiful; probably five feet and a few inches tall.
Daniel could see that she was now starting to get annoyed because she'd always check her wristwatch from time to time. But what would he do? He didn't seem to have the courage to face that woman.
Soon she stood up and then came out of the restaurant. Now he could see her clearly. He was startled when he suddenly had another vision. A woman was standing in the distance but she was smiling while waving at him. He felt a vigorous heart beat in his chest, then felt a different kind of emotion, something that was totally out of control. He felt like she had not seen that woman for a long time and he instantly became excited to hug and kiss her.
He opened his eyes when he remembered about his wife. Was that Jasmin? But why did he feel like that woman wasn't her? He found himself staring at the woman outside the restaurant who was now waiting for a taxi.
"WHAT?! Did I hear it right that he did not come?" Roxanne's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe when she told her that Mr. Raymundo didn't see him at the restaurant.
"You heard it right, Rox. I think he's not interested in his wife's plan. What do you think?"
"That's impossible because I clearly heard from Esme that Mrs. Raymundo was with her husband when the advance payment was given to her. The question is why didn't he come?"
She shrugged. "I don't care. That's better because I don't want to see him either. It's good that he didn't come."
"But Mrs. Raymundo was also right when she said that her husband must be attracted to you before you do Jarred. That way, your work will be made easier."
She frowned and turned to Roxanne. "Who's Jarred?"
"Your future baby with Daniel."
'So his name is Daniel.'
"You really are crazy, Roxanne. Who told you we could even suggest a name to their child? I was told that I couldn't even see the child after birth," she sadly replied.
"Is that so? You're the mother. Of course, your child will need you right after birth."
"I will be the biological mother but not in all other aspects. Don't forget that they will pay me about the whole thing." "She averted her gaze and pretended to be busy tallying the figures on the computer.
"You're right but for me, no matter what happens, you will still be the real mother of Jarred. Imagine the whole nine months that you're going to carry the child. That's not easy."
"Rox, please. You're making it hard for me."
Roxanne bit her lip and nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry, my dear."
She motioned for her friend to lower her voice as some of their colleagues were leaving for lunch. No one else could hear what she was saying. So she was silent for a while and focued her attention on the computer in front of her. But after a while she called her again.
"Come, check this out," she said while pointing on the computer screen.
She reached into her working cubicle and saw her browsing Facebook. "Hey, there you go again, Rox!"
"No, no, you really need to see this person!"
"Who? Your new boyfriend? What happened to the American soldier you just told me last week?"
"Nah! I saw a dragon tattoo on his neck, so I broke up with him that same day," she said while laughing. "But that was not the one I'd like you to see, my dear, but this one…"
She looked at what she was pointing at. The Facebook name said it all. "Daniel Raymundo?" she unbelievably asked while shaking her head.
"Exactly!"
She immediately turned her back at her. "Stop that, Rox! Why do you even want me to see that? Don't tell me he was on Facebook while I was at the restaurant waiting for him?"
"That's not that what I meant. I just want you to see how gorgeous he is. You are one lucky girl, Berna!"
She smirked at her. "What luck are you talking about? That man would take advantage of me, remember?"
"Hey, watch your words, my dear. Take note, he will only do what his wife commands. What if he's not approved of the idea? In fact, he didn't come to see you."
Roxanne might be right. It could be possible that Mr. Raymundo was not completely agreed with the idea of his wife, that's why he didn't show up at the restaurant. But still, it was unfair to make her wait for nothing. He could have texted or called her if he wouldn't come.
"I don't care, Rox. I still don't want to see him."
"He's really something! Try to give a quick look!" Roxanne tried to grab one of her arms but she just pulled her hand away. It was good that she didn't know his face so it would be easier for her when it's time to do the plan.
UNLIKE before that she was early, Bernadette came ten minutes late by the time she was supposed to be at the restaurant. So what if late? Mr. Raymundo did not show up in their first meeting.
She looked around the restaurant as soon as she entered but no one approached her. She sat in the same table she took the first time she was there. But ten minutes had swiftly passed and still there's no any sign that Mr. Raymundo would come. A few moments later she Esme entered the entrance door of the restaurant.
"How long have you been here?" she asked.
"I came ten minutes past two o'clock. Where is he?"
"I'm sorry Ms. Polintan but he couldn't come here."
She couldn't avoid showing her annoyance. "Not again? Why did his wife keep on setting up a meeting when her husband seems not interested at all?
"Cool, Ms. Polintan. It's not that Mr. Raymundo is not interested. He just encountered a problem in his office so he phoned me to tell you that he couldn't make it here."
"But why didn't he call me, himself? He has my phone number."
"I don't know. He just called and instructed me to come over. He told me to bring you to Pasig, instead."
She unconsciously looked up at Esme. And she though all along that she'd not see him again this time. So he just changed the meeting place. It was not long before Esme urged her to leave the restaurant.