"Silvia, this is my friend from college, Davian," Cia introduced them to each other. Silvia didn't look surprised or anything. Her expression was hard to read.
"Have you guys met personally?, apart from seeing her on TV, that is," Cia said the last part to Davian.
"Yes. My firm applied for an advertisement job in Reyes Corp.-I never knew you were friends with Ms. Reyes," Davian replied.
"She's my childhood friend. Her company owns this hospital," Cia responded.
"Cia?, is this the emergency?" Silvia asked.
"It is Silvia. His mother is in dire need of surgery and there's no way to fund the bills for it," Cia replied. Silvia crossed her hands around her bosom.
"And so. Cia I don't run a charity organization here, I have bills to fund as well," Silvia responded, shocking everyone except Cia.
She knew her friend, she acts like this at first but she'll eventually budge after much persuasions. She wasn't as cruel as she seems to be.
"Silvia..." Cia trailed off as Silvia got into her car.
"I was busy when you called and I rushed down here just for you. I'm still busy, don't call me for things like this ever again," Silvia said and Davian hit her car with his hand as he stared almost angrily at her.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Silvia responded.
"You darn rich people. You have all the money in the world to lavish yet you lack at giving to the less privilege. I beg of you, please help save my mom's life," Davian pleaded and Silvia stared at him, she spoke up after some while.
"This is the second time of the day you're pleading me for something Mr. Randell," she said.
"But I work very hard for my money and therefore I don't have money to throw around. I can only give you my money if you have something to offer me in return, I don't give when I know I wouldn't receive anything in return," she added and turned towards her driver.
"Okay. But just know this Ms. Reyes, if my mother dies. Part of it will be your fault because you'd an opportunity to help but you didn't!" he replied and backed off from her car.
Silvia's brows creased as she bit her lower lip, his words sinking deep into her mind. But she said; "Drive," to her driver anyway.
"I have heard how cruel she could be but seeing it for myself (Scoffs)," Davian started.
"I will talk to her, Davian. She's my friend and I'm sure she would budge for me. It's not the first time," Cia tried to comfort him.
"How did you even end up being friends with such an unsympathetic person?!" Davian asked her. No Davian, Cia thought.
She's not like that, it was a facade. The real Silvia Reyes was kind but she rarely shows it and prefers people to think the worst of her.
Just then everything Silvia said began to sink into Sentencia's mind. 'I can only give you my money if you have something to offer me in return'. Cia looked at Davian.
"Davian..." she called and he glanced at her.
"Are you willing to do anything for your mom?" Cia asked him.
"Yes, Cia. If I was ask to take her place, I would do so in a blink of an eye," he answered.
"Are you sure?" Cia asked again.
"Yes!" he replied.
"Even to become someone's contracted husband?" she added.
"?!"
***
"Don't tell me you're considering it," Becca said and Davian just sighed, they were inside the hospital again and sat on a waiting bench opposite Davian's mom's room as they watched her through the glass wall.
Truth be told, he was considering what Cia said, he didn't expect Sentencia to be this acquainted with rich people, she was such a simple person even back in college.
Becca wished there was something she could do, anything to prevent him from being someone's contracted husband, marriage was supposed to be an agreement based on love, but there was nothing she could do about it and she hated herself for it.
She looked towards the man that has held her heart from the very first day she set her eyes on him, she couldn't tell if he felt the same way for her, all these years she's been with him-It's nothing more than work and friendship, she didn't have the guts to confess her feelings to him.
He was in a dilemma and she couldn't do anything to save him. He was a good person, he doesn't deserve all these at all.
He got up abruptly; "Come, it's getting late. Let me drive you home," he said to her.
"No I'll just take a cab, I don't want to bother you," she replied.
"No, I insist," he insisted and started walking away, he also needed some fresh air. Seeing his mother like that without being able to do anything was driving him crazy.
Rebecca followed from behind, trying to keep up with his long strides. She didn't know why she was having a bad feeling about this contract marriage. What if he accepted? But again, what could go wrong?
...
A couple of days later...
Silvia was in her office as usual. She didn't know what to do anymore, she has been to nine dates with nine different men and they were all incompetent for the offer. She was exhausted, her mother wouldn't stop calling her to remind her of her dilemma everyday.
She sighed and her phone rang almost immediately. It was Cia.
"Hello," she picked up.
{Hey Silvia, what's up sweetie?}, Sentencia's voice came up from the other end.
"Nothing is up, well apart from my anxiety and blood pressure every time my mom reminds me of the 'd-day'," she answered and Cia chuckled.
"At this point, I think I'll go with any man that's not Gabriel," she added.
{Today might just be your lucky day, Silvia. I've got a man for you}, Cia said.
Silvia sat up immediately;
"What?, really?" she responded.
{Yes. He is even available to meet up now, that's if you're free?}, Cia continued.
"Free?, I'm more than free. Where do we meet up?" Silvia asked.
{I'll come pick you up}, Cia replied.
"Okay," Silvia said, a smile hung on her alluring full lips as she hoped this meetup would be the last.
...
{So you're really doing this, Davian?}, Becca's voice asked from the other end.
"I have no other choice. Trust me, if I had any other options I would have taken it but I don't. According to Cia, the woman wants a contracted husband until after a year and she's willing to pay any amount.
"With the money I will be able to fund the firm and my mom's surgery, killing two birds with one stone. (Sighs) I can do it," he said more to himself than to her. He spotted Cia from afar in the park, a lady trailed behind her.
"I have to go now, Becca. Cia's here," Davian added and ended the call. He put his phone and hands into his furry coat pockets.
Soon, Cia and Silvia got closer to where Davian was. Silvia's movements gradually slowed down the closer she got to where the man was and realized it was Davian Randell.
Davian's eyes almost widened at the sight of Silvia. They both stared at each other for a while, in silence as they were still trying to digest the situation. They both directed their gazes to Sentencia, who was trying so hard to hold her laughter at their expressions.