The Billionaire's Prize Wife

"How could you lose your wife on your wedding day!" Samuel Sy was so furious at his son. Pinamulahan na siya ng pisngi sa galit at tila gusto niyang lamugin ang anak.

Nanatili namang nakasalampak sa sahig si Harry, sapo ang kaliwang pisngi kung saan tumama ang suntok ng kaniyang ama.

Hindi naman malaman ni Cohen ang gagawin. Gusto niyang tulungan si Harry dahil tiyak niyang malakas ang tinanggap nitong suntok mula sa ama. Pero minabuti niyang daluhan ang matanda. Nag-aalala siyang baka atakehin ito ng sakit sa puso. "Master, it's my fault. I'm sorry!"

"Where is the bride?!"

"S-she's..." hindi alam ni Cohen ang sasabihin sa matanda. Gusto niyang mag second the motion sa sinabi ni Harry kanina na sumakit ang tiyan ng bride kaya dinala nila ito sa ospital, pero alam niyang magiging complicated lang ang lahat. "You, two,... especially you," dinuro nito ang kaniyang anak, "find your bride or you will never get the presidency nor The Billionaires' Club membership. And most of all, you will regret what I will do."

Nagpupuyos ang loob na nagmadaling umalis ng condominium unit ang matanda.

"Father!" Hinabol ni Harry ang ama sa pasilyo. "Father, hear me, please!" Pinigilan niya itong makapasok ng elevator.

"I can give up the presidency, just give me the prize. I beg of you, father!"

"What prize? You already lost her."

"No, father. Our deal was, I will marry a girl that will pass to your liking, and once it's done, you'll give me the presidency and two billion dollars as a gift."

Saglit na tumahimik si Samuel Sy. Kumunot ang kaniyang noo, kapagkuwa'y galit na tinapunan ng tingin ang anak. "Do you really think that I will give you two billion dollars as a gift if you marry just anybody? Don't be an idiot." Nagtataka man sa tinuran ng ama ay hindi na niya ito pinigilang pumasok ng elevator.

"If you can't find your wife, you will just turn out to be like me. And you will regret it."

Habang lulan ng elevator ay napasapo si Samuel sa kaniyang dibdib. Malungkot siyang iniwan ang nabaghan niyang anak pero nais niya itong matuto. Sinikap niyang kalmahin ang sarili. Hindi siya maaaring magupo ng anuman ngayon. Hindi

pa handa si Harry para sa isang napakalaking responsibilidad. Kailangang matiyak niyang kumpleto ang lahat ng kailangan ng anak para maging handa ito.

Napansin niyang may tumatawag sa mobile phone niya.

"Hello, nice of you to call me. Just stay there, I will see you now."

Samantala, hindi alam ng matanda na naka-hack sina Harry sa CCTV footage ng elevator. Pinapanood siya ng dalawa sa cellular phone ni Harry.

"Who was he talking to?"

Cohen just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know any new woman of master. He stopped seeing them all years ago,... I believe."

"My old man is very workaholic but he denies me the fortune I need." Nalulungkot na bumalik siya ng kaniyang condominium unit. Sinundan naman siya ni Cohen.

Gustong payapain ni Cohen ang nagmamarakulyong kalooban ni Harry ngunit minabuti niyang hayaan na lang itong ilabas ang nararamdaman.

Halos sabunutan ni Harry ang ulo habang nakaupo siya sa sofa. "How can I find her?"

"Let's hire a private investigator, sir."

"I already hired three, but there is still no clue to her whereabouts up to this moment!"

Tumahimik na lang si Cohen, nilunok ang laway. Naunawaan na niya kasing hindi ang babaing pinakasalan nito ang tinutukoy ng kaniyang amo.

"It's been almost two decades, yet she's still out there! How could she abandon us? Father needs her, especially now."

Nanatiling walang kibo si Cohen. Ramdam niya ang kalungkutan ng kaniyang amo. Alam niya ang pinanggagalingan ng pangungulila nito sa ina. Binuksan ni Harry ang brandy at sunud-sunod na nilagok.

"I think that father is sick. But he's stubborn. He treats his work as his wife."

"You have a great father, sir."

"Not too great. He lost his wife. Now I lost mine." Hilaw na tawa ang kaniyang pinakawalan. Naalala niya ang huling sinabi ng ama. "Now, we're birds of the same feather... like father, like son." "It's not too late to find your wife, sir."

Binasa ni Cohen ang natanggap niyang mensahe sa kaniyang gadget. "I have to go, sir. I will fetch you tomorrow."

"Lock the door."

BUONG araw na walang ganang magtrabaho si Harry. Sinikap na lang niyang matapos ang mga dapat pirmahan. Inutusan niya ang kaniyang secretary na i-cancel ang naka-schedule niyang meeting. "I can't see them today or tomorrow. The president gave me a special project."

Tumango naman sa kaniya ang secretary at tinungo ang conference room.

Napapitlag si Harry nang pumasok sa opisina niya si Cohen. Inutusan niya kasi itong puntahan ang kaniyang ama sa opisina nito. "Good news?"

Kinabahan si Harry nang humugot ng hininga si Cohen. "I only like suspense- thriller in movies."

Bahagyang napangiti si Cohen sa tinuran ng amo. "Good or bad, it depends on you."

Sinenyasan niya itong magpatuloy ng pagsasalita.

"We have one week to find Mrs. Sy."

Kumunot ang noo ni Harry after frowning. "Are we talking about my mother? If not, don't address her like that when we're alone." "Okay."

"What are the stakes?"

"If we fail, Chester Singh, your cousin, will be the president." Upon seeing Harry's disinterested look, he dropped the "bomb". "And then, there's more..." "What's more?..."

"You will be out in the company. Your brothers will join you in a life they never wanted to have."

"Why include my brothers? It's my mistake, they should be out of it."

"I will quote his last words, sir."

"Last words?" Napatda siya sa narinig.

Naalarma si Cohen sa tila pagpa-panic ng amo. "Relax, sir, your father didn't die."

"Can't you relay a story properly? You're making me crazy!" Nawawalan na siya ng pasensya sa kausap.

"You keep cutting me, sir. I'm sorry."

Umupo na lang si Harry sa isang sulok ng sofa. "So what did he say?"

"He finds his bride, he finds his treasure, were his final words, sir..., I mean, your father's firm words." Napasapo na lang ng ulo si Harry sa narinig.

"Find that woman. Bring her to father's office tomorrow."

"It's not that easy, sir. We have no clue."

Halos sabunutan na ni Harry ang buhok niya. Naiinis siya sa sarili.

"We only have one week, sir. I suggest that we hire someone."

"Alright. Call someone. I would like to know what he can do before we pay him."

"Right, sir." Nag-dial si Cohen sa phone para mag-imbita sa opisina ni Harry ng private detective.

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MATAPOS na i-introduce ni Cohen kay Harry ang private detective ay naupo sila.

"I can find a woman in less than a week if she's in this city. But if she's outside the city, I might need an extension. And of course, we have to feed a wider network."

Tumango-tango naman si Harry sa tinuran ng private detective.

"So, without further ado, can I have her picture?"

Nagkatinginan ang mag-amo sa tinuran ng detective.

"You have the camera." Pinanlalakihan na niya ng mata si Cohen sa ngayon.

"I-- I forgot where..., I might have put it on your father's table."

Hindi makapaniwala si Harry sa narinig. "You left it there?!"

"I... I think so."

Naglaban ng titigan ang mag-amo. Halos sumingasing ang ilong ni Harry sa pagkainis. "Cool it down, guys. We can still find her even without a picture. Just describe her to me." Muling nagtinginan ang mag-amo na ikinadismaya ng detective.

"You don't know her physical attributes? How did the wedding go? I'm curious." Bumaling ito kay Harry. "You don't know the face of your bride? Perhaps you don't know her name, either?" Hindi nakaimik ang dalawa sa nakitang naging reaction ng isa't isa. Ngayon pa lang ay alam na nilang bokya na sila.

"I can't believe this!" Isa-isang pinukulan niya ng matalim na tingin ang dalawa kapagkuwa'y tumungo sa may pinto. "Are you guys bored? What do you think of my profession?"

Hindi nakahuma ang dalawa nang magdabog sa may pinto ang detective. "Call the canine agency. See if your woman can be found in one week." Bubulong-bulong pa itong umalis. Nilapitan at inasikan ni Harry ang kaniyang assistant. "How could you not know her face and her name?"

"I just found out that her profile on social media was fake. So I don't know her real name, sir. And I only met her on your wedding day, I haven't had a chance to see her face."

"So who can we ask now?" Hindi na mapakali si Harry.

"I thought you'd kiss her, and you'd see her, but you--"

"So you're blaming me now?"

Tumungo na lang si Cohen at kinagat ang kaniyang labi.

"Now we're gonna be stars in that detective's lessons, don't you think?" Natatawang nadismaya si Harry sa naiisip. Nai-imagine na nilang magmumukha silang katawa-tawa sa investigation world tuwing maisipan ng detective na iyon na gawing example ang case nila.

"We can try another way, sir."

Nag-aalburuto ang kalooban niya. "How can we find that woman?!" Gusto niyang magwala pero hindi niya magawa.

Tatapikin sana ni Cohen sa likod ang kaniyang amo. Naunawaan niyang galit na sa sarili ito. Masyado naman kasi itong naging pre-occupied sa kaniyang personal goal. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakalang mawawala na parang bula ang asawa nito pagkatapos ng kanilang kasal? Deep inside, sinisisi ni Cohen ang sarili. Feeling niya ay malaki ang naging pagkukulang niya sa pangyayari.

"We'd think of something, sir.

;   .....

BUONG araw ang inilaan nila para sa paghahanap sa nawawalang asawa ni Harry. Nasa garahe na sila nang nagtanong si Cohen.

"Where to, sir?"

"Wherever. I don't care. Let's see how we can find a nameless, faceless woman. Let's start sniffing from here."

Hindi na kumibo si Cohen. Pinaandar na niya ang kotse at sa isip niya ay bahala na kung saan sila makarating.

May kabagalan ang andar ng kotse. Nagmamasid kasi sila sa bawat madaanang babae. Paminsan-minsan ay sinisilip niya ang amo sa rear view mirror. Nakikita niya ang disappointment sa mukha nito. Kung siya lang ang masusunod ay dadalhin niya ito at sasamahang magsumamo sa half Singaporean, half Chinese na owner ng isa sa most thriving businesses in Asia,-- ang ama ni Harry. Naniniwala siyang babawiin nito ang binitiwang salita once na magmakaawa dito ang sariling anak.

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"I won't see him if I can't find that woman. I can't see his face anymore."

Napatanga ng saglit si Cohen sa binigkas ni Harry. Tila sinagot nito ang binabalak niyang gawin. May minanang katigasan ng damdamin din si Harry, kahit na paminsan-minsan ay lumalambot ito sa tuwing nangungulila sa ina. Laglag ang mga balikat na pumasok si Harry sa kaniyang condominium unit. Bakas ng magkahalong kalungkutan at disappointment ang mukha nito.

"I won't get in anymore, sir. I have to go."

Sinenyasan lang siya nito na umalis na.

NASA kama pa si Harry nang sinagot niya ang tawag ni Cohen sa telepono.

"It's too early, it must be good."

"Sir,..." usal ni Cohen sa kabilang linya, "I saw her."

"What? Who?" Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig ngunit umaasa siya ng good news.

"It's your wife. She approached me while I was jogging at the park."

"Good!..." he stood up to change his clothes,"... good! Bring her to my father now. I'll meet you there."

"But, sir..."

"Thank you very much, Cohen. I knew it, you'll never let me down. I'll see you there." Ini-off niya ang phone at excited siyang nagbihis.

Only seconds flew by, his phone rang again. "Cohen?..."

"Sir, please stay there. Wait for me. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

Nagtataka man ay sumang-ayon na lang siya. Agad niyang inayos ang mga nakakalat na gamit sa loob ng unit niya. Ayaw niyang mapahiya sa kaniyang asawa, kahit na wala siyang intensiyong tratuhin itong tunay na asawa. Inayos niya rin ang sarili niya.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ay nakangiti siyang humarap. "My wi-- where's my wife?"

"She doesn't want to come, sir. She told me that she has no business with your father. She only approached me to say goodbye to me and to say that she's happy with the money she got."

"Is that all? So where is she now?"

"She left, sir. She told me not to bother searching for her, because we cannot find her anyway."

Pinanlakihan ni Harry ng mga mata ang assistant. "Are you really telling me that crap?!"

"I'm sorry, sir." Tumungo ang lalaki, inihanda ang sarili sa anumang iunday na kaparusahan ng kaniyang amo.

Nanlalatang naupo si Harry. "Tell me, Cohen, are you playing with my feelings? Am I that bad to you?"

"No, sir, you're--"

"Find someone to play as my fake, fake bride. If you can't, then you resign."

Sandaling natahimik si Cohen, kapagkuwa'y ibinigay niya ang susi ng kotse kay Harry. "It's easy to find a woman to play as your wife's replacement, sir,... if only your father doesn't have a copy of her portfolio." "And whose mistake was that?"

"Mine."

PAGKAGALING ni Cohen kay Harry ay agad niyang kinatagpo sa airport ang isang babae-- ang pinakasalan ni Harry.

"He will hate me once he'd learn about this, but this is not enough to cover for the damage he's done to you, Miss."

"Thank you for this. Don't worry, I'll make sure that he will regret what he did."

He can only sigh before the woman. "Have a safe flight."