chapter 3

-Cadillac Ybañez's point of view-

"You agree? That's terrible, Cadi!" Lilac almost screamed in response to me.

"P-that's money..."

"Crazy! What if it's money? You sold it yourself?"

"It's not like that Lilac!"

"So what?"

"I need money! That's why I came with you here in Manila, right? Because if I don't need money I'll stay in the province with my parents." My explanation is serious.

He could not speak and just bowed.

I really need money to buy our house and land in the province. Actually, we had a good life back then. My Mom and Dad have a big house, large land and stable jobs. When Dad got addicted to gambling, that's when our life started to get difficult. Everything we worked for was wasted because of him.

We can't believe that he mortgaged our house and land to the bank. Besides, we only found out when the money ran out. He used all that for gambling. When that happened to Dad, he was beside himself almost every day. No appetite and unable to talk properly. Mom stopped her work to take care of Dad. It's good that Dad is fine. The exchange for Dad being okay is Mom losing her job. We live with one of Mom's brothers in the province. Dad is forced to return to his job at a company but they don't want to accept him because of his bad record.

Sadly I stopped studying. In just one year, I would be able to graduate from architecture, but because of what happened to us, I was unable to continue.

It's okay if I can't teach first. I will save first to continue studying. I am 25 years old and I need to work so that I can provide comfort to my parents.

"You really want easy money?" Lilac asked more.

Lilac is my cousin, and my parents live with them now.

"How much can I earn here at the bar?" I asked too.

Lilac has been working here at the bar as a waitress for a long time, so when she found out I was looking for a job, she brought me here to the city.

"I mean, find a more sensible job. There are many here in Manila. Everything is a struggle, Cadi! Nowadays, those who offer easy money are scams!"

"Eh, it doesn't look like he's a scam."

"Huh? Why? Do you know that man? He just offered 500k to go?"

"Because the job is easy. I just marry him and then it's 500k!"

I don't look like money but because of my parents' situation now I have to do everything for money!

"Did you think it would be easy to get married? I'll be the one who will upset your parents!"

Lilac and I are the same age but she has more sense to talk to than me.

"Simply it's not easy to get married if you don't love the one you marry." My answer.

He messed up his hair because he was so stressed about what I was doing.

"I'm sorry Lilac! I'm just begging you not to tell Mom and Dad about this." When I begged, I almost knelt in front of him.

"Okay fine! You have your own mind and decisions in life. Just make sure you don't get hurt there!"

"Tch! Am I still Lilac! When that man cheated on me, he didn't have anything to show people!" I answered with a raised forehead.

Lilac winced.

"I don't know about you! I told you to change your behavior. The guy you kicked doesn't want to come back here! Do you know that giving a tip is high. Too bad! You drove him away!"

I don't know if he is serious or just joking.

When I remembered what that man did, my blood quickly warmed.

"He's a pest! The fool is rude!" I screamed in annoyance. The other customer looked at us so I covered my face in shame.

"Hahaha! You're crazy. Let's get to work!"

I just nodded and got to work.

~

It's 10:23 pm, the night is getting deeper but our work is still going on. I thought that the number of people would decrease, but it just increased.

Maybe a lot of people have nothing to do so they keep coming to this bar.

"Take your order from table 13!" Karen showed me one of the waitresses.

"Yes? I'm still taking care of something at table 5."

"Why, I went there earlier because you are the one they want to take their order!" I can feel his annoyance with me.

Even though I was confused, I followed. Because he is ugly, I might hear bad words.

When I got to table 13, I was surprised by what I saw.

The Vleen!

He had a man and a woman with him. The three of them seem to be friends.

I just stood there, until he looked at me.

I swallowed when I saw him grin.

"He's here!" Vleen stood up and held my hand. I removed it immediately so his two friends laughed.

Vleen gave me a bad look.

It's a pest!

"What's your order?" I'll be different.

But instead of listening to me, he grabbed my hand and forced me to sit next to him.

"What!" I yelled at him in annoyance.

The music is so loud that even if I scream, it won't be noticed.

"Bro, he's working, tease him later." I heard his male friend reply.

"Yes Vleen, he might even be angry with his boss." The woman said.

"It's just a moment." Vleen still squealed. Our attention was focused on him when he took out some papers in an envelope.

"What is that?" I asked when he handed it to me along with a pen.

He still held his breath.

"Sign that contract, then read carefully." He answered seriously. I took it and read it.

The only thing written is that we talked that I will marry him and he will pay me 500k per month. I also read what was written in another seperate paper. His rules are there.

I blinked while reading the rules.

-Beside me at night.

-You should not entertain any other man besides me.

-At home, you will not work outside because I will take care of you.

-Be a responsible housewife.

-Akuko endearment, call me by my name.

-Every time you're in front of Dad, you act like we've known each other for a long time and you're happy with me.

(Don't worry, it is a private wedding. Only the two of us and my friends are in the wedding. The wedding must be a secret from your side. There is no need for your parents to know. remember, what you should think about is that you stick with me as much as possible. Since that's 500k per month, you won't lose it. Tch!)

I also read the note below.

I still can't believe that I will agree to this matter.

"Sign!"

My spirit woke up when Vleen spoke.

I just worked hard for him and signed the contract without a second thought.

"Oh!" I bombarded him with the papers.

"Your phone" he ordered.

I just gave that. I peeked at what he was doing and saw that he had saved his phone number in my contact.

"Send me your address. I'll pick you up tomorrow." He still responded.

I just nodded and left them indifferently. It looks like they didn't order because they already had food on their table.

I let out a deep breath when I got back to the kitchen. I saw Lilac looking at me badly.

"Why?" I will ask.

"I saw you at the table of the man you are talking about. Did you really agree to be his wife?"

"I don't think about myself anymore. Just give Mom and Dad a good life and I'll be fine." That's all I said.

He didn't say anything but kept shaking.

I don't want to blame Dad for what happened to me today. He just made a mistake and I know he's ready to change for Mom and me.

I looked up at him. Because he is taller than me. We were very close to each other and I only saw his face there.

Yes, he is handsome...

"Money doesn't wait Ms. Cadillac." He replied smiling.

Eh?

Greedy!

"okay"

"That's all you're going to say?"

"What else do you want me to say? Am I going to act like I'm happy with you now in front of you?"

He slowly made eye contact with both of us. I swallowed when he didn't remove his gaze from me.

What does it do?

"Slap me again."

Eh?

Because of the confusion I don't know what to do.

What does it say?

"Are you broken?"

"Slap me, like you did that time."

What trip is this?

"W-why would I do that?"

I can see how serious he is now.

"Just do it."

"My hand is heavy, if I repeat that to you, it might just make a mark."

"I do not care."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not joking."

Go ahead! I will give you! I will pour out all my anger in the world to you!

"okay"

"Come on!"

Tch!

I quickly raised my palm in the air. I hesitated, because he suddenly closed his eyes. He was just waiting for me to slap him. But I can't do it because I can't slap for no reason. I only slapped him because I was so annoyed.

"I-I can't."

I lowered my hand and stood properly. He slowly opened his eyes.

"Then, I'll just slap you."

My eyes widened.

Is he crazy? Can he slap a woman?

"What's your trip! Hey! It's not like you're paying me a lot of money and I'll obey everything you want. The only thing we're talking about here is that you're going to make me your wife. It's not about you slapping me!" I screamed in annoyance right in his face.

He even laughed as if I was joking.

It's taena!

"I'm serious!" I'm still annoyed by the response.

"I'm serious too, I'm just going to make you up for what you did at the bar."

"It's bad! You need treatment."

I was about to turn away from him when he suddenly grabbed my waist. I was not immediately relieved by what he did. We are very close to each other. Just a little movement and our faces might touch. I can feel his deep breathing.

"Do you know it hurt so much when you slapped me."

I was speechless because I was trying not to move.

I looked down.

I might really slap this man for what he does.

He tightened his grip on my waist.

"Thank you, I won't slap you back..."

I clung to his arm when he unhesitatingly touched his lips to mine. My mind seemed to float because of what he did. I can't feel my body and I can only feel his kiss.

I still closed my eyes when he pressed on kissing me more. I couldn't return those kisses because I felt weak. I can still feel his hands holding my head, so he could kiss me properly. I tried to get away from him but I didn't succeed because his grip on my waist was too tight. We were almost out of balance because I was constantly struggling.

And when I felt pain, I quickly pushed him away from me. My force was not that strong but it was enough to make him stop what he was doing. I can't believe he bit my bottom lip and it hurt so much!

I was annoyed when he laughed when he saw my reaction to what he did.

"We're quitting." After saying that, he left me with my blood boiling.

My palm was clenched and it was as if I wanted to taste him with a strong blow. I still held my lips and quickly faced the mirror. I almost stopped myself when I saw that my lower lip was bleeding. And until now I can still feel how painful his bite was.

You don't have anything Vleen! Crazy head!