His Fake Fiancee (Completed)

KABANATA 29

XXIX.

"Syd, okay ka lang?"

Gab snap his fingers.

"Oh," I am spacing out. "Yeah, I am good."

"Tahimik mo, 'di ko keribels. Ano ba nangyari sa Davao?"

I blink my eyes.

Kahit ako, hindi ko rin talaga alam ang nangyari roon bago kami umalis kahapon. Kakauwi lang namin kagabi at hindi ako hinatid ni Sir Heath sa condo, ang sabi niya lang ay may gagawin daw siya kasama si Gio at ka-pamilya niya'ng si Jaryl– panganay na anak ng Auntie Shaz at Uncle Jordan. Hindi na rin siya nagsalita after noong sinabi ko ang pagpayag ko sa kasal namin.

"Wala, wala. Ano nga pala ang nangyari rito?" I asked para maiba ang topic.

"Well–"

Naputol ang pagbigkas ni Gab nang tawagin ako ni Sir Heath. My heart skips a beat na parang ayoko nang pumasok sa office niya.

Pero nagawa ko pa rin ang tumayo at pumunta kay Sir Heath.I knocked at his door three times and had my exhale breathing.

"Y–yes, Sir Heath?" Sabi ko agad nang makapasok ako. Naroon siya sa table niya at prenteng naka-sandal sa swivel chair. He motioned the chair in front of him.

Ngayon lang yata ako kinabahan sa buong buhay ko! Damn!

When I sat to the chair, I felt his hesitation to talk so we're quite for a couple of seconds until he breath heavily and call my name.

"Annie," he said. My eyes searched him. "The thing you said.. Was it true?"

Mas rinig ko ngayon ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Parang may drum roll doon at malakas ang pagpitik nito. Natuyo ang lalamunan ko kaya hindi agad ako naka-sagot. Gusto ko'ng sabihin na gusto ko, payag ako o handa na 'ko... pero tango lang ang nai-sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Did I pressure you? Did Grandma?" Tanong niya ulit, umiling ako. "Are we really gonna get married?"

Our eyes met.

"Are you sure about me now? If you're forced by someone or you think about me being selfish and being in love with you– please, don't. Don't marry me because of those reasons."

Hindi ako sumagot pero lumipat siya ngayon sa upuang nasa harap ko. I saw his eyes turned red, as if he's holding his tears.

"I really love you, Annie. It's been five years I felt this way for you. And if you've been forced by someone to marry me–"

"No," I suddenly speaks. I licked my lower lip. "No one.. No one forced me to do this."

His mouth slightly open. I bet he has a words to say but both of us now is in tension moment.

Marrying... This man in front of me?

"Yeah, your Grandma asked me to see us getting married before something happen... But as your word spoke to me the night after your Grandma asked us, it hits me too. I was in love with you for a couple of years but marrying have'nt splash in my mind. Ang maging boss nga lang kita– hindi rin sumagi nang matapos ang graduation natin noon. I thought it was just a crushy type of love back then... And then these happens. Me being your secretary to being a fake fiance, and especially to ring a bell to our wedding. This situation may help us to be happy, to start a new life or to make your Grandmother happy..."

Silence envelopes us.

I can see to his eyes the admiration from what I said so I continue.

"This... this set up may lead to any ending.. But I am truly grateful to have the moment with you. I never thought of marrying someone and I guess, some things just didn't go to the plan," he kinda chuckled. "Basta, sa ngayon, the main reason here is because of your Lola. Ayoko'ng maramdaman– lalo ikaw, ayoko'ng maramdaman mo na magsisi."