Play Pretend

Chapter 14

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako o matatawa. I skimmed through the pages and took in the important sections in the draft agreement.

It was stated that I had to be married to him for three years. In return, I had the right to enjoy the privileges of being his wife. Hindi ko na kailangang maging sekretarya niya. I'd get a monthly allowance of a million. He would also fund my mother's therapies and regular checkups. A house and lot and a car would also be bought under my name. Whatever assets I acquired during the period of our marriage — using his money or not — would remain my assets after separation.

Nakapaloob din sa kontrata kung paano namin pakikitunguhan ang isa't isa. Pati kung paano ako aakto bilang asawa niya ay nakasulat. Even his husband's duties were written. Everything was so detailed that it terrified me.

Aside from that, there were also grounds for a termination of contract. Bawal ipagsabi kahit kanino — even to my mother — that we were only married through papers. If I happened to break the contract or neglect my duties as his wife in papers, I would have to pay for the damages with a minimum of 10 million pesos.

I scoffed after skimming. Madami pang nakalagay, and I found them all very ridiculous.

Akala niya ba ay ganoon lang kadali ang proseso ng annulment? We don't have divorce here in our country, which could've made things easier for everyone suffering in abusive marriage relationships.

Unfortunately, our country is still very conservative about that matter. Most people find it to be taboo. Mabuti na lang din at dumadami na ang mas nagiging open sa ideyang 'yon kaya sana ay maging daan 'yon upang maipatupad na sa bansa ang divorce.

But I guessed, even without divorce, kaya ni Xaiver na padaliin ang proseso ng mga bagay-bagay. With his power and money, I felt like there was nothing he couldn't do. He could move our corrupt court with his money.

"If you are not satisfied, just tell me, and we will make any revisions as soon as possible. Kung may gusto ka ring idagdag, walang problema. Kahit ano'ng gusto mo, ibibigay ko. You can have the world if you'd ask, and all you have to do is to marry me and play pretend."

I bit my lower lip hard before a smile broke across my face. Halos sumugat ang ngiti ko sa sobrang pilit at inis. Akala niya siguro ay madadala niya ako sa mga "benefits" na sinasabi niya.

How can he be so dense?

Those things were already given. Syempre ay alam ko 'yan kahit hindi niya pa ilatag sa kontrata. Kapag nagpakasal ako sa kanya, lalo na't siya ang may kailangan sa akin, I knew he would give in to everything I wanted. Kaya nga lang ay hindi nga gano'n ang gusto ko.

"Mukhang nahirapan at seryoso ka nga sa pag-iisip ng mga ilalagay mo sa kontrata..." sabi ko saka maingat na inilapag ang mga papel sa lamesa. "But unfortunately, Sir, it's still a no."

Bahagyang napaawang ang kanyang bibig. He stared at me with so much disbelief. Sa sobrang ganda ba naman kasi ng offers niya, sino ang tangang hihindi, 'di ba?

"I will stick to my ideals and principles. I will marry only for love," I told him with my chin up. "If marriage is just a mere business to you, then it isn't to me. No matter how many proposals you come up with, I will never agree to it."

Nanatili pa ring tahimik si Xaiver at pirming nakatitig lamang habang nagsasalita ako. I might have given him the greatest shock of his life.

"Kung ayon lang naman po ang gusto ninyong pag-usapan natin, mauuna na ako." I slightly bowed my head, then took my leave. Hindi ko na siya nilingon ulit at dire-diretso na ako sa paglabas ng kanyang opisina.

Wala pa rin si Joseph nang makabalik ako sa aking lamesa. Nagmadali akong binuksan ulit ang computer at binuksan Word. I stared at the blank document for a few minutes while mentally drafting a letter I never thought I would write that day. Hindi ko naisip na aabot ako sa ganito.