Play Pretend

Chapter 22

"Ahem." Zoe cleared her throat as she shifted her gaze back to me. "Sorry. I just came from a meeting with my parents," she surprisingly still had the courtesy to apologize after being late.

I forced a small smile. "You're eight minutes late," paalala ko sa kanya kahit na humingi na siya nang paumanhin. "As the future leader of your company, hindi ba dapat ay trained ka nang umattend sa mga engagements mo on time?"

Zoe lost her cool. Kitang-kita ko ang pagdilim ng kanyang ekspresyon. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, sorry. Hindi ata magandang pakinggan ang pagkakasabi ko." I chuckled lightly while covering my mouth. "Masyado akong nasanay kay Xavi. He's always on time. Ayaw na ayaw niya ang mga nala-late."

As soon as I mentioned Xaiver, Zoe shut her lips tightly. She couldn't rebut dahil late naman talaga siya, no matter what her reasons were.

"Anyway, ano ba ang pag-uusapan natin?" Umayos ako ng upo at hinarap siya nang maayos. "Can we talk about it now?"

Zoe licked her lips, then maintained a proper, elegant posture. "Let's order first and talk over a meal. Maaga pa."

"Hindi na kailangan. Huwag na tayong magpaligoy-ligoy pa," sabi ko at bahagyang sumulyap sa orasan. "Xaiver will call me anytime tonight. Hindi niya alam na pumunta ako rito para makipagkita sa 'yo. I need us to finish talking before he does. Sigurado akong ayaw mo rin na makarating sa kanya 'to, 'di ba?"

I gripped on the skirt of my dress while spitting those words with the attitude I never thought I would wear. Hindi ako gano'n. My mother didn't raise me to be that kind of person. Pinalaki niya akong magalang at mahaba ang pasensya. Hanggang kaya ko ikimkim sa sarili ko ang galit at iritasyon, ganoon ang ginagawa ko. I was used to that. I was fine with that. Ngunit alam kong hindi na puwedeng ganoon na lang ngayon.

Xaiver trained me to be fierce and savage. He didn't want me bowing down to anyone. Ayaw niyang bigyan ko ng dahilan ang ibang tao na maliitin ako.

"Okay, then! Let's cut to the chase!" Zoe quickly grabbed her bag and pulled out her checkbook. Agad niyang pinilas ang isang check mula roon at saka nilapag sa harapan ko. "Ten million. Just leave Xaiver alone."

I kept my lips shut. Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa check. The words and numbers were clearly written there. Ten million for Chantal Bersales, huh? Ganoon lang ba kalaki ang halaga ko sa kanya?

Hindi ko akalaing aabot talaga ako sa sitwasyon na 'to. I thought these things only happen in books and movies. Sino'ng mag-aakala na nangyayari pala talaga 'to sa totoong buhay?

Hindi pala talaga basta nag-o-overreact lang si Mama. Tagala pa lang may ganoong nangyayari sa mundo nila. People like them are easily driven by money. They gained status, power, and stability through money. They think the world revolves around it. They believe they can control people with it. Unfortunately, no matter how much power it can give you, it can also destroy you completely.

Money is just made out of paper that you can easily tear into pieces. It is something you can light a fire on and burn. It will eventually turn into nothing once it turns into ashes... It will lose its value once torn apart.

Pero siguro nga, kahit papaano, tama rin naman. Ayaw kong magpaka-hipokrito. I was exactly in this situation because of money. Xaiver managed to lure me into marriage because of it. I was tempted because I needed it.

The amount Zoe offered me was enough to pay the damages if I would choose to breach the contract. Saktong-sakto 'yon sa kailangan ko para makakawala kay Xaiver. It was very, very tempting... Parang ang sarap sumugal ulit. Parang ang sarap talikuran ulit ang prinsipyo ko para sa pera.