Play Pretend

Chapter 24

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. Hindi 'yon tama. He shouldn't fight his parents and be on bad terms with them for our pretend relationship. It wouldn't be worth it. Baka pagsisihan niya lang din 'yon bandang huli, lalo na't hindi naman magtatagal ang relasyon naming dalawa.

He'll be the son of his mother until the end of this lifetime, while our marriage will only last for three years. Kahit saang anggulo mo tingnan, malaki ang isinusugal niya. Are we really going this far?

"You don't have to worry about anything, Chantal," he reminded me again. "I will fight for our marriage. I will marry you, and that's it."

Xaiver's words and tone were marked with finality. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo o nagdahilan pa sa kanya dahil hindi ako mananalo kapag desidido siya. Ilang beses ko na 'yong napatunayan.

I really found it funny. Naalala kong ako pa ang nagsabi kay mama na magtiwala kay Xaiver pagdating sa kanyang pamilya, and yet I couldn't do it myself. Kahit ayaw ko, nag-o-overthink pa rin ako. Bumabalik ang mga insecurities ko habang inaalala ang mga babaeng pinakilala sa kanya.

Paulit-ulit na bumabalik ang isipan ko sa mga bagay na 'yon hanggang sa nakarating na kami sa kanila. I used to be very familiar with his family's mansion, but everything suddenly felt foreign. Parang kakatapak ko lang sa ibang lugar na hindi ko napupuntahan. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba, kuryosidad, at pagkamangha.

Mahigpit na ang kapit ko kay Xaiver at halos idikit ko ang buomg katawan sa kanya. Kung umasta ako, daig ko pa ang papasok sa haunted house. Out of all the emotions inside me, I felt scared and nervous the most. The last time I was that nervous was probably during our first business trip overseas. Nangangapa pa ako kung paano makikipag-interact sa mga businessman in a way that I wouldn't look naive para hindi siya mapahiya.

"Hey..." Namamaos ang boses ni Xaiver nang tawagin ako. Malapit na kami sa dining room. Nakasarado ang pintuan kaya kinuha niya ang oras na 'yon para lingunin ako.

"Hmm?" My lips and throat felt so dry that I couldn't speak.

Kumunot ang noo niya saka ipinatong ang kamay sa kamay kong nasa braso niya.

"I don't know how many times I need to say this, but no matter how my mom responds to our relationship, I will marry you," he said to reassure me.

For a fake arrangement, his words sounded so true. It tasted so sweet until you realized the bitter truth.

I held onto the sweetness and tried to ignore the bitterness as we entered the dining room. The atmosphere was gloomy na parang katatapos lang ng malakas na ulan. My eyes immediately darted at Mrs. Dela Vega, who looked like she had been rained on.

"Xavi." Tumayo si Mr. Dela Vega upang salubungin kami.

"Pa."

Mr. Dela Vega smiled brightly then turned to me. Medyo gumaang ang loob ko nang makitang nanatili ang kanyang ngiti. "It's really nice to see you again, Chantal. It's been a while, huh?"

Nang maramdaman ang init ng pagtanggap sa akin ni Mr. Dela Vega, I almost felt like tearing up. I had no idea why I became a little emotional, but it felt nice and comforting to see him smiling at me. Siya pa mismo ang nag-approach at nagsimula ng usap.

"Yes po, Sir..." Nahihiya akong ngumiti. "Pasensya na po kung ngayon lang po ako nakapunta."

"It's okay, but... Sir?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "I believe you should start calling me Papa now to practice."

Napasinghap ako nang mabigla. I froze for a moment, not knowing how to react. He said it so casually. Para bang tanggap na tanggap niya ako kaya gusto niyang Papa na ang itawag ko sa kanya, but my whole being wasn't ready for that yet.