Invisible Strings

05

SHARINE

"Girlfriend?" I laughed at Dominic. "You mean, your pretend girlfriend?"

He shrugged. Ang sungit kahit s'ya naman ang may kailan? Attitude?

"Sorry, Dominic but I don't want to do this. Last night was crazy, hindi ako dapat nakisali sa problema mo. I should have known that you're a public figure at madadamay ang pangalan ko sa oras na makisali ako. I want to come clean and clear my name."

Ang hirap talaga 'pag hindi nagiisip ng tama, 'pag pabigla-bigla ng desisyon. Look what I got myself into? Trouble. Sharine, problema ang dulot ng kagagahan at pagbibida mo.

"What will you say to the press?" He asked me.

"That I just helped you kasi kahit gwapo eh mukhang hoodlum 'yung umaaway sayo."

Dominic sighed and closed his eyes as if thinking what he'll do next.

"If you do that, they'll have more reasons to talk about me. Look, I know I am not your responsibility and I am very thankful that you helped me last night. But, Sharine, I've got no one to help me but you," he paused and looked straight into my eyes. "I need you. Can't you really help me now?"

Hindi naman ako 'yung tipo ng tao na mabilis maawa but there's something about Dominic's eyes na para bang kailangan ko s'ya palaging tulungan. Na parang kailangan n'ya 'ko at ako lang ang mayroon s'ya.

Dominic's a famous basketball player, siguro kaya ingat na ingat s'ya na 'wag madumihan ang pangalan n'ya. Or maybe, there's much more deeper reason why he can't come out yet. Totoo na yata, naawa na talaga 'ko sakanya.

"Can you atleast give me time to think about this?"

Dominic got his phone from his pocket, scrolled through the screen, and handed it to me. "But as soon as we got out of this building, people will start to ask about us. Ano'ng sasabihin natin?"

I checked his phone and saw bunch of articles about us. Mga hula tungkol sa relasyon naming dalawa ni Dominic. They even researched about me, my name, my profession, and whatnots. They even got a copy of my old photos. Goodness gracious!

There were articles too about Dominic, his sexual preference, his relationship with the guy from last night, and more shady stories about him. Nakakasuka.

I sighed. Why can't I just say no to him? Bakit ako nakokonsensya eh wala naman akong kasalanan? What's wrong with me?

"What should I get in return?" I asked Dominic.

Nagliwanag bigla ang mukha nito na para bang nakakita ng pag-asa.

"I don't know, you tell me. Whatever you want, Sharine."

Maybe some exclusive interviews with him and his teammates? Para maganda lagi ang storya ko at matuwa ang boss ko. Maybe I'll get promoted agad? Or money? Pang travel. I don't know, I just need to take advantage of this situation, too.

"I can't think of anything now, I'll tell you pag sure na 'ko kung ano'ng kapalit ang gusto ko. Okay?"

"Okay. So, are we okay? I mean, deal?"

"We're okay, boyfriend." I smirked at him.

Dominic insisted to drive me to the office.

"Sharine, remember, we've known each other for three years already but it's only been more than a year since we became a couple. Our anniversary is on September 21st."

"Alam ko, hindi ko nakakalimutan. During the bukol incident at one of your games, we're already a couple. We decided to keep our relationship private dahil pakiramdam natin ay may conflict of interest sa mga trabaho natin. But now that I accidentally revealed our secret, we want to love freely in public," I recited the fake details of our relationship.

Dominic and I came up with this detailed script so that we know how to answer everyone who dared to ask about us. Lord, sorry sa mga kasinungalingan.

"Babe," Dominic said out of nowhere. Malapit na kami sa office building ko.

I turned my gaze on him. "What?"

"We should call each other babe."

"Oh, okay." Whatever he wants. Hindi naman 'to totoo so okay lang kahit ano pa'ng endearment ang gusto ni Dominic.

Before I went out of his car, we exchanged mobile numbers.

"Girl!! Sharine!! Ano na???" I rolled my eyes. As soon as Mica saw me, hindi na 'to tumigil sa kakatanong kung kami ba talaga ni Dominic.

"Oo na nga!" Iritang sagot ko dito.

"Oh my God, girl!!!! Ang swerte mo! Kwentuhan mo ko dali na!"

Dahil alam ko na hindi naman ako titigilan ni Mica, I ended up telling her Dominic and I's fake love story. Sobrang na-guilty ako kasi kilig na kilig s'ya.

I was at the pantry having lunch with my officemates when Claudine, our admin assistant, approached me and handed a bouquet of pink tulips. "Ma'am, para daw po sainyo." Nagsisigaw agad si Mica na parang mas kinikilig pa s'ya kaysa sa akin. Sinamaan ko nga ng tingin, nakakahiya sa iba eh.

I got the card and read what's in it, "Thank you. What will I do without you? - D"

As if on cue, I received a text message from Dominic after I read what's written on the card.

"Sorry for dragging you into my messy life. Thank you for helping me. I really don't know what will I do without you. I'll do/give anything you want in return. Just let me know, babe."

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