#OLAPlayPretend
Chapter 16
Engaged
Mabilis kong nilunok ang kaba na naramdaman. Habang nagmamartsa palapit sa kanya, dinampot ko sa loob ng bag ang flyers ng DVH na naipon ko. As soon as I reached his desk, I slammed the papers on top of it and glared at him. Kung abot ko lang siya ay baka nasaksak ko 'yon sa baga niya.
Habang galit at naiinis ako, nanatiling nakangiti sa akin si Xaiver. Sinulyapan niya lamang 'yon at mas lalong naging mapang-inis ang ekspresyon. He was certainly enjoying watching me suffer.
I couldn't believe I almost fell for his sweet gestures and chivalrous acts. He was so good at pretending and playing with my heart. Luckily, I was smart enough to guard it and keep my feelings in check because I would never let myself fall for someone like him.
"I see you got the advertisements... Are you here to apply for the position?" Xaiver smiled and cocked his head to one side.
"Advertisements?" matigas kong ulit. "Advertisement na sa akin lang nakakarating?"
"And what's wrong with that, Chantal?" He raised a brow and smirked. "You are my target market."
"Ano?"
"I'm glad that the trashy marketing plan Joseph came up with still worked," Xaiver added, insulting Joseph's ideas, which also put a great shock on me. "I never expected you to last this long, though."
May kinalaman si Joseph? Akala ko ba wala siyang alam?
As I expected, he really knew something. Imposibleng wala. Ayaw ko mang pagdududahan ang pangungumusta niya sa akin paminsan-minsan, but I honestly didn't expect him to do that on his own accord. I underestimated Xaiver's wickedness. I knew he was cruel, but I never thought he would be this cruel.
"Ano ba'ng kailangan mo sa akin, Xaiver? Ano ba'ng gusto mo para tigilan mo na ako?" nanginginig kong tanong sa galit.
"You know exactly what I want, Chantal," he coldly said this time. "And you also know that I won't stop until I get what I want. I never lose."
Without a word, Xaiver grabbed the same documents he showed me last time from his drawer and placed them on his table. He also picked up a fountain pen and opened it, urging me to sign the agreement.
"Marry me and be my wife," Xaiver seriously said. "We'll separate in three years. No extensions. All conditions will be in your favor. After that, you can do whatever you want in your life, and I won't bother you anymore."
"Ang sama-sama mo..." hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili. Dala na rin siguro ng matinding bugso ng damdamin.
Xaiver's serious gaze just locked on me as he said, "I never claimed to be kind, Chantal. Don't expect me to be one."
Nag-init na ang bawat sulok ng mga mata ko. I bit my lower lip hard while staring at him. Ayaw kong sumuko. I didn't want to bend my principles. I didn't want to succumb to his evilness. I wanted to still be firm with my decision and reject him once more. I wanted to fight for what was right, but I knew there was no way I could ever escape him. But as I pictured my responsibilities inside my head, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Kasabay ng pag-alala sa responsibilidad ko, naalala ko si Mama. I recalled her eyes filled with faith and hope while whispering words of encouragement to me. She was very positive that everything would be okay in time, but that would never happen unless I accept Xaiver's proposal. Kung magipit man ako sa pera, hindi ko siya pwedeng pabayaan lang. I would do everything just to make sure she would get the best treatment and live a longer life.
I had no idea what could happen in those three years, but as long as we were bound by a contract, wala akong dapat alalahanin. Everything would go according to plan.
Ayos lang naman siguro, no? Tatlong taon lang naman... I can do that. I can be his wife in papers. Magpapanggap lang naman ako... Magpapanggap lang kami... This isn't a real marriage anyway. I can still have the dream life I want to have in the future after this. It will all be okay after this.
Isang malalim na paghinga ang ginawa ko nang humakbang palapit sa lamesa. Nagtaas ng kilay si Xaiver sa ginawa ko at nawala ang purong pagseseryoso. His lips twitched while he fought a smile from showing.
Pinulot ko ang fountain pen na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng mga dokumento. I immediately flipped the page and skimmed through the benefits once again bago ko isa-isang tinanggal ang mga ayaw ko. Nilagay ko rin ang mga kondisyon na gusto kong idagdag. Hindi ko 'yon pinirmahan dahil gusto kong i-revise ulit nang mas maayos at mas pormal. I wouldn't risk it. Kahit papirmahan niya pa sa akin ang may mga bura ko, hindi ko gagawin.
"Here." Binalik ko sa kanya ang agreement. "I want it revised that way. Kapag ayos na saka ko pipirmahan. Pero kung gusto mo, ako na lang ang gagawa. Walang problema."
"So... you're finally agreeing now?" he asked.
"I have some amendments to the contract. Basahin mo muna."
While nodding his head, there was a ghost of a smile on his lips as Xaiver picked up the documents. Unti-unti nga lang nagkaroon ng mga linya ang kanyang noo nang makita kung ano ang ginawa ko.
"You removed your monthly allowance and you also don't want a house... and a car?" tanong niya na para bang hindi siya naniniwala sa ginawa ko.
"I don't want your money," I simply told him. "But for now... tatanggapin ko ang alok mo na sagutin ang dialysis ni Mama. Once I found a new job, ako na ulit ang magtutuloy."
"You will work?"
"Nilagay ko rin diyan." Pagkasabi ko no'n ay inilipat ni Xaiver ang mata sa gawi kung saan ko 'yon sinulat. "I don't want to be a housewife. Mababaliw ako kapag nasa bahay lang at walang ginagawa. I will earn my money. Hindi ako manghihingi sa 'yo."
"You don't need to work. I will get you a supplementary—"
"Ang sabi ko, hindi ako manghihingi sa 'yo at hindi ko kailangan ng pera mo," ulit ko bago pa siya matapos. "Babayaran ko rin ang aabunohan mong pang-dialysis ni Mama kapag may trabaho na ako."
"Chantal—"
"You said all conditions will be in my favor. Ayan ang mga kondisyon ko, Xaiver," pirmi kong sabi.
Kung ipapasok ko lang din naman ang sarili ko sa giyera, kailangan ay handa ako. I'd make sure that I wouldn't be completely miserable.
Ilang sandali pa kaming nagkatitigan ni Xaiver. I didn't back down just so he could see how determined I was. I didn't let his daunting gaze intimidate me. Even when my legs were starting to shake, I stood firm on my ground.
Fortunately, Xaiver eventually heaved a sigh and shifted to his seat. Ibinaba niya ang mga dokumento sa lamesa. His eyes didn't leave me, though. He watched me keenly, not letting even the slightest move or change of expression in me slip his attention.
"Very well..." he muttered. "You'll work after our wedding. But for now, I want you to focus on the preparations. I don't want you interrupted, and I want it done fast."
"Preparations? For what?"
Xaiver's jaw clenched, feeling offended. "Our wedding."
I heard him say that pero hindi ko alam kung paanong kasal ba ang binabalak niya. Why do I need to focus on that? Pwede namang magtrabaho ako habang inaayos 'yon!
"Ayos lang sa akin kahit anong kasal. Pwedeng civil na lang tayo para hindi na masyadong magastos at mabilis lang din ang pag-aayos, if you want us to marry right away," huwestyon ko.
"Civil?" Isang baritonong tawa ang ginawa ni Xaiver. "I'm Xaiver Dela Vega, and you expect me to wed in a civil way? Tingin mo paniniwalaan nila tayo? My mother will surely not allow that. I also don't want that for us."
"So, ang gusto mo..."
"I want a grand wedding," he declared. "We'll hire the country's best wedding planner. They will help you with the preparations and make sure that our wedding will happen in a month without any delays."
In a month?
Napakapit ako sa dulo ng aking blouse. Sino'ng mag-aakalang ikakasal na ako sa loob ng isang buwan? I never imagined getting married this early and certainly not to him.
"I'll also set a meeting with Diego for your dress. I'm sure he can do something about that and expedite the process of making you one," Xaiver added. "Also... you don't need to look for a job. I'll hire you again after our wedding."
My eyes widened at that. Napaayos ako ng tayo. "I don't want to be your secretary. Gusto kong magamit ang pinag-aralan ko."
"And you will," agap niya. "I'll let you choose which department you want to work for."
"Xaiver, alam kong walang available position ngayon sa DVH. Ayos lang sa akin ang maghanap ng trabaho sa ibang kompanya," sabi ko.
That would be better for me. At least I would have time to be away from him, and not constantly be under his watch.
"No. You will be my wife, and it's only natural that you'll work in our company. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng iba kapag nalaman nilang hindi sa kompanya ng asawa mo nagtatrabaho?" he reasoned and made sense.
Asawa ko?
Napalunok ako sa ginamit niyang salita, ngunit hindi ko na rin 'yon masyadong pinuna. Gusto ko nang matapos ang pag-uusap namin tungkol doon.
"As long as I won't get any special treatment, I'm fine with it," sabi ko na lang.
Tumango siya. "Of course."
Bumuntonghininga ako matapos naming magkasundo at umayos ng tayo. "Kung gano'n, mauuna na ako."
"I thought you offered to revise the contract?" Xaiver raised a brow and pushed the documents closer to me. "You can do it now para ma-review at mapirmahan din natin agad."
Agad-agad?
"Okay. I'll need a computer or—"
"You can use my laptop."
Mabilis na kinuha ni Xaiver ang kanyang laptop sa isang drawer. Akala ko ay iaabot niya lang sa akin 'yon, ngunit tumayo siya at tumungo sa small visitor's area sa loob ng opisina. He placed the laptop on top of the coffee table before turning to me.
"Will you be comfortable working here?"
"Kahit saan."
Tumango siya. "The soft copy of the agreement is inside, too. Pwedeng i-edit mo na lang para mas mabilis."
"Nagmamadali ka ba?" hindi ko napigilang itanong sa kanya habang papalapit sa sofa.
Tipid lamang na ngumiti si Xaiver. Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko at pinuntahan ang mini ref. Kumuha siya ng isang canned juice at pati na rin baso na katabi lamang no'n ang lagayan. Pagkatapos ay bumalik din saka inilapag ang dala-dala sa tabi ng laptop.
"If you need anything else, just tell me. I'll ask someone to get you what you want."
"No need. Kaya ko ang sarili ko," sabi ko na lang saka naupo.
Binuksan ko ang laptop at tatanungin ko pa sana kung ano ang password niya ngunit tuloy-tuloy lamang 'yon bumukas. His lockscreen and wallpaper were plain black. Halos walang laman din ang kanyang desktop. It spoke so much about his personality — dark and candid.
"Saan dito 'yung file?" tanong ko at nag-angat ng tingin sa kanyang pirmi lamang na nakatayo sa harapan ko.
"Here," sabi niya at kaysa ituro lang sa akin ay talagang umupo pa siya sa tabi ko.
Dahil nasa harapan ko lang ang laptop, Xaiver had to lean forward to reach the laptop. Half of his body was already right under my nose. Dikit na dikit din na sa akin ang kanyang kanang hita.
I froze in place while letting him navigate his laptop. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang pinipigilan ang paghinga. I didn't want to give away that I felt nervous when he came close and erased the distance between us. Ayaw kong isipin niyang naapektuhan ako sa kanya.
It took him more than a minute to find what I needed. Hindi ko alam kung bakit medyo natagalan pa siya sa paghahanap ng file na siya mismo ang nag-save. I didn't bother peeking through the screen dahil ayaw kong mas magkalapit kami.
"Sorry. I forgot where I initially saved it," Xaiver reasoned, then pulled himself back. "I'll just finish some work. Call me once you're done."
Umayos akong muli sa pag-upo at bahagyang umusog palayo sa kanya. Mabuti na lang din at tuluyan na rin siyang lumayo nang tumayo upang bumalik sa lamesa. Habang abala siya sa trabaho ay inedit ko na ang agreement.
We were both busy for the next thirty minutes. Sigurado kong walang kulang at malinaw ang lahat ng nakasulat sa agreement naming dalawa. Napaisip nga lang akong saglit sa confidentiality part. Sigurado akong hindi dapat makarating sa Mama niya ang pagkukunwari naming dalawa. But what about my mom? Kailangan ko rin bang magsinungaling sa kanya?
Kagat-kagat ang aking labi, nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Xavier. He seemed busy reading a proposal, but the moment I lifted my gaze to him, he quickly moved his attention to me and put the papers down.
"You need anything?" tanong niya at akmang kukahanin na ang cellphone para siguro itawag kung ano man ang kakailanganin ko.
"No, uhm, I just wanna ask something," nag-aalangan kong sabi.
"What do you want to know?"
"About our agreement... kanino lang natin pwedeng sabihin?"
Binaba ni Xaiver ang cellphnone at saka sumandal. "Obviously, walang ibang dapat makaalam bukod sa 'ting dalawa. But Joseph already knows a thing or two about our setup, so he's an exception. I'll make him sign an NDA to make things easier for us at makakasigurado tayong walang lalabas unless he's willing to pay for the damages," Xaiver answered. Halatang napag-isipan na niya ang lahat. He always had solutions to his problems kahit paparating pa lang 'yon.
Bahagya akong napayuko. Muli kong naisip si Mama at hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya na ikakasal na ako sa loob ng isang buwan. Ni boyfriend ay alam niyang wala ako, pagkatapos ikakasal agad ako?
Bukod pa ro'n ay parang 'di ko kayang magsinungaling. Not that I didn't lie to her ever, but I felt like this matter wasn't something I should hide from her. I didn't want her to worry.
"Chantal..." Xaiver calmly called me, and I looked at him again. Ramdam ko ang paninimbang niya sa akin. "What's wrong?"
Syempre, lahat ng nangyayari ngayon ay mali pero... "Iniisip ko lang si Mama," sabi ko. "Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya na... ikakasal na ako..."
Saglit ding natahimik si Xaiver, but as always, he immediately thought of a solution. "We'll talk to her together. I can visit her tonight if that's alright with you."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Tonight?!"
"What's wrong?" His brows furrowed. "The sooner, the better."
"Huwag mamayang gabi! Give me time to get ready! Pwedeng this weekend na lang?" hingi ko ng tawad. "Susubukan kong pahapyawan si Mama para hindi siya mabigla..."
I thought Xaiver would insist on going to my house that night, but he just nodded. "I'll go this weekend, then. You know her better. I'm sure you know that's the best thing to do."
Tumango naman ako at nakahinga nang maluwag nang mapapayag si Xaiver. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ay itinuloy ko na ang pagtapos sa agreement. I proofread every page twice before printing hard copies for us to sign and presenting them to Xaiver.
"This is the revised agreement," sabi ko sabay lapag ng mga dokumento sa lamesa niya. "You can review them first before we sign. Ayos na sa akin ang lahat ng nandyan."
Agad iniwan ni Xaiver ang mga ginagawa niya at pinulot ang agreement na ginawa ko. He quickly skimmed through the pages. He didn't bother thoroughly reading every page and signed the agreement without any question.
"Hindi mo ba babasahin?" tanong ko.
"I trust you," he simply said, then signed the other copy. "And I already gave you my word. Ikaw ang bahala sa lahat. I just need you to be my wife and nothing else."
Napakurap-kurap ako habang pinapanood siyang walang pag-aalinlangang pinirmahan ang lahat. Ibang-iba 'yon kapag pumipirma siya ng kontrata tungkol sa negosyo. Pero given na siguro 'yon. Milyon-milyon o baka bilyon pa ang mawala sa kanya kung hindi babasahin nang maayos ang mga kontratang pinipirmahan niya. On the other hand, I was just a small and temporary investment to him.
Once he was done signing the agreement, he offered his fountain pen to me to countersign. "Your turn."
Kahit na ako ang gumawa ang agreement naming dalawa, hindi ko magawang pumirma kaagad. I couldn't even remember how things escalated this fast. Pumunta lang sana talaga ako para kumprontahin siya sa pagpapahirap sa aking kumuha ng trabaho. I guess I really fell into his trap. I knew everything was part of his plans to lure me, but I still did — I took the bait. I turned my back on my principles and just hoped I wouldn't regret it.
"Are you hesitating now?" Xaiver asked, slightly taunting.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "No."
Itinagilid niya lamang ang kanyang ulo habang tinititigan ako. Dahil mukhang hindi siya naniniwala sa akin, hindi ko na pinatagal pa at agad na pinirmahan ang kontrata.
"Done," I stated and gave him one of the copies. "Ayan ang sa 'yo. I'll keep the other."
"Thanks," he said and immediately got his own copy. Kita kong nilagay niya 'yon sa drawer at dinig na dinig ko ang pagsusi niya.
"Are we done now? Pwede na ba akong umuwi?" nagmamadali kong tanong.
"No. We're not done just yet," agad niyang sagot saka tumayo. He held his chin up and walked toward me.
"Ano pa—"
My words got suspended as my lips parted when I saw Xaiver pull a shiny round thing from his pocket. I'm not stupid not to know what that was kahit hindi ko pa masyadong nakikita. Kaya naman nang bigla niyang kinuha ang kamay ko upang isuot 'yon, muli akong napasinghap.
It was a silver engagement ring with the same design as the necklace's pendant from the auction. The camellia flower was embedded with diamonds all over — parehong-pareho sa necklace na nasa bag ko.
When did he prepare the ring?!
"It fits you so well..." Xaiver whispered after sliding the ring on my left hand's ring finger. Sumilay rin ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi at saka nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. "Now, you're really engaged to me."