Play Pretend

Chapter 14

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 14
Resignation

There was great tension between Xaiver and I as soon as we entered his office. He walked straight to his huge office desk and sat on his swivel chair. Pagkaupo ay niluwagan niya ang kanyang necktie bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. His domineering aura immediately sent chills down my spine.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at hindi na sinubukang mas lumapit pa. Siguro ay nasa limang hakbang din ang layo ko sa kanya.

"Is he hitting on you?" Xaiver asked as soon as his eyes laid on me.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Sino?"

"The photographer."

"No." Ito lang ba ang pag-uusapan namin?

"He is trying to hit on you," he stated with his jaw clenched, ignoring my answer.

"Tinatanong niya lang ako kung gusto kong maging model."

"That's because he finds you beautiful. He likes you."

Seriously? Bakit pa siya nagtanong kung may sarili naman pala siyang sagot na papaniwalaan?

Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang ideyang gusto ako ng photographer gayong tinatanong lang naman nito kung gusto kong maging modelo. He was the one who got hit on by the creative director. Sa paraan pa lanang ng paghawak sa kanyang braso kanina ay halatang gusto siya ng babaeng 'yon.

"Ito ba ang pag-uusapan natin, Sir?" hindi ko na napigilang tanungin ang tanong na naglalaro sa isipan ko.

Xaiver's jaw clenched repeatedly. He looked pretty annoyed. Tuluyan niya nang tinanggal ang kanyang necktie.

"I want to talk about my proposal last night," he eventually said.

My eyes narrowed. He still won't drop this?

"Gusto kong pag-usapan natin nang mabuti. I admit it was wrong of me to just blurt that out, so I want us to have a proper conversation," paliwanag niya.

"Sir, wala na po tayong dapat pag-usapan tungkol doon. Hinding-hindi po magbabago ang isipan ko," mariin kong sabi. "Gaya ng sabi ko, I take marriage seriously."

"I know. You made that clear last night. I admit that I still don't share the same sentiments as yours, but I promise you that this marriage will benefit us both," sabi niya saka inilatag ang kanyang sariling iPad sa lamesa. "You can read this first before you decide."

"Ano 'yan?"

"Read it."

Kagat-kagat ang ibabang labi, nag-aalangan akong lumapit sa kanya. Although I was certain nothing could change my stand regarding his proposal, I was curious as to what he had prepared. He sounded confident that I would reconsider his crazy idea once I got to read whatever he wrote. Kaya naman bumigay rin ako at kinuha 'yon sa kanyang lamesa.

"Marriage Agreement?" basa ko sa heading ng proposal.

I glanced at the number of pages and found it ridiculous that there were more than ten pages in the agreement. Ang format pa ay katulad na katulad ng mga business proposals ng kompanya. Sa pagkakatanda ko ay halos ganito rin ang pinirmahan kong kontrata sa trabaho.

"That's just a draft agreement I prepared in a rush last night. Nandyan lahat ng terms and conditions, benefits, and the likes. It's like a prenuptial agreement. If you want to add something, you may do so. We can revise the contract to your liking. For now, that's what I have to offer you," sabi ni Xaiver. He seemed so proud of himself for putting up something like this for a short time. "I want to let you know that I'm also serious about this marriage, Chantal. Pinag-isipan ko ring mabuti ang lahat. This isn't just a spur of the moment to me."