MY BIG FAT ROMANCE

MBFR : 34

EPISODE 34: TERMS AND CONDITIONS

"Do you have a boyfriend?" napataas ang kilay ko sa tanong niya. Air conditioned ang room pero pakiramdam ko ang init-init sa loob. Pinaypayan ko ang sarili gamit ang aking kamay, "No, but is that a part of the interview?" balik-tanong ko sa kaniya. Kailangan niya pa dapat malaman kung may boyfriend ako o wala saka siya mag-de-desisiyon kung tatanggapin niya o hindi?

Nakita ko ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa labi niya habang tumatango, "Yes, this is a must nasa resume ang status information," tugon nito sa tanong ko. Kinunotan ko siya ng noo, "Single, married, widow and annulled lang ang nakalagay sa status, walang in relationship," pagtatama ko na hindi niya man lang binigyan ng pansin. Ganito na ba siya ka-ignorante ngayon?

May kinuha siyang papel at binasa, "Do you have suitors?" tanong ulit nito sa akin, nakita ko ang pag-cross fingers ng mga kamay nito kaya napangisi ako, "I have," sambit ko umaktong nag-iisip. Gumalaw ang panga nito, "How many?" saad niya habang nakasampok na ang malalagong kilay.

Nagbilang ako sa kamay, "As long as I can remember I have more than five suitors. 'Yong isa Chinese, ang isa nam---"

"No entertaining of suitors. You are prohibited dating other guys," putol nito sa sasabihin ko. May tinipa ito sa laptop, hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ko siya, "As long as you're working under my company I have the right to laid out the terms and conditons. You also need to give me your contact number and your address. You need to tell me first who and where you're going."

I cross my arms trying to figure out where he found his guts saying things out of nowhere. Did he just hire me just to stop dating other guys? And to know what the hell I am doing?

Pasampa kong inayos ang pagkaka-upo ko, "And why would I do that?" tinitigan ko siya sa mata at doon ko napansin kung gaano kalaki ang pinagkaiba niya.

He looks matured and more intimidating, his aura can make the crowd gasp and hold their breath. His jaw is now well defined and his shoulders become broader. My eyes went on his calloused hands up to his red lips. My throat dries as our eyes linked.

A playful smile appears on his sculpture, "Dear, Miss, Austria. Whatever happens to you, my company is accountable. It is my duty to provide insurance and at the same time safety to my employees. And of course to avoid that, you should tell me your schedule and even your contact number," he explained while playing a pen on his fingers.

Whatever he says, e-ho-hold accountable niya din ba ang pang-gho-ghost niya sa akin ng walong taon? Kapag nangyari 'yon malamang mas malaki ang moral damages na babayaran niya sa akin. Inirapan ko siya, "Fine," sagot ko at sinulat ang lahat ng sinambit niya sa papel na inabot niya sa akin. Mahina niya naman binasa ang address ng condo ko bago tumango-tango.

"One more thing, I'll be the one who will fetch you on and off to your work," ani nito. Napairap na naman ako. Bakit niya naman ako susunduin parti ba ng trabaho ko ang magpahatid at sundo sa kaniya. Babayaran lang niya ba ako para lang magpahatid at sundo? Hindi na ako makapagpigil at sinagot na siya, "May I ask you a question?" natigilan naman ito sa sinabi pero agad naman itong tumango at napaayos ng upo, "Go ahead."

Tumikhim muna ako bago magsalita, "Terms and conditions pa ba ito o relationship goals na?" muntikan niya nang maibuga ang tubig na kasalukuyang iniinom. Napatikhim din ito at dinama ang dibdib. Gusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko ang sarili at inayos ang aking damit.

Ngumisi naman ito nang makabawi, "We are discussing employee and employer relationship. Unless you want to become a CEO's wife," ako naman ang napaubo sa isinagot niya. I was too stunned to think that perhaps he already has a wife or even a family. Ang daming pwedeng mangyari sa loob ng walong taon and I guess this would a nice reason to ask him.