Exclusively Yours, Levi

38 Levi

"Hi."

After three days of deliberation with herself, Banang has come to a tough decision. Well, for herself at least. It was the longest days of her life. How much mental anguish did she have to endure? How many sleepless nights did she have to spend? Ilang pagkain ang tiniis niyang hindi kainin para lamang makapag-isip? Ilang tubig ang hindi niya nainom? Who knows? Siya lang talaga ang nakakaalam. At ganun-ganoon lang ay bigla siyang nakapag-isip at nagkaroon ng desisyon.

Ilang araw ding hindi siya nagpapakita kay Levi. Ayaw pa niya itong makita. She could not afford to see that smug on his cute cute face. Wait, did she just say cute? Nasisiraan na talaga siya ng bait. Kung bakit pa kasi ginagawa iyon ni Levi.

Pero sa totoo lang, may choice naman talaga siya na idisregard ang offer ng lalaki. She could always ask their Volition adviser to reassign again the task. Or she could withdraw from the engagement, as simple as that.

Pero ang pakikipagkita niya ngayon kay Levi ay para iconsider ang offer nito. First of all, she was intrigued and was totally challenged on Levi. Secondly, of course, ayaw man niyang aminin ay gusto niya ring maexperience ang gustong maexperience ng mga kababaihan, which is to be with Levi. She would be hypocrite kung itatanggi niya iyon.

She would hide it pero may umuusbong ng kakaibang damdamin sa kanyang puso. Damdamin para kay Levi na kailanman ay hindi niya maintindihan. That silly cliche 'the more you hate, the more you love' is unfortunately progressing on her and she has no way to fight it.

Mula sa panood sa cellphone nito ay unti-unting nag-aangat ng tingin si Levi. That wrinkled forehead greeted her again as usual. Then, his face slowly turns brighter. And a very sweet smile was easily painted all over his face.

"Oy, long time no see ah." buong-buo ang bose na sabi nito. Well, his annoying tone did not fail to reach her eardrums. A teasing tone that is way way too irritating.

"Ganoon talaga." she said in equal tone. "Naging busy eh. Kumusta ka na?"

"Wow, totoo? Kinukumusta mo ako?" muli nitong sambit. At mas lalo siyang nairita. She was a certified abnormal. Kanina lang ay gusto niya itong makita, ngayon ay naiinis na naman siya.

"Ayaw mo? Eh, di huwag."

"Don't worry. I am always fine. Ikaw, kumusta ka na? Hope you did not spend the three days deciding wether to accept my proposal."

Bingo! And he was always right!

"Hindi ah." she uttered, trying her very best not to be too obvious. Iyon naman talaga ang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya nagpapakita rito.

"Sabi mo eh. So, anong meron bakit mo ako dinatnan dito?"

"I was actually considering your offer."

Biglang napatawa si Levi ng napakalakas. Tawa na ngayon lang niya narinig. And it was some sort of music to her ears. Another shameful confirmation, abnormal na nga siya talaga.

"Really?" wika nito na ang tono ay hindi pa nababawasan ang pagkapilyo. "I did not expect that."

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Siyempre gusto ko." natatawa nitong pag-amin.

"Ok." she said softly and brought out her memo pad swiftly. "Ok, let us get started."

"Whoah! Not so fast Missy." Itinaas pa nito ang dalawang kamay sa paraang susuko. "It is not that easy."

"What do you mean?" Siya ngayon ang biglang kinabahan. What could Levi possibly be thinking?

"Remeber, may kundisyon ito. Walang bagay na nakukuha sa madaling paraan missy."

"Will you stop calling me that? I have a very beautiful name and don't spoil it by calling me missy over and over again."

"Beautiful? I doubt that?"

"And you mean?"

"Wala. Let us get on with the real thing. I just want to repeat. In exchange for an interview, you will be my slave? Am I right?"

"Yep!" napilitan niyang sang-ayon. "But I preffer assistant over slave."

"Ok, as you wish."

"Yun naman pala, eh di simulan na natin mg matapos na."

"Tsk! Tsk!" Levi shook his head in a very cool manner. Talking about of being wholesome. "Hindi mo ako mauuto. Kung matatapos na kaagad ang interview, ay baka tatakbuhan mo lang ako. Kailangan kong makasigurado muna na tutupad ka sa usapan natin."

Doon ay bigla siyang napaisip. Wala naman talaga iyon sa kanyang isip sa totoo lang. She never intended to get away from Levi after she will get what she wanted from him. And now that he mentioned it, she was considering on doing that awesome idea. "Ok, so what exactly do you want to happen?"

"Do first what I want you to do then you can have that interview."

"Parang ako naman yata ang dehado." Siya naman ang umangal. "Paano kung takbuhan mo ako?"

"Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon?"

"Eh, basta. I don't trust you."

"Ok, ganito na lang, Ilang tanong ba lahat iyan?"

"I don't know. Depende."

Natigilan ito at kunwari ay nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip but knowing him, alam na ni Savannah na may nakareserba na sa utak nito. Levi is too clever for her.

"I have a brilliant idea." Sa wakas ay sabi nito pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pagkukunwari. "Ok, be my slave, i mean my assistant for indefinite period. Matatapos lang iyon ang pagnatapos na rin ang interview mo sa akin. I will still have my own rules."

"Sure. That's a good idea." Tuwang-tuwa si Banang sa mga nangyayari. Madali lang naman ang gagawin niyang interview kaya mabilis lang siyang magiging assistant. "But I will set my own rules too."

"Truce. Ok, you can start tomorrow."

"Sure, but I need first your rules."

"Bukas ko na sasabihin. Mag-iisip pa ako." Natahimik ito bigla. Saka lang niya napansin na inaabot nito sa kanya ang hawak nito kaninang cellphone. "Save your number para makontak kita if ever."

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang cellphone and entered her cellphone number. Nang matapos siya ay nakangising kinuha ni Levi iyon at ito na ang naglagay ng kanyang pangalan.

"You are dismissed. And have a good day."

Mabilis na tumalikod si Banang. A victorious smile is playing on her face. Tatapusin na niya kaagad ang interview kay Levi bukas para isang araw lang siyang maging slave kuno nito.