Chapter Seven
Nahigit ko ang aking hininga nang mas higpitan ni Adam ang hawak sa akin. I was too shaken to even noticed how lingering his touch was. It was careful and protecting and somehow eradicated the coldness wrapped around my body.
He led us to a secluded part of the restaurant. Hindi ko alam kung paano nakayanan ng aking katawan ang makisama sa kaniya sa kabila ng tingin ng mga tao sa amin. I hated the awful stares. It was my phobia ever since something like this happened to me, to us. Naitatak ko na sa aking isip na ito ang pinakakinatatakutan ko sa lahat.
Ang mahusgahan at mapagbintangan sa lahat ng bagay. My mother and I, we’ve been through a lot. We were insulted. Itinaboy kami at hindi ipinagtanggol. I had gotten used of not being brave because I wasn’t like my mother. We were the total opposites. Hindi siya takot na harapin ang lahat ng tao sa kabila ng panghuhusga at pananaboy. She’d caught everything just to protect me, para lang maprotektahan ako at hindi na madamay pa sa gulong naidulot niya.
“Are you okay?” banayad ang naging tanong ni Adam sa akin. Hindi ko namalayang nakaupo na ako at siya nama’y bahagyang nakaluhod at tinititigan ako.
I breathed hard. Tumango ako at hindi nagsalita. HE looked relieved as he sighed and stood up. Umupo siya sa kabilang upuan habang kinakalma ko ang aking sarili. I clamped my fist to prevent my hands from fidgeting. Nang humupa ang aking takot ay saka lamang ako nakatingin sa kaniya.
“I’m sorry…” I apologized. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya at napatitig sa mesa. “ I’ve caused you trouble, didn’t I?”
“ No, you did not.” aniya. NApalingon ako at napatitig. HE looked serious and untroubled by my sudden panic.
Tumango ako at natahimik. The waiter arrived and gave us the menu. Hindi ako makapili sapagka’t wala doon ang aking atensyon. In the end, Adam chose for me. Nang umalis ito ay siya namang pagtitig niya sa akin. His face was etched with all seriousness.
I cleared my throat. “Bakit tayo nandito at ano ang dapat nating pag-usapan?”
His face crumpled and he hesitated on saying something. Alam kong may bumabagabag sa kaniya base na rin sa kaniyang pagpipigil. I, too was uncomfortable with the sudden atmosphere. PAkiramdam ko ay ikagugulat ko ang kaniyang sasabihin sa akin.
“ I need a companion.” he stated.
Kumunot ang noo ko roon at hindi nakuha ang kaniyang sinabi. “Excuse me?”
He leaned on his seat and took the wine glass in his hand. Bahagya niyang ginalaw ang wineglass upang umikot ang inuming nasa loob. The maroon color of the wine looks inviting same as the man who was holding it but I paid attention to what he was about to say.
“ I’ve always had a hard time finding someone to accompany me to every business deals.” he looked at me over the rim of the glass. “ I’ve got countless of list, yes, but they don’t satisfy me at all.”
“ And what does it have to do with me?”
Ibinaba niya ang wine glass. His look got me overwhelmed. May tila ipinahihiwatig ang tingin niyang iyon. Pinagsalikop ko ang aking mga kamay upang pigilang abutin siya. This man was making me lose myself and it was just his stares. Hindi niya ako hinahawakan at nilalapitan ngunit parang isa akong manikang binabalutan ng mahika.
“ You’re different. The auction made it convenient for me to find a woman that’s fit for the position. I found you interesting, Miss Rivera. You were different among them.” ngumiti siya. I’ve seen that smile when we were together in Davao. Natatandaan ko pa ang gabing iyon.
“ I…” I trailed. Hindi ako makapaniwalang maririnig ko ang mga salitang iyon sa kaniya. “ I hardly believe it, Adam. I am not rich, you see. Hindi ako katulad ng mga babaeng iyon. I don’t fit with you. And I don’t…”
