His Secret Proposal

6

It was another day for work. Maagang nagdesisyon si Daniel magtrabaho para mamayang gabi ay balak niya puntahan si Eve. It's been days since the woman was ignoring his calls and text. She said that she was busy but he doubted that. Noon pa man iyon lang ang unang pagkakataon na inignora siya ng babae. Kahit ang totoo ay wala siyang matandaang ginawa niyang kasalanan o masama rito. Ang huli naman nilang pagkikita ay sa club at noon man ay ayos lang kay Eve na may iba siyang babae na magpapaligaya sa kaniya. Kaya hindi niya maisip ang dahilan ng pag-iwas ng babae.

Alas-otso palang at patungo siya sa office niya para magtrabaho pero naipit siya sa kahabaan ng kalsada dahil sa trapiko. Napasipol nalang si Daniel habang nakikinig sa music sa loob ng kotse. Wala kasing nangyayaring pag-usad.

He was then fingers tapping impatiently on the steering wheel when he saw her. Agad namang kumurba ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi at pinatay ang music sa loob ng kaniyang kotse.

Attorney, nakita kita ulit! Turan niya sa isip habang parang sira na nakangiting tinatanaw ang babae.

The woman stood in the middle of the street, arguing with a much larger man. Napailing nalang si Daniel habang pinapanood ang babae. Para itong tigre na nakikipagtalo sa malaking lalaki. Sigurado siyang walang laban ang babae pero wala rin itong takot na makipagtalakan doon.

He watched the scene and clearly he thinks that she bumped into the big guy car, but instead of backing down, the woman stood her ground, hands on her hips, defiantly refusing to let the man push her around. Mas lalo namang napahanga si Daniel sa nakikita sa babae. Ang lakas ng kompiyansa nito maliban sa pagiging maganda at sexy ay tiyak niyang dahilan para maging attractive siya sa mata ng iba.

Daniel smirked, rolling down his window slightly to get a better view. Pinanood niya lang ang babae at natuwa pa sa traffic. Naisip niyang maganda rin minsan ang nagagawa ng pagtambay sa daan. And there he remember the first time he saw her. Nasa daan din siya habang nakatitig sa imahe ng babae sa billboard. And now he's here again, watching her and admiring her confidence and braveness. Nakagat niya ang labi at natawa sa naisip.

Tadhana ba ‘to?! Phew.

Mayamaya nanlaban na rin ang lalaki, mukhang hindi rin ito magpapatalo. But Megan was unfazed, sa tayo palang ng babae halatang hindi ito agad sumusuko.

“This is getting interesting,” Daniel muttered to himself, already considering his next move. He pulled his car out of the lane, deciding to approach the scene. Hindi niya alam kung tama ang ginagawa basta alam niyang may sinusunod siyang parte ng utak niya.

Agad siyang lumabas ng sasakyan matapos gumilid and then Daniel casually approached the confrontation.

“Hey!” he called out to the man, his voice dripping with an easy charm. “I think it’s clear that the lady doesn’t want to give you anything. Let me talk to you then.”

The man turned to Daniel, clearly sizing him up, but before he could say anything, Daniel already handed him a wad of cash. “This should cover the damage,” he said with a grin, his tone light but assertive. Agad namang kumurba ang ngiti sa labi ng lalaki at tinanggap ang pera na inabot ni Daniel.

Megan, however, wasn’t impressed. She crossed her arms and gave him a scathing look. “Sino namang may sabi na makialam ka?”

Tumaas ang kilay ng babae lalo pa ng nagmamadaling umalis ang lalaking kanina’y kaargumento niya. Napasinghal nalang si Megan sa inis bago walang takot na hinarap si Daniel na ngiting-ngiti pa rin sa kaniya. Ewan ba niya pero si Daniel ang tipo ng lalaki na kahit wala pang ginagawa ay napipikon na siya. Siguro dahil nahuhuli niya itong laging nakangiti sa kaniya at napepreskuhan siya roon. Idagdag pa ang pagiging mahangin at kayabangan ng lalaki na napapansin niya sa kilos at pananalita nito.

“Pwede ba…stop acting like a superhero, Mr. West? It doesn't suit you. And for the record, I don’t need anyone's help… especially your help.” May diin ang bawat salita ng babae pero hindi man lamang naapektuhan si Daniel. Mas tumindi pa ang pag-hanga niya sa babaeng kaharap. Kung ibang babae siguro ay hahalikan niya na para manahimik kakaputak sa kaniya pero hindi niya magawa iyon kay Megan. Hindi niya lang maintindihan kung bakit. Hindi naman siya takot sa babae, natutuwa nga siya sa pagiging suplada nito.

Then he chuckled, taking a step closer to her. “I was just trying to be nice, Attorney. I don't think there's nothing wrong with that, right?” He teased, his smile widening. “But I see you’re the type who can handle things on your own. I like it.”

She rolled her eyes. Pinakita niya talaga sa lalaki na wala siyang interes kahit sa pagpapalipad-hangin nito. “I don’t have time for this,” she said curtly, turning her back on him and walking away, her steps fast and determined. Pero agad na narating ni Daniel ang pinto ng kotse niya at hinarang ang babae para pigilang umalis.

“Ops, wait!” Malapad pa rin ang ngiti niya sa babae na pinagkrus lang ang dalawang braso sa harap at tinitigan siya ng seryoso.

“Ano na naman ba?” Parang kahit anong oras ay sasabog na siya sa inis dahil sa ginagawa ng lalaki. “What do you want?” Nagtitimping tanong niya rito.

Daniel then playfully smiled. “You sure you wanna know?”

Napabuga ng hangin si Megan, napapagod na sa pakikipag-usap sa lalaki. She met a guy before like him but she never met a man a persistent just like him. At iyon ang kinabubwisitan niya pa.

Daniel smirked, leaning casually against Megan’s car door, his hands tucked into the pockets of his pants. “So, Attorney Megan, what do you say we grab some coffee? You know, tingin ko kasi parang pinaglalapit tayo ng tadhana.”

“Tadhana?” She rolled her eyes. This man’s confidence irritates her. Kung pwede niya lang isampal dito ang sinabi nito ay ginawa niya na. “Mr. West, sa tanda mong ‘yan naniniwala ka sa tadhana? Besides, I don't think its fate that connected us. Sa tingin ko kasi kamalasan ‘yon.” Ngumiti siya ng mapakla sa lalaki bago muling umirap.

Megan sighed, nauubusan na ng pasensya. “And of course, just so you know I don’t mix business with pleasure. And even if I did, dating someone like you wouldn’t even cross my mind.”

Daniel feigned a wounded expression, clutching his chest. “Ouch. Sakit mo naman, Attorney. Someone like me? What’s that supposed to mean? Someone na saksakan ng gwapong tulad ko?”

Megan arched an eyebrow. “Gwapo? Dream on, Mr. West. It means I’m not interested in someone who thinks charm and money can solve everything.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say everything,” Daniel replied, his grin widening. “But they do make life more interesting, don’t you think?”

Megan scoffed, her hand reaching for the car door. “Pwede ba…umalis kana! Nakakasira ka ng araw kung alam mo lang.”

But Daniel didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping into a teasing tone. “Come on, one coffee!”Pinakita niya pa ang hintuturo sa babae pero inirapam lamang siya nito. “ I promise I’ll behave. Or at least try to.” Kumindat pa siya pagkatapos.

Megan crossed her arms, her gaze icy. “Dating you isn’t in my job description, Mr. West. And for the record, I’d rather spend my time with a beggar than with someone who thinks life is a game. Kaya alis! Move! O baka gusto mong tumawag ako ng pulis at ireklamo ka?” Nanghahamong tanong ni Megan sa lalaki na ngumiti pa rin.

Then after a second finally Daniel made a step back, though his smile never faltered. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, Attorney, you win. For now.” Mapaglaro ang ngiti nito sa labi nang gumilid siya. “Pakiramdam ko kasi magkikita pa tayo muli.”

Megan shook her head, muttering under her breath as she opened her car door and got inside. Before she could drive off, Daniel knocked lightly on her window, catching her attention one last time. Binuksan niya iyon at masamang tiningnan ang lalaki na nasa labas.

“What?” She arched an eyebrow.

“For the record,” he said, his voice softer now, ginaya ang tono ni Megan kanina. “I don’t give up easily. Nakuha mo ang interest ko sa babae, Attorney. I’ll see you around and that's a promise!”

With that, he stepped back, letting her drive away. As her car disappeared into the traffic, Daniel stood there, a determined glint in his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled softly to himself. Para siyang sira na ngiting-ngiti sa papalayong kotse ng abogada. Napailing-iling siya nang maisip ang kalokohan.

“Challenge accepted,” he murmured. Megan might have walked away today, but Daniel West wasn’t the kind of man to let go of something—or someone—he truly wanted.

***

Five hours later.

Megan entered the law firm, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Ang utak niya pa rin ay nasa kakatapos lang na meeting sa labas ng firm nila. It was a challenging deal but she manage to get the client’s approval. As she approached her desk, her steps slowed. Sitting neatly on her workspace was a large bouquet of red and white roses paired with a steaming cup of coffee.

Wala pa man ay napasimangot na ang dalaga sa nakita. “What the…”

Before she could process, her coworkers began to swarm around her. Halata sa mga ito na excited, bagay na hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit.

“OMG! Attorney, who’s the lucky guy? Ikaw ah! Di ka nagsasabi, nakikipagdate kana pala! ” One teased, leaning over her desk to inspect the flowers.

“Finally, may nakakuha na sa atensyon ng isang Megan Almera Juanco!” another chimed in with a knowing smirk.

Napairap nalang si Megan sa kahihiyan at inis na nararamdaman. “It’s not what you think, okay? Psh.”

She set her bag down and hesitated before picking up the card tucked into the bouquet. Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang card at binasa ang mensahe na nakasulat doon.

“Attorney Megan,

Since you turned down my coffee offer, I thought I’d send it to you instead. Consider it my way of thanking you for keeping things...interesting.

—Daniel West”

Napakagat labi nalang siya sa inis. Gusto niya magmura pero nasa opisina siya. That infuriating man from earlier. She could almost hear the smugness in his voice as she reread the note.

Hay! Ano bang problema ng isang ‘yon? Kainis!

Megan sighed sharply, tossing the card onto her desk. “Nagkakamali ka ng niyayabangan, Mr. West kung alam mo lang ,” she muttered under her breath. “I don’t fall for tricks like this. Parang bata!”

Her coworkers continued to hover, exchanging amused glances. “So? Sino itong Mr. West huh? Is he handsome? Rich?”

“Mr. West? Oh my God! ‘Yung kapatid ba ni Daniella West ng Glam Beauty Makeup line?” Nanlalaki ang mata ng babaeng abogada habang nagtatanong. Mayamaya ay umirit ito na parang teenager na kinikilig.

“OMG! Sya nga! Hala, ang swerte mo naman, Attorney. Pogi na mayaman pa!” Komento ng isa.

“He’s not attractive at all, he's nnoying,” Megan corrected flatly. She picked up the coffee and handed it to one of her coworkers. “Here. You can have this. I’m full.”

Her coworkers blinked in surprise. “Are you sure? It’s still hot.”

“I’m sure,” Megan replied curtly. Umirap pa siya dahil sa inis na nararamdaman. Kung ang mga katrabaho niya ay kinikilig, purong inis at galit naman ang nararamdaman niya para sa lalaki. Mayabang at presko ito bagay na malaking concern niya sa mga lalaking nakikilala. She hates his guts and that's final.

Without missing a beat, she grabbed the bouquet and walked it straight to the trash can, dropping it in with a decisive thud. She turned back to her desk, brushing her hands off as if discarding more than just flowers.

Napansin naman ng isang katrabaho niya ang ginawa. “Megan! Those were expensive!”

“Not my problem,” Megan replied, sitting down and flipping open her laptop. “I don’t have time for childish games. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” Malamig na sambit niya.

As her coworkers exchanged glances and whispered among themselves, Megan’s focus remained on her screen. But deep down, a small part of her was irked because of the man's audacity. She then shook her head, steeling her resolve. “You messed with the wrong girl, Mr. West,” she murmured to herself. “Mali ka ng gustong makalaro. I'm not going to play with your childish games.”