The Contract

Chapter 4

DASHIEL

I decided to go home after I finished signing some contracts from new clients.

Shan was laughing hard while watching a cartoon show on the television.

“Did you already cook dinner?” tanong ko sa kanya.

She gave me an irritated look and immediately turned off the TV.

“Is that your way of greeting someone?” mataray niyang tanong.

“I’m not greeting you. I’m asking! Stop being nonsense,” sagot ko bago dumiretso sa kwarto namin.

Tsk! Why is she like that? She’s not perfect, though!

“Dash, nakakain ka na ba? Nakapagluto na ako,” mahinahon niyang sabi.

Bakit ang dali niyang mag-iba ng ugali?

“Sa tingin mo? Nagtatanong nga ako, ’di ba, kung nakapagluto ka na kasi hindi pa ako nakakain,” suplado kong sagot.

“Okay. I’ll just prepare the table,” sabi niya bago umalis.

After we ate, I headed to my office to finish some paperwork.

Nakatulog na si Shan at hawak-hawak pa niya ang phone niya. I slowly grabbed it from her hand, at aksidente kong nakita ang message para sa kanya dahil bigla itong nag-pop up.

(Good night! I hope magkita tayo ulit.)

A message from Dylan Reyes?

Wow. She’s flirting with this famous model.

Dylan Reyes is our top model, at halos lahat ng clients ay siya ang kinukuha for advertisements.

How could she do this, huh? She’s just ruining our reputation! She’s married to me, and now she’s flirting with this guy?

I don’t want this to continue.

Pagkagising ko ay wala na si Shan sa tabi ko. I did my morning routine, then I went downstairs. Nagluluto siya ng breakfast pero panay ang silip niya sa phone niya.

“What are you doing?!” sigaw ko habang lumalapit at biglang kinukuha ang phone niya.

Pilitan niyang inaagaw iyon mula sa akin, pero hindi ko ibinigay.

(I miss you! It was my fault! I broke up with you because of nonsense reasons.)

“A message from Dylan, huh? What’s the meaning of this?!” galit kong tanong.

“Dash… let me explain,” sabi niya habang pilit inaabot ang phone.

“It explains everything! You’re ruining our family reputation! How dare you do this?!” sigaw ko.

Dali-dali kong inihagis ang phone niya, at nabasag iyon nang tumama sa pader.

Tama lang na wasakin ko ’yan para wala na siyang magamit.

“Dashiel!” sigaw niya habang nilalapitan ang wasak na phone. “Bakit mo ginawa ’to, huh?! It was my brother’s gift! Hindi mo alam kung gaano ’to kahalaga sa akin!”

She was crying—but the hell I care.

“Mahalaga? Asan? ’Yung phone mo o si Dylan?!” pangungutya ko. “Stop acting na kawawa ka, Shan! You’re a slut, and no one can change that side of you!”

“Cruel! Demon!” sigaw niya.

Agad siyang umalis at dumiretso sa kwarto, bitbit ang wasak niyang phone.

“I’m the boss here, Shan,” mariin kong sabi. “Kahit anong gawin mo pa diyan, ako pa rin ang masusunod.”