Dauntless

"Anong ginagawa natin dito?" Tanong ko kay Vaugn. Nasa isang parke kaming dalawa, wearing matching shirts. Magka-holding hands pa kami pero wala doon ang atensyon niya. His eyes scanned the place as if looking for someone. Yung mga tao ay ngumingiti habang pinagmasdan kaming dalawa. They must have thought that we look cute together. Ang hindi nila alam ay this is all just a show. "I heard that Suri have a scheduled shoot here today," He replied. "Saan mo naman nalaman 'yan?" I asked back. "Connections! You do know that I can pull some strings, right?" He said. Napatango nalang ako. Gaya ng ginawa niya ay inilibot ko din yung paningin ko. We are looking for a tall lady, beautiful and most of all, a person who would stood out the most. Nag-iisang babae na nagpapatibok sa puso ni Vaugn. Suri Jimenez. "There she is!" Sabik na sabi ni Vaugn at lumingon sa akin. "Alam mo na kung ano yung gagawin natin." "Ano yung gagawin natin?" I asked. He frowned. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo. You want me to repeat it again?" He sighed. "Lalapit tayo sa kanya but let's pretend that we didn't saw her. Just act as if you are so in love with me and I will do the same. Okay?" I nodded. "Got it." "Let's go!" He smiled at me and held my hand tighter. Nagsimula na kaming lumapit sa babae kung saan nakaupo sa bench na para bang may hinihintay. Kasama niya ay ang kanyang bodyguard. May mga cameras na din na naka-set. Mukhang may shoot nga siya ngayon. Umupo kami sa bench na hindi naman kalayuan kung nasaan siya. Yung tamang distansya lang para marinig niya kami at mapansin. "Mi amor, I have a surprise for you!" Biglang sabi ni Vaugn sa akin. Malakas niyang sinabi iyon para makuha yung atensyon ni Suri. Vaugn's back is facing Suri so I can see Suri clearly. Kung ano yung reaksyon niya ay makikita ko yun. Hindi ata narinig ni Suri yung sinabi ni Vaugn kaya nilakasan ko yung sagot ko. "What is it Vaugn?" I asked. Nilagyan ko pa ng diin 'yung pangalan para mapansin at hindi naman ako nabigo. Pagkasabi ko nun ay agad napalingon si Suri sa direksyon namin. Success! "Vaugn? Did you just call me by my name?" He asked na para bang nagtatampo. "May iba ka na bang mahal? Sino 'yan? Mas gwapo pa ba sa akin?" I chuckled and pinched his cheeks. "Ang cute talaga ng baby ko. Of course nag-iisa ka lang sa puso ko. Saying your name just hits different! Pero kung gusto mo ng mi amor edi mi amor!" He chuckled. "Sige na. May surprise nga ako sa'yo." "Ano yun?" I asked. Wala siyang sinabi kanina na may ibibigay siya. Sinabi niya lang naman na kapag nandyan si Suri dapat ipakita namin na nagmamahalan kami. Childish man pakinggan pero gusto niyang paselosin yung ex niya. "Tada!" He exclaimed and showed me a ring. My eyes grew wide. Oh my gosh! It's a diamond ring! Kumikinang yung bato sa gitna at paniguradong sobrang mahal nito kapag bilhin. It could pay my unpaid rent! Heck! Mukhang one year salary ko na ito sa bar na pinasokan ko! "Mi amor, what is this?" Gulat kong tanong. Genuine talaga yung pagkagulat ko. I mean, this is too much! "A promise ring," He replied smiling. "I want to spend my life with you. I want make a family with you. I wanna grow old with you." "Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed. I gave him my hands and he inserted the ring on my finger. Maluha-luha ko itong tiningnan. Ang mahal naman tingnan at talagang hindi nababagay sa taong kagaya ko. Never in my life I would think that I could wear something as expensive as this. "Nakatingin ba siya?" Bulong ni Vaugn sa akin. Pasimple akong tumingin sa direksyon ni Suri. I caught her staring at Vaugn's face pero hindi ko mabasa yung ekspresyon niya sa mukha. It's emotionless. "Oo," I whispered back. "But no emotions." "D*mn it!" He cursed under his breath. "Let's make it more believeable." "More believeable?" I asked. He nodded. "Just follow my lead." Wala akong ibang choice kundi ang tumango. "I love you," He said, loud enough for Suri to hear. Napakurap ako. I felt my stomach in turmoil. Parang sirang plaka itong umulit-ulit sa aking tenga. Sobrang bilis nang t***k ng puso ko at natatakot ako na baka marinig niya. "I... I love you too," I replied. It was suppose to be fake. No feelings attached. Pero bakit pagkasabi ko nun ay nababaliw na yung puso ko? Hindi ko dapat ito nararamdaman! Hinawakan ni Vaugn yung pisngi ko sabay titig sa aking mga mata. He leaned closer and his eyes landed on my lips. His lips parted and just like that, he kissed me. Napakurap ako nang maramdaman yung labi niya sa labi ko. Napapikit ako at hinalikan siya pabalik. A tear escaped my eye. Hindi tama itong nararamdaman ko. Vaugn and I agreed to not let our feelings attached. I agreed to pretend as his girlfriend in exchange of money. Win-win situation ito sa amin kasi gusto niyang pagselosin ex niya. He didn't explained why at hindi na din ako nagtanong. Ako naman ay binabayaran niya in exchange of my acting. Lubog na ako sa utang at hindi ko na alam kung saan tatakbo. When he offered me a huge amount of money, I agreed. I needed that money. Kailangan kong mabuhay. I didn't expect that I would set aside my feelings to survive.