Deal Breaker

Chapter 3

I was sitting infront of my vanity mirror. I can see Keira's wrinkled forehead. The worries on her face is very obvious. Halatang ayaw sa nais kong gawin. Tila ba isang joke ang mga paliwanag na sinabi ko patungkol roon sa deal namin ni Drake na siya pa lang isa sa matalik na kaibigan rin ng boss namin na si Avery Blake, iyong lalaking may gusto sa kanya.

“Bakit?” She asked me.

“Anong bakit? We were just going to pretend everytime Kyla is around. Okay lang naman iyon sa akin dahil tutulungan niya naman ako in return. I waited too long for this, Keira Jomarie. Hindi ko na ito palalampasin."

"Kapag magpapanggap kailangan mag-contour at mag-matte lipstick?" May pangangastigo niyang tanong. Ito talagang babaeng ito lahat na lang ay napapansin.

"You're overthinking. I just want to be look ineffable."

I sat beside her at faced her. "Drake Belcher is the owner of AB's chains of mall here in the Philippines. I need to be presentable," simula ko. "Paano kapag nakita kami ng ibang tao tapos mukha akong katulong, nakakahiya 'diba?" She made a face. Muli akong nagtungo sa harap ng salamin at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

"Kung gusto mo ihingi na lang kita ng tulong kay Avery. I am not sure though if he's also friends with Attorney Nigel Revamonte dahil hindi ko pa naman nakikilala lahat ang mga kaibigan niya. But I'm sure matutulungan niya tayo..." nagsusumamo niyang saad.

"Don't bother, Bes. I already made a deal. Okay?"

Malalim siyang napabuntong hininga. “Bes, wala namang masama roon pero masama 'yang gagawin mo sa puso. What if you fell inlove?” Tanong niya na may nanunuring mga mata.

Hindi ko naman iyon naiisip dahil hindi naman mangyayari. Imposible naman talaga dahil magpapanggap lang naman kami kung kinakailangan.

“’Di ‘yan. Sobra ka talaga mag-isip. Again, we will only do it if Kyla is around, that's it. Basic. Kanya-kanyang buhay na ulit after. And then if they got back together I will finally have a chance to face Attorney Revamonte. Mabilis lang 'yon. I already had a plan to make things work in a span of short time." I shrugged, giving her a proud smile.

"Maka-basic akala mo naman nagka-boyfriend na. Naku, basta ingatan mo 'yang puso mo."

"Don't worry about me, bestfriend. I can handle it." I picked up my bag and winked at her. "And I will never fall for him," I confidently said before opening the door.

After fifteen minutes ay narating ko na ang lugar kung saan kami magkikita ni Drake. I can easily see him through the glass wall of the restaurant. Disheveled hair as usual, ngunit kahit ganoon ay hindi man lang nabawasan ang kagwapuhan nito. Ang mamula-mula niyang pisngi ay sumasabay sa magandang sikat ng araw. I wonder what's his skincare. 'Di hamak na mas maputi kasi at makinis siya sa akin. His white v-neck tops looks good on him together with his khaki shorts. Malayong-malayo sa porma niya noong una kaming magkita. Simple man ang damit ay hindi iyon naging hadlang upang hindi siya maging angat sa lahat ng nasa loob. Girls around her are obviously fantasizing over him. Napairap ako sa hangin at pumasok na.

"Hey," I greeted him. He stood up and offered his hand. Ah, that smile already made my day. I took it and shook it quickly. Mabilis ko iyong binawi dahil nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang kuryenteng hindi ko maipaliwanag. It's tickling and exciting at the same time. Hindi naman sinabi ni Keira na bawal magka-crush 'diba? Bawal lang ma-inlove.

So, crush is check.

"You look nervous," he said. Lalo akong hindi mapakali. Sino ba naman ang hindi kakabahan sa ganitong set-up. Hindi pati ako sanay na tinititigan ng ganito nang kahit sinong lalaki. I never had a boyfriend.

"You can't blame me. Bigla akong magkaka-boyfriend ng wala sa oras na rehearsal ang kailangan hindi ligawan." He looked at me with amusement na para bang may kakaiba sa sinabi.

"Just act natural. We need to get to know each other first."

"Kailangan ba talaga 'yon? Magpapanggap lang naman tayo. It's not like we're going to kiss..." My eyes widened at that realization. "D-Do we need to? I mean, I know that we're "couple" but please, no kiss, no touch..." Napahawak ako sa pisngi kong siguradong namumula na. "And no.. oh my God! I'm o-overthinking, I'm sorry..." His sexy chuckle filled my ears. Halata ang pagkaaliw habang nakatitig sa akin.

"Chill. We will only just hold hands or hug to make us look a real couple. Well, yeah, I need to kiss you..."

"Huh?!" "But not at the lips. Sa noo or sa kamay. That will do, okay?"

Okay? Is that okay? No. I think it's not okay. Pwede bang magtake-advantage ka naman kahit kaunti? Iyong biglaan lang na nahalikan niya ako like aksidente lang gano'n? Ipinilig ko ang ulo sa naiisip.

Aayaw-ayaw mo kanina tapos nagpapalusot ka ngayon? Hitad ka Kate!

"Sure. Sounds good," I agreed.

We ordered food and eat while discussing things we need to do. Simple things lang naman iyon like we need to hold hands, hug sometimes and be sweet at all times kapag kaharap namin si Keira.

"Tutal ay involve naman na ako rito ano? Pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit kayo naghiwalay? I mean in full details para naman maiayon ko ang reaction and moves ko everytime we need to go chummy sa harap niya."

"She rejected my marriage proposal a year ago to pursue her dreams in Paris. She's a fashion designer. I offered her na pwede naman akong sumama roon but she declined. Nakipagbreak siya dahil nasasakal raw siya sa akin."

"Ang babaw naman. She could pursue her dreams kahit malayo siya at engaged na kayo," katwiran ko.

"Masyado lang siguro s'ya mataas mangarap. Ganoon na siya noon pa man. She easily gets distructed kaya siguro ganoon ang naging desisyon niya. Ngayong bumalik na siya sa Pilipinas ay gagawin ko ang lahat bumalik lang siya sa akin. She already gets what she wants, there's no reason to get distructed anymore," he confidently said na para bang sure na sure siya na magiging madali ang kanilang pagbabalikan.

Bakas sa mga mata ang pag-asa na matutupad ang mga gusto niya para sa kanila. Good for me too dahil magiging mabilis rin ang pagkikita namin ng matalik niyang kaibigang abogado.

"How long are we going to pretend?" I asked him.

"It won't take that long, I'm sure she will run to me as soon as possible after she meet you."

"What was she like?" I asked him while munching my food.

"She's sweet, beautiful and a caring girlfriend. A bit perfectionist but I understand that because his father was like that to her. She has a lot of pressure on her plate," nakangiti niyang sambit.

"What things she hates on you?"

"What!?" gulantang niyang tanong pabalik.

"What, what? We need that for her to realize your worth. Hindi naman pwedeng laging pabor sa kanya iyong relationship niyo. She has to accept your flaws. You said she is a perfectionist. Doon natin siya kantiin. Hello, we're not perfect. I'm sure marami rin siyang ayaw sa'yo. Not unless under ka, syempre hindi mo iyon ipapakita." I giggled at that thought. He was looking at me with wide eyes. Hindi makapaniwala sa mga sinabi ko.

"But I don't wan't her to hate me. Bakit ko gagawin ang mga ayaw niya? I'm not crazy. Paano siya babalik sa akin kung gano'n ang gagawin natin?" Napailing siya at dinala ang tasa ng kape sa kanyang bibig.

"Drake, it's easy and it will benefit you two. Just tell me what she hates about you. Then I just show to her that I am willing to accept it whole heartedly. Syempre maiinggit siya na ako kaya kitang tanggapin na hindi niya nagawa noon. Kahit ano pa 'yan, like for example, sobrang mainitin ang ulo mo or mabango ang hininga mo..."

"You wanna try?" Naghahamon niyang tanong. Pikon naman nito nagtatanong lang, eh. I rolled my eyes, siya naman ay biglang natawa.

"Dali na."

"Well, she easily gets annoyed when I talk about marriage, how I miss my family and how I am so dedicated with charity works. Inis din s'ya kapag kasama ang mga kaibigan ko sa lakad namin. Napanganga ako.

"Wow. Anong nakakainis doon?" He shrugged. I can see disappointment and longing in his eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe because redundant na iyong mga kwento kong ganoon kaya naiinis siya. Wala naman na akong kasama sa buhay. I only have my friends and Nigel in my life as my family. Mahal ko rin ang pamilya niya, they treat me as a real member of their family as well. Baka boring rin kasi pakinggan kaya naiinis siya. Wala naman kasing interesante sa akin." Natawa siya ng hilaw sa tinuran. Sadness is obviously consuming him while he was telling me about his family.

Maaga siyang iniwan ng kanyang mga magulang at ganoon rin kabilis na pumanaw ang mga magulang na umampon naman sa kanya. I can relate to the pain he has in his heart and his sentiments. I don't think Kyla deserves a man like him. Drake is very soft and fragile when it comes to his family. Ang nakikita ko sa kanya'y isang lalaking sabik na magkaroon ng tunay na pamilyang tatanggap sa kanya. Na iyong bagay na iyon lang ay sasapat na.

"I-I'm sorry if I'm asking too much. Like what I've said I will show Kyla that I can love your flaws, I can endure all your personal family drama para marealize niya na iyon lang ang way para tanggapin mo siyang muli if ever maging effective nga na mapaselos natin siya at kung gaano ka-special ang taong pinakawalan niya." His reaction gave me that he's still not convince with my plan.

"Okay.. Then?"

"That's it. I'm sure mare-realize niya sooner or later ang mga pagkukulang niya rin sa'yo. It's a win-win 'diba? Magkakabalikan kayo and definitely you will both make things better this time. Hindi lang iyong puro siya ang uunawain mo. Give and take. Huwag puro paselos lang. Ang boring no'n. That's so teenager." Doon na sumilay ang matamis na ngiti sa mapupula niyang labi. He deserves a genuine love that would accept his sentiments, his flaws and shortcomings.

"You're good at this." I winked at her and take a bite of my dessert.

"Thanks."