Play Pretend

Chapter 7

Ten Million

“Zoe Bautista?” I echoed her name as I stared at her with my eyes wide open.

Tipid siyang ngumiti at tumango sa akin bago binawi ang kanyang kamay. She stood straight and raised her chin, looking more elegant. I almost found her intimidating as well, pero dahil halos araw-araw akong may kasamang mas nakaka-intimidate pa kaysa sa kanya ay naging balewala na lang sa akin ‘yon.

“You must be wondering why I know your name,” Zoe said, still wearing a gentle smile.

Hindi na ako sumagot dahil mukhang alam ko na kung kanino niya ‘yon nalaman. She didn’t need to tell me anymore.

“I asked Tita Mira kung may kalapit na babae si Xaiver aside from Hariette. She said he’s close with you,” pagpapatuloy ni Zoe kahit na hindi ko naman tinatanong. She then eyed me quickly before smiling again. “I initially thought you were my rival… But it turned out you’re just his secretary.”

“You’re wrong.”

Napatalon ako nang madinig ko ang baritonong boses ni Xaiver na sumingit. I sensed him coming closer and before I could turn around, he was already standing beside me.

“Xaiver!” Zoe enthusiastically mentioned his name.

Kita ko ang pagningning ng mga mata ni Zoe nang makita siya. She looked like a fangirl who unexpectedly crossed paths with her idol. She was over the moon that she didn’t seem to get what Xaiver had just said.

Like he was deliberately ignoring her, Xaiver turned to me. He scanned me from head to toe, then asked, “Are you okay?”

Napaawang ang aking mga labi. Ilang segundo rin akong napatulala bago tumango-tango. Nang ibinalik ko naman ang tingin kay Zoe ay nakakunot na ang kanyang noo. She stared at me and Xaiver suspiciously before she recovered from that and put on a huge smile on her face.

“Xaiver, hi!” Zoe moved a step forward to come close.

Galing sa akin, unti-unti siyang nilingon ni Xaiver. You could easily see it in his face that he was unwilling to entertain her. Ganoon lagi ang itsura niya sa mga babaeng pinapakilala ni Mrs. Dela Vega. He was always cold and indifferent.

Usually, women would back down once they found him uninterested, but some were really persistent. I couldn’t blame Xaiver for losing his interest even more because of that.

“You are?” Xaiver asked, making Zoe’s jaw drop in disbelief.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Tiningnan ko ang ekspresyon ni Xaiver at seryosong-seryoso lamang siya habang nakatingin sa babae. Despite that, I knew he was just bluffing. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize her, lalo na’t nadinig niya ang mga sinabi nito kanina.

“Z-Zoe Bautista…” Zoe was flustered that she somehow lost her confidence. “I’m sure your mother has mentioned me to you already. We were supposed to meet last time for lunch, pero may bigla ka raw appointment na kailangang puntahan.”

I pursed my lips tight. It seemed like Mrs. Dela Vega had to make up an excuse not to embarrass Zoe. Nandoon ako at saksi ako sa mga nangyari.

Xaiver was also looking forward to having lunch with his mother after being away for a month-long business trip, but as soon as he knew his mother planned to trap him in a blind date, he didn’t think twice. Agad siyang umalis kasama ko. He didn’t want to meet her. More so, date her.

“Oh, right…” Xaiver flashed a mocking grin. “Sorry about that. My mother has introduced me to a countless number of women already this year. I can’t possibly remember everyone’s names, right?”

I couldn’t help but mirror Zoe’s reaction as her eyes widened after taking that huge blow. She looked really offended, but she managed to collect herself and still put on a smile. Hindi ko maiwasan ang maawa sa kanya kahit na alam ko ang rason ni Xaiver kung bakit ganoon siya makitungo.

“Anyway, excuse us. We still have to look around.” Xaiver casually wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led us away from Zoe.

Hindi pa kami masyadong nakakalayo ay nakita kong nagmamadaling maglakad pabalik si Hariette. Her eyes slightly dilated when she saw me with her cousin, ngunit agad din siyang nakabawi at mabilis na kinain ang distansya.

“Sorry, Kuya,” Hariette immediately apologized as soon as she reached us. “Tinawag ako ni Mr. Arcanas at kinausap ko rin sina Mrs. Garcia sa table nila.”

“It’s fine,” tipid na sabi ni Xaiver. “Ako na ang bahala kay Chantal. You go and entertain your guests.”

Hariette slightly bit her lips. She wasn’t convinced enough, but since she really had to go her way, she had no other choice. Mabilis siyang nagpaalam sa aming dalawa bago umalis para kausapin pa ang ibang mga guests, lalo na ang mga kakadating pa lang.

Xaiver and I proceeded going around the hall. Hindi maalis sa isipan ko ang mga sinabi niya kay Zoe at pati na rin ang reaksyon nito. I wondered how she took his harsh words. Siguro ay titigil na rin siya kagaya ng iba. She seemed like she was a woman of class—someone who should know her worth.

We also went to dinner. Kasama namin ni Xaiver sa table sina Knoa at Hariette.

“Powder room lang ako,” paalam ko kay Xaiver at saka kinuha ang purse sa ibabaw ng lamesa pagkatapos kumain ng light dinner.

Xaiver quickly picked up the table napkin to wipe his mouth. Nagulat ako nang bigla rin siyang tumayo at akmang sasama sa akin.

“What are you waiting for?” tanong niya nang makitang hindi ako gumagalaw. “Let’s go.”

“Sasama ka?” maingat kong tanong.

“Not inside,” he cleared out. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

Sumabog ang tawa ni Knoa. “What the f**k. Am I just hearing things or… damn?”

Matalim siyang pinukol ng tingin ni Xaiver.

Knoa immediately pressed his lips together. He tried his best not to laugh even when he seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Muli kong naramdaman ang pag-akyat ng init sa aking mga pisngi. “Huwag na, Xaiver,” sabi ko at binalik niya agad ang mga mata sa akin. “Dito ka na lang. Sandali lang naman ako.”

Xaiver pursed his lips, contemplating hard if he would heed to my request. Halos kalahating minuto rin siguro siyang nag-isip bago nagpasya. “Okay,” sabi niya at nakahinga ako nang maluwag. “I’ll ask Hariette to accompany—”

“No need!” agap ko. “Kaya ko naman mag-isa. Busy rin si Hariette.”

Mabilis na tinapos ni Hariette ang pagkain niya kanina para makihalubilo ulit sa mga guests. She was also preparing for the start of the auction. Ayaw kong maabala pa siya sa simpleng pagpunta ko sa powder room dahil lang gusto akong pasamahan ni Xaiver.

Nanliit ang mga mata ni Xaiver. He was looking at me as if I had a plan to run away from him, but of course I didn’t have the guts to do that. Takot ko lang masisante niya. I could only do that once I was no longer his employee.

“Babalik din ako,” dagdag ko para lamang makasigurado siya.

Xaiver’s lips parted like he wasn’t expecting me to say something like that. I thought it wouldn’t work, but he eventually sighed and nodded.

“Okay. I’ll just wait for you here,” sabi niya.

That put a smile on my face. Tipid akong tumango pabalik sa kanya bago tumungo sa powder room, which was located just beside the function hall.

There were two women inside the powder room when I arrived, who also seemed to be part of the elite class. Napasulyap ang isa sa akin nang pumasok ako. She seemed uninterested at first, ngunit agad niya ring binalik ang tingin at tumitig upang suriin ang aking damit.

I quickly turned my eyes away. Kunwari ay hindi ko pansin na tinitingnan nila ako. I guessed that they were familiar with the dress, especially as it was the same design as what Anne Hathaway wore during the recent award show. Isa pa ay gawa ito ng sikat na international Filipino designer and fashion icon.

Mas lalo akong nagsisi na hinayaan kong bilhan ako ni Xaiver ng damit. I should’ve held on and persisted. I didn’t like the attention I had been receiving just because of what I was wearing. Hindi ako komportable.

Pagkapasok ko sa loob ng cubicle ay saka lamang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. I was so happy to be out of their sight. At dahil ayaw ko nang makuha pa ulit ang kanilang atensyon, I waited until they finally left the powder room.

I mentally counted ten seconds after I heard the door close. Once I was done with the countdown, that was the only time I went out of the cubicle. I thought I was safe, but Zoe’s reflection in the mirror was the first thing I saw.

Zoe was calmly washing her hands on the sink as she slowly lifted her gaze to look at my reflection in the mirror, too.

Hindi ko malaman ang gagawin noong una. Kaya nga lang ay agad kong naisip na hindi magandang desisyon ang manatili pa. I just simply nodded and smiled at her out of courtesy, then turned away. However, before I could leave the powder room, she suddenly spoke, stopping me in my tracks.

“You seem really close to Xaiver, huh?” Zoe said, her tone hinting at malice.

I didn’t want to fight nor argue with her. Magpapatuloy na dapat ako sa paglabas kaya nga lang ay mukhang ayaw niyang palampasin ang pagkakataon na makausap ako.

“You’ve been working for Xaiver for how many years now?” she asked.

Napalunok ako. I didn’t want to be rude and not answer her question, so I politely met her gaze and forced a smile. “Three years.”

Tumango-tango siya at pinatay na ang faucet. She pulled a few sheets of napkin from the dispenser and started wiping her hands.

“I guess that’s really long enough to build such a bond with him,” Zoe meaningfully said as she spun around and leaned her back on the sink. “I honestly thought you weren’t a threat but….” She once again surveyed my dress. “Hmm… Three million pesos.”

Kumunot ang noo ko.

“You don’t know?” she asked, then pointed at my dress. “Iyon ang halaga ng damit na suot mo ngayon.”

Napasinghap ako sa nalaman. I knew the dress was expensive, but I didn’t expect it would cross more than a million. Ang estimated ko ay nasa kalahating milyon pababa ang presyo, not three freaking million pesos.

“I know for certain that you cannot afford something that costs that much. It was obviously Xaiver who bought you that dress. I guess I was wrong to think that you’re not a threat,” pagpapatuloy niya saka umayos ng tayo. “Anyway, I’m sure you know where you are supposed to stand, Chantal. Masyadong malaki ang agwat ninyo ni Xaiver. Alam mo naman siguro ‘yon, ‘di ba?”

I clenched my fists, holding myself back. Ayaw kong patulan siya. I thought she was elegant and classy, pero mukhang nagkamali rin ako ng unang impresyon sa kanya. Knowing her true colors, wala akong balak na bumaba sa lebel niya. Alam kong hindi rin ‘yon magugustuhan ni Xaiver.

“The auction’s about to start. I should head back to the hall now,” Zoe said and flashed a smile. “See you around.”

Mabilis na umalis si Zoe dala-dala ang kanyang purse. Nang makalabas siya sa powder room ay napabuntonghininga na lamang ako.

I fixed myself before going out of the powder room. Hindi ko na naorasan kung ilang minuto akong nawala. Naabutan ko na lamang si Xaiver na naghihintay sa akin sa labas ng function hall.

“What took you so long?” tanong niya, may bahid ng pag-aalala ang tono ng kanyang boses.

“Nag-ayos pa ako. Sorry.”

Xaiver sighed and shook his head. “Never mind,” he said. “Tara na. The auction’s starting. Knoa has reserved our seats.”

Tumango ako at maglalakad na sana ako papasok ngunit inilahad ulit sa akin ni Xaiver ang kanyang braso. I bit my lower lip as I clung to his arms, and we entered the hall in the middle of biddings.

Nasa stage na si Hariette na siya mismo ang nagpa-facilitate ng auction. The first item was a beautiful art piece by Yoko Ono. It was almost an abstract-looking art that featured a kintsugi, an ancient Japanese art style.

“Three million,” dinig kong sabi ng isang businessman habang papalapit na kami sa upuan.

Xaiver asked me to sit beside Knoa, pagkatapos ay saka siya naupo sa kabila ko.

“What are you getting?” Knoa asked his cousin once we were seated.

“I don’t know yet,” Xaiver simply replied.

Tumango naman si Knoa. “I’ll get this one for my house then,” sabi niya saka lumingon ulit sa harap.

“Three million. Any higher bids?” Hariette asked in a formal tone while surveying the bidders.

Gaya nga ng sabi niya, itinaas ni Knoa ang kanyang auction paddle. “Four million.”

Some people gasped and whispered to each other when Knoa raised the bid double the current one. Alam kong ginawa niya ‘yon para wala nang kumalaban pa sa kanya. It only showed that he was willing to go pay more for the painting.

“Six million is the bid.” Nakangiti na si Hariette sa pinsan. “Yoko Ono’s painting at six million with Mr. Knoa Dela Vega Laurente. Anyone going for seven?”

“Just let me have the damn painting…” Knoa sternly whispered.

Everyone was still quiet after Knoa had made his bid. May naririnig pa akong ilang nagbubulungan kung susubok, but they still conceded in the end.

“It is with Mr. Knoa Dela Vega at six million pesos… Okay. I think everyone is out. The piece is sold!” Hariette announced, which was followed by a round of applause.

Habang pumapalakpak ay nilingon ko si Knoa. He was wearing a smile smugly, looking so proud of himself for taking home the piece he wanted.

The other auctioned items were sold smoothly. Patingin-tingin ako kay Xaiver dahil hindi pa siya nakakapag-bid. He looked so bored as the event went by. Nothing seemed to pique his interest.

“Our second to the last auction for tonight is a jewelry piece close to my heart. It has been with me for five years already.” When Hariette started introducing the next item, I knew it would be the necklace. “This is from a limited edition jewelry collection from Chanel. The collection is inspired by my favorite flower—camellia.”

I couldn’t help but shift to my position when they finally showed the necklace on stage. The spotlight shining on it made it sparkle, looking more pristine and expensive.

“This is a Fil de Camélia necklace made from 18K white gold and a total of 0.84 carats of 64 brilliant-cut diamonds. Bidding will start at 500 thousand pesos,” Hariette said and opened the bidding.

“600 thousand.”

Ang pamilyar na boses ni Zoe Bautista ang una kong nadinig pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng bidding. I turned to her and saw that she wasn’t far from our seats. Iilang silya lang din ang pagitan namin.

I licked my lips and lowered my head a little. Muntik kong makalimutan na gusto niya nga pala ang necklace na ‘yon.

I didn’t know what had gotten into me, pero ayaw kong mapunta sa kanya ‘yon. If I were only rich enough to spend so much for a jewelry, baka sumali na nga ako sa auction para lamang hindi niya makuha ‘yon.

The camellia flower represents purity. I didn't want to be hard on Zoe, but my interaction with her in the powder room spoke volumes of who she was as a person. And so, I felt like she didn't deserve to have that.

“One million.”

Halos mapatalon ako sa upuan at sabay lingon kay Xaiver nang madinig ko siyang magsalita. I found him raising his auction paddle and wearing a serious expression on his face while making a bid.

“Now, this is getting interesting…” Knoa whispered in amusement beside me.

“The bid for Fil de Camélia is at one million with Mr. Xaiver Dela Vega,” Hariette announced. “Any bid higher than one—”

“One million and five hundred,” Zoe fought back.

“Two million.”

“Two million and five hundred.”

“Three million.”

“Four million.”

“Ten million.” Tamad na nanatiling nakataas ang auction paddle ni Xaiver habang nagsasagutan sila ni Zoe, showing how stubborn he was to get the necklace.

The hall was filled with loud gasps. Napatakip na rin ako sa aking bibig. My eyes were wide open as I stared at him in disbelief. Mukhang ayaw niya nang patagalin pa ang bidding para sa necklace kaya tumalon na siya sa ganoong halaga.

Nadinig ko ang bulungan ng mga tao. They wondered why Xaiver was eager to get the necklace. Napaisip din sila kung may hidden value iyon na hindi nila alam para gumastos agad si Xaiver ng sampung milyon. It was the highest bid for the night.

“Ten million is the bid, and it still is with Mr. Xaiver Dela Vega!” Hariette sounded more excited. “Miss Zoe Bautista, ten million and five? Eleven?”

Nang banggitin ni Hariette si Zoe ay hindi ko napigilan ang sariling muling tumingin sa kanya. I caught her shaking her head and slowly pulling her arm down along with the auction paddle. She was smart enough to surrender, knowing she wouldn't win over Xaiver.

“Miss Zoe Bautista is out!” Hariette announced and smiled widely. “Fil de Camélia white gold necklace is sold at ten million to Mr. Xaiver Dela Vega!”

Everyone clapped their hands, and Knoa went over the top, whistling to express his delight.

Unti-unti kong binalik ang tingin kay Xaiver. Walang nagbago sa kanyang ekspresyon noong una. Nakataas pa rin ang auction paddle habang diretso ang tingin niya sa pinsan na nasa entablado. But in the next second, one corner of his lips gradually rose to a grin of contentment.