Play Pretend

Chapter 8

Gift

Knoa dramatically clapped as Xaiver and I entered the private lounge room. Nauna na siya roon kasama ni Hariette pagkatapos ng event.

It was already past ten when the auction ended. Nagsiuwian na rin ang halos lahat at natira lamang ang mga magke-claim ng kanilang items na nabili sa auction na hindi gustong ipa-deliver na lang.

Dapat ay sasabay na rin kami ni Xaiver kay Knoa papunta sa lounge, but some businessmen came up to him. Throughout the whole event, doon lamang sila lumapit sa kanya upang batiin sa recent deal na nakuha niya sa States.

"That was a show!" Knoa was all smiles. Pagkatapos pumalakpak ay inakbayan niya si Xaiver nang makalapit. "Para akong nanonood ng TV series. It's a pity that it ended fast."

"False," Hariette chimed in while holding the box of the necklace in her hands. "You don't even know what's out on TV nowadays."

"You're lucky I love you, Hari," sabi na lang ni Knoa at ibinaba ang brasong nakaakbay kay Xaiver.

Hariette stuck a tongue out for Knoa, then faced Xaiver with a smile. It amazed me how she could easily pull off changing mood and expression in a split second. But I remembered that Xaiver once told me na kailangan ay mahusay ka sa ganoong bagay lalo na kung kailangan mong makihalubilo sa maraming tao.

Hindi ko nga lang sigurado kung pati sa kanya ay applicable 'yon. He wasn't the type of person who would go out of character just to please someone. Ang ibang tao ang gumagawa no'n para sa kanya.

"Anyway, Kuya, here's the necklace." Maingat na inabot ni Hariette ang box kay Xaiver. "I have the paper bag. Just thought you might want to check it first."

The box was all-black with s metallic gold lining of the logo. It looked really sleek and elegant. Unang tingin mo pa lang ay alam mong mamahalin na.

"No need. I'll get it with the bag," sabi ni Xaiver at hindi na tiningnan muna ang laman.

"Oh, okay, Kuya," sabi na lang ni Hariette.

Bumalik siya mula sa sofa upang kuhanin ang paper bag. Humarap naman ulit sa amin si Knoa, nakahalukipkip ang mga braso at may mapaglarong ngiti.

"So..." Knoa directed his stare at Xaiver. "To whom will you give the necklace?"

"None of your business," simpleng sagot ni Xaiver, halatang ayaw pumatol sa pang-iinis ni Knoa.

Pasimple kong sinulyapan si Xaiver. I was also curious. Masaya ako na hindi 'yon napunta kay Zoe, pero gusto ko ring malaman kung kanino 'yon mapupunta. I wonder if it's for his mom? Or a woman I don't know of?

"I'm actually curious as well," Hariette took the words from my mouth. Inabot niya ang paper bag kay Xaiver, ngunit nang kukuhanin na ito ng pinsan, mabilis niyang binawi ang kamay. "I honestly thought you're buying it back for me."

Xaiver tilted his head. He looked slightly conflicted for a moment.

"Never mind," bawi agad ni Hariette. She shoved the paper bag on Xaiver's chest. "It was hard for me to let go of this. I don't want it back."

"Wow! Humuhugot!" Knoa reacted with a bark of laughter.

"You ass—"

Bago pa siya tuluyang masinghalan ni Hariette ay nauna na si Xaiver. He gave Knoa a one solid punch in his stomach, then took the paper bag from Hariette.

Ngumuso ako upang magpigil ng tawa. Gusto kong makaramdam ng awa kay Knoa lalo na't mukhang masakit talaga 'yon, pero hindi ko magawa.

"Thanks, Kuya Xavi! That's why you're my fave cousin." Hariette sweetly smiled at Xaiver.

"Like I care." Knoa rolled his eyes.

"You're obviously jealous." Hariette raised a brow. "Why don't you be nice kasi?"

"I am nice," giit ni Knoa.

"Kailan pa?"

"I swear you—"

"We'll go now," pinutol ni Xaiver ang mababaw na pag-aaway ng dalawa. Agad naman silang lumingon sa amin. "Ihahatid ko pa si Chantal sa kanila."

Bahagya akong nagulat nang ipinasok niya ako sa usapan. Agad ding sumingkit ang aking mga mata.

Lagi niya naman akong hinahatid pauwi. He didn't have to mention that, especially in front of his malicious cousin. And yes, I was talking about no one but Knoa Laurente.

As expected, nawala si Knoa sa pakikipagtalo sa kanyang pinsan. Bumalik ang nakakarita niyang pagngisi sa aming dalawa ni Xaiver.

"Keep your mouth shut," Xaiver threatened him before he could say a thing.

Nagtaas ng kilay si Knoa bilang sagot at humalukipkip. Hindi man siya nagsalita, his annoying face still screamed at my face.

"Don't mind him. Kulang 'yan sa pansin," bulong ni Xaiver at iginaya ang aking siko paalis ng private lounge.

"Hey! I heard that!" reklamo ni Knoa.

Nagkunwari kaming walang nadinig ni Xaiver. Hindi namin siya pinansin at tuluyan nang umalis.

Habang naglalakad sa lobby ng hotel ay may nakasalubong kaming mag-asawang businessmen. I went to a meeting with them two months ago. Kasama ko rin si Xaiver noon.

"Xaiver!" natutuwa si Mr. Dizon at lumapit kasama ang asawa. "My favorite businessman! It's nice to see you here!"

Tipid na ngumiti si Xaiver at nakipagkamay. "We went to a charity ball hosted by Hariette. Katatapos lang."

"Oh, right! My wife and I were sent an invite, too. Kakauwi nga lang namin galing London kaya minabuti naming huwag munang umattend. Tomorrow, we'll fly to Bohol for the extension of our trip kaya nag-stay kami rito sa hotel malapit sa airport. I just sent a donation to Hariette," kwento niya.

Nang binanggit ang asawa ay nalipat kay Mrs. Dizon ang tingin ko. Just like the other women from the top social class, I found her staring at my gown with familiarity. When our eyes met, she smiled at me while exuding so much class and elegance.

"I like your dress," Mrs. Dizon commented. "Maniére, right?"

Hilaw akong ngumisi. "Yes, Ma'am. Thank you."

Bumalik sa akin ang sinabi ni Zoe. She revealed how much the dress actually cost. I remembered I still had to confront Xaiver about that. Mabuti na lang din napaalala sa akin ni Mrs. Dizon bago ko pa tuluyang makalimutan.

"Oh! She is your secretary, right?" Mr. Dizon shifted his attention to me.

Ngumiti ako at tumango, ngunit kasabay no'n ay ang pagsagot ni Xaiver na mas pinagbigyang pansin ni Mr. Dizon.

"She's my date."

Muntik na akong maubo sa sagot niya. Mabuti na lang at agad kong napigilan ang sarili ko.

Mukhang nalito si Mr. Dizon. "But she's your secretary, right? I remember her from our last meeting."

"She is my date," mas klarong sabi ni Xaiver. Ni hindi niya man lang kinumpirma kung sekretarya niya ba ako o ano.

I bit my lower lip. Muli ay hindi ko alam kung paano ako magre-react sa isinagot niya.

Mr. Dizon narrowed his eyes. He glanced at me and seemed like he still had a lot of questions to ask. However, he just shut his mouth, nodded, and forced a smile.

"Okay then... We'll go ahead now," Mr. Dizon said eventually. "Have a good night to you and... your date."

Tumango si Xaiver sa kanya. Mrs. Dizon also wished us well before she left with her husband.

"Let's go," sabi ni Xaiver nang makaalis na ang mag-asawa.

I quickly followed him and braved myself to confront him about the dress.

"Nagkausap kami ni Zoe sa powder room," bungad ko at agad ko namang nakuha ang kanyang atensyon.

Xaiver stopped, then turned his head to me. "Nagkausap kayo?"

I nodded. "Sinabi niya sa akin kung magkano 'tong gown na binili mo sa akin."

"She did?"

Muli akong tumango at umigting naman ang kanyang panga.

"She said it's three million. Gusto ko mang bayaran ko, hindi ako gano'ng kahibang. Hindi mo naman ako kailangang pagkagastusan ng gano'ng kalaki. I'm just your secretary," katwiran ko.

Kung hindi lang malaki-laki ang bayarin ko buwan-buwan ay baka inalok ko talagang bayaran ko ang dress kahit installment. However, I had to be realistic. I had other priorities, lalo na't may regular dialysis si Mama.

Xaiver tilted his head, and his expression also became stern. "Why? May iba pa ba siyang sinabi sa 'yo? Did she make you feel bad or—"

"Wala naman," agap ko kahit na wala akong nagustuhan sa mga sinabi ni Zoe kanina. "Gaya nga ng sabi ko, secretary mo lang ako. It doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?"

"Ang pagbili mo sa akin nung gown!"

"You mean, I can't express my gratitude to you by buying you gifts you deserve?"

"Hindi gano'n 'yon!" I couldn't help feeling frustrated. Parang pinapaikot niya lang ako para hindi magalit sa kanya o kuwestiyunin ang ginawa niya.

Of course, I won't let that happen. At ayaw ko na rin mangyari ulit ang ginawa niyang pagbibigay sa akin ng mamahaling damit o kahit ano pa 'yan.

"Hindi rin sa ungrateful ako, pero sobra-sobra kasi 'yon. Hindi ako komportable, Xaiver," pag-amin ko. "Ayaw kong may isipin ang ibang tao tungkol sa akin... sa atin. Baka isipin nila na may ano... na ano..."

"Na ano?"

"Na may namamagitan sa atin," patuloy ko. "Wala namang gano'n. I don't want to start any rumors between us."

Napatayo siya nang maayos. "So... You don't want people to think we're dating? Is that what you're trying to say?"

"Oo naman," walang pag-aalinlangan kong agot. "Ano na lang ang iisipin ng iba? At gaya nga ng sabi ko—"

"You're just my secretary, and you don't want to be linked to me," he cut me off and said it himself. "Okay. I get it now."

From looking confused and apprehensive, Xaiver's expression turned apathetic. His eyes were stone cold as if we were back to the time when I was still new to the company.

Agad akong nanlamig at napakapit ako sa saya ng aking gown. I felt the distance between us stretched far and wide. I thought I would like him back that way, but there was an unknown force in my chest that clenched my heart tight. As I didn't want to overthink, naisip kong takot na lang 'yon. I might have crossed the line and said things I shouldn't have said as his secretary. Hindi naman kami close beyond work.

"May gusto ka pa bang sabihin?" tanong niya nang matahimik ako.

Biting my lower lip, I shook my head.

"Then let's go and not waste time. It's getting late," sunod na sabi ni Xaiver at agad akong tinalikuran upang mauna nang maglakad.

Pinakawalan ko ang labing kagat-kagat at napabuntonghininga na lamang bago sumunod sa kanya. Hindi na niya ako pinagbuksan ng pintuan gaya ng lagi niyang ginagawa nitong nakaraang linggo. He quietly slid inside the SUV first, and I went right after him.

Tahimik kaming dalawa sa loob habang nasa biyahe pauwi. The silence gave me chills. Mas malamig pa ang katahimikan niya kaysa sa binubuga ng aircon ng SUV.

Pasimple ko siyang sinusulyapan. I couldn't help but check on him from time to time and see if there would be a change in emotion, even for a second. However, his expression was as hard as a rock. Medyo madilim din ang kanyang mga mata na hindi ko masigurado kung ano ang tunay niyang nararamdaman.

I honestly didn't know why I was anxious. His coldness bothered me that I sought his warmth. Sanay naman akong ganoon siya kahit dati. I just experienced a week of change, but I was acting like I was already used to it.

"Chantal."

"Sir!" Like I craved his attention, I immediately and eagerly responded to him.

Nakakunot-noo siyang lumingon sa akin. "Sir?"

My lips parted. I just blurted out the word without thinking. Akala ko rin ay balik na kami sa dati kung saang pormal ko siyang kinakausap.

"X-Xaiver..." I stammered and corrected, but relief spread in my heart, releasing my suffocating heart from being clenched tight.

Although he still looked indifferent, the creases on his forehead smoothened out a little. He shifted to his position and cleared his throat.

"Here." Xaiver placed the paper bag on my lap. "Keep it."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Sinigurado ko kung talagang nakalagay pa rin ang necklace sa loob ng paper bag na inabot ni Hariette sa kanya kanina at hindi ako nagkamali. My heart pounded hard. Kakausap ko lang sa kanya tungkol sa binili niyang gown para sa akin, pagkatapos ay mukhang balak niyang ibigay sa akin ang necklace.

Nababaliw na ba siya? This necklace is worth ten million!

Walang pag-aalinlangan kong binalik ang paper bag sa kanya. Ni hindi ko iyon hinayaan na magtagal pa sa akin.

Paano kung nawala ko 'yon? Kahit ano'ng gawin ko'y hinding-hindi ko 'yon mababayaran. I might have to give myself to him and serve him for the rest of his life if that happened.

"Hindi ko 'yan matatanggap, Xaiver!" natataranta kong sabi.

His forehead creased again. "What?"

"Hindi ba't sabi ko sa 'yo kanina lang na hindi ako komportable na makatanggap ng mga ganyan mula sa 'yo? Ang mahal-mahal niyan. I can never pay you back," paalala ko sa kanya.

"May sinabi ba akong kailangan mo akong bayaran?" nagtataka niyang tanong saka ibinaba ulit sa hita ko ang paper bag. "And I never said anything about giving you the necklace. I'm just asking you to keep it."

My lips parted at that. "Ha?" Ano'ng kinaibahan no'n?

"I can't keep the necklace with me kaya ikaw na lang ang magtago."

"Bakit naman?"

"I don't want my mother to overthink if she sees the necklace with me. You know how crazy she could get. Gustong-gusto niya nang magpakasal ako. She will force me to name my nonexistent girlfriend," paliwanag ni Xaiver. "I can't risk it. It's safer with you. Keep it."

"Bakit hindi mo na lang pinatago ulit kay Ma'am Hariette?" takang tanong ko.

"You heard her earlier. She didn't want the necklace back."

Ngumuso ako. Makukumbinsi niya na sana ako, ngunit naalala ko si Zoe. She seemed pretty close with Mrs. Dela Vega. I doubted she wouldn't tell her about the necklace. Malakas ang pakiramdam ko na magku-kwento siya sa nanay ni Xaiver.

"Paano si Zoe? Pwedeng siya ang magsabi kay Mrs. Dela Vega na may binili kang necklace sa auction," hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na magtanong. "Malalaman at malalaman niya rin kahit ipatago mo 'to sa akin."

Natigilan bahagya si Xaiver. It seemed like he had not thought of that loophole yet. Ilang segundo rin siyang natahimik. But as he was an expert in problem solvings, he relaxed and thought of a solution right away.

"I'll ask Hariette to cover up for me and tell mom that I bought the necklace back for her," Xaiver said.

Tumango-tango ako at naisip na magandang solusyon nga 'yon para hindi magtaka si Mrs. Dela Vega.

"Kailan mo kukuhanin sa akin?" tanong ko para makasigurado.

"I'm not sure yet."

"Bakit?"

"I need to get a girlfriend or a wife first."

I pressed my lips together as I felt slightly uneasy. Unti-unti kong hinawakan ang necklace, tinatanggap ang responsibilidad ko bilang tagapangalaga nito hanggang sa makahanap na siya ng pagbibigyan. Sa akin muna hanggang sa may ibang magmamay-ari na.

In the midst of my acceptance, I heard Xaiver breathe out a sigh in relief. It was at the same moment I wondered why he actually fought against Zoe for the necklace. Kung wala naman pala siyang balak para doon, why did he spend ten million for it? Akala ko ay may pagbibigyan siya.

Hindi ko maiwasang isipin tuloy na may posibilidad na pareho kami ng dahilan. Maaaring ayaw niya lang din 'yon mapunta kay Zoe, but I didn't want to get ahead of him. Gusto kong malaman ang dahilan niya upang matahimik na ang isipan ko kaysa manghula.

Assuming things won't take me anywhere.

"Xaiver," tahimik kong tawag sa kanya.

"Why?"

"Bakit mo binili 'tong necklace kung wala ka naman palang pagbibigyan?" tanong ko at nang nilingon ko siya ay saka ako nakaisip ng ibang dahilan. "I'm guessing this is an addition to your assets?"

"No."

"Hindi?"

Xaiver licked his lower lip and slightly turned his face away to look out of the window. He was silent for almost a minute, and I thought he wasn't planning to further elaborate or explain his answer. Ililihis ko na sana ang tingin sa kanya nang muli siyang magsalita.

"I planned to give it as a gift to someone... but she said she doesn't want anything from me."

I swallowed hard at his answer. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa paper bag.

Damn it...