Beneficial Marriage (Arranged Marriage Series #1) - Tagalog

Chapter 2

Tinanggal ko sa pagkakatali ang buhok kong naka-high ponytail. Making my straight jet black hair let loose, habang nakatayo at tinatanaw ko ang siyudad gamit ang glass wall ng aking opisina.

It is already 7PM. Marami na ring empleyado ang umuwi kanina pa, while I choose to stay here to think of some things. Bukod sa wala naman akong dadatnan sa condo ko ay mas komportable at payapa ang isip ko rito sa opisina. The citylights made me calm and composed.

"Damn that bastard..." Bulong ko sa sarili.

Naalala ko na naman ang ibinalita sa akin ni Rica. It's not actually new for me to receive reports about people who want to dig some information about me. Some of them are even competitors of the Buenavista's who are trying to find some dirt about me, probably to blackmail me. As if they'll find something, tss.

But that damn Steven? I know that he has a motive for him to do that. Malamang ay nangangalap din siya ng impormasyon para may magamit siyang alas laban sa akin pagdating ng panahon.

Well, if that's the case, then that means that he doesn't play fair. Patalikod pala siyang tumira.

Kung tutuusin, may kakayahan pa akong umayaw sa engagement naming dalawa since hindi pa naman ako um-oo sa mga magulang niya. Wala pa rin naman akong naipangakong kahit ano.

I'm still weighing my thoughts of marrying that man when my cellphone that is on my table suddenly rings. Lumapit ako upang kunin ito.

"Someone's calling... unregistered number?" Takang tanong ko.

Napagdesisyunan kong sagutin ang tawag.

"Who's this?" I coldly asked to whoever is on the other line.

That 'whoever' chuckled. Pamilyar ang tunog ng tawang iyon ah? Is this...

"Even on the phone, you're still so cold, ice dragon princess." Now that just confirms it.

Iniisip ko pa lang siya kanina, ngayon tumawag na. Amusing, huh.

"How did you get my number?" Ngayon pa lang ay namumuro na ang lalaking ito, ah.

"I asked mom of your number. Then she gave it to me, I think that's just right now that we're engaged. She even sounds happy nung nagtanong ako." He said. Parang nakikinita kong nakangiti pa siya habang sinasabi 'yon.

"Whatever. You're ruining my peaceful night. Oh, by the way. May kailangan akong sabihin sa'yo sa susunod na magkikita tayo tungkol sa 'pagpapa-imbestiga' mo sa akin." Mariin kong sabi.

I heard him sigh on the other line. "Why don't you tell me about that tonight? Nasa parking lot ako ng kompaniya. Bumaba ka na at tsaka tayo mag-usap." Tunog seryosong sabi niya.

Wait, what?! He's outside?

I guess there's no other way around this. "Fine. Wait me for five minutes." Huling sabi ko bago binaba ang cellphone.

I put some pressed powder and hair perfume first before arranging my things. Pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako sa opisina at bumaba.

Unang dating ko pa lang sa parking lot ay nakita ko na agad siya. Leaning in the driver's seat door habang nakakunot ang noo. Suot niya ang long sleeve polo na suot din niya kanina, na ngayon ay nakatupi hanggang siko.

I must admit, he really looks good. With those Greek god-like features, hindi na kataka-takang marami itong naaakit na babae.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya. My high heels are making sound against the ground, dahilan kung bakit ito nag-angat ng tingin at napatingin sa akin.

Unti-unti rin itong tumuwid sa pagkakatayo. Ang kaninang seryoso at iritableng ekspresyon niya ay napalitan ng ngisi.

Nang tuluyang makalapit naman ay seryosong tingin lang ang iginawad ko rito.

"No kiss? Hug?" The brute has the guts to ask.

Tinaasan ko naman ito ng kilay. "Kakikilala lang natin nang personal kanina, gusto mo na ng kiss? Pati hug?"

Hindi naman mawala-wala ang ngisi sa mukha ng Steven na 'to. "Edi kiss sabay hug?"

Wala ba talaga itong matinong masasabi?

"Whatever. Pag-usapan na natin ang kailangan nating pag-usapan."

Nilibot naman ni Steven ang tingin sa paligid.

"I believe this is not the right place to talk. Kumain ka na ba?" Mukhang seryosong tanong naman nito.

Actually, hindi pa. But I don't want to eat with him, so I'd rather lie.

"Yup. Kanina pa. Saglit lang naman tayo mag-uusap so dito na lang." Sabi ko.

Sumeryoso naman ang mukha ni Steven. Pagkatapos ay iiling-iling na nilaro niya ang sariling mga labi gamit ang kanang kamay.

"Tsk, tsk. Ganoon mo ba ako kaayaw para magsinungaling ka sakin?"

How did he know?!

I defeatedly sighed. "Paano mo nalaman?"

"Alam ko kung sino ang sekretarya mo, Annie is her name, right? That's why I asked her kung nasaan ka kanina at kung kumain ka na ba nung nakita ko siyang lumabas." Tugon niya habang ngingiti-ngiti.

Annie! Lagot ka sa akin bukas.

"So? Let's eat outside. You know that there's no way out, Davina. Mom said that we must know each other well, it would be rude of you, not that you're not being rude right now," He laughed, "to reject my offer."

Pinanliitan ko ito ng mga mata.

"Fine. Pero saglit lang. I still need to go shop for grocery." I lazily said.

Lumiwanag naman ang mukha ni Steven. "Oh, where will you shop?"

I flatly looked at him. "The Marketplace. Please don't think of accompanying me."

"Why? I will be of great help habang namimili ka. Personal assistant?" Pagpupumilit nito.

"Whatever suits you." Sabi ko na lang para tumigil na siya.

One thing I've learned about Steven Buenavista tonight? He's very persistent. Very persistent that he's becoming more and more annoying to me.

Lalakad na ako palayo sa kaniya nang bigla niya akong tinawag.

"Hey, wait. Where are you going?" Mukhang naguguluhang tanong niya.

Gulo rin akong tumingin dito. Is he expecting me to go inside his car?

"I have my own car. Convoy na lang tayo." I said before turning my back at him.

Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang disappointment sa mukha niya. I smiled inwardly.

"Sayang naman. Hay..." Bubulong-bulong na sabi nito.

Dahil malapit lang naman sa opisina ang napili kong kainan ay mabilis lang kaming nakarating.

Sabay kaming pumasok sa restaurant na napili ko at giniya naman agad kami ng waiter.

"You like Filipino cuisine?" Tanong ng kasama ko pagkatapos naming maupo.

"Of course. Isa pa, I crave for Filipino foods today." Sabi ko habang namimili ng pagkain sa menu list.

"Noted."

"Anong noted?" What is he saying? Getting some facts about me? Oh, I remember...

Pagkatapos naming ibigay sa waiter ang aming mga order ay tinanong ko na siya agad.

"Why are you investigating me?" Diretsong tinging tanong ko rito.

Uminom muna ito ng tubig at sumandal sa upuan bago sumagot.

"Well, I figured that you won't tell me anything about you. Since we're gonna get married, I think it's better for me to know you better..." Seryosong sagot din nito sa akin, gone his playful aura.

"... but since someone named 'Theo'..." May diing sabi niya sa pangalan ni Theo. "... blocked my hired private investigators from getting information about you, wala rin akong napalang kahit ano maliban sa full name, birthday, at college educational background mo." Inis na sabi nito habang unti-unti na namang kumukunot ang noo.

I smirked at him. Good job, Theo. I should probably tell Rica to give him a reward.

"Who the hell is that Theo, by the way? Kaano-ano mo ba 'yon?" Iritable pa ring tanong ni Steven.

"Well, Theo's my own private investigator and the head of my security team. Of course he'll protect me, I'm one of his bosses." He's probably underestimating my skills at ang mga tao ko. If you think that you'll get your way easily in me, think again.

"I thought he was your lover..." Ako naman ang pinanliitan nito ng mata.

Saan naman niya napulot iyon?!

"What are you saying? Hell, no. He is the boyfriend of my bestfriend, not mine."

Unti-unti namang nawala ang pagkakakunot ng noo niya. "Good to know, mahirap na..."

Sasagutin ko pa sana siya nang dumating na ang mga order namin. Pinakbet, fresh lumpiang ubod, tortang talong with longganisa, cheddar and green finger chili lumpia, and pork sisig. Yum!

I silently uttered a prayer first before digging in. Una ko munang kinuha ang tortang talong with longganisa.

"Let's eat." I politely said, so that he won't call me 'rude' again.

Naramdaman ko ang titig niya sa akin kaya naman napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"You prayed." He pointed out.

"Yeah, so?"

He smiled and looked down on his plate. "Nothing. I just find you... surprising, like really."

Oh? I don't know if he's just saying that para lang bolahin ako o ano. So I just shrugged off what he said.

Habang kumakain ay napatingin si Steven sa plato ko.

"You like talong?" He asked.

"Tortang talong, yes." Sagot ko naman, pagkatapos ay uminom ako ng tubig.

"Kapag kinasal na tayo, you should expect na may ibang talong ka nang kakainin." He then smiled mischievously at me.

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang iniinom na tubig sa sinabi niya. Another fact about Steven Buenavista: Ubod ng landi!

I gathered composure first before firing back at him. "No, thanks. Ayaw ko ng talong na nakain at napagsawaan na ng iba." Sabi ko at pagkatapos ay sumubo ulit ng pagkain.

"Don't worry, sisiguraduhin kong magiging paborito at hahanap-hanapin mo ang talong na sinasabi ko." Sabay kindat pa nito sa akin.

Ugh! This man is really getting into my nerves! Gaano kakapal ang mukha niyang diretsahan akong sabihan ng ganoon?

Sasagutin ko na sana siya ulit nang may biglang sumulpot sa gilid ng mesa namin.

"Oh, my god. Davina Mariano and Steven Buenavista?! Are you guys in a date?"

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Steven dito. Oh, the guy standing beside our table is a famous blogger and paparazzi. s**t.

Thinking if I could hide our supposed engagement thing? Well I guess I cannot anymore. What a perfect timing.