Ikaanim na Pahina

IKA ANIM NA PAHINA

Larsen Cleo Point Of View

“What was that?! I'm your what?! Did you just say I am your boyfriend? And who is that guy?”

Mariin na pumikit ako. Rinding-rindi na ang tenga ko kaka reklamo niya. Pagkalabas na paglalabas namin ng restaurant, binato niya agad ako ng marami at sunod sunod na tanong hanggang sa makarating kami ng sasakyan niya.

How am I supposed to answer his questions!? He did not give me a chance to answer any of his questions! Sunod sunod ba naman siyang magtanong, eh! Paano ako makaka sagot?

“What now, Cleo? Explain yourself.” sabi niya na naman. “Are you going to act like you hear nothing, huh? Say something!”

“Pwedeng kumalma, kuya? Pwede ba?” anas ko. “Paano ako sasagot kung sunod-sunod ka magtanong. Kalma ka lang. Let me explain myself, okay ba?”

He crossed his arms, still looking at me with those glaring eyes. “Start explaining yourself now. I want to understand what happened earlier.”

“First of all, sorry,” I said. “Hindi ako nakapag-isip ng maayos at matini kanina. Basta-basta na lang ako gumawa ng plano ng hindi ko tinatanong kung papayag ka ba o hindi. Again, sorry.”

He just stared at me, waiting for my further explanation.

Huminga ako bago nagpatuloy. 

“And that guy is my… my boyfriend,” sabi ko. “His name is Wil. And about the reason why I suddenly announce you as my boyfriend in front of him because I want him to be jealous.”

“Your boyfriend?” he asked. “That guy?”

I nod my head. “Yes, he is my boyfriend.”

“Then why is he with someone else? It should be you if he's really your boyfriend, right? But why is he eating with another girl instead of you?”

Nanahimik ako. Nanakit ang dibdib ko nang maalala kung paano maging sweet si Wil sa babaeng 'yon. Ako dapat iyon, eh! Ako dapat ang kasama niya! Ako dapat ang sinubuan niya! Ako dapat ang kadate niya! Ako dapat! 

“Is he really your boyfriend or… your ex-boyfriend—”

“Hindi pa kami hiwalay!” sigaw ko. “Hindi pa! So we are still in a relationship! We are still together—”

“— Even though he's entertaining another girl?” he cut me off. “You can still say he's your boyfriend?”

“Oo!” saad ko. “Wala pa kaming proper na hiwalayan. At hindi ako papayag na hiwalayan niya ako!”

He shakes his head and chuckles. He looks at me as if he doesn't believe what I say. 

“You're unbelievable,” aniya. “Do you still call him your boyfriend even he's dating someone else—”

“They are not dating!” asik ko. Naiinis na ako sa mga lumalabas sa bibig niya. “That girl is flirting with him! Nilalandi niya ang boyfriend ko!”

Umiling ulit siya. “They totally are. You witness it with your own eyes. Can't you tell they are having a date?”

“H-hindi ko nakita!” pagtanggi ko. “Wala akong nakita!”

He chuckles once again. “You are obsessed with him.”

“And what if I am? Huh? Ano? May masama ba? Mahal ko siya kaya natural na obsess ako sa kaniya! Wala naman masama, ah! We love each other—”

“— That's one sided love,” he cut me off again. “Ikaw lang ang nagmamahal. He probably move on that's why he's dating another girl—”

"I told you she's flirting with him!” sigaw ko! 

“And he let her?” nakangisi siya. “So what does it mean to you then? If a guy let another girl flirts with him, ano sa tingin mo ang tawag?”

“A-ano… ah…” Nangapa ako ng sasabihin. “... kasi ano…”

Ano nga ba? Friendly? Hindi niya gusto saktan ang bruha na iyon? Gusto niya lang magpaka gentleman?

“Ano bang pake mo?” anas ko nang hindi mahanap ang dapat sabihin. “Wala ka ng pake!”

“You're crazy.” He laughs. “Hindi ko akalain na ganito ka pala.”

“Shut up!” ani ko. “Anyway, so dahil nga gusto kong pagselosin si Wil. I want to ask you a favor.”

"Woah. Don't tell me you want me to be your fake boyfriend to make him jealous?”

I nod my head.

“You guessed it right,” sabi ko. “I want you to act my boyfriend if he's around or kapag gusto ko siyang pagselosin.”

Tumawa siya. “I can't beleive this. You realky ask me to play as your fake boyfriend in front of that guy?”

“Yes.”

“I don't want to do that. What do you think of me? A kind of guy who you can use to make you jealous of your so-called boyfriend even if he's with another girl?”

“Just this one, please?” I pleaded. “I already started this so I want to continue—”

“You didn't console me so that's not my problem anymore.” Umiling-iling, still disagreeing. “A no is a no.”

“Nagsorry na nga ako hindi ba?”

“Still, it's your problem so fix it on your own. Bakit mo ako idadamay sa problema mo? We're not even that close for me to act like your boyfriend. Hindi nga tayo magkakilala tapos papayag ako? No way.”

Dumapo ang kamay ko sa braso niya. Tumitig sa mga mata niya. I felt his arm tense up but I ignored it. Gusto ko siyang mapapayag. Siya ang huli kong alas para magkabalikan kami ni Wil. 

"Please, Georgel?” pagmamakaawa ko. “This will be my last chance to get back with him. Maybe… maybe if I'll make him jealous kusa siyang babalik sa akin. So please? I will do anything or grant your wish just do me this favor.”

He stares at me for a while. I can see how his eyes scan my whole face. Nakita ko kung paano niya kagatin ang ibabang labi at lumunok sa hindi ko alam na dahilan. 

“Please, Georgel?”

Tinignan niya lang ako.

Tulungan mo akong paibigin sa akin ang boyfriend kong si Wil. Lahat-lahat talaga gagawin ko basta tulungan mo lang ako.”

He sighs. 

“How sure you will grant my wish or you'll do anything for me?”

“You can say it right now and I'll do it for you.” Determinandong saad ko. “Lahat gagawin ko tulungan mo lang ako.”

“Can I be honest with you?”

Tumango ako.

“Baliw ka ba?”

Bigla kong nahampas ang braso niya. “Hindi 'no! Mukha ba akong baliw? Mukha ba?”

“I am serious, Cleo,” seryosong sabi niya. “You are crazy. Bakit gusto mong balikan ang gago na 'yon kung harap-harapan ka ng niloloko?”

“M-Mahal ko kasi…” Umiwas ako ng tingin. 

“Then he doesn't deserve your love.”

“He deserves it,” ani ko. “He deserves my love and I deserve his love. You don't know us so you can't say anything about our love.” 

“Yeah, right. I don't know you, guys.”

Umiwas siya ng tingin at bumaling sa manibela. He then started his car and we started moving leaving the parking lot of the restaurant. 

“Tutulungan mo na ba ako?” tanong ko matapos ng mahabang katahimikan. “Promise ko na gagawin ko lahat ng ipapagawa mo sa akin. Hindi ako tatanggi kahit ano pa yan basta tulungan mo lang ako.”

“Fine.”

Nilingon ko siya. Nakatingin siya sa daan habang nagmamaneho. Nakaramdam ako ng tuwa sa sagot niya. Yes, success! Finally! This is my chance to win Wil's heart once again!

“But in one condition.”

“Kahit ano pa 'yan, gagawin ko!” anas ko. “Basta walang bawian, ah! Tutulungan mo na ako ha!” 

Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi ko habang sinasabi iyon. Nararamdaman ko na ang nalalapit naming pagbabalikan ni Wil. Excited na ako! Just wait for me, Wil! Alam kong babalikan mo rin ako in no time! Just wait and see! I am sure he will beg me. 

”You will pretend to be my girlfriend in front of my parents.”

“Go!” Walang pagdadalawang isip na sagot ko. “Same lang pala, eh! You will act as my boyfriend and I will act as your girlfriend! So quits na tayo?”

“Yeah.”

Nakangiting tumango ako. “So, kailan ako aaktong girlfriend mo? Sabihin mo sa akin kung kailan para mapaghandaan ko—”

“Ngayon.”

Gulat na tinignan ko siya. “Huh?”

Saglit niya akong tinignan. “You will act as my girlfriend in front of my parents now. We're going to them.”

"WHAT?!” laglag ang panga ko at nanlalaki ang mga mata na tinignan siya. “S-Seryoso ka?”

“Yes.”

“A-As in ngayon agad? Now na?”

“Yes.”

“Bakit agad-agad naman?” bigla akong nabalisa. “Wala man lang preparations? Bakit ngayon agad? Bawal ba bukas na lang?”

“It's now or never, Cleo.”

Sa sobrang kaba ko ay wala akong nasabi. Hindi ko alam ang dapat na sabihin. I am not prepared! Bakit biglaan ang lahat?! 

Georgel Kien Point Of View

“Let's go.”

She silently got out of my car without saying a word. Kanina pa siya tahimik. I don't know what she's thinking. I knew I shocked her. But I really need her help today.

Mom told me yesterday that she'll introduce someone to me again. I don't know why she keeps introducing some girls to me. For how many times I told her I don't want just some girls to date. Hindi ako basta-basta nangdi-date ng kung sino-sinong babae. But knowing mom, she really wants to see me finally having a girl and settling down. 

Nasa loob kami ng elevator nang makita ko ang repleksyon ni Cleo. Tahimik pa rin siya at hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya. 

I sigh and face her. “Just do whatever I say then we'll be good, alright?”

“I am confused right now!” she said. “First, bakit tayo nandito sa Juanillo company? At bakit parang kilala ka ng mga staff dito? Second, seryoso ka ba na ngayon mo ako agad ipapakilala sa mga magulang mo bilang girlfriend mo? Gosh! Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari!”

“You will know everything later.”

“Bakit mamaya pa? Bakit hindi pa ngayon? Sabihin mo na ngayon para naman mabawasan ang kaba ko.”

“Later—”

“—Ngayon na!” She held my arm. “Tell me, kamag anak mo ba ang may ari nitong Juanillo company? Pamangkin ka ba? Apo ka ba? O baka naman pinsan mo.”

I shook my head. “I am the son of Mr. and Mrs. Juanillo.”

“W-What…” Her mouth hung open and her eyes widely opened. “A-Anong sabi mo?”

"Do I need ro translate it for you?”

Saktong bumukas ang elevator kaya lumabas na ako. I felt her presence following me so I didn't bother to look back. Diretso ang tingin ko sa hallway nang hawakan niya ako sa braso at huminto sa harap ko.

“Anak ka ng may-ari nitong kompanya? Nagbibiro ka lang naman hindi ba?” hindi makapaniwala ang mukha at tono ng boses niya. “Eme-eme mo lang 'yun hindi ba?”

I shrug. “Find out on your own.”

Nilagpasan ko siya at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa office ni mom. She is probably in there since I heard she has no meeting today. Wala si dad ngayon dahil sa business trip sa Mexico. 

Tumayo ako sa harap ng pinto ng office ni mom bago nilingon si Cleo na nasa likuran ko.

“Are you ready?”

Umikot ang mga mata niya. “Go on. Alam kong tinatakot mo lang ako. Hindi ako naniniwala na anak ka ng may-ari nito.”

Ngumisi ako. “Alright then.”

Binuksan ko ang pinto ng office ni mama at dire-diretso na pumasok. Agad na nakita ng mga mata ko ang tutok na tutok sa trabaho na si mama.

“Hey, mom. I have something to tell you.”

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin. Inayos niya ang suot na salamin bago nagsalita.

“Oh, hi there, honey. What is it?” aniya. “Don't forget your blind date later, okay—”

“I brought my girlfriend with me.”

Natigilan siya. “Your what?”

“Good morning po.”

Sabay kaming lumingon sa gawi ni Cleo. She really looks shy and scared at the same time. Nag bow siya kay mama bago naglakad palapit sa akin. I signaled her to hold my arm and she did.

Pilit na ngiti ang ginawad niya sa akin bago dumikit sa katawan ko. 

“What's going on?” I heard her whisper. 

“Just do whatever I say.” bulong ko at tinignan si Mom. Nakangiting tumingin ako kay mama. “My girlfriend, mom. Her name is Larsen Cleo.”

“Really?” 

I nod my head. “Really, mom.”

Inalis niya ang suot na glasses at tumayo. Lumapit siya sa amin habang ang mga mata ay nakatingin sa katabi ko. 

“What a beautiful girl you have,” she suddenly says. “And a beautiful name.”

“N-nice to meet you po, ma'am,” sabi ni Cleo.

"Nice to meet you too, hija. Come on. Sit down.” She then looks at me. “Get us something we can drink and eat.”

I shook my head when she pulled Cleo towards the sofa and started asking her. Nakita ko ang tingin ni Cloe na nanghihingi ng tulong. I just nod my head and smile at her. I am relieved and glad mom doesn't suspect us. 

Written by DBardz