CHAPTER 5

CLAIRE’S POV

It has been five days since our wedding. Paggising ko, wala na sa tabi ko si Ezekiel.

Honeymoon? Yeah, right. Normal ang honeymoon after the wedding, but to us? No. Hindi nga pala normal ang marriage namin. Ginusto kong gawing sikreto ’to, kaya sarili ko lang ang dapat sisihin.

Ezekiel is just going with the flow. All because of me. Ugh… I hate myself for this.

“Good morning.”

Speaking of the devil, he’s still here. Akala ko wala na siya dahil palagi siyang maagang umaalis kapag may work.

“Good morning, Ezekiel. What about work?” tanong ko matapos umupo, kaharap niya.

First time naming mag-breakfast nang magkasama. Ngayon, hindi na lang kaming dalawa ang magkasama rito. May mga katulong na para ma-maintain din ang kalinisan sa bahay. Soon, magwo-work na rin ako, kaya need din talaga namin ng kasama.

“There’s been a change of schedule,” aniya at sumimsim na ng kape. “What are you going to do today?” dagdag niya habang nakatingin pa rin sa ’kin.

Bahagya naman akong nahiya sa pagtitig niya.

Sa tuwing ganyan siya, naaalala ko kasi ang mga ginawa namin sa kwarto. Pero matapos ang gabi no’ng wedding namin ay hindi na naulit ’yon. Neither of us wants to make the first move again. It feels like we’re both afraid to let our relationship go any further. Ewan ko ba, hinihintay ko lang naman siya.

“I’ll apply for a job. I already submitted my résumé, and the HR told me to come in this afternoon,” tugon ko. Ngayong araw na kasi ’yon at hindi ko na sinabi sa kanya dahil paniguradong alam niya naman na.

“Right. I might be there. Unless you don’t want the director watching you ace the interview?”

He was looking at me now, eyes glinting with flirtation. It pulled me back to the past, to moments when it was just the two of us. Back then, he would show his light teasing and effortlessly flirty side.

Umiling naman ako, seryoso pa rin. “No, it’s fine. I want to challenge myself even if you’re there,” at ibinaba ko na ang tingin sa pagkain ko.

I started eating na. Ayoko namang ipakita sa kanya na namula ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Really?” at ngumisi siya.

Nag-angat ako nang tingin. “Actually, it doesn’t matter if you’re there,” at ngumisi rin ako sabay inom ng orange juice.

Bahagya naman siyang natawa. “Good luck. I’ll see you later, Miss Carpio.” And there’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

Napaawang naman ang labi ko. “Did he just—”

That’s his last name! Ugh. Why does he always make my heart flutter, only to do nothing to deepen our relationship!

Makalipas ang ilang oras…

“Good afternoon, Miss Pascua,” bati ng HR Manager, ang nangungunang interviewer.

Gamit ko ang maiden name ng mother ko para hindi ako mahuli. Of course, everything about my secret identity was handled by Ezekiel and his secretary. Since the companies have already merged, everything is now under Ezekiel’s management, and whatever is his is also mine.

Lately ko lang din nalaman na furniture ang pinaka-unang naging business ng family ni Ezekiel, habang ang family ko naman ay nasa retail sector. Saktong-sakto rin talaga sa business nila.

“Good afternoon po,” ngiti ko.

Mayamaya pa ay nagpakita na rin ang iba para simulan na ang interview. Kasama na si Ezekiel. Hindi ko naman ipinahalata na magkakilala kami. I just set my mind to this new version of myself. I’m here to use my skills and try to earn my place in the company kahit na wala pa ’kong experience.

“Okay, let’s begin. I’m Harold, the HR Manager. This is Jeremy, the HR Assistant for Recruitment and Selection, Ms. Kyla from the Marketing Department, and lastly, Mr. Ezekiel, the Director of the company,” pagpapakilala niya sa lahat.

I greeted them all, and they just nodded in response. Hindi naman ako makatingin nang maayos kay Ezekiel.

“Tell us about yourself, Miss Claire.”

I took a deep breath as I began answering their questions, but the last one made me pause and think.

“You don’t have experience working in this industry. You’re an artist, so what made you pursue a position here? Based on your résumé, it appears that you come from a place of privilege. Do you believe you can commit to working here long-term, considering that most of your experience is centered on painting and that you’ve only held one art exhibition?”

It was Ms. Kyla who said that. I wasn’t even sure if I answered her the right way. Part of me wanted to defend myself, but another part knew she wasn’t wrong.

Ganito pala ’yung feeling…

Pagpasok ko sa elevator, saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. Tapos na, e. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na makakasama ko si Ezekiel sa elevator. It seems like hinabol niya pa ’ko dahil napansin ko ang necktie niya na pumatong sa isang balikat niya.

“Ezekiel…” wala sa sarili kong nasambit. Napapikit naman ako sa hiya.

“You did great, Claire. Don’t overthink it,” sabi niya naman, kaya napatingin na ’ko sa kanya.

Tipid naman akong napangiti dahil sa sinabi niya, at bago pa ’ko nakasagot ay nagsalita pa siya. “Do you want to go to my office?”

Kumabog ang puso ko. “Baka mahuli tayo.”

“It’s fine. Walang ibang tao na makakahuli sa ’tin.”

Napatango na lamang ako at nagpadala na sa paghawak niya sa kamay ko. Buong floor ay nasa kanya lang talaga, pati sa secretary niya na hindi ko pa nakikilala.

Pagpasok namin sa office niya ay tumambad naman sa ’kin ang familiar na painting.

“You’re the one who bought the painting?” nanlalaki ang mga mata kong sabi sa kanya. “And Mr. Paul is your secretary?” dagdag ko pa nang makita ko si Paul. Bahagya pa siyang nag-bow sa akin at ngumiti. Pagkatapos niyang ilagay ang mga files sa desk ni Ezekiel ay lumabas na siya upang iwan kaming dalawa sa office.

“Ezekiel!”

Binitiwan niya na ang kamay ko at matamis na ngumiti sa ’kin. “Surprise?”

“You’re always like this!” at tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko. Halo-halong emosyon na ang nararamdaman ko, kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong yakapin siya.

Niyakap niya naman ako pabalik. “Dapat talaga pupunta ako, pero baka magulat kita, kaya pinapunta ko na lang si Paul. I just wanted to support you. That’s why I bought one of your paintings.” 

“Paano mo nalaman?” tanong ko, hindi pa rin siya binibitawan.

“I have my ways, my wife....”