KABANATA 3

I couldn’t move as I tried to process what he said.

“H-Huh?” maang kong tanong na tila ba hindi ko narinig ang sinabi niya.

“Be my fake girlfriend, and I’ll give you everything. Every demand, every request—I’ll do it all in a heartbeat. If you’re willing to be my fake girlfriend,” he mutters clearly, which shook me.

Tuluyan na akong napalayo sa kan’ya. Fake girlfriend? Gusto ko lang naman humiram ng pera, bakit may fake girlfriend na sa usapan?

I chuckled nervously at him. “I’m sorry, sir. Hindi kita maintindihan.”

He ran his tongue over his lips and looked at me intently.

“I’m offering you to be my fake girlfriend, and in return, I’ll help you.”

“Bakit kailangan mo ng fake girlfriend?” takang tanong ko. Because as far as I know, many women were so into him, they’re even willing to be his girlfriend!

He’s famously known for being a young and rich CEO, who is intellectually gifted, and gorgeously handsome. He can pull any woman he wants. Kaya hindi ko siya ma gets kung bakit kailangan niya ng fake girlfriend, at higit sa lahat bakit ako pa ang inofferan niya?

“My mom wants me to be in a relationship. She even wants me to get married and settle down already. She won’t let me visit her if I can't bring a girlfriend. So, I need a fake girlfriend so I can visit her,” he explained.

Natahimik ako. Sa anim na buwan na nagtatrabaho ako sa kan’ya, hindi ko pa minsan nakita ang ina niya na bumisita. Hindi ba maayos ang relasyon niya sa kanyang ina?

“You said you want money to bail your father out of jail? Tutulungan kitang palayain siya, kung papayag ka. I’ll also help you with your brother’s surgery.”

This time, my whole body froze as my eyes widened in shock.

“B-Bakit mo alam ang tungkol sa kalagayan ng kapatid ko?” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. Hindi maipaliwanag ang gulat na aking nadarama.

Ibig bang sabihin…

“Did you run a background check on me?” I asked, accusation could be heard in my tone.

“Yes, I did, for safety purposes.” He doesn't even try denying my accusation. “I don’t just hire anyone in my company without knowing their backgrounds, Ms. Ferreira.” he answered calmly.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naninikip ang dibdib ko sa kaalamang may alam siya tungkol sa buhay ko. Sa paghihirap ko…

“Kaya mo ba ako tinanggap dahil alam mong sobrang kailangan ko ng trabaho?”

Did he just hire me because he pities me?

“I didn’t hire you out of pity. If that’s what concerns you,” he blurted out. “You were hired because you worked hard and did great to get the job. Don’t overthink,” he added.

Yeah, right, because a man like him won’t feel pity for anyone. And not for someone like me. Bakit nga ba ako nag assume?

I bit my lower lip and sighed. “Bakit ako, sir? May iba naman d’yang willing maging fake girlfriend mo.” Kahit nga walang kapalit, alam kong papayag agad sila.

Kaya bakit ako?

“It’s because I don’t easily trust anyone. But I’ve known you long enough to trust you. It’s a win-win situation, Ms. Ferreira. You get to bail your father out of jail and proceed with your brother’s surgery with my help, while I, on the other hand, get to visit my mother—with a fake girlfriend.”

“Both of us can benefit from my offer. Walang malulugi. All you need to do is act as my girlfriend in front of my mother. We will keep it a secret, of course,” he added convincingly.

Natahimik ulit ako at napaisip. Kung papayag ako sa offer niya, ibig sabihin wala akong ilalabas na pera, tutulungan niya ako mapalabas si papa sa kulungan at matutuloy na ang surgery ni Clyde.

Ngunit isasalang ko naman ang sarili ko sa entablado ng aktingan. I need to pretend and act as his girlfriend in front of his mother. Ibig sabihin din nito, handa akong manloko ng tao? Hindi ibang tao lang kundi mismong ina ng boss ko.

Kaya ko ba? I’m not good at pretending, and especially I don’t think I could act sweet towards my boss when I secretly hated him. Do I really need to act it all out just so I can help my family?

“Hindi ba talaga pwedeng manghiram na lang ako ng pera? Babayaran ko naman, Sir,” I muttered pleadingly.

Ayaw niya ba akong pahiramin, o takot siya na baka hindi ako makabayad?

He clicked his tongue and flashed me his vicious smirk.

“As I’ve said, I don’t offer help unless I benefit in return,” he said, his voice back to being cold.

“I won’t force you if you’re not interested in my offer. But let me add something: this offer has a salary too. If you need more time to think of it, then I’ll give you time until tomorrow. Now, you can go back to work,” he ordered dismissively and walked back towards his chair.

I was left standing and still bewildered. This is the first time that we talked for a long time, and here I thought he was a man of few words.

Lumabas ako ng opisina niya habang malalim na nag-iisip. I tried to focus on my work, but I would always end up thinking about my father's situation right now inside the police station and my brother's health, and lastly, the offer of my boss.

“Bes!”

I flinched in my seat when I heard Nova’s voice. Nakita kong nakakunot ang noo niya at tiningnan ako sa nag-aalalang mata.

“Hmm? May sinasabi ka?” tanong ko at pilit na ngumiti. Kahit huling-huli na ako na hindi nakikinig sa sa mga sinasabi niya.

“Ayos ka lang ba? Kaninang umaga ko pa nahahalata na parang wala ka sa sarili mo, hindi mo man lang nagagalaw yang lunch mo sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip mo. Anong tumatakbo d’yan sa isip mo? Pwede mo naman ‘yang eh share bago ka pa malunod kaiisip,” ani ni Nova habang tinuturo ang plato kong konti lang ang nagalaw sa pagkain.

Tumawa ako ng mahina at ngumiti ulit. “Ayos lang ako, huwag kang mag-aalala.”

“Sus, gan’yan ka naman talaga, kilalang-kilala kita. Alam mo, Cerise, kahit na limang buwan pa lang tayong magkaibigan, sobrang kilala na kita. Hindi ba sabi ko sa’yo, kapag may problema ka ‘wag kang mahiyang lumapit sa’kin?” she uttered, which made me smile.

Nova is my comfort person; she’s the unexpected friend I had here in the company. She knows all my problems and struggles. Makulit kasi siya at hindi niya ako tinatantanan hanggang sa magsalita ako. She’s always with me whenever I need help.

Pero sa pagkakataong ito, hindi ko kayang sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa papa ko dahil alam kong mag-aalala na naman siya. Sa dami ng itinulong niya sa’kin nahihiya na ako. Ayos na sa’kin na nandito siya sa tabi ko, habang naghahanap ako ng solution sa mga problema ko.

“Really, Nov. Okay lang ako. Huwag kang masyadong mag-alala.” I smiled widely to convince her that I’m really fine.

She squinted her eyes, telling me that she doesn’t believe me. She then sighed afterwards.

“Siguraduhin mo lang talagang maayos ka. Because I won’t hesitate to break our friendship if you’re hiding something from me. Gets?” she asked, playfully raising her right brow.

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa at tumango. “Yes, ma’am.”

Despite having a dark storm over my head, I have Nova with me, always bringing light into my life, and I really appreciate her existence.

Natapos ang lunch at bumalik na kami sa aming trabaho. Ngunit hindi ako makapag-focus sa trabaho ko kaiisip sa offer ng boss ko.

I know a part of me wants to take the risk, but there’s also a part of me afraid of the effects of my decision.

I frustratedly ran my palm over my face, biting my bottom lip as I tried to weigh my decision.

This is an opportunity, Cerise, a one-time opportunity. You can’t find an offer like this anywhere. All you need to do is act and think of it as work also. A voice in my head whispers.

Dumaan ang ilang oras hanggang sa nag-alas-otso ng gabi, oras na ng uwian. I fixed my things first and walked out of my small office. Tumigil ako sa tapat ng pinto ko at hinarap ang glass door ng boss ko.

My fingers fidget as I slowly walk to the door and enter. I could hear the sound of my heart in my ear because of nervousness.

Muntikan nang tumigil ang pagtibok ng puso ko nang makita ang boss kong inaayos ang suit niya at handa nang umalis. May kausap siya sa telepono.

Nang maramdaman niya ang presensiya ko, bigla siyang nag-angat ng tingin at agad na nagtagpo ang mata naming dalawa. I saw how his lips slightly parted when he spotted me.

“Sir, pumapayag na po ako sa offer niyo,” mabilis kong saad habang nakapikit bago pa ako maduwag at tumakbo paalis.

A long silence stretched inside the office. My nervous breathing can only be heard and someone’s voice on the phone.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko upang tignan ang boss ko, ngunit muli akong nagulat nang makita ko siyang tahimik akong pinapanood.

“Hey man, are you still there?” A man’s voice asked on the phone.

My boss cleared his throat as he didn’t tear his gaze away from me.

“I’ll call you later, Zak. An important thing came up that needs my time,” he answered and ended the call.

Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko sa hiya. Bakit kailangan niya pang magsinungaling?

“I didn’t expect you’d decide today. I’m even expecting you’d reject my offer, Ms. Ferreira. But since you are here now. Let’s talk about how this goes to make you understand the concept of our agreement. Don’t worry, we’ll both sign a contract to make it professional,” he explained while staring deeply at me.