The Taste of Romance

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

Nagdaan na ang ilang araw ngunit hindi pa rin mawala sa isipan ko ang bata. Marahas akong napabuntong

"You keep on sighing," puna sa akin ni Kio na inabutan ako ng manuscript.

"May problema ka ba Kryst? Baka matulungan kita. Except pera, wala ako non," pagbibiro ni Amy.

Muli akong bumuntong hininga.

Tumayo rin ako at wala sa sariling tinungo ang kitchen ng office namin para magtimpla ng kape. Is she doing well? Hopefully. Simula ng mangyari ang insidente sa mall ay wala akong narinig na balita tungkol rito pagkabalik ko kinabukasan, parang walang nangyari dahil kahit record ng CCTV ay wala akong nakita o nakuha. Is he that powerful enough to take care all of it in a span of hours?

"Miss Gregorio," tawag pansin sa akin ni Miss Anna, ang CEO ng kompanyang pinagtatrabauhan ko. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin, kasama ang isang lalaki na — Wait! He's the guy before. Anong ginagawa niya rito?

Bahagya akong napaatras ng iangat niya ang kamay niya, na makikipag shake hands lang pala.

"I'm Deon Cruz, from XXIV Corporation."

Parehong nanlaki ang mata namin nila Kio. XXIV Corporation? Meaning the largest corporation in the country? Malugod kong tinanggap ang kamay niya at saglitang nakipag shake hands.

"Come to us at the conference room. Now," utos ni Miss Anna.

Pinandilatan ko si Kio ng mata pero nagkibit-balikat lang ito.

"Did I do some mistakes, Miss Anna?" I asked nervously.

Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng kaba nang makita ang pintuan ng conference room. Napalunok ako dahil tila may nakabarang bato sa lalamunan ko.

"Are you going to fire me?" muling tanong ko.

Nahigit ko ang aking hininga at hindi gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko ng bumukas na ang pintuan, kaya naman bahagya pa akong hinila ni Miss Anna para lang pumasok sa loob.

Ngunit napahinto ako nang makita ko ang isang demonyo na nakaupo sa swivel chair. Ramdam ko agad ang pagtaas ng dugo ko sa katawan.

"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed, hindi ko naitago ang inis sa boses ko. Anong ginagawa niya rito? At bakit narito siya? He is damn making me fuming mad right now by simply with his presence.

Huminga ako ng malalim upang ikalma ang sarili ko.

Sinenyasan ako ni Miss Anna. Senyas na nagsasabing umayos ako. Ngunit kumunot ang noo ko nang biglang lumabas si Miss Anna at bago pa man ako makaprotesta ay isinara na niyang muli ang pintuan. Ngayon ay kaming dalawa na lang ang natitira sa loob.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkulo ng dugo at inis ko nang makita ko siya. He is staring at me the same eyes like before, cold and full of insult. A stare that might kill your dignity and pride, or even your whole life.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapairap nang biglang ituro niya ang upuan na nasa harapan ko. So now, we're both facing each other. He is sitting at the edge of the table while I'm sitting at the other edge. This is literally hilarious. He's acting as if he's the boss— but wait! What is his connection to XXIV Corporation? Don't tell me— hindi ko maiwasang mag isip. O geez! My eyes widened when I remember where I saw him before, and finally get it why Miss Anna acted like that before. Why am I so slow? O f*cking! He's the famous-notorious — Ugh. Thinking about it giving me a headache.

Bumalik ako sa reyalidad nang biglang may tumama sa kamay kong nakapatong sa mesa. It's a folder.

"Read," malamig at maawtoridad na utos niya.

But instead reading it I stood up.

"I don't wanna waste my time to you. Aren't we done talking before?" I asked rolling my eyes.

Hindi siya natinag sa akin sa halip ay mas prente itong umupo sa swivel chair habang ang paa nito ay nasa taas na ng mesa, ang index finger niya ay naglalaro sa lower lip niya, at nakangising nakatingin sa akin.

"You need money right?"

Napatigil ako sa pagpihit ng pintuan ng magtanong siya. Mariin kong naikuyom ang kamao ko.

"Your father need an urgent surgery."

I glared at him bu still he is looking at me with a cold blank sarcastic stare.

"Stop wasting my time," he said in a sarcastic tone. "This will gonna spread soon."

What? Ako pa ngayon ang nagsasayang ng oras siya? Shootangina! Ang sarap niyang ibalibag sa mars. Agad nagsalubong ang mga mata ko nang napako ang mata ko sa TV ng inopen niya ito. My brows furrowed even more. It's my pictures together with his daughter, and my pictures together with him. What is happening? That's a photo from that certain day.

"I guess, you make this to happen," he snickered.

"Ya. What the f*ck are you trying to say? At ano ang mga 'yan? Why am I on those pictures?" I asked in a gritted teeth.

Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng pagkairita ng ngumisi ito.

"Kung may issue ka huwag mo akong idamay. Nagpunta ka ba rito para pagbantaan ako na huwag magsalita? Don't worry, I won't waste my time with that. So, if you don't have anything good to say, can I leave now?" sarkastikong saad ko saka ko siya sinamaan ng tingin. Ang kapal lang kasi ng mukha niya.

"So you're stupid," he mocked

Nanlilisik ang matang binalingan ko siya ng tingin.

Tinuro niya ang folder na ibinigay niya sa akin kanina. Ano bang laman ng folder? Napapairap na kinuha ko ito at binasa. Tila huminto ang mundo ko nanh makita at mabasa ang mga laman nito.

"Did you do some background check on me?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. Hindi ko maitago ang galit na nararamdaman ko. This is so frustrating. "Are you f*cking stalking me?"

My mind is clouded with so many words that I couldn't even put in a sentence. I f*cking want to defend myself but I don't know what to say. The photos clearly show it all, and an article that haven't publish yet. I just freakingly wanted to help the little girl, but why am I suddenly tight up in this kind of situation? What did I do wrong?

"The contract says it all. It will benefits your family and you, all you need to do is to sign it and shut your mouth."

I intently closed my eyes out of frustration and anger.

"Why would I do that? This is ridiculous!" I hissed.

Why do I need to pretend that I'm the real mother of his child? This is freakingly nonsense! How could a reporter come up with this kind of idea in just a scope of nonexistent reality?

"It's your plan in the first place. Didn't you intentionally approached my daughter—"

"I just wanted to help your daughter!" I cut him off. "She's the one who called me 'mom'!" I added in gritted teeth.

My mind is blowing up! I can't take this! Ilang beses niya bang ipagpipilitan na plinano ko ito lahat? Ilan beses niya ba dapat akong insultuhin?

Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan niya kaya maging ako ay napatayo rin. Naglakad siya sa akin na para bang in any seconds ay kikitilan niya ako ng buhay. Nahigit ko ang aking hininga ng ma-corner niya ako.

Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko na parang kakawala ito.

"Don't be too hard headed, it might put you in trouble," he said in a seductive yet monstrous voice. "I will pay you, just name your price."

Mariin kong nakagat ang dila ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Mas dumoble ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko, ramdam ko rin ang panlalambot ng tuhod ko, kung hindi lang siya nakahawak sa bewang ko ay babagsak ako.

I gulped.

Kinilabutan ako nang bigla siyang nag lean sa tenga ko at bumulong.

"Your choice."

"Why me? Look for someone else dahil hindi ko ata masisikmurang makasama ka," puno ng kasarkastikuhang sabi ko at marahas siyang itinulak palayo sa akin.

Shootangina! Nasa matinong pag-iisip pa ako. Hindi masasagot ng pera ang lahat. Oo, kailangan ko ng pera para sa operasyon ni Papa pero shoota — hindi ko naman ata kayang ipagkalulo ang sarili ko sa kanya.

"Whether you agree or not —"

"Will you freaking shut up? 'Di ba mayaman ka? Bakit hindi mo gamitin 'yang pera mo para bilhin ang media? O kaya hanapin mo ang totoong ina ng anak mong gago ka kesa ako ang idamay mo sa gulo ng iyong pamilya. And one more thing, is this the only way for you? To make me pretend? Bakit hindi mo sabihin na naghiwalay tayo, tapos bumalik ako para icelebrate ang birthday ng anak mo—"

"Do you f*cking think it will stop like that? F*cking use your brain." What the hell? At siya pa ang may ganang magalit ngayon? Nagpapatawa ba siya?

"Ya. Hindi ko na iyon kasalanan."

Tinalikuran ko na siya. I drastically open the door and stormed out the conference room without looking back at him. He freakingly think that I will immediately agree with him? No freaking way! Ang lakas ng loob niyang insultuhin ko.

After that meeting, I thought they will stop dragging me off, but I’m freakingly wrong! This is seriously freakingly annoys the hell of me. How could they be so persistent?

“10 million if you agree to sign the contract,” Mr. Deon offered, again, but this time higher. "Other than that, all your expenses for five years will be manage by the company. You can have enough money for the surgery of your father, a bright future for your siblings, and a wealthy life," he added with even buffering.

Its so easy for him to spend money. He’s indeed a jerkass.

“Ilang beses ko bang uulitin na hindi ko ipagkakalulo ang kaluluwa ko sa amo mong demonyo? Ngayon, lumayas ka na sa harapan ko bago pa kita ipakaladkad,” singhal ko.

Nauubusan na lang talaga ako ng pasensya.

“Then, I just wanna remind you that the news will be out tonight, and you know how media works. Whether you go through with the contract, your name will get damage. We tried our best to bribe the media and not to spread things about you, but money can’t go well. It is important to them to get his name on the headline, why? Because he is him,” he stated. He don’t need to elaborate it more, because it was stated very clearly.

I know what he mean. That’s how media work. Kung alam nilang sasabog ang isang balita, hindi iyon matutumbasan ng kahit na anong halaga. It is important to them to get him on the hook.

“So you’re telling me that even though I won’t sign the contract, madadamay pa rin ang pangalan ko. So ano pang silbi ng pagpunta mo rito?”

Huminga siya ng malalim at inayos ang salaming suot niya.

“This is just to cover up the scandal.”

“Scandal?”

“Everyone knows Mr. Winchester in business industry, not only into that. He is well known...”

I know what he mean by that.

“If they’ll know that Mr. Winchester has a daughter, and seperated, or what could be the media is trying to pull an article, not only the company will at stake, Haru too. Mr. Winchester tries everything to hide Haru, because he is afraid that Haru will get hurt. He want to protect Haru at all cost that’s why we are deeply pursuing you and give you everything and any condition you want upon signing the contract.”

This is giving me a headache. But then, I didn't let myself take the risk. I don't want to make my life more complicated.

Just like what he said, a news about me exploded all over the country. In an instant, I became a celebrity.

HEADLINE : ‘A SECRET MARRIAGE – DIVORCED? A DAUGHTER, NOTORIOUS BUSINESSMAN WHO DOESN’T HAVE FLAWS. THE TRUTH BEHIND.’

Kaba, inis, galit – everything inside me mixed up. Nahihilo ako sa article na nababasa ko tungkol sa akin, tipong lahat ata ng tungkol sa akin ay mistulang nakalkal ng media. It’s bullsh*t on how they make stories, which doesn’t have any reliable sources. This is really annoying!

"Tanggapin mo na ang alok sa iyo, Kryst. Palay na nga lumalapit sa iyo, tutukain mo na lang nag iinarte ka pa."

Napatigil ako sa pagsubo dahil sa sinabi ni Mama na para bang ang dali lang ng pinapagawa niya.

"Mama—."

"Hay naku! Ano lang naman iyon kumpara sa pera at magandang buhay na maihahatid sa atin no'n? Gamitin mo naman ang utak mo, walang magagawa ang prinsipyo sa panahon ngayon. Maging praktikal ka naman," putol niya sa sasabihin ko

Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata ko. Gusto kong magsalita ngunit hindi ko magawang ibuka ang bibig ko.

"Mamamatay na ang ama mo sa sakit niya wala ka pang ginagawa. Maano pa't magsakripisyo ka ng konti para sa pamilya—"

"Mama tama na," singit ni Y na nginitian ako.

"Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Ako na naman ang masama? Sinasabi ko lang ang makakabuti sa atin. Maano pa't tanggapin niya yung alok? Hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin ko sa pamilyang ito. Puro problema at sakit sa ulo!"

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko at mariing ipinikit ang aking mata.

Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa phone ko nang mag ring ito.

It doesn’t show if its an ‘unknown number’ instead it shows up as ‘private number’. A number exist like this?

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko tuluyang sinagot ang tawag, but as soon as I answered it and greet the caller a simple ‘Hello’, I was totally caught off guard and froze to death when I heard the devils voice on the other line.

"Be my wife and a mother of Haru."

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Luvvess