Afflicting Fate

Chapter 24

TWENTY-FOUR: CAN I WORSHIP HER?

(You don't need to be so beautiful like that. )

Evan:

"Any problem with that?"

Seryoso niyang pahayag.

"Sir! Ayoko po."

"What??? Are you rejecting me?"

"Ay hindi po sa ganoon Sir. Hindi po ako bagay maging girlfriend niyo. Marami pong maganda at eleganteng babae diyan. Sir, huwag ako! Huhuhuhuhu."

"That's why I picked you. You have to act beautiful and elegant. That's your punishment for bothering me."

"Sir! Hindi po kita ginagambala!!! Wala nga po akong pakialam sa inyo e!"

"What? You don't care about me???"

Muli niya akong tiningnan nang pagkatalim-talim.

"Ahhhhhhhh. Uhmmmmmm. Hindi naman po sa ganoon Sir."

"If I tell you to do this and that, you have to! Understood?!"

HUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHU. GALIT NA ULIT SIYA!!! BIPOLAR!

"Sige po Sir."

Wala na akong nagawa pa. Hindi pwedeng di sumunod, baka kasi maiwan ako dito sa Beijing. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko kakausapin si Sir Evan, tapos ngayon kailangan kong maging girlfriend niya? Seryoso ba talaga siya? Hindi pa rin ako mapakali sa ginawa ni Sir Evan. Hindi niya man lang ako binigyan ng time maghanda? Bakit kasi kailangan na ngayong gabi pa? After naming mag lunch ni Sir Evan ay pinayuhan niya akong magpahinga para sa event mamayang gabi. Kinakabahan ako dahil ito ang unang pagkakataon na mag-aatend ako ng isang formal event. Hindi ko kasi nagawang umattend kahit JS Prom lamang noon. Baka kasi hindi ko magawa ng tama ang role ko mamayang gabi. Paano kung mahalata nilang nagpapanggap lang kami? HAYYYYSSSSS. Sobrang punishment naman 'to oh! Mabuti pa sigurong lumuhod na lang ako sa asin kesa maging girlfriend ng bugok na 'to!

Evan:

Well, I feel relieved to see her getting worked out over that role. Tss. Let's see if makakatawa ka pa ngayon. Honestly, that's not the only reason why I ask her to be my girlfriend tonight. Tonight's event is really unexpected. I have received an invitation via email from Mr. Yu. He said that I have to attend this event. I can't refuse him because he's an important investor. However, I'm really worried that I might see some colleagues and friends in business there. I might cause some issues if I go there alone. To avoid that I should bring someone with me. That will make them focus more on looking at her than observing me. It's because I'm scared that they might notice something different about me. Kaya ko napagdesisyunan na yayain si Dana na maging fake girlfriend ko.

I think it'll be a good choice, since she'll follow what I'll ask her to do. I don't have ample of time to find someone who'll agree with me, anyway. She's a good choice. Plus, I can have my revenge.

Dana:

I was busy thinking about things that might happen tonight when somebody's calling at my door. Humakbang ako patungo doon at may pagkamangha akong nadama nang makita ko ang mukha ni Sir Evan. He's standing right at my door. Why? He's looking at me at the moment with nothing in his eyes, but just blankness. I was really flustered by his presence.

"Uhmmm. What is it Sir?" Nagtanong ako para basagin ang katahimikan na pwedeng mamuo sa aming dalawa.

Hindi siya sumagot, bagkus ay iniabot sa'kin ang isang maliit na paper bag. May pag-aalinlangan kong tinanggap 'yon. I'm thinking that he might want me to keep this for him.

"Alright Sir. I'll keep this for the meantime."

He's not saying anything that makes me feel more uncomfortable. He's just giving me that stare which I never like, but not totally hate it before.

"No. That's for you." Matipid niyang sambit, which left me with an emotion that's totally new for me and I'm not feeling fantastic nor frightened. I gave him a questioning gaze and I'm assuming that he understood that one.

"You should wear them tonight. That's necessary." utas niya at humakbang na palayo sa'kin at iniwan niya akong naghuhuramentado sa sinabi niya. Para pala sa'kin ang necklace na binili niya kanina? Kahit na alam kong binili niya lamang 'yon para sa event ay hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na ma appreciate ang bagay na'to. If this is really for me, then it's the first time someone gave me a gift. Habang tinitingnan ko ang necklace na 'yon ay umuukit sa mga labi ko ang isang ngiting si Sir Evan lang ang nakagawa.

Ilang minuto lang ay papatak na ang alas otso ng gabi. OMMOO!!!! KINAKABAHAN NA AKO!

Nakabihis na ako ng gown na ibinigay sa'kin ni Sir Evan. Hindi ako mapakali at panay ang tingin ko sa salamin para e convince ang self ko na I can make it. Isa pa sa mga reasons kung bakit hindi ako comfortable ay ang katanungang okay na ba ang ayos ko ngayong gabi? Hindi kaya sila magdududa na isa lang naman akong alalay ni Sir Evan? Sana naman huwag silang makahalata,

I looked at myself at the mirror again. I wore make up that's not heavy, so I'm okay with this. My white long gown just fit my body, but it's not that revealing so I'm good with it.

HMMMMMMMM. Ano pa ba?

My eyes continue to search every part of myself which I appreciated just by now. I didn't know that I could be like this. Until my eyes caught the necklace that Sir Evan gave, it's dazzling. I'm holding and appreciating it more, when my phone rung.

"Hello Sir?"

"Are you ready?"

"Uhmmm. Yes, I am."

"Alright, I'm standing right next to your door now."

"Ok sir. I'm going out."

Habang dahan-dahan akong naglalakad palabas ay nasa taenga ko parin ang cellphone ko kasi hindi pa naman ibinababa ni Sir Evan ang tawag niya. I feel bad to end the call, so I'm just waiting for him to do that. I'm holding the doorknob now, and I don't know why my heart races like this. I'm holding back. Pwede pa ba akong umatras?

"Dana." nagambala ako sa boses na nasa kabilang linya.

"Uhmmm. Yes sir. I'm going out now."

At tuluyan ko nang binuksan ang pinto at sinalubong ako ni Sir Evan habang nasa taenga pa rin ang phone niya. Nakatalikod pa siya sa pintuan at nang mabuksan ko 'yon ay nakita ko ang paggalaw niya paharap sa'kin. Tuluyan na niyang ibinababa ang cellphone niya at ganoon din ako. Nagtama ang paningin namin at sa ngayon, katahimikan lang ang nangingibabaw. Kapag magkasama kami ni Sir Evan ay puros na lang ganito. Tahimik, na siya pa lalong nagiging rason nang pagiging abnormal ng t***k ng puso ko. Una kong binawi ang mahabang pagtititigan na 'yon. I have to.

"Tayo na po Sir?" mabilis kong pag-anyaya upang maiwasan ko na ang maaaring maging kahulugan ko.

Hindi na naman siya nagsalita, sa halip ay humakbang na 'to papalayo at ako nama'y tahimik at pilit na kinokontrol ang kaba na nararamdaman ko na nakasunod lamang sa likuran niya. I already mastered his back.

Evan:

You don't need to be so beautiful like that. You're making me lose my stance.