TWISTED NEGOTIATION

Meeting

“Dad–”

“It's on the fifth of this month. Eight in the evening at Montecarlo Hotel,” tuloy-tuloy na sabi ni Daddy kasunod ang dalawang bodyguards n’ya pagkapasok na pagkapasok pa lang sa opisina ko sa Axis. Nakita ko sa likod nila si Mitchy na apologetic ang tingin sa akin. Well, it’s not like she knew that my Dad is going to visit today. Mandalas talaga s’yang mag-surprise visit sa mga branch at mga project sites noon pa man kaya hindi na ako nagtaka na nandito s’ya ngayon. What really surprised me was the fact that he personally came here to remind me about the date I will have with his latest prospect–Noah Williams, the current director of Emporium Inc.

“What about it, Dad?” I asked even if I already knew what he was talking about. Nakita kong nagsalubong ang mga kilay n’ya kaya agad na tumayo ako at sinenyas na maupo s’ya sa couch na nasa gilid ng opisina ko.

“Just wait for me outside,” bilin n’ya sa dalawang bodyguards na agad namang tumalima sa utos n’ya. Sinenyasan ko rin si Mitchy na lumabas na muna para makapag-usap kami ni Daddy ng maayos.

Umupo s’ya sa couch kaya agad na umupo ako sa tapat n’ya para makapag-usap kami ng maayos. Sa totoo lang ay kabado ako dahil pinalabas n’ya ang dalawang bodyguards n’ya. That only means one thing…

He was lowkey telling me to back off and get ready for his scolding if I won’t follow his order!

Nang mag-angat s’ya ng tingin sa akin ay agad na kinalma ko ang sarili at pinanatiling kalmado ang itsura dahil kapag nakita n’yang kabado ako ay mas lalo lang n’ya akong sisindakin. And that’s how my father always does to have his way! Na kabisadong kabisado ko na kaya palagi akong handa!

“I’m talking about your dinner date with Noah, Siobeh,” pormal na sabi n’ya kaya pinigilan ko ang mapalunok. I confidently smiled at him instead. Kahit ang totoo ay kabadong-kabado ako dahil sa pagbisita n’ya dito ng dahil lang sa bagay na ‘yon. “Don’t do something stupid this time if you want to keep your position here,” banta n’ya. Halos kilabutan ako sa diin at sobrang obvious na pagbabanta sa boses n’ya. It was like he was trying to give me a heads up before he will do something that will cause ruckus in my life.

“I’m not forgetting about that, Dad. Sisipot po ako. And it’s not like I didn’t know Noah. He was my classmate and–”

“He is not anymore just a student who came into a well-off family, Siobeh. He is now the director of the most successful Architectural and Engineering firm in the country. And you know that you shouldn’t mess up with him like what you usually do to your other dates that I set you up with,” mas mariin n’yang putol sa sinasabi ko. The serious and fierce look in his face was like telling me to be careful of whatever I am gonna say to him right this very moment. Pakiramdam ko ay hinahatulan na n’ya ako kaagad kahit na wala pa akong ginagawang mali!

Pinilit kong ngumiti at gawing kaswal ang pakikipag-usap sa kanya para mabawasan kahit na papaano ang nararamdaman kong kaba. Paano ko ba isisingit sa kanya na ‘wag na n’ya akong ipagtulakan sa kung kani-kanino at hayaan na lang n’ya akong pumili ng lalaking mapapangasawa ko?

“I understand where you’re coming from, Dad. But don’t worry about it. You know that I will never do something to disgrace your name through my actions,” nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya. Nakatingin lang s’ya sa akin ng seryoso na para bang hindi s’ya naniniwala sa mga sinasabi at pinapangako ko. Well, I couldn’t blame him though! Ilang beses na s’yang napahiya sa mga sinet-up n’ya sa akin dahil palagi kong nalulusutan ang mga ‘yon. I made sure that they will never ask for another date after our first meeting!

Itinagilid n’ya ang ulo at nanliliit ang mga matang tinitigan ako. “Noah is pretty interested in you, Siobeh. You should take this as an opportunity to get married this year,” sabi n’ya kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang tumawa kaya nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo n’ya. Agad na umiling ako.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” hinging paumanhin ko. “But I don’t think I’m ready to settle down yet,” natatawa pa rin na sabi ko. “Besides, unang date pa lang naman po namin ‘yon. That’s too early to say that we will end up with each other–”

“He likes you and he is willing to marry you. What else are you waiting for? Regardless of how many times you meet each other. It’s about his willingness to marry you that matters here, Siobeh,” he explained. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti ko at nakita n’ya ‘yon. Mukhang ‘yon lang naman ang hinihintay n’yang reaksyon ko kanina pa kaya nang makita n’yang sumeryoso ako ay mukhang naging mas interesado s’yang kausapin ako.

Tumawa ako. At sa pagkakataong ‘yon ay nakakaloko na ‘yon at alam ko sa sarili kong hindi iyon umabot sa mga mata ko.

This is what I was preventing for the past year, simula noong patigilin n’ya ako sa pakikipagdate sa mga lalaking interesado ako at makipagdate lang sa mga lalaking s’ya mismo ang pumili. It’s been a year! Akalain mong isang taon na pala n’yang kontrolado ang love life ko! Nakita kong tumaas ang kilay n’ya nang makita ang reaksyon ko. The smug expression in my face was probably like a ticking bomb to him. A bomb that will explode anytime if he ever touch it!

“Alright. Let’s get this straight, Dad…” sabi ko at seryosong tumitig sa kanya. I know that this will be a do or die for me. Kung hindi ko susubukan ito ay patuloy lang magiging miserable ang love life ko dahil wala akong kalayaang mamili kung sino ang pwede kong i-date at kilalanin. It’s been a whole damn year. Isang taon na. Isang taon na akong walang love life! Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko na alam kung ano ang feeling ng nasa isang relasyon. And that’s not good, I know! Ayaw kong masanay na single ng matagal dahil kapag nasanay ako, baka hindi ko na maranasan kung paano ang mainlove ng totoo!

And as of today… I, Siobeh “Drop Dead Gorgeous” Pareñas, is now ending this misery that I have been into for the past year!

“I am not marrying Noah or any other man you would be setting up with me, Dad.” I said as I tried to pull myself together. Unti-unting kumunot ang noo n’ya. Disgust was all over his face as he tried to control his rage because of what I said. Taas noong pinanood kong umigting ang mga panga n’ya dahil sa pagpipigil ng iritasyon. “Stop setting me up with any other guy from now on, Dad,” matapang na dagdag ko at pinanood kung paanong nanliit ang mga mata n’ya sa akin bago nagsalita.

Tumango pa s’ya habang hindi pa rin nagbabago ang reaksyon. Napalunok ako.

Am I making him hear me this time?

“Alright then,” sambit n’ya pagkatapos tumango. Agad na namilog ang mga mata ko dahil sa naging pagsang-ayon n’ya!

Is this a sign that the deity is giving me? Baka dahil mamamatay talaga ako ng maaga kaya pinagbibigyan na ako ng Bathala ngayon?!

Agad na napalunok ako at inalis ang kalokohang ‘yon sa isip ko. My Dad is smart, even smarter than me! Imposibleng wala s’yang back up plan sa naging pagpayag n’ya na ito! I cannot let my guards down! Never! Ever! No no!

Concentrate, Siobeh!

“You mean… you are letting me date who I want?” paninigurado ko. Kulang na lang ay ‘wag na akong kumurap para lang ‘wag makaligtaan ang bawat emosyong makikita ko sa mga mata n’ya. Humalukipkip s’ya at sumandal sa couch habang diretsong tinitingnan ako.

“I’m sure you’re not doing this for no reason, Siobeh. You are obviously rebelling against your father. So, you are probably into something. So, tell me what it is. You won’t do this without even thinking about it thoroughly so… come on. Lay your cards on the table. Let me listen to your terms before I decide,” tuloy-tuloy na sabi n’ya at saka dumikwatro ng upo.

What the fudge! I’m so not ready for this! What to do, Siobeh? What to do?!

It’s funny that I was already panicking inside but I still managed to look calm! Maybe I should really join showbusiness now for having this ability to remain calm under so much pressure!

Halos pagpawisan na ako ng malapot nang makita kong tumiim ang titig ni Daddy sa akin.

And without even thinking about it thoroughly, I ended up uttering something that had been in my mind recently after our jiffy encounter in a bistro!

“I am currently in a relationship with someone, Dad,” walang gatol na sabi ko. Hindi nagbago ang facial expressions n’ya at nanatili lang na nakatitig sa akin kaya lalo ko pang pinagbuti ang pag-arte ng kalmado! “His name is Liam Acosta. He’s thirty year old and he’s currently working as a Senior Engineer in Lopez Engineering Firm,” tuloy-tuloy na sabi ko.

Bahala na si Bathala dahil alam kong hindi ito kakayanin ni Batman!

Ilang sandaling nakatitig lang si Daddy sa akin bago ko nakitang inalis n’ya ang pagkakadikwatro ng upo at saka nagsalita na halos ikawala na ng ulirat ko sa mga oras na ito!

“Set up a meeting with him,” utos n’ya kaya halos mahigit ko ang hininga dahil sa sobra-sobrang pagkabigla! “I want to personally meet him to see what you see in him that made you disobey your own father just to be with him.”