Way of Forever

Kabanata 10

Nakita na niya ang lalaking ito sa isang event. Lalaking-lalaki ito manamit at gwapo. Tumibok sa unang pagkakataon ang puso niya sa isang lalaki pero agad din iyon nawala nang makita niya na nakikipaglandian ito sa kapwa lalaki.

Maeve grabs Kate’s shoulder as she introduces Kate to her friends.

“This is Kate, my newly found friend in my workplace.”

“Hi, Kate!”

“Hi, labidabs!”

Nahihiyang bumati si Kate pabalik, “H-hi sa inyo…”

“Aww, she’s shy. Pero ‘pag sumama ka sa amin mawawala ‘yan,” natatawang saad ni Diego at nag-beautiful eyes pa.

“Bad influence ‘yan,” segunda ni Lilac at tinarayan ito na may kasabay na ngisi.

“b***h? Acting innocent?”

Lumapit si Maeve sa tenga ni Kate, “Let’s get inside. Huwag mo silang pansinin masasanay ka din sa’min if you are ready to take a roller coaster ride with us.”

Ngumiti ng malaki si Kate. “Okay!” Siguro nga ito na ang tamang oras para mag-move forward siya sa comfort zone niya. She wants to experience new things.

-----

“So tell us about yourself, Kate.”

Fifteen minutes drive lang ang papuntang Mcdo from MMC. Good thing at marami ang bakante since lahat ay nagsisisiuwian from work.

“Uhm… like what you see I’m a shy person and has no sense of fashion.”

“Ano ka ba. I like your fashion kaya!” asik ni Lilac.

“Sus! Kung hindi mo alam, Kate, ganyan din noon si Lilac, nerdy type but look at her now? It’s not too late to change if ikabubuti mo naman ito,” lintana ni Diego at sumubo ng fries. Maeve agreed, she still remembers kung ano ang itsura ni Lilac noon. Like Kate, Lilac was also a manang type, mahiyain, palaging nag-so-solo, at linalait. But they came to her life and changed Lilac to what she became now. Nakaka-proud. From being a shy kitten to a wild cat.

Napatingin si Kate kay Lilac. Wow! Kagaya niya din ang babaeng ‘to? Ang laking pinagbago nito. Magiging ganito din kaya siya sa tulong nila?

“It’s true, Kate. You can also be like me or better. Pero hindi ka namin i-pu-push if you don’t want to. Ang sa amin ay tutulungan ka na namin to be confident,” sabay wink nito at ngumiti ng malaki sa kanya.

“N-no… I-I want to be confident,” nauutal na sambit ni Kate bago yumuko at sumipsip sa McFloat na binili nila.

“That’s it, baby girl! Now, start lifting your head. A confident woman has to chin up. Start it by yourself,” sagot ni Diego na tuwang-tuwa. They will turn this woman into awhite swan, they are all beautiful white swans except kay Kate na parang black swan. Not because of her skin—her skin was beautiful but the aura she’s radiating.

“Chin up, Kate. D’yang magsisimula ang confidence mo. Kaya ka nila pinag-iinitan dahil alam nilang mahina ka, that you have no power to talk back to them. But believe me, a woman's power is her confidence,” ani ni Maeve. The thing that you are afraid to do could be the one thing to change everything.

“Kate, you have so much to offer as the person you are right now. Do not do it for us or for somebody. Do it for yourself.”

Pumalakpak sina Lilac at Diego.

“Oh, hah! Nagsalita na si Senyora.”

Maybe meeting them was a destiny. Kate is hoping to be the better person for the future with these new found friends.

-----

The next day.

“Maeve, pinapatawag ka ni Boss sa loob.” Maeve sighed and massaged her neck. Halos limang oras na s’yang nakaupo at nangangalay na ang leeg at binti niya.

“Para saan daw?” tanong niya kay Xy. Maganda naman ang trabaho niya dito hindi din masyadong marami ang ginagawa dahil kung ano lang ang para sa secretary ay ‘yon lang ang tatrabahuhin nito.

Xy shrugged his shoulder. “I don’t know.” But in reality, alam niya kung bakit ito ipapatawag ng boss niya. It was about being the pretend girlfriend of Levine. Parang mahihirapan ang boss niya kumbinsihin ang dalaga.

Tumayo si Maeve at inayos ang skirt bago kumatok sa pinto ng opisina ni Levine.

“Come in.”

“Boss, pinapatawag niyo daw po ako?”

Levine clears his throat. “Yes, Have a seat, Maeve.” Hindi makapag-concentrate si Levine noong mga nakaraang araw dahil iniisip niya kung paano niya kukumbisihin ang dalaga.

“I won’t beat around the bush, Miss Santos. I want you to be my pretend girlfriend.”

“I’m sorry?” Tama ba ang pagkakadinig ni Maeve? His boss wants her to be his pretend girlfriend? Naubusan na ba ‘to ng babae at siya naman ang pagkakadiskitahan?

“You heard me. Be my pretend girlfrie—”

“No,” she replied firmly.

“I know you would say that. Pero you’re just going to pretend to be my girlfriend for five months after that wala na. Ako na ang bahalang mag-isip ng susunod na hakbang na gagawin ko. I don’t want to be entangle in an arrange marriage.”

“With all due respect po sir, ano? Ako ang gagawin mong pantakip d’yan sa problema mo?”

“Of course not. We were just pretending and babayaran kita sa pagpapanggap mo.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Maeve. Ang sama sa pandinig ‘non na babayaran siya . It sounded like she was a toy to be used.

“I’m sorry but no. Hindi ko gagawin ‘yan—”

“Natatakot ka bang ma-fall sa akin?” A smirk forms on Levine’s face. Napatigil sa pagsasalita sana si Maeve nang tanungin siya ni Levine. She heaved a sigh at mariing ipinikit ang mga mata. This man is annoying!

“Ako?” turo nito sa sarili. “Mahuhulog sa’yo. Please, you're not my type.” Lies. Pero hindi siya mahuhulog sa ganitong paraan.

Tumayo si Levine at pumunta sa harap niya. He lifted Maeve’s chin and said, “Then let’s bet. If one of us fall in love in span of six months, it’s game over gagawin ng isa ang gusto ng nanalo.”

“Are you crazy?” asik ni Maeve at inalis ang kamay nito sa baba niya. Matalim niya itong tinitigan. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukuti ng lalaking ito at naisipan ito but she wouldn’t let this man win.

“f**k you. Okay, then. Let’s see kung sino ang mananalo sa ating dalawa.” She grabbed his necktie and lowered his face into hers.

“Watch yourself Levine. You might never know that you’re head over heels of me. Baka ‘di ka na makaahon.”

Nabigla man ay nagawa pang ngumisi ni Levine sa dalaga.

“You should also watch your feelings, Miss Santos. I can make you fall in love with me.”

Maeve gave hima seductive smile and let go.

“Hmm. Pag-igihan mo.” And with that she walked out with hips swaying. The smile on Levine’s face deepened.

“I’ll make you fall harder, sweetheart, and it’s game over.”