Entangled

7

Damned this hardheaded woman. She was the one in dire need of money, yet she tried to wiggle her way in changing his terms.

Gosh, naiinis na siya sa paguugali nito kagaya nong mga bata pa sila. Ayaw nitong magpatalo. Hinilot niya ang kaniyang sentido bago umupo at tumikhim. “We’ve been able to agree on everything else. We’ve compromised. It’s only one year, and then you can walk away and have a damn orgy for all I care.”

Deniah stared back at him with sheer stubbornness and steely determination. “If you get to have your orgies, I get mine. If you want to be celibate, so will I. I don’t care about your crap regarding men and women and their differences. If I have to go to bed alone for three hundred sixty-four nights, then so will you. And if you want action, you’ll have to turn to your own wife.”

Gusto ni Arkel na hawakan sa balikat si Deniah at iyugyog ito at nang matauhan. Siya na nga itong mas nangangailangan siya pa ang demanding. At kahit magwalk-out ito sa kanya ngayon wala siyang pakialam, marami pa namang mga babae diyan na gusto siyang pakasalan ng walang kapalit.

"At since hindi naman natin mahal ang isa't isa Dark, you'll just have to find some other ways to ease the pressure. Maging creative ka. Celibacy should open other outlets.”Ngumisi ito sa kanya, "Cause that’s all you're gonna get.”

Obviously, wala itong alam na isa siyang master poker player, and had spent the past few years blowing off steam in games where night turned into day and he walked off thousands richer. Like his old smoking habit, poker called to him and he used the vice for pleasure, not profit.

Hindi niya hahayaang matalo siya ng babae, nararamdaman na niya ang tagumpay. "You want to be unreasonable? Fine! Deal is off. Kiss your money goodbye."

Walang imik na tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ang babae at kinuha ang bag. "It was nice to see you again, Pretty Boy."

Direct hit.

Napaisip siya kung alam ba nito na naiirita siya tuwing tatawagin siya nitong 'pretty boy'. Kahit nung bata pa sila, ayaw na ayaw niyang tinatawag siya nito sa endearment na iyon. Mas gugustuhin pa niyang tawagin nalang siya nito sa kanyang unang pangalan na Dark.

The years hadn't dulled the sharp edge of the insult. As he did when he was younger, he gritted his teeth and bore the annoyance with an easy grin. “Yeah, it was nice. Stop by some time. Don't be a stranger."

"I won't" Sabi nito at nagsimula na itong humakbang patungi sa pinto ng kanyang office. "See ya, Dark."

That was the moment Arkel knew he was wrong. Dead wrong. Deniah Lillium Lagazca could win at poker—not because she lied, but because she was willing to lose.

She also played a mean game of chicken.

Pinihit nito ang doorknob at lalabas na sana nang...

"Okay" The words fired out of his mouth before he had time to think. Something told him she'd walk away and wouldn't call back later to say she changed her mind. Damn it, si Deniah lang ang candidate na mapagkakatiwalaan niya.

One year of his life was nothing compared to the gift of a future to do what he always dreamed about.

Bumalik sa harap niya si Deniah at nagsalita in a businesslike tone. “I know the contract doesn't state our new agreement. Do you give me your word you'll stick to the new terms?”

“I can draw up a revised document.”

"Hindi na kailangan. Do you give me your word?”

Narealize niyang pinagkakatiwalaan siya nito on the same level ng pagtitiwala niya sa babae. A prickle of satisfaction ran through him. “I give you my word.”

"Then I'll shake on it. Siya nga pala, tungkol sa paghihiwalay natin after a year, ayaw kong madamay at masaktan ang pamilya ko. Sasabihin nalang natin na may mga bagay tayong hindi napagkakasunduan at hindi na maayos, then we pretend to part friends."

"I can live with that."

"Mabuti kung ganun. Sunduin mo ako ng seven at pupuntahan natin ang pamilya ko para i announce ang tungkol sa kasal. Ako ng bahala sa wedding arrangement."

Napagatango na lang siya, dahil ang kanyang utak ay tila mahamog dahil sa kanyang ginawang desisyon at ang pagiging malapit ng babae. Was that subtle fragrance from her skin vanilla? Or cinnamon? Nakatunganga niyang pinagmasdan si Deniah at naglapag ito ng business card sa kaniyang cherry wood table.

"Ang address ko sa bookstore," sabi nito. "I'll see you tonight."

He cleared his throat to reply, but it was too late. She had already left.

_________

Deniah squirmed in her seat as the silence in the black BMW stretched between them. At ang kanya husband-to-be ay nakikita rin niya na hindi to komportable, na itinuon ang atensyon sa kaniyang MP3 player.

Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapangiwi nang matapos na itong pumili ng kanta- Mozart. Wow. Mas gusto nito ang music na walang salita. Naisip na ang magiging buhay niya kasama ito, she almost shuddered at the thought.

For. An. Entire. Year.

She can endure their bantering for a year. But with Mozart? Ugh.

"May Black Eyed Peas ka ba?"

Halatang naguluhan ito sa kaniyang tanong. "To eat?"

Relax. Inhale. Exhale. “I'll even settle for some of the old classics. Sinatra, Bennett, Martin."

Nanatili itong tahimik.

"Eagles? Beatles? Taylor Swift? Oh, baka mga OPM meron ka. Ben&Ben? Just yell if any of these names sound familiar."

Timingin ito ng masama sa kanya bago magpatuloy sa pagmamaneho. "Alam ko kung sino ang mga yan. Would you prefer Beethoven?"

Sa loob loob niya ay nagsisigaw na siya. "Forget it "

They veered back to silence with a piano background. Deniah knew they were both nervous as the miles to her parents' house shortened. Playing the loving couple wouldn't be easy when they couldn't even carry on a two-minute conversation. She decided to try again.

"Sabi ni Alana meron kang alagang isda."

"Yes. Why?"

"Anong pangalan niya?"

"Fish."

Napakurap siya. "Hindi naman yan pangalan ah. Hindi ka man lang nag-effort na bigyan siya nga pangalan." May panunumbat ang kanyang boses.

"Did I commit a crime?"

"Hindi mo ba alam na may feelings din ang mga hayop kagaya natin?"

"I don't like animals."

"Bakit? Are you afraid of them?"

"Of course not."

"Takot ka nga sa ahas na nakita natin noon sa kakahuyan. Naalala mo bang ayaw mong lapitan at gumawa ka pa ng mga dahilan para umalis?

Parang bumaba ang temperatura sa loob ng kotse. "Hindi ako takot, at wala akong pake. I told you ayaw ko sa mga hayop."

She gave a snort, then settled back to silence. And mentally cross another quality from her list.