GREAT PRETENDER

3

Nandito siya ngayon sa isang high class and well known restaurant na isa sa pagmamay-ari ng mga deleon, he invited her for a dinner in order to discuss his purpose. She is currently observing the place, it was quietly amazing the ambience was so pleasant and nice. The wall and the ceiling is very delectable. Almost of the crew were very accommodating and vigilant in all the costumer's. Nakaramdam siya ng pagkahanga. Maganda talaga magtrato ng mga empleyado ang mga Deleon kung kaya't maraming mga empleyado ang siyang nananatili sa mga ito. Maganda rin ang kani kanilang mga imbentong mga pagkain. Kaya din siguro halos minu minuto ay merong nagsisi-order mapa online delivery man o walk in. Hanga na talaga siya kung paano mag patakbo ang isang Deleon.

"Maam, Mr. Deleon told us to care and set your orders, do you prefer something to dine maam?" Magalang na tanong ng isang crew na lalaki na sa tingin niya ay ka edad lamang niya. She smiled a little and looked at the menu. She Chose some of her favorite beef tapa with lemonade the she thank the waiter. Mukhang nabigla pa ito pa sa sinabi niya. Nag aalangan pa kung sasagot o hindi. She just smiled.

Maya maya pa ay dumating na ang order niya. Mukhang late ata si Mr.deleon she just sit here and wait for almost five minutes already, akmang gagalawin na niya ang kanyang pagkain ng makitang my dalawang pares ng paa sa gilid niya. She looked up and stop in a while. Parang natuod siya sa kanyang kina uopuan ng makita ang napaka guwapong lalaki na akala mo'y hulog ng langit. Damn!

She still keep her posture, hindi niya pweding ipakitang nagulat siya sa presensya nito.

"Excuse me sir? May i know why you're still standing there.? uhm, i see that there's a lot and plenty tables here. An---!"

"Miss Madrigal, Please to meet you, i am Crist Deleon." Sabay lahad ng palad nito. His deep baritone voice sent her an explainable feeling. She was currently on shock. How could it be.

"W-what? Are you kidding? I know Mr deleon is an Old man. I didn't know you? Or else..." Hindi niya na naituloy pa ang kanyang sasabihin ng biglang ngumisi ito at sumabat.

"Yes i am. Im his only son. Wouldn't you mind if i sit before we talked?" Nawala ang kanina'y gulat niya at napalitan iyon ng pagkahiya. Nawala saglit sa kanya na ito pala ang may ari ng restaurant na kinakainan niya. Well she doesn't care. He looks arrogant. The way he talks and smile.

"Yes ofcourse." Sabi ko. Habang hindi pa rin makapaniwala na ang ito ang ka meeting niya. All of sudden hindi niya man lang inusisa kung my anak ba o wala ang tinaguriang beast of the beast. E ano naman ngayon kung my anak pala si Mr. Deleon. Well siguro nga ito na ang namamahala sa kumpanya ng mga ito dahil matanda na rin umano ang ama nito.

Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani.

Hanggang sa hindi niya na kaya ang atmosphere na pumapagitna sa kanila. She broke the silence. She can't even look straight into his deep blue eyes. Wow! Is this true? Maxine Madrigal is feeling awkward? Damn!

"A-ahm.. Shall we start?" I composed myself into one word. Stay calm!

"I forgot Miss Madrigal, can i ask your name first? After all, were gonna be a partner as soon as possible." He said in a cold tone, while his smiling mischievous. Halos manindig naman ang kanyang mga balahibo matapos niyang marinig ang sinabi nito. What does he mean. Parang iba ang paraan at pahiwatig ng mga sinabi nito.

"Oh yes, im Maxine Madrigal. Im sorry? But may i know what's really the matter why'd you set an appointment to me? Is this only for business right?" Diretsahang tanong ko, ayoko ng magpaligoy ligoy pa. Naiilang ako sa mga titig na ipinupukol nito sa akin. He is acting weird. I'd sense the awkwardness between us.

"I'd never expect that you looked even beautiful in personal, I was just amazed." He utter. My forehead creased when he says those words. I am now distracted. Tumayo ako at akmang magpapa-alam ng biglang nagsalita ito uli. Mukhang naramdaman na nito na hindi na ako natutuwa.

"Im sorry if i feel you uncomfortable. Can you just sit for a while? I have something to discuss... About a proposals." Sabi nito sa seryusong mukha.

"Proposal? About what?" Tanong ko sa kalmadong bosses. I maintained my cold act. I was never like this before. I feel like my knees were trembling and my nerves are slowly crashing. What the hell! Sa paraan kasi ng sabi nito ay iba. Damn! Pwede ba maxine? Kumalma ka nga, this was just all about business nothing serious. Bumalik ako sa pagkaka-upo at nag-intay ng sasabihin nito. Tumaas ang isang kilay ko ng hindi parin ito nagsimula. She is currently holding her temper.

Bumuntong hininga muna ito at saka inilabas ang brown envelope, tinitigan muna niya ito bago simulang binigay sa akin...

Agad ko naman iyong kinuha at dahan dahang binasa. I was beyond shock and confused! What the hell he wants. Hindi ko na itinuloy na basahin at agad na isinauli ang contrata.

"Im sorry for being this practical. But i can't accept your proposal. Im not like anyone who's just easy as you thought. Thank you for inviting me, and have a great night Mr. Deleon." Sabi ko sabay alis. Pagkatapos kong basahin ang contrata na gusto nito ay parang sasabog ang ulo ko sa inis. Ano ba akala nito sa kanya? The heck this man. Kahit sigurong kaya nito isalba ang lahat ng kanilang negosyo ay hindi siya papayag sa gusto nito. Hindi naman siya ganito ka desperada upang tanggapin agad ang alok nito. She could say, malaki ang tulong at impak niyon sa kumpanya nilang papalubog na. Ngunit hindi niya kayang sikmurain ang desisyong panghabang buhay niyang pagsisihan.

Pagod na napasalampak ako sa aking malaking higaan. Habang tumitingin sa itaas ay unti unti na naman akong nilalamon ng kalungkutan. Kailan pa ba matatapos ang dinarama kong ito. Pagod na pagod na akong makipag habulan at karerahan sa lahat. Parang gusto ko na lamang sumunod kina mom and dad.

Tumagilid siya at tumingin sa portrait nilang magpamilya. She was so happy during that time, that was the day when she grant her mom and dad wished for her. To be a role model in the university that they owned and to be also a valedictorian in their batch. Even they owned the university still she work and study hard for those awards she had before. She never used her parents and they name to make a highest rank on their class. That's why she gladly knows how proud her mom and dad to her.

How could this life be so rude to her now, she may not a perfect daughter but she's really trying her best. Why would her fate turned like this. She may have all things in the world but not a home they called. She badly misses the home sweet home she had before.

Kumawala ang masaganang luha mula sa kanyang mga mata. Ipagpasadiyos na lamang niya ang lahat ng kanyang hinaing at naway gabayan siya ng mahal na panginoon upang harapin ang mga bukas ng kahapon.