Play Pretend

Chapter 3

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 3
Survey

Nanuyo ang aking lalamunan sa huli niyang sinabi. I hurriedly looked away and busied myself by slicing the steak. I could feel his intense gaze piercing at me, pero hindi ko na inabala ang sariling kumpirmahin 'yon.

Ever since I started working for him, I couldn't remember being that conscious and uncomfortable around him. Kahit na isaksak ko sa ulo ko na huwag bigyan ng malisya ang lahat, tuwing naaalala ko ang tanong niyang nagsimulang magpagulo sa isipan ko, mas lalo akong nawawala sa sarili. I wanted so badly to open that topic again, but I'd rather keep quiet. Baka lalong hindi ko kayanin.

"Chantal."

Para akong pinitik ng kanyang boses at halos mapatalon nang ibinalik ang atensyon sa kanya. The gentleness he showed was replaced by his usual stoic expression. Nang dahil doon ay muli akong kumalma.

"Yes, Sir?"

Muling nagtaas ng kilay si Xaiver nang muli akong naging pormal. I hoped he would be lenient with me. Hindi magiging madali ang pag-a-adjust ko sa pagtawag sa kanya lalo na't ayon na ang nakasanayan ko.

Napalunok ako saka inulit ang tanong. "B-bakit?"

Umayos siya ng upo, ngunit hindi nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon. "I think I forgot to tell you that we're going to Manière for a fitting tonight," he said. "I booked a schedule last night after receiving the invitation for Hari's charity ball."

"Miss Hariette?" I asked to confirm.

Xaiver simply nodded and took a sip on his soda.

Hariette Dela Vega is Xaiver's cousin. She is also the current President of Prime Retails, which is one of DVH's subsidiaries. Although she seemed pretty tough and wild, she is also a well-known philanthropist. Ever since she took charge of their company, she had been organizing charity events to give help and promote the welfare of those who are in need.

As her cousin, Xaiver never missed her charity events to support Hariette and her vision. He is also very generous when it comes to giving donations, especially every time he successfully signed a deal and launched a new project.

"She said she forgot to give me an invite earlier this month. We were out of the country at naging abala rin siya sa pag-o-organize since it'll be her biggest charity event yet," pagpapatuloy niya.

Tumango-tango ako. "Okay. Sasabihin ko sa driver na sa Manière ang diretso natin mamaya."

Xaiver flashed a brief smile. "Thanks."

Hilaw akong ngumisi pabalik. Hindi ko na alam ang dapat ko pang sabihin kaya nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pagkain. Kakasubo ko pa lang ng steak nang napaangat akong muli ng tingin sa kanya. Pirmi pa rin ang kanyang titig.

"What is your favorite flower?" Xaiver asked out of the blue.

Sa pagkabigla sa kanyang tanong ay para akong nabulunan. I turned away, coughed, and patted my chest hard.

Xaiver didn't waste a beat and quickly stood up. Umikot siya palapit sa akin at tumayo sa tabi ko. "Let me help you," sabi niya bilang paalam bago marahang hinagod ang aking likod kasabay ng pag-abot niya ng tubig.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. It helped that he was concerned for me to recover. Pilit akong umayos at tumigil sa pag-ubo upang tumigil siya sa paghagod sa likod ko. Fortunately, it worked.

Xaiver got his hand off me right away and took a step back. Hindi nga lang siya umalis sa tabi ko. Pinapanood niya lamang ako habang umiinom ng tubig. Nakakunot ang noo niya, tila hindi na alam kung ano pa ang sunod na gagawin.