Jhoana
A bouquet of flowers, a black fitted dress and a letter welcomed me on my office today. Though I am expecting these are from Bea, I am pretty sure these are from Rex.
"Date me tonight. I'll pick you up at 7p.m."
This is definitely Rex. He's the only one I know who's so demanding of everything. Gusto niya sumunod ka sa gusto niya. He doesn't care if you have other plans basta kung nagplano na siya, you should go. He's so bossy at sobrang taas ng tingin sa sarili. He treats everyone as if they are under him, as if they are his employees. Of course, I am the exception. Hindi niya ako napipilit sa mga gusto niyang gawin. Well, with the wedding thing, I am doing it for Bea and not because of Rex pushing me to do it.
Annoying. I said after reading his note. I am already decided to ditch the date but mama knew me so much, she called and told me that I should go. Should is the word. Yes, an order from my mom. That means I have no choice but to spend my night with Rex.
"Yung mga kilay mo, nagsasalubong nanaman."
I looked up and saw Bea who placed a folder on my table. Probably, the one that I am asking her to do.
"What's with the bad mood?"
"Hindi ka man lang ba naasar sa kapatid mo?" I asked as she sat down on a chair near my table. Tinignan niya muna ako ng -what's with the out of the blue question- look bago sumagot.
"Hm. Asar is an understatement but-" She stopped when she noticed the bouquet of flowers and the box of dress Rex gave me.
"He is still my brother so even with his foul attitude, I still respect him. Iniintindi ko na lang dahil mukhang may galit siya sa'kin." She chuckled.
"Galit?"
"Wala lang, feel ko lang na galit siya sa'kin." I was about to say something when she talked again.
"Mukhang may date kayo, ha. Sige, I should go back to my office na para matapos mo na 'yang mga ginagawa mo at makapagprepare para sa date niyo." Hindi na ako nakapagsalita dahil nakaalis na siya agad.
Tsk. Jealous.
Kinuha ko 'yung folder na nilapag niya sa table. When I opened it, I saw a note.
Hindi ka property, plant and equipment..
kasi hindi nagdedepreciate ang love ko sa'yo. #Landi
-J
Bwiset! Ang corny, Beatriz!
...
Rex brought me to a fancy Restaurant. Kahit nakakaasar ang ugali niya, hindi naman nawawala ang pagiging gentleman niya. He opened the car's door for me and even pulled me a chair when we got to our table.
As usual and just like our dates before, bukambibig niya lahat ng mga achievements niya. Mula sa company nila, golf at pati na rin ang mga nasabi na niya noon na achievements niya noong nag-aaral pa siya.
"Oh eh di ayun, tumaas nanaman ang sales namin dahil sa idea ko na naisip ko ng 5 minutes lang. Samantalang 'yung team na nakatoka sa project na 'yun, 5 days nilang ginawa ang plan pero wala pa rin. Hinintay lang ata 'yung idea ko eh."
Hindi ko alam kung nagpapa-impress ba siya sa'kin o sadyang hilig niyang purihin ang sarili niya. Nasobrahan 'to sa pagmamahal sa sarili.
"By the way, Jhoana, I was thinking na it is just right na maging official couple tayo since we're going to get married naman na." He said as if entering into a relationship is that easy.
"Wow, huh, make it official?"
"Why? What's wrong? Do I need to court you first? I'm sorry pero hindi ako katulad ng kapatid ko na romantic, old-fashioned type at corny para dumaan pa sa ganoong stage. And gaya ng sabi ko, ikakasal na rin lang tayo so para saan pa?" This guy is just so annoying.
"Oh, bat nasama pa si Bea dito?"
"I know that she's your ex. She's the standard to beat. Pero natalo ko na siya kasi I'm your fiancé now." Ngumiti naman siya na akala mo nanalo sa isang competition. Naalala ko naman 'yung sinabi ni Bea sa'kin kanina, Iniintindi ko na lang kasi mukhang may galit sa'kin. From the way na banggitin niya si Bea, mukha ngang may galit siya dito.
"Tama ka nga naman, you don't need to court me." He was shocked, not expecting what I said. He's about to rejoice when I talked again. "Because we don't need to be official. Hindi naman natin kailangan maging magkarelasyon dahil ikakasal tayo. Alalahanin mo, this marriage is just arranged by our parents and by you. Purely business. Hindi kita papakasalan dahil mahal kita pero dahil sumusunod lang ako sa magulang ko." And for Bea.
Hindi ko na siya hinintay na magsalita pa at umalis na ako sa harap niya. He really got into my nerves this time. Maswerte siya at ngayon ko lang siya winalk-outan dahil sa mga nakaraang date namin, pinipilit ko lang ang sarili ko na maging mabait sa'kanya.
"That was one tough speech." Nagulat ako ng may nagsalita habang naghihintay ako ng taxi.
"Bea? Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Napatingin naman siya sa gawi ni Rex.
"Well, I followed you." Napakamot siya sa batok niya. "Wala akong tiwala kay Rex eh so to be sure that you're okay, sinundan ko kayo." Nahihiya niyang sabi. Sino bang mas gugustuhin ang isang cool na cool na Rex kung meron namang old school pero sweet na Bea. Ay malandi.
"Halika na. Ihahatid na kita bago pa tayo makita ni Rex." She said and led the way to her car.
"Ano naman kung makita tayo ni Rex?" Hindi niya ata nagets yung tanong ko dahil nakakunot ang noo niya. "Sabi mo kanina ihahatid na kita bago pa tayo makita ni Rex." I explained.
"Ah, wala lang baka magselos siya. Iba 'yun magalit." She said at inistart na ang kotse.
Hindi mawala sa isip ko na mukha ngang may away sa pagitan nina Rex at Bea. Lalo na't hindi naman sila purong magkapatid at galing sila sa isang complicated na family.
"Ang lalim nanaman ng iniisip mo."
"Nagtataka pa rin ako kung bakit si Rex ang ipapakasal sa'kin kung pwede namang ikaw. Hindi ba less hassle 'yun kasi mahal natin ang isa't isa. Walang kailangang lumayo at walang masasaktan."
"Sabi ko nga, Rex loves you, so much."
"Eh bakit ikaw, hindi?"
Tinignan niya muna ako bago ibinaling ulit ang tingin sa daan.
"Of course, I do."
"So bakit nga? At bakit pumayag si mama? She knows how much I love you, she even likes you." Natigilan naman sandali si Bea. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa ngayon lang niya rin narealize iyon or hindi niya alam ang sasabihin.
"Maybe iyon ang napag-usapan nila ni mom. Baka my mom pushed Rex sa contract. Knowing mom, bumabawi siya kay Rex and di ba, we're not in good terms." She answered. Still, I'm not convinced. Feeling ko there's something more na dapat kong malaman.
Tumigil kami ni Bea sa isang 7/11 shop dahil bibili raw siya ng coffee. Habang hinihintay siya, umilaw 'yung phone niya, mukhang may nagtext. Following my instincts, kinuha ko iyon at binasa ang message sa screen.
From: Ms. L.
Akala ko ba napag-usapan na natin ito? Layuan mo na siya. Hindi ka nakakabuti sa'kanya.
