"Magkano ang kailangan mo para layuan ang anak ko?" Maagap na tanong ni Mrs. Pangilinan pagkaupo ko palang.
Ilang beses ko ng napanood at nabasa ang ganitong eksena. Nakita ko din at naramdaman ang mga emosyon ng mga babaeng bida sa pelikula o drama, pero bakit hindi ko ramdam 'yon? Halos matawa nga ako sa tanong niya eh.
"Sampong milyon?" Naglabas siya ng cheke mula sa bag niya.
Sampong milyon? Ganoon din kaya kalaki ang binibigay ng mga mayayaman at matapubreng ina sa palabas? Parang ang dami naman yata.
I was about to speak, kaya lang tinaas niya ang kamay niya para pigilin ako. Tinikom ko nalang ang bibig ko. Respeto para sa nakakatanda. I exhaled sharply.
Inaasahan ko ang pagsaboy niya sakin ng tubig mula sa baso pero hindi 'yon dumating. Uminom lang pala siya.
"Emannuele is promised to someone. Kaya tigilan mo na ang anak ko." Matigas niyang sabi. Hindi rin nakatakas sakin ang matalim niyang titig.
I almost laugh at what she just said. Ako? Tigilan ang anak niya? Baka ako dapat ang tigilan ng anak niya.
"I did a background check on you. You're family name is known to be rich but not anymore. Kaya hindi ka nababagay sa anak ko." I understand her sentiments. Hindi ako bagay sa anak niya.
They are rich. Not just rich, filthy rich. Isa sa pinakamayamang pamilya sa bansa ang pamilya nila. Nag-iisang anak at apo ng mga Pangilinan si Cypher.
"Magkano ang kailangan mo?" Tanong niya ulit at balik sa cheke niya.
I smirked. Oh boy! This is going to be a lit.
"Sampung milyon?" Tanong niya ulit. Dapat ko bang sabihing higher?
"Wala po bang sampung bilyon?" Tanong ko na kunwari nahihiya pa.
Her eyes widen at my question. Hindi siguro inaasahan ang tanong kon 'yon. Ha! She is trying to buy me but man, I am expensive.
"Come on Mrs. Pangilinan, barya-barya lang sainyo ang sampung milyon." I sit on my chair more comfortably. I even clasped my hand together in front of me.
"Paano ako makakasiguro na lalayuan mo ang anak ko?" Magbibigay talaga siya ng sampung bilyon?
Really? Is that how she badly wants to get rid of me? 10 billion? To that extent? I am amazed at her determination to get rid of me pero hindi ko 'yon pinahalata.
"No worries Mrs. Pangilinan, I actually have a boyfriend. Well, I can just marry him using your money just to assure you." I lied at the last part. I do have a boyfriend but I won't marry him.
I will play along with this old hag, sorry for the term pero 'yon ang gusto kong gamitin. Ganoon niya kaayaw sakin para anak niya para bigyan ako ng sampung bilyon. Nakakatawa.
Nakita kong nagsulat siya sa cheke. Pwede ba 'yon? 10 billion sa isang cheke lang? Pinagloloko ata ako ng matandang 'to eh.
"10billion is too much for one cheque but once you're going to widraw, the bank will notify me. So don't worry.. " she said as if she heard my questions in my head.
I smiled at her, more likely smirked.
"I hope, this would be enough." Inabot niya sakin ang cheke na may nakasulat na 10billion at may pirma niya.
Oh boy! My billionaire ass is now screaming!
"Mas madali ka palang kausap. I expected you to refuse, lucky, you didn't. So I hope our path will never cross again Miss Andrada." Tumayo na siya at naglakad palabas ng restaurant habang ako nakatitig parin sa sa 10 Billion na nakasulat sa cheke.
I exhaled sharply. Sumakit ang dibdib ko dahil don, o baka may iba pang dahilan?
I shrugged that thought off. I don't have any right to feel this way. I've been avoiding this ever since he came into my life. I don't want to feel this strange feeling, the pain in my chest because I, myself been avoiding him for this reason. I know I can't have him and I won't have him.
Later that day, I decided to meet with Cypher Emannuele Pangilinan.
I saw him walking towards my table in the cheapest restaurant I know. He is wearing his usual look, the rugged but formal look with his three piece suit. His dangerous and ruthless aura is around him. He is indeed dangerous and ruthless but never did once to me. The irony was that, every time he'll look at me, I feel safe.
"Ayan! Bayad ko sayo para layuan mo na ako." Sabi ko pagkaupong-pagkaupo niya palang. I gave him the cheque.
Kumunot ang noo niya sa papel na inabot ko sakanya. Tinitigan niyang maigi ang papel sa harap niya bago bumalik ang tingin sakin.
"What's this?" The irritation in his voice is too obvious not to notice.
I rolled my eyes. Kita na ngang cheke eh. Magtatanong pa!
"Bayad sakin ng mama mo para layuan daw kita. Eh hindi naman ako ang lumalapit sa'yo kaya bayad ko 'yan sayo para layuan mo ako." I said matter-of-factly.
I could actually just take the money and live off my life as an instant billionaire but I won't do that. It is not, and will never be right.
"Don't bullshit me, Breeze!" His baritone voice echoed. Kahit mga katabing mesa namin ay napalingon samin.
Umirap ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Oh please Cy! Stop it already." I hissed.
"Hindi mo pa ba nakikita? I don't like you. Magpapakasal na kami ni Aidan. Now, take your money and go back to your mom's womb!" Those were the my last words before I stormed out the restaurant.
Wala akong pakialam kahit pa pinagtitinginan ako ng mga tao.
I wiped a lone tear that escape my eyes. How many times do I have to lie in myself just to save him? Just to save us from hurting? How many times do I have to hurt myself just to avoid him?
Yes. I dreamt of becoming rich, but not as rich as the Pangilinan. I dreamt of a man, I do have my ideal man, -Cypher have it all. Playboy, badboy, tall and handsome, cold and mysterious, and rich...but for me Cypher Emannuele Pangilinan is too much. Too much that I couldn't take all his love.
I am afraid that if I hold him, he'll disappear. I am afraid that, the more I hold him the more he disappear...
Like a crystal snow.
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(Author's Note: henlo everyone. I just want to write what has been running on my mind. This! Hahaha, ang saya kasing mag-umpisa ng mga story.
And you guys might wanna listen to the song CRYSTAL SNOW by BTS. It would be better with English subs. So check it! )
