The Gold-digging Mastermind

Kabanata 28

Hinayaan ko muna siyang kumain habang yakap ko ang aming alaga. Pinagmasdan ko si Daxiel na maganang kumakain ng aking niluto. He seemed to be enjoying the simple dish I cooked for him.

“Do you want more?” Tumayo ako upang ipagsandok pa siya ng pasta.

Sapat na sa aking pagmasdan siya habang kumakain. I was still full from the lunch I had with his friend’s family. I wanted to enjoy his food first before talking to him with everything.

Minsan sinusubuan niya ako ng pasta.

Once he was done eating, he washed the plates already. Nagtungo naman kami sa living room dala ang binili kong alak. Wala akong nahanap ng baso ng alak kaya wine glass ang kinuha ko.

“Baby, it’s just two in the afternoon. Are you sure you want to get wasted?” Ngumisi siya.

“We have a lot of things to talk about, Daxiel…”

Nagsalin naman ako sa kopita ng alak na timplado ko ng juice. Binuksan ko rin ang tsitsirya na pulutan namin.

Kung lumaki siya sa bar, laking kanto naman ang atake ko.

“Hm, it’s nice…” Tumango – tango pa siya pagkatapos inumin ang isinalin ko sa kopita.

“I bumped with Jandro and his family at the supermarket earlier today. Kumain kami ng lunch kanina kaya hindi kita nasabayan sa pagkain.” I told him. Napatigil naman siya at tumingin sa akin.

“Did he tell you something?” Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay.

Sumandal siya sa couch, naghihintay ng sunod kong sasabihin.

“Is it true…” Muli akong nagsalin ng alak. “Is it true that we met earlier in life?”

Ininom ko ang alak na para sa akin saka kumuha ng ilang pirasong tsitsirya. I was anticipating for his answer.

Ilang minutong nanatili ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa pero nanatiling nangungusap ang kanyang mga mata.

“It’s not a truth or dare, Daxiel. Hindi ka p’wedeng mag-pass at uminom ng alak.” Ngumuso ako.

Hindi iyon ang ginawa kong patakaran, baka uminom lang siya nang uminom kung ganoon ng wala akong napigang katotohanan mula sa kanya. He seemed hesitant to answer my first question.

“Fine. Do you like me?” Iniba ko ang aking tanong. “As in walang halong echos, iyong totoong gusto mo ako… O parte lang ba ako sa plano mo? Balak mo bang gumanti sa akin?”

“My feelings for you are genuine, Millaray. Let’s start with that…” He gave me a handsome smile.

Huminga siya nang malalim.

“Yes, we met in the earlier stage of life. You danced for a friend’s bachelor’s party. Instead of dancing for him, you danced for me instead. You probably thought I was the groom to be.” Humalakhak siya.

“It was one of the lowest points in my life. I was starting to see the toxicity of my mother for the first time. I was starting my business with no stability yet. I was in the brink of giving up, but that one encounter change… maybe, my perspective.” He told me.

He put a decent amount of alcohol on the wine glass. “This scenario reminded me of it…”

Uminom muna siya ng alak bago muling nagpatuloy.

“I didn’t require you to dance that night. We got wasted and talked until our eyes gave up on us. You talked about your situation. For the first time, I shared about mine. You told me, you didn’t understand anything about business to give me a good advice in life…” He gave me the wine glass.

Tinungga ko naman agad ito.

“But you were eager to listen to me, that was enough that night. I felt validated.” Kinuha niya ang aking kamay at pinisil. “You know what you did the next morning?”

“Inutangan daw kita…” I pouted.

Hindi ko naman iyon matandaan.

Hindi ko rin siya matandaan sa mga naging kliyente ko. I didn’t remember any client, more likely, the one-time clients.

“You asked for a five-hundred peso bill for your food allowance. All your salary goes to your mother’s treatment that time. Gagawan mo na lang ng paraan para bayaran ako kapag nakaluwag ka. A month after, I received a call from the receptionist of that same hotel telling me someone left a five-hundred peso for me.” Hinalikan niya ang likod ng aking palad.

“You may not remember it, Millaray. But that interaction was engraved into my system.”

Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata.

“So, crush mo na ako noon pa?” I bit my lower lip.

“I guess, you never left my mind since then.” He shrugged. “But I had priorities that time, I needed to be successful in life. I needed to be more successful than my father.”

Naghahalo – halo ang nararamdaman ko. It was a revelation for me. Bigla yatang hindi tumalab ang alak na ininom ko.

Someone had a crush on me during those times?

Not just a certain someone, but a successful someone, a businessman.

“You were never a part of any plan, Millaray. When my father died, I was contacted by his team for the reading of his last will and testament since I was a living family member of his.” He told me without looking away.

“I was asked to pretend to contest the will just to test you. I only said yes to ensure all the inheritance would be given to you. You deserved the inheritance for caring for the old man,” saad pa niya.

Tiningnan ko siyang mabuti.

“I just grabbed the opportunity to be closer to you as well. I enjoyed every second you flirted with me…” Daxiel winked.

Ngumisi siya at pinindot ang tungki ng ilong ko.

“Baby, I think you’re projecting…” Humalakhak siya. “You’re doubting my intentions, because you’re plotting something against me, right? You’ve tried to use me. So you thought I was doing the same thing to you.”

I was…

Guilty with a lifetime imprisonment.

I was looking out for myself because of my schemes. I was the bad guy between us. Pinag-isipan ko rin siya ng masama dahil ayokong mahulog sa kanyang aksyon. I would be less guilty about my plans for him.

“I’m really sorry, Daxiel.” Humaba ang aking nguso. “Gold-digger naman talaga ako.”

“I know. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m your target…”

Sumimangot naman ako.

“Hindi ko lubos maisip na magpapagamit ka sa akin ng basta – basta lang. That’s why I’m doubtful,” matapat kong turan.

“You bewitched me, baby…” Pinaupo niya ako sa kanyang lap. “I couldn’t explain it too well, but I’m happy being used by you.”

“Ganyan pala ang kink mo, ha!”

He chuckled. “Sa’yo lang.”

“Dapat lang…”

Nahiga ako sa kanya. Amoy ko ang alak sa kanyang labi. His arms were encircled into my waist. Nanatili kami sa ganoong posisyon ng matagal bago siya muling nagsalita.

“You were supposed to work for me.” Nag-angat naman ako ng paningin.

“I was the one who asked you to work for me, but you didn’t come. I thought you weren’t interested. Then, I received a wedding invitation from my father. I figured you went to the wrong Gustav de Clemente. I hated my father more for that,” pahayag niya habang pinaglalaruan ang aking buhok.

Mas lalong nanlaki ang aking mga mata. I blinked several times.

“Oh my gosh!” I squealed.

Nagulat naman siya sa sigaw ko at humalakhak.

Kaya pala pakiramdam ko nasa maling trabaho ang pinuntahan ko noon. Wala naman akong alam sa pagiging caregiver, mas talentado ako sa pagsasayaw sa pole. Inakala ko na lang na blessing in disguise iyon, nasa maling Gustav pala ako.

Tinampal ko naman ang kanyang dibdib.

“Ang hina mo naman! E ‘di sana hindi ko pinakasalan ang tatay mo! Hindi sana bakante ang pagkababae ko ng tatlong taon! Siguro may mga anak na tayo ngayon, Daxiel!” inis kong wika.

“We still have time to do that, Millaray. We can start anew.”

Dinampian niya nang masuyong halik ang aking labi.

Oo naman, pero nakakapanghinayang pa rin ang mga taong lumipas. Gusto naman pala niya ako, sana sumunggab agad siya. Ano ba namang alam kong may nagkakagustong pogi at mayaman sa malanding tulad ko?

“Daxiel…” Huminga ako nang malalim.

Since we were already spilling our secrets, I thought it was the right time to tell him what I found about his mother.

It had been a burden to me. Gusto ko nang mawala iyon sa aking pasanin.

“Alam mo namang maarte ako tapos fan ako ng telenobela. Pinaimbistigahan ko ang iyong ina…” Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi at yumuko. “It seemed like you didn’t know her for she truly was.”

“Wala ako sa lugar para sabihin sa’yo pero…” I sighed and paused for a moment. “I can’t take it any longer.”

He squeezed both of my hands.

“I kinda knew…” Sinalubong ko ang kanyang tingin. “I just couldn’t take myself to look further than what I knew so the image I had seen of her since I was a child couldn’t be tainted.”

“You know, your father wasn’t entirely deadbeat.”

“He still stole you from me, I wouldn’t forgive him.”

Pasimple kong kinurot ang kanyang dibdib.

“Mahina ka, Daxiel! Dapat inagaw mo ako!” Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.

“I just waited for his death to get what’s mine in the first place.”

Umawang naman ang aking labi. Tumawa naman siya sa naging ekspresyon ko. Pinanggigilan naman niya ang aking pisngi.

“I wasn’t that wealthy before…” He looked away. “Maybe, you wouldn’t choose me, then.”

“Siguro nga…” gatong ko sa sinabi niya. “Pero kung ipapakita mo ‘yang ano mo… Siguradong magbabago ang isip ko.”

“What about now?” His brow rose.

“Wala namang expiration date. P’wedeng – p’wede!”

Mas lalong lumakas ang paghalakhak niya. Nahawa naman ako noon.

“Mahiyain ka pala…” komento ko. “Wala kang dapat ikahiya sa akin, Daxiel. Hindi nga ako nahiya sa mga pinaggagawa ko sa’yo. Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit mo ako gusto, alam mo naman ang pakay ko.”

“You’re kind, Millaray. You can’t fake kindness. Aalingasaw pa rin ang sama ng ugali kahit gaano pa itago.” Yumakap siya sa aking baywang. “You’re kind to people who are kind to you. At the same time, you’re feisty. You don’t let people step on you.”

My face reddened.

Hindi na ako matatakot na tanggapin ang compliments niya ngayong nagkalinawan na kami nang nararamdamang dalawa.

“I couldn’t fake my feelings for you, Daxiel. It’s a turmoil inside whenever I feel something that I’m not supposed to feel. Totoo ang inis at selos ko sa mga babaeng umaaligid sa’yo,” I admitted.

Lumaki naman ang ngiti niya sa labi. Inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa akin, naglapat ang aming mga labi para sa isang masuyong halik.

It was a kiss to seal our feelings.

Of course, it didn’t end with just a kiss.

My body was sore in the morning.

Nagising ako sa bahagyang sikat ng araw na tumatama sa aking balat. Hubad pa rin ako sa ilalim ng sheets, wala na si Daxiel sa aking tabi. The penthouse reminded me of our stay in the hotel when his mother was around.

“Good morning, baby.”

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan nang malagom na boses.

Mayroon siyang dalang tray ng pagkain at fresh flowers.

“Iba iyong ini-expect kong good morning na galing sa’yo, pero p’wede na rin.”

It made him laugh.

Akala ko pa naman ako iyong kakainin niya sa umaga. Kumunot naman ang aking noo.

“Nagluto ka?”

He shook his head.

“No, baby. I asked Maricel to cook something for us while you were sleeping. I’m still learning how to cook, though.” Agad niyang sinabi.

“I can cook for us. And’yan din naman sina Maricel. Focus on your work, ‘wag mo nang problemahin ang pagkain. Kaya ko namang umambag pagdating doon.” I told him.

“I still want to cook for you on special occasions.”

“You mean, pagkatapos nating magsalo sa init sa gabi? Eh, araw-araw naman nating ginagawa, Daxiel!” Tumawa siyang muli.

His eyes were sparkling with so much joy. Napangiti rin ako.

Inilapag niya ang tray ng pagkain sa gilid. Kinuha naman niya ang roba para suotin ko. Ayos lang naman sa akin ang maghubad sa kanyang harapan.

Maraming beses na niyang nakita ang aking kahubdan.

“If I can cook for you every day of my life, that would make me feel better.” He smiled. “It would be a good example to our future kids. Lalo na kung lalaki ang magiging anak natin.”

Halos nasamid naman ako at napatigil sa pagsubo. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig.

“Anak? Mga anak?” paglilinaw ko.

“Why not, Millaray? I think, we can already fulfill your want to raise our children in a loving environment…” Pinahid niya ang gilid ng aking labi.

“Loving environment? Akala ko ba gusto mo pa lang ako? Love na agad? Ganoon ba ang epekto ng pagdede mo sa akin kagabi?” I was in total shock.

Siya naman itong muntik mabulunan ng laway. Wala na palang tubig sa baso.

“Dumede ka na lang ulit, babycakes.”

His coughs intensified.

I laughed while pouring water onto the glass. Pinainom ko siya ng tubig, bahagya kong hinaplos ang kanyang likod.

Nang kumalma kaming dalawa, muli kaming nagsalo sa agahan.

“Pangarap ko maging ina, Daxiel. I want to be a better mother than the woman who raised me… Basically, I raised myself. Inianak niya lang ako pero ako ang gumampan sa responsibilidad niya sa akin,” I poured myself with all honesty.

“Natatakot lang ako noong una dahil baka hindi mo ako panagutan, unang requirement ko pa naman na magkaroon ng mabuting ama ang magiging anak ko…”

He looked at me with such intensity.

“Millaray, seryoso akong panagutan ka simula pa lang. You don’t have to be afraid now that we cleared our feelings for each other. If you want, we can take things to another level.” Kumabog naman nang malakas ang aking dibdib.

I anticipated for the thing he was about to say.

Naghahalo ang kaba at excitement sa akin kagaya ng pag-angkin niya sa akin sa kama. “Marry me.”

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