6 - To Work Together

RJ's POV

Fortunately, my secretary was able to book a reservation in one of Capitol Commons' fine and dine in restaurant. Kailangang pagtiisan ko ang kamalditahan ng babaing yun para siguradong may kakampi ako.

Ano naman kaya sa mga susunod na araw ang hindi namin pagkakasunduan? There is only one way to find out, that is to keep in touch with her every single day. It may help if I annoy her everyday, baka sakaling mag back-out din. But if that happens, kawawa naman ang mga magiging anak ko o ng mga kapatid ko, I'm sure hindi ito ititigil Lolo ko hanggat hindi natutupad ang usapan nila ng Lolo ni Charm and it seems that my Dad and Tito Teddy are into this as well. Better have this wedding and annul it after several months para matapos na at mamuhay na kami ng matiwasay na malayo sa isa't isa.

She was right, she came on time while I came five minutes late. I should have take the chopper para naunahan ko ang babaing ito.

"Since understandable naman ang teribleng traffic sa EDSA, I will let this instance slide, but just this one. Hindi ka na pwedeng ma-late sa mga susunod na araw. Ayoko ng naghihintay." She begins ranting.

I apologized since that is the right thing to do but I promise myself that this will not happen again. "Have you ordered?" I asked her.

"Not yet, masyadong mahal sa restaurant na 'to, baka hindi mo ako siputin mapilitan pa akong magbayad. Sobrang mahal ng pagkain dito, eh pareho lang din naman ang lasa dun sa mga karinderia sa Taytay. Hindi worth it." she rants again

"Ganyan ka ba talaga kadaldal? Isa lang itinanong ko ang dami mong sinabi" I said "For your information, I hate woman who nags." I said.

"Then hate me as much as you want, I don't really care." She replied.

"Nag-aaway ba tayo?" I asked.

"Not yet, pinaka civil ko na 'to." She replied.

"So the monsters is not yet unleashed. Is that what you were saying?" I asked.

"You can say that again." She replied. "Will you cut the crap Faulkerson Jr., what is this meeting all about? Wag ka nang magpaligoy-ligoy at nasasayang ang oras ko na sana ay nasa praktis na ako." She asked.

"Is there anything else that you want to eat? According to my secretary nag order na rin sya para sa atin." I told her.

"Whatever it is that she ordered would be enough." She said so I instructed the waiter to serve our lunch.

"Why did you agree on this arrangement?" I straightly asked her.

"Importante pa ba yun? I don't remember asking you why did you agree on this kind of arrangement as well. So why should I tell you my reason of agreeing to this set-up?" She replied.

"Hindi ba pwedeng mag-usap naman tayo ng maayos? We already agreed to be into this mess so can we just work on this together? Simple lang naman ang tanong ko eh, kung sobrang personal ang rason mo, pwede mo naman akong sagutin na your reason is too personal to tell." I said while I am trying too hard to be calm.

"I agree to this arrangement because I don't want to get married. I want to stay single for the rest of my life." She replied and I got stunned for a while.

"But we are getting married, and we are having not a civil wedding but a church wedding. I find your statement contradicting." I said and I know that she saw confusion all over me.

"Not because we are having a grand church wedding it would mean that we are married in the real sense. As far as I'm concern this is an arranged marriage, kasal lang ang importante sa mga lolo natin kaya ibibigay ko na yun kesa naman dumami pa ang miyembro ng pamilya na magiging katulad ng Tita Jho mo, ng ate ko at ng kuya RD mo. Let's just say that I would like to put an end on this circus." She said and I could not help but smile at her.

"Meron ka bang trust issue, o ipinaglihi ka sa ampalaya. You sound so bitter. Don't you dream of having your own family?" I asked her.

"Hindi ako bitter because wala namang dapat ika-bitter. As to that trust issue, hindi ko alam kung trust issue ang tawag dun and I would appreciate if you stop asking me personal questions because hindi naman tayo friends much more we not even close friends." She said.

"I'm actually glad that we are on the same page. Your reason is exactly the same reason why I agreed on this show. Like your Ate Nica, my Tita Jho stayed in LA since she eloped because she does not want to marry your father, Tito Teddy. Now magkasama na sila ni kuya RD and I know that Lolo will only forgive them kapag natupad na ang kasunduan nila ng Lolo mo." I explained.

"Ang bait mo naman to do that, such an heroic act" She told me.

"Pareho lang tayong mabait kaya kailangan magtulungan tayo. Tayo ang dapat magkakampi dito, hindi pwedeng tayo ang magka-away." I said.

"How many time will I tell you that I hate going around the bush. Spill it Faulkerson Jr. alam kong kailangan mo ng tulong ko. What do you need from me?" She straightly asked.

"I want an annulment." I said.

"Ok" she briefly replied.

"Are you sure?" I asked to get confirmation.

"Bakit may iba pa bang dapat na sagot? Kung maka -'I want an annulment' ka as if you are talking to your real wife who committed an adultery. Masyado kang paligoy-ligoy, eh pwede namang sabihin mo yan sa phone, hindi ka na sana gumastos sa mahal na restaurant na ito at nag-aksaya ng oras nating dalawa." She said and again natulala na lang ako because I actually underestimated this lady in front of me.

"You really are one of a kind." I commented.

"Of course, if you'll compare me with those girls around you, I am certainly not one of them. I beg to disagree that I am one of a kind, maraming babaing katulad ko, nasa ibaba lang at hindi lang umaabot sa pedestal na kinatatayuan nyo." She frankly told me and I was not able to reply on such comment. "When are we getting an annulment?" She then asked.

"I already asked my lawyer to check on that. I heard getting an annulment is more complicated than getting married." I said.

"Alright, just let me know the details. Thank you for the lunch and I'll see you tomorrow for our meeting with the wedding coordinator. I hope you will not be late tomorrow." She said.

"I promise to be on time." I replied.

"Don't make promises that you could not keep, baka masunog ka sa impiyerno katulad ng ibang hindi marunong tumupad sa mga ipinangako." She replied.

"I wonder where that bitterness is coming from. Sobrang pait eh." I commented.

"Piece of advise Faulkerson, Jr. kung gusto mong makipagtulungan ako sa 'yo make sure that you just stay on your lane." She fiercely said.

"Noted Mendoza girl, I will keep that in mind." I replied.

"Since nasabi mo na ang gusto mong sabihin, kailangan ko nang umalis. I need to practice for my new stunt." She said and just leave na hindi man lang inubos ang pagkain na nasa harap nya.

I asked for the bill and leaves after paying, nawalan na rin ako ng ganang kumain. On my way out I am still stun at how my conversation with Charmaine Mendoza went. Ever in my life that I met a fierce lady as she is and I cannot imagine that there is a girl as cold as her while she was with me. But the most unbelievable thing today is I, sending a message to my secretary to cancel my appointment for the day because I am driving myself going to San Mateo.