Illusion (Quarantine Series #1)

CHAPTER 6

"Ano deal?" she asked vigorously.

Nakasandal ako sa sofa habang nakakrus ang braso ko at naka de kwatro. Iniisip ko kung tatanggapin ko ba yung challenge niya at dahil mapilit ang isang 'to, I can't resist.

"Fine, deal." tugon ko at agad naman siyang napalakpak at umiling-iling nalang ako.

"'Yun naman pala eh. Kanina ka pa diyan nag-iisip kung tatanggapin mo yung deal, eh pinahirapan mo pa yung sarili mo." aniya at tumitig lang ako sa kaniya.

Wala naman sigurong mawawala kung tatanggapin ko yung challenge 'di ba? I hope so. This is just a challenge.

"So ano nang gagawin natin? We will start na sa jowa challenge na'to?" wika ko, mukhang naiinip narin.

"Hep! 'Wag kang magmadali, Mr. Santiago." wika niya at ngumisi-ngisi.

Yeah, just chill, Deiv. Baka isipin niyang excited na excited ka na.

Bigla nalang siyang tumayo at lumabas, ilang sandali ay bumalik na siya nang may dalang bond paper at ballpen. Napakunot noo nalang akong tiningnan siya.

"Here," saad niya at ipinatong ang dala niya sa mesa.

Mariin kong tinitigan ito. I switched my gaze to Joy who was smilingly staring at me. Pangisi-ngisi pa siya habang nilalaro ang nakatirintas niyang buhok. She gave a meaningful stare at the paper, and back to me, na tila binibigyan ako ng senyas na kunin ko na ito.

"What's that for?" tanong ko at bahagya siyang napapikit at bumuntong-hininga.

She grinned. "That's for the contract signing."

Contract signing?

I leaned forward. "Is that still really necessary?" kalmado kong sabi.

"Of course! Para may assurance at may ebidensiya na payag tayong dalawa sa challenge na ito." she said while I just stared at her blankly.

Ibang klase naman talaga ang babaeng 'to. Ang galing mag-isip!

I sighed. "Fine. So, what I'm gonna do with this?" I reached for the paper and ballpen at tinapunan siya ng tingin.

"Wait," Kinuha niya yung papel at ballpen sa akin at agad itong nagsulat.

Tiningnan ko lang siyang magsulat hanggang sa matapos ito. She pushed the paper in front of me at sandali itong tinitigan.

"Read it." utos niya at agad ko namang dinampot ang papel.

Tahimik kong binasa ang nakasulat rito. And the content says-

[This piece will be serving as a proof that I, Joy Fenandez and Deivrick Santiago agreed to collaborate in making the said settlement of the challenge, which is the 'JOWA CHALLENGE', and the following rules and concerns are as follows. Which we conclude that if one of the given protocols that we listed together be violated, will be given a reserved punishment, in other words, he or she loses.]

Talagang seneseryoso niya to ah. Well, if that's what she want. I'll give her a fair game.

"Ilagay mo diyan yung pirma mo." aniya at agad ko namang pinirmahan ang bandang itaas ng aking pangalan.

Pagkatapos non ay ibinigay ko sa kaniya ang papel at siya naman ang nagpirma.

Napasandal ako sa sofa. "So, what are the protocols here?" nanghahamon kong tanong.

"Simple, you will write what you want, and I will also write what I want. It's a collaboration, so we will give each other a fair play. Sounds good?" nakangisi niyang tanong.