C7 /THE PROJECT'S PROCEDURE/

MARHI's POV

Nakauwi kami ng bahay na hindi nagkikibuan ni Kadan. A strange silence embraced both of us. Hindi ko alit pa rin ba siya o naiinis dahil agad naman siyang pumasok sa kwarto niya.

Nagtimpla na lang muna ako ng gatas at ininom ito. Isa lang naman talaga ang klase ko ngayon, 'yong sa demonstration lang sana pero 'di ko napasukan. I'm aware that my grades are currently in total mess, but what happened today has put me at ease.

Iniisip ko pa rin ang sinabi sa akin kanina ni Kadan at imbes na maging masaya ay na-realized kong iba pala ang pagkakaintindi ko sa sinabi niya. What he meant was that he do not want to be humiliated, lalo na kapag ako ang kasama.

Hindi Dazila ang dala kong apelyido dahil pwede namang panatilihin ko ang surname na Deserna, lalo na at nag-aaral pa naman ako at saka may batas din tayo na nagpapahintulot sa paggamit ng maiden surname kahit na kasal na dito sa Pilipinas. And I just understand what Kada said earlier, kahit na wala naman talaga kaming feelings sa isa't isa, we're still married to each other and I am still carrying their surname with me, kaya dapat lang na hindi ko siya pahiyain.

So should I say sorry then?

Pero hindi naman alam ni miss Sanchez na mag-asawa kami. At saka siya naman 'yong nakialam sa usapan.

I should not say sorry then.

Kasalanan niya naman pakialamero siya. At saka kasalanan niya rin naman talaga kasi pinasama pa talaga akong palabhan ang slacks niya.

Iniiling-iling ko ang ulo ko habang iniinom ng paunti-unti ang gatas. Ganito talaga ako kapag mag-isa, tahimik pero madaming pinagsasabi sa sarili at iniisip.

"Marhi."

"Ay pota!"

Dahil sa pagkabigla ay nahulog ang baso na may gatas. Buti na lang at malayo ito sa akin.

"How could you be so tackles and careless at the same time?"

Tinignan o si Kadan na ngayon ay naka-formal attire pa rin. Hindi ba uso ang pambahay sa mga CEO?

How could you be in the house and looks too formal? Sagot ko sa kanya pero sa isipan ko lang.

Hindi ko na siya kinibo at pinunasan na lang ang nagkalat na gatas sa sahig at binasura ang mga bubog. Dahil pinagtanggol niya naman ako sa strikta kong teacher kanina ay hindi ko na lang siya sasagutin ng pabarang.

"Anyway, after you're done with that we need to talk about something. Do'n tayo sa sofa mag-usap."

Hindi na niya ako hinintay na sumagot at tumalikod na agad sa akin.

Dinalian ko ang pagliliniis at sumunod na agad kay Kadan na ngayon ay prenteng nakaupo sa sofa. He's holding his phone and his brows met each other. In fairness, kung hindi ko lang siguro kilala si Kadan personally, baka nga magustuhan ko pa siya. He just look so fine sitting at the sofa while looking at his phone. Pero nakakaturn-off talaga ang ugali niya, not to mention the muscles pa.

"Ehem!"

Tumigil siya sa pag-scroll sa phone niya at tiningnan ako saglit. Umupo na ako at hinintay siyang magsalita.

Tinuro niya ang daliri niya sa mesa at saka ko lang napansin ang brown envelope sa harapan ko. Kinuha ko ito at binasa.

Project: Break up to Me Gently

Objectives:

1. To ensure that people, particularly grandparents, suffer from minimal to no heartache.

2. To maintain the partnership even if the relationship ends.

3. To give each other the freedom of marriage and the willingness to choose who they want to be with for the rest of their lives.

Tumigil ako at tiningnan si Kadan. I already read this before. Last year to be exact.

"Well, I already read this last year."

He's still holding his phone and did not even bother to look at me.

"Have you read the procedures of the breakup?"

Sasagot na sana ako nang bigla-bigla na lang nag-flash sa isipan ko 'yong nangyari before. I haven't finished reading the full document dahil nainis ako sa pagiging atat niya noon.

"Well, I think I need to review this for a minute."

Hindi naman siya umangal kaya nagsimula na akong magbasa sa procedure na nakasulat dito sa envelope na'to. Talagang nag-effort si Kadan sa breakup naming dahil ginawan niya pa talaga ng project. Marahil ay atat na atat na talaga siyang mawala ako sa buhay niya.

Ako rin naman.

Hindi ko na binasa pa ang introduction at dumiretso na ako sa procedures na sinulat niya.

Procedures for a harmonious breakup:

1. Find people with whom we can easily interact and invite them whenever we have dinner as a family with the grandparents. These individuals should be able to assist us in demonstrating to the elderly that we are more comfortable with other people than with each other.

2. At least once a week, invite the elderly to join these people for dinner. More interactions, more chances for the oldies to realize and accept that we are not meant for each other.

3. If the grandparents ask some questions about our relationship, we should be able to provide them with the truth. The truth will set us free, and we must be honest with ourselves as well as with others.

I stop for a while and reflect on what I just read. Sabagay may sense naman pala lahat ng sinulat niya rito. Pero, saan naman ako hahanap ng lalakeng isasama ko every dinner or sa tuwing makikipagkita kami sa mga matatanda? Should I become a lesbian then and ask my bestfriend Shari?

Ay hindi bagay. I'm too feminine to be a lesbian at baka maging arogante na naman itong si Kadan.

I shake my head to erase my thoughts. Mamaya na ako mag-iisip, madami pa naman akong oras.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagbabasa at hanggang tatlo lang nga ang procedures na binigay ni Kadan. I'm a bit surpised, inexpect ko kasing ang taas ng mga procedures.

Pagkatapos ng mga procedures ay ang terms and conditions na naka-bold print pa.

Terms and Conditions:

1. This project should be kept private. Other people should not have known about this—except for those who will help us with our goal.

2. Once started, this project should only last five months. Both parties should be able to complete their tasks and achieve the goal by the deadline.

3. Anyone who violates the contract by refusing to participate in activities related to the goal's progression will be fined one million pesos. That means that each missed dinner or related activity will cost a million pesos.

"One million per missed activities and dinner?!"

Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko sa sarili. Wala pa akong trabaho at hindi talaga ako makakahanap ng isang milyon kahit na mgatrabaho pa ako wholeday sa kompanya namin. Kung sakali mang magkapenalty ako kailangan ko pang mag-isip ng palusot sa lolo at lola ko kung saan ko gagamitin ang milyon.

"Is there any problem with the contract? May hindi ka ba kayang gawin diyan?"

I look at Kadan who's smirking in front of me right now. Marahil ay may idea na siyang pumirma lang talaga ako ng kontrata na hindi binabasa lahat ng nakasulat. Pero hindi pa rin ako magpapatalo.

"Wala naman. Nakalimutan ko lang 'yong ibang naisulat mo dito, and I should say that the procedures are straight forward and easy to do."

"Of course, I made it easy and possible for you."

I smiled—a fake one, kailan ko ba siya binigyan ng genuine smile? I can't remember.

Hindi ko alam kung tama bang mainsulto ako ngayon sa sinabi ni Kadan pero dahil hindi ko pa naman nabasa 'to lahat ay mas pinili ko na lang na tapusin itong basahin.

4. Changes will not be permitted in the project unless both parties agree.

5. Above all, the health of the elderly should be prioritized; this breakup should allow everyone to understand the importance of free will and choices while avoiding pain for anyone.

6. If the project does not become efficient within 5 months, it will either be extended or a new set of procedures will be developed.

7. The partnership of the Dazila and Deserna families should continue after the breakup. Even if we don't end up as a family, a business partnership would be beneficial to both parties.

Once signed, this project will not be subject to changes unless agreed upon by both parties.

KADAN LAURENZO DAZILA MARHI VELGA DESERNA

The final section makes me sad. I like lolo Ramon, and he's been very nice to me. Knowing that we will break their hearts as a consequence of our breakup breaks my heart as well. Pero tama si Kadan, the truth will set us free. He has never liked me and will never like me. I, too, am a mirror; whatever the person is showing me, I will reciprocate those actions and feelings. Wala talagang patutunguhan ang kasal na ito.

Wala nang sumunod na pahina. May missing page to, if I'm not mistaken my pinirmahan ako rito na sinadaya ko talagang lakihan ang pirma ko. I'm curious where that part of the paper went. Pero may mas mahalagang tanong na dapat ng kasagutan ngayon.

I close the folder and look at Kadan who's looking at me now.

"When will this project start?"

I ask Kadan while putting the envelope at the table.

"This Saturday."

"This Saturday?!"

Napatakip si Kadan sa mga tainga niya. Hindi ko maiwasang mapasigaw. Parang nagmamadali naman yata si Kadan na tapusin 'to agad. Hindi ba p'wedeng slowly but surely?

Monday na ngayon at meron na lang kaming five days para maghanap ng tutulong sa amin? Saan ako hahanap ng lalakeng maisasama ko sa dinner and any activities na involved ang mga lolo at lola namin?

"Yeah, I messaged and called Sabel; she was already aware of this, and I assured her that we would carry out the procedures as soon as possible."

Wow

What I heard surprised me.

I should not be surprised if she decided to work on this project with her real girlfriend, pero na-surpresa pa rin ako.

Isn't it awkward to have both your wife and girlfriend at the same place? I'm still the wife, and if Sabel is aware of this, she should be aware that she is technically a mistress.

I wonder what this set-up will bring us.