Author's Note: Sorry again for the long delay. These tend to happen to me everytime, ne? But please give an allowance to this poor working young woman.
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Deceive Me Not
Chapter 12: Winning this Round
Trunks was staring blankly at his monitor when the door burst open, letting him hear the commotion that's been happening outside.
Pan entered the office, looking really really mad, followed by the pleading Rycah saying things like, "Ms. Son, you shouldn't – I told you he told me not to disturb him..."
Blah, blah, blah!
He smiled tiredly at his secretary. "It's alright, Rycah. Leave us," he said and looked at Pan, but not before seeing the relief in his secretary's face.
He opened his mouth to speak but Pan beat him into it. "I'm not going to beat around the bush, Trunks. I need a job –fast. And you're going to give it to me now," she said and glared at him, as if to intimidate him.
But Trunks only blinked at her, all the while waiting for everything to sink in.
First, Pan Son walked into his office without even a small warning. Pan Son – whom he hadn't seen or talked to for two months. Then, she demanded that he gave her a job immediately.
And when everything sank into his dazed mind, he frowned and looked at her uneasily. "Err, Pan, it's not like I don't want to give you a job –"
She cut him off when she slammed some documents on his desk. "I've got the resume, college diploma, and everything else you may need to prove that I'm qualified for the job – whatever that is."
"Pan," Trunks began and sighed. "You know it's not that easy. I know you're very qualified to land you a job here at Capsule, but, the thing is, we currently have no vacant position to accommodate you."
Pan looked at him, swallowed a big lump in her throat, then looked away. "You're the owner of this damned corporation. Make up some position for me," she said softly.
Trunks looked at her, stunned. It wasn't like Pan to be like this. She had always been sensible. But what she was asking from him got to be the most insensible thing to do. Make up a position just to accommodate her? True, the company was earning a lot of money and her salary won't hurt the company, but he had to find a justification for it.
Whatever it is, there must be something going on. And he didn't love Pan for nothing – he would find out what's wrong with her, whether she likes it or not.
"Pan," he began again, then motioned at the chair in front of his desk, "Please sit down and let's talk about it properly."
Her eyes narrowed at him before sitting down. However, before he had the chance to talk, she interrupted him already. "I don't want to talk, I came here for a job. I need the money badly."
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his voice, as he leaned towards the table.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing you need to know."
Trunks frowned and leaned back. He knew how stubborn Pan can be when she wants to. "I can give you some money if you want. Just tell me what's bothering you."
She glared at him. She didn't want this charity. She didn't want his money. She didn't even want anything that concerns him – but she knew he was the only one who can help her right now.
Besides, another part of her mind reasoned out, it was all his fault! Hadn't he – whatever!
"You're offering me a short-term solution for my problem. I need a long term solution for what's bothering me," she said coldly.
He sighed and closed his eyes as he massaged his temples. He can already feel a headache coming. "Pan, if you would just tell me what's bothering you, I can help you think of a solution for it."
Pan looked away. She didn't like his tone. As if he was so weary and tired and that she was the one who caused him all that.
Ha! That would be nothing compared to what she had to go through because of him.
That fateful day, after exiting the Capsule Corporation's building, she sprinted towards her unit almost blindly as her eyes was filled with tears. Tears that refused to fall because she didn't want to give him the power and ability to make her cry. She vowed no one would ever make her cry.
And, as if the devil came to life was chasing her, she hurriedly packed her bags, taking no chances to stay – for he might come after her and trap her there.
She left without a word, leaving the key at the receptionist for whoever who would want to claim it.
She returned to her mother's house, not saying a thing and spent most of his time in her room – alone.
Her daddy had been worried about her, he wasn't used to seeing his daughter so quiet – she had always been cheerful and bubbly – though sometimes sarcastic. Even her mother, whom she thought once had the greatest persuading power, had accomplished nothing into finding out what was wrong with her.
In the end, she just told her daddy that she would not marry Mr. Briefs and that was that. But she really didn't want to tell them that.
One night, she overheard her parents talking; rather, she heard her mother crying and her father trying to comfort her and stop her from crying. She heard her mother saying nonsense things like it was all her fault because she forced her daughter to travel alone to a faraway place just to meet a stranger.
Pan also heard things like her mother feeling unworthy because she can't help her daughter when it was so obvious that she's been having a hard time.
Of course, guilt coursed through Pan and in the end, just decided to inform her parents her intention to not marry Trunks. They didn't say anything and simply nodded at her.
It was only during her sixth week vacation at her parent's house when she noticed that something was terribly wrong with her. She would have noticed it sooner but she was too oblivious to what was happening. After contemplating on her condition for two weeks and a possible solution for her problem, she came up reluctantly with an answer.
And that was when Trunks came in.
And so, here she was, inside his office, trying hard not to squirm as she tried to hide from him the problem. Of course, it could not be helped that her heart still jumped whenever he stared at her intensely...or was it because she was afraid that he would know what was wrong?
"A job," she muttered, "that's the only solution to my problem. I need a stable income, Trunks."
Trunks stood up, exasperated. He knew he was at fault here, she hadn't forgiven him for all his lies and deception the last time they were together; she'd even walked out from his life just when he was ready to share it with her. But he was getting tired of all of these. He wasn't even a patient person to start with.
"If you want me to help you, I suggest you forget the fact that you're mad at me and let me help you. Tell me what your problem is all about now. I don't have all day, no matter how much I wanted to spend my time with you."
Pan looked away, and appeared to be thinking. And then, she stood up suddenly. "Never mind, Trunks. Thank you for your time, anyway. I'll get going now," she muttered softly.
She intended to leave, but he grabbed her arm – preventing her from leaving. And her tears welled at the look he gave her.
"Please Pan, don't be like this. I know I've done some things in the past that made our relationship bitter and I know you'll never forgive me for that. But please believe me when I say I never stopped loving you. I never stopped caring, and it pains me to see you like this and you won't even tell me what's going on," he said seriously.
Pan looked away. And after a few seconds, she sighed and sat down, making him let go of her arm. He kneeled in front of her, instead, wanting to look at her face because she fixed her gaze on her lap.
"Pan –"
"I'm pregnant. I need the job to be able to support myself and the baby. I can't stay home because my parents would surely be furious once they find out what happened. No one would hire me because of my condition, I posed a risk for the companies and I was bound to take a maternity leave anytime soon. No company would like that. What money I have was slowly running out. I need this job, Trunks," she said quietly, and she congratulated herself mentally for having told him everything without crying.
But Trunks only looked at her with that dumbfounded look on his face. And, as if his mind refused to accept all that she had told him, he frowned. "What?"
And this only made Pan annoyed. "Never mind, Trunks. I knew this isn't a good idea," she said and stood up again, almost knocking Trunks over.
Trunks immediately scrambled to his feet. "Just wait a second. Are you telling me that the only night we've –"
"You were drunk, Trunks. Did you remember to put the condoms on? And if you did, did you make sure there's no leak in it?" Pan asked sarcastically. Honestly, she like this situation better. What with the two of them shouting at each other rather than being melodramatic over this. She felt like she was more in control shouting than crying.
"Wait a minute," Trunks said, still completely baffled. "You aren't taking pills?"
And now, we can safely assume that it took all of Pan's control not to kick him. Pills indeed! "Considering I don't have sex regularly like you do, I don't. Why are you being stupid, anyway?"
He opened his mouth to say something, hesitated, then took a deep breath before proceeding. "So, that's your problem? You're pregnant?"
At that, Pan closed her eyes to prevent her from screaming at the very stupid and idiotic man "Trunks, do you know how close I am to throttling you?"
He opened his mouth but Pan beat him to it. "Yes, Trunks, you stupid moron, that's my problem. We've been going at it for that past ten minutes, and so help me god, if you've just realized that it was my problem – never mind, will you give me the job?"
Trunks looked away and right there and then, Pan knew that he wouldn't. It was an impossible thing to start with. Ask him to create a position for her in Capsule Corporation. The Capsule Corporation didn't become the top company in the world by creating positions for friends who are in need. She just hoped too much.
"I knew it, Trunks," Pan said softly then looked at her feet as if it were the most fascinating thing. "I knew before I asked you that it was impossible. I'll be going now."
"Pan –"
"Don't! Please don't," she said firmly, her curtain of hair hiding her eyes and the tears that began to form. "I'm not going to beg you so please don't try to stop me from leaving. I've got more pride than that."
"I'm not –" he began then sighed as he stood in front of her uneasily. Then, he dug in his pocket and put it in her hand. "Here."
She turned to look at the ring she was holding and looked at his face. It was blank. "What's this?" she managed to ask, and kept her voice from trembling with anger.
"I'm proposing marriage –"
"Do you actually think," she began, and breathed heavily, all the while glaring at him, "that after all that happened to us, I would actually consider marriage with you?"
"Pan –"
"The answer is 'no' Trunks. I'm not going to marry you. I think you knew that even before asking me," she said indignantly.
He sighed, then walked towards his chair and sat down. Pan followed him with her gaze and when he sat down, she, too, gave in and sat down again. Obviously, their conversation was not yet over.
"I know that, Pan," he said softly as he leaned back on his chair and looked at her. "-but it will solve all your problems. If we get married –"
"We'll never get married!" she snapped.
"Fine!" Trunks said, clearly frustrated. "But I still think you should stop being stubborn about it. Had you really thought things through? You can't work, Pan, you'll put the baby and yourself at risk here. Where will you live? Who would take care of you? Since you're so adamant not to let your folks know, you've got no one but me. So let's stop beating around the bush and let me help you!"
And by the time he was finished talking, Pan's chin had already risen two notches. She hated being pointed out in her face the truth when she was wrong. Especially when that concerns needing someone – especially him!
Stiffly, she told him – "Thanks for your time, Trunks. But I need to go now," she said and once again attempted to leave.
But just like her first tries, Trunks had stopped her again. "Pan, if you walk out that door – aw hell!"
Pan glared at him indignantly. "I'm not going to marry you, Trunks. And so, if that's the only solution you're going to suggest to me, then I have no business being here."
"I understood quite perfectly that you don't want to marry me," he said stiffly and before she could say anything again, "so let's not get married."
Pan narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you getting at?"
He sighed. "Well, okay, we don't need to get married. But Pan, you really need someone to take care of you while you're in this condition. I can do that."
She gaped at him, hands on her waist. How rude can this man get? A dirty, old...pervert! "Are you suggesting that we – you and I – I really hate you, you know that?"
Trunks looked at him in confusion. "What are you –" then realization dawned and furiously, he shook his head and frantically waved his hands to calm the getting worked up woman. "Jesus, Panny, I'm not thinking about live-in arrangement!"
She looked at him suspiciously. "Well, what were you thinking?" she challenged him.
And that was when he stared blankly at her, not really knowing how to say it without getting his head bitten off.
Truthfully, that was the idea, but not exactly that. They were going to live together but not exactly have a relationship. Kinda like –
"Roommates," Trunks blurted out before he could think.
"What?" Pan gasped loudly that Trunks knew, once again, that he shoved his foot in his mouth. Damn!
Trunks swallowed. "Well, I can't allow you to live alone, it's too risky for you and the baby. And that's the only solution I can think of – outside of marriage, that is."
"Trunks –"
"Or if you really don't want to live with me, I can hire someone to look after you and eventually become a nanny when our baby is born. I can give you an allowance, now don't you go complaining again, it is my baby, too. But I won't be too comfortable leaving you with a stranger," he said, his face serious, as if he was dealing with a business associate.
The offer was tempting, really – to share the burden and responsibility with him, Pan thought. Now, she didn't have to worry about...everything. All she had to do was decide which of all the options suit her best.
Truthfully, she didn't want a stranger in the house, too. But she didn't want to live with Trunks.
Well, not really.
"You're not allowed in my room," she said, voicing her decision indirectly.
Trunks smiled triumphantly. He had won this round. All he had to do was win the next. "Housemates, then," he said and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Fine!" she said and removed his arms around her.
Author's Note: Well, not really my best since I wrote this in the middle of my busy life. I sort of made them dangerously close to being dramatic, then shouting, then dramatic again...and I hope this turned out fine...I just can't make them dramatic without them acting OOC from the previous chapters. Somehow, Pan's character seemed not the crying type.
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