ILYK [I love you Kuya-Complete!] PUBLISHED under LIB creatives

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Zack

Wala na akong masyadong sinagot sa mga tanong ng Press.. Basta firm ang desisyon ko na si Charlene ang pakakasalan ko at hindi sa Marielle.. 

As expected, galit na galit sa kin ang mga Fuentes,, Except for Lolo Fausto, na ang concern lang naman ay makasal kahit sino sa dalawang apo nya, whether si Marielle man as they originally planed

Hindi na natapos ang program dahil nagkagulo na pagkatapos ng announcement ko. Nag-ipon ang dalawang pamilya sa President's office… Samu't saring drama ang makikita mo..si Marielle and Tita Elaine, almost hysterical ang pag-iyak. Hindi ko nga alam kung matatawa ba ako o maawa sa itsura nila. Si Tito Ben, galit.. My mom and my dad are both concerned.. at ang dalawang Lolo masaya! Weird.. sabagay magiging magbalae pa din sila no matter what happened.

Lumapit sa kin si mommy pagpasok ko sa office.

"What happened son? Bakit ganon ang nangyari? Was it just a spur of the moment? Anong nakain mo? Nilalagnat ka ba o nagdidiliryo na? You don’t usually make haste decisions!" 

Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Mommy. Hindi ko sya masisi dahil sa tingin ko ay na-p-pressure din sya, especially kung ganon na lang ngumawa si Marielle at Tita Elaine…

Looking at her right now, I know that I made the right decision. I don’t want to think of it this way, but she looks pathetic!

Sinugod naman ako ni Tito Ben.

"I demand an explanation! And where in the world is Charlene?! " Galit na galit na sabi nito.

"Niloko mo ko!, pinagmukha mo akong tanga! ano na lang ang ihaharap ko sa mga tao ngayon!. I’m a disgrace!" sigaw ni Marielle..

Tumayo and Lolo ko at nagsalita in his dignified and controlled look.. " Please, I know what transpired in the ballroom is not what we had expected.. but please let's all be civil and hear what Zachary has to say..."

Lumapit sa kin si Lolo at bumulong.. "This better be good.. " at tinapik ang balikat ko..

I cleared my throat..

"Tito Ben, Tita Elain, Marielle.. I am so sorry.." 

"You better be... this is such an insult! You disgraced me!!!" Interrupted Marielle

"Please Marielle.. patapusin muna natin si Zachary... " sabi ni Lolo in his calm voice but commands attention.

"First of all, I’m so sorry Marielle... But I’m no longer in love with you."

“My God Zack!!!! Pinaasa mo ko!!!! How could you!!!! Mahal kita!!!! ”

Mas lalong lumakas ang iyak ni Marielle... Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ako sa kanya. It’s so fake!

Hindi ko na sya pinansin at pinagpatuloy ko ang sinasabi ko.

"What I know is,, this is an arrange marriage para pagdikitin lang ang mga pamilya natin..I'm not running away from my obligation to my family, to our families... itutuloy ko naman talagang magpakasal, but not with Marielle.. and if I remember it correctly, wala naman talagang specifics kung sino sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid ang obligadong ipakasal sa akin.. even on this event,, may nakita ba kayong pangalan naming dalawa ni Marielle?? ang nakalagay lang.. Montemayor - Fuentes Engagement Party.. NO.FIRST.NAMES."

Doon sila nagkamali.

Napaisip ang lahat... Darn I'm sooo good.. 

"We just all assumed that it’s going to be me and Marielle, overlooking the fact that there is still another Fuentes to take the job.” How ruthless it sounds… I frowned at my own words… it sounds so cold.. trabaho na ba ngayon ang pagpapakasal? Am I turning into a cold hearted jerk?

“Now I'm laying down my terms.. Itutuloy ko ang pagpapakasal ONLY WITH CHARLENE..."

"But she's just a child!" Sigaw ni Tito Ben..

"She's almost 17.. She’s on marrying age next year… What is one year of waiting? Ang bilis lang naman ng panahon… BUT.. I want to get married at the Sates, para mas tahimik. I don’t’ want the media to make a circus out of it. "

Palusot lang yung tungkol sa media… Just in case na pumayag silang ipakasal sa akin si Charlene,, naisip ko mahirap kumuha ng annulment dito sa Pinas, Kailangan mapwersa ko sila na sa States magpakasal para madaling kumuha ng divorce.. 

"Kung hindi si Charlene ang pakakasalan ko,, I'm sorry, I will not go thru the arrangement.. tanggalin nyo man ako as president of the Montemayor Group… You can disinherit me if you want… but I will not go thru with it, kung ipipilit nyo sa kin sa Marielle."

Subukan lang nilang i-disinherit ako.. takot lang nilang bumagsak ang empire nila. Wala namang ibang tagapagmana kundi ako.

Dito na nagreact si Lolo Fausto..

"No! that is unacceptable! Matagal na naming plinano ito.. hindi na naman matutuloy? no. no no no no.. This will not do!."

"Iho, be reasonable." sabi ng Lolo ko..

"I am being reasonable Lolo.. You’re the one who’s not. I'm still willing to go thru the arrangement but please consider mine also.. have you ever considered what I want? this is also my life we're talking about. Sinunod ko lahat ng gusto nyo ever since I can remember… Minsan lang ako magpapaka-selfish, hindi nyo ba ko pwedeng pagbigyan?"

Tinignan ko ang daddy ko.. 

"Dad please.. It's either Charlene or no marriage at all. " I said firmly.

Napatahimik ang pamilya ko.. Mukhang bibigay na.. Konting tulak na lang..

Ilang minutong walang nagsasalita… lahat nag-iisip… Everyone is holding their breath. Ang tense ng atmosphere.

Unang nagbasag ng katahimikan si Lolo Fausto..

"Sige.. Ipakasal si Charlene.."

Tumayo sa kinauupan si Marielle, at makikita mo ang sobrang galit sa kanyang mukha.

"No!!! Hindi ako papayag! I was meant to be a Montemayor! " Sabi ni Marielle..

"I'm sorry Iha,, It's not in your hand anymore." Sabi ni Lolo Fausto..

“No Lolo!!!! NO!!!!!!!!” Tumingin sya sa kin… “ I HATE YOU ZACK!!!”

at nag walk out na si Marielle.. at sumunod si tita Elain.

Tahimik pa rin si tito Ben.. 

Dead air..

" I have one condition.. " Sabi ni Tito Ben.. "If Charlene is willing to be your bride then,, ok,, papayag ako. but if not.. The hell with the merger! and where is my daughter?"

"She's safe.. please let me have a serious talk with her.. I promise i'll bring her home tomorrow.."

"so she has the final say then... " Sabi ng Lolo ko.. " The future of the Fausto - MOntemayor group is now in her hands...