Unofficially Yours

Chapter One - No

D E A N N A

"Mom? Dad? What was that?" I asked my parents as soon as we went home after their revelation. "I don't even know that woman!"

"Ivy is your childhood bestfriend, Deanna. I know you can't remember her, but we do. You made that promise to each other nu'ng bata pa kayo." Sagot ni Mom. I can't stand this ridiculousness. I can't marry that woman!

Napahilamos naman ako sa mukha mo. "Okay, fine. We made a promise to each other blah blah blah. But should I really marry her? I mean that promise was probably made because we're too young that time. Don't you think it's to mababaw?"

"Anak." Tawag pansin ni Dad sa akin. Well, he might have seen how close my eyebrows ate to each other as I speak. "You did not only promised each other, but you also promised that to your Lola Eana and Lolo Evo before they passed away."

Then I saw Mom nodded. "We just want to fulfill your promise to your grandparents'. Hindi ba't gusto mo din naman matupad ang wish nila before we place them on a columbarium?"

I sighed, I guess I really don't have a choice!

"Fine. But after a month of getting married, we have to get an annulment or divorce, Mom." I answered, nakita ko namang parang nalungkot sila. "You know I already have Jessica and we're also getting married soon."

Nakita ko na lang na ngumiti ng pilit si Dad. "Okay, Anak. Just please fulfill this promise and after this, you're free to do whatever you want."

Madali lang naman 'to. I can handle this, I just have to hide this from Jessica so we won't have problems.

"Anak, one more thing." Ano nanaman? "Sa bahay mo titira si Ivy until you both get married."

"What?!"

I V Y

"Come inside, anak." Paanyaya ni Tita Judin sa akin. "Feel at home, magiging bahay mo na din ito for 6 months."

Pumasok ako sa loob ng malaking bahay sa harap ko. Malawak ang garahe nito kasi 2 car garage siya, pwede ko sigurong i-park ang sasakyan ko dito.

Sa loob ay puro puti lang ang makikita mo, medyo makalat nga lang ang daming gamit ni Deanna sa paligid. Tama nga sila, makalat nga talaga siya sa gamit.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa portrait na malaki sa living room. Picture ito ni Deanna nu'ng nag champion sila sa Season 81 sa UAAP. Ako ang kumuha ng picture na ito, actually. Nag trending nga ito sa mga fans ni Deanna kasi ang ganda ng pagkakakuha ko. Ayun oh, kitang kita pa watermark ko. Hindi ko alam pero parang natunaw ang puso ko dahil lang dito.

"That is Deanna's favorite picture of her. Nag trending daw 'yan sa inyong fans niya. Ang ganda kasi ng pagkakakuha, kitang kita 'yung magandang ngiti ni Sachi." Saad ni Tita habang nasa tabi ko.

Natawa naman ako. "Actually, Tita. Ako po ang kumuha sa picture na 'yan." at tinuro ko ang watermark. "Ayan po oh, galing sa akin."

"Hala oo nga!" Gulat na sambit ni Tita. "Ang galing mo palang kumuha ng litrato, anak. Photographer ka ba?"

Agad naman akong umiling. "Ah hindi po, phone lang po gamit ko diyan eh. Nakasanayan ko na po kasing picture-an si Deanna kada umaattend ako ng mga event niya."

"Hello, nandito na pala kayo."

Napalingon kami ni Tita sa nagsalita. "Sachi! Pinapakita ko lang kay Ivy ang favorite picture mo. Who would've thought na siya pala ang nag picture niyan? Hindi natin napansin ang watermark."