AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Chapter 33: Prodigal

"Sabrina, hija . . ." she started so I cut her off.

"I don't want to go home, Tita."

She smiled, but I couldn't see that she was happy about it.

Ayokong umuwi kasi pinagtutulungan na 'ko ng lahat.

"Ate Tessa called. May meeting siya ngayon kina Mr. Tiu, tinawagan daw ang office niya ng police station."

"Tita, itinago ni Mum ang wallet ko. Ipinasara niya ang penthouse ko pati yung boutique! Pinate-terminate pa niya ang contract ko sa Sun-Dias! Phone lang ang meron ako ngayon tapos na-snatch pa. Saan ako pupunta?" Ibinagsak ko ang likod ko sa sandalan ng couch saka pairap na umiwas ng tingin.

Mum was blocking all of my resources. Talagang sinisigurado niyang susunod ako sa kanya.

"You know what, hija, you can go wherever you want," Tita said, and I still didn't want to answer.

"Tita, if that's possible, sana nasa Japan na 'ko right now para lang lumayo kay Mum." I pointed outside the moving car. "She wants me to marry Clark, and she blocked all my sources of income para lang sundin ko siya!"

"If you're talking about Sun-Dias, hija, please spare me the rant about it."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. "Why?"

"Better ask your Mum, honey." Tita shrugged and took a red and black tumbler from beside her seat to drink. "I'm done with their issues."

In an instant, my eyes narrowed after I remembered Clark's meeting with Mum and Tita last time.

"Last time, nag-meeting kayo ni Mum with Clark, right?" I asked. I'm sure about sa wedding 'yon. Or not?

"Yes." Ibinalik din niya ang tumbler sa gilid ng couch pagkatapos uminom saka ako tiningnan. "Ate Tessa planned to build a talent agency and I'm interested on financing the business. She was asking if open ba si Clark sa management. Ongoing na naman na ang termination ng contract mo sa Sun-Dias, inaayos na niya ang paglilipatan sa 'yo."

Then I saw my face from afar with question marks above my head.

Did my mom plan to steal me from Sun-Dias?

Buong akala ko pa naman, about sa wedding kaya sila nag-meeting last time!

"So . . . yung meeting last time . . . hindi about sa wedding namin ni Clark?"

"Hahaha!" Tita laughed so hard, hindi ko na alam kung nagjo-joke lang ba siya or something. "Why are you worried about Clark marrying you?"

"Because Mum is forcing us to marry each other!"

"Talaga ba?! Oh my God, I'm not aware! And your mom did this to your Kuya Ronie and Trisha, di ba? But look at Jaesie and her two-year marriage with your brother."

"But I have no boyfriend right now!"

"Ate is not forcing you to marry Clark."

"She is, Tita, believe me."

She smiled again, but I could sense the sarcasm in it. "Sabrina, honey, Ate Tessa can drag your trunk anywhere she wants to. One call away lang siya kay Tony, ipapa-track ka at dadalhin ka niya sa simbahan while pointing a gun at your head so you can say yes. That's how 'forcing you to marry Clark' means kung ang topic ay si Ate." She shrugged at me and smiled again. "But you see? No one is forcing you, honey."

"What about my boutique? Dinamay pa niya."

"Nagger lang si Ate, but she won't stoop so low just to annoy you, hun. Closed ang boutique dahil tapos na ang leasing agreement na pinirmahan ng owner ng puwesto, and you're not the person in-charge during the time na kinuha ang mga gamit doon. Ate Tessa handled that at nasa warehouse niya ang lahat ng gamit na discarded ng management mula sa boutique."