The Third Side of a Love Story

Chapter 4

"Justin, about the engagement..." I started. He looked at me and waiting for me to speak. It's like this is also the thing he wants to talk about but too afraid to start with.

"My parents are asking if we already talk about it. I lied and told them that we haven't. But I'm afraid that they will keep on asking me since two weeks nalang debut ko na. What do you think?"

I honestly need his opinion about this. Kahit pa sinabi ko na sa kanya na ako na ang bahala kung paano ito hindi matutuloy, kailangan ko pa rin ng suporta niya. We should work this thing together.

Bumaling siya sa ibang bagay at tila nag-isip.

Ilang minuto din iyon at hinintay ko lamang siya. This thing is a very serious topic to decide with because it is what our future holds, not our parent's.

"I don't like engagement because it's with you. You're perfect, Ven." He begin. Unang mga salita pa lamang pero parang unti unti nang kumikirot ang puso ko.

"But we're too young for this. They should at least wait for us to be ready. We haven't in a relationship with yet." I can feel his frustration. "I already knew that this is my dad's idea."

I disagree with him.

Ngunit hindi ko iyon masabi. Alam kong hindi lang naman dad niya ang nagpipilit nito kung hindi ang dad ko rin. Of all people, si dad ang unang nakaalam na may gusto ako kay Justin ever since. And I gave him that idea before, noong mga panahon na immature pa ako at sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko.

I gave dad the idea of marrying Justin and he include their business on that. He sees it as a win-win situation. If Justin and I got engage and soon be married, dad will satisfy because I get what I want and he get what he wants for their business expansion using Conjuanco's Group.

Kung mayroon mang tunay na nagagamit dito, si Justin iyon. At ngayong nangyayari na ang lahat ayon sa mga ginusto ko noon, nahihirapan tuloy si Justin ngayon. I should be the one who deserve to be blame. But Justin is too nice to do that. He can't blame me for anything I've done.

"I honestly don't know what to do. But who cares anyways, we only have two weeks remaining. All we can do now is to agree whatever they have decided."

He said as if it was so easy for him. Kahit ang totoo ay ayaw niya talaga itong matuloy. And I understand him. He's also 18 and barely an adult. He doesn't explore his life yet and now his parents are forcing him to do something he wasn't ready.

Pero sa totoo lang, I can feel one something that holds him up to agree with the engagement. Kasi kung ako naman ang tatanungin. Hindi lang ako sang-ayon dahil hindi pa siya ready. And even if I am not also ready, if it will be Justin...for sure magiging ready ako.

Maybe, just maybe...

He can't settle to this kind of set-up because he likes someone else.

Something suddenly hurts inside me.

Tumingin ako kay Justin na tulala sa kung saan.

I can't imagine if this thought of mine is true. What if he really likes someone else kaya hindi siya makapagsettle sa aming dalawa. Justin, at the end of the day, is a guy. This is beyond of all the phase he can develop feelings with opposite sex.

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung sino ang babaeng iyon kung sakali. Dahil iyon lang din naman ang posibleng rason kaya ayaw niya. Dahil kung gusto niya ako, papayag siya. It's that simple.

"Justin..."

He glanced at me. The sunset's orange light reflected to his face. Lumitaw lalo ang tunay na kulay ng kanyang mga mata. Those eyes that looks like they always speaks. Kahit sa titig lang sana mabasa ko ang sagot na hinahanap ko.