Her Unveiled Love

Kabanata 14: Kind Of Guy

[Via's POV]

I followed Tito Savi with my squinted eyes as he excitedly approached Krae.

Did I just heard him right? Did I hear the word 'fiancé'?

"Ba't hindi ka nagpaalam nang mas maaga na mapaparito ka? Edi sana nakapaghanda kami."

"Hinatid ko lang si Via, Tito." Napalingon si Tito sa akin na namimilog ang mga mata sa tuwa.

"Really? I'm glad that you actually courted my niece, akala ko diretso kasalan na."

There I have it. Sobrang klaro ko nang narinig.

"Anong kasalan?"

"Kayong dalawa ni Mr. Thomas, Via. I expected you already know, given that Mr. Thomas drove you home."

Napailing ako sa sobrang pagkagulo. Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko kay Tito at Krae. Tito looks quite surprised while Krae avoided my gaze and seemed to be guilty for some reason.

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

Ang dalawa kong kapatid na sina Ash at JC ay mukhang naguguluhan din. The maids along with Mom started to look awkward because of the thought that I don't have any idea what's going on.

Humugot nang malalim na hininga si Tito at pinagpag ang suot niyang suit jacket. "Let's discuss this matter inside, shall we?"

.

"He is the groom you are set to be with, Via. Siya ang tinutukoy namin noong 16 years old ka." Mom said with her usual soft and elegant voice.

"But why now and... w-why him?" Puno ng disgusto ang boses ko bago pinasadahan ng tingin si Krae na nakayuko lang sa harapan ko.

"Both of you are meant to be married next year. Plano namin na sa susunod kayo ipakilala pero nandito na. The two of you seemed close and everything seems also fine."

"Ba't next year niyo pa kami ipapakilala sa isa't isa? The sooner we know each other, the better."

"There were some complications in Krae's side of the family, specifically his Father. Am I right, Krae?"

"Yes, Mrs. Cortez."

"So, how did you manage to escape from your Father?"

I looked at Krae and he confidently smiled at my Mother. "I always get what I want, Mrs. Cortez."

"Really?" Mom asked with a challenge.

"Yes and now, I want your daughter's hand, Mrs. Cortez."

Napaawang ang labi ko at hindi sadyang nabitawan ko ang hawak na mug. Nataranta si Mom at agad na tinawag ang mga maids para linisin ang kalat.

Nakatulala lang ako at hindi makagalaw. My gaze slowly turned to Krae and both of his eyebrows are furrowing, looking so worried.

"Ayos ka lang?" I scoffed because of his question.

"Ikaw nga ang dapat na tanungin ko. Ayos ka lang ba?" Puno ng diing sabat ko. Matalim ang mga matang tinitigan ko siya sa mga mata.

I am certainly not amused of his cheekiness. I am not amused or even happy of anything that's going on!

"I changed my mind. I'm not agreeing to the engagement anymore." Iling ko at bumaling kay Tito.

"What? No, Quennelle, you can't. You already agreed and the papers are almost finished." Tito Savi said worriedly but I just shake my head once again in disagreement.

"I don't care, Tito. I'm not marrying Krae." Puno ng pait na sabi ko.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Tito Savi bago napasandal sa kanyang kinauupuan. "If that's what you want, then fine but you still need to seek the family's opinion."

Family's opinion... it means Tita Mavis's opinion. Tito Savi might also be a first born, but women rule this family. Tita Mavis is a female first born, the rightful heir... the queen alpha.

I quickly stood up before the afternoon tea time ends. I heard my Mom's voice calling me but I acted deaf. My two brothers who are playing with their phones in the garden immediately stopped what they were doing when they saw me.

"Are you gonna marry that guy?"

"Of course not!" Sagot ko habang nagmamadaling nilampasan sila.

"But you agreed, remember?" Ash and JC followed me.

"Yes, but I can't believe they manage to ignore the bruises on his face. I can't marry someone like that!" I hysterically said before running towards the garage.

Hindi na nila ako sinundan at hinayaan akong pumasok sa garage. Nataranta ang mga drivers nung makita ako.

"M-may pupuntahan ka po ba, Ma'am?"

"Keys, Manong, I need keys." I said with urgency and he started to panic, looking for keys.

"Anong sasakyan, M-ma'am–"

"Any, Manong! Bilis!"

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako patutungo. Lumilipad ang isip ko kung saan-saan habang nagmamaneho.

Krae knew all along that I am his fiancée and he didn't even bother to tell me.

Umabot ako ng isa't kalahating oras sa pagmamaneho. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ako. I have a feeling na nasa labas na ako ng syudad. Wala na ang matatayog na mga gusali at dumidilim na rin.

I pulled over on the side of the highway. Agad akong napapikit pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan dahil sa preskong simoy ng hangin.

I am in the outskirts of town. There were only few houses and the most things I see are trees, cows, and fields.

Napaupo ako sa hood ng sasakyan nang nakahalukipkip. Sobrang tahimik ng lugar dahil kakaonting mga sasakyan lamang ang mga dumadaan.

"Why does it have to be Krae?" Bulong ko sa sarili.

I was 16 when I agreed to be engaged with someone I don't even know, someone I have no idea how they looked like. I was so brave back then, why should I retreat now?

Is it because of Krae?

Napatawa ako bago umiling. Why should I fear Krae? Well, I don't actually fear him. I fear the thought that I don't know him at all.

Magkasama kami sa project, magkaklase rin but after seeing him almost killed someone today scared the hell out of me.

"Ate Via, you can't be married to that guy–"

Ricky Jace's voice echoed inside my head. That's what I heard him said three years ago when he tried to stop me from agreeing to the arranged marriage.

Kilala niya ba si Krae? Alam niya ba kung anong klaseng tao si Krae Davin Thomas?