Fortuitous Wedlock

Prologue

Living in a home with strict parents and a controlling elder sister was never easy for a youngest child like me who always wanted to get away from the responsibility.

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat!" I heard my sister's voice from the phone. "That's what I told you ever since, Mama. Masiyado niyong bini-baby dati ni Mamita kaya ngayon ganiyan na ang ugali niyan."

Tiningnan ko si Mama at Papa, they were just silent. Hindi nila pinigilan ang anak nila. I smiled bitterly, hindi na ako magtataka.

My grandmother was the only one I have that I can run to when my parents are being hard on me in terms of studies and role as one of his two daughters, nang mawala si Mamita ay si Kuya Solomon na ang naging kakampi ko but he chose to study abroad kaya nawalan ako ulit ng kakampi. Hindi rin ako magtataka kung bakit ganito ang trato nila sa akin, they can do whatever they want because no one will defend me from them.

This is one of the reasons why I don't want to stay in our home, mas pinipili akong mag-stay sa hotel buong araw kaysa sa makasama sila.

They don't know how their words wreck me every single time.

"Kung hindi pa sinabi sa akin ni Alec na nakita niya 'yan sa club kagabi, I wouldn't know!"

I closed my eyes and leaned my back on my seat, trying to ignore her.

My family's reputation has always been protected by our ancestors up until now, at dahil si Papa ang panganay sa kanilang magkakapatid—he makes sure that our family name prevails, as always.

"And will you stop slouching, Sol? Fix your posture, kanina ka pa naka-ganiyan. It's not appropriate to see a young lady who doesn't even know how to sit properly. Paano kapag nakita ka ni Senyora Lucita? She's a perfectionist type of person, dapat ay maayos ka lagi. You need to remind yourself all the time that you're a young woman, and women like us should be looking sophisticated, elegant and we should be really mindful of our actions."

Halos patayin ko na ang video call sa haba ng sinabi niya. We're currently inside the Mercedes-Benz Jetvan, my mother was beside me while Papa is sitting across from Mama. Magkaharap silang dalawa at nagtitinginan.

"Are you listening to me?" pukaw niya sa akin nang hindi ako nakasagot agad.

We're on our way to the Aguianos mansion for an unexpected family dinner. I just finished taking the qualifying exam and my father fetched me from school just to drag me with them.

"I am not here to impress anyone, Soliana." I replied inattentively.

I moved my phone to the other side to hide myself from the camera, I don't want her to see me dahil baka kung ano na naman ang mapuna niya.

"Mama, look how disrespectful your daughter is." sumbong niya kay Mama na agad kinuha ang phone ko para kausapin siya.

"Will you stop arguing all the time?" saway ni Mama sa amin.

Humalukipkip ako at hindi umimik dahil baka kung ano pa masabi ko.

The Vasconcellos, Aguianos, Suarez, and Alemàns family have a good relationship, they're great partners when it comes to businesses. Aside from the fact that they strictly follow traditional beliefs, arranged marriage is one of the most important rules of the families that needs to be followed to secure the rights of the properties and to protect bloodlines.

They work their ass out to be rich, hindi nila kayang mapunta lahat sa iba ang pinaghirapan nilang makuha.

Since I was ten years old, my mother explained about their system of rules to enlighten me but instead of understanding it, I actually find it unfair for everyone who went through their stupid tradition. Paghinto ng Jetvan ay hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan ako ng personal driver namin, I opened the door myself and went out.