Fortuitous Wedlock

Chapter 1

"I'm glad that you didn't make a scene earlier, Solene." my mother told me as we walked inside of our home. "May natipuhan ka ba sa mga apo ni Senyora Lucita? May pumasok ba sa standard mo?"

She sounded so happy and excited.

It was almost ten in the evening when we got home. They were so intrigued talking about business that they forgot the time. Kung hindi ko pa sinabihan si Mama na may lakad ako bukas with my friend, hindi pa sila uuwi.

The family dinner was quite good, I didn't expect them to be so friendly and humble. I met some of the Aguianos women who are just the same age as me. Sa mga lalake naman, some of them tried to talk to me but I managed to avoid them without being noticed dahil ayokong mas mabuhay ang nasa isip ni Mama na i-push ang kung ano mang gusto niyang mangyari.

I am hypocrite if I say the Aguianos men are not attractive. They're all good-looking, it's a fact. Wala akong napansin sa kanila na kapintasan, everyone has different good facial feature kaya hindi sila nakakasawang tingnan isa-isa.

But all the Aguianos men who talked to me, there's only one man who caught my attention. I don't know if I heard Papa right but he's the second eldest grandson of Senyora Lucita.

Napansin ko kasing hindi siya kumikibo during family dinner, he showed no interest to be exact. Para siyang may sariling mundo na hindi ko maipaliwanag, I didn't get the chance to meet him dahil abala rin ako sa ibang mga pumunta sa family dinner.

He's a bit different compared to the other Aguianos, he looks very intimidating and principled. 'Yung iba kasi kaya pang magbiro habang nakikipag-kuwentuhan sa pamilya namin pero siya, hindi. Madalas siyang tumitingin sa oras at cellphone na parang laging may hinihintay na mag-text or tumawag.

I was a bit disappointed honestly, hindi ko malaman kung bakit may parte sa akin na nanghihinayang na dapat kinausap ko siya.

"You also socialized with them, honey. I'm proud of you." Mama spoke again.

Hindi ako sumagot, I was busy thinking about the man. Bigla akong napaisip kung kasal na ba siya or not. Based on my perception, he's probably twenty eight or twenty nine kaya siguro may asawa na 'yon pero kung mayro'n, dapat nandoon ang asawa niya. Dapat kasama siya sa dinner, am I right?

Bumalik ang atensyon ko kay Mama.

She didn't talk much about the dinner pero medyo nahuhulaan ko na kung saan patungo. The last time they had a family dinner, isa sa mga pinsan ko ang kinasal. 'Yon ang pangalawang beses na nakasama ako after eight years dahil lagi akong busy sa school, I was eleven years young the last time my parents took me with them kaya siguro walang masiyadong nakakakilala sa akin doon which is good for someone like me who doesn't like attention.

Pagdating namin sa living area ay pagod akong umupo sa couch at sumandal, pumikit ako ng mariin habang iniisip ang mga nangyari sa araw ko ngayon.

"Solene, your mother's talking to you." my father snapped me out, nakalimutan na kinakausap pala ako ni Mama kanina pa.

Pagod akong lumingon sa kanilang direksyon, nakatayo silang dalawa sa kabilang side ng sopa.

"Ma?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Are you okay, Solene? You seem preoccupied. May problema ba?" concern na tanong ni Mama.

I forced a smile, "I am perfectly fine, Mama." sagot ko.

"Are you sure?" nilapitan niya ako at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat. "Are you angry with us, honey? Galit ka ba dahil pinilit ka naming sumama?"

I shook my head, "No, Ma."