Taming Tamara (revising)

6 eat your words

Tamara POV

"We are not together dad. I was drunk last night and he let me sleep on his condo." Paliwanag ko sabay baling kay dad.

"So you two slept together?" Taas ang kilay na tanong ni dad.  Parang pipi si Vaughn dahil ayaw niyang sumagot kaya naman ako na lang muli ang sumagot sa tanong ni dad. Obviously Vaughn doesn't want to help me explain.

"I only slept on his bed. Literally slept, dad. I swear! We didn't sleep together! Gosh! Him? I would never! Do I really have to explain myself?!" Muli kong paliwanang na ikinakibit-balikat ni dad. Walang galit o ano mang violent reaksyon sa mukha ni dad. Para bang nanghinayang pa ang itsura nito.

"I thought you're with her already Vaughn. I was somewhat celebrating when you answered my call." Pabirong ani dad kay Vaughn na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Nagtawa lang si Vaughn sa sinabing iyon ni dad.

Celebrating?! Really? Tinutulak ba ako ni dad sa Vaughn na ito?!
This stuck-up guy?!  I would never...!

"Inayos ko na ang gulong kinasangkutan mo, young lady. I shoved a lot of money into their mouths just to shut them up." daddy said. He is still looking at the papers in front of him, mukhang mahinahon na si dad. Mukhang tapos na kaagad ang issue namin ni Vaughn para kay dad.

"Whew! thanks daddy! You know that Sebastian is a pain in the ass. Magpapakamatay na nga lang dinamay pa ako. I would never tell anyone to kill themselves. You know me." I said na nagpabuntong hininga kay daddy.

"Daddy, I would never lead him on. You know I don't like weak men." depensa ko sa sarili ko.

"Sebastian just don't know when to stop. He tried to kiss me, napuno lang ako dad." ngayong mahinahon na si daddy, alam kong matatanggap na niya ang reasons ko.

"Maybe Vaughn, that's the price I have to pay for having a beautiful daughter?" Sabi ni dad sabay tingin sa katapat na upuan ko at napatingin din ako sa kanya. Vaughn only chuckled and did not speak. Dad seems to like this stuck-up guy. Gosh! What did dad ever see in him?

"Tamara, dearest, before clearing your reputation once again, you promised me that you'll do everything I asked of you." he said and that made me straightened my back.

Here we go.

Alam ko nang maniningil kaagad si dad. I was expecting this.

"What do you want me to do dad?" I asked nervously, bakit nga ba ako kinakabahan ngayon. Parang sa tono ni dad ay desidido na siya sa mga ipapagawa niya sa akin at napasubo ako. Did he want me to work? Or give me some hard task? It will bore me to death but I'll do it.

"I want you married." Matigas na sabi niya na nagpalamig sa buong katawan ko. Natulos ako sa kinauupuan ko at hindi makagalaw.

Me? Married? Agad?!

"W-what are you s-saying dad? I don't have a boyfriend! W-why would I marry?" Halos mapiyok piyok ko nang sambit, natataranta na ako sa mga sinasabi ni daddy.

Totoo ba ito?!

"Dear, you said everything, and I'm holding you to your words. You know a De Ville is honorable to their words. I want you married. As much as I love you dear daughter, I failed to teach you how to handle our empire. You don't want any of it, and I spoiled you enough not to burden you with it. I want you to settle down with someone who I can trust our businesses and someone who will take care of you too. I'm getting old and this has to be settled as soon as possible. You know I've never ask for anything else from you, dearest. But this has to be done." Mahabang pahayag ni daddy, alam ko noon pa na ganito hahantong ang pag-ayaw ko sa mga pagpipilit niya na aralin ko ang pasikot-sikot ng business namin but I didn't know it will be this soon

"Daddy, I understand all of it, b-but I'm only twenty-four! And your not so old yourself! W-why are we r-rushing this? I know it will come to this arrangement. I know the price I have to pay for being a heiress, but w-why so soon?" Halos di ko makapaniwalang apela sa kanya, bagsak na ang balikat ko at nanlulumo.

"Turnovers are not that easy dearest, you know I have to teach him everything." he said looking at Vaughn while saying it. Parang lutang ang isip ko at parang di ma-absorb ng utak ko lahat ng sinasabi niya.

Napatingin ako kay Vaughn, halos nakalimutan kong nandito nga pala ang mokong na ito. Alam ko siya ang legal counsel ni dad kaya lagi siya sa tabi ni dad, pero this is not even something that he should be present.

"What are you doing here anyways? Can't you even excuse yourself? Can't you see daddy and I are discussing family matters and it doesn't concern you!?" I vehemently said to Vaughn. He look straight at me at parang nakadagdag pa ang tingin niya kaya lalong nagwala ang pagkabog ng puso ko sa aking dibdib.

"We will be family soon Tamara, Everything concerns me now, fiancée." halos malaglag ang panga ko sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig niya. At di makapaniwalang bumaling ulit kay dad, mukhang kinompirma niya ang sinabi ni Vaughn ng tumango siya.

Si Vaughn?! Si Vaughn ang kailangan kong pakasalan?!

"T-this is n-not happening! Please tell me daddy, y-you're not marrying me to him?! Anyone I will consider but not him, daddy please?!" sabi ko na nagpadilim at nagpatiim ng bagang ni Vaughn. Halatang nainsulto siya sa tahasang kong pagtanggi. Pero wala akong pakielam, to be married to someone who doesn't even acknowledge my presence is the worst scenario for me. Masisikmura ko pa ang isang lovesick na lalaki ang ipakasal sa akin kesa sa isang lalaking dadaan daanan lang ako na parang hangin everytime na magkikita kami. I mean, we don't have anything in common. He dislikes me and I don't like him. A stuck-up guy like him is the worst choice for a husband!

Napatayo ako bigla, di pa din ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng ito.

"Sit down Tamara. It is decided. No one else fits better to be your husband than Vaughn, Calix and I made this pact a long time ago, to tie our names. You know we are partners at every business ventures, It is forthcoming." He adamantly said.

"Did you know about this?" I asked Vaughn. Nagkibit balikat lang siya as if its nothing important. I stared at him waiting for his answer. In the end he says "Just last year."

Nilingon ko si dad na prenteng naka-upo pa rin, tulad ni Vaughn ay kalma rin siya na parang walang dahilan para maalarma. Ako lang siguro ang nagf-freak out sa usapang ito. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at tinitigan muli ang lalaking pakakasalan ko. I guess, I have no choice. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa kung napagdesisyunan na nila ang lahat. Matigas ang sunod na pagbitaw ko sa ng mga salita.

"I think I can't join you for dinner. I have to go. Just..." muli akong napabuntong hininga. Vaughn is looking sternly at me, so was dad.

"...Just do anything you want, I don't want any part of the preparations. Tell me the date of the wedding and I'll be there!" Iyon lang sabay tayo ko at walang lingon likod na nilabas ko ang library ni dad.

Malalaking hakbang palayo sa kanila ang aking ginawa hanggang sa marating ko ang sasakyan ko, pinaharurot ko iyon patungo sa Valkire Bar.