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I. The Gregson

In the antiquity of science, throughout the 19th century, there existed the philosophers even before Socrates and his scholars. They were the first speculators of the natural world and they were the ones who gave contrast between the concept of nature and convention.

Nature, in its original sense is all the thing that is already there. In human nature, it is the very intrinsic thing that we are: our disposition, our demeanor. On the other hand, convention is the very thing that we are accustomed to. It's the tradition we are indoctrinated about, the culture we're suppose to flourish, the the things that we have to be used of.

Convention comes to us very naturally, thus we never tend to distinguish clearly the difference. However, does it ever matter? It is all the same, the explanations are all desultory, the definite knowledge is ardous to grasp. So, why bother?

My nature is to let my heart beat for myself, this is my convention as well. But things changed, right before I even notice it.

* * *

"What else is more stupid than this," hindi ko maiwasang pagreklamo. Whoever in this dire situation, it's not very likely to have your mouth shut. Protesting is my very first response.

"They are powerful and formidable, what is ordered is very probable. Sooner or later, you'll ma---" bago pa man niya maituloy ang sasabihin niya ay tumalikod na ako. Ayokong marinig ang mga katagang 'yun. Tila ba isang bomba iyon sa aking ulirat.

"Ethelma, we can't avoid this. It's all arranged," narinig ko pang sabi ni Mommy bago ako umakyat sa hagdanan.

The idea of me getting settled into an arranged marriage is not even chimerical. I never thought of such gross thing even in my wildest reverie. Mom must knew it all along that having a guy to live with is none of my business. Never in my life I felt the need to have someone, it's abhorrent to my sane mind.

But it is clearly inevitable. I know the Gregson family. They are most influential dynasty in the country. Kahit bali-baligtarin ko ang sitwasyon, walang magagawa ang mga pagpo-protesta ko. Kahit pa isumite ko ito sa court of appeals o kahit pa sa United Nations, wala akong magagawa. Well, that solution is not even valid. Kaya naman alam kong mag-aaksaya lamang ako ng panahon sa pagpo-protesta kay Mommy na malinaw namang wala ding maitutulong sa akin.

I can never fathom the intention of arranged marriage. Albeit knowing they can do whatever they wanted, napaka out of no-where naman siguro na may pupunta na lamang sa bahay namin para i-discuss ang mga bagay na halos sumira sa katinuan ko. Nagtatangka pa lang akong umapela ay gumuho na ang mundo ko sa sinabi ng ahenteng nasa amin. This is among the command of Oldest Gregson. Such contradiction will never be heard or even noticed. Nang magpaalam ito ay agad kong hinarap si Mommy at tinanong ng sunod-sunod. She can't give me anwers, she's perplexed too.

I almost lost all my hope. Dalawang linggo narin matapos kong malaman iyon but it still bothers me that I ain't got any solution. Iniisip ko na lamang na prank lang iyon dahil wala na ulit akong nadatnang bisita sa amin upang magbigay kaalaman sa amin.

Hindi ko pa nakikita ang mga apo ni Sir Gregson. Si Alfriedo Gregson ang isa pinakamayaman at ma-impluwensyang nilalang na nabubuhay sa mundo. Though hindi niya pinapasok ang mundo ng politika, people are aware of his dark deeds. Maraming rumors na kumakalat na isa siyang Mafia Leader but those are just mere speculations. Walang nakapagpapatunay noon. Alam kong marami pang hindi alam ang mga tao sa kanya but I won't bother pry myself into that. Hindi ko naman nanaising makilala sa personal ang isang Alfriedo Gregson.

His grandsons as far as the clamors are true, live in the Europe. Malamang na kasing gloomy rin sila ng kanilang Lolo. But, hindi ko lang talaga maisip kung paanong mangyayari na ikakasal ako sa isa sa mga apo niya?

The Monday has come and I am very aware that it is the time to go back to school. The house is left with just the maids for Mom goes to her very own  publication company in the metro. I have no sibling, and I have no father figure. Mom is rich for her parents which I never met gave her all the lands and properties they have. She's the only child of the Mendez family. My father died even before I was borne. He's a pilot and he died in a plane crash.

I go to school by commuting. Sabi naman ni Mommy, kapag nag-18 ako, I'll get my own car. Isang taon na lamang at magiging isang ganap na babae na ako.

Nilalakad ko ang palabas ng village para mag-abang ng bus. I am luckily sent into a prestigious academy with very good reputation. I must say na disente ang mga mag-aaral dito kumapara sa mga eskwelahang nasa kasagsagan ng city. Arthemia Academy sounds good even for the outsiders. It definitely is.

This day must be the usual day as every day I go to school. But definitely not, dahil umagang-umaga pa lang ay may gusto ng sumira ng araw ko. A glossy black Maserati stopped right in my front while I'm waiting for the bus. Hindi ko iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil wala naman akong kakilala na may ganito kagarang kotse. Saka ko lang iyon tiningnan ng bumaba ang salamin at mula sa backseat ay lumitaw ang isang hindi pamilyar na mukha.

I can't help but furrow my brows. Pero kahit alam kong sa akin nakatingin ang taong iyon ay pinagsawalang bahala ko na lamang. Alam ko namang masyado akong maganda para sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Nakuha ko pa talagang magbiro.

Mabuti na lamang at may bus nang paparating kaya naman naglakad na ako paabante para parahin iyon. But the guy inside the car hastily but gracefully came out and grasp my wrist. In a few seconds, I was unbelievably inside too.

Nag-umpisa ng tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko. What? Am I being kidnapped? By a person I suppose as same age as me? I have no recollection of this one but I know he's a guy of dour and gloomy appearance. I can't help but scare myself lalo na ng umandar na ang sasakyan at tumikhim ang katabi ko.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He rested his back and crossed his arms athwart his chest before giving me a puzzle.

"It is impertinent to ask for the name of your soon to be groom."

My hands grasped my half-opened mouth, and the moment he looked at my eyes straight, one certain thing came rushing in my mind.

Gregson.