POSSESSIVE 20: Andrius Salazar

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

PINAGPAPAWISAN na nagising si Andrius mula sa isang masamang panaginip. Bumangon siya saka naupo sa kama at hinilot ang sentidong pumipintig sa sakit. Bumaling siya sa orasan na nasa night stand para alamin kung anong oras na.

It's just 3:00 A.M.

"Fuck." Mahina niyang mura saka ibinagsak ang katawan pabalik sa pagkakahiga sa kama.

Napailing siya saka wala sa sariling napatitig sa kisame. He can't believe his dream— no, its not a dream, it's a freaking nightmare! Being a groom, being in a wedding and marrying someone is a nightmare for him. A fucking nightmare! It's scaring the shit out of him.

Ayaw niyang maging katulad sa mga kaibigan niya na naging understanding bigla ng makapag-asawa. Ang pinaka-ayaw niya sa lahat ay ang kinokontrol siya. His mother had done it to him a hundred times already and he had enough of it. And not to mention his father who would do anything for his mother just because they're married.

Napabaling siya ulit sa bed side table ng marinig ang message alert tone ng cellphone niya na nakalagay doon. Tinatamad na inabot niya ang cellphone saka binasa ang laman ng mensaheng natanggap.

It's from Lysander.

'Have you heard the news? Furrer is alive.'

Umawang ang labi niya sa nabasa saka napabangon bigla sa pagkakahiga, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nabasa. "T-that fucker is alive?!"

Hindi siya makapaniwalang napailing saka akmang tatawagan si Lysander ng may tumawag sa kaniya.

Mother calling...

Naihilamos niya ang palad sa mukha at nawala sa isip niya ang pagtawag kay Callahan. Ano na naman ang kailangan ng ina niya? As much as he likes to cancel the call, he knew his mother too well. He will never hear the end of this and that's what he hated the most.

Napipilitan man, sinagot niya ang tawag. "Yes, Mother?"

"Oh, hello, son." Bakas ang kasiyahan sa boses nito. "How are you? How was your date last night?" She sounds so excited. "Was it super fun?"

He grunted as he dropped himself to bed. Again. "I'm annoyed, mother. Kailan ka ba titigil sa pag set up sakin ng mga date na 'yan? I told you, it's not going to work." Napasabunot siya sa sariling buhok dahil sa frustrasyong nararamdaman. "So stop already. You're starting to piss me off—"

"Don't use that tone on me, young man." May babala sa boses nito at kaagad na nakagat niya ang labi. Kung may isang tao man siyang kinakatakutan, 'yan ang ina niya. He knew how ruthless she can be when she wants to. "Wala akong pakialam kong Lieutenant Colonel ka na ngayon, anak pa rin kita. And when I say you go date someone, you date her. No but's! Hindi naman siguro mahirap 'yon di'ba? Its just a date, Andrius! And beside, you're not getting any younger, and as a mother who's worried for her only son, I'm just helping you out. You're already thirty-three, ang mga kaibigan mo nakapag-asawa na. Look at Lysander, he's already happily married."

He rolled his eyes. Here we go again.

"Mother, iba si Lysander sakin—"

"And why is that?" She asked haughtily.

"Because he fell in love—"

"Then why can't you?"

He groaned. "Mother, hindi 'yon ganun kadali. And besides, I don't believe in love and how the hell could I date peacefully when you're pressuring me like this?"

His mother groaned in annoyance. "I set you up with four dozens of women already. Ni isa sa kanila, wala kang nagustuhan. At dahil do'n, wala ng may gustong makipag-date sayo. Your reputation as a Bachelor has already been tarnish, thanks to your rude behavior in your dates. So don't use that 'I don't believe in love' phrase, because, my son, ang mga kilala kong taong nagsabi niyan ay na-in love din, mas malala pa nga sila magmahal eh. At ikaw, hindi mo pa nahahanap at katapat mo kaya ganiyan ka masalita. Kaya naman tinutulungan kitang mahanap siya. And for your information, I have to force those women to date you because no one wants to. What am I supposed to do with you, huh, Andrius?"