The Desperate Marriage

KABANATA 8

KABANATA 8: THE COME-UP PLAN

"So, when will be the exact date of the wedding?" The press asking Jamie, nang ma-corner siya ng reporter sa isang tabi. Isang campaign event iyon ng kanyang ama at nagkataon na sumama sila ni Jamie to support his candidacy as a senator.

Nalaman ng press dahil sa kanyang ama who announced it in public habang nagsasalita ito sa stage. Jamie is very formal, konting pakaway-kaway lamang sa mga tao at isang formal na ngiti at pakikipagkamayan sa supporter's ng kanyang Daddy.

"Hmm... sorry but it's still a surprise though." Nakangaiting sagot nito, answering it safely. Jamie doesn't like publicities. Napilitan laman ito dahil inimbita ito ni ng mag-asawang Chiongbian na sumama. Zea remained silent but she was still smiling in front of everybody else because it was the event for her dad.

"Let's go." Inakay siya ni Jamie palayo sa mga nag-uumpukang media at tanging ngiti lamang ang binibigay nito sa mga taong gustong makalapit sa kanila.

Like everyone says:

-That their love starts during childhood. (Absolutely not because it was a one-sided love. Siya lang ang nagmamahal kay Jaime)

-They met in the States, and their love grows in there. (Definitely not true. Hindi naman siya nangibang bansa ng matagal.)

-They started as friends and then developed each other and turned into lovers. (Precisely not that kind. They were friends as kids but didn't turn into lovers. Pinikot lamang niya ito.)

Hinayaan na lamang niya ang mga kwentong haka-haka na lumabas sa media about them. Hindi sila nag-uusap ni Jamie sa kadahilanang hindi siya kinakausap nito. Sa tuwing titingnan siya nito, umiiwas siya na para bang isa siyang virus na nakakahawa ng sakit. Hindi niya kayang salubingin ang nagpipigil na galit nito.

Pumunta siya sa likod ng stage ng gymnasium, kung saan walang mga tao, at tingin naman niya ay safe dahil hindi gagawi ang mga tao dito dahil naka-blocked ang bawat daanan ng gymnasium sa bahaging iyon. She stood up in a railing nakapatog ang dalawang kamay sa bakal na railing. Nasa second floor yata siya at natatanaw niya ang maraming tao sa ibaba. It was a late-night event.

"So here you are, my fiance" Nanunuya ang boses nito at sinadyang diinan ang salitang fiance.

Lumayo sa maraming tao upang huwag makorner ng media. Isa pa, Zea was not used to many people around. She hates to socialize for long hours because it drains her energy. It exhausts her.

Dahan-dahan niyang nilingon ito. He clenched his jaw, moving it in a rough manner, pigil ang emosyon nito at ano mang oras ay pwede itong sumabog. Kahit medyo dim light ang paligid ay natatanaw niya ang bawat galaw ng muscles nito sa mukha, his facial expression. It bothered her dahil alam naman niyang siya ang may kagagawan ng galit nito. Nabibigki ang lalamunan niyang tiningnan ito sabay lunok ng kanyang laway.

"Jamie.. hmm." She could not say anything but feel sorry for what had happened. It's just necessary for her to do that; she was also a victim of circumstances. Nonetheless, mali pa rin ang ginawa niya.

The surrounding was solemn. They are both staring to each other, siya na tanging nakatitig sa mga mata nitong punong-puno ng panlalamig at blangkong ekspresyon.

"Ahm, I'm sorry, Jamie." Mahina niyang tugon at bumawi ng tingin. She looked away at tumingin sa kalawakan ng plaza where the gymnasium was built. He snorted and released a sarcastic smile.

"Is that all you can say? How about explaining to me why you did it, Zea? Instead of pretending that you were sorry in this situation. What really happened between you and your sister? Where did she go?" Sunod-sunod na katanungan nito.