"Royce, I just want to powder my face. Let me go..."
I was shocked when I saw Zane in front of me. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin, hindi pa binibitiwan ang kamay ko. Natutop ko kaagad ang nakaawang na bibig.
"Z-Zane..."
"Siya ba ang fiance mo?" mabilis niyang tanong.
Napatingin ako sa pasilyong pinanggalingan. Walang ibang tao roon, pati na rin sa kung nasaan kami. I tried to pull my hand away from him but he only held it tighter.
"Zane, bitiwan mo-"
"Sagutin mo ako, Sky!" he demanded.
"W-Well..." hindi ko madiretso ang nasa utak.
"I know your circle and I know that you don't know that man. Alam kong ipapakasal ka ng Papa mo, pero talaga bang sa hindi mo kilala at hahayaan mo 'yon?!"
"How about you? Didn't you say your father is marrying you off?"
Naalala ko ang nakasagot sa cellphone niya nang minsang tumawag ako nitong nakaraan. It was a woman. I don't know if that was his fiancee or he's just playing around again.
"Yes, but well I'm trying my best to break it off. Ikaw? May ginawa ka ba?"
"May ginawa? Do you know how tight my security is? And my father's mind is absolute."
"So you're going along with it? With a man you don't even know? Huh? At sa mga article mukha pang gustong gusto mo ang lalaking iyon... you are just spreading lies! Your father is making you spread lies, Sky. Isang malaking pagkakamali ito."
Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hindi dahil mahal ko siya o dahil gusto ko pa siya, kundi dahil alam kong tama siya. It's my freedom and my life that's at stake here. My heart is breaking for that at si Zane ang pumuna noon.
"Papayag ka sa ganito? I always think you have the backbone and that you are strong willed. What happened now?"
"A-Anong gagawin ko? My father's decision is absolute a-and... it's complicated, Zane."
Iniisip ko ang mga kapatid ko pero hindi ko kayang sabihin sa kanya iyon. I think it's too private. Hindi ko alam bakit hindi na ako komportable na sabihin sa kanya ang problema gayong dati pa man ay siya na ang takbuhan ko.
"What complicated? There's no complicated if you decide for yourself, Sky."
"H-Huh?" lito kong tanong.
He pulled my hand. Bahagya akong napalapit sa kanya.
"Walang naniniwala sa mga totoong nakakaalam na magpapakasal ka talaga sa lalaking 'yan. He's a tycoon, from the rags. Very career-driven. It's impossible he would just suddenly accept you as his wife. Nasisiguro kong pumayag 'yan dahil may kaksunduan na career-related sa Papa mo."
I know I should be insulted by that but I know what he meant. Kahit pa sabihin kong I'm a good catch because I'm a Rockwell, I don't think my social track record is that of a wife material. Everyone thinks I'm an addict and alcoholic. Bakit ako pakakasalan ng isang matalino at career driven na lalaking gaya ni Royce Solarez? Isa lang ang puwedeng dahilan, there's a promise of a better leadership from my father!
"Everyone thinks your father is ridiculous. And that you're a doormat for letting him do this to you... and that man you're with, everyone thinks he doesn't really like you. That he's just putting up with the heiress for the company. Kaya hindi mo naman talaga kailangang magpanggap!"
I felt the pressure. Lalo na noong hinila ulit ako ni Zane.
"Let's just go! Let's take a vacation! Let's run away! Don't make this mistake, Sky!"
Kabanata 5
Magsimula sa umpisa
