"I'm glad you know him already because you'll be the one marrying him soon."
"No, I can not agree with this marriage. I have the right to choose whom I want to marry," taas noo kong sabi. They'll take away my freedom and I can't let that happen.
"But it has been decided," sagot nito at nilaro laro ang ballpen sa lamesa niya.
"Whether you agree or not, desisyon ko pa rin ang masusunod, Adeline," dagdag pa nito. Nagtama ang tingin namin, ngumisi siya at dahan dahang tumayo. Itinuon niya ang dalwa niyang kamay sa mesa.
"You're braver than I expected, just like your mom," sabi nito at nginisihan ako. Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko.
Nanghihina ang tuhod ko sa tingin niya. Wala na siya sa tamang pag iisip. Napabungisngis pa siya na para bang nakakatawa ang sinabi niya.
Naglakad siya papunta sa harap ng mesa at umupo doon. Pinakatitigan niya ako.
"Sadly, that bravery... I'll turn that into fear."
There's fear behind bravery. I just tried to stand up for myself.
Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang may biglang tumawag sa telepono ni Dad. Sinagot niya ito at ako naman ay dali daling lumabas ng office. Napasandal ako sa pinto. Napahilamos nalang ako sa mukha ko bago bumaba ng hagdan.
Naisipan kong tawagan si Lucas. Sigurado akong alam niya na rin ang balita.
"Hello," bungad ko.
"If you're going to ask if I heard the news...Yes. I'm glad they haven't announced it on the television."
Napapikit ako ng mariin. Humawak ako sa pinto at huminga ng malalim.
"Where are you? Let's meet."
"At home. I'm grounded." Rinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga nito sa kabilang linya.
"Then I'll go to your house. Text me the address."
Rinig ko ang pagtayo niya. "Are you crazy? You can't go here."
"I'm already on my way," sabi ko sa kanya at sumakay sa taxi.
"How did you—"
"Your address is all over the internet, idiot."
"Are we even close for you to call me idiot?" inis na tanong niya.
"Ofcourse, we're even getting married," sarkastikong sabi ko.
"Why are you grounded by the way?" dagdag ko.
"They found out that I'm still playing guitar with my friends."
"Are you not allowed?"
"Mm, that's why I'm grounded for a week."
"I'm here outside your house," sabi ko at bumaba ng taxi.
Agad niya namang binaba ang tawag. Nag doorbell nalang ako at hinintay na may lumabas sa front door. Bumukas ito at lumabas ang isang maid.
"En qoui puis-je vous aider, Mademoiselle?" (What can I help you, Miss?) saad ng lumabas na maid.
"Je suis là pour Lucas, puis-je lui parler?" (I'm here for Lucas, can I talk to him?) magalang na tanong ko at nginitian ito.
Maya maya pa ay may lumabas na Ginang sa loob. May hawig siya kay Lucas. I think it's his Mother.
"Puis-je vous demander votre nom, jeune fille?" (Can I ask for your name, young lady?) tanong nito at napatikhim muna ako bago sumagot.
"Je suis Adeline, fille de Léo Blanchet," (I'm Adeline, daughter of Leo Blanchet.) pagpapakilala ko. Agad na lumiwanag ang mukha niya nang marinig ang pangalan ko.
Pinagbuksan nila ako ng gate at iginiya papasok sa bahay nila.
"What brings you here, Ms. Blanchet?" tanong nito pagkapasok namin sa loob.
"Can I talk to Lucas?"
"Sure, he's upstairs at the living room."
Agad naman akong umakyat pataas at hinanap ang living room. Nakita ko siyang nagsusulat sa gilid ng bintana.
"What are going to do?" agad kong tanong sa kanya at umupo sa sofa.
"Do with what?" tanong nito pabalik.
"You're really clueless, aren't you?"
"I already know, you don't have to tell me," sabi niya at hindi manlang ako binabalingan ng tingin.
"I don't want this marriage," deretsahang sabi ko. Lumingon siya sakin kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"I tried to talk to my father but he turned me down. You have to talk to your parents, you have to cancel the wedding."
"If I knew that would work, I would have talk to them earlier," sagot niya at tinalikuran muli ako.
Nagulat ako nang tumayo siya at lumapit sakin. Yumuko siya at inilapit ang mukha niya sa mukha ko.
"Don't you want to marry me? I'm good at many things," he said and gave me a playful smile.
Agad kong inilayo ang mukha ko at nginiwian siya.
"If I want to marry you, why would I go here and complain?" tanong ko at inirapan siya. He just shrugged at me.
Maya maya pa ay biglang dumating si Ms. Auclair.
"You should join us to dinner, your dad is coming over," yaya nito at napalunok ako. How did dad find out I'm here?
Napatingin naman sakin si Lucas. Nang talikuran kami ni Mrs. Auclair ay agad siyang tumabi sakin.
"Are you scared of your father?" tanong niya at napatingin ako sa kanya. Nakatingin lang siya sa kisame.
"Mm, I can't even decide on my own. He's the worst father I know," sagot ko.
"Wait till you meet my father." Napatawa nalang ako at umiling iling.
_
NASA harap na kami ng hapag at walang umiimik samin. Nasa dulong bahagi ako ng mesa at nasa kaliwa ko si Lucas, katabi niya naman si Ms. Auclair. Nasa tapat ko si Dad at katabi nito si Kuya. Akala ko ay si Dad lang ang pumunta dito.
"I can't believe we'll join hands after the wedding." Halata sa bosses ni Mrs. Auclair ang excitement. Habang kami ni Lucas ay hindi manlang makangiti.
"I don't think a wedding will take place soon, because I won't agree with it!"
Agad akong napatingin kay Lucas nang magsalita siya. This is my time.
"LUCAS!" sigaw ni Mr. Auclair.
"I also don't want this marriage. You can join hands without this wedding," matapang na sabi ko at tumayo. Kita kong sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Dad.
"Then give me a reason to cancel this wedding," sabi ni Mr. Auclair.
"I have a girlfriend."
Agad na napatingin sa kanya ang lahat.