We already saw each other a while ago, then why I forget about our exchange coat? Such a stupid, Janine. I don't want to see him! I was so damn afraid when he is around with me. He make my heart beat fast and loud!
"Good evening grandma, grandpa!" I greeted them as they are now eating their dinner.
"Oh our Janine, come and join us," Lola Astrid said.
"What's that smile?" Lolo Fortunato asked.
I shrug my shoulder. "I'm hungry,"
We eat quietly our dinner. Ganto naman palagi, at dahil ilang taon ko na rin silang nakakasabayan sanay na ako. Minsan pumupunta rin sila Mama at Papa dito para bisitahin ako. Ang huling punta nila dito ay nung graduation ko, limang buwan na ang nakakalipas. Napasungo ako, miss ko na ulit sila.
I'm facing my vanity mirror when I heard a knock. I put down my hair brush before stand up and open my door.
"Grandmother, is something wrong?" I asked as I open wider my door.
Lola Astrid shake her head and get inside my room, she sat down in my sofa. She pat the space there so I immediately seat down there. She comb my hair using her finger.
"Your not young, Janine. Everyday past your going older, your now in the correct age in marriage,"
Agad akong napatingin kay Lola Astrid ng sabihin niya iyon, yes I try dating but in the end I'll broke up with them because I can't give what they wanted.
"Grandmother," I said.
She smile, "Why don't you try dating Doctor James Gray Vienna? He's kind, handsome, smart and. he belongs to the family of Vienna,"
I knew it! Damn! Lagot na. Ito na ba ang hinihinging kapalit ni Lola? Ito na ba yun? Alam kung ako ang nagsabi sakaniya iyon. Pero... ilang taon na ang nakakalipas, ang akala ko nga ay nakalimutan na niya iyon kaya kinalimutan ko na rin dahil nagpursige nalang ako sa pag-aaral at ngayon naman ay bilang isang magaling at maayos na doctor.
"I still remember the day when you beg on me, saying let your Kuya and a girl Mefapo be together. Your smart Janine, I know you know what I'm saying all about." Nakangiting saad ni Lola bago lumabas sa kuwarto ko.
Ito na nga...
Handa na ba akong gawin ang ipinangako kung kapalit kay Lola? Handa ko na ba itong harapin? Pero bakit sa Doctor pa na yun? Kung saan kabadong kabado ako sakaniya. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ako kabado sakaniya eh.
"Oh my darling, Janine, the Vienna is here. Come and seat with us," Saad ni Lola pagkababa ko ng hagdan.
Napilitan akong ngumiti bago lumapit sa living room kung nasaan sila.
"Janine, this is James parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vienna this is my only granddaughter, Janine." Pagpapakilala ni Lola sa akin at hinawakan pa ang balikat ko.
"OmyGod! You such have a gorgeous granddaughter! Hello ija! I'm Jelai, James mother," Saad ng babaeng maganda na mukang kaedaran lang ni Mama.
Tinanggap ko ang kamay niyang nakalahad sa akin, "Janine, madame."
"Oh no! Madame was too formal, just call me Tita!" She said as I smiled and nod.
"And me too, just call me Tito Grayson," The man said that almost look like Doctor gwapo!
"Nice to meet you Tita and Tito," Nakangiting saad ko, napabaling ako kay Doc gwapo na nakahalukipkip at tinaasan pa ako ng kilay.
Napairap ako, anong problema nito? Inexcuse ko muna ang sarili ko at pumunta sa kusina upang makainom ng tubig na pangpakalma, sinasabi ko na nga ba, basta nasa paligid ko si Doc gwapo kinakabahan ako.
Babalik na sana muli ako sa kuwarto ko ng biglang maimpit akong napatili dahil may nabunggo ulit ako, syempre kilala ko na dahil sa amoy niya. Gantong-ganto ang amoy ng coat na gamit ko nung nakaraan eh.
"Sorry," Saad ko at maglalakad na muli sanang di man lang siya sinusulyapan.
Napatili na akong tuluyan ng hilain niya ako pero agad ring naputol dahil pinangtakip niya ang kamay niya sa bunganga ko.
"So you want to be my wife, huh?"
"What the hell?! Over my dead body I won't marry you!" I said in frustrate.
There's only I think three or four inch space between our face. I already smelling his fresh breath. I'm now curious about mine too if my breath was smell good or not? But that's not my priority now, my priority now is to let go in this man because his hot body was too close in mine.
In my nervousness my knee was trembling already if his arm not around my waist I know I most be fell in the floor now.
"Oh really? then why they're talking about our wedding?" He said mocking.
Kumunot ang noo ko, "What wedding?"
"Our wedding." He said in serious that make me shivered.
"Are you sure you want to be my wife?" He whispered to my ears before smirking and left me alone here.
Napaupo ako ng manghina ang tuhod ko, gash! anong meron dun? anong wife at wedding ang sinasabi niya? Gwapo nga gago naman!
Nagkulong ako sa kuwarto hanggang sa magtanghalian at pinapatawag na nila ako sa baba. Nanghihina parin akong naglalakad at ng makarating sa dinning area bumalik nanaman ang kaba at pagkainis ko. Hindi pa pala umuuwi ang mga Vienna!
Ayus lang na ang mag-asawang Vienna ang nandito dahil mukang mababait naman sila, pero yung si Doc Gago, napakagago. Oo gago na ngayon hindi na gwapo.
Tahimik akong umupo sa tabi ni Lola Astrid. At sa pagtingin ko sa paligid nagtama ang paningin namin ni Doc gago. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago ngumisi. Inirapan ko siya bago bumaling sa mga matatanda na hanggang ngayon ay naguusap parin.
We started eating and we eat quietly. Lola Astrid and Tita Jelai cleared a throat. I stop eating and look at them.
"So we have something to tell," Lola Astrid started.
"We will straight to the point," Tita Jelai said. "James, you gonna marry Janine,"
It shock me, I look at to my grandparents to confirm what was I heard from Tita Jelai. Lola look at me in a serious way.
"Janine marry, James." Lola Astrid said.
I chuckled in sarcastic, "No way."
"Janine, either you want it or not, you will." Lola said in finality.
Tumayo ako ng bigla kaya tumunog ang umpuan. "I won't. and I will never."
Bakit ang dali lang nilang sabihin iyon? Andali lang nilang iutos, samantalang hindi naman laro ang pakikipagkasal. Hindi ito biro, na agad-agad ginagawa, lalo pa sa taong hindi mo mahal.
Naiiyak na ako sa takot at inis. Takot na hindi ko alam ang dahilan, inis na parang isang laruan ako kung ituring ngayon ni Lola. Iba ngayon ang mga mata ni Lola Astrid na mas nagpatakot pa sa akin. Tumingin siya sa akin ng walang emosyon.
"Janine my dear, it's time now to face your consequence." Ngumiti si Lola sa akin, "You know that even they are married, I can still separate them, you know me well my granddaughter."
Mas natakot pa ako sa sinabi ni Lola, may pumatak na luha ko kaya agad-agad akong tumalikod at umakyat para makapunta sa kuwarto ko. Pagpasok ko sa kuwarto ko agad na sunod-sunod na kumalawa ang mga luha ko na parang gripong ayaw ng tumigil.
Naalala ko ang unang gabi ko dito sa London, nag-usap kami ni Lola.
Nasa garden ako nun at pinagmamasdan ang fountain sa gitna ng garden ng tumabi si Lola sa akin.
"Janine be serious, I let your Kuya Charles and the Mefapo married. Just don't communicate with the Mefapo's and to your Kuya Charles. I don't want to ruined your future," Saad ni Lola at huminto para hawiin ang buhok ko. "I know your hurting my dear, but if you let your emotion in. You will hurt more."
Napatulala na ako sa muka ni Lola unti-unti siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Kilala mo ako apo, alam mo kung ano ang kaya kung gawin, nakaya ko ngang itakwil ang kuya mo. Paghiwalayin pa kaya sila? Yes I'm a monster, I can ruined there life if you didn't allow what I want, promise me that my dear Janine."
"I... I promise Grandma, j-just don't t-touch them..." I said between my broke voice.
"Good, so I won't kill a inocent people. Or wait are they still inocent?" Lola smirk that make me more nervous. "Janine my dear, forgetting them is the key."