Sabay na daw kaming pupunta sa hotel- yun ang sabi sa'kin ni Zayden bago ako binilinan na sumunod sa sasakyan niya pagkatapos kong kumain.
Nagpaalam muna ako kay Cheska bago ko kinuha ang bag ko sa opisina ko at sumunod sa sasakyan. Naabutan ko siyang tulala sa driver's seat, mukhang malalim ang iniisip.
I sat in the backseat, waiting for him to notice that I was inside. When he saw me through the rearview mirror, his face crumpled before he moved to look back at me.
"What am I, your driver? Dito ka sa harap." masungit na sabi niya. Napanguso ako at kaagad na sinunod ang sinabi niya dahil baka sumabog na naman ang dragon. I sat on the passenger seat and waited for him to drive. He glanced at me and raised one of his brows. Nagtataka ko naman siyang tinignan pabalik.
He suddenly leaned forward towards me, dahilan kung bakit mas lalo akong nagtaka. He kept leaning until our faces were so close, our noses almost touched and I can feel his breath on my face.
He smelled good. His face was sinfully handsome, too. He looked handsome from afar, but this close, I can see his perfection. He was flawless. His eyes were intense but as we stared at each other right now, it was soft and affectionate. Like how it used to be back then.
I didn't seem to care if he noticed that I was shamefully staring at him. His gazes captivated me and it felt like I was trapped in his eyes.
He leaned closer even more, and I don't know what has gotten into me, but I closed my eyes, anticipating for a kiss me when our noses finally touched.
I waited, but it never came. Naramdaman ko ang paglayo niya sa'kin at nang magmulat ako ay abala siyang inaayos ang cuffs ng puting polo na suot niya.
"W-What..." I was still disoriented, I didn't know what to say.
"I fixed your seatbelt, you always forget to fasten it." he said and started the car habang tulala pa'rin ako sa kanya.
He glanced at me, his eyes were cold and his face was emotionless. "You thought I'll kiss you?" he chuckled humorlessly. Hindi ako nakaimik, I was still lost with what just happened.
Or what I thought would happen.
"Get back to your senses, Celestine. I would never kiss those lips of yours." aniya bago sinimulang magmaneho.
I've never been embarrassed my whole life. The whole ride, I was just silenty staring out the window.
Why the fuck did I assume? And really, I anticipated it? Disgusting! That's Zayden, your worst enemy, Celestine! The man who hates you! You hate him too, right? So why the heck did you close your eyes to wait for a kiss from him?!
Kung mag-isa ko lang ay kanina ko pa sinabunutan ang sarili ko, kaso ngayong kasama ko siya ay baka isipin niyang baliw ako kapag ginawa ko yun.
Naunang nakarating si Miss Megan sa hotel kaysa sa'min. Akala ko kanina ay hindi na namin siya kasamang kakausap sa event manager ng hotel, pero maaga daw natapos ang lunch meeting niya kaya nakasunod siya.
"I want a fairytale themed wedding. The whole events' hall will be covered with flowers, vines, and butterflies- if that's possible." I said when I was asked about the theme I wanted.
Miss Hana, the hotel's event manager, smiled at me. "We can have your reception at the hotel's garden, if you please. I think it would suit better with the theme you want."
"Really?!" I beamed excitedly. I clasped my hands and glanced at Zayden who was silent, nakasimangot as always.
"No." kontra niya. Here we go again. "It's hot outside, maiinitan ang mga bisita."
"Mahangin naman sa labas, 'di ba?" I asked them. Miss Hana nodded and smiled.
"Mas maganda sa loob, may aircon." aniya. "And no fairytale themes, sinabi ko na sa'yo, 'di ba? Hindi ka na bata at hindi ito birthday party ng bata. We're going for a modern wedding theme and that's final." he said seriously.
Natahimik kaming tatlo nila Miss Megan at Miss Hana. I suddenly felt embarrassed. I was so excited kanina tapos ganito ang sasabihin niya?! He could've said it nicely, hindi yung parang pinapahiya niya ako sa mga kausap namin!
"P-Pero yun ang gusto ko..." my voice shook. He just glanced at me, his eyes void of any emotion.
"A no is a no, Celestine."
"But this is my wedding!" hindi ko na mapigilang taasan ang boses ko.
"I don't care, I said no."
"Bakit ka ba nagmamarunong? Ito nga ang gusto ko eh!" I fought back, even stomping my feet like a kid. I couldn't help it! Nakakainis na siya!
"I. Said. No." He said firmly and shot me a glare. It didn't faze me, I simply just glared back at him.
"I hate you." I told him with a straight face.
He just shrugged. "I know."
"You-" I was stopped when Miss Megan cleared her throat. Sabay kaming napaiwas ng tingin ni Zayden sa isa't-isa at napatingin sa kanila ni Miss Hana na seryosong pinapanood kami.
"Sana po nag-usap muna kayong mag asawa bago kayo pumunta dito kasi hindi naman po yata maganda na sa harap pa namin kayo nagtatalo." She told us. Mas nahiya ako at sinamaan ng tingin si Zayden na tahimik lang sa upuan niya, nakataas ang kilay.
"Hindi kami-" bago ko pa matapos ang sinasabi ko ay nagsalita na si Zayden.
"We're not getting married, I'm not his groom. I'm just here to help with the planning." He said and stood up. "Do whatever she wants, I'm done with this." aniya at umalis na.
I sighed heavily and fidgeted with my fingers. "I'm sorry about that."
Tumango si Miss Megan at Miss Hana bago ako tinanong kung itutuloy ba namin ang meeting ngayon. I nodded and smiled shyly.
Kinalimutan ko ang suggestions ni Zayden at tinuloy ang gusto ko. I specifically requested a wedding that would look a lot like Princess Aurora's wedding in Maleficent 2. I loved that movie! And gosh, her wedding was my dream!
"Oh, and at night, can we have floating lanterns? Like from Tangled. That's my favorite movie and I wanted to add something from it."
They both nodded. Miss Megan took notes. "Maghahanap po ako kaagad ng supplier ng lanterns, ma'am." She winked at me. I giggled excitedly.
I completely forgot about my argument with Zayden earlier while talking about my plans for the wedding.
It took us about 3 hours, may mga nasingit din kasing kwentuhan habang nagpaplano. Hapon na nang makalabas ako ng hotel. I was planning on calling a cab dahil sigurado akong kanina pa nakauwi si Zayden, pero nagulat ako nang makita ang sasakyan niya sa parking. Did he wait for me?
Remembering what happened in his car earlier, I shook my head and walked away. Baka assuming lang na naman ako.
Pero hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay nasa harap ko na ang sasakyan niya. Bumaba ang bintana at bumungad ang mukha ni Zayden. "Get in." he said.
I shook my head and smiled a bit. "Mag co-commute nalang ako."
"I said get in." mas sumeryoso ang mukha niya. I sighed and nodded. Tahimik akong sumakay sa passenger seat at siniguradong naka-seatbelt ako.
"I thought you left." hindi ko napigilang sabihin. Hindi siya umimik at tahimik lang na nagmamaneho.
"I'm having a fairytale wedding, na-plano na namin, wala ka nang magagawa." I told him. He quickly glanced at me but looked away almost immediately.
Wala talaga siyang balak umimik kaya tumahimik nalang din ako. Sa sobrang tahimik ay hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako.
"Wake up." Naramdaman ko ang marahang pagtapik sa pisngi ko, kasunod ng pag ring ng isang telepono.
I yawned and opened my eyes, bumungad sa'kin si Zayden na nakatayo sa pintuan sa side kong nakabukas, hawak ang cellphone ko.
My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed it from him.
My Baby calling...
My throat dried up when I saw the caller ID. Bigla kong naibaba ang tawag at napatingin kay Zayden na masama na ang tingin sa'kin.
"My Baby, huh?" He said mockingly. "You're engaged to my brother. Are you having an affair with someone, Celestine?" seryosong tanong niya.
Mabilis akong umiling. "No!" I quickly answered.
"Then who was that?" He raised his brows and crossed his arms.
I gulped. "M-My... my mom!"
His jaw clenched. "Really, huh? Hindi ka na talaga nagbago." muttered.
My brows creased. "Pinagsasabi mo?"
"You're marrying my brother. I don't care if you're in a relationship now, but I'm telling you, Celestine. Break up with whoever that bastard is as soon as possible because infidelity is disgusting. Maybe I could still tolerate what you did to me before but don't you dare do it to my brother." He was mad, I could feel it in his tone.
Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay inunahan na niya ako. "Break up with that baby of yours before the wedding. Don't even think about cheating on my brother dahil ako ang makakalaban mo. Now get out of my car."