Catalina's Pov
"Why do I have to go with you Mom? I just came back from the states can't I just stay home and rest? " I pleaded.
"No honey. You're going with us. It's a surprise party so of course you have to be there silly. C'mon now, suotin mo na yong damit na pina gawa kong special para sayo." I know for a fact that it's not my birthday so it can't be a birthday surprise.
"MOM! I'm not going. Go without me. I don't care if this party has something to do with me. I'm not going MOM!!" I protest!
"Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo pupunta ka. Now i'm giving you one hour to get ready. CHANGE NOW and meet me at the party!" Whoa siya pa ang may ganang mainis at magalit eh ako nga ang pinipilit niya pumunta sa isang party na ayaw kong daluhan.
I took my precious time. Alam kung isang oras lang binigay ni Mama sa akin pero wala akong paki-alam. They can start the party without me. I checked the time and two hours and a half had passed. My phone's been ringing nonstop. I never check who's been calling. Narinig kong may kumatok sa pinto.
"Senyorita Princess, ready na po ba kayo? Kanina pa po kayo hinihintay nila Senyora." Tanong ni Janice. Isa sa mga katulong ni mama sa mansion.
"Janice come in." She opened the door naman kaagad.
"Senyorita" napayuko lang ito.
"Tell me Janice, what is this party all about?" I know Janice wouldn't lie to me.
"Senyorita hindi ko po alam. Basta lang po sabi nang mama mo na ipasunod na po kayo sa event."
"Okay." I know something's up. I never had any voice in this family. Sunod sunoran lang ako palagi sa mga kagusto nila Mama at Papa.
Bumaba na ako sa living room at nakita kong nag hihintay na sa akin ang dalawa kong body guards at ang driver. Pag lapit ko sa kanila binuksan nila agad ang pintuan nang bahay at pumatungo na kami sa sasakyan. Habang nasa sasakyan kami hindi mawala sa akin ang kabahan. Oh well, I will just have to wait until I get there.
I can tell this party is very elegant. Judging by the location and the decorations it surprisingly looked like my dream engagement party. As I was about to walk inside surrounded by white and gold ribbons and balloons, someone pulled me aside.
"Where the hell have you been? Didn't I say get ready in one hour. Sinasagad mo talaga ang pasensya ko Catalina-Ann Marie!" Bulong ni Mama sa akin. hinablot niya ang braso ko.
"Why? Can't you start the party without me? I don't understand why you're acting like this Mom!" I glazed at her.
"Tonight is your engagement party. You're getting engage to Andreas James Torres. So be in your best behavior or hindi mo magugustohan ang gagawin ko sayo." banta ni Mama sa akin. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa mga naririnig ko sa kanya. I can't believe this.
"WHAT???! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? IF YOU'RE SICK SERIOUSLY YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR. SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH YOU!!!" I backed up from her but she signaled to my body guards to stop me.
"You have no choice. Your Father and I have already made the decision. You will do this or I will take everything away from you." I'm really sick and tired of Mama's pag babanta.
"Really? You'll take everything away from me? DO IT! I DARE YOU MOM!!!" sagot ko sa kanya.
"AND... " Napatigil siya. Tinaas niya ang kilay niya "I will destroy all your friends family business" She's challenging me. She god damn know that I Will cave in. She's such a devil of a mother!
"What's new Mom? Diba ganyan din ginawa niyo kay Kuya Andrew. Sana hindi ka karmahin sa mga pinag gagagawa mo. I regret having you as my MOM!" She slapped me. But then what's new? She never loved me. I real mother wouldn't force a daughter to marry someone she doesn't know.
"Compose yourself. Your Fiancee's waiting for you inside. Remember what I told you. Make a mistake tonight Catalina and you will regret everything!" I formed my hands into a fist. I hate this woman. I really hate HER!!
"Stop crying Catalina. I'm doing this for you para naman ito sa kinabukasan mo. I want you to settle down with someone who came from a very good family. Someone who has a good background. This is not all about money Anak. " I can see that she's very sincere but I still don't understand why she has to do this to me.
"Mom.. I don't really want to get married." I protested. I tried at least.
"STOP IT! You'll thank me later. I know the Torres very well, they will love you. Akala mo ba nag iibigan kami nang Papa mo noong una? Arranged marriage din kami. Pero look at us we're very happy. Very happy! Not once did your Dad or I cheat on each other. It's time for you to settle down honey." Everyone looked at me or no more like staring at me habang papasok kami ni Mama sa venue. I hold on to Mama's hand very tightly.
"Relax... They love you sweetie" bulong ni mama habang naka smile. I can see that most of the people here are in the business world. There's also some Media. I see my brother with his now wife and her family. And at the center table I can see a man standing. He doesn't look happy he seems irritated!
"Anak this is Andreas James, Andreas this is my daughter Princess Catalina-Ann Marie" I looked at him. Parang ayaw niya sa mga nangyayari sapaligid namin. I know the feeling pero bakit parang sa akin siya galit?
"Very Pleased to finally meet you Princess Catalina-Ann Marie" he reach out his hand but I just stared at it.
"Catalina" My mom cleared her throat.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Very pleased to meet you also Andreas James" I grab his hand and to my surprised he ushered me towards our chairs.
"Well then let's start the party" I heard my mom exclaimed!
Through out the night Andreas stayed quiet. I can feel the tension between us but even if I wanted to stop this mess there's really nothing I can do.
"Hindi ka magiging masaya sa piling ko." Sabi niya sa akin habang nakatitig sa phone niya.
"Excuse me?" I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or someone else.
"This whole arranged marriage is a big mistake" Andreas replied.
"Tell me about it." He's just glaring at me.
"What?? If you hate this so much then do something about it. STOP THIS NONSENSE! I DON'T WANT TO MARRY YOU EITHER!!!!!" Tumayo ako pero pinigilan niya ako.
"Sit down!" Utos niya.
"Don't tell me what to do!" I barked at him.
"I said SIT DOWN!" Paalis na sana ako sa kinauupuan ko nang bigla niya akong hatakin at hinalikan! He tried to appease me with a kiss, but i tried to push him away from me pero sobrang lakas niya. Finally he broke off the kiss.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU're ---!!!!" Sasampalin ko na sana siya nang bigla siyang mag salita.
"Excuse us. We have something to talk about at my penthouse!" He smirk and dragged me behind him.
"Sadyang gago kaba oh talagang may sira na yang utak mo!!" Sigaw ko sa kanya when we reached the second floor of the hotel. He let go of my hand, once the elevator door opened he left me there.
"FUCKING ASSHOLE! WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" Binato ko nga siya nang sapatos ko. Akala niya siguro hindi ko siya papatulan.
"Did you just seriously hit me with your shoe?" OMG! His eyes are filled with range. Lumapit siya sa akin at pinisil ang pisngi ko.
"Don't you dare do that to me EVER AGAIN!" saad niya. I shove his hand away from my face.
"Asshole, who do you think you are ordering me to do whatever the fuck you want? If you disagree to this bullshit then do something about it. Stop treating me like a little child because I'm really fed up with people who try to run my life as if i'm not capable of doing so myself!! Besides, don't forget the fact that I'm also forced to deal with the same bullshit you're in!!! I advise you to think fast and come up with a good solution to stop this. Because I'd rather kill myself than marry someone like YOUU! I screamed at him and I sulked away.
And this is how our story begins...