Chapter 7
Charlie
Past noon na nung magising ako at nag-inat-inat … (still yawning)… I had the most absurd dream! Weird actually. Haaaayyyy! (yawning) But it is so vivid.. parang totoo… pero yung nangyari sa panaghinip ko.. hindi makatotohanan… ABSURD nga e.. SOBRA... Biruin mo, nagpropose daw sa kin si Kuya Zack? Hahahahaha! Nakakatawa.. kahit kelan di mangyayari yon. How can he take interest in someone like me.
Napadilat ako ng konti.. Huh! Strange . This is not my room..
Where am I?...
I am fully awake now at kumakabog ang dibdib ko. I never woke up to unfamiliar place before dahil kila Tanya lang ako pinapayagang mag-overnight. Tumingin tingin ako sa paligid... Masyado pa akong disoriented.. at medyo masakit sakit pa ang ulo ko… Nice room but definitely not mine.. Saan ba ako napadpad… hindi naman kila Tanya ito, kahit yung ibang mga resthouse nila, hindi ganito ang itsura? Hindi mahilig sa native inspired ang pamilya nya?
Ano bang nangyari sa kin.. hindi naman ako umiinom ng alchoholic drinks to make me as disoriented as I am right now. Nag ka short term amnesia ba ako? Memory gap? Ang bata ko pa para magka ganon! HELLLOOO!!!!
Kumulo ang tyan ko…. Arrrggghhh! Umaandar na naman ang kahihiyan ko!What time is it na ba? Nagrereklamo na naman ang mga parasites ko!
Tinignan ko ang oras sa wristwatch and that’s the time na nahagip ng mata ko ang kumikinang na bagay na nakasuot sa daliri ko.
Mas lalong kumabog ang dibdib ko… Oh no… This can’t be! I thought it was just a nightmare!
Napatitig ako sa malaking diamond ring sa daliri ko.. Bigla akong parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig at nag-flashback lahat ng mga nangyari nung nakaraang araw!!!! The time that I went to my sister’s engagement party and ended up being engage myself!
And Kuya Zack even proposed!
OMG!!! Akala ko panaghinip lang!!! waaaaaa!!!!!! I’m really engaged???? Parang hindi ako makapaniwala!
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Hindi ko namalayang napasigaw pala ako ng malakas!!!!
BLAGAG@$#!!!! SHHOOOCKKKSS!!!!! Nahulog pa ko sa kama!
Aray naman!
Wala pang ilang segundo ay biglang bumukas ang pinto at nagmamadling pumasok si Kuya Zack..
“Charlene! What’s wrong!!!! Are you hurt?”
Are you hurt???. OA naman to,, nahulog lang ako sa kama.. pero medyo masakit yung balakang ko na tumama sa sahig.
“What?? n..nn.. No!.. of course not…Ahhmmm … Hinahanap ko lang sa ilalim na kama yung slippers ko“ at kuwaring tinaas taas ko pa yung bed sheet ng kama.. sobrang nakakahiya naman kapag nalaman nyang nahulog ako sa kama.. ano ko bata? “I can’t see it” ay grabe todo na to.. wa poise! I could just imagine what I look like right now.. I haven’t even comb my hair! Hindi pa ako nakapaghilamos, who know kung ano ano ang mga unwanted thingies na naka dislay sa mukha ko… better keep my head low, away from his view….
“Bakit ka sumigaw?...”
“Aaaaa.. eeeee………. May ipis kasi!!!! Andun tumakbo sa banyo! “
Nag-make face sya…
Ano bang klaseng mga excuse yun… walang logic… lumagabog tapos naghahanap ng slippers tapos may ipis? Wow ang ganda ng logic mo.. Bravo Chalie, nakatotohanan mga excuses mo. Parang hindi mo kilala yang kausap mo. Matinik sa negosyo yan, alam na siguro nito na nagsisinungaling ako.
I looked at his face and he is giving me this crazy smirk that tell me that he is defintily not buying what I have been saying… hay nako,, ano man ang iniisip nya,, wa na ako paki… Maniwala sya o hindi.. bahala sya…
No use in pretending… Tumayo ako at tinulak ko sya palabas ng pinto..
“Sige na,, sige na,, labas na… I don’t look decent right now and I’m not used to having a guy inside my room!“
“You know, you might as well get used to having me around.” Nginitian nya ako ng nakakloka! At namula naman ang mukha ko.
“Just get out ok! ”
“Alright,.. Lunch is already served,, I mean brunch pala… we need to talk about a few more details of our arrangement , bago kita ihatid sa bahay nyo.. kailangan malinaw ang plano natin…at kailangan magtugma mga sasabihn natin.”
“Ok, ok, I’ll be ready in a few minutes.. sige na, labas na “
Bago ko pa maisara ang pinto ay hinarang nya ang kamay nya dito..
“By the way… You look gorgeous… “ and he gave me his most beautiful smile that girls around will just melt and die!
Namula ako ng bonggang bongga kahit alam ko lang na binobola nya lang ako…
Instead na ngumiti ako ay sinimangutan ko sya… Grrrr… hindi ako makakatagal if he keeps on teasing me like that!
“BOLERO! Alis na nga! PASAWAY!”
Sinarado ko na ang pinto at narinig ko syang tatawa tawa. GRRRRRRR… pinaglalaruan ata ako non a!
Napabuntong hininga ako at unti-unting napaupo sa sahig… I leaned my head on the door.
What have I gotten myself into?
Hindi kaya nabibiglaanan lang ako….. para lang kasing panaghinip.. Never in my life would I imagined na mangyayari sa kin to.. Hindi kaya nadala lang ako sa ambiance ng enchanted garden kagabi? Pero he was so handsome and so sincere last night, He was like a prince in despair! That you just want to touch him and help him ease his agony.
Yuck! Ang drama ko! Kelan pa ko naging ganito ka-baduy! EEEWWWWW!
Kasi naman napaka-tempting ng offer nya, that I can’t help but agree with his plan… O nadala lang ako sa scheming tactics nya? Masyado syang magaling magsalita. And He knows how to use his charm to his advantage.
What he is proposing is a loveless marriage… Who in their right mind would ever want a loveless marriage??? I always wanted to be in love! Ayokong matulad sa magulang ko na halos hindi makatagal na magkasama sa isang lugar. Kung tignan nila ang isa’t isa ay kulang na lang ay isumpa nila ito. I don’t want that kind of marriage. I want to be with the man I love forever. Hindi pa nga lang dumadating sa buhay ko ay lalakeng mamahalin ko panghabang buhay.
Sabagay 3 years trial peroid lang naman. Bata pa rin ako pagkatapos ng pagkukunwaring ito.. Hindi naman siguro ako lugi sa usapang ito.. kung ganon na man ka-gwapo at kabait at ka-gentleman ng mapapangasawa mo.. Pwede na talaga! And I know that a lot of girls would want to be in my shoes right now.
Si Kuya Zack… haaaaayyyy…. Every woman’s dream guy..
Pero may mga loop holes sa planong ito e… nakakatakot ang mga consequences.. Paano kung ma-in-love ako sa kanya? With his mere looks, you can fall helplessly in love with him, wala pa don yung ibang mga qualities nya. In other words, hindi sya mahirap mahalin. Napaka irresistible nga e. On the other hand, I know that never in this world would he fall in love with a girl like me... I know that I’m not his type. Ang gusto nya yung maganda, sophisticated, matalino.. just like my ate… nakakalungkot mang isipin but never will I be measured up to her who really looks like a goddess.
Heartache!! Luhaan na lang ba ako all my life?? Pati ba sa love life and marriage ko?
Ayyy nako ang gulo mo Charlie!!!!! Babae ka talaga! Pabago-bago ang isip mo!!! Tinanggap mo na ang engagement ring panindigan mo na! Ang nega mo! Ano bang pinag-iiisip mo! What is 3 years? Ang bilis lang non!
Hay nako sige na nga! Basta kailangan malinaw at magkasundo kami sa arrangements a… makaligo na nga at nagugutom na ko!
Zack
She can really be silly at times. But I can’t deny that she really looks cute. Alam ko naman na hindi nya hinahanap yung slippers nya dahil all the while nasa tabi lang nya ito. It’s cute… really cute. I didn’t realize that I have a stupid smile plastered in my face. What can I say? She’s really a ray of sunshine. A breath of fresh air.
Naupo ako sa dining table at inantay ko syang lumabas..
I never really thought na mahirap syang i-convince akala ko hindi ko na sya mapapapayag… ginamit ko na ang killer charm ko, pero parang walang effect sa kanya.
Sya lang ang kauna-unahang babae na hindi tumalab ang charisma at pambobola ko. Nung naging sincere ako saka sya pumayag.. Kailangan lang palang maging honest ako,, iyon lang pala ang hinahanap nya..
Sometimes we tend to complicate things not knowing the simplest thing can do the trick. She’s really a puzzle to me.. Iba talaga sya sa mga babaeng kilala ko. Ibang-iba sya sa kapatid nya. But she’s a puzzle that I would like to solve and I know that I will enjoy myself in the process. She is one interesting young lady.
For now, kailangan naming pag-usapan ang arrangement namin,, I will consider all of her demands. She deserves that. And I would gladly give whatever she wants after all the things that she will give up for me. But still, we have to meet half way..
I don’t know what will be the outcome of this, I barely know her. But from my point of view, mukha naman hindi sya mahirap pakisamahan. Maybe it’ll be more like having a little sister at home.. tutal parang kuya naman ang turing nya sa kin…
Ever since she was a child, sweet na sya talaga,, mapagbigay,, at sya pa ang malaki ang pangunawa kesa sa ibang mas nakakatanda sa kanya. Naalala ko nga noong may family gathering kami,, may pastry na gustong gusto kami at binabalik balikan sa buffet table,, nung isa na lang ang natira, kahit nauna syang kumuha at gustong gusto pa nya, ibinigay na lang nya iyon kay Marielle.. I saw her heart that day, she can give up what she wants for the sake of others. Napaka selfless… and that’s one of the many things that I like about her. The only negative thing that I can see, is her age.
Kailangan maging careful ako na wag ko syang masaktan. Kahit ba sabihin na natin na sa totoo lang talaga ay ginagamit ko sya to get out of a tight situation. I am not proud of myself right now. I’m taking advantage of an innocent girl. Actually, I hate myself right now. Kaya as much as possible hindi ko dapat syang masaktan.. I’ll try my best to see to it na hindi naman sya sobrang dehado sa set-up namin.
Mahirap kayang masaktan. At hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ko pa rin ang burden na iyon. I’ve been in love once in my life and that is with Marielle. Wala akong ibang minahal kundi sya lang ever since childhood.
Sympre at first glance, sino ba naman ang hindi ma-i-in-love sa kanya. Maganda sya, outgoing, and she’s always the life of the party. Kapag dumadating sya sa isang lugar, na-ca-capture nya ang lahat ng attention ng tao sa lugar, both male and female. Kaya ang dami daming umaaligid na lalake sa kanya. The problem is, alam nya ang mga qualities nya,, at ginagamit nya ang mga qualities na ito to her advantage. She knows how to use people. Like what she did to me.
The thing is she knows that one day we will be married. She very well know that she’s already committed to me, it’s as if we’ve been engaged since birth. so kailangan diba dapat faithful sya sa kin, and she knows how much I love and adore her. During our teenage years, we’ve made it official. And I was then the happiest man alive, or so I’ve thought.
One time nagbakasyon sya mag-isa sa ibang bansa.. sort of a gift daw nya sa sarili nya… pahinga from her busy schedule.. I went out of my way to follow her despite of my very busy schedule just to surprise her and be with her. But when I got there, I was the one who was surprised. She was with someone else! They are lock in a passionate embrace, kissing each other!
Kung hindi lang ako nakapagipigil baka nakapatay na ako ng tao noong araw na yon! You don’t know how shattered I am that day. That was when I felt my heart broke into millions of pieces.
Ang masakit pa non,, nung ki-non-front ko sya, sya pa ang galit! She told me that it’s natural to be with someone else, tutal ako naman daw ang pakakasalan nya, why not play around for a while!
I didn’t get her. She’s the girl here and she is the one who wants to play around? She knows how much I love her and I thought that the feelings are mutual. I thought that she loves me too. But she is not capable of loving anyone else but herself. Gagawin nya ang kahit na anong gusto nya, kahit makasakit pa sya ng ibang tao. Basta masaya sya. Wala syang pakialam kung masaktan ka.
We patched things up for the sake of the family. Because they expected us to be together. But I never trusted her after that.
Hindi ko matanggap nung una, pero unti-unti ko syang nakilala, lagi ko syang inoobserbahan. I can’t believe i’ve been so blind. I saw the real her and it is not good. She is one selfish woman. Kahit ba napakaganda nya, kahit napakatalino nya, if you don’t have any character, you are nothing. Para lang syang empty shell, and I can’t bear spending my life with that kind of woman.
On the other hand, napakalayo nya sa kapatid nyang si Charlene.. the contradiction seems to go on and on. Nung bata pa sya, hindi sya maganda, ordinary skinny girl lang sya noon, now the ugly duckling has turned into a swan. It seems that she’s even more beautiful than her sister and she’s still not in full bloom yet... Para silang hindi magkapatid ni Marielle, it’s like night and day.. oil and water. Even their looks is not the same.. Pero they grew up in one roof... how come they became so different?
Lumabas na si Charlene sa kwarto looking so fresh with her hair still damp from the shower. This girl, kahit walang ka-effort effort maganda pa rin.. looking at her simple skirt and tops with no make-up… I kind of like her better without make up actually.
Umupo sya sa tapat ko… todo ngiti,, siguro sa dami ng mga nakahaing pagkain… She really likes food, judging from the way her eyes are twinkling right now. And that’s another difference between the two sisters, Marielle will never eat something that will hurt her figure.. Puro salad lang ang kinakain non. While Charlene.. mas gusto pang kainin yung mga fatty foods! Not to mention that she always attack the dessert bar! But looking at her, you may wonder where does all those calories go?
“Kuya, where did all this food come from? Ilang beses akong naghalungkat ng pagkain dito kagabi, walang kalaman laman ang kitchen mo.”
Natawa ako..
“Para ka naming pusang naghahanap kagabi ng pagkain.. wala nga talagang pagkain kagabi kasi kanina ko lang panabili yan kay manong..”
“Wow! Ang sarap naman magluto ni manong,, “ sabi nya pagkasubo ng isang beef roll… Ok.. so she really loves to eat.
“Manong? Si Manong magaling magluto? ”
Tumango na lang sya dahil puno ang bibig nya.
“FYI Charlene.. I cooked all of these. “
Nandilat ang mga mata nya.. naaliw naman ako… sabi ko na nga ba at ganyan ang magiging reaction nya..
“Weh!!!........ Ikaw???...... Weh!!!!”
I just smirked “You don’t believe me?”
“hmmmmm… Believe you??? hello… pano ka magluluto, e nasa kusina nyo yung pinaka magagaling na chef, para namang hindi ako makapaniwalang pumapasok ka sa kusina! And you’re a guy!”
“Why? Famous chefs are guys. Actually kaya nga i-nem-ploy ni mommy yung mga chef para maturuan akong magluto….”
“Owwwwssss…. Talaga lang a. Pati ba naman yan binibilog mo pa rin ang ulo ko?“
Tatawa tawa ako… may pagka comic kasi ang mukha nya… I guess she’s not afraid to look ridiculous sometimes. Or maybe she’s getting comfortable with me?
“You don’t know my mom… kailangan marunong ako sa lahat,, hindi lang sa academics, and business.. kailangan marunong din ako ng gawaing bahay…”
Bigla syang tumawa…nakakaloko to a…
“JOKE NA TALAGA TO! IKAW???? “ Tawa sya ng tawa, nakakahawa naman tawa nito kaya kahit iniinsulto ako natatawa na rin ako …
“I can’t imagine!!!! Hahahahahaahahha!!!! Wala sa personality mo! Hahahahahaha!!!! Cough! Cough ! Cough! ” … Ayun nabulunan tuloy,, serves her right for making fun of me. hehehehe… ako naman ang lumakas ang tawa..
“ Ayan kasi… uminom ka na nga lang… “ uminom sya ng tubig at at unti-unting nagsubside yung ubo nya…
“You may think that it’s weird but it’s the truth. Hindi naman sadista si mommy, nung una naiinis din talaga ako, kasi nga naman, napakadaming katulong sa bahay, pero ayun, pinagwawalis , pinaghuhugas, kahit laba at mamalansta pinagagawa kaya sa kin.”
“True??? “ nanalalaki na naman mga mata nya… hindi makapaniwala… matatawa na naman sya,, pero pinigilan na nya,, takot na ata uling mabulunan..
“Yup,, pero ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako sa mommy ko kasi kahit saan mo ako patirahin, Mag-s-survive ako.. Kahit walang katulong I can take care of myself..How about you? Makakatagal ka ba ng walang katulong?”
Napaisip sya…
“Oo nga noh… hmmmm… hindi nga ako sanay sa gawain bahay pero hindi naman ako ignorante kapag inilabas mo ako ng bahay. You can drop me anywhere at makakauwi ako. Marunong naman akong mag-commute kahit mag-isa pa.. e ikaw???”
Instead na ma-impress, napakunot ang noo ko.
“Commute?? Bakit? Pinalalabas kang mag-isa ng bahay??? That’s dangerous!”
Natigilan… Namula.. parang may nasabing hindi dapat…. AHA! Tumatakas to!
“Ay hindi pala… no no no.. hindi pala ako marunong mag-commute.. Joke lang yun. Ikaw naman ang dali mo namang maniwala!“
Lagot ka sa kin ngayon…
“Siguro bulakbol ka no…”
“Hindi kaya!!!!!! .. ano ka ba.. kumain ka na nga… “ may tinatago talaga to,, umiiwas e … di bale na, malalaman ko rin yan pag kasal na kami,, baka naman may secret boyfriend ito,, medyo complicated kapag ganon..kagabi, nung nayakap ko sya pumiglas sya… hindi sumagi sa isip ko na baka may ka-relasyon na to! I have to know right now so there wont be any complications. I have to deal with it as early as possible. Baka sumablay ang plano.
“Hindi ko pala naitanong sa ‘yo,, baka naman may boyfriend ka na?”
“Huh?? Ako may boyfriend? wala ngang manligaw sa kin no… “
Mukha nagulat pa ng tinanong ko… possible na walang boyfriend. Maski papano ay lumuwag ang hininga ko. Pero nakakapagtaka, walang nanliligaw sa kanya? iyon ang impossible..
“Sa ganda mong yan wala?”
“Alam mo kuya, hindi mo naman kailangang bilugin ang ulo ko e, pumapayag na nga akong magpakasal sa yo,, wag mo na akong bolahin..”
“Bakit? Hindi ka ba naniniwalang maganda ka?” may inferiority complex ata ito a.
“Kumain ka na nga lang dyan..” sabi nya..
“Ok, ok, at least I know, so, that means, walang complication?”
“Wala naman… “
“Naman…. Hindi sigurado?”
“Wala! Period… satisfied?? “
“Ok, naninigurado lang ako.. “
“Ok since we’re into that discussion, might as well move on to our arrangement?”
“Shoot, I’m all ears. “ sabi nya while attacking the crepe, nilagyan pa ng chocolate syrup. Napailing na lang ako. Parang construction worker kung kumain to. I looked at her amused. She eats like cookie monster and yet she’s so slim like a super model.
I looked away, I’m getting distracted again. Kinuha ko ang isang folder na naglalaman ng draft ng magiging Kontrata namin.
“Ano to? “
“Basahin mo muna..Contract yan… kung meron kang gustong idagdag o ibawas,sabihin mo lang para maiayos natin.“
Kinuha nya yung folder at binuksan.. Tinignan ang nasa loob at tumingin sa akin ng nakataas ang kilay.
“Natulog ka ba?” tanong nya..
I chuckled.
“What kind of question is that?”
“Halos sisikat na ang araw nung pumasok tayo ng bahay kanina,, tapos sabi mo na ikaw ang nagluto ng mga pagkaing ito, at hindi lang yon, nakagawa ka pa ng contract?”
“SO? The point is?”
Tumaas ang kilay nya..
“ O sige,, ikaw na!, ikaw na si superman!!!“
“Ikaw talaga. Hindi ako masyadong nakatulog kaya I made the most out of my time.. want some coffee?”
“Milk na lang please.. meron ba??”
I Chuckled .. bata pa nga… Milk?
Charlie
I read the contents of the contract.
Pre-Marital Arrangement…
1. Our marriage will be legitimate. After 3 years, we are going to evaluate the situation if we are going to terminate or continue the marriage. Depends upon the need of the family or the company.
Terminate?? Ano to employment???
2. No one must know of this agreement especially our families.
3. No third party, even if any of us falls in love with another person during the duration of the contract.
4. Dating will only be with your spouse.
Kahit ba girl date hindi pwede? I rolled my eyes.
5. We will live together in the same house but separate rooms.
Dapat!
6. The husband will provide for all of the wife’s needs even after the contract expires.
Hmmmm.. napangiti ako… gusto ko yan.. hehehehehe…. Pero hindi ba naman para akong parasite nito?? Sya naglagay nyan.. sige.. Go!
7. During this 3 years contract, we expect each other to be civil in all aspect and protect the credibility of our families.
8. Whatever happens after the 3 year contract, the Fuentes – Montemayor group will remain in tack. No separation of assets or whatsoever except for the personal ones.
9. Both parties will fulfill their obligated duties as husband and wife.
I can now see my love life going down the drain… napaka-loveless marriage naman talaga nitong contract na to! haaay buhay… I reminded myself. 3 years lang naman. I just hope that those 3 years will be worth it.
“Teka kuya…. “
“Ops!” He said holding his palm up in my face. “Isa sa dapat na tatanggalin mo ngayon ay ang pagtawag mo sa kin ng kuya,, meron ka ba namang nakitang mag-asawa na ate o kuya ang tawag? You have to practice calling me by my name.“
“Ok Ku… ahem… I mean Zack….”
Nyiikksss di ako sanay…
“Baka pwedeng may mapagsabihan kahit 1 lang.. diba si Andrew, partner in crime mo, imposibleng hindi nya alam ang mga bagay na to, Am I correct? Kailangan may counterpart din sya sa kin.. Can I tell my bestfriend? Promise talaga, she can keep a secret... Maingay lang yon pero mapagkakatiwalaan.”
Nag-isip sya… parang ayaw pang pumayag nito a. Madaya. He’s not fair kung hindi sya pumayag.
“Please? “ Puppy dog eyes.
Tinignan nya ko..
“If you really trust her that much.. then by all means,, but make sure na walang leakage..”
“Yes. Promise!” masayang sabi ko..
“After the wedding,, which is by the way, is scheduled next year on your 18th birthday…”
“What! Bakit may schedule na? Hindi mo man lang tinanong sa kin kung kelan ko gustong magpakasal? Hindi ba pwedeng after college na lang? At bakit mo naman itinaon sa birthday ko? Ang bilis mo namang ilagay sa calendaryo ang kasal na yan! Parang kaninang madaling araw lang tayo nagkasundo a! Wala pa sa isip ko yan e. magulo pa ang utak ko. Hindi pa nga masyadong nag-s-sink-in. Saka isa pa, nakatuon pa yung isip ko sa trip ko sa Paris. I’ve been planning that for ages!”
“Paris? Forget about Paris for the meantime. You’ll be the one to plan the wedding and you are going to be extremely busy.”
Napanganga na lang ako. Anong pinagsasasabi nito?! FORGET PARIS!!!
“Hindi mo ba alam na ever since bata pa ako, wala na akong ibang lugar na gusto kong mapuntahan kundi ang Paris. Ngayon na napapayag ko na ang Daddy ko, tapos papasok ka naman sa eksena at sasabihin mo sa kin na wag ko munang isipin ang PARIS? E kung wag ko na lang kaya isipin ang kasal na to!”
Napatahimik sya at tinignan nya ako ng seryoso.
Ilang minute din ang nakalipas bago sya nakapagsalita.
“I’m sorry Charlene, I’ve been insensitive. Let’s have a bargain. I’ll take you to Paris.. after the wedding.. “
Arrrrggggg! Not good enough!
“Ano ka ba Kuya!!!”
“Zack..”
“Whatever! C’mon, I’ve been waiting my whole life for this! That is another whole year of waiting?! ”
“Then, can’t you wait for another year to have your trip? I’ll be with you and I promise that it’ll be worthwhile.”
“Teka lang.. hindi pa tayo kasal a. Do you have to decide for me on this matter. I’m still under my father’s wings.”
“C’mon Charlene, be reasonable.”
“I am being reasonable, you’re the one who’s not! You came to me with that absurd proposal asking me to take my ate’s place for marrying you? Pumayag naman ako diba.. pero ito, hindi pa tayo kasal ay minamandohan mo na ang buhay ko? I have this all planned out and you’re ruining it!”
I crossed my arms on my chest. Napasimangot ako ng bonggang bongga! Sino ba naman ang hindi magagalit!
Hindi sya kumikibo. Maybe he’s thinking of something.
Ilang minute kaming hindi nagkikibuan.
Unti-unti namang nag-su-subside ang galit ko.
Now I feel guilty for having an outburst like that. I feel so childish on my outburst. Nahiya naman akong bigla sa inasal ko.
Tinignam ko siya. Is this our first LQ? Hehehehe.... Quarrel lang... We’re not lovers! Kapal ng mukha mo Charlie!
“Ummmm.... I’m sorry Kuya for exploding like that… “
Napabuntong hininga sya.
“I’m sorry too for being insensitive. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay maging maayos ang lahat.” NO wonder, napaka perfectionist kasi nitong taong to. “I will be away for the whole year. Marami akong dapat na asikasuhin bago ang kasal. I want them to be put into order before this charade. Because I want to be all yours when we got married. I want to accompany you to Paris. I want you also to be incharge of the wedding because I want it to be the perfect wedding for you, not just the idea of the coordinator. Not to mention that in a few months, you will be starting college. Another adjustment on your part. And speaking of that, nakapamili ka na ba ng university na papasukan mo?“
Napabuntong hininga ako. Iyon pa ang isa sa mga dilemma ko.. COLLEGE!
“Hindi pa nga e. My Dad wants me to take this course that I don’t like. Masyadong boring para sa kin ang business administration. I want to take fine arts together with Tanya. But he insist that I need to take that course for me to be a part of managing our business.“
“I think I can help you with that.” He said smiling.
“Really? Paano?”
“I can talk to your dad and convince him to let you take the course that you want, and at the same time, I can arrange for some special lessons to be included in your curriculum that will teach you the essentials of managing a business. “
“you can do that?”
“Of course. I am going to be your husband and I know that I have a say on this matter… “
Hmmmm… “So….. “ I looked at him suspiciously… may catch e…
“So?”
“So what do you want? What’s in it for you for doing this?”
“For a short span of time, you’ve known me too well. ”
Tumaas ang kilay ko… hindi naman sya mahirap basahin. He is, after all , a businessman.
“Just go thru with the marriage and postpone your trip for next year. We’ll go to Paris together. And in return, you’ll get the course that you want and on the university that you prefer.”
Hmmmm… magandang proposal na rin yon. What is one year of waiting? At kung marami naman akong ginagawa, hindi ko na rin siguro mamamalayan ang oras. Before I know it, tapos na ang isang taon.
“Sounds a good bargain to me… “
He smiled mischievously.
“So, Kuya Zack.. Do you always get what you want?”
He shrugged.
“Almost. “
“OK.. ku… I mean Zack.. It’s a deal..” Inoffer ko ang right hand ko sa kanya and we shook hands..
“By the way. My close friends all me Charlie?”
Napangiti sya... cute talaga ng dimples nya...
“Ok Charlie, It’s a deal.. “