Chapter 2: Everybody Say No

| Ciela’s POV |

Everybody was clapping their hands and cheering loudly at this very lovely time of my life. I gulped down the nervousness I'm feeling inside of me, as I stared one by one at the smiling faces around me. They were cheering for me, for you, for us as you knelt down holding that ring as you asked for my hand.

I look back at the people I love one by one, while holding these beautiful bouquet of roses, my Mom was crying while smiling at me dearly, my father is nodding his head, your parents are also in tears of joy as they hold their phones while taking a video of us as well as my sister, my breathing was heavy as I look at each one of them. My tears were in the brim of my eyes and I looked down at you.

Aaminin ko, hindi pa ako handang magpakasal dahil para sa akin nag uumpisa pa lang ako sa career ko. But looking at how happy my mom is, looking how happy everybody is..

"How can I say no?" tanging nasambit ko at kusang pumatak ang luha sa aking mata habang nakangiti sa iyo.

You gasped.

"Is that a yes?" you asked and I nod.

"Yes." I whispered and I could see the glistening tears in the corners of your eyes as you stood up and held my hand, you carefully slipped the ring into my fingers and my breath was hitched at the sight.

Your family and mine were clapping their hands as they congratulated us, your Mom took us a picture and she told me to show the ring on my hand and I smiled hesitantly at the camera.

"I love you so much, hon." you whispered in my ear as you kissed me lovingly on my lips.

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The next day was a shock to me when my friends visited me and talked about my engagement to you.

"Ikaw ba sigurado ka nang papakasal ka diyan sa boyfriend mo?" Lisa asked me through video call, still not convinced at the sudden news.

Hindi ako umimik.

"She said yes right so she's sure about it, c'mon people." Jenny shrugged her shoulders.

They knew me very well.

"Ipaliwanag mo na lang sa kanya na hindi niyo naman kailangan magmadali, you can be wed when you're ready." Lisa added at lalo lamang akong nafrustrate.

"I can't tell Jackson about this, this will break his heart and he'll get disappointed in me." paliwanag ko.

"And so what if he'll get disappointed? It's not as if you only live to please him and feed his ego?" She continued.

Tahimik lamang ang mga kaibigan ko because we all knew that Lisa is right. Everything she's saying is right.

I'm a coward for not speaking up for myself, and I seriously can't do anything about it. I'm afraid to disappoint my mom, everybody.

"Ciel, if you live for people's acceptance, you'll die from their rejections." she said seriously and it literally struck straight to my heart.

"Think about it Ciel, you might be making the worst decision of your life." she said and she disappeared in line.

Am I?

Was marrying Jackson the worst decision I might be regretting in the future?

Natulog akong dala dala ko sa isipan ko ang mga sinabi ni Lisa. And then the next day I got busy preparing kasi dito daw magla-lunch ang family ni Jackson. I only wore a dark blue jumpsuit and tied my hair in a low ponytail.

I was silent while waiting for them to arrive. My mom is busy preparing the food at the dining table. You can see in her that she's really happy about this. She's really happy about this engagement, and then I felt sad for myself again. Natigil lamang ako sa pag iisip ng marinig ko na ang doorbell sa labas.

I stood up and rubbed my palm to my thighs,

I was nervous but I remained calm. And I smiled when my father walks towards me and hugged me. I'm really glad that he's here to support me, masaya ako na isinasantabi muna nila ang personal nilang problema ni Mama para lang masuportahan ako bilang aking mga magulang.

"You really look stunning, darling. Smile." he said while patting my head.

I nod and try to smile when my fiancè comes into my view. I immediately walked to him and hugged him as well as his parents, and he kissed my cheek.

"You look really beautiful, but your chest is out, aren't you exposing so much skin?" he whispered, that's why I looked down at my outfit.

Well my cleavage was a bit exposed since the top base of my jumpsuit is in a heart-shaped buster. I cleared my throat and smiled hesitantly.

"Sorry hon, I'll just change later." I whispered slowly and he just smiled a bit and left me. He walked further inside of our house and gave my mom a kiss on her cheeks.

I glanced down again at my outfit and bit my lip after hearing the little disappointment from him but I managed to smile and join them in the dining area.

We all sat down and his mom started the conversation about our wedding plans.

"So darling Ciel, what do you prefer? Beach wedding? Garden? Church?" she asks.

I cleared my throat as I glanced at Jackson, who was sitting confidently beside me.

"Well Jackson wanted to have a beach wedding so we agreed by that choice po, Tita." I answered politely.

His mom nodded her head and smiled at me.

"Stop calling me Tita, Ciel. It's time for you to practice calling me Mom from now on." she added, which made me more nervous.

"Y-Yes M-Mom." I answered as I smiled hesitantly.

"We already need to prepare your basic requirements, like the birth certificate, baptismal, oh you have to get the Cenomar pala anak." my Mom points out and I feel so stressed about it.

"I already filed a request for the cenomar, Ma. I'm just waiting for it to be delivered." I told her and she sighed in relief.

"Well I'm already in talk with the famous wedding planner Rhaj, I personally chose him to plan my wedding and I trust him while I'm dealing my things back in New York." Jackson told us and everybody was agreeing with him.

"Did you already agree on the date? When is it?" his mom questioned again.

"In two years." I said.

"Next year." sabi mo naman.

Dahilan para magkatinginan tayong dalawa.

I smiled nervously when I saw how your brows furrowed upon hearing me.

"Hon, I already told you that my exam will take place next year, right? And I hope by that time you have already moved in with me in New York as my wife." you started seriously.

"Well I.. I already told you about my upcoming promotion right?" I tried my luck.

But you just snickered at it.

"You have a better future awaits for you in New York, I promise you." you told me and I can't do anything but just nod and agree.

You already came up with a decision and I can't do anything about it. Tutol man ako ay wala akong magagawa dahil lahat yan ay nakaplano na. Lahat yan ay naplano mo na para sa ating dalawa. Kahit gaano pa kaganda ang career na iiwanan ko dito ay wala akong magagawa dahil nakapag desisyon ka na.

I watched you stand up when my father asked you to join him for a drink together with your father.

I sighed. I watched everyone get busy again. My mother was in deep conversation with Jackson’s Mom. My fiancè is busy having a drink with my father and his father.

I was left alone as I cleaned the table.

"Ate, may naghahanap sayo sa labas, mailman daw." my sister told me.

Oh, I guess that was the Cenomar.

Nagmadali naman akong lumabas at nilapitan ang mailman.

"Ms. Ciela Luna Young?" he asks and I nod.

"Paki-pirmahan na lang po dito Mam." he told me and I signed it immediately.

Umalis na ito at binuksan ko rin agad ang laman ng envelop.

I was relieved that it was indeed my requested Cenomar pero nanlaki ang mata ko at halos matumba ako dahil sa nabasa ko. Kulang na lamang ay mabilaukan ako sa sarili kong laway sa labis kong paglunok, I even felt the large bead of sweats that's been forming onto my forehead.

What the hell is this?!!

"Ivan Kim and Ciel Luna Young.. married.. oh my fucking God! This can't be!" bulalas ko ng basahin kong muli ang nakasulat.

Napapikit ako at nagmadaling tumakbo papuntang kwarto ko buti na lamang at busy si Jackson pati na ang magulang nito. I was panting heavy when I locked the door of my room and read again the paper in my hand.

"February 18, 2016, three years ago?! Nasaan ako nito? My god, what the hell did I do?!" bulalas ko sa aking sarili at halos masabunutan ko na ang aking sarili sa kakaisip kung kailan nangyaring ikinasal ako sa pangalang Ivan Kim!

I was nervously walking back and forth as I shut my eyes trying to remember everything about it.

February 18, 2016

2016..

2016..

Lisa's wedding?!

"Forget everything and live your life just for tonight!"

"How about if you believe in love and marriage just this night?"

"How about if we pretend to marry you both?"

"Ikasal na yan! Ikasal na yan!"

"I'm fucking married!"

"you may now kiss the bride!"

I sat on my bed and massaged my temples as I remembered everything! The marriage, Lisa's wedding, the bar, the drinks, the Mayor, Attorney.

Oh my fucking God!!!

What the hell, Ciela Luna anong kagagahan itong ginawa mo!

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