C4

Alice's POV

I don't know what to say. Eric is in front of me while he's offering me a handshake. I cannot f*cking believe what's happening in my life! How could it be...?

I badly want to punch him in the face right now. How is it possible that the guy I met at the bar is the brother of my future husband?! Oh, God!

But still, my facial expression remains the same. I give him a sweet smile before I move my hand and repay him with a handshake. "Hello, Eric. Nice to meet you," I softly said. Lumitaw ang nakakaasar na ngisi sa kanyang labi.

"You didn't tell me that your daughter is so adorable, Henry!" I heard Sir Arthur compliment me. My sweet smile slowly faded and was replaced by a serious look while still looking at Eric.

How dare you. Malakas ang kutob kong kilala mo na kung sino ako kaya mo 'ko in-approached and you even insisted na ihatid ako sa beach house para malaman ako kung saan ako magtatago!

"Ha! For sure Larry is so lucky that he will have her in his life sooner or later!" pagbibiro nito at pansin kong siniko pa nito ang gilid ng tiyan ni Daddy. What the h*ll?!

I just looked away and pretend I didn't hear anything. Natigil ang tingin ko sa isang lalaking nakasandal sa pader habang yamot na yamot ang mukha nito. Magulo rin ang mga buhok nito. Siya na ba talaga 'yon?

I bite my lower lips. He's f*cking h*lla fine! He's around 5'8? I'm not sure. Pero hanggang bibig niya lang ako. His downward-turned lips, has angled eyebrow, and his cold monolid eyes... I couldn't agree more.

But still, no. He's giving me a black aura of him. Hindi porket may hitsura siya ay papayag na ako sa offer na 'yan. Alam kong hindi kami magkakasundo 'no.

--

"Well, I've heard that Mrs. Sara declined your proposal?" Mr. Arthur asked. Tahimik lang akong kumakain habang sila naman ay nagkekwentuhan. Paminsan naman ay sumasagot ako kapag tinatanong nila ako.

"Yes. But it's fine, hindi ko iyon kawalan. I still have many investors in my company," he replied. Nasa dulo ng lamesa si daddy nakaupo habang nasa gilid niya naman si mama, habang katabi ko naman si mama. Nasa harapan naman namin ang mga Valerco.

"Alice," Mr. Arthur's wife called me. I looked at her and raise my eyebrows. "Yes po?"

"Do you mind if we're the ones who will be in charge of your wedding na lang? But don't get me wrong, hihingin ko pa rin naman ang opinyon niyo."

I didn't hesitate to reply, "It's alright. That would be appreciated po."

"N-no! Ano ka ba, Grace, let us help you with this. Hindi kita hahayaan, especially we're the one who offered you about this proposal," biglaang sabat ni mama.

Wait a minute. I suddenly thought something. Bakit kung makapagtanong siya tungkol doon ay parang alam niyang pumayag ako sa proposal na 'yon? Or baka hindi lang talaga nila alam na hindi ako payag at sila lang 'tong nag-aano sa kanila?

"Wait, do you guys know that I'm dis—"

"I agree. Let us help you," my father cut me off. My forehead twitched. Natatakot siya siguro na may sasabihin akong hindi maganda.

"I'm sorry. I'm just really excited! I just can’t believe our family’s heir is getting married," maligaya niyang sabi at nasundan pa iyon nang tawanan nila.

Tuluyan na 'kong nawala sa mood. Naiinis na naman ako sa kanila. Pero anong magagawa ko? Desisyon nila 'yan. Parang gusto ko tuloy pagsisihan ang hindi ko tuluyang pagtakas sa kanila!

"CR lang, Dad. Excuse me." I looked at Eric as he stood up and said that. His face is serious. It's like he was mocked or something. Mama immediately pointed the way to CR.

"Yes. And you know, malapit na rin akong palitan nito ni Larry kaya kailangan niya na talaga ng kstuwang sa buhay." My upper lip quirkep up. I smirked and rolled my eyes inwardly. Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko sa mga sinasabi nila. The first thing I noticed as I looked down was that my hands, which are holding the cutlery, are gradually shaking. My heart rate is also speeding up...

No, please. Stop. I clenched my fists together and stroked it to keep it from shivering any further. This is a very bad time to start a panic attack!

The changes that were occurring in my body were accompanied with a continuation of me taking deep breaths and eating more quickly.

"Yes, one thing. Magkakaroon na rin tayo ng grandson, Hon, na susunod na tagapagmana natin!"

It was almost 3 seconds before I realized what she said. I suddenly felt something stuck in my throat until I completely choked. Everything became deafeningly quiet, I could feel their glare on me.

I drink water and wipe my lips using tissue while I'm still coughing. Oh my gosh, the silence is too loud. But because of tita Grace! Why did she even said that thing! It's like it's necessary to make them a grandson when we—if—married already. Hinimas-himas ni mama ang likod ko habang si papa maman ay halatang nagpipigil. When I realized that they were all gazing at me, my pupils dilated, especially when I noticed that their son, his eyes was bore at me.

"I'm so sorry, please excuse me."

Nakatingin lang ako sa sarili ko sa salamin. Alam kong hindi tama ang mga pinagsasasabi nila pero hindi rin naman tama na mabilaukan ako sa harap nila. But grandson? No! I'd rather adopt ten cats than having a child.

I shook my head. Hinugasan ko na lang ang mga kamay ko para makabalik na. I gasped when I saw a transparent man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of me as I looked in the mirror twice more. Fuck! I can feel all of my energy flowing through my body, come alive!

Mariin akong pumikit. "He—"

"What do you want?" I cut him off without looking at him as I continue washing my hands.

"Oh, are you mad at me?"

"Hindi." Sinarado ko na ang gripo at kumuha ng tissue para punasan ang mga kamay ko.

"I doubted that," his voice is husky. I rolled my eyes. "Glad you doubted. Unlike me who didn't doubt a someone I thought I could trust with and let him drive me into where I supposedly live."

Rinig ko ang mga yapak nito palapit sa akin. Tumingin ako sa salamin at nakita ko ang nakakaasar nitong mukha. "Oh, about that..."

"Believe me, I don't have an idea about you— about your identity, okay? I didn't even know your name—"

"Sus, 'wag ako."

"Let me finish, eh? I just found out when my dad and I had a talk about you and I saw your face marked ‘missing’ on his table."

"And you also figured out that I-I will... you know."

"Yeah. I can't believe it too."

I sighed. "Uh-huh. Whatever." Nilagpasan ko na siya para bumalik sa hapagkainan ngunit tumigil ako at lumingon sa kanya.

"Wait, do you agree about this contract marriage?" I asked with a serious expression on my face.

He shrugged his shoulders. "That's my dad's decision. I have nothing to do with it."

"But do you agree?"

"Well, no," maikli niyang sagot. I nodded twice. Naglakad na muli ako papaalis. He has nothing to do with this contract merriage so I have no right to ask him or make a conversation about it.

--

Nandito ako ngayon sa garden sa gilid ng bahay namin. Nakaupo ako sa mahabang upuan ng yard namin. I'm so glad that everything went well earlier.

I leaned my head on the wall. Everything looks masterpiece here. Madilim ang buong area dito at ang tanging nagbibigay lang ng liwanag ay ang ilaw. Mahangin rin ang takbo ng hangin.

When I took a breath. Napansin kong may hulma ng katawan na naglalakad na natanaw ko sa di-kalayuan. Hindi ko matukoy kung sino ito. But because of boredom, pumulot ako ng maliit na bato sa baba.

My eyes wide open and my mouth formed an 'o' when the tiny rock was hit on his back. Oh, crap. Nilagay ko kaagad ang tingin ko sa harap at nagpanggap na walang ginawang kagagahan. That was rude! Haha!

Naramdaman kong lumingon siya sa likuran niya, nararamdaman ko rin ang mga titig nitong nakatuon sa akin. I stared at him. "What?" patay-malisya kong tanong.

Hindi pa rin aiya umiimik at patuloy pa ring nakatitig sa akin.

"What a b*tch," he said and turn around. I stand up and exhaled loudly.

He took a few steps paalis.

"You..." Hindi ako nagagalit 'pag sinasabihan ako ng mga ganoon dahil somehow, totoo naman. Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na sinabihan niya ako ng ganoon—na nagsasabi siya ng ganoon dahil mukha siyang inosente. At kung sabihan niya ako no'n ay parang kilala niya ako!

"Hey! Harapin mo ako!" I followed him.

Ako na mismo ang nagpaharap sa kanya sa akin. Hindi siya nagalit sa paghawak ko sa kanya bagkus ay tumingin lang siya sa akin.

"You're the guy who're gonna set my parents to marry, right?" I know may tendency na mag-yes siya dahil dalawa lang naman silang magkapatid. Pero dahil papansin ako, tinanong ko pa rin.

"You don't need to answer. I know it's a yes."

"But are you agree with this?" Like with this f*cking set up?" I asked again.

"As if I care about it," tanging sagot niya lamang. Ngayong mas malapit na ako sa kanya, pansin kong magkasingtangkad lang sila ni Eric at mas mapanga ito.

"'As if I care about it'? Ni wala ka man lang pake sa ganitong bagay? Pwes ako, meron. Bakit ko 'to sinasabi ngayon? Sinasabi ko 'to para sana naman makumbinsi mo ang father mo na huwag nang ituloy ito—"

"No way," pagtutol nnito.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko. "So gusto mo ngang matuloy ito?!"

"Aside from the fact that I don't care about what you're saying, I also don't care about you. I don't want to have a conversation with you."

My forehead furrowed. "As if namang may pake ako sa 'yo. Wedding is the only thing that matters to me right now. But we better have a conversation na to talk about it. Tayo ang naiipit dito."

"Can't you understand? I. Don't. Care," madiin niyang sambit. Halatang naiinis na ito sa akin dahil medyo nakakunot na ang noo nito.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad at nilampasan ako. My upper lips quirked up and glanced at him.

"You're f*cking unbelievable..." I could feel the tension between me and him. Somehow, I feel challenged.

--

Nakalipas na ang isang araw simula nang mangyari ang dinner. Ngunit hindi pa rin ako maka-get over sa argument na nangyari sa amin ni Larry. Yes, it's his name. I searched about their identity yesterday.

Nandito na rin ako sa kwarto ko simula kahapon, sorry sila nang sorry sa akin tungkol sa pagkulong nila sa akin. I rolled my eyes. Bahala sila.

Nandito ako ngayon sa vanity table ko. Simula kahapon ay nababagabag ako. I don't know why!

"Alice. Kapag nagpakasal ka sa kanya, you can still continue pursuing your passion, going out with your friends, studying, and more. Sa kontrata lang kayo kasal, pero hindi sa totoong definition ng kasal at pagmamahal."

"Unti-unti nang nagba-back out ang mga clients natin dahil sa pagbaba ng rate ng kumpanya! Ano na lang ang mukhang maihaharap natin kay Alice kapag tuluyan nang babagsak ang kumpanya?!"

"As if I care."

"Aside from the fact that I don't care about what you're saying, I also don't care about you. I don't want to have a conversation with you."

"Can't you understand? I. Don't. Care,"

These keep repeating on my head over and over. I keep balancing my time but this is making me frustrating!

Should I... should I accept it?

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa lamesa at tinakpam ang mukha ko. Argh!

I don't want mama and dad to suffer because of my selfishness. Alam kong mali ang ginagawa nila sa akin lately pero alam kong mabait sila, naiintindihan kong ginagawa lang nila ito para sa kinabukasan namin lalo na nang marinig ko ang usapan nila.

Habang buhay akong mumultihin ng konsensya ko kapag talagang tuluyan kaming naghirap dahil sa akin. And if I marry him, alam kong bibigyan pa rin ako nila nang karapatan gawin ang mga bagay na gusto ko. Like what Daddy said.

And about him. I admit that I like challenging things, I like challenging myself to some things that I know it will make me intense. Parang noong nakaraan, sa away namin. And it makes me interesting.

I want to settle all the things. I want to clear the proposal. So that, maybe, I'm able to accept it? Bakit hindi ko subukan 'di ba? Kung msy mawala man kapag nag-take ako ng risk, mas maring mawawala at regret ang mangyayari kapa hindi ko sinubukan.

I'm just going to accept my path. But it doesn't mean I wanted it.