Chapter 1

"You may kiss the bride." The priest said with happiness.

My heart pounded harshly as the tears suddenly fell upon my cheeks. He flipped the veil to the back as he stared at me harshly. I swallowed a lump in my throat, trying not to cry loudly. Kahit anong pigil ko sa mga luha ko ay patuloy pa rin ang pag agos. Hinawi n'ya ang tangkas ng buhok sa likod ng tainga ko.

"Why did you agree to this when you're just crying pathetic in front of everybody?" He harshly asked. Siniil n'ya ako ng mapusok na halik, hindi n'ya hinintay ang tugon ko. Naestatwa ako at nanginginig ang mga kamay na marahan s'yang tinulak. And I'm glad he stopped.

Anger inside me built up when he said that. I didn't have a choice but to marry him. And now that our marriage is already sealed, I felt like I'm being trapped inside the cage. Walang kalayaan, palaging nasa loob, nakakulong. If I could choose, I would never get myself into this loveless marriage. It was never my choice to get married.

"Congrats, pare!" The man said that looked like in his thirties.

Nakatayo ako sa tabi ng lalaking pinakasalan ko kanina. He plastered again with his fake smile as he gaze his friend in the stage. Pero sa paglingon n'ya sa direksyon ko,  biglang nawala ang ngiti at napalitan na nang madilim na ekspresyon. I awkwardly looked away. I smiled when the camera flashed in front of me.

Pagkatapos namin sa simbahan, dumiretso kami sa magarang hotel na pagmamay-ari ng mga Montebella. I wore a champaign dress. Off shoulder with a heart-shaped collar and there's a slit in this long dress. It complemented my fair skin and my figure.  Maraming mga pamilyar na mayayamann at importante na dumalo sa reception.

They even greeted us. Lahat ng nandoon... isa-isa silang bumabati sa amin. Na sana maging masaya kami sa kasal namin. The bitterness filled my system. I smiled bitterly. I will never be happy in this marriage. This man... has the kind of air of trouble and danger.

It's like you don't get to mess with him 'cause no matter how brave you are, you will never be able to conquer him. It was again, a high-profiled supermodel, who's holding the mic. Hindi mawala sa isipan ko kung paano tumawa ang lalaking nasa tabi  ko nang bumitaw ng  isang biro ang magandang babae. He even winked at the girl in front. I pretended that I did not see that. Despite of the confused mind, I smiled as if nothing happened.

Pagkatapos ng mga greetings, the waiters served the guest with the main course. Tulala ako habang nakatingin sa champagne glass na nasa harap. We were both quiet. Napabaling ako sa babaeng dumaan sa harap ng katabi ko. It was the high-profiled supermodel. Napansin ko rin ang tinginan nilang dalawa. It was kind of magical. Like they have known each other for so many years.

He suddenly stood up.

"Whe-"

"That's not your business. Just do your duty as a wife. You have no say in this. WE'RE. JUST. MARRIED. FOR. BUSINESS."

I stopped. Huminga ako ng malalim. Tama nga... we're just married for business.  Darya, it's not your business. Tears suddenly fell upon my cheeks. Dahan-dahan kong pinalis para hindi makita ng mga tao.  I don't know why I'm crying. Ngayon ko lang s'ya nakilala. I didn't expect this kind of treatment. Parang naapakan ang pagkatao ko. It's already in the middle of the night. Pero naghihintay pa rin ako ng susundo sa'kin.

Umalis na ang mga guest at wala na ring tao sa venue. Umaambon na rin. What a miserable day huh? 

"Ma'am, umuulan na po. Wala pa ba ang sundo mo?"

Tumango ako. Kinuyom ko ang kamay ko. Nagagalit ako sa sarili ko. Pumasok ako sa loob napakagarbong hotel.

"Hi ma'am, can I use your telephone?" I asked the receptionist.

"Yes ma'am. Just please wait a few minutes ma'am." She said as she went through the shelves to put some folders. I waited  patiently while watching at her.

"Hoy MISS! Ayusin mo 'yong trabaho mo. Look at the folders! Ang kalat-kalat!" 

I was a bit shook at the woman who aggressively shouted at the poor receptionist. Base sa uniporme ng babaeng  bumulyaw sa babaeng receptionist, halatang mataas ang posisyon dito. Mariin ang titig ko sa kan'ya. 

"Miss, you don't have to say it to her rudely." 

Umirap s'ya sa'kin at nagpatuloy sa pagsabi ng mga masasakit na salita sa receptionist. The receptionist look at me apologetically. She then handed me the telephone.  Tinawagan ko ang secretary ko para magpadala ng kotse. 

"Bring my cards and my phone too." Pahabol ko.

Binaba ko ang telepono. Pumikit ako ng mariin. Patuloy pa rin ang manager sa pagbitaw ng masasamang salita. Kahit na ang receptionist ay nagkukumahog ng ayusin ang mga folders na sa tingin ko'y maayos naman ang pagkakalagay ay  patuloy pa rin sa pagbitiw ng masasamang salita ang manager.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Can you stop saying such hurtful words to her?! Didn't you see? She's fixing everything, why are you so mad? Instead of pressuring her, why don't you just help her?"

Napatigil ang manager. She held her chin up without hesitation. While I  remain emotionless. Kahit na marami na ang malas na dumating sa araw na ito, I feel like I could do something just to help the helpless receptionist.

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me." 

"Sino ka para pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan?! Nangingi-alam ka!"

"I'm one of the board director's here."

She look shocked for a while but her same expression  stayed in her face. She crossed her arms and mockingly raised her brow. I remained emotionless.

"Hindi ako naniniwala."

I sighed. Okay.

"What's your name?" 

Hindi s'ya sumagot. I then held the telephone and dialed my secretary's number. Napalingon ako sa receptionist. Nakatayo at nakayuko lang ang ulo. Naghihintay sa kung anong bagay.

"Yes ma'am?" 

I looked at her name tag.

"Can you search this name? Kyla A. Saunders?"

"Okay ma'am..." Narinig kong may pinindot s'ya sa keyboard para tingnan. The manager laughed at me mockingly. She even tried to take the telephone away pero umilag ako at lumayo sa kan'ya.

"Ma'am, she's working under MHI. One of your new husband's chains of companies, ma'am."

"Call the management of MHI, tell them to fire her."

Natahimik sandali ang linya. 

"Ano? Sinungaling kang babae ka!"

I rolled my eyes at her, binalewala ang mga sinabi n'ya.

"It's already done, ma'am. And also, the driver is already on it's way. I say, 10 minutes it's already in the front of the hotel, ma'am."

"Thank you and I'm sorry I interfered your sleep. Hindi na mauulit 'to." I said with finality.

"This is the last time you're gonna step foot in this hotel. Rest assured that no one's gonna hire you with that kind of attitude you've shown towards the employee's here."

"Bitch!"

"No, YOU'RE THE BITCH. You're just a manager but you act like you own this hotel!" I said.

Dire diretso ang lakad ko patungong exit. Tama ang secretary ko. The car is already here.  Sumakay ako. The driver even greeted me. Ngumiti ako sa kan'ya at binaling ang atensyon sa bintana. I'm tired.  

Binasag ng katahimikan ang nag- ri ring na cellphone sa bag ko. Kinuha ko iyon. It's my mother's number.

"Nasa'n ka?!" Pagalit n'yang tanong.

"Nasa kotse..."

"Bakit hindi ka pa naka-uwi? I called Cevier's mansion and asked if you're already home pero ang sabi nila hindi pa! What the heck are you up to?!"

Hindi ako nagsalita. She kept ranting  about me not going home. I was already feeling blues but her rants made it worst. Bumuga ako nang marahas na hangin. Mas lalong uminit ang ulo  ko sa mga sinasabi n'ya.

"Uuwi ako sa kan'ya, Ma. I'm already on the way. Don't worry, I'm not your rebellious daughter."  That made her shut up.

She then hung up. Hinaplos ko ang mukha ko. I  don't know what to do. Parang wala akong magagawa, walang desisyon sa buhay at ni hindi ko magawang lumaban para sa gusto ko. 

Naka idlip pala ako. Ginising ako ng driver nang nasa tapat  na kami  ng mga mansyon ng mga Montebella.

Napakalaking mansyon ang bumungad sa'kin. Medieval-style mansion. Ang liwanag nito at  ang daming mga bintana. Halatang bagong renovate lang ang mansyon na 'to. Nakatunghay ako sa malaking pintuan, nagdadalawang isip kung papasok ba o hindi. 

"Ma'am nandito na pala kayo!" The uniformed maid said in relief.

"Sa'n po ba ang kwarto, Manang? Pasyensya na po kayo, medyo natagalan ako."

"O, siya, sige. Magpahinga kana. Ang kwarto n'yo, nasa ikalawang palapag tapos sa pinakadulo." Saad n'ya.

Sinunod ko ang bilin n'ya. Pumasok ako sa pinakadulong kwarto at saka naghubad ng damit. I immediately got into bed to relax and rest. It's such a long day. I need to rest. Sa tingin ko, hindi ako nakapag sipilyo man lang o kaya magtanggal ng make up. I'm a mess.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Cevier's deep monotone voice spoke.

My eyes widened.

Shit!