Chapter 6.1

NAYIEN

IT'S BEEN a week since the fight and still, I couldn't accept the truth that I lose. For the first time, I lose for a challenger. I ask my father about the result cause I have a  doubt that he is really cheating our fight and  as I was checking the results I found out that his moves are the moves with high score. I was too reckless to realize that my moves are too different from my usual moves. My techniques and the practiced that I did was become useless. I was too pre-occupied to win over him.  Okay, it's my fault. My damn fault! Reckless Nayien! Stupid! And because of my stupidity, I need to face the consequences of it, and that is to marry him. Even though I swear to God that I will never marry him, I still need to do it cause I am a woman with word. I need to do it though it's against of my personal will.

"Nayien, why are you still in your bed? It's already five in the afternoon and the party will start in seven in the evening. You should get up now!" sigaw ni Mommy na bigla lang sumulpot rito sa condo ko. Yeah, I'm living here for a week already since that day.

Nagtalukbong ako ng kumot at umingos. "Mamaya na Mommy." 

Today is the engagement party. I don't know why they are holding a party when it is already set that I will marry him. Ha! Good luck for the marriage thing, Nayien. Nanlumo ako habang iniisip na ikakasal ako sa kanya? Bakit ba kasi ako? I don't see myself getting married and having a family. I mean I'm contented with what I have now. My father said, living in this world isn't meaningful, if a person don't have a family who will take care of you. Well, I understand it naman kasi hindi naman habang panahon tayong malakas pero pwede namang mag-hire nalang ng tao to take care of you. I have money, anyways. 

Lumugo yung kama at bigla nalang akong binatukan ni Mommy. "Aray naman Mommy!" reklamo ko at bumangon.

"Aray? You are the most important person there! You're stupid bitch!" she said and then pushed me which made fall off my bed. At dahil hindi ako aware na gagawin niya iyon ay bumagsak talaga ako sa sahig na gumawa ng malakas na ingay.

"Get up now, Nayien. The make-up artists are already downstairs." sabi ni Mommy tapos lumabas na. I creased my forehead while looking at the door of my room. Parang may napapansin ako kay Mommy lately. Kinaka-usap niya na ako ng hindi pagalit tsaka parang lumiwanag ng konti yung galit niyang aura dati na para bang araw-araw siya may dalaw. Ay baka bati na sila ni Daddy kaya medyo masaya siya. 

Hay! Bumangon ako at linigpit yung pinaghigaan ko tapos naligo kasi gaya ng sabi ni Mommy na nandyan na daw yung mag-me-make up sa'kin. After ko maligo ay nag-check ako ng phone kasi baka may naligaw lang na text. Nong makita kong wala naman ay pinabayaan ko nalang. Actually hindi ako mahilig makipag-socialize ng mga tao lalo na yung mga mayayaman. If you are wondering if I have friends? Yes!  I do have friends but not enough to be called friend for a strong bond. I don't have it. My 'friend' are all pretentious. They have a lot of masks to wear of when meeting   people.  I preferred alone doing things. 

Bumaba na ako kasi baka beast mode na naman ulit si Mommy nito. Sayang yung time na hindi pa siya gaanong masungit. 

"Good evening, Ms. Nayien." bati ng mga stylist. Ngumiti naman ako sa kanila. 

"Evening na ba ngayon? Eh, alas singko palang ng hapon eh." sabi ko at umupo sa couch.

Tumawa sila at tumango. "Oo nga po pala noh. Sorry Ms. Nayien." 

I shake my head and gave their a wide smile. "Nah, it's fine I was just kidding. Ah, by the way, saan tayo mag-me-make up? Sa kwarto or dito nalang? Walang salamin rito na malaki." 

"Doon nalang po siguro sa kwarto niyo." sabi nong isang babae na singkit.

"Okay. Follow me." I said and lead them the way. 

Nong nasa loob na kami ay pina-upo nila ako sa harap ng salamin and they're starting to do their work. They start with my hair first then to my face. At dahil inaantok pa ako ay umidlip muna ako. Hindi ko alam kong umabot ba ng oras yung ginagawa nila kasi nagising nalang ako para pa-suotin ng gown. It was a navy blue long sleeve  off-shoulder with a touch of quarts gem on it's side.  It was so gorgeous. I was admiring the gown when I heard my Daddy's voice.

"Wow! Ang ganda naman ng anak ko!" sabi ni Daddy at lumapit sa'kin. "How are you, Nayien?" 

Ngumiti ako at niyakap si Daddy. "I'm fine Daddy. I need to face this." 

"Everything will be fine, soon." sabi niya at hinalikan ako sa ulo.

"Hopefully Dad. I just hope that I made a right decision." I said.

Hindi sumagot si Daddy at ngumiti lang siya. "By the way, mauuna na kami ni Mommy mo sa venue." sabi niya at tap my back.

"Okay Dad." sagot ko at tumingin ulit sa gown ko. I was so amazed with it's look. I've never been wear this kind of gown. I wonder who send this?

"Dad, who send this gown? It was beyond gorgeous!" 

"Your fiance'. " nakangiti sagot ni Daddy na nakapagpalaki ng mata ko. Really? Siya bumili nito? Ano kayang brand nito? Quarts gem are so expensive!

NAUNA NGA sila sina Daddy na pumunta sa venue. It was six o'clock when the driver arrived. Nakarating ako sa venue mga alas sais y media and I never thought that some reporter's are invited in this event. I don't like reporter's. Mga chismosa! Pinagbuksan ako ng driver at bumaba na ako na agad namang sinalubong ng mga reporters. They click their camera which made me covered my face. Damn these gossipers. I was covering my face when someone grab my hand and hugged me tightly.

"Enough, please! My fiancee don't like cameras!" sabi ng boses na pamilyar sakin. He's hugging me in a protective way as if someone will snatch me from him. 

He carefully covered me from those gossipers while walking the red carpet. Nang makarating kami sa loob ay tsaka niya lang ako binitawan at hinawakan sa kamay na agad kong tinanggal pero ang higpit ng pagkakahawak niya. I looked at our hands and it looks like my small hand was being  humiliated by his domineering large hand. 

A bunch of business mans walked closer to us and congratulate us. I just smiled fakery and said thank you's. I know they are not real so, why bother showing my real self. They are not the only one who knew how to fake theirselves.  After them another came and another and another. I was already pissed with their fake attentions, so I told this man beside me who is smiling all the time. 

"I want to sit, Samier." I said as I pulled lightly our hands. He turned his head to me and nod.

"Sure, sure, baby! Come." he said and lead me the way.

Nong maka- upo na kami ay luminga linga ako. Nasaan sila si Daddy? Kanina pa ako rito pero never ko pa silang nakita. The party will start in a minute and still I haven't found them.

"They are there, beside the fountain." sabi ni Sam at tumingin naman ako sa kanya. 

He smiled. "Yung parents mo nandoon sa may banda ng fountain." Napatingin ako doon at nakita ko si Mommy na may kausap.

"Better?" tanong niya kaya taka napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Huh?" 

"You look so bothered. So, I assumed that you are bothered where your parents are." sabi niya kaya tumango ako.

"Ah, I just don't like socializing." 

"Yeah. I noticed." he said while holding the champagne glass.

I never thought that we can talk casually. I mean,  I still couldn't accept that I lose our fight. I was so confident back then. 

I looked at him and I just noticed that he is really eye catching tonight. The navy blue tuxedo really suit him. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mahaba pala yung buhok niya mga hanggang balikat at tinalian niya ng top knot. He has a glimmering earrings which added to his dazzling looks. Napatingin ako sa mga babae na dumaan sa harap ng table namin. Naghagikhikan sila nong tumingin sila kay Sam.  Tumaas yung kilay ko sa kanila. 

Nagsimula na ang party at tinawag na kami nong emcee para pa akyatin sa stage. 

Naglahad ng kamay si Sam at tinanggap ko naman ito. Sabay kaming umakyat sa stage. Nakangiti si Sam habang ako ay tamang ngiti lang ng peke. The emcee congratulate us and we both said thanks to him. We are facing the crowd and I saw my parents on the corner wearing a smile. I smiled at them and I was startled when I saw Sam kneeling in front of me. Nanlaki yung mata ko. I heard the crowd gasp but I didn't mind them. 

Nakangiti si Sam habang nakaluhod siya. 

"Will you marry me?" he asked which made my heart pound loudly. I even hold my breath. I didn't expected this.

"Baby, nangangalay na ako." bulong niya kaya napakurap ako. Oo nga pala kanina pa pala siya nakakuhod. 

Tumango ako at nginitian siya. I may not want this but I don't want him to get embarrassed by those judgemental people. He smiled widely and then get up and put the ring with a diamond cut tourmaline and a small blue sapphire on it's side. I was so amazed with the ring and I was startled when he hugged me tightly and kiss my head. I lift up my gaze to him and he is smiling from ear to ear. Nakita ko pa siyang humawak sa chest niya at pasimpleng hinagod iyon. Ganun ba talaga siya ka nerbyos? 

I heard the crowd claps and we faced them. He even lift my left hand and showed it to the crowd. 

The party goes smoothly. I was sitting on my seat when my parents arrive. Umupo sila sa tapat ko.

"I thought, you we're going to reject him." sabi ni Daddy. Mommy was beside him and she's looking at  my ring with amazement in her eyes.

"Daddy I have my word. We have a deal." sagot ko at tiningnan si Sam na may kasamang isang Ginang at Ginoo na kamukha niya. Nanlaki yung mata ko. Is that his parents? O M G! 

Ngumiti si Daddy at si Mommy naman ay bumati sa'kin.

"Congratulations, Nayien." tipid niyang sabi at nginitian ako. Nginitian ko naman siya. Unang beses na ngumiti si Mommy sa'kin na hindi masungit.

"Thank you, Mommy." sagot ko. 

Napaigtad ako nong may naramdaman ako sa ulo ko. Tumaas yung tingin ko at nakita ko si Sam na nakangiti pati na rin yung dalawang kasama niya. Kung kanina ay sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko nong nakaluhod si Sam ay mas doble ngayon. 

Tumayo ako at alanganing ngumiti sa kanila. Si Sam naman ay humawak sa beywang ko. 

"Good evening Sir, Ma'am." hiyang sabi ko. Ngumisi yung Ginang at nagulat ako nong niyakap niya ako. 

"Ano ka ba ijha? Mommy nalang, magiging asawa ka na ng anak ko kaya Mommy nalang. By the way, I am Mrs. Belle Heize and my husband, Sid Hieze." sabi niya at tinuro ang Daddy ni Sam na nakangiti rin. 

"Hello, Sir—I mean...ah—Daddy." Napamura ako sa isipan ko. The fudge Nayien! Ngayon ka pa mapapahiya? Sa harap pa ng magulang ng magiging asawa mo.

Tumawa sila at mas lalo akong nanliit. Narinig ko rin sila si Daddy na tumawa. Oh Damn!

Nong nakita ko si Sam na pinipigilang wag matawa ay kinurot ko siya.

Talagang dinagdagan niya pa yung kahihiyan na naramdaman ko ngayon eh.