Chapter 5: Arranged Marriage

“Will continue the interview tomorrow morning, so I hope that the remaining applicants will ace it. Thank you for patiently waiting for us!” The assistant nurse announced and informed everyone that they can now have their leave. It was a long day and the heads who are responsible for handling the interview threw themselves to the couch and let their body feel the soft mattress.

“I can't believe we still have a long day to run through tomorrow,” Karter complained and took a magazine under the table, it seems that he wants to spend the remaining work hours reading some worthwhile contents while waiting for his clients in his office. Being a psychiatrist is a tough job, he deals with different clients everyday and he would praise himself for doing his work well. It also reminds him that he needs to do better everyday, all the diagnoses and treatments to prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders he deals with from time to time makes him even more hard to understand.

Kacie calls out the attention of the two people who lay on the couch while trying to chill, “How about we go and pack ourselves some meals? I kinda feel like I need to eat and regain my energy again, today’s a bit draining.”

“That’s actually a pretty good suggestion, I want coffee.”

“Don't make me buy it, you have your own money.”

The three agreed to go out for a while and have some meals together. As they head their way to the hall, they encounter Torrent Perez and they conclude that he is done with his business and he is on his way home. The man simply smiled and passed by their direction, Kacie raised her brow the moment she realized that it was the same guy earlier at the interview.

“What's wrong with you?” Karter asked when he noticed that his sister felt stunned.

Khloe shrugged and took out her phone from the pocket of her lab gown, “Probably love at first sight, it's pretty common these days, Karter.” They continued walking until they reached the exit, the three decided to use Karter’s car and Kacie was the one to drive.

The siblings could be a little fun to be with, however, they really dislike their other sister, Keilah.

Meanwhile, Keilah stayed in her unit the entire day and didn't even bother to go out to have some fresh air. She remained home and drenched herself with all the books she needs to study in order to get better in her field. She is aware that her family doesn't need her at all, she has to at least show them that she doesn't care at all. Keilah Olivarez can stand alone without anyone's help, She is born to stand out among her siblings, and she won’t let them step down on her.

It's almost evening and boredom hits her, she rolled on the mattress and wrapped herself with her blanket. Nag mukha siyang lumpia dahil sa itsura niya ngayon, sumasakit ang ulo niya dahil sa buong araw na pag babasa at pag tutok sa computer. “How about going to the park until seven?” she whispered to herself and jumped off her bed to take a shower.

Keilah brought her phone with her and played her favorite playlist, she made one for her shower session. Hindi niya alam kung saan rin siya mag di-dinner mamaya pero gusto niyang pumunta sa seaside at tumambay sa boulevard, ayaw niya muna mamoblema sa trabaho kung kaya ay mas mabuting irelax niya muna ang sarili niya at gawin ang mga posibleng gawin habang malaki ang oras ang binigay sa kanyang suspension. She doesn't like it when she's the one to chase, it would make her appear desperate if she’d go to her workplace in spite of what happened.

————

Rogue couldn't keep up with all the information he had been receiving from his buddy, he woke up feeling afloat and sleepy. He brushes off his hair with his fingers and faces his computer to check the gathered details he has been working on lately. It seems like he is freestyling in his sleeping pattern, he's becoming unhealthy over time. He stood up, checked his time and confirmed it by opening the window of his room. “Damn, it's already six in the evening? Why does it feel like it’s still five?” The sky painted with orange hues were the first thing that greeted his sight when he tucked the curtains, and it always amazes him.

“I should probably go out to chill, I’m about to go rotten in here.”

He fixed his stuff and checked his messages. His best buddy called earlier but of course he failed to answer the call, sleep is more important to him right now. “He is really fast when it comes to attending to my requests,” he whispered when he saw that Kouen already signed the papers of the new place he bought.

Rogue called his buddy, naisipan niyang mag pasalamat man lang. Alam niya kasing kulang rin sa tulog ang dakilang si Kouen dahil sa mga inaayos at tinatapos nitong documents para sa bagong identity na gagamitin niya. Mas stress pa si Kouen sa new task na dapat naka-assigned kay Rogue.

“What now? I'm playing,” supladong mukha ni Kouen ang bumungad sa kanya.

"Again? Pati ba naman dyan at puro laro inaatupag mo?" Sagot naman ni Rogue habang nag huhubad ng shirt para maligo.

"I already sent the stuff you need, ano ba 'yon?" Tila nag sisimula na namang mairita ang kaibigan mula sa kabilang linya.

"I want to thank you, moron."

A sudden silence envelops the atmosphere and Kouen couldn't have time to reply, he is a bit stunned by those simple words and he doesn't know why it's affecting his heart. "You rarely say that, huh? What has gotten into you? Bangag ka pa ba? Kakagising mo palang ah," suplado nitong sagot at tinutok ang camera sa bandang mukha niya.

"You don't want me to be grateful? I'll take it back then." Rogue being egoistic sarcastically exclaimed those words and the man from the other line didn't give a damn.

"I'm home!"

"What? Who's that?" Kouen quickly got up from his place and ran to the doorway and welcomed his woman. Meanwhile, Rogue didn't understand a single thing but he is quite sure he heard the voice of a lady.

He waited for minutes before seeing his best bud coming back with his bored look. "Who was that?" Sunod-sunod na napamura si Rogue dahil ayaw niyang magkamali sa hinala niya, "Dude, you've got to be kidding me. How could you betrayed me like this?" Madrama itong nag dabog at tinapon ang phone sa kama.

"You don't have to know!" Singhal naman ni Kouen sa kabilang linya.

"Oh snap, what did I just heard?!" Pag da-drama na naman ni Rogue habang inaasar ang kaibigan.

Nagsisimula nang mapikon si Kouen dahil sa inaasta niya, "Pwede ba wag ka muna mag english? Maiintindihan niya tayo," inis nitong singhal at natawa nalang ng malaks si Rogue.

"Isa kang hangal, akala ko ba kaibigan tayo?"

Kouen couldn't take it, he can't stand a dramatic person and he doesn't want to have one. Seeing Rogue acting as if he is in a drama movie makes him want to cut ties with him. "I'm hanging over," pag babanta nito dahilan para kaagad na tumigil si Rogue sa pang aasar.

"Joke lang, fvck ka ba?" Sumeryoso ito bigla at kinuha ang towel tsaka pumasok sa bathroom habang dala-dala ang phone. "Now, spill the damned tea."

Tumayo muli ang kaibigan at naglakad papunta sa banyo, kampante naman si Kouen na hindi siya maiintindihan nong babae kahit marinig pa sila nito pero kailangan pa rin niyang magtago. "Gusto ng papa mo na makipag collab ng ammunition business sa mga Lewis—"

"Huwag ka nga mag tagalog, nabubulol ka."

"Damnit!"

"Babi? Are you there? I'll prepare you breakfast, what would you like to take as your drink?" Narinig na naman ni Rogue ang malambing na boses mula sa kabilang linya at hindi niya maiwasang ngumisi.

He teasingly smirks at the screen and Kouen feels embarrassed. He momentarily hung up the call and answered his girl, "Nakakainis."

"Oh? Bat parang wala ka sa mood?"

"Shut up, ano na meron? Did you nail the interview?" Kouen averted their topic, he saw Rogue's facial expression shifted so he concluded that he successfully escaped from his friend's nonsense questions.

"I'll be taking my interview tomorrow morning, so wish me luck."

"Do you think you'd eventually do a great job? Kailangan ka magpakasal kay Keilah Olivarez diba? Your charms won't be enough." Rogue respond with a glare, he is aware that Kouen is just messing around but it eventually lessens his confidence. He is quite unsure if his plans will succeed, he has never been involved to any romantic relationship before and proposing is far different than flirting with any girls around.

"What now?"

"I don't know, I'll just let fate make way for us. Should I call for Cupid's help?" And Rogue began to worry.

"I'll order some love potions, what do you think?"

"Niloloko mo ba ako? Try ko kaya 'yan sayo para malaman ko kung effective ba, tumigil ka nga."

There they go again. Plotting their plans could always be this fun, exchanging jokes and teasing one another makes them forget that they're facing tough tasks that needs to be finish as soon as possible.

"I'll just call you later when I feel like it, I'm damn jealous of you right now. Bat nauna kang mag bakasyon? Shit, ang unfair naman ng mundo." Bahagya namang natawa si Kouen dahil sa inakto ng kaibigan, pero kaagad niya rin pinatay ang tawag dahil marami pa siyang aayusin lalo na at malapit na niyang makuha ang loob ng babaeng nililigawan niya.

That's right, Kouen decided to court her rather than just flirting with the woman. He knows that it'll be more genuine and romantic if she felt like she's being pursued, in that way Kouen won't be having a hard time to access personal information from her.

"I should probably track that woman's location and at least stalk her? I don't want to be surprised the moment I start working at their hospital." Rogue felt pressured the moment he figured out that his friend has been living with a beauty, he wants to feel the same bliss Kouen felt and he has to do it without disaligning from his ongoing task.

After he finished shower, he accessed his computer and tracked Keilah Olivarez location. He connect it to his phone and tailed her, he drove to the park and monitored the screen to figure out her whereabouts. "She's around the corner," he whispered and parked his car. Rogue doesn't want to look suspicious, he wore a simple outfit and had his hair gelled. However, he really looks like he's up for an office break time. He bought a hot coffee as his props and walks in the pathway with those cool poise that would make any girl die.

"Omg, ang pogi niya te."

"Hala, gagi ang cool niya."

"Sino siya?"

"Oy, dali. Take a picture of him!"

"Hoy, kinikilig ako, parang main lead sa mga manhwa!"

Gossips began to fill the air but that didn't bothered Rogue, he continued to walk down the street and keep his eyes alert. Pasimple rin siyang nakatingin sa monitor niya at bahagya siyang huminto nang makitang nasa loob ng isang ice cream cafe ang babae.

"What is she doing here? Ang lamig ng gabi tapos mag i-ice cream pa siya?" He whispered to himself and lead his feet to the cafe.

The moment he entered the place, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Rogue began to feel uneasy, not because he is nervous but he couldn't completely accept the fact that he will be proposing to an elegant goddess. She was the first thing to greet his sight and her graceful features caught his heart, sobrang na-amaze siya sa ganda ng dalaga. Keilah looks so fragile in his sight that he could think of a delicate flower upon seeing her.

Rogue snapped in his senses when a server approached him, "Good evening, sir. Would you like to take a seat?" The staff noticed that he has been standing at the doorway for a while now and they're afraid he is blocking the way.

"Ah, sure. I'm sorry."

He let his feet walks nearby and ordered one scope of vanilla strawberry ice cream, he find his seat and placed his hot coffee on the table while secretly glancing at the woman's direction.

"Damn, so this is Keilah Olivarez?" It looks like any moment from now, Keilah will melt because of his deep gazes at her. "Kouen's description about her is completely the opposite of how I see her," he whispered again and was about to open his camera to take a stolen shot of her when the server arrived and interrupted him.

He cussed at the back of his head before thanking the server. Rogue continued to admire Keilah to the other table while having her avocado ice cream alone, and then he wonders why would Kouen badmouth her.

Rogue was alarmed when the woman's phone rang, he saw how her expression shifted and a hint of annoyance was plastered on her face. Keilah answered the call and her shoulders fell down out of dismayed the moment she heard her mother's voice demanding for her to come by at the mansion to have dinner while discussing some personal matter.

She got no choice but to hurry and meet them, she literally lost her appetite. Keilah frowned after hanging up the call and left her table without even finishing her ice cream. Rogue at the other hand was filled with confusion, he wanted to follow her but he knows he exceed to his limits.

"Ano na naman kayang pag uusapan namin ngayon?" Bulong ni Keilah habang nagmamadaling maglakad papunta sa parking area, "They've been calling me out for a meeting, napapadalas na."

She drive her way to the Olivarez mansion and found her family looking at her with the usual gazes she hated to see. "What's with the sudden family dinner?" She asked and Khloe was the one to respond.

"Mamita wants to talk to you."

They headed their way to the dining area and take their seats. A sudden tension fills the place and Keilah could tell that something is wrong again, "Isn't this great? Seeing my children gathered again," Kassandra break the ice and wanted to lift the atmosphere. Ngunit masyadong seryoso ang mga anak niya, hinintay na lamang nilang dumating ang matandang si Kamila upang mag simula.

"What's this all about?" Keilah couldn't stop herself from asking, the moment Mrs. Kamila arrived, she welcomed her with a question. She knows it's not just a simple dinner.

"What do you mean?" Kacie asked with a confused look.

"Alam kong hindi lang 'to basta-bastang dinner lang," Keilah fixed her gazes to the old woman who sits in front. "Mamita, what is it?"

Kamila cleared her throat before finally answering her granddaughter. Hindi pa man niya natitikman ang steak na nasa plato ay hinayaan na lamang niyang sagutin ang makulit na apo. "You probably heard from your mother that we'll be discussing personal matters," sambit nito at maging ang ibang nasa hapagkainan ay hindi maka-kain ng maayos dahil maging sila ay walang ka-alam-alam.

"Ano po ba 'yon, Mamita?" Tanong ni Khloe.

"One of our shareholders, Torrent Perez will be offically working with us. He gladly accepts the offer and had his interview done earlier. Napag usapan namin na magandang ideya na sa atin siya mag ta-trabaho dahil mas lalakas ang kapit ng negosyo natin."

Keilah rolled her eyes but remained eating, usapang negosyo na naman at hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit tinawag pa siya rito. Alam naman niyang ayaw nilang maki-alam siya. "What does it have to do with me?" Keilah took the courage to ask, she has to know the reason why they suddenly involved her with heir business talks.

"In order to maintain the strong bond between two families, you need to marry Torrent Perez." Kamila's words were too sharp that it made the atmosphere break in silence. Keilah felt so stunned along with her other siblings, their mother Kassandra seems to know about the plan, she didn't say anything nor look at her children. Patuloy lamang siyang kumain.

"What the hell?!" She couldn't help it, Keilah glared at her grandmother with those furious stares. Nagulat naman ang lahat dahil sa biglaang inakto ng dalaga, maging ang mga kapatid nito ay hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ng lola nila.

"How could you?" Keilah feels her body shaking in contempt, pinipigilan niya ang sarili niyang huwag gumawa ng kahit anong pag sisisihan niya pero sinusubukan nila ang pasensya niya.

"You have no rights to go against me, Keil. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, ikakasal ka!"

"How could you do this to me? I can't even feel that I'm part of this damned family! Tapos ngayon idadamay niyo ako sa mga walang kwentang business niyo?" Hindi na niya mapigilang huwag sumagot. Napansin naman ni Kassandra ang tono nang pananalita ng anak, kung kaya ay sinuway niya ito.

"Keilah!"

"No! How could you drag me around your shits?!"

"Ayusin mo ang pananalita mo!" Mas lalong sumabog sa galit ang dalaga nang sigawan siya. Keilah throw a fork towards Kamila's direction which made the family members gasps in horror. Muntik na itong matamaan at ganoon nalang ang pagkabigla ng lahat dahil sa takot.

"Keilah! Calm down!"

"Ano ba!"

Maging ang ina nito ay hindi makagalaw matapos itong mapasigaw sa gulat. Tama, ganito ka gulo ang pamilya nila.

"I'm so tired of this family! Hindi lahat ng gusto niyo ay basta-basta niyo lang magagawa! You never treated me right nor even looked up to me as part of this damned family! Tapos ngayon ito ang gagawin niyo sa akin? Sino ba kayo?!"

"Enough, Keil!" Pati si Karter ay bumoses na rin ngunit mas lalo lamang nakaramdam ng inis ang dalaga.

“Why can't you just stop for once in your life? You're getting into my nerves, Keil!" Singit rin ng kapatid na si Kacie.

Keilah faked a smile, “Do you mean to stop breathing? No need to do that, I don't feel alive at all, I'm just merely existing.”

"Don't messed with me, hindi niyo rin ako kilala." Her last words left them dumbfounded. Keilah hurriedly grabbed her things and went out of the mansion, her anger wouldn't go away and she completely lose control. "Damn this life!" She badly wants to scream from the top of her lungs just to let out every bit of the pain she has been feeling.

She couldn't believe they'd force her to marry somebody she doesn't even know. Mas lalo lamang siyang nalulugmok dahil sa mga nangyayari.

"What am I going to do now?"