CHAPTER 1

"Bernard! You can't do this to her!"

I was busy putting concealer on my face when I heard my Mom shouting.

"Fatima, we have no choice! Saan sa tingin mo tayo pupulutin kapag nawala sa atin ang kompanya, ha?" Daddy shouted back.

Napakunot ako ng noo dahil ito ang kauna-unahang nagsigawan sila. They're always calm and proper but now...

"B-but, it's our daughter! Hindi ba pwedeng humingi ng palugit? They're doing this just to get you out of the position!"

Their room is just beside mine. I get a bit curious on what they're talking about because of the word "daughter"

Basically, that's me. Nag-iisa lang akong anak, eh.

What the hell is happening?

"I know you're worried about her, Fatima, but we need his money! This is the only way we can save the company, I already signed the contract."

Lumabas ako ng kwarto ko at kinatok sila. Hindi na kase ako mapakali habang pinapakinggan sila.

"Mom? Dad?"

Narinig kong natigil sila sa pag uusap, I heard someone's footsteps at the back of the door then opened it.

I can see the sadness on my Mom's eyes.

"What's wrong? Naririnig ko kayo sa kwarto ko, Mom. Care to tell me what's the problem?"

Hindi pa man siya nakakapag-salita nang sumulpot si Daddy sa likod niya. Seryoso niya akong tinignan sabay bumuntong hininga.

"Come in, iha. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan," aniya.

Pumasok naman agad ako at ako na ang nagsara ng pinto. I'm confused.

Mommy loudly sighed.

"Bernard, huwag mo namang biglain, not now, please?" nagmamaka-awang sabi ni Mommy.

Nalilito ako sa pinag-uusapan nila. I know that we have some sort of problem sa company but I still don't get it, why do they have to drag me into this? As if I can help them, I am only 19 and still on my last year in college, that only means that I'm unexperienced... I mean, I know some things about our company but still... I don't exactly know how it works.

Pumasok ako at sumunod sakanila, their room has it's own mini library with a table, a chair and a sofa. Workaholic kase si Daddy at hindi naman makatulog si Mommy kapag wala siya, so instead na pumunta si Daddy sa mismong library namin kapag gabi, nagpagawa nalang siya ng mini library dito mismo.

"Some of our investors are pulling out their shares on the company, nauuwi na tayo sa pagka bankrupt dahil sa ginawa nila. It is my fault, masiyado akong nakampante sa mga kinukuha kong tao, 'yun pala isa rin sakanila ang ta-traydor sa akin," pauna ni Daddy bago umupo sa harap ng kanyang lamesa.

He look so exhausted! As much as I want to go on his side and hug him, minabuti kong makinig nalang muna.

Umupo naman ako sa sofa habang si Mommy ay nanatiling nakatayo.

"What do you mean by that, Daddy? A traitor? Who?" taka kong tanong.

Sa loob ng ilang taon, nanatiling maayos at nasa taas ang aming kompanya. Walang gusot, walang anumalya at mas lalong hindi agad napapabagsak. Pero anong nangyari ngayon? Based on my Daddy's face, mukhang malaki nga ang problema niya sa kompanya.

"Victor, he stole money from the company and now, he's nowhere to be found."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Napanganga ako at napatakip pa sa aking bunganga.

"H-How much he stole, Daddy? Baka may mga kasabwat siya sa company? I remember him, hindi ba siya yung kasa-kasama mo noong anniversary ng company, Dad? You said he's your employee so how the hell he can do such thing without the help?"

Nakakapagtaka lang kase, a mere employee stole on the company? Is he a hacker?

"We are investigating on that part, iha. But for now I really need to do something. I don't want to lose our investors, mahihirapan tayong bumangon kapag nagsi-alisan sila."

Mommy sat beside me and held my wrist.

"I know you will hate your Dad for doing this but please, iha. Please understand us. We really need to do this," she said with teary eyes.

Kinabahan ako.

"W-What is it, M-Mom?"

She didn't respond, she started crying.

"Mom! I am asking you, what is it?" bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa pag-iyak niya.

My Mom doesn't cry easily, so I guess this is a very serious matter that involves me.

"You're going to marry Rio Folkvangr, iha," Daddy said.

W-WHAT? MARRY?

I laughed.

"Daddy, stop joking around!"

What the– marry? At my age? Gosh, I don't even have boyfriend yet he's here talking about marriage. Seriously?

I stopped laughing when I saw my Daddy's face filled with seriousness.

"Tell me you're kidding, Daddy! I know you are! You can't be serious! Mom!" utas ko.

I panicked. I can sense that my Daddy is really serious so I looked at my Mom.

I saw her crying and then tried to hug me but I move away from her. Tumayo ako mula sa sofa at nagpalakad lakad sapo ang noo.

I can't believe this! No!

Daddy sighed. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin, niyakap ako. Gusto ko siyang itulak at kuwestyunin. Ano bang kabaliwan ang pumasok sa utak nila at ako pa talaga ang sasalo?

"This is an arrange marriage, iha. We also have a contract. Marry Rio now and you can file for an annulment after 2 years."

"Dad! Do you even hear yourself? Ipapakasal mo talaga ako sa hindi ko kilala? Ni hindi ko pa nga nakikita ang mukha niyan,” galit na sigaw ko sakanya.

Daddy hugged me tight but I saw Mom rush to our side.

"Lawliet, don't raise your voice! I don't wanna see you disrespecting your father!" she said, pointing one finger at me.

Kung kanina ay malungkot at halata ang simpatya ni Mommy sa akin, ngayon ay makikitaan mo na siya ng pagka-galit. This is the first time she saw me acting like this, I can't help it.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

"I-I’m sorry, I just can't acce—"

"This is final! You will marry Rio so we can save the company! Magme-merge ang dalawang kompanya para mas lumago, wala na kaming ibang malapitan ng Daddy mo kung hindi siya!" malamig na saad ni Mommy.

Daddy kissed my forehead. Tahimik na siya ngayon, ni hindi niya pinansin ang pag-sigaw ko sakanya kanina.

I can't control my tears anymore, nag unahan sila sa pagbagsak.

"I'm sorry, iha. I know you're thinking that we are taking away your freedom but trust me, Rio is a good man!"

Hindi ako nagsalita, umalis ako mula sa pagkakayakap ni Daddy at tumakbo palabas ng kwarto nila.

I can't do this... I can't.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto at kumuha ng mga damit, ayoko muna dito sa bahay. Gusto kong magpaka-layo layo muna dahil sa bigat ng nararamdaman, hindi ko ata kakayaning makita sila Daddy ngayon. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa desisyon nila, how the hell they can do this without asking for my consent? For years, naging masunurin ako sakanila. Ganito nalang ba lagi?

Dali dali akong lumabas ng kwarto bitbit ang maliit kong maleta. Pababa na ako ng hagdan nang makasalubong ko si Manang Leticia, nagulat siya sa itsura ko na kagagaling lang sa iyak at sa dala kong maleta.

"Iha, aba't saan ka pupunta? Ba't may dala kang maleta?"

"Aalis po muna ako, manang," sagot ko nang hindi siya nililingon.

"Alam ba 'to ng Mommy mo? Teka, iha! Dito ka muna at magpaalam ka nang mabuti!"

Hindi ako sumagot, tuloy tuloy lang akong naglakad palabas ng pinto.

Narinig kong tumakbo paakyat ng hagdan si Manang Leticia, mukhang tatawagin pa si Mommy.

Mabilis akong pumunta sa nakaparada kong sasakyan, nilagay ko ang maleta sa backseat at papasok na sana ng driver's seat nang biglang tumatakbong lumabas si Mommy mula sa pinto at hinanap ako.

Kasunod naman niya si Daddy.

Nagmadali akong sumakay sa sasakyan at binuhay na ang makina. Bago ko pa man paandarin ang sasakyan ay narinig ko ang sigaw ni Mommy.

"Lawliet, come back here! Stop the car!"

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan at dire-diretsong nag drive palabas ng aming gate. Walang nagawa ang mga security guard kung di buksan ang mga 'yon dahil nakita nilang mabilis ang patakbo ko.

Tumulo uli ang mga luha ko.

I'm sorry, Mom, Dad... I'm sorry for disrespecting you but I can't think straight right now... I need space. I need time to absorb all of these.

Nakarating ako sa condo ng kaibigan ko nang nanghihina. Pagod mula sa pag iyak at bigat ng nararamdaman, tinawagan ko siya.

"Ruru, I'm here outside," ani ko sa pagod na boses.

Ruru is my bestfriend since highschool, she's currently living in a condo with her boyfriend because her family can't accept him, only because he's poor. Nagtanan silang dalawa.

"What are you doing here at this hour, Lawliet?" aniya sa paos na boses.

Mukhang kagigising lang niya.

"I-I ran away from h-home," sambit ko sa garalgal na boses.

Napaiyak uli ako.

Narinig ko siyang napa-singhap.

"You what? You ran away? W-Wait, pababa na ako, dito na tayo mag usap," bulalas niya sabay patay ng tawag.

I sighed, dito muna ako ngayong araw at bukas maghahanap muna ako ng ibang tutuluyan. Matutunton ako dito nila Mommy, ayoko munang magpakita sakanila. I want space, I want to think first. It's my freedom after all, I just can't decide right now— and as if I have damn choice.

"Law! What happened?" tanong agad ni Ruru nang sunduin ako sa baba."Nagtext na sa akin si Tita Fatima tinatanong ka," dagdag niya sabay yakap sa akin.

I'm in the verge of crying again but I stopped myself. Suminghot ako.

"Dad wants me to marry a stranger, he wants our company to merge with them so we can save it," bulalas ko.

Papasok na kami sa condo niya nang bigla siyang napahinto.

"WHAT THE HELL?" gulat na bulalas niya.

I know what she's thinking.

I nodded.

She quickly ran to me and hugged me.

"I don't have a choice, Ru! I ran away to think first but I-I know to myself t-that I will have to do that because of my family. I just need space right now, can you help me?"

"Of course I'll help you! Gosh! I can't imagine you being married at this age and the fact that you're NBSB! Uunahan mo pa kami ni Hugo!" gulantang niyang ani.

No boyfriend since birth, yes that's true. I have a lot of suitors, but I don't have the guts to answer one of them. I am focusing on my studies and I don't feel like having a boyfriend at such a young age.

Nag iisa akong anak at tagapag-mana pa kaya hindi ako pwedeng magbulakbol, kailangan kong mag focus sa pag aaral dahil sa mga responsibilidad na naka-atang sa akin pagka graduate ko. Having a boyfriend is not my thing for now.

Natigil kami sa pag-uusap nang bumukas ang pinto ng condo niya, pumasok si Hugo na may dalang box ng pizza at softdrinks.

Sinalubong siya ni Ruru.

"Ang aga mo ngayon, ha, akala ko mamaya ka pa."

"Maaga kaming pinauwi, is there a problem?" tanong niya dahil nahalata niya siguro ang mugto kong mata.

Ruru kissed his cheeks before answering.

"Lawliet with her huge problem," utas ni Ruru sabay irap.

She told Hugo about my problem while we're eating the pizza. I don't mind though, I trust both of them.

Hugo sighed.

"Mahirap nga 'yan, magpapakasal ka sa hindi mo kilala."

"Yeah, and to think na wala pa siyang experience sa pagbo-boyfriend tapos mag aasawa agad," dagdag ni Ruru.

"Kalat na sa buong bansa ang papalubog na kompanya niyo, kahit sa kompanya namin usap-usapan 'yan, madaming natutuwa lalo na 'yung mga kalaban niyo so industriyang 'yan."

Mas bumigat ang nararamdaman ko sa sinabi ni Hugo. Ayokong magpakasal sa isang estranghero pero bago pa lang ako umalis kanina sa bahay, I've already decided.

"I'll marry that Rio, but I want them to give me a week or so. I need time for myself," may pinalidad sa boses ko.

They both agree.

Dito muna ako nagpalipas ng gabi sakanila. Pinatuloy ako ni Hugo sa kwarto niya at lumipat muna siya sa kwarto ni Ruru.

I told them that I'll leave tomorrow morning, they advised me to talk to my parents first but I declined, knowing my Mommy– hindi ako papayagan no'n na lumayo for the mean time.

This is a tough decision, ayokong makausap sila habang masama pa ang loob ko. Tama na 'yung nabastos ko si Daddy ng isang beses, ayoko nang maulit.

Feel ko kase makakapagsalita pa ako ng masama kapag ganito pa 'yung mood ko, I need to atleast let off some steam.